Judge wrote:stmichael wrote:s@int wrote:How Rafa Benitez's Liverpool FC reign went wrong
May 6 2010 By Ben Thornley
IN a time of great uncertainty at Anfield the only thing which appears assured is that Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool reign is coming to a hasty end.
By 2006, Benitez had led Liverpool to glory in the Champions League and the FA Cup while attaining the Reds’ highest ever Premier League points total.
However, after the club’s worst league season since Gerard Houllier’s first at the club and four years without a trophy, the Spaniard is on the brink.
So, where did it go wrong?
THE YANKS
Tom Hicks and George Gillett arrived at Anfield in February 2007 vowing to give Benitez the finances to buy the best players in football.
That, however, proved to be just one of the many promises they failed to keep.
Benitez was on the verge of being sacked by the December with Jurgen Klinsmann lined up as his successor after the manager made a series of remarks about a lack of transfer funds.
Even before the credit crunch, the Americans were struggling to find the finances to back up their bold words. Since the global recession they’d do well to get a Burton store card.
In recent transfer windows Benitez has been forced to trade at a profit after the Americans’ financial bungling.
Just as damaging, though, have been the Anfield factions and the toxic relationship between the two owners, their families, chief executives, managing directors and the manager.
THE 2007 ATHENS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL
If Benitez’s victory in Istanbul ensured him legendary status at Anfield, a second Champions League final victory in 2007 would have made him untouchable.
The brilliance of Steven Gerrard rescued Benitez’s bungling in 2005, when the manager decided not to use his best defensive midfielder, Dietmar Hamman, to snuff out the finest trequartista in world football, Kaka.
But even the skipper couldn’t intervene when the Spaniard once more made a hash of it against AC Milan the second time round.
With Carlo Ancelloti’s aged defence vulnerable to height and pace, tactical genius Benitez left 6ft 7 Peter Crouch and lightening quick Craig Bellamy on the Olympic Stadium bench in favour of Dirk Kuyt, used as a lone striker.
Milan, who triumphed 2-1, couldn’t believe their luck.
Benitez spent the summer growing a goatee beard. Liverpool have failed to reach a cup final since. Coincidence?
THE LOSS OF PAKO AYESTERAN AND PACO HERRERA
Both men played a key role in Valencia’s two title triumphs and were highly regarded by the Liverpool boss.
Herrera provided Benitez with tactical insight while Ayesteran was regarded as among the best fitness coaches in the game.
More importantly, though, they were not afraid to tell their friend when he was wrong – and Benitez respected their opinion.
Since their departure the Anfield chief has allowed himself to be surrounded by yes men who have allowed all of his dubious tactical and transfer decisions to go unquestioned.
DIRK KUYT
The Dutchman has contributed many vital goals, particularly in Europe, since his signing from Feyenoord in 2006.
Liverpool, however, took a significant step back for his arrival when he replaced Peter Crouch as the Reds’ first-choice striker.
Poor in the air, a miserable first touch and a lack of pace made him ill-suited to either of the striker roles.
That mattered little to Benitez, though. Kuyt’s relentless running and pressing of opponents made him the boss’ forward of choice, destroying the dynamic of the team and reversing the progress that had been made the season before.
The 29-year-old has successfully reinvented himself as a right winger, but is all too often asked to play as a lone striker in Torres’ absence – a task he lacks the attributes to perform. It has never worked – but that hasn’t stopped Benitez.
TACTICS/ BENITEZ’S CAUTION
Benitez’s command of English has improved during his six years at Anfield but his grasp of what it takes to win the English Premier League has not.
In a division that regularly sees the champions finish with more than 90 points, playing for a draw against a team outside of the top four isn’t an option.
Benitez threw away his and Liverpool’s best opportunity to finally end their title drought last season by allowing his caution to stifle the Reds.
Had Benitez’s side turned a handful of the dreadful draws against the likes of Hull City, Stoke City and Everton into victories, they would have been champions.
4-2-3-1
Benitez’s preferred formation since his Valencia days. It’s merits are obvious – but the dogmatic 50-year-old often fields players unsuitable for particular roles within the system when key men are unavailable, rather than switch to a shape that would better suit his personnel.
And do Liverpool really need two defensive midfield players against the likes of Wolves?
XABI ALONSO/ ALBERTO AQUILANI
Forcing the Basque midfielder’s exit from Liverpool was perhaps the manager’s greatest mistake – an even poorer decision than opting to sign the perennially crocked Alberto Aquilani as his replacement.
Alonso – the Reds’ player of the season in 2008/09 – was integral to the way Liverpool played, providing Torres and Gerrard with quick possession in dangerous areas of the pitch.
There’s a reason Real Madrid paid £30m for him – he’s the best in the business at what he does.
INJURIES TO TORRES AND GERRARD
The Anfield boss has been unfortunate in this respect, particularly during the last two seasons.
Some of the worst performances of this period, though, have been delivered with both men in the starting XI.
STRIKER LIGHT
Parting company with Bellamy and Crouch rank among the manager’s worst moves in the transfer market.
Particularly given the injury record of Fernando Torres and the paucity of options last season in the Spaniard’s absence.
Entering the season with just the raw David Ngog and awful Andriy Voronin as back-up was criminally negligent.
2008/09 TRANSFER DEALINGS
This was Benitez’s Houllier 2002 moment.
Summer signings Robbie Keane (£21m), Andrea Dossena (£7m) and Phillip Degen (free) all failed to make an impact, with Keane and Dossena both failing to last more than a season.
Degen – who has an injury record that makes Aquiliani look indestructible – too would have been jettisoned if anyone would take him.
It could have been worse. Benitez nearly sold Alonso to Arsenal for £12m – a year before he fetched £30m – and bought Gareth Barry for £20m before the owners and Rick Parry intervened.
At least they got something right.
THE APPOINTMENT OF EDUARDO MACIA
Liverpool’s chief scout and the man responsible for a series of transfer disasters, notably Alberto Aquilani and Andrea Dossena.
Even if he tells you Lionel Messi is a decent prospect, get a second opinion.
Shockingly poor article.
You see it's articles like this which sum up why or fans dislike the "media" in this country.
Half of it is completely inaccurate. I mean if you're going to spout a load of nonsense at least get your facts right.
if the facts were correct, then it wouldnt be nonsense
Wow, I bow down to your superior intelligence Judge
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