Liverpool FC Forum

by **zarababe** » Fri May 27, 2005 1:43 am

.. from me fav paper the Guardian...

Benítez is ruthless in victory

Over and out? Spaniard says his squad is only 70% of what he wants and promises a clear-out in echo of Shankly and Paisley eras

Dominic Fifield
Friday May 27, 2005
The Guardian

Rafael Benítez returned to Liverpool in triumph yesterday but despite the joyous scenes that greeted his team's open-top bus on the streets of the city he remains intent upon reshaping the squad, with a number of the side who hoisted the club's first European Cup in 21 years set to leave in the summer.

The Spaniard will not rest easy on the back of Wednesday's remarkable success in Istanbul and will instead seek to overhaul the playing staff. For many of them, the triumph in the Ataturk Stadium marked their farewell appearance for Liverpool with those expected to depart including Jerzy Dudek, whose breathtaking double save from Andriy Shevchenko in extra-time was bettered only by his heroics in the penalty shoot-out.

The Germany midfielder Dietmar Hamann and the Czech striker Milan Baros are also likely to leave. The striker's compatriot Vladimir Smicer, who scored Liverpool's second goal and converted what turned out to be the winning penalty, has been told he can leave when his contract expires next month as the manager sets his sights upon claiming the club's first title in what would be 16 years.
"My responsibility is to make decisions," Benítez said yesterday. "I have a clear idea about the future and I'll talk to my players about what I want to do. We will speak. We knew the players before the final, so this occasion hasn't changed the way we are thinking. I want to take Liverpool to the Premiership title - for me, that is the challenge now.

"I said when I first came here that the squad was 60% towards where I wanted it to be and now it is maybe 70%, but there is still much to do. You always need to analyse your squad's possibilities and whether you'll have the money to change things, but the team will be better next season."

The Spaniard will have those funds, with a kitty amounting to around £25m. That has largely been generated by this remarkable cup run, with its knock-on effects in terms of sponsorship and TV revenues, and may swell further should the manager successfully move players on.

Many of the current squad begin their holidays this weekend, with Benítez himself due to take a short break visiting his parents in Madrid, but he will return to Melwood next week to begin planning Liverpool's future.

Discussions will also take place with Steven Gerrard and his representatives at SFX aimed at tying the England midfielder to a new contract at Anfield, though they will have to wait until the chief executive Rick Parry returns from his own break in Barbados. Benítez is now convinced the captain will stay at the club despite persistent interest from Chelsea, with Gerrard's own reaction in the aftermath on Wednesday suggesting as much.

Yet the likely departures of other members of the squad will illustrate a ruthlessness to Benítez that has not surfaced since his no-nonsense approach to Michael Owen's stalled contract negotiations last summer. Indeed, the Spaniard's outlook mirrors the club's policy during their glorious eras under Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley, who were constantly seeking to improve their squads despite their multiple successes.

Benítez's squad remains very much a work in progress, but his task will be made easier with the club as European champions. Dudek's stock has rarely been higher than after his stunning performance at the Ataturk Stadium and targets who might have been wavering over a potential move to a side who finished 37 points off the top of the Premiership last season - and are waiting on Uefa to grant them permission to defend their trophy - could now be easier persuaded to join.

The Villarreal goalkeeper José Reina is close to signing for around £6m, with interest ongoing in the Feyenoord striker Dirk Kuyt and Real Zaragoza's Gabriel Milito.

"Other players will see we have a good side and, maybe, some of them will decide to come to us because we'll have a good chance of claiming more titles now," said Benítez. "I want to sign good players, good professionals. The English market is unbelievably expensive, but we will find the people we want. The team will be better next season, for sure."

"The boss is trying to build something here, a new team," said Smicer. "He told me two months ago that I would be leaving this summer. It's a shame - my two kids were born in Liverpool and I've won seven trophies at this club - but I appreciate the honesty he showed me by telling me straight. He told me that if I trained properly I'd still have a role to play in the remaining games. I never thought that might include a place at the Champions League final. That was the perfect way to bow out."

Even this staggering achievement will not ease the frustration of Liverpool's fifth-place finish in the Premiership, yet progress on the domestic front is becoming Benítez's main priority. "We are analysing why we only finished fifth in the Premier League," he added. "We need to learn why we did some things so badly this season.

"This [the Champions League] is not enough. You need to keep working hard to improve all the time and, although we are moving in the right direction, we are only one step higher now."

by **Espionage** » Fri May 27, 2005 2:48 am

Rafa has proven that he can tactically mastermind some huge wins for us, but what i am interested in is what kind of impact we will get from the off-season buys, this is where Rafa can really consolidate his title of a new great Liverpool Coach

by **el_stinger** » Fri May 27, 2005 2:57 am

Diouf. Diao. Kewell. Traore. Biscan. Hamman. Hypiia. Baros. Smicer. Vignal. Dudek. They all must go. In essence, a whole squad must be replaced, big ask, huge money must be spent, although the lure of going to play for the Champions of Europe will be easier for players to come and play for us, the chairman must put his money where his mouth is, and spend, spend, spend.

by **Espionage** » Fri May 27, 2005 3:02 am

I still see Kewell staying for another half a season at least....
i know that they are been talking about Hamman being traded, is that confirmed? hate to see him go.....

everyone else i agree will (and should) be gone

by **el_stinger** » Fri May 27, 2005 4:13 am

If all goes well, Kewell's link to Germany will go ahead. He's now got a Champs League winners medal, and that will increase his stakes, given his adductor tear, he will need surgery on it, and i dont think Rafa has the patience and belief in him anymore. He took a huge gamble on Kewell, and Harry didn't repay him that faith. Be gone.

by **looprevil** » Fri May 27, 2005 4:58 am

el_stinger wrote:Diouf. Diao. Kewell. Traore. Biscan. Hamman. Hypiia. Baros. Smicer. Vignal. Dudek. They all must go. In essence, a whole squad must be replaced, big ask, huge money must be spent, although the lure of going to play for the Champions of Europe will be easier for players to come and play for us, the chairman must put his money where his mouth is, and spend, spend, spend.

