Current Avatar:
No Avatar image uploaded
No Avatar image uploaded
Liverpool Rumours Member Posts
CP1975's Profile
Correct Score Competition:
Not entered
Correct Score Competition
Not entered
Correct Score Competition
Flat Out Racing:
Not played Flat Out Racing
Not played Flat Out Racing
No Profile Picture uploaded
Team: Where from: Favourite player: Best team moment: Interests: Timezone: |
CP1975's Posts and Other Poster's Replies To CP1975's Posts
To CP1975's last 5 rumour replies
05 Sep 2022 09:59:32
Houllier was a good manager, but you need a great one to win leagues. I can understand why he felt the need to assert his authority early on to establish himself at the club, but the problem is that his inherent insecurity never subsided. Far too often he allowed personal issues between him and a player to end up with that player being replaced by an inferior player whose primary virtue was him being prepared to shut up and do as he was told. I'm not sure having Thommo as his number two did him any favours in that regard, either.
Look at how Klopp handles challenge and dissent - he won't stand for a lack of discipline, but he'll listen to alternative points of view. He'll allow players to contribute their ideas, and he doesn't feel the need to take credit for everything that works. I recall several times in past seasons when Klopp credited the players for a specific move or routine; can't imagine Houllier ever doing that. And that's not a small point, because it's not just giving credit in the post-match interview, it's about fostering an environment where players feel empowered to try things.
Not winning the league (and in truth, not ever really getting us especially close to winning it) keeps him from the top tier of Liverpool managers. His record stands up well against the rest, maybe second only to Rafa in that respect. I'm giving Rafa the edge for (1) the Champions League (yes, largely Houllier's squad, but I don't think it can be argued we'd have won in 2005 if Houllier was still there), and (2) the 2008/ 9 season felt like us getting a lot closer to the league than we ever did under Houllier.