Liverpool FC Forum

by **Spanishfan** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 8:09 am

First of all congratulations to Liverpool fans. I think you have signed one of the best young managers in Europe. As you know Benitez has had a remarkable success at Valencia during his three year spell. Before that he coached 4 small teams, getting the sack in two of them but promoting the other two to Spanish Primera Division during his first year with them. I only know him as a coach since he joined Valencia and I remember that when he arrived at the club taking over from Cuper there was a bit of controversy with the old players of the squad as benited seems to be a bit of a freak control, and he wanted to impose his spartan discipline in every aspect of the players lives. Valecnia players were used to having ice cream with their meals and Benitez apparently put a ban on that. He inherited a very good squad that had been built by Rainieri and developped by Cuper but that failed to win trophies other than the Spanish Cup with the Italian, and well, reaching to finals of the Champions League with Cuper. But benited arrived and he wins during his first season the Spanish League taking it away from the galacticos of Real Madrid and finishing with a comfortable lead at the end of the season, His second year was not that succesful. They started very strongly in the Spanish League but were also involved in the CH L where they reached the quarterfinals, losing to Inter after heavily outplaying them, especially in the home game. After that they played very badly in the league and dind't even qualify for the CH L. This year they have been very consistent and have won the league comfortably as well as the UEFA CUP.

Benitez is a coach that we in Spain consider defensive minded. We like teams threading a lot of passes in midfield ( a bit like Arsenal do in England)and like to see players with flair. Benitez won't give you that: his teams play a very dynamic sort of football. When on the ball they will try to get into attacking positions quicky. A lot of especulative balls from the center backs, and a lot of long passes to the wingers were Valencia trade marks. But having seen Houllier I believe that Benitez will bring much more excitement to the fans than Houillier ever did, mainly because he likes to use wide players who try to beat players (I think that Kewell will enjoy the new style of play). At set pieces Valencia were simply magnificent, either on the offensive or the defensive end. Defensively Valencia were a extremely tough nut to crack, but they didn't defend by accumulating numbers at the back like Liverpool did in so many games under Houllier, but with a very active defense, high up in the pitch. Only when playing extremely goood sides they would fall back a bit. Many Valkecnia goals came as a result of quickly disposessing the other team and mount counteratacks in the opponents half. With Benitez if you don't work hard you don't play, as simple as that. Lazy players better start looking to move somewhere else.Benitez likes rotations. If there is a game in the middle of the week he will change many of the players, keepeing the back bone of the team, namely, his most reliable center back, the goallie of course, and his defensive midfielder. Obviously players in great form may keep their place if the game is very important, but it is not unusual that Benitez leaves on the bench players that one may consider as first choice.

Benitez uses two tactical systems: 4-4-1-1. and 4-4-2. If you don't sign new players for the attack his automatic choice would be a 4-4-2 as I don't think you have an Aimar type of player to play behind the center forward. With the amount of good forwards you have I wouldn't be surprised if Benited kept the money to spend in other areas of the pitch instead of buying an Aimar type of player, but who knows?

Of the two holding midfielders Benitez deploys he likes to have one of them as the creator (I believe that Gerrard would be the right player to do this job) and the other more of a defensive nature, sitting in front of the defense and breaking the opposition attacks, but gerard has definitely the defensive and ofensive ability to play either of the two positions. One of the two wide players tends to be more of a midfielder than the other who is more of a winger, but mind you, Valencia didn't have much money to buy players and at Liverpool he may use two wingers. What I am sure of is that with the squad you have tyou won't finish so far from the top as this year, and who knows, Liverpool may surprise a few and win the Premiership.

Good luck.

by **woof woof !** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 8:42 am

Thanks for that input spanishfan a good insight for us on the way Benitez likes to work. It's very encouraging to hear you positive comments about our new mgr and the team.

by **115-1073096938** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 10:37 am

Excellent read and good information.

Cheers

by **JohnBull** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 10:48 am

I've had the same kind of feed back from mates in Spain and I'm starting to feel really optimistic for the next few seasons.
The best management move by Liverpool since Paisley!

by **mambo88** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 11:56 am

Well done spanishfan, you have provide a great input.

With Beni around as our new manager lets hope that not only that the REDS can be a major force in the EPL but dominate Europe as well.....just like it did in the 70's and 80's.

I certainly want to see the first ever EPL title @ Anfield in May 2005 as a start up and i believe others would as well. The team need to have the belief, so does the fans......and may it become a reality!

With the right kind of players plus the arrival of Beni, a good and capable management......and the support of LFC fans throughout the world, i believe the team can do it.

"GERARD'S THE MAN"

www.liverpoolfanclub.org.sg

by **taff** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 12:10 pm

I like that lazy players had better look elswhere comment. We do have a decent squad and this might motivate them to improve or basically goodbye, whatever the decision the team ultimately benefits.

Could be an interesting season ahead

by **anfieldadorer** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 12:17 pm

Appreciable good and useful information.

Wish you luck too!

by **whylongball?** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 12:45 pm

thanks a lot man..very comprehensive....
Cheers

by **115-1073096938** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 6:09 pm

So hopefully we'll see the best of Kewell under Benitez

by **jack66** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 7:35 pm

Great post spanish fan,i am really looking forward to next season now,with or without sg and mo im sure we can push for the title,playing top class attractive football.

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