22 May 2012

Savage: Forget Rijkaard & AVB - LFC need one of these two 'motivators'...

Top managers are turning down the Liverpool job left, right and centre at the moment, and the list of realistic options narrows by the day. Andre Villas Boas and Frank Rijkaard are two front-runners for the role at the moment, but former Leicester and Blackburn star Robbie Savage believes that Liverpool should ignore them both and focus on trying to recruit two managers currently plying their trade in the Premier League.

In his column for The Mirror, Savage urged John Henry to 'forget' the likes of Rijkaard, AVB, Rodgers and Martinez, and argued that Liverpool rebuilding Anfield was a more important goal than hiring a top class, internationally renowned manager:

"It's unlikely that any new manager will get anything like the cash Liverpool paid for the likes of Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam, Stewart Downing and Andy Carroll if they come in and decide to get rid.

"So why not go for someone who can motivate them and the likes of Jay Spearing, Martin Kelly and Jonjo Shelvey, making them feel ten feet tall while building an unbeatable team spirit?

"There are two people I know who could do that. One is Martin O'Neill. And the second, though the whole of Merseyside will hate me for saying it, is David Moyes".


Savage's choice will predictably invoke the ire of a particularly vocal section of Liverpool's one-eyed tribal 'fans' - the same fans who are crucifying Roberto Martinez before he's even met with the club (!) - but those two choices would make a lot of sense, and I personally would be happy with either of them.

I've been arguing Martin O'Neill's case for 10 years now, and I've highlighted his qualities many times on this site. Having said that, as much as I think he could do a great job, the club need someone for the long run, and at 60, O'Neill is too old now. His time has passed, but had he been given the opportunity a few years ago, the club might not be in such a mess now.

In my view, Moyes is a superb manager, and the fact that he's in charge of Everton should not obscure his achievements on a comparatively miniscule budget. For me, one achievement epitomises Moyes' management skill and motivational skills: in 2003-4, Everton finished 17th on 39 points; one season later, they finished in the top four, three points ahead of Liverpool.

The gap between Liverpool and Everton has narrowed over the last three years, and despite the club spending 144m in the last 18 months, Everton still finished above the Reds this season, which is a testament to Moyes' management skills.

Club legends like Peter Beardsley and Steve McMahon played for both Everton and Liverpool, and lots of Liverpool players were boyhood Everton fans before playing for the Reds (i.e. Fowler, McManaman, Owen, Carra etc), so I don't really see the issue with an Everton manager coming to Liverpool.

Jaimie Kanwar


51 comments:

  1. Since when are Liverpool fans "crucifying" Martinez? MON is too old now. Moyes, could be a good appointment but is he going to want to come to Liverpool? I doubt that. So, both targets are unrealistic.

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  2. Moyes has to reincarnate to become Liverpool Manager!

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  3. Thebeattourist8:22 am, May 22, 2012

    Seriously man...please stop referring to other fans as 'fans'...it does not do you any favours when you belittle other opinions that do not match yours..especially when you're touting the Everton manager as our next boss...yes he has done admirable work there but there's no way he'd ever be LFC boss, and rightly so...football IS tribal and you surely understand that as you stir the sh*t 24/7.

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  4. I didn't see O'Neill motivating Sunderland much towards the end of last season. I didn't see much mention of their terrible run of form anywhere either - the joys of being a media favorite eh.

    Rijkaard is easily the best candidate for me, but I'd rather take a punt on a manager such as Martinez than "play it safe" again with a manager such as O'Neill that will see us remain secure outside of the elite

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  5. get a grip..what a load of tosh.moyes,my god now we are scraping the bottom of the barrell.probably could cope with oneill.but what a slap in the face to kenny that would be.cant believe i am wasting my time even commenting on this utter rubbish 

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  6. David Moyes would be a great appointment. Has got Everton to champions league position before. I guess the question is would he come?    I doubt it. Just would be another manager rejecting the approach followed by more embarrassment for LFC.

