Liverpool FC Forum

[Scottbot]

First of all I think it's important to address this notion that some have, that none of the top managers would want to come to Liverpool FC because of the club's financial situation. i believe this is completely overplayed. Firstly, top top club with an incredible history which goes a long way in attracting managers. Secondly, even if Champions League football is a no no for next season we would still be a little over 12 months removed from finishing 2nd in the league and a Chmions league Quarter finalist. I don't believe the perception of Liverpool FC in the football world is as a busted blush.

I haven't really thought about candidates to replace Rafa (if he goes) but here are three that you might consider:

- Jose Mourinho - VERY impressive record at Benfica, Chealsea and Inter Milan. I can't quite imagine what it would be like to have him at the club having been on my feet singing 'f**k off Mourinho' at the top of my voice at Anfield on a good few occasions. Would be VERY weird BUT I think he would jump at the chance of the job tbh. I always felt he was fond of the Anfield crowd  even if we didn't think too much of him. He's brash, arrogant and cocky, the complete opposite to almost every Liverpool manager we've ever had so I can understand why a lot of fans would not like him at the club, he doesn't really fit our usual style. I'm  not sure the football would be much prettier than it is under Rafa but there is no doubting he is a winner.

- Martin O'Neil - Saint said we needed a manager who could 'do more with less'. If that's the case then O'neil has to get a mention. Again, a lot of LFC fans seem to dislike him, his football teams don't always play the prettiest stuff (ditto Rafa) but his record (except for one stint at Norwich) is very very good. He's been successful with Wycombe, Leicester, Celtic and Villa. I would argue he has over-achieved at every single one of these clubs. Likes to buy British players whiuch is a plus for me. Personally I think he would have us doing well in the league each season, I think he might struggle a little ion Europe though. I was desperate for him to be LFC manager when Houliier left but I remember there were plenty who weren't so keen. Seem to remember arguing the toss with Owzat in particular over his suitability.

Roy Hodgson - I've noticed his name being thrown into the mix by a few posters, mostly in sarcasm to back up notions of our lack of appeal to top managers BUT it isn't as unrealistic as it first sounds. He has got an excellent track record. He's managed a number of teams on the continent, he took the Swiss to Euro 96 (no mean feat), won a Cup Winners Cup with Inter-Milan (they hold him in very high regards) and he is doing a fantastic job with Fulham at the moment. Obviously the blip on his CV is that stint at Blackburn where he had a bit of money to spend and for the most part, got it wrong. Still, he would be an interesting option, his teams play attractive football and he understands the subtleties of Euorpean football with a track record to back it up.

[Scottbot]

Maureen will not be coming to Liverpool next season . Only chance he would ever come to us is if we had new owners . You can quote me on that

And heaps of money at his disposal.........man city beckons

I've always figured that would be his destination mate but they've got Mancini in now. If they wanted Maureen surely they would have gone in for him during the season? Not like they haven't got the compo money spare is it? If the LFC jopb came up and it was offered he would take it. That's what I think anyway. He's bored stupid in Italy if you believe what you read. I think he'd jump at the chance.

[kazza]

He's brash, arrogant and cocky, the complete opposite to almost every Liverpool manager we've ever had so I can understand why a lot of fans would not like him at the club, he doesn't really fit our usual style.

Neither do many of our so called fans.

[Kerry07]

Mourinho will not take us on with our current financial restrictions... fact.


Theres is no doubt he'd love to be our manager... he loves our mystique,  history, the atmosphere of the ground.."I felt the power of Anfield, it was magnificent" (following the Garcia 1-0 in 2005), passion, the banter we generate..REAL club unlike plastic chelsea... he knows he'd be idolised.. (by the way Shanks... "My idea was to build Liverpool up and up until eventually everyone would have to submit and give in", "there are only two teams in Liverpool.." .......was cocky as hell)

Mourinho is perfect for us....hes a winner... but its an open secret that he has ensured that his advisors have been kept in the loop with our financial position, and he'd only take over if he had money to spend and we were able to compete. Mourinho wants to win...and his requirement is that he has the platform to do so.

[Reg]

"My idea was to build Liverpool up and up until eventually everyone would have to submit and give in".

One of the greatest quotes of all time.

The other Reds, the Russians, had the same idea but only Shanks actually succeeded. 

[fivecups]

Mourinho will not take us on with our current financial restrictions... fact.


