Liverpool FC Forum

[JBG]

I am crying out for a new manager for my beloved club, but I think this time we have to get the right man, otherwise we could set the club back 7-10 years if we get another Souness/Evans/Houllier.

In fact, I think the next appointment will be the most important decision the club will have to make in its modern history. If the club messes the next appointment up, we are history.

My criteria is that the new manager must be capable of winning the Premiership and after that make a challenge in Europe. That is our history and heritage, and I will accept nothing else.

I will rule out the likes of Gordon Strachen, Alan Curbishley, Steve Bruce and Sam Allyderdyce because to my eyes, while these guys are good managers, I simply do not see them winning the league for us.

For example, I think Gordon Strachen would do an ok job for us, improving morale and our work rate, but the best I could see Strachen accomplishing is maybe 3rd place in the Premiership and a couple of cups, i.e. no better than Houllier.

People have also mentioned Guus Hiddink and John Toshak. Hiddink is a decent manager but again, I don’t see him winning the league.

John Toshak would have been a better choice than Souness in 1991, but honestly I think his time has past and his recent managerial record is not good, to say the least.

My candidates are as follows:

Martin O’ Neill

Pros: Did well for Leiceister, excellent with Celtic. Works well with limited resources and brilliant at getting the best from his players. His teams are well organised and full of fighting spirit.

Cons: despite his success at Celtic he hasn’t yet managed at the very highest level, only has managed one superstar (Larson) and is unproven record with money to spend.

Verdict: the people’s choice, a very good candidate, but his success at Celtic doesn’t automatically mean he’ll achieve the same at Anfield.

Fabio Copello:

Pros: without putting too fine a point on it, his record is absolutelty fantastic. Hugely experienced.

Cons: no Premiership experience.

Verdict: Has hinted that he wants a job in England. If the Chelsea or Man UTD job became available he wouldn’t consider us at all. However, if he leaves Roma this summer (which is expected) and the only jobs available in England are the Spurs and Pool jobs, he might come. Liverpool are still a big name in Italy and our wins over Roma undoubtedly made an impression on him. If he comes we would have to provide him with a decent transfer budget.

Jose Mourinho

Pros: Young, talented, ambitious and determined manager who is making waves in Europe. Working with a small budget he has turned Porto into one of the best sides in Europe. His teams play intelligent, attractive football yet are organised, disciplined and hard working. Speaks English and rumoured to want to work in England.

Cons:
Young and relatively inexperienced. No experience of a large transfer budget and has no managerial experience in a top league or with superstars (although was a member of the backroom staff at Barcelona).

Verdict: I really like this fellow. Probably the best of the young managers.

Javier Iureta

Pros: Brilliant record with Deportivo in Spain. His teams are fantastically well organised (aside from the 3-8 loss to Monaco!) and play exciting football.

Cons: No experience of the English game.

Verdict: very good manager, but he might be happy in Spain.

Didier Deschamps

Pros: intelligent player, a born leader. Having a fantastic first season with Monaco. Has some experience of English league.

Cons: still only cutting his teeth in management. A gamble but he looks promising.

Verdict: Is surprising many people, but he's still very young. I could see him going to Marseille and then onto Juventus if he keeps things up.

Ronald Koeman

Pros: Has turned Ajax around.

Cons: Still relatively inexperienced.

Verdict: Inexperienced, and we'd have to fight Barcelona for him.

Claudio Ranieri

Pros: Knows the English game well. Doing very well at Chelsea. Very likeable man.

Cons: Very likeable man. Sometimes “tinkers” too much. Occasionally gets his tactics spot on, occasionally doesn’t and backfires spectacularly.

Verdict: I admire Ranieri and he's the nicest manager in the Premiership, but while he would get us playing good football and maybe break into the top 3, I couldn't see him take us any further.

Anybody got anymore suggestions? Be realistic, we won’t get Marcello Lippi or Otmar Heitzfeld, and can people seriously see Curbishley and Starchen winning us the league?

[Coley]

JBG, excellent post and very logical.  Most people's head's would tell them that we want Martin O'Neil, but on the evidence you have given us it would appear that Capello would be the ideal candidate.  I can't think of any others that you haven't mentioned, but do you know if Capello speaks English?  This would also be a huge factor. 

Also, should premiership experience matter so long as the coach that comes in has a winning habit? Souness won plenty at Rangers but couldn't cut it here with Liverpool, so maybe that is right, but if the coach is winning in Italy or Spain it is a bit different to winning in Scotland isn't it?

[Steele]

Good Post!

Re: Fabio Capello

I think he will be high on Chelsea's shopping list, and would be hard to turn down.

