Press Review: Benitez’s all transfers with Liverpool

Benitez transfers performance

As Liverpool close to complete Glen Johnson from Portsmouth which will be Rafa Benitez first signing after his contract renewal which he granted more control on transfers so he can avoid last season Barry’s failed transfer.

So there is an interesting article on Times Online named “The Benitez years: his transfers in full” wrote by James Ducker, this article summarize all Benitez transfer actions in and out with the figures so to read the original article please click here.

Interesting facts from the article:

• Total signed in players is 70
• Total sold out players is 72
• Net profit of these transfers is – £81.799 millions

Michel to be Getafe coach for the next two years

save Getafe from relegation

 

Getafe C.F and Michel agreed on 2 years contract after the legendary Real Madrid winger save them from relegation, Michel appointed as caretaker in the last 5 La Liga games after Getafe sacked Víctor Muñoz for bad results. since that Michel was able to gain 8 points out of 15 points (2 win – 2 draws – 1 lost) to seat 17th in the La Liga table avoiding relegation only on goal difference from Real Betis.

Bruce to Sunderland, Pellegrini to Real Madrid ???

 

Bruce and Sunderland:

Sunderland look closer to secure their man Steve Bruce as the agree compensation fee with his Club Wigan (£ 3 millions) to release him from his contract with Wigan. Now only personal details between Sunderland and Bruce should be agreed on to finalize the deal. Sunderland started 2008-09 season with Roy Keane later they sack him for poor results and put Ricky Sbragia as caretaker who lead them to avoid relegation.

Bruce lead Wigan since November 2007 and led Wigan to 11th place this season 2008-09.

 

Pellegrini and Real Madrid:

Many Spanish media sources sure that Real Madrid and Villarreal agreed on releasing Pellegrini from his remaining contract (one year) as Real Madrid will pay € 4 millions compensation for the Yellow  Submarine team. Reports aslo said that Pellegrini will sign two years contract with Los Blancos, Jorge Valdano (should be Perez sporting Director) is a big fan of Pellegrini style and accomplishments.

Manuel Pellegrini is the longest serving coach in the Spanish La Liga since 2004 during his time with Villarreal he managed to make them one of the big teams in Spain and regular European appearance:

• 2008/2009  they finished 5th
• 2007/2008 they finished 2nd
• 2006/2007 they finished 5th
• 2005/2006 they finisihed 7th
• 2004/2005 they finished 3rd

Also He guide them to the Champions League semi-finals to eliminated by Arsenal (1-0) on aggregate, Pellegrini create a Latin playing identity for Villarreal make them one of the entertaining teams in Europe but with solid defense.

 

What is Benitez possible Transfers?

perfect partner for Torres

 

From my point of view below I’ll talk about Rafa and Liverpool possible transfers not neccessarly with names maybe pointing to the weak positions in the team that should be strengthen.

 

Defenders:

• Sami Hyypiä (out to Leverkusen)
• Andrea Dossena (didn’t have good season)
• Philipp Degen (injury prone and hardly played this season)

Liverpool needs at least central defender to cover Hyypia departure, also leftback if Dossena left the Reds. While Arbeloa versatility can cover both central defender position and right back but Benitez really should think about his side full backs

English Premier League Managers list (updated)

This is the latest list of EPL Managers:

Arsenal
Arsène Wenger (France), going to stay his contract until 2011

Aston Villa
Martin O’Neill (North Ireland), going to stay

Blackburn Rovers
Sam Allardyce (England), going to stay after saving the Rovers from relegation

Bolton Wanderers
Gary Megson (England), going to stay

Chelsea
Guus Hiddink (Holland), still have the cup final then he will leave his caretaker post back to Russia

Everton
David Moyes (Scotland), going to stay

Fulham
Roy Hodgson (England), going to stay

Hull City
Phil Brown (England), not sure yet but avoiding relegation was a plus

Liverpool
Rafa Benítez (Spain), going to stay

Man City
Mark Hughes (wales), according to Cook he will stay

Man United
Alex Ferguson (Scotland), for sure the best manager is ever-green

Middlesbrough
Gareth Southgate (England), not clear yet but he want to remain and put them back to the top flight Premier League

Newcastle United
Alan Shearer (England), demand an overhaul after relegation the situation is not clear as the owner Ashely may sell the team

Portsmouth
Paul Hart (England), ??

