Why Neither Martinez Or Benitez Are The Right Men For The Task

Kenny Dalglish is out of Anfield and Liverpool are looking for his successor, with a number of names already being linked with the post.

Roberto Martinez is currently the favourite for the job after his club Wigan Athletic gave Liverpool permission to talk to him, but other names such as Andre Villas-Boas and Jurgen Klopp (Borussia Dortmund) have been linked, whilst Brendan Rodgers has reportedly turned down the chance to talk to the Anfield club.

Despite a revered figure failing to turn Liverpool around, the fans seem set on repeating the trick and bringing back someone who the supporters love. Rafael Benitez.

Benitez famously led the Reds to an incredible comeback in the 2005 Champions League final having been 3-0 down to AC Milan at half time, but his reign ended in 2010 after a disappointing 7th place finish in the Premier League. Benitez went on to manage Inter Milan but left after just 6 months – and he’s been a free agent since.

I’ve seen a lot of fans that want Benitez back, but I don’t think Liverpool should make a move for him. When he left the club, a lot of fans were happy to see him go. They thought that it was time for change, time to freshen the club up. The board didn’t pick the right man for the job in Roy Hodgson, but that doesn’t mean that Liverpool should go back in for Benitez. I understand he still lives locally, he still loves Liverpool Football Club and he made a fantastic donation to the Hillsborough Family Support Group upon his departure. But Liverpool need to go forward, not backwards.

Dalglish had been out of the game for a long time and at times I think it showed, some of his methods seemed old fashioned and outdated – now is the time for Liverpool to be bold and appoint a young, hungry manager and build for the future.

I don’t think Roberto Martinez is the right man either, but I’m a big Andre Villas-Boas fan from his time at Porto. Many will look at his time at Chelsea and say he’s not up to the job, but given time and full control of the team I think Villas-Boas could bring Liverpool out of the dark and into the light. He played great football with Porto and was bringing that style to Chelsea, so I’m sure the Liverpool fans would take to him.

I can’t say I would be surprised if Benitez was named Liverpool manager and I’m not saying it would be a terrible appointment, but I think Liverpool need to go for a younger face at the helm and push the new era of the club, not turn back the clock – like they did with Dalglish – and appoint Benitez.