Don’t blame Rafa!

Thursday, 19/11/2009

There has been a lot of media coverage on the situation at Liverpool, specifically focussed on the role of Rafa Benitez.

Liverpool is my club. I have no intention of running it down and being another pundit to jump on the bandwagon, but the facts are there for everyone to see. The club has got to get itself back into a position where they can justify their status as one of the greatest in the world, which they will forever be considered.
 
The situation at Anfield is frustrating for everybody but it is a cycle football clubs go through and emphasises how difficult it is for big teams to be consistently successful.
 
To rub salt into the wound, Manchester United, their greatest rivals, have dominated for the best part of 20 years and seeing them reach 18 league titles only serves to make things worse for Liverpool
 
Playing United was always the biggest game of the season for me when I was at Liverpool and I know the situation will hurt the fans. The club have really faltered for too long.
 
I think there are two main reasons for the situation and Benitez isn’t one of them! I think he’s done a reasonable job; to pinpoint the blame on the Spaniard is a very blinkered view. He has constructed a line-up that can compete with any team in the world, the core of a great side. Very simply, it’s the back-up to his starting 11 that gives concern.
 
If Fernando Torres is injured, who comes in? You have the likes of David N’Gog and Andriy Voronin. It makes you question the decision to off-load Robbie Keane so ruthlessly, especially with no proven replacement.
 
Liverpool need to focus more on quality and less on quantity when they enter the transfer market. But Benitez is trapped in the vicious cycle now of having to sell in order to buy. The considerable loss of Xabi Alonso a prime example, though much depends on Alberto Aquilani - a credible addition who needs to regain fitness.
 
Problems have been caused by the level of debt that the club has to service in the following the American takeover in 2007. For me, this cannot be merely a financial transaction, as Tom Hicks and George Gillett have appeared to approach it and the previous owners should have done more.
 
Taking control of a club, especially one with the stature of Liverpool, means a social responsibility within the city and community that you serve. With Hicks and Gillett burdening the club with such a huge debt, it makes it even more difficult for Benitez to invest.
 
With Liverpool struggling, many people are tipping another of my former clubs, Tottenham, to steal their top-four berth.
Spurs have depth, options and quality throughout the squad and I’m not at all surprised at their performances this season.

Harry Redknapp has quickly turned around the form that the club showed under Juande Ramos and has bought well: crucially, with the full backing of the board.
 
Defence is their only real frailty, something I’m sure Harry will address in January. There’s no reason why they can’t cement a Champions League spot.
 
Like the other top-four contenders, Aston Villa and Man City, Spurs have the potential to break into the league’s elite this season. Liverpool are clearly vulnerable.
 
Despite that, and it’s difficult for me to call, I still believe Liverpool will claim fourth. While Spurs, City and Villa all have large, talented squads – in contrast to Liverpool’s reliance on their starting 11 – my gut instinct says they’ll recover and qualify for the Champions League.
 
There is a winning mentality at the club and experience at the very highest level. Liverpool have always been a big club and expectations are entrenched. The players know that finishing outside the top-four would be an absolute disaster.

In the long-term, the side needs improving: with an experienced centre back, winger, central midfielder, world-class forward and a younger, established forward all required.
 
* John Scales has been involved recently with Ian Wright’s impressive Sky One programme Football Behind Bars. John is hoping that he can work with the government to get more football academies inside jails to help reform offenders.
John was talking to Lee Price.

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