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| Stewart Downing is one of many that will have to prove his worth to the new manager next season |
A Carling Cup win did little to mask over the poor Premier
League performance last season, where Liverpool, having spent heavily over the
summer, could only muster an eighth place finish. If anyone can testify to that
statement, it’s Kenny Dalglish, who was sacked from his position at the club a
little over a week ago.
With the financial backing of the Fenway Sports Group, the
Reds were expected to challenge for, at least, a top four finish. However,
having dropped too many points at Anfield, a place they lost just following
Dalglish’s appointment for the latter half of the 2010/11 season, the
Merseyside outfit finished 17 points behind fourth place Tottenham Hotspur.
However, now managerless, this summer is set to be of
monumental importance to the future of the Merseyside outfit. Currently
underperforming, but set to participate in Europe next season, months of
rebuilding are set to be undertaken as Liverpool look to break back into the
top four next season.
The manager
The most important facet that needs addressing sooner rather
than later. Following the sacking of Dalglish, Liverpool were linked with a
host of big name managers ranging from Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho to
former Chelsea coach Andre Villas-Boas. Yet, despite the Reds approaches for the
likes Swansea City boss Brendan Rodgers to Frank de Boer of Ajax, nobody seemed
keen to take over the reins at Anfield.
Getting a new man in as quickly as possible is the most
viable option for the club’s owners as they look to secure the necessary stability
to take the club forward. Wigan Athletics Roberto Martinez appears to be the
overwhelming favourite having met John W Henry in Miami on Thursday. Many of
the Reds faithful had been pining for a return of Rafa Benitez, a distinct
possibility with the Spaniard out of work, but after admitting they want a
younger man to take charge, Martinez appears to be the man FSG want in charge.
To be fair to the club’s American owners, they want the new
man at the helm to bring in a stable environment and you can understand their
inclination to bring in a younger manager to bring this on. Furthermore, the
attacking football the Martinez had his Latics side playing during his time at
the DW Stadium will surely get the Reds fans salivating at the prospect of the
style of the play their team will be playing in the foreseeable future.
The only major worry appears to be his youth and
inexperience. Yes, Martinez may have five years worth of management behind him,
but at just 38-years of age, the possible criticism and lack of time with one
of the so called ‘sky four’ could hinder his progress as a coach, especially if
he gets off to a slow start with his new club, should he be appointed.
Nevertheless, it is vital that the new manager is ready to
start pre-season at the beginning of July in order to stamp down his authority
and implement his ideas into the first-team. Martinez clearly ticks all the
necessary boxes to match FSG’s ambitions, being young and attack minded, and if
they believe him to be the right man to take the club forward, in the
long-term, then the support of the fans will be pivotal for their success.
The Players
The first-team squad at Liverpool will be key to the success
of Martinez. However, it is also a two-way street and if the Spaniard is to be
considered a success at Anfield, he will need to earn the respect of the
players. Unlike the Villas-Boas approach at Chelsea, involving a major cull of
the senior members of the squad, Martinez will have to ensure his workings are
right.
Dalglish, to his credit, had already earned the admiration
of the current playing squad following his cult hero status with the fans following
his spell as a player and first stint as manager. From the word go, Martinez
will, like Roy Hodgson, not be a fan favourite having succeeded Kenny on
Merseyside. It is a similar scenario to Hodgson, who fans took an instant
distain to due to the fact he wasn’t Dalglish.
If he is to establish himself on Anfield, should FSG look to
him, Martinez may be wise in taking the Frank Rijkaard approach the Dutchman
adopted when he took over Barcelona in 2003. With fan favourite Luis Enrique
set to retire at the end of the campaign Rijkaard took over, a then 40-year-old
Frank knew he would have to somehow cull the Spaniard from the squad.
However, rather than instantly cut him from the first-team,
and face a revolt from one of the senior squad members, Rijkaard persisted with
the midfielder at the beginning of the season before slowly fazing him out of
first-team duties, explaining his decision to Enrique, thus earning his respect
and harmony in the dressing room.
Martinez will have to take a similar approach should the
time come with captain Steven Gerrard, much like it did with Jamie Carragher,
another vocal and respected member of the dressing room, had been dropped from
the starting XI in favour of Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger across the course
of the season by Dalglish. Yet, the difference between Dalglish and Martinez is
that, as previously mentioned, the former had already earned the respect of his
player’s via his playing and managerial career.
Yet it isn’t just Martinez that could have to prove his
worth to the club, with a number of under performers from last season set to be
handed a second chance to really prove their worth. The likes of Stewart
Downing, Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam all arrived with high expectations,
yet failed to deliver in their first year on Anfield. These player’s, amongst
other, will have to showcase their capabilities to the new manager in order to
warrant a place in the starting XI for the new campaign.
Transfers
The underperforming arrivals last summer will be put to the
sword, should the new manager opt against utilising them in his future plans.
FSG backed Dalglish heavily during the summer and the January window that the
Scot took over and the group will again need to back the manager this transfer
window again, should the need arise.
Reports suggest the American company will look to utilise
the bosman market, a move that could backfire on them with the huge sums of
money they have thrown at the club. The new manager will want the financial
backing of the owners, should he deem the current crop unnecessary to his plans
for the club.
If FSG were willing to save on costs, it could have a detrimental
effect on not only the squad, but also the club’s limitations when it comes to
re-breaking back into the top four. Liverpool now need to invest heavily if
they are to improve on their eighth place finish and Carlin Cup win. Silverware
in the trophy cabinet may have appeased some, but when it comes to measuring success,
a lot is based on reaching the Champions League.
Another campaign outside of Europe’s elite competition could
have a serious effect on the future of the club. The fanbase will forever
remain with the club, that is a given, but whether the player’s will again
settle for a third successive season without any involvement in the Champions
League is another matter altogether.
Bringing in new acquisitions this transfer window could be
more pivotal than in previous years and it is up to the owners to back the
manager financially to ensure this happens. Without it, the new man could end
up feeling undermined, leading to a disharmonic atmosphere in the dressing room
that would, undoubtedly, cost the team on the pitch. For all football fans
know, this could be the most important summer in recent history for Liverpool.
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