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  7. I see RAFA l hear RAFA i speak RAFA i eat RAFA i sleep RAFA i work rafa = CHAMPION LEAGUE/FEAR BY

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  8. BTW Steve Nicol has the same opinion.
    http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2012/05/22/100252-31018359/? 

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  9. MON has only recently taken over at Sunderland, so I imagine it would cost quite a bit to get him out of his contract. Money that we can ill afford to keep chucking away.

    Likewise with Moyes - a great man-motivator, but would the Luvvie ever give LFC permission to speak to him? It would open a whole can of worms if he ever moved across the park; remember how upset they got over Barmby, ffs? Not sure if Moyes would ever move anyway, after all he's at the 'People's Club'.   (!!)

    I'm sure there's a couple of currently unemployed managers out there.......

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  10. I remember when Nicky Barmby crossed the divide he wasn't able to walk the streets here.
    Moyes will never ever cross the line and manage Liverpool just like SAF would never manage MCFC.
    On a scale of 1 to 100, the chances are zero, this is just more shite spouted by that super ponce Savage.

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  11. Don't be so bloody stupid. Moyes and MON!!! Have we really fell so low??

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  12. I don't see the point in you writing about this JK to be honest.

    1. It's written by Robbie Savage who's a complete gimp with no credibility when it comes to punditry or anything else to do with football.

    2. He's suggested David Moyes, even though anyone with half a brain knows that Liverpool fans would be in uproar at the thought of it and Moyes is a decent enough guy not to stab Everton in the back.

    3. Same as point 1 - Robbie Savage is a t*t.

    Going on credentials etc, Rafa or Capello are the obvious choices. I'd fancy Rijkaard to do a job though and I'm a big fan of Martinez. I'd have any of these 4 over O'Neill and Moyes

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  13. FAIR CHANCE TO ALL9:21 am, May 22, 2012

    Why do the spirit of shankly group think they know it all and slag off Martinez - they are cousins of the Leeds mob who sacked Clough after 44 daya and will regret it for 44 years - Rafas football was MEGSA BORRING -FYLL STOP

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  14. Rijkaard is easily the best candidate for me, but I'd rather take a punt on a manager such as Martinez, than "play it safe" again (as was the case with Hodgson), with a manager such as O'Neill that would be almost guaranteed to see us reach a glass ceiling outside of the elite
    http://hereisthecity.com/2012/05/20/liverpool-should-turn-to-frank-rijkaard-for-a-return-to-the-elit/? 

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  15. guys stop all this talk of capello coming over. nothing great and can only sense more unhappiness by the players. Moyes will be a good choice. Get a grip on the local game and then talk of europe. Moyes will kick some egos in the team. capello will only come come for a short term,earn his bucks and jet off.waste of time.

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  16. Stop going on about Rafa, he has gone goodbye and get over it. we want a manager that is brave enough to go out and try win football matches not scared to loose matches.
    Rafa had his moment and just like Dalglish sometimes going back is a mistake.
    I say give the job to Martinez on an initial 2 year contract depending on the finance available, his minimum requirement in the first season is top 5 position in the permiership and the following season a place in the champion's league. it should not only be the manager being scrutanised but the owners too must find a way to build or redevelop a new stadium..

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  17. Just when people will stop talking rubbish. GOD. I wouldnt want either of them. Two more massively overrated British mngrs who won shit as mngrs. There u have a mngr who broke the monopoly of RM and Barca winning La Liga twice Uefa Cup, EUROPEAN CUP and the FAC waiting to b given the chance to manage the club he loves once again. Yet again what he's won and making Lfc number one in Europe doesn't compare with the achievements of two of the best in D Moyes and M Oneil. What a f jocke.

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  18. sounds like you're sleeping with rafa!

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  19. The players you would love to hate when go the match were Gary Neville, Vinny Jones, Robbie Savage and El Hadj Djouf even when he played for Liverpool.
    The guy is now being paid by the BBC funded by us to spout utter crap and garbage for a living just winding people up. As a so called boyhood blue he should know saying stuff like that will just get everyones back up.
    When you hear of real football players like Tommy Smith having to sell his medals to survive and this fag driving round in a Bentley earning loads of dosh with no talent as a player whatsover it just makes you cringe.
    He is probably bonking that Gabby Logan too as she is all over the git like a rash on tv.

