Liverpool: Darkness on the Anfield horizon
A storm is gathering at Liverpool Football Club. Again. Now, first and foremost, I am a Liverpool fan and I am deeply concerned at what the next six months may hold. This does not mean that I am about to go on an emotional “bring back Rafa” rant, or indeed any rant. I am simply going to tell it like it is.
Over the past week, the world has been kindly kept informed on events surrounding Liverpool’s managerial vacancy by Mr Dave Whelan, who when he’s not publicly addressing us all on matters that Liverpool would prefer to keep confidential, is the chairman of Wigan Athletic. As we know, Whelan’s main man, Roberto Martinez, has been in Miami holding talks with the Reds about becoming their new manager. Pictures of the Spaniard strolling alongside Liverpool’s principal owner John Henry, appear to suggest that these talks have gone fairly smoothly, with some reports suggesting Martinez has been “offered the job”, as confirmed by Whelan. The vibes emanating from Anfield deny this news.
Significantly, the fact that Martinez will meet the Liverpool hierarchy again on Tuesday suggests there may have been a hitch, as does that or does it not seem like a strangely long time in which to make a decision that really, if all has gone well, should be made in a heartbeat?
Whelan, just to liven up his media-spinning fun that little bit more, has brought the deadline by which he wants a decision from Martinez, forward from the 5th June, to Thursday.
Regardless of the uncertainty surrounding the whole situation, it seems that Martinez will eventually be confirmed as Liverpool’s new manager sooner or later. You just know when you’ve got that instinctive feeling, something that all football fans have. That is my feeling towards Martinez and the Liverpool job, and sadly, it does not fill me with hope.
Let me explain why. Firstly, it has become clear to me that despite the embarrassment, anger and damn-near chaos, sparked by Roy Hodgson’s turbulent stint at the Liverpool helm, his reign was necessary. Liverpool were on the edge of a financial abyss, and needed someone who would be able to oversee a period of, there’s no other way of putting it, asset-stripping. Neither Rafael Benitez who left the job nor Kenny Dalglish who wanted it at the time, could’ve been in charge during a situation that was very nearly catastrophically worse than it eventually turned out to be. Hell, the worst it got was when Fernando Torres left, and that wasn’t all that bad in the end.
Let it be clear that were it not for the intervention of the board, who needed to protect Liverpool’s value, Torres would have almost certainly gone in the summer of 2010 and more than likely Pepe Reina would’ve as well. It cannot be denied that Steven Gerrard may also have been sold later down the line had FSG not won their court battle with Tom Hicks and George Gillett. Add to that the fact that Liverpool would’ve been in administration, on the end of a 10-point deduction, and you can see why the craziness off the pitch meant that Liverpool’s performances under Hodgson were so miserable. He was inevitably going to get the boot once financial stability was secure, and unable to resist the will of the fans, FSG had to appoint Dalglish as his successor. This was something that they never really wanted to do, hence the host of bright young things that have recently been linked with Liverpool. Names such as Fabio Capello are purely being used to fill column inches, whilst Louis Van Gaal is under consideration for the Director of Football role, not the manager’s job.
This now brings me to my point surrounding the potential outcomes should Martinez get the job and things start to go wrong. It is a similar situation to that of when Hodgson was appointed in that the majority of fans are against what is happening. Only this time, there is no asset-stripping, no court battle and there is it would seem, money to spend. This means that the already frazzled patience of Liverpool fans will spiral oh so rapidly if the team start the new season badly.
It is not unrealistic to say that there will be anarchy should Liverpool find themselves in mid-table at Christmas. FSG will become the new Hicks and Gillett, but there will be no financial pressure on the owners to sell the club, meaning no matter how much the fans show their displeasure, FSG will remain in control. The honeymoon is over.
Maybe I’m being harsh on Martinez. Admittedly, Wigan play some good football under his leadership, and yes, they won at Anfield last season. But has he won anything of note? Can he handle big names? Is he ready?
