Robbie Fowler joins Paddy Power as a columnist for Euro 2012. Today he gives his views on the betting to become next Liverpool manager.
I love Kenny Dalglish. He was a brilliant player, a brilliant manager, and a brilliant man.
But football is big business. John Henry and the Fenway Sports Group have put a lot of cash into Liverpool so they can do what they want, really.
Sacking Kenny certainly wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Certainly not mine.
I like stability at a club. You can’t just keep getting rid of players or managers.
How long has Alex Ferguson been at Old Trafford? Nobody gets that chance now.
My old boss, Rafa Benitez, who was an early contender to go back to Anfield, would have learned from his mistakes, and could have done a job there again.
That said, I know people who have worked with Roberto Martinez and rate him highly. He’s done a fantastic job at Wigan.
But that in itself worried me. Liverpool is a big club with big standards. Wigan is a little club. And what miffed me or worried me is that, sure, Martinez brought Wigan on a run at the end of the season and they avoided relegation. But what about the 30 games before that?
For what Brendan Rodgers has achieved at Swansea, he deserves huge respect. He’s worked under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, so he knows the score and he’s worked with top, top players.
It’d be a massive step-up for Rodgers to manage Liverpool, if he gets the job, as expected now.
The new manager will need to bring in new players again to take Liverpool from a top eight club to a top four club. That’s going to be really, really difficult. It’s a massive challenge.
Because the top four are going to bring in new players too and that gulf increases again.
Have to say it, right now the 2012/2013 season looks like it’s going to be another difficult one for Liverpool fans.
I agree! You don’t hire someone based on the fact that they avoided relegation 3 years in a row and that they play attractive football. Martinez has lost a lot more games than he has won, so on what basis do people believe he can get Liverpool back into the Champions League??? It makes no sense. Obviously, he would win a lot more, but he hasn’t the experience to finish above the likes of Man City, Man Utd, Spurs, Arsenal, and Chelsea. Mark my words, if he was to be hired, Liverpool would finish between 5-7th for two seasons before he gets the boot! Martinez=no experience=no CL. Too much of a risk for Liverpool’s current situation.
Says much for the state Liverpool are in that they’re forced to go for either Martinez or Rodgers. Two fine managers, but Liverpool standard? Well, maybe’s Liverpool’s current standard
Well as an avid Reds follower I’d usually be very much in agreement with you but for some reason I have a good feeling about Rodgers and his footballing philosophy. As with all LFC managers in the last 3 years!! We’ll give him a good chance and back him. Lets hope he’s given the time though..
What about yourself?! I have been arguing for you as next manager since the sad sack of Dalglish. Of course no one cares what a norwegian thinks about football, and rightly so, but no one can deny that it feels in accord with the divine blueprint: Robbie Fowler, Liverpool FC manager!
Dear Fowler you are God at anfield and a legend. Kenny is the King and a legend. Time has change now in football. It is a multibillion dollar business. A lot of people and other downstream industries are depending on football. Its a huge business to lose in competition and lose the monies associated with it. There is no more place for sentiment in football now adays. Only results counts. No one know who is pep gurdiola before he became the coach of Barcelona and eventually became the best team in the world and won everything football has to offer, a total 14 titile in 4 years!.
You’we absolutely right about martinez