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  20. that was in in the past, 2006 and before, we have moved on now man get a grip of yourself.

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  21. do you need a padded cell.

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  22. but he has got red hair

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  23. How Savage has got a job as a pundit I just don't know. If either Rikjaard or AVB was given the job I wouldn't be upset nor would I mind Martinez. There is absolutely no chance that Moyes would be given or accept the Liverpool job.

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  24. I doubt Moyes would take the job just as much as I doubt FSG would approach him, same goes for Oneil.
     
    We are facing an awkward situation with the next manager hire as it is make or break in terms of the future of this club. He will be tasked with getting us back in the CL, and if that is not achieved can you imagine another change in manager?
     
    Second point is what type of resources will he have? Top managers work with elite players so if the new hire is appointed how much is available? do they have to sell Kenny's flops in order to Buy? And how will that attract the worlds best managers?
     
    Third point is surrounding fan realism- we are currently searching for a messiah as ultimatley we want to be on top again - now... do we honestly believe any manager that comes in is going to get us that league title we have been waiting for under the current owners? To win this league you have to have owners with a passion for the sport and be prepared to bankroll it .... Chelsea and City have managed that and they have owners that are willing to reinvest to achieve instant success - fact is we do not have owners that can match them so no league titles our way anytime soon
     
    Based on these points the future of the club is dependent on the ability of the next manager who may be facing a first year struggle with an unfamiliar squad that is tasked with CL football - which I believe is the best we can do domestically.... the sad state of affairs is that the worlds best managers and players do not want to join the club...

    I said this when he left, and I still believe it now... and think it will become more apparent as time goes on... getting rid of Rafa was a massive mistake... just ask yourselves how long it will be before someone matches 2005 - 2010 and all that came with it...

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  25. how many league championships did Rafa win from 2005-10 and pardon me if I am wrong only once did he contend for the title.
    The early days he won stuff with the majority of the team Houllier had but when he built his own team in time only once did they look seriously like winning the league, in the end it was player power that helped oust him not just Tom and George

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  26. Moyes? 

    How could the friends of Fergie can handle the LFC Job? 

    #JustSaying

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  27. People like u need to get a grip. U get grip yrself. Check the pools on every Lfc website most of the fans want Benitez back.

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  28. like moyes he has red hair too

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  29. i want to bang Catherine Zeta Jones but that is not going to happen either mate, Rafa is history he has gone move on.
    I have an accommodating girlfriend so I dont need to get a grip of myself.

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  30. Don't waste yr time in here comenting an bullshiting. Have u ever tried being a comedian. I'm sure you'll find people who'll find u hilarious.

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  31. your the comedian who is talking hilarious. I am talking common sense, Rafa was the past the club should be looking to the future and how can they when people like you live in the past.
    You and everyone else need to move on and support whoever they offer the job to which wont be Rafa, not have a bloody civil war between everybody and not giving any young manager a chance.

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  32. There's a different between good motivator & football tactician. Gerrard can be good motivator. And our team need well tactician.

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  33. davewestausregularguest2:03 pm, May 22, 2012

    Just keep Martin O'Neill away from LFC - an absolute plonker!

    With the lack of continuity within the club,Benitez is the man to bring back. There's nobody throughout the clubs management,or within the club anymore who is an ex-player! There's only ex-player 'pundits' who know little about managing a team!
    All the ex-players giving their views thru' the media are not capable of being part of the running of the club! And they do nothing else for the club!

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  34. he wants KD out but he wants martinez in.

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  35. chibuzo akobundu7:26 pm, May 22, 2012

    I think not only do you look like Rafa also you probably even dress like Rafa. Your narrow-mindedness will not allow you to support another good manager out there. I have some shocking news for you there is a manager out there capable of taking Liverpool to heights greater than Rafa could have ever dream't of taking us. We just have to search carefully which is really the hardest part of the puzzle.