They are just some of the questions that his potential appointment poses, and all would appear to be met with a complete lack of conviction. Liverpool cannot afford someone who needs a season or two finishing 7th or 8th or worse, bedding themselves in. FSG claim that they remain committed to a “project”, but Liverpool fans can’t be doing with this long term tittle tattle. The club requires someone who will sort the men from the boys, cut the nonsense and spend wisely. Is Martinez the man? I don’t think so. Is Benitez? Maybe, but I’m not clamouring for his return. All I’m saying is that this decision, these next few days, could have a huge impact on Liverpool’s future.
martinez is not the right man.
I believe that this is the WORST APPOINTMENT PROCESS IN LIVING MEMORY and its about to get a lot worse – THE AMERICAND ARE SO NAIVE AND INEFFICIENT IT BEGGERS BELIEF – Mark these words and watch this utter fiasco go from bad to worse next week – TOTAL LAUGHING STOCK TO THE WHOLE FOOTBALL WORLD – P S Whelan is far too clever for Henry – he is out of his league
Martinez is not Liverpool quality. As a coach he’s fine, but we will need a manager.
I hardly think we need be told that a decision "could have a huge impact…". We all know that!
well said but you missed one thing, the fans will be in a uproar if martinez is given job and he gets off to a bad start.and id the yanks dig in, beilive me anfield will have many empty seats.they sacked kenny for not getting 4th, so what chance martinez got? for me none the owners brought this on thereslves noone on here can tell me martinez is better than kenny. they should of given kenny time now its there heads on the line, many empty seats if we get a bad start, money lost and martinez listening to fans shouting RAFA RAFA, and you don't know what your doing.hodgson said it the fans wanted one man I had no chance, will henry get the sack? if he fails this time I hope so because fail he will….
I’m really tired of all this negativity around Martinez….Liverpool need fresh ideas and a fresh approach…and I’m a Liverpool fan since 1974 and have experienced the best of times and worst of times.
Yes, there will be questions to be answered but the answers needn’t be negative. One thing I do know is that Martinez is likely to do something that is necessary…and that is play the young players with talent that Liverpool undoubtedly have and he will have a clear vision and way of playing that he expects the team to adopt. And the thing that gives me more hope than fear is that the style of football Martinez wants to play is suited to a side with nore talented players than he has had available to him to date.
Liverpool are only going to succeed if EVERYONE…fans included….pull in the same positive direction, and support whoever does come in until they really give good reason not to.
@LondonRedAds it’s good to hear someone actually talking with a bit of logic. How about we give whoever comes in the support they need. ‘Supporters’ who turn on new managers before they have even signed a contract need to ask themselves what exactly are they supporting?
This may be one of the most important summers for Liverpool in 50+ years. The decisions taken now could have ramifications for decades to come.
There are not that many managerial ‘names’ to consider, and any top names are seemingly out of our league, or happy where they are and not interested in the Liverpool job. Liverpool may have finished 8th, but they won one cup and got in the final of another. Any potential manager now knows that only Champions League qualification may keep them in the job. How many seasons will they get not getting in the top 3 or 4? With a rumoured £30m to improve the team 4-5 places, with all the other teams spending at the same time, is a very difficult prospect for anyone to take on. Yes, the team underperformed last year, but Dalglish, who has been a great motivator, was unable to get a lot of players to perform. Will anyone else be able to get them to play to their ability? I sadly doubt it.
Is Martinez the right man? I don’t know. I hope so, if he gets it, but then I hope whoever gets it is the right man of course. Lambert, Rodgers and Martinez at least try to have their players playing attractive football. Whether attractive football can be maintained over many possible changes if the owners continue to change managers is another thing.
All I ever want is for the players to give 100% effort. When you have top players, it brings you success, but with not the best players? As long as the team gives 100%, that’s all you can ask. After that it is the owners to provide the quality players to take advantage of effort.
If the owners choose someone, and they are not given time, we could be in the mid table wilderness, or worse, for many years to come.
If I understand this right, Martinez is not the man for Liverpool because he has not proven anything yet. If this is correct, then you are also saying we should never have hired Shankly, Paisley, Fagan and Barcelona should not have hired Guardiola because they all did not have first team experience. Shows you don’t have what it takes to identify a good potential manager. History also proves Liverpool produces quality managers not hires them.
