Liverpool F.C. - Back on the Perch

7 July 2012

I did it! I signed the contract. As of today, I am the official manager of Liverpool Football Club.

It feels weird being addressed and described as such, because for years and years, it has been vice-captain, not manager. But what's past is past and it is time to focus on the present. It was unfortunate to have to give up my ambition to be a pundit but managing the football team I consider to be the best in the world, will offer more challenge and excitement than talking footy in an air-conditioned studio.

I drove to Melwood and John looked very pleased at my final decision. A contract was presented, and it was rather decent.

It was a one-year contract, and I can't argue with that. John was taking a big risk on hiring me, and if I messed up he wouldn't have to go to the trouble of giving me the sack.

But I feel confident. I'm going to take Liverpool to the top, and by the end of the season John will be begging me to sign a contract extension. Yes, that's the plan.


John has informed me about a few signings he's made for the club this summer, along with Rodolfo, and they all seem like quality players, so I don't think I'll have any problem with them. To be honest, the entire squad looks really good and with John & Rodolfo's recruitment drive, it's only going to become stronger. I've been given a £15 million transfer budget in case I wanted any signings of my own, but I think we can leave that aside until January.

I'm probably going to have to sell some players though. I haven't ever said it but I think Brendan's made the squad too big. As a person who came through our youth academy, I will of course be placing a lot of emphasis on youth and I want to give the younger players a chance. Moving on some of the older and bench-warming players will give our youths more opportunities to impress in the first team.

Tactically-wise, I've always enjoyed the passing football Brendan has implemented on the boys and I'll continue working on these tactics. Last season, Brendan and Colin taught me a lot of tactical stuff and what I've learnt is going to be vital for the season.

This is going to be one hell of a ride, but I'm ready for it.

Hmm, a Glenn T story. Shame you are managing L*******l! Good Luck (Not that you will need it of course)

In an unexpected turn of events, Liverpool Football Club have announced club legend and former vice-captain Jamie Carragher as the new man in charge of the team, taking over from Brendan Rodgers.

35-year-old Carragher retired at the end of last season after a 17-year professional career. He was a one-club man and made over 500 appearances for Liverpool.
It was believed that he would enter a new career as a pundit with Sky Sports after his retirement, but instead he has chosen to work with Liverpool again, although this time in a capacity that is much, much more different.

Despite Carragher not having any management experience, Liverpool director John Henry seemed to be very confident of the appointment.


"Jamie knows everything about the club, ranging from our history to everything about the players in our squad, so we're glad we managed to get him on board.

"We feel that he is the right man to get us back to where we belong, in the Champions League."

Henry's words will give an idea of the high expectations pinned on Carragher this season, whose task will be to guide Liverpool back into the top four, a place they haven't been in since the 2008-09 season, when they were led to a magnificent 2nd-placed finish by Rafa Benitez.

Carragher was unavailable for comment, but will be officially unveiled tomorrow where he will talk to the media in his first press conference as manager.

2013-11-02 14:19#141068 edu1878 : Hmm, a Glenn T story. Shame you are managing L*******l! Good Luck (Not that you will need it of course)

Thanks Edu, it is a shame that you support E*****n

Being very new on this forum, I decided to do some browsing and saw the FM13 save you did, this now excites me EVEN more for the Liverpool save. Being a LFC fan myself I can not wait to see how this turns out.

Keep up the brilliant work, and I know we'll all be as keen as ever to follow this journey with you.

2013-11-02 19:23#141096 Mr FTW : Being very new on this forum, I decided to do some browsing and saw the FM13 save you did, this now excites me EVEN more for the Liverpool save. Being a LFC fan myself I can not wait to see how this turns out.

Keep up the brilliant work, and I know we'll all be as keen as ever to follow this journey with you.

Thank you Mr FTW!

Good start Glenn good luck with the story

Look forward to reading it! And I'm happy its a lot easier to read from Carragher than it is to listen to him on Sky Sports!

A squad overview of the current Liverpool first team, for the convenience and use of new manager Jamie Carragher.

Simon Mignolet -
Brad Jones -

Glen Johnson -
Martin Kelly -
Daniel Agger -
Mamadou Sakho -
Martin Skrtel -
Kolo Toure -
Andre Wisdom -
Sebastian Coates -
Tiago Ilori -
Jose Enrique -
Aly Cissokho -

Lucas Leiva -
Steven Gerrard -
Jordan Henderson -
Joe Allen -
Victor Moses -
Raheem Sterling -
Philippe Coutinho -
Luis Alberto -

Luis Suarez -
Daniel Sturridge -
Iago Aspas -

Unique update mate, but why is Ilori's and Mignolet's CA so bad O.o?

