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Part 1
For a couple of years Rafa Benitez had been in charge of the might of Liverpool FC. Althought there were many complaints about his squad rotation system policy he was the most successful Liverpool manager in recent times. In May 2005 ,perhaps his defining moment, he led Liverpool into the most thrilling Champions League Final in the history of the competition. The Ataturk stadium was the venue where Liverpool came from a first half deficit of 3-0 to win on penalties and thus become one of the few teams to win 'Big Ears' for the 5th time. A year later he led his team to the FA Cup final where they beat West Ham on penalties thanks to a performance of a lifetime by Liverpool Captain and Legend Steven Gerrard. Despite these cup successes the team still wasn't performing in the league. Two 3rd Places in a row and with new owners in place the pressure was on heading into the 2006/2007 season. The media were tipping Liverpool to mount a serious title challenge...a challenge that never came to the fore and thus resulted in the sacking of the Spaniard despite the fact that they had reached the European Cup Final for the 2nd time in 3 years.
1st July 2007 is where out story begins....
I was watching Sky Sports News as i usually do on a Friday Morning before heading into work as a High School Sports Studies/P.E Teacher. Usually I would not really be bothered at the news but on this day i was about to get the biggest shock on my life.
On the TV screen George Gillett and Tom Hicks, the owners of my beloved Liverpool FC. I listened with all ears as i sat down to drink my nice, warm cup of tea like i did every morning. That was when the news reached me, the news that the most successful Liverpool manager in recent history, Rafa Benitez had been sacked with immediate effect. I couldn't believe what i was hearing! Rafa gone? I sat and pondered over who would be the next Liverpool manager as the TV kept on blaring.
At this point there were rumours flying around that Marcelo Lippi or even Jose Mourinho would take over at Anfield but one name came up...A name which made me spit tea all over my kitchen table, John Warrington. I sat and stared for a minute as the revelation sunk in. I, a High School Teacher in Birkenhead Wirral was being linked to the Liverpool FC job! Sure i had worked in the youth setup at Chester and managed the Year 11 team to the Under 16's National School's Cup final but Liverpool!? Surely Not?
I went through the rest of the day in Auto Pilot so to speak but when i got home my life changed...for the better. As I turned the key in my front door lock my mobile phone began to blast out the tune of Beautiful Girls by Sean Kingston. I instinctively rummaged in my pocket and pulled out my Sony Ericsson k750i. It was a number i didn't recognize but nothing had prepared me for what happened next.
Voice:- Hello is this John Warrington? Coach of the Wirral Grange Year 11 Football side?
John Warrington:- Yes This is John. May i ask who's calling?
Voice:- This is George Gillett, Co- Owner of Liverpool FC. I am sure you have heard by now that early this morning we unfortunately had to sack Mr Benitez.
John Warrington:- I sure did! Terrible News! I just hope the replacement is as good as him. You got any ideas on who Mr Gillett?
George Gillett:- Well that is why am calling to tell you the truth. I want you to come into Anfield so i can interview in light of offering you the position of Liverpool Manager.
I couldn't believe my ears!
John Warrington:- M..m..mm..me? Aren't I a little inexperienced?
George Gillett:- At the moment we want something fresh... a new idea in the footballing world and after seeing what you did with those Wirral Grange kids Tom and I feel that you are the best man for the job.
John Warrington:- Wow ok when do you want me to come in?
George Gillett:- As soon as possible if you don't mind we will need time to introduce you to the media.
John Warrington:- Ok I'll make my way over now.
George Gillett:- Great we will see you when you get here. Goodbye.
John Warrington:- Thanks and Goodbye.
I hung up the phone and i couldn't stop myself as i jumped up and punched the air in delight.
Part 2
I made my way over to Anfield and after agreeing a 1 year deal worth £46,000, I was unveiled as Manager of Liverpool Football Club.
My first order of business was to get myself an assistant manager. One name instantly sprang to my mind and that was Pako Ayestaran. He was Asistant Maager under Rafa Benitez and knew the players well which would be vital if we were going to mount a serious title challenge. He agreed and i got sttraight into working out who i wanted and who i didnt in my First Team Squad.
I had an idea of who who would keep and who would fit in with my 3-2-2-1-2 formation which had worked so well in the National School's Cup last season. I wrote down a list of the players i had available in the First Team and Reserves who weren't on loan.
Goalkeepers-
Pepe Reina- 1st Choice Keeper, Will need to play well.
Charles Itandje- Back Up Keeper, Will be on he bench and cover for Pepe
Peter Gulacsi- On Loan Keeper, Will be sent back to MTK
Defenders-
Alvaro Arbeloa- Will be rotated throughout the season but will be sold if the price is right
Jamie Carragher- Defensive Rock, Will play in all games in the heart of defence unless injured or suspended
Daniel Agger- Will probably play alongside Jamie Carragher throughout the season
Sami Hyypia- Will be rotated with other defenders throughout the season. Will look for replacement
Steve Finnan- Will be rotated throughout the season but will be sold if the price is right
Fabio Aurellio- Will be rotated throughout the season but will be sold if the price is right
Midfielders-
John Arne Riise- Will provide backup for Harry Kewell and also for the central defenders, Must keep hold
Javier Mascherano- Will be rotated wth Sissoko and Lucas throughout the season, May be sold if a good offer comes in
Momo Sissoko- Will be rotated wth Mascherano and Lucas throughout the season, May be sold if a good offer comes in
Xabi Alonso- Main Defensive Midfielder, Will probably start the most out of the Defensive midfielders
Lucas- Will be rotated wth Sissoko and Lucas throughout the season, May be sold if a good offer comes in
Sebastian Leto- Not really needed, Will try and sell
Steven Gerrard- Main Man in the Middle and will captain the side
Yossi Benayoun- Will provide backup for Gerrard in AMC position and my also cover RM if both Pennant and Babel injured
Jermaine Pennant- Will be rotated with Babel in RM
Ryan Babel- Will be rotated with Pennant in RM
Harry Kewell- Probably start lots in Left midfield but may be rotated with Riise
Strikers-
Fernando Torres- Main Striker will play inalmost every game if eligable
Sparta took the lead on 34 minutes through Tomas David only for Spaniard Fernando Torres to equalise on 43 minutes with a simple tap in after a Harry Kewell cross. At half time I decided to complete change the line up even the goalkeeper and the response was brilliant. Throughout the second half we got stronger and Momo Sissoko won the game for us when, on 80 minutes, hit a right footed volley into the bottom right hand corner to send the travelling Liverpool fans into raptures.