Stoke City
Tony Pulis (Wales), this season performance is plus for him

Sunderland
Ricky Sbragia (Scotland), resigned after saving them from relegation

Tottenham Hotspurs
Harry Redknapp (England), going to stay

West Brom Albion
Tony Mowbray (England), ??

West Ham United
Gianfranco Zola (Italy), going to stay he and steve clark is a winning team

Wigan Athletic
Steve Bruce (England), going to stay

Another special accomplishment for The Special One

So Special

 

Jose Mourinho add another Trophy (Italian Serie A title) for his great Honors record this season with Inter Milan plus the Italian Super Cup at the season start. but he add another special accomplishment which is to be the first manager to win the Enlgish Premier League title and the Italian Serie A title (don’t forget Portugese title too).

I think Mourinho’s first year with Inter was not too impressive like his first year with Chelsea, althought it’s not all his fault for me I keep questioning his two recruiting: the Brazilian Mancini from Roma and Quaresma from FC Porto which prove to be a top candidate for top three worst transfers in the Italian league. It could be the Italian Football Culture is more  complicated and less-accpetance of foreigns with strong personality than the English football which is full with foreign owners of clubs and the fact that (38% are english players of the total players active in the English Premier League.

Mourinho has the potential to make glory with the Nerrazzurri escpecially if he guide them to European trumpih the history will put him alongside Helenio Herrera.

German Bundesliga Managers (updated)

The German Bundesliga Managers complete list:

 

Arminia Bielefeld: Detlev Dammeier (assistant coach) (Germany :: since May 2009)

Bayer Leverkusen: Bruno Labbadia (Germany :: since 2008)

Bayern Munich: Jupp Heynckes (Germany :: since April 2009 as a caretaker)

VfL Bochum: Marcel Koller (Switzerland :: since 2005)

Borussia Dortmund: Jürgen Klopp (Germany :: since 2008)

Borussia Mönchengladbach: Hans Meyer (Germany :: since 2008)

Eintracht Frankfurt: Friedhelm Funkel (Germany :: since 2004)

Energie Cottbus: Bojan Prašnikar (Slovenia :: since 2007)

Hamburger SV: Martin Jol (Denmark :: Since 2008)

Hannover 96: Dieter Hecking (Germany :: Since 2006)

Hertha Berlin: Lucien Favre (Switzerland :: Since 2007)

1899 Hoffenheim: Ralf Rangnick (Germany :: Since 2006)

Karlsruher SC: Edmund Becker (Germany :: Since 2005)

1.FC Köln: Christoph Daum (Germany :: Since 2006)

Schalke 04: Mike Buskens (Germany :: Since March 2009 as a caretaker)

VfB Stuttgart: Markus Babbel (Germany :: Since 2008) (He extend his contract until 2011)

Werder Bremen: Thomas Schaaf (Germany :: Since 1999)

VfL Wolfsburg: Felix Magath (Germany :: since 2006) (next season he will be Schalke 04 new manager)

Football Coaches or Managers and Leadership

 

So I’m a management student (B.S in Business & Management) and I love this field so much, and can’t help it not relating it to football managers or coaches.

The rule of coach or manager in Football (Soccer) differentiate for example in England the coach is a football coach and manager they have more responsibilities and more influence like players contracts and transfers and the holistic view from a football perspective this privileges in Spain and Italy doesn’t exist only on few cases.

I always see the coach or manager as a leader, during college I took Leadership course in that course we learnt that there are types of leaders (some leaders are heroes or teachers or rulers).