He has been said to "Like the french players"..don't know whether thats a good thing or bad thing.

[Stackman]

That's an excellent post.  O'Neill and Mourinho have stood out as top candidates, and I certainly would like to see O'Neill come.  His managerial record (apart from his short stint at Norwich) is great.  But you throwing Copello into the hat is very interesting, and he certainly has experience of winning.

I think you are correct in your assessment of Curbishley etc.  I have no doubts they could come in now, and get better performances out of the players that are at Liverpool.  I'm not sure they could turn us into contenders for the Premier League though.

Of course, you are assuming Houllier will be going in the summer, and right now, I'm not convinced that will happen.

[redspirit]

Was Arsene Wenger experienced in the premier League and big budget when he joined Arsenal?  What about Fergie?  What about Shankley?  The cons about inexperience in the Premier League is irrelevant.  Mourinho, Deschamps, Dennis Wise...young managers with energy, passion, and  potential is the risk LFC needs to take if we are to make a difference in the future.

[Badmao1]

There is no doubt about Fabio Capello's quality but i would rather go for O'Neill because i believe that a British manager is the best way. O'Neill has got 120% out of ordinary players at Leicester and to some extent Celtic, if he could do something along those lines at Liverpool we would improve.

O'Neill isn't a mr nice guy who trys to control his players as best he can, he rules them with an iron fist and they don't dare step out of line.

O'Neill is a born winner and the Liverpool board should move heaven and earth to get him to Anfield.

[Woollyback]

Couldn't agree more 

[stmichael]

it has to be o'neill for me. i wouldn't be surprised if mourihno was at real madrid next season. o neill would well and truly give our lazy unachieving players (if there are any left) a good kick up the backside. the passion which he brings means that the fans and the players respond accordingly.

[adayinthelife]

O Neill is the only man 4 the job as far as I can see.If not Mourinho looks like a decent young manager as 4 the others I dont think so.Capello does not impress me and chelsea can have him,Toshack is a disaster and would be as bad as souness I think.The rest have done well at smaller clubs with no pressure on them but they would not have that luxury with us.Wait a min houllier is on verge of finished outside top 4 twice in a row and his job isnt under threat.What a joke moores,parry and houllier are,THE 3 STOOGES go now.

[Scottbot]

Good concise assessment of some of the candidates JBG. I have been hoping for MON since about November last year and that hasn't changed. Mourinho has impressed me a great deal with this years champ league success on the back of last years UEFA win + he had a great spat with Fergie which has endeared him to LFC fans all over the country. Unfortunately, Real Madrid are likely to look for a new boss in the summer and i can see Mourinho eneded up at the Bernabau. Capello would be a real outsider who i think may be destined for Chelsea or maybe even the Italy Coach position (has he had this job before? i'm not sure). Irueta has got Deportivo punching above their weight for the last few years but he would not be one of my choices. Koeman has shown a lot of potential with Ajax and you can be sure he would have the team playing attractive football. Of the candidates you have listed, O'neil is my clear favourite - I would love to see him remonstrating on the Anfield touchline next season. I would not be upset to see Mourinho at the club - Manc derbys would be even spicier! We could do worse than Koeman but i feel he needs to prove himself further.

[KenDeMange]

Top post that man JBG but Fickle nonetheless!

Sorry, but if folk gave GH as much passion as it prob took writing that post, we may not be the laughing stock we are today

[shankill butcher]

Martin Oneill? ? ? ? ? What are you guys on?
  His teams play absolute s##t football -long ball -defensive -hes perfect for Scottish premier league but not for a top premiership team.
  Hed buy spud farmers like Ian Dowie and teletubby Hartson and celtic rejects ..who could he attract for Lfc? He would be no better than Houllier (i didnt swear)

[JBG]

Top post that man JBG but Fickle nonetheless!

Sorry, but if folk gave GH as much passion as it prob took writing that post, we may not be the laughing stock we are today

Come off it. Liverpool's woes aren't the fans fault.....

I don't think it was fickle, I merely tried to see the pros and cons of the major candidates.

Its true that Ferguson and Wenger had no experience in England when they arrived and they succeeded, but the counter arguement is that Christian Gross, Joseph Venglos etc failed in the Premiership.

[simic_ie]

Mr DeMange. Gerard Houllier has been given 18months to improve things at Liverpool and things are still only going in one direction. If he was the manager at any other club in the world he would have been sacked last summer , do not belittle the support he has been afforded by the fans on this forum... if you are willing to settle for the way Liverpool are playing now then don't bother posting anymore because this forum is for fans who want this club back where it belongs.

[JBG]

Brilliant user name Ken De Mange......I had completely forgotten about that guy!!!