Despite the win I was highly disappointed with the first half performance against a team that frankly we should have beaten easily. The only rating above 7 was 2nd Half Sub Steve Finnan who was voted the Man Of The Match.
Now this is was more of a performance you'd expect from a team with the quality of Liverpool. We dominated from the start and should have been 1-0 up inside 5 minutes but Harry Kewell could only fire wide from close range. The breakthrough came on 25 minutes, after we had dominated, when Andriy Voronin latched on to a header from Jamie Carragher to rifle the ball home. We then had to wait until the 52 minute mark before Andriy Voronin found some room to fire into the net from a Fernando Torres knock down. The third and final goal came on the 68 Minute mark when Aussie Harry Kewell curled at 20 yard shot round the outstretched hand of Antony Williams in the Wrexham goal. The Man Of The Match was none other than Steven Gerrard as our skipper had one of his trademark stormers. Hopefully we can keep this sort of form going into the start of the Premiership season.
Another good performance by our boys today and things are looking up. I decided to rest Torres and Gerrard for this game to see how we could cope without our star men and i was pleasantly suprised. We took the lead after 7 minutes when Ryan Babel ran onto a Sebastian Leto cross to head into the top left hand corner. 7 minutes later we took a 2 goal lead when Ryan Babel got free to bag his second goal of the game. From then on we more or less dominated the game although Nantes were able to nick a goal on 73 minutes when Said Parrot was able to beat Hyypia and fire a shot past Pepe. Understandibly Ryan Babel was the Man Of The Match after scoring both our goals.
In transfer news we have scouts currently looking for talent to bring to the club and hopefully some signings will be made shorty although the 8M budget i have is not the best. We have also loaned out David Martin(20 year old Reserves Goalkeeper) for 6 months in the hope that he will gain some first team experience.
Wow what a match this was. Good to see we kept our 100% record going into the new season. The match started with Atlanta taking the lead in the 4th minute courtesy of Nicola Lorenzini. It took us until the 33rd minute to draw level when yet again, our inspiratonal captain, Steven Gerrard proved his worth by sending a right footed thunderbolt into the Right Hand Top corner from 30+ yards. We then took the lead on 52 minutes when Fernando Torres latched onto a Harry Kewell cross to head us into the lead. On 63 minutes we extended our lead when Momo Sissoko scored from close range. Atlanta however gave us a scare on 76 minutes when Dante Giordano found the net but the scare was short lived because on 82 minutes John Arne Riise scored from close range to wrap up the game. Man of the match was our captain Steven Gerrard who once again put in a vintage performance. Hopefully he can continue his form into the league season.
Another great match and another great win. The boys are on fire at the moment! If we keep this form up we should be title contenders come May i think. We took the lead within 10 minutes when Andriy Voronin latched onto a Steven Gerrard throughball to slot home. 4 minutes later Ryan Babel doubled our lead after another Steven Gerrard throughball. Once again Steven Gerrard was the Man Of The Match after a vintage performance. We will now play Schalke in the final.
Amsterdam Tournament Semi Final- 25/07/07
Schalke (1) Liverpool (2)
A thriller! What can i say. The only dwnside to this match was that Momo Sissoko picked up an injury in the 32nd Minute and had to go off the pitch. We took the lead after 52 minutes when Stevie G managed to fire a shot past the Schalke keeper. Up till the 80 minute mark we more or less dominated Schalke but Mesul Ozil managed to bundle the ball into the back of the net although he seemed to be in an offside postion from where i was standing. Understandibly i was fuming but in the 93rd minute Fernando Torres stepped up and squezzed in a shot at the near post to win us the Amsterdam Tournament. What a match and what a start to my reign. Daniel Agger was the man of the match after an outstanding performance at the back.
Another game another win for us but we started off very badly. The boys were slow to adapt to the pace of the game and on 19 minutes Arbeloa mistimed a challenge to give away a penalty which Michael O'Connor coverted. Crewe taking the lead seem to give the guys the boost they needed and on 21 minutes Harry Kewell equalised. We pretty much dominated the rest ofthe game but it wasn't until i took off Dirk Kuyt off that we took the lead. On the 59 minute mark Dirk Kuyt's replacement Peter Crouch was able to latch onto a Steven Gerrard cross to head the all into the net. 4 minutes later the game was just about wraped up as Xabi Alonso hit a 25 yard screamer to put the result beyound doubt. Ben Williams (Crewe Keeper) was Man of the Match.
Liverpool FC:- The Quest For Glory 
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