Friday 25 May 2012

Martinez not ripe for Anfield

If rumours are to be believed , Wigan's manager Roberto Martinez is to be the next Liverpool Manager after the dismissal of  Anfield Favourite , Kenny Dalglish by Fenway Sports group . By all accounts , Martinez happens to be on holiday in the caribbean island , and an interview / meeting with Liverpool's American owners have evidently taken place . With Wigan's Chairman acting as unofficial spokesperson / PR consultant ,  for his perhaps, soon to be departing  manager ,  Roberto Martinez . I am just puzzled at the manner in which events seem to be unravelling .

Let's face it ,  Dalglish for all his Legendary status deserved the chop , but  I would have envisaged Fenway sports group  to have gone about acquiring the services of his successor in a more dignified way - such as ,  at least having the mechanics of the process right . All the speculation surrounding who the next manager will be is hurtful enough for  the fans of Liverpool football Club whom as i stated earlier,  see Kenny Dalglish as a Legend .  With that point on board , they must do better with their ideas for getting a replacement in place ;  and perhaps a more famous person , with a richer pedigree / association with foot balling  and / or managerial success would be the sort to placate the fans , who are spitting blood over the sacking of their idol .  I sincerely hope lessons have been learnt from the penultimate manager they sacked  - a certain Roy Hodgson . Not in the sense that Roy Hodgson was not competent enough to do the job , as we all know,  Liverpool fans breath and worship their   Club's illustrious history and heritage , and would fiercely demand Dalglish's replacement has a record to stand -up to their sharp and harsh scrutiny .

I concur with giving Fenway Sports Group the benefit of doubt , and hold-on till  a name is officially announced before mouthing them off , but they cannot afford not to get it right this time . Liverpool Football Club have decelerated in the last two and half years , and getting this appointment wrong would potentially usher in a period of downward spiral for this great Club.  The Club needs forward momentum . As such , the next manager has to hit the ground running .  Getting back into the Champions' League at first go , and winning  the disgruntled fans over is no mean feat for any manager , but sounds like his brief.  If indeed Martinez has been " offered " the job , and turns round to reject it for one thing or the other , that sort of snub , not by a big name manager will be damaging for the Club and it's new owners. A few have already turned down the chance for an interview already . This must not become a moral hazard , we are talking of a global brand , and a Club of tremendous stature .

I have been historically an admirer of Roberto Martinez . As a pundit working for sky sports on Spanish Football , and his successful managerial  stint at Swansea . Eloquent , balanced , thoughtful ,  a student of the game , and as we witnessed in Wigan's last 10 games , has the tactical nous , and motivational skills to handle a group of players .  I am convinced Mr. Martinez would get to the very top of his profession , but there is also caveat to it - it's called taking the right job . I am sure a thing or two would have been learnt by all budding Foot ball managers from the experience of Paul Ince ( at Blackburn ) and notably Andreas Villas Boas  (  at Chelsea ) . Big Clubs , sometimes go for young , up and coming managers without putting in place structures to nurture their fledgling careers . Yes , I know that is hard to do in foot ball ,  hence young , unripe managers like martinez , take heed , and  bid their time before joining big Clubs -  with their fickle fans , and burgeoning expectations ; or risk the withering of their young careers. The  season is not right  for martinez at Anfield . He has to learn that making Wigan a team sound and secure , and elevated to the level of a  mid-table premiership Club in 2 or 3 year would do his career more good - as he would have learnt invaluable experience in  far less vulgar surroundings . It's the scenic route to success in the shark infested waters that is football management .

As for Mr . Dave Whelan , Chairman of Wigan Foot ball Club  :  A deservedly , widely respected , self-made man , maybe i do not get it :  but i hold an opposite view to yours in the way you tout Roberto  Martinez . I understand your affection for him , and your promoting of his talents . However , i believe making Martinez learn the value of continuous  hard work , patience ,  dedication , and the realization that at this point , his talent is not bigger than the level of  Wigan Foot ball club will suffice . Ask Mark Zuckerburg about this week's  Face book initial public offering -  some due diligence ,  and keeping it real  is more profitable than grand ambitions . Watch this Space.......

2 comments:

  1. Patrick,

    I agree with you on a lot of points made in this article. The tardy and tacky manner in which Liverpool not only bundled Dalglish out of town but the hurried search for a coach after some unusual high profile rejections of even an interview. This is really strange that there are quite a number of mid-level to high profile managers who have snubbed the Kop. How did the Liverpool brand become synonymous with kryptonite?
    There is very little doubt that Dalglish was not half the manager he was compared to his silkiness as a soccer player. There is so much "unevenness" on this team in terms of the kind of players currently on the roster.
    Having said all of this, I beg to disagree with you on the choice of Martinez. I know you compared him to the Paul Inces of the world but I think he has a more balanced soccer pedigree to succeed at Anfield - if given full autthority to run the team - including creating a team after his own image. I believe he has proven himself to be a scrapper and a confidence-builder in the teams he has managed. He needs to clean house. As much as I enjoy Spanish soccer, Liverpool has been almost an extension of La Liga with the number of players from that part of the world starring on this team. With all their technical abilities, Liverpool has become too rigid and stiflingly robotic.
    Maybe Martinex might be responsible for the Kop faithful to bellow out their favorite tune...."You'll never Walk alone". It sure has been too long we have heard this on the PA system of a major tournament victory.

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  2. Sensus Communis , It's a marvel to have you back ; thanks for weighing-in . i am satisfied with your disagreement with a few of my impressions on Roberto Martinez , and his potential for the Vacant Liverpool Manager's job . Truly , deeply , i have no doubts about the ability of Wigan's manager to do a good job any where for that matter . I would be the last to underestimate him . The point i am making is that : the back drop to the Anfield job right now , represents a reckless risk . The fans would go restive too soon , and certainly will not have the patience with a manager of his ilk , if they do not start-off on a blaze of glory . We saw it with Roy Hodgson , and if anything , the circumstances would be markedly worse for the next manager . If it is Martinez , there will be misgivings with the fans , and that tends to create an unhelpful atmosphere , that consequently undermines the confidence of players .
    I believe Martinez would turn down the job offer . Perhaps i sound crazy ! but common sense would eventually prevail . This whole episode sounds uncanny .

    Thanks ever so much for your thoughts and comments .

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