That is a lot of players to replace, hopefully Benitez will find good quality players this summer. I think Morientes was a good signing but I haven't seen him do too much yet. I only get to see the games on tv so my view on him during games is limited. To anyone who goes to games or sees him play more does he seem like a good fit?

by **stapo1000** » Fri May 27, 2005 5:22 am

Espionage wrote:I still see Kewell staying for another half a season at least....
i know that they are been talking about Hamman being traded, is that confirmed? hate to see him go.....

everyone else i agree will (and should) be gone

No. Will not happen. I'd rafa's thinking: He does not hava the mentaliteee or the character that we need. I just dont see kewell here next season. i'm not gonna say i hate him, i dont hate any lfc player and i thought his wave to the crowd was a display of howw thankful he was to get his chance and how thankful he was having the best supporters in the world behind him. Unfortunately, he didn't take his chance(and smicer did) and he will be gone next season. i hope to see hamann next season cos he'd be a good squad player at least. Whatever happens over the summer i have full faith in rafa getting us bags of trophies in the next few years including a few league titles

by **azriahmad** » Fri May 27, 2005 5:45 am

Rafa has cemented his reputation as a coach who can extract the maximum from limited players and now the turn-around in the second half has also highlighted his tactical abilities. Now, he has to prove that he is as adept in buying very well for Liverpool.

This aspect has not improved a lot yet as his buys so far have not been that good apart from Alonso and Garcia, the jury is still out on Morrientes (he is a very classy player IMHO) but Nunez and Josemi have been disappointing.

Liverpool have been riddled with mediocre players for far too long (some may not agree with me), since Evans' days and the only way forward towards a lot of titles is to be ruthless in the team rebuilding, otherwise we will be stuck with the same inconsistencies due to the mediocrity of the squad (despite having gems like Gerrard, Carra, Alonso etc.).

by **Red Shrimper** » Fri May 27, 2005 6:18 am

el_stinger wrote:Diouf. Diao. Kewell. Traore. Biscan. Hamman. Hypiia. Baros. Smicer. Vignal. Dudek. They all must go. In essence, a whole squad must be replaced, big ask, huge money must be spent, although the lure of going to play for the Champions of Europe will be easier for players to come and play for us, the chairman must put his money where his mouth is, and spend, spend, spend.

I'm surprised to see you put sami hypia in the list, I think he's a world class player!!!
Why would Liverpool want to get rid of him!! :oh:

by **akumaface** » Fri May 27, 2005 6:34 am

I think we had over acheived in the CL but in the EPL is more of a realistic accessment of our team. I think I will be sad to see some of the players gone (except Diouf and couple more) but improvement must be made if we are going to get into the top 3 or even winning the EPL. I agree with Red that I hope we are not selling Hyypia as I think he is a very classy players to have.

by **woof woof !** » Fri May 27, 2005 7:39 am

el_stinger wrote:Diouf. Diao. Kewell. Traore. Biscan. Hamman. Hypiia. Baros. Smicer. Vignal. Dudek.

Hypia and Hamman can still do a job for us .Agree major changes are required but those two players are not ready for the scrap heap. We're looking to renovate LFC not demolish it.

by **el_stinger** » Fri May 27, 2005 8:25 am

The reason for Hamman to go, is that there is a lot of talk between Hamburg and the Reds. Given that, I'd love for Didi to be given a year extension. Hypiia is a tough one, and I included him for the following reasons:
The first half of the season he was/still well off the pace. He came into some great form, but at the end of our campaign. He is an outstanding player, and probably retire if he can't finish his career with the Reds. I think for our club to progress, we need a decent CB, and he will probably replace Sami. (I dont see Pelle taking over that role) If we do get a replacement for Sami, I don't think he'll be content with a bench role, so the links to Roma would be enticing for him, since they love reusing hardcore defenders, whereas the Premier League relies on quick defenders taking on attackers, which Sami clearly is lacking in pace. I think he is a great player, and will be sad to lose him, but for our team to get stronger, we have to replace the weaker links.

by **woof woof !** » Fri May 27, 2005 8:45 am

Understand where your coming from ,but I think it's coming a season too soon .

Let's agree to disagree on this one .

by **Judge** » Fri May 27, 2005 8:47 am

smicer's goal is a fitting end to his lfc career, but i feel we should offload harry kewell, he's done nowt.

not even a trier that boy

by **Ola Mr Benitez** » Fri May 27, 2005 8:47 am

woof woof ! wrote:
el_stinger wrote:Diouf. Diao. Kewell. Traore. Biscan. Hamman. Hypiia. Baros. Smicer. Vignal. Dudek.

Hypia and Hamman can still do a job for us .Agree major changes are required but those two players are not ready for the scrap heap. We're looking to renovate LFC not demolish it.

As usual woof, one of the few talking sense. Hamman and Hypia have been superb when used. I think they are both probably not going to play in every game but I see them as an integral part of the LFC squad who must be part of LFC for at least the next 12 months. :bowdown

Liverpool FC Forum

Benitez clearout... - Planning a cull for premiership assault

Who is online