Alex Ferguson is a Ruler leader he don’t hesitate to kick any one out of his team (Nistelrooy – Kean – Hienze – Beckham) what ever their stalwart status for the team or for the fans because he is the master of this team no one should undermine his authority while Arsene Wenger is a Teacher for sure when we look his influence on his students (players) you can tell his role to educate his players with football basics and install his football view and methodology (Cesc or Denilson for example admire Wenger or their teacher so much), the Special One Mourinho is a Hero leader, he protect his troops (players) from the media, always ready to take the blame on his shoulders if anything goes wrong.

Fabio Capello I thinks is a Ruler leader type he is fearless man take decision despite the huge potential risk underlining there and can confront any dilemma with solid nerves.

Josep Guardiola fill in Hero leader type category he restore Catalonia pride always support his players and literally protect his players like the incident that happen during the Clasico game against Real Madrid at the Camp Nou 2008 December, Real Madrid players deliberately tackling Leo Messi and the flamboyant Pep stood up and shout toward the referee telling him: “if you will not protect Messi I will take him out of the game” I like that attitude from Pep.

Or according to the Leadership Behavior Theory, there are leadership styles:

•  Autocratic
• Democratic
• Laissez-fair

This theory I’ll talk about later in another post. And try to apply it on Football managers.

Spanish La Liga Managers (Updated)

The complete list of La Liga Managers:

Almería: Hugo Sanchez (Mexico)

Athletic Bilbao: Joaquín Caparrós (Spain)

Atlético Madrid: Abel Resino (Spain)

Barcelona: Josep Guardiola (Spain)

Real Betis: José María Nogués (Spain)

Deportivo La Coruña: Miguel Ángel Lotina (Spain)

Espanyol: Mauricio Pochettino (Argentina)

Getafe: Michel (Spain)

Málaga: Antonio Tapia (Spain)

Mallorca: Gregorio Manzano (Spain)

Numancia: Jose Rojo Martin “Pacheta” (Spain)

Osasuna: José Antonio Camacho (Spain)

Racing Santander: Juan Ramón Muñiz (Spain)

Real Madrid: Juande Ramos (Spain)

Recreativo Huelva: Lucas Alcaraz (Spain)

Sevilla: Manolo Jiménez (Spain)

Sporting Gijón: Manuel Preciado (Spain)

Valencia: Unai Emery (Spain)

Valladolid: José Luis Mendilíbar (Spain)

Villarreal: Manuel Pellegrini (Chile)

Latest: Ramos guide Real Madrid to their seventh straight win

 

Juande Ramos the Spanish manager continue his impressive career with the Los Blancos guiding them to their 7th straight win over Racing Santander (1-0) in the Spanish La Liga Day 22

Gonzalo Higuain lovely goal secure a hard win for Real Madrid, but the Santiago Bernabeu faithful look far from impressed with Real Madrid display especially if they compare it with their archrivals Barcelona entertaining style, If you want to look to this point from a manager perspective, Juande Ramos absolutely satisfy with outcome.

Ramos took charge of Real Madrid side who suffers injury crisis, main players performing below their standard plus managerial problems saw Ramon Calderon resign from Real Madrid President role.

Juande Ramos record with Real Madrid:

9 games (W:8 L:1 D:0)

Juande Ramos post-match words:

We find it hard to score a second goal. I think we had enough chances to net another strike. It would’ve allowed us to relax and play better. Not scoring again makes the team nervous because of the uncertainty winning by just one goal implies.

About Faubert debut:

Faubert had a weak debut, but the team was weaker when he came on anyway. I hope he can help us much as he gains more confidence. He’s played too little to make a strong judgment of his performance

Juande also admit that Robben substitute was due fatigue factor:

Fatigue brings about a risk of injury and we can’t afford that. I took Robben off against his wishes because we dominated and had already scored our strike

 Juande Ramos words from Real Madrid official website