If we want success, we will have to plan for the long term and we have to start now. We have FSG and they're here to stay, pointless in-fighting against boards and managers gets us nowhere (see Blackburn). I wanted Kenny to be given more time, I think it would have come good under him next term, unfortunately, he's gone and, to be fair, you can kinda see why with our league form in 2012.
Rafa won't be asked, he doesn't fit in to the plan. Pep would be nice but it's not very likely although, you never know. We are where we are, Martinez may become boss, I don't think that would be terrible at all, maybe I'm the only one, but I reckon he would fit with the club. In the new structure he wouldn't have huge responsibilities for transfers etc., van Gaal or whoever the SD is will do that. All Martinez would be focussed on is coaching the team, training, tactics, media interviews etc. all things at which he excels. Don't write him off before he starts, don't threaten mutiny, it gets us nowhere. We are LFC! YNWA
http://live4liverpool.com/2012/05/view-from-the-kop/why-the-spaniard-gets-my-vote-to-become-main-man-at-anfield
Most painful season I’ve endured since pre-Houllier. To be so far off in the league, and to have some of our best players from the season before sold off (Raul Meireles) to Chelsea no less, for the mid-table drab we brought in was real pain. Our season ended with the Lucas injury. How that midfield justified sending Aquilani on loan is a mystery only KD could answer. I’m willing to bet that if someone is good enough to loan to Milan, they would probably have a spot on most squads. Despite all that, its how Kenny was so creative second half of the Hodgson season, including 3-4-3s, then seemingly completely inept at changing things once he got the job which annoyed me the most. Why did Maxi, who finished the season prior, scoring hatricks bearly get any starts? When did it become sensible to buy average players for £20 million each? Like every other Liverpool fan I loved KD, but he left FSG no choice at all, in my opinion. To be so accepting of mediocrity is shocking for any Liverpool manager… I disagree that Martinez would be a disaster.. Pep had ‘zero’ management experience, but fit into the right structure at Barcelona. If a good sporting director is seconded, the managers role can be given to a young and adventurous manager.. a Louis Van Gaal would be great, with his ability to look at talent. As long as we are looking at that type of calibre, Liverpool will be more than alright. Make no mistake, FSG are sporting through and through (Just look at the BoSox) – they are looking for progression, something which was not obvious at all under Dalglish. My personal preference would be for a dual role, with a senior manager, independently appointed from a junior manager. If money was not an issue, a Rafa-AVB or Rafa-Martinez combination would look extremely attractive for the future. Regardless of who comes in at Liverpool, its wishful thinking to imagine the worst squad we have had since the start of the Houllier era could all of a sudden compete for a championship in the world of black gold money. Our best bet is to get the structure right, returning to the real strength Liverpool had before; seamless succession with a clear footballing philosophy. I do agree with the author on one thing.. Hodgson was a necessary evil once Rafa left (although that in itself was ludicrous).
@LondonRedAds
I started realising that I was a Liverpool fan after the 1974 FA Cup Final as a 7 year old, and believe me, things haven’t been that bad in that time. On the pitch we haven’t experience really bad times since then(and before) There have been many other teams up and down with relegation around us. Liverpool have consistently been in the top third of the division, and we also won a lot of things. We have the possibility of of falling below that consistent level now, which is why it is an important time. Maybe it’s needed to reorganise the squad, and bring some reality to the situation we are in. :-/
The Fans should get behind anyone who is chosen to be the manager, because without the support he will surely fail. Sadly, some very vocal Liverpool fans now feel they have a say in who the manager should be. We have never had, and never will, but the reputation for backing the manager 100% seems to be disappearing. Quite sad. It makes us look just like any other fickle fans.
We got Benitez in as a La Liga and Uefa cup winning coach. Martinez….. well, I don't think he has the pedigree, but we will see.
Another terrible knee jerk article! Quite laughable!
I’ve posted part of this article on a few other real negative forums!!
