2012-12-30 23:40#74681 The FM Rookie : I guess Liverpool's trophy-polisher is finally back out of retirement! Well done James, great achievement

Cheers Rookie. In my opinion it is well over-due. Really hoping the good form at the end of the first season continues into the next. BIG changes have been made across the board so will be interesting to see how the club adapts.

Review of the season

This post is going to simply focus on reviewing what has been a brilliant first season in charge of my beloved Liverpool FC. The review is going to be split into three sections so as not to overpower the reader. The aim of the view is to share with you just how I went about achieving the first step in getting this club back to the past and glory years of Shankly and Paisley.

What was achieved?

The club managed to win the league for the first time in 12 seasons. It is in fact the first time that the club have won the Premier League title since the division was formed. What this title win has meant that the club have gone back joint leaders in the number of times the Premier Division has been won with the other team being of course Manchester United. It is a tremendous achievement and there are a number of factors that have contributed to this memorable achievement.

Transfers

When I first joined the club, the majority of readers will have expected me to be selling the likes of Stewart Downing, Joe Cole and Jordan Henderson. These three players stand out as being over-priced and on high wages which don’t match their ability. Readers wouldn’t have been surprised if I had decided to bring in a new striker, who is prolific in front of goal, and who would hopefully form a good partnership with Luis Suarez. In the end the grand total I spent on transfers in this season was £0. Yes I brought in Ryan Rabello in the January transfer window but his loan did not cost a thing (I do have the option of paying a £1million fee to obtain his services full time). I think that the fact I did not spend a penny of the very little budget I was given is one of my biggest achievements, of course alongside the winning of the league title. Instead players such as Downing were given a chance and as they grabbed the opportunity and put in some memorable performances.

The majority of the players that went out of the club went on loan or were sold in order to improve the wage budget. At the beginning of the season John Flanagan and Jack Robinson were loaned out and have performed well for the club they were sent to. They will have gained a lot of experience which will help them when they are kept at the club next season and especially when they are given first team duties.

Brad Jones was never given to be given a chance to play in the first team. I had greater confidence in Doni to step into Reina’s position if he became injured (which he did with 6 weeks of the season to go). Jones is a good goalkeeper but he wasn’t going to get game time so this saw him leave for Brighton and Hove Albion for £100k.

Martin Kelly, a promising young right back, was sold to league rivals Tottenham Hotspur for £12.5million. This deal helped improve the clubs finances hugely and it was the sole reason behind the decision to let him leave. With the possible departure of Jamie Carragher it could be seen as a big mistake leaving Kelly leave. However I feel the return of Flanagan, Robinson and Andre Wisdom will help bolster a defence which got better as the season progressed.

Kelly is a really good player, and I believe he is Carragher's heir or Johnson's. Even though, I hope you find a better replacement, and I think you will with that kind of money. YNWA!

Congratulation James, great achievement. Now a bigger trophy is waiting for you : Champions League !!!

2012-12-31 01:26#74713 Sonalexwild : Congratulation James, great achievement. Now a bigger trophy is waiting for you : Champions League !!!

Thank you very much. I do hope for a good season in the Champions League but won't be disappointed if we don't win it.

2012-12-31 01:24#74712 PaukerJ : Kelly is a really good player, and I believe he is Carragher's heir or Johnson's. Even though, I hope you find a better replacement, and I think you will with that kind of money. YNWA!

Kelly is a good player but he just wouldn't have got the games. Johnson still has a few more seasons in him and I prefer young John Flanagan who has actually deputised instead of Johnson so far this second season and has done pretty well.

Team and Tactics

Consistency appeared to be the key in winning games this season but this would not have been possible if I didn’t have faith in the players. At the beginning of the season I wrote off the likes of Downing and Sahin and didn’t expect them to produce much but I stuck with them. I have to admit I only really stuck with them because of a lack of funds to get anyone else to replace them. The board were also only willing to give me 45% of any transfer revenue so if I sold them I wouldn’t get much from the transfer.

For the majority of the games the team was set out in a 4-2-3-1 formation. This gave me the opportunity to play my best players on a regular basis but also bring in youngsters such as Sterling and Assaidi who were looking to stake a claim to a regular first team place. The formation allowed us to control the possession of the ball and with attacking minded players such as Suarez, Gerrard and Borini to get the goals that were needed and expected of them. The defence was rarely changed only with Carragher eventually being preferred to Agger who had an inconsistent period that meant we were leaking goals.

I have to admit here that the only regret I have for the season is that I didn’t let Carragher retain his vice-captaincy as he showed this season that he is an Anfield legend and he is a vital part of the Liverpool defence.