Theres is no doubt he'd love to be our manager... he loves our mystique,  history, the atmosphere of the ground.."I felt the power of Anfield, it was magnificent" (following the Garcia 1-0 in 2005), passion, the banter we generate..REAL club unlike plastic chelsea... he knows he'd be idolised.. (by the way Shanks... "My idea was to build Liverpool up and up until eventually everyone would have to submit and give in", "there are only two teams in Liverpool.." .......was cocky as hell)

Mourinho is perfect for us....hes a winner... but its an open secret that he has ensured that his advisors have been kept in the loop with our financial position, and he'd only take over if he had money to spend and we were able to compete. Mourinho wants to win...and his requirement is that he has the platform to do so.

It's not fact, it's rumour and opinion.

Got to agree with Scott, I think Liverpool will still attract a big manager if Rafa leaves. People would do a lot for £4 million a year. Plus, theres the history of the club and imagine the kudos if you somehow managed to get us back to the top level, you'd be hailed as a genius. I think a lot of people would be wary of taking over from Ferguson.

[Reg]

Scott, great post mate however Roy Hodgson is now 63..... ok if we use the time to train an internal replacement otherwise a short term strategy surely.

A nice profile of RH:    http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/foot ... 77575.html

Personally I would be very happy to have Maureen on board.

[Kerry07]

What is factual is Mourinho's advisors have been kept in the loop with our financial position. Thats cold hard fact... and has not once been denied by official sources within Mourinhos camp. He will only take us over if he had serious money to spend to be competitive. He does not want to finish a brave second, hes an out and out winner.

[stmichael]

The thing is, it's far more likely, given our owners, that whoever comes in will take us even further back than move us forward.

When you haven't got the resources to compete for the first team players you want and pay the extortionate wages they command these days, when you look at Chelsea, Utd and City's spending power, then you have to find other ways to compete. Unfortunately for us that means being patient with the youth players or getting extremely lucky with bargain buys.

Sad times

[7_Kewell]

we tried to get Mourinho before and he turned us down for Chelsea. From what I've heard, he will come back to England to manage one team, and one team only....Man Utd

[fivecups]

What is factual is Mourinho's advisors have been kept in the loop with our financial position. Thats cold hard fact... and has not once been denied by official sources within Mourinhos camp. He will only take us over if he had serious money to spend to be competitive. He does not want to finish a brave second, hes an out and out winner.

That does make sense, but I've not read it before. Do you have a source for this?

[fivecups]

The thing is, it's far more likely, given our owners, that whoever comes in will take us even further back than move us forward.

When you haven't got the resources to compete for the first team players you want and pay the extortionate wages they command these days, when you look at Chelsea, Utd and City's spending power, then you have to find other ways to compete. Unfortunately for us that means being patient with the youth players or getting extremely lucky with bargain buys.

Sad times

I agree, thats a real risk with a new manager StMichael. I've got to the stage where if another team bought Rafa out of his contract and we had someone of real quality to replace him I'd be happy to see how it went, but it's distinctly possible that things could get worse, not better.

The real issue remains our perilous financial situation, thats what threatens our whole future, not the manager.

[redmikey]

i have just asked big mick the same question. it is ok to say rafa out. but who comes in......................... big eck from brum, steve bruce, roy kean paul ince, owen coyle, roy hodgson. or go aboard again and have another 5 year paln........ ramos,kilnsman,big phil

forget about maureen, hiddink no way in hell with the at the helm, oh mark hughes is free do you wanna sing his name from the stands

rafa has made mistakes, but he is the best out there and genuinely has the club at his heart. with no money and the axe above him he has kept the clubs dignity above the sh!t , if not the standard of play this season, but 12 months ago we were destroying teams for fun, no one called for his head then.

[account deleted by request]

Then we have Dalglish. Already at the club, proven record of winning titles WITHOUT spending much money, and when he does spend big gets us Beardsley ,Barnes, Houghton and Aldridge. Gets the team playing great WINNING football and would attract the biggest names to the club (if we have any money)

Won the League and cup double in his first season buying only one player and with a team that won NOTHING the year before and finished 13 points off the top. Rebuilt the forward line when Rush left and won the league a couple more times (could have been more but for Thomas) Still a relatively young man and has proven he can not only stand up to Fergie but beat him both on and off the field.

[Reg]

we tried to get Mourinho before and he turned us down for Chelsea. From what I've heard, he will come back to England to manage one team, and one team only....Man Utd

When did Maureen tell you that mate?

Pure speculation worthy of the Hicks and Gillett thread.