March 4th 2005
Newcastle-Online.com caught up with Liverpool supporter Paul
Tomkins who writes for Liverpool fansite Red
& White Kop and is also writing a book about his club, to
get his thoughts on the up coming match, NUFC, Liverpool and other
things. This is what he had to say...
Q: Steven Gerrard, is he staying or going?
If he stays, great. If he goes, it's because he wants to, and so there's
no point trying to stop him if his heart isn't in it. If he stays
we have a great player. If he goes, we get £35m. Either way we could
be both winners and losers. If Rafa spends the transfer fee well,
then there's a good chance we'll have a better team. He tries to do
too much at times, and it can cost us in terms of team spirit, but
better to have someone trying too hard than not at all.
The saga has been a very destabilizing influence throughout the season,
and the London-based media are stirring it as much as possible. I'd
love him to stick two fingers up to Chelsea, but your guess is as
good as mine on what will happen. I feel he owes us another season
at least, but if he stays it'll just lead to more speculation, and
as he'll only have a year left on his contract in 2006, we could lose
him for half his true value.
Q: Liverpool finished 4th, grabbing a Champions League spot
and sacked Gerrard Houllier, Newcastle finished 5th and stuck with
Sir Bobby for the start of the new season. Were Liverpool right to
get rid of Houllier then or should he have went earlier or still be
in the job today?
The correct decision. Arguably he could have gone a year earlier,
as the football was dire and results poor, but the year before that
we had 80 points and made the quarters of the Champions League, and
the year before that we won our Treble. Liverpool stick by their managers.
You have to be sure it's a downward spiral, and not a temporary slump.
The worst thing Newcastle did was keep Sir Bobby Robson on and then
undermine him by saying it would be his last season - once that happens
the whole club loses focus. From the outside it appeared he was treated
appallingly. I don't think fans of other clubs have a particularly
high opinion of Freddie Shepherd and co. Newcastle were loved by neutrals
in the 1990s, now the club is a bit of a laughing stock.
Q: Rafa Benitez, is he the right man for Liverpool? What notable
difference (if any) has he brought to Liverpool?
Oh, without a shadow of doubt. He has his work cut out, as he inherited
a faltering side, and lost Owen immediately (and has had to contend
with the Gerrard saga). We've had more serious injuries than I can
ever remember, and nearly all to key players or those in form - three
broken bones, to Cisse, Gerrard and Alonso, and Pongolle was looking
razor-sharp when his knee ligaments went. Baros and Luis Garcia have
also missed large chunks of the season.
We are playing better football, but it's been understandably inconsistent,
given all the changes in personnel, coaching staff included, and the
injuries. Under Houllier we could never win a game once we went behind.
This season we've come from behind to win on numerous occasions.
Q: Like Newcastle, you have under performed this season (and
others) and are going through a rebuilding job - how long, in your
eyes, are you willing to give Rafa to turn things around?
This year is for Rafa to assess, and start the rebuilding. We have
a core of top quality players, and some great youngsters, but the
squad is rather light, once all the dross was offloaded. Benitez hasn't
been helped by Everton doing so freakishly well, but like Bolton and
Charlton in recent years, they'll either fall away soon, or end up
mid-table next season. But their current success only piles more pressure
on Benitez.
Next year we should see more consistency, and the year after is when
I expect us to be our strongest under Benitez. If a manager doesn't
find success within three years, it's very rare for him to do so after.
So he will need three years, to my mind.
Q: What was your reaction (if you had one) to Newcastle's
appointment of Graeme Souness?
Surprise. But it seems he wasn't your first choice.
Q: Speaking to a few Liverpool fans, they seem to blame Souness
for the demise of your club over the years as European and English
champions to now fighting to get back to that level. Is he to blame?
Partly. The demise started under Dalglish - the stress he felt after
Hillsborough, and the failure to replace aging/retiring greats.
Souness came in and tried to change too much too quickly. He sold
Beardsley (doh!), and other established players, and bought some very
substandard players - which may have worked in Scotland, but was never
going to down herre. He has since admitted his mistakes, and I think
he learned a lot. But it was proof that not all great players make
great managers.
Q: Can he bring success to Newcastle in your opinion?
To be honest, I doubt it. He's a better manager these days, and appears
to have calmed down a bit, but I don't think he has what it takes
to get you to where you want to be. He might win you a domestic cup,
though. But whatever happens, he'll need time, and some money to spend.
Q: How can Liverpool become the club it once was? Can the
likes of Liverpool and Newcastle genuinely challenge Man Utd and Chelsea,
and to a lesser extent Arsenal, bearing in mind the huge differences
in revenue? Or do we both need sugar daddies to bridge a gap that
is increasing year after year?
It's a big time in the history of our club. We have just installed
a great manager who reminds me of a younger (and less blind) Arsene
Wenger in his approach; we could be losing our second "local" talismen
within twelve months; a new stadium is planned and the go-ahead has
been given pending final appeals; and major investment in the club
is being sought, in a deal that could result in someone new running
the club.