2013-11-03 10:28#141347 Pauker : Unique update mate, but why is Ilori's and Mignolet's CA so bad O.o?

I have no freaking clue. Their PA isn't high at all either

Great few updates Glenn, our story styles are really similar

2013-11-03 12:01#141361 Walter : Great few updates Glenn, our story styles are really similar

Your story is probably way better

2013-11-03 01:19#141379 Glenn T :

2013-11-03 12:01#141361 Walter : Great few updates Glenn, our story styles are really similar

Your story is probably way better

Very funny

Jamie Carragher walks into the room, accompanied by club captain Steven Gerrard and managing director Ian Ayre.

Jamie Carragher: Hello, everyone.

Journalist 1: Welcome back to Liverpool, Jamie. Allow me to pop your manager-press-conference cherry by asking you how does it feel like to be back working with Liverpool after your retirement?

Steven Gerrard: Heh, cherry.

Jamie Carragher: Ha... Well, it feels great, of course. Managing one of the biggest clubs in the world, and especially a club I love, is one of the best feelings in the world, obviously.

Journalist 1: I didn't catch that, could you repeat...

Ian Ayre: Next question, please!

Journalist 2: Hi, Jamie, this is Jeremy Pauker from the Daily Mail. As this is your first job in management, do you think you need more than the one year on your contract to prove yourself?

Jamie Carragher: I'm not sure how to answer that, but I can only say I am brimming with confidence. I don't know what is going to happen but I have a good feeling about myself and the club and I think I have what it takes to lead us to glory this year.

Journalist 3: I'm Suq Madiq from BBC Merseyside. Can you please tell me what kind of play style can we expect from you and what kind of tactics are you going to implement on the Liverpool team?

Jamie Carragher: I really liked what Brendan was trying to do last season and I will look to adopt his tactical style of possession and total control over the game. I want to win while at the same time entertaining the fans who are watching the match.

Journalist 4: Hi, I'm Chuck Norris from Sky Sports News. Is it true that you were ready to join Sky Sports as a pundit before you were offered this job?

Jamie Carragher: Yes, that's correct.

Journalist 4: How did you decide on which career path to pick?

Jamie Carragher: I just weighed the pros and cons of each side. It was a really hard decision, because punditry is something I really like.

Journalist 2: Hi, it's Jeremy from the Daily Mail again. There are a lot of rumors and reports going around that Luis Suarez is ready to quit Liverpool this summer. What do you think about letting your star player go?

Jamie Carragher: I think nothing about letting Luis go because he is going nowhere. I have always believed in not restricting players from moving if they are unhappy at a certain club. Luis has not said anything about being unhappy at Liverpool and there is always a place in the squad for him. He is such a talented player. Torres cost 50 million and I value Luis at a price a lot higher than that.

Journalist 5: I am Arvind Izacunt from the Observer. According to reports, transfer dealings have already been made by the club before you were appointed. Are you going to push through with these or do you have your own specific transfer targets?

Jamie Carragher: I will leave everything up to the club. Personally I feel we already have a very strong squad. We don't need many changes. All we need is a few tweaks.

Journalist 5: But don't you think it is absurd that the club is deciding on it's transfer targets, and not the manager?

Jamie Carragher: Brendan wanted these players and the club simply continued negotiations when Brendan left the club. Nothing absurd about that.

Journalist 5: What do you think about having another manager's desired player in your squad?

Jamie Carragher: It is perfectly fine as I said earlier that I am going to adopt Brendan's philosophy of football. Any player that he wants should be someone that can fit into my plan for the team.

Journalist 6: I'm Jimmy Saville from the Guardian. Are there going to be any departures from the squad, say, you think there's a player in the team who shouldn't be here?

Jamie Carragher: I don't like to put it that way. Everyone who is here has worked hard and deserves to be here. But yes, I do think the club can benefit from selling a few players. We will see.

Ian Ayre: That's all the questions for Jamie, I'm afraid.

Journalist 1: Thank you for answering all our questions today, Jamie, but I still couldn't catch most of it, could you repeat...

Jamie Carragher: Thank you all for coming. That's all my time here.

I have noticed most of the players CA and PA seem to be quite low on FM 14 compared to FM 13