ollieconnolly
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It's a crisp, cool day in the north west of England, a silver Aston Martin rolls into the Anfield parking lot and is immediatly dogged by reporters.
'Jamie, what does it feel like to be manager?'
'Jamie is it possible to turn this club around a challenge again'
Liverpool had turned to former kop great 36 year old Jamie Redknapp in a bid to return the club to the days of its former glory.
The club had only recently announced the decision to remove former manager Rafael Benitez and redknapp had stepped into the hotseat with the club i na state of termoil.
Accompanied by Chairman Martin Broughton, Redknapp faced the media for the first time.
'Jamie how proud are you on a day like today'
'as you can see im beaming, i didnt think i could experience a feeling like this again after hanging up my boots'
'How do you feel about the clubs financial state, and do you feel you can take the club back to past glories'
'The club's financial and off the pitch state does not concern me i am here today as Liverpool manager and that means everything ON the pitch, sure in the previous regime the boardroom was spoken about a lot but today that changes, yes i hope new owners are found soon as it will give the whole club a boost but it will not keep me awake at night.'
'Jamie what sort of managerial style will you take and who will you emulate'
'I would like to be disciplined but at the same time feel like the players can come and talk to me. I obviously know Jamie and Steve very well and look forward to working closely with them as well as many other key players such as Pepe Reina, Javier Mascherano and Fernando Torres. In regards as emulating people, it may be a cleche but id like to be my own man, if i was asked who id love to emulate three people come to mind, both Bill Shankley and Bob Paisley, both extroadinary men and the third my old man, i think he is the best english manager along with Roy Hodgson of the last decade, but i can not wait to line up next to him'
'Obviously every Liverpool fan is currently wondering if Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres will be staying'
Well yes the two are obvious world class stars, ive already rang Steve and he gave no indication he was even thinking about leaving, he is the heartbeat of this club and it runs in his veins. I havent yet spoke to Fernando, but im sure he wil lbe on board with what i am going to do and i look forward to working with in my opinion the greatest striker in the world'
Many Journalists left the press conference feeling impressed by Redknapp some saw the remarks about Torres as a plea for him to stay where as others saw it as brute honesty, Redknapp refuesed to talk about his transfer policy but two names currently in the frame to join liverpool are Neymar a young Brazilian forward from Santos and Angel Di Maria a left winger from Benfica
i will now take the Role of Jamie Redknapp and narate as him
---------- Post added at 12:36 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:24 AM ----------
After quite a shakey press Conference i immediatly asked Martin could we go to his office to discuess my budget, players and the backroom staff.
He asked me to brutally honest about where i thought we could finish, i told him that i knew i could take the club back into champions league football, he luled over it a while and then said a club in the champions league would be much more desirable for foreign investors and offered me £20mil in which to do so.
We immediatly began to discuss players and i informed him that i felt Albert Reira and Charles Itandje should leave the club due to previous infractions, he couldnt have agreed more.
We then discussed new players but we only mentioned three players, Suarez, Di Maria and Neymar for me the club needs some young attacking talent.
We finally discused the backroom staff, i immediatly declared 'This is Liverpool Football Club and therefore should be run by people who know the club through and through' so i have asked 'King' Kenny to stay on as an advisor and Director of Football, ive also kept on Sammy Lee as well as inviting Phil Thompson to return to the club, im sure there will be many more changes in the coming week.
The meeting closed with Martin saying 'Jamie, make sure Gerrard stays' and that was that ..
Squad analysis to follow ....
---------- Post added at 01:05 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:36 AM ----------
First Squad Assessment:
Goalkeepers:
Reina was number 1 no question a quality Rafa signing and he had my full confidence.
Cavalieri was ok as a backup but I wasn't convinced he could replace Reina if needed. If an offer came in that would allow LFC to break even on him I'd let him go otherwise he stayed.
Itandje - He was gone, I didn't care if he was any good. His antics at the Hillsborough memorial were unacceptable and he would be leaving as soon as I could find someone to sign him, Phil was already spreading the word.
Defence:
Carra was a rock but he was ageing. I knew he didn't have that many more good days ahead of him but his experience would be invaluable. I had great things in mind for Agger, I planned to build my defence around him. He was to be the Alan Hansen of my team. I was happy with Insua and Johnson at fullback but wanted to add some cover at left back. Insua was young and would need to be rested. He needed a mentor to help him improve. Degen looked good on paper and in training but his injury record was unacceptable - if I got a good offer for him he'd be leaving and I would promote Darby or Kelly as Johnson's understudy.
Midfield:
Mash, Gerrard, Aqualani and Lucas (yes Lucas) all had to stay. I saw them as an important part of my new system.
Maxi and Babel had to prove their worth. If they could show they could adapt to my way of playing then I would be happy to keep them if they couldn't then I had to look to the future.
We looked weak on the wings and I wanted someone with some flair, creativity and pace, there was no one in the youth system that fit that description and looked ready for the PL. I'd have to bring someone in. I began to look at Angel Di Maria and also began talks with Joe Cole, but with the money City could offer and United also involved i wasnt holding my breath
Strikers:
Torres, Kuyt, N'Gog - I wanted them to stay they were all a different style and I wanted the options. Kuyts versatility was fantastic, i would be playing with a free flowing midfield where wingers could become strikers, so it was essential that he could play down both wings and upfront.
I wanted someone with pace and strength and an eye for goal – Milan Jovanovic one of Rafa's last signings looked like he could fit that bill but I wasn't sure if I should bring in my own man or trust him. I'd put the scouts to work and see how things went during pre season.
I also began exploring the option of the exciting Neymar from Brazil i was hoping to secure the deal and put him into carling cup games as well as many appearences from the bench.
I would be playing a 4-1-1-3-1 system, with a back four of Johnson, Carra, Agger and Insua
Masch anchoring and dominating the midfield, Aquilani a little further forward hoping he could pull some strings somewhere near the standard set by Xabi Alonso.
Gerrard would be given the complete freedom of the midfield to do as he pleaeed, swap position , drive forward or hold back, i was hoping this freedom would enable him to reproduce his best form for his club,
i would start the first friendly with Babel on the left and Maxi on the right, these were the two positions up for grabs for either Kuyt and if i manage to secure him Di Maria
and off course Fernando would be the striker, hopefully terrorising defences
---------- Post added at 01:16 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:05 AM ----------
On the first day of training i gathered the lads in and outlined my ambition to take the club back to where it belongs and told them that they could go down in history and make themselves legends on the Kop but the hardwork must start now.
I asked Phil and Sammy to set up a match with the reserves and i observed from the sidelines, the game enabled me to have a first look at my tactics and gave some of the younger lads in the reserves a chance to really put themselves forward to show me they deserve a place in the first team.
The first team ran out 6-0 winners, Torres 3, Lucas and Maxi the scorers, there were many positives with Fernando looking hungry and showing no signs that he wants to leave as were reported in the papers.
The decision to ask Maxi and Ryan (Jovanovic in the 2nd half) to swap flanks every 10 minutes seemed to work really well. Daniel Pacheco also impressed and deffienetly give me a lot of thought about whether he would be ready for the first team, i would deffientley be trying him out in the upcoming friendlies.
However despite these positives there were also negatives, Johnson looked susceptable at the back, and these were not premiership standard players. As well as Aquilani sometimes looking swamped in the centre of the park, it deffientley gave me food for thought ....