Liverpool football club are in the position they’re in today (no league titles in 20+ years) because of people like you! Backward! I’m surprised you’re on the internet due to your fear to embrace anything new!
In the 60s, 70s and 80s Liverpool football clubs success was built on being ahead of the curve! A club which was innovative and forward thinking. At that time the boot-room was the secret and the open debate between those great football minds fuelled that success and was something that no other club had done or knew how to do as well as LFC. Oh the halcyon days you all long for!
FSG are trying to drag our club (kicking and screaming by the sound of the tripe you’re writing) into the 21st century. A modern forward thinking football club which other clubs want to copy once again. I and the vast majority of Liverpool fans don’t want to go back and are sick of the rubbish that is being written. Most of you don’t even remember a what a league win for Liverpool is so what gives you the right to intimate that you know what’s needed and what it takes to get there? This attitude is holding us back!
Our club needs restructuring from top to bottom!
Moores brings in Souness and gets it wrong. Moores brings in Evans and gets it wrong. Moores brings in Houllier and gets it wrong. Moores brings in Rafa and gets it wrong then sells to cowboys and gets it really wrong. That’s 21 years and unless you’ve not been keeping up with current event (or not really paying attention) IS NOW THE LIVERPOOL WAY!!! We have been mismanaged for 21 years and you’re criticizing FSG for wanting to change the last 21 years of mismanagement. There’s your man at the top (Moores)! Shocking.
FSG offer a modern plan. With a modern structure and an approach which will afford the club continuity and consistency no matter who the manager is.
Before Rafa Benitez made a name for himself at Valencia were was he and what had he done? From 1995 to 2001 he was at 5 clubs Real Valladolid 1996–1997 Osasuna1997–1999 Extremadura 2000–2001 Tenerife. Achieving little more than promotion an relegation in that time and then Valencia gave him his chance and we all know what happened.
Before Pep Guardiola made a name for himself at Barcelona were was he and what had he achieved! Barcelona B team 2007-2008. That’s it.
Before Jurgen Klopp made a name for himself at Dortmund were was he and what had he achieved? 2001–2008 1. FSV Mainz 05. 7 years of relegation and promotion qualifying for Europe once.
I think it’s obvious what FSG are doing! Were after the best manager to fit our system and profile. The next Benitez, Guardiola or Klopp. There’s no quick fix here but there is a fix! You should be excited by finally escaping the failed system we have been victim to over the last 21 years. But sadly you want to continue! We need a hungry manager who has everything to prove and a legacy to build just like Shankley did all them years ago.
NO to going back to Rafa or any other manager that’s been here (and failed) before (no league in 6 years is a failure).
NO to any manager over 60 who’s peddling on past success and will not be around long enough to build a legacy.
We must break this cycle of failure by radical change or we’ll be still debating this and writing poorly structured negative articles in 2033.
Let me be clear now Martinez DOES HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD. He has proven he can keep his team in the league and he takes 7 months to get a team playing. On this record we should stay in the league and play well by Feb next year. Good times ahead. Might as well go for Paul
Jewel he did the dame at Wigan
I have been a fan since 1967 and this season has been more disappointing for footbal played than any i can remember. the cups were a side show, many weakened sides eased our way to the finals where we could not bury a crap Championship side; and then we were frightened to lose against the Chavs.
We need fresh blood and fresh ideas; and a manager not afraid to play proper pass and move football, KK became as negative with his team selections as he was defensive in his press conferences..
Martinez built a footballing side that won at Anfield, the Library , beat Manure at home and should have won at Chavski but were denied by a dodgy ref, and all of this on a shoestring!
I believe he will get Liverpool playing and we may well see some of last season’s new boys begin to shine
I also believe that he will bring on the likes of Raheem Sterling and he will not tolerate the lack of invention that typifies players like Spearing.
Finally, if we are to make a real league challenge some time soon then we need to develop our own talent; if Uefa apply their financial fair play rules properly then Citeh, Chavski and Manure will struggle to qualify for the Champions League, but FSG have made us profitable and secure.