Liverpool's global image is still immense, and the club needs to tap
into that without losing credibility at home. We can't compete with
Chelsea's millions (billions?), but Benitez won the toughest league
in the world twice in three seasons (Valencia had waited 31 years
for the title) and barely spent a penny in doing so. It won't be easy,
but he should at least make us capable of reaching the Champions League
each season without waiting till the last week of the season. Chelsea
can buy anyone they want, so a lot depends on how they invest in their
team. Same with Man U. And Arsenal have some fantastic young players
to fall back on.
Q: And on that note, Steve Morgan wants to invest in Liverpool. Do
the fans want his money? Should the club accept it? What are your
thoughts on the subject?
I think a fair few doubt his motives - it seems he was looking to
get the club on the cheap, and was playing the "I'm a local" card.
He has his supporters, but more are opposed to his involvement unless
he put a sufficient amount of money where his mouth is.
Q: Are the expectations of Liverpool fans justified?
Yes and no. Yes, in that we're still the most successful club in English
history, both domestically and in Europe. No, in that we've had some
hugely average sides since 1990. Liverpool FC is still one of the
great names in world football, but it has to make sure it doesn't
become some forgotten giant. The club makes money on the back of that
reputation, but it also holds us back, in that one bad performance
and suddenly it's the worst Liverpool team for 40 years.
Q: The League Cup defeat to Chelsea, does this make Liverpool
a wounded animal or there for the taking?
Could go either way, on this season's form. I wouldn't be surprised
if we played brilliantly and won, but equally our away form has been
pretty poor on average. We might also have one eye on the second leg
of the Champions League game with Bayer Leverkusen.
Q: NUFC Vs Liverpool is usually a cracking affair, what are
your thoughts on the up coming game. Who do you see as the key men
for both sides?
For us, Gerrard, Morientes, and the superb, much-improved Jamie Carragher.
Riise's goals are proving valuable, too. Baros has been either sublime
or frustrating this season. Same with Luis Garcia. The key man of
the side, when fit, is Xabi Alonso, but his season was ended on New
Year's Day.
Newcastle have a lot of good players, but very few truly great ones
(now Shearer is past his best).
Q: What system does Rafa deploy and how would you describe
the way Liverpool play?
He plays 4-5-1 or 4-4-2, depending on the strength of the opposition.
He likes his sides to attack as a team and defend as a team, and likes
to play possession football without being adverse to sit back and
hit on the counter attack if the situation dictates.
Q: What players (if any) would you have in your side from
Newcastle?
Boumsong was close to joining us from Auxerre before he asked for
more money, and went to Rangers instead. We need pace at the back,
but I've yet to see how good he looks in English football. Benitez
tried to sign Woodgate, who looked very impressive to me last season
- thankfully we lost out, given his incessant injuries. Jermaine Jenas
looks a very decent player, especially for his age, although I've
yet to see him really shine as I'm sure he will in the coming years,
and central midfield is our strongest area.
Kluivert has always been a class act - technically superb - but like
too many Newcastle players, he seems more interested in the bling
and the nightclubs. Morientes has less natural talent, but more desire,
and more winners medals. Carr is a very good player, but Steve Finnan
is starting to show why he was voted the league's best right-back
when at Fulham. Bellamy is a terrific player, but a total headcase.
I'd have taken prime-years Shearer, of course, but not now. Given's
a very good keeper, but players like Dyer, Bowyer, Robert, Bellamy
(obviously now on loan), Bramble, Kluivert all seem to lack the right
mental attitude or find themselves in trouble off the pitch.
Q: What are your views (if you have any) on NUFC as a team?
A fair amount of talent, but just far too many players of questionable
character. I think that any manager would struggle with the amount
of egos and all their interests away from football. It reminds me
a bit of the "Spice Boys" culture at Liverpool under Roy Evans.
Q: Can Liverpool go all the way in the Champions League?
Yes, inasmuch as it's a cup competition, and if Millwall can make
the FA Cup final, Liverpool can certainly make the CL final. But it's
unlikely. If Xabi Alonso - the best passer we've had since Jan Molby
- and Djibril Cissé were fit, that'd give us a lot more options, and
Morientes being ineligible doesn't help matters at all. Our best side
could give the top teams a game, but we'd still be rank outsiders.
Q: As an outsider looking in, what are your thoughts on Craig
Bellamy's recent actions?
The guy is a total tool. Great player, but an utter lunatic. He seems
mentally unstable. A shame as he has talent, but football is also
about the correct mentality.
Q: What are your impressions of NUFC fans, St. James' Park
and Newcastle Upon Tyne as a visiting away fan?
A passionate crowd, and very partisan. Not the most patient of crowds,
and like all major clubs with big grounds, capable of making a great
atmosphere in the right conditions.
Q: Your favourite NUFC Vs Liverpool match?
Well, I was fortunate enough to win a competition to take penalties
at half-time during the first - and best - 4-3 back in April 1996.
I also got to meet all the players before and after the match - including
Beardo, who came into the Carlsberg Suite. Greatest game I've ever
seen, and I got to score in front of the Kop on the same evening.
You can't really top that.
Q: And the worst?
A 2-0 defeat at Anfield in the mid-90s sticks in the craw, and the
3-0 at your place around the same time, when Cole scored all three.
Q: Finally, your prediction for the match?
Two inconsistent sides? Are you kidding? Toss a coin! |
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