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  36. chibuzo akobundu7:27 pm, May 22, 2012

    lol too funny

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  37. spot on!

    Its also noticeable that the media and the ex players have the same old agenda...its an old boys club ...they don't want foreigners coming in and taking Brit jobs . The ex pros blinkered by their loyalty to their mates and the media blinded by their nationalism

    Its obvious, just as the foreign players are generally better footballers so its the case with the managers ...obviously their are exceptions but generally the top foreign managers have more variation and skill at management , not just relying on "man management" 

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  38. You might now she knows about C Z J .........

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  39. Where has he ever failed, though? Blackburn were alongside Sunderland when he started. He motivated an average side to pull well away from relegation with top four form before they, understandably, tailed off. But he picked up more points than we did while he was there. So i wonder how many points we would have got had he been manager?

    How can a manager who has never failed in our top flight be considered to only be a 'media favourite'? He has history of cleaning Dalglish's mess as well. How many managers have a good record with 3 different premiership teams and have either improved them immensely or they have dropped like a stone after he has left? And then add Celtic to that mix and the difference compared to the Dalglish/Barnes fiasco.

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  40. Tell me, how is Capello better than O'Neill?

    Still can't speak English properly, despite being paid 6 million per year. Did not even see out his contract with the FA? Fet compelled to leave because John Terry moved his court case? Had England playing miserable, negative rubbish? The worst world cup campaign in living memory? What makes him obvious? When has O'Neill ever failed in a job?

    Rafa, to me, has had his chance, what will we do, appoint Kenny again if it all goes wrong? Why not call ourselves Magic Roundabout FC? Rijkaard, I could stand, although it would be interesting to see how long Suarez took orders from him. Same with AVB and Martinez. Both could do a good job for us.

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  41. But your girlfriend, surely, is not Catherine Zeta Jones, Michael Douglas would have something to say about that. Although, apparently, she is bi polar, so maybe it would be more trouble than it is worth.

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  42. She might still get a grip but just not where he wants it, or how he wants it!

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  43. Totally agree with you. We need to move on and not allow the club to keep going from side to side for years on end. Rafa had his time, it looked like it was going stale, lack of funds or not, and moving on was the right thing to do. Moving back just shows that we don't know what we are doing.

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  44. He's a top manager and he guarantees success. If a player does not shake hands with someone else, his attention to detail is such that he notices these things. There's a start. He's cleaned Kenny's mess up in the past also.

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  45. I think you are right. But i think there are exceptions. Fact is, I would have Wenger or Mourinho, men who speak about 5 languages each, over Hodgson or a lot of other managers. simple brain power dictates that if a man is more intelligent, there is more chance he will get his team to perform better and be set up better. The majority of our managers are still as thick as two short planks. Who would you rather have drawing up your battle strategy? Some of our managers get through on man management and good leadership, as well as common sense, but i think their players are better because their coaching is more thoughtful and better organised. Until we get rid of the mob 'get stuck in' and 'everyone likes a trier' mentality, we will see more of the same rubbish.

    I do think O'Neill is an exception and more intelligent than the majority of Managers from the UK. Probably why so many supporters hate him despite his record being excellent at various places.

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  46. davewestausregularguest4:52 pm, May 23, 2012

    OK,he has qualifications! I assume the mess was at Celtic from memory,is that correct?
    He did'n't do too much at Villa Park! And his other so called success's I think were in lower divisions!
    Anyhow I don't want him at Anfield - that's my opinion - continental managers in my opinion are far better tactically etc.
    I have read that Van Gaal has been mentioned and I applaud that.I would have him anytime in front of MO.
    I still want Rafa back!

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  47. Bi polar? God, she's fit and all, but now I know she's an environmentalist I wouldn't touch her with yours....

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  48. Idiotic blogger with a idiotic post. Seriously?!! How is anyone suppose to take you seriously when you start quoting Robbie Savage. Idiot!

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