Time for all true fans to pull together and get behind whoever is apppointed. YNWA
I appreciate the feedback and maybe I was a little outspoken but it’s just my opinion on what could happen, not what will definitely happen. Maybe martinez will come in and do a great job, but comparisons with Guardiola are wide of the mark. He was a already a legend at Barca and had won it all as a players, plus the players that he inherited were light years ahead of the current LFC squad.
Martinez is meeting them for the first time this week.
So far it has all been telephone conversations as he has been away on holiday – its surely normal for employer and employee to meet before signing a contract, if only to finalise a few details.
neil your right your one of the very few to think martinez will be ok, but most like me 90 per centdont want him.its common sense hes bottom 4 manager full stop beaten 8,0 6,0 and 5,0 last season.your right were LFC, not blacburn or wigan. munity only works if your right and the otherside has more too lose were right….
I’m a huge supporter of Liverpool. I come from a place not far from the ground but I now live in Sweden. Those of you who are lucky enough to go to the games need to pull your thumbs out your arse’s and start supporting the club, instead of whinging all the time. The owners are great, maybe lack a little knowledge but they want the best for the club. Look at Blackburns owners for instance! We should be happy with what we have. All this talk of the Liverpool way, where has this got us the last 20years?! We need to embrace change and realise how lucky we are to support a club with the resources and Brand power we have. If we get more positive on every aspect of our club that aura will be felt on the pitch by the boys! Come on you reds! Come on you reds fans ffs!!!
beat Arsenal at Emirates, took 4 points off us, beat Newcastle 4-0, beat Man Utd. Plays attractive football, great motivator, young, hungry, shrewd in the transfer market. Won a title with Swansea, created their style.
He's a bottom four manager cos Wigan are a bottom four club, more accurately, a Championship club and actually this year they finished 15th, well clear of relegation. He showed what he can do with a bit more money at Swansea. If he leaves Wigan watch them drop like a stone. He is not perfect and I don't pretend he is but, we could do a lot worse.
The only nightmare we are having is that our fan-base is in crisis, unsure of what it wants or how to go about getting it. That is why things are so frantic. We are Liverpool fans, we get behind our team and we back our manager and give him a chance whoever he is, that is the Liverpool Way. We are not Chelsea! Some of us would do well to remember it.
this article stinks.
seen it all before deluded whining without reason or qualifiaction.
whowevrer these yanks emnploy? itch and scratchy!
I don't care Ill be behind the team 100%.
it is worrying , another year on and no cl is this new fella getting the chop? that kind of method is dangerous.
try putting efforts into backing the team.manager, new players, under performing players etc..
otherwise its more difficult for all concerned.
cowboy up , or pee off to another club.
Well what a flipping helpful contribution you’ve made. I understand if you disagree with what I’ve said, but to just dismiss it like that frankly disgusts me, and makes me wonder why I even bother doing this.
I’ll be 100% behind the team as well, and won’t be “peeing off” to another club. “Cowboy up”? ok anonymous.
@redhed17
Sounds like we became Liverpool fabns at the same time….first FA cup I remember and I’ve loved them ever since.
Anyway, I’m an admiirer of Martinez – he is a guy who has shown he has the strength of character and personality to have the courage of his convictions and get a team playing good football even when under severe pressure and when it matters most, despite the very real limitations of the squad he has had to work with. He has given young players a chance and played thenn regularly when they have shown they are good enough. He also recognises the value of highly technical players with athleticism and pace…something we lack and all the top teams have. I think he deserves a chance at big club like Liverpool now….and with the right support from everyone, I genuinely think something really good could happen.
I’d feel the same about AVB to be honest, or Lambert….these are all young managers who want to play the game in the right way…and with an international perspective on the game.
I’d also welcome Rafa back, and wouldn’t have had a problem if we’d kept Kenny…but we didn’t and we have to move on now.
As I said previously, whoever comes in, the fans and the owners have to back them and give them the chance to deliver their best…then, given a fair amount of time to base a judgement, we can do so fairly and reasonably. That is all I’d suggest…getting Liverpool back to the top will not happen overnight.
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