The introduction of Sahin after a few games appeared to be a revelation as he came in and controlled the game. He did not have to rely on defending as Lucas Leiva was more than capable of supporting the back four. With Sahin dictating the play it meant Gerrard was free to play his own game which resulted in him deservingly getting the recognition that he did.
I don’t intend on changing the tactics next season. I don’t understand why anyone would change something tactics wise that clearly works.

Recognition and Awards

Interesting team of the year, could nearly be a real one
Congrats for being manager of the year and good luck for next season

2012-12-31 12:27#74804 Sonalexwild : Interesting team of the year, could nearly be a real one
Congrats for being manager of the year and good luck for next season

Why thank you. I was glad to see Gerrard and Enrique get into the team. They both had solid seasons and I do think the title win could have been more comfortable if Gerrard hadn't gotten injured.

Thanks for reading.

Backroom Staff

Departures

The following staff did not have their contracts renewed with the club.

Alan Harper
Liam Kershaw
Diego Caniggia
Mike McGlynn
Mads Jorgensen
Jordan Milsom
Paulo Barreira
Matt Konopinski
Barry Hunter
Chris Davies
Ian Barrigan
Steven Aptroot
Frank McParland

New Staff In

Kevin Cruickshank has joined the scouting team. He has a much better rating for his judging of player ability and potential compared to the scouts who have left the club. It will be down to Chief Scout Dave Fallows to decide on his scouting assignments. As part of the signing QPR, his former employers, will be paid £170k in compensation.

David Platt, the England legend, has joined the club and has taken on the role of coach. He has brilliant man management ability ratings and this in conjunction with his attacking rating he will definitely be put to work on developing our attacking play.

Pablo Longoria has been signed from Atalanta and has come to Anfield to be a part of the scouting network. He is a brilliant addition to the backroom staff and I cannot wait to see what future stars he brings to my attention. As part of the deal Atalanta have been paid £75k in compensation.

Gian Mario Foglia has been signed from Novara for a fee of £100k. He will join the physio team and brings an attribute rating of 20. He is another brilliant addition in the ever changing backroom staff.

Unemployed Paul Winsper has been signed as the new fitness. He is a great addition and I am sure he will be integral in the team’s preparation for the new season.

Valter Di Salvo has been added to the club’s backroom staff as a coach. He will be working closely alongside recently employed David Platt and Gianpiero Ventrone who is another new member of the Liverpool FC backroom staff.

A further addition to the coaching staff is Brian Eastick. He has joined the club in order to develop the tactic side of our game and has joined an already formidable coaching staff.

Cesare Maldini, who is the grand old age of 81 years old, has been brought into support the scouting staff and has been given role of Chief Scout. He clearly has a wealth of experience and this is a short term appointment. Dave Fallows, the former Chief Scout, has agreed to take on the role of scout so he stays with the club he loves.

Dave Parnaby has joined the coaching staff which is bursting at the seams. Dave’s role is to focus on working with the club’s defenders and developing their awareness and ability to read the game. Dave is another brilliant addition to the club.

Fermo Favini is the last addition to the club’s backroom staff. He has been brought into replace the departed Frank McParland as the Head of Youth Development.

Players

Transfers Out: The Most Noteable

Jay Spearing West Bromwich Albion
Details of transfer = signed for a fee of £3.4 million with £2.4 million being payed over a period of 24 months.
Peter Gulacsi Udinese
Details of transfer = signed for a fee of £375k with Liverpool FC continuing to pay Gulacsi £6.25k a week until his contract runs out with the club.
Andy Carroll Fulham
Details of transfer = signed for a fee of £5.5million. Liverpool FC will lose £29.5million as a result of the Carroll saga. Liverpool FC will have to continue to pay Carroll £33.5k a week until his contract runs out in 2016.
SusoPeterborough United
Details of transfer = Season long loan.
Stewart Downing Fulham
Details of transfer = signed for a fee of £11.25 million. Liverpool will have to continue to pay Downing £14.25k a week until his contract runs out.
Raheem Sterling Blackburn Rovers
Details of transfer = Season long loan.
Joe Cole Free Transfer

Transfers In

Great signings James, will be looking forward to see how Benzia progresses, and your last signing was he from Barcelona B. One more thing is Ospina going to be your number 1?

Ridiculously great signings!

2013-01-01 17:16#74977 Sammmm : Great signings James, will be looking forward to see how Benzia progresses, and your last signing was he from Barcelona B. One more thing is Ospina going to be your number 1?

Thank you. I was interested to see what people's reactions would be to them. I can't see Benzia getting much game time in his first season with us as I am wanting Suarez to carry on from how he ended last season which was on top form. Ospina will be on the bench this season but then will probably get more game time next season with Reina taking his place on the bench.

Agostinho was from Barcelona B. Barcelona said he wouldn't break into their first team so they were willing to let him go on the cheap.

Thank you for reading.