My 1st Press Conference
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Due to what happen with Brendan Rogers and the media, the board was keen for me keep my press relations on very good terms so while overseeing training I get a call from our media liaison to say he has scheduled an press conference at Anfield tomorrow where I would go over my vision for the club and then a Q&A session would follow. I had to be on my best behavior and answer all questions and keep calm and not say anything controversial. The board were expecting lots of positive headlines the next morning and couldn't stress how important this was for the clubs image after the negative light "The Brendan Incident" (As the media were dubbing it) put the club in.
I outlined my vision for the club, speaking about how although they had all the right tools in place to make it to the top they just weren't and how with the right attitude, players and staff we were going to make it big. I spoke about how the next couple of seasons were going to be tough as I focus on youth and bringing through future stars and creating a club culture and team spirit but after that we would absolutely dominated England and Europe, I told the press that whilst my main goal was to stay on a the club as manager I wanted to make sure that if I had to leave for any reason that the foundations were their for the next person to continue what I had started and bring success to this great club.
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Then came the part I was dreading, the Q&A session. I was ready and so it began:
Jimmy how do plan on dealing with the clubs expectant fan base and what sort of pressure do you think comes with not preforming to their expect level?
Well Liverpool's fans are some of the most passionate in the world and for good reason, this is a great club with a history anyone would be proud of and its my job to make sure the team preforms for them. I feel that, yes there will be pressure if the club isn't preforming well but no more than when I was playing, fans make football as great as it is.
How do you go about managing a squad like this, with all their different personalities?
The majority of this squad is very ambitious but that being said each player is a unique individual and has different needs, its an exciting challenge that I'm confident I can handle.
Jimmy being an Ex- all white and scoring 23 goals in only 29 appearances for New Zealand but then being forced to retire early with a spiral leg fracture at only 24, did you always know that you want to get into management or was it a case of the injury pushing you towards it?
Well having to retire from football at only 24 was heartbreaking but I wanted to stay in the game for longer so I went and started studying management qualifications and different things lead to each other and now I'm here but yes I would say that injury pushed into me management
What do you say to your critiques that growing up in a rugby centric country like New Zealand means you haven't experienced a national culture game like football
Well I disagree with them if you look at the way things are set up tactically, and how players fit into each others physical and mental requirements I don't think they are that different to each other in that sense
Could you explain what you mean by "players fit into each others physical and mental requirements, its a controversial statement the say the least?
Certainly, If you start with your goalie he's like your fullback, his main job is to defend and and save goals/tries but also to start counter attacks, then there is your central defenders, similar to props, they are normally your strongest guys on the field, they stop players and are great at tackling but are also good ball carriers.
Then your wide defenders are like your locks similar to your central defenders/props but just a bit quicker and have better ball skills. Then defensive midfielders are like your loose forwards good at tackling and and setting up plays, they also normally have the highest work rate of players on the field.
Then your midfielders are like your first-five-eighths dictating play, setting up things and being able to defend and attack, next are you wingers similar to a half-back, fast, agile and good at either setting up or scoring themselves. Then your attacking midfielders are like your Second-five-eighths/centers, they have good vision, are good attacking players and key to most attacking movements and finally your strikers are just like your wingers fast, agile and great at scoring so, yes I stand by what I said.
Last question Jimmy, Speculation is rife that Steven Gerrard may Be sold soon, If he wanted to leave what sort of price tag would you put on him?
None, I would release him on a free transfer because players, no legends like him are priceless.
Okay thank you for your time Jimmy.
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I had survived and thought things had gone pretty well. The day I got a call from Chairman of the board Thomas Werner himself saying the board were pleased with how I had handled things and how the fans were delighted with my comment at the end about Gerrard and how Gerrard had expressed his pleasure at the comment and how he was enjoying and wanting to continue working under me in a recent press interview.
I was glad that things had gone smoothly and that I wasn't having to deal with upset fans or the board.