Cream trousers, white shirt, tan belt and coffee in hand.
When Roberto Martinez strode through Miami with John W Henry
last week, the image portrayed a man being welcomed into an inner circle.
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| He dresses the part: Martinez with John W Henry |
With the attire on show, you could be forgiven for thinking this
was a scene from Layer Cake or a Pacino driven mafia movie.
But it’s worth remembering, for many, things do not tend to
end well in such blockbusters.
And that’s what this job is, a blockbuster.
Let the doomsayers issue their fantasy, let Dave Whelan
splutter how Liverpool isn’t quite what it was.
If the Liverpool job was a trailer, the film is a must see.
But can Roberto Martinez write a compelling sequel to the
emotions stirred by Kenny Dalglish’s saga?
Reaction to the pitch has so far been watery, but what will
happen when the cameras start rolling?
Still two years the green side of 40, Martinez undeniably
has youthful exuberance for the game.
His philosophy is fresh, gutsy and positive. Characteristics
of loveable Hollywood characters and many of the new guard infiltrating Premier
League dug-outs.
But if the Spaniard moves to Liverpool, building a future
would involve forgetting his past. No one cares. He’s worked on low budget movies
up until now. This time he’d be shooting in high def. All your shortcomings are
brought to the fore.
Martinez cut almost a comedic character on times at Wigan.
Finding the positives in ball busting defeats, pundits lined up to question if
he was delusional or a genius.
Survival would imply the latter, but no amount of spin will
cut the mustard at Liverpool.
Scousers have seen their side entertain the ‘A’ list and send
them packing. They’ve stood on the Kop on European nights. They know what a
good side looks like. If you’re not delivering, don’t tell them you are.
As a
collective, they value honesty.
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| Martinez has won just over one in four at Wigan despite good recent form |
No actor could pull the wool. If it’s going wrong on the
touchline, the television cameras stare into your sole, the pressure
relentless.
Handling it would be a major ask, but his calm exterior is
yet to give us cause for concern that the task would be insurmountable.
With just three defeats in 15, Martinez has recently enjoyed
his own fairytale ending. No one can knock the fact his Wigan side delivered
when it mattered. Could he guide a bigger club to do this week in, week out?
Or was the spike in form merely the bait to draw a viewer in
before his character turns sour. A false dawn, the phoney you suspected from
the minute the curtain went up.
His stock is high. But is there substance to the investment.
Is he riding a Facebook-esque wave of hysteria?
Few would back a manager with a 27% win record in his most
recent role and Liverpool need to be frugal, not haphazard in this investment.
Martinez is a gamble.
Not since Avram Grant took over at Chelsea has one of England’s
top clubs been in the hands of a manager with a fairly humble history.
A cuddly character, Grant’s persona did little to appease
the wielding axe.
But like Pacino needed ‘The Panic in the Needle Park’ before
landing ‘The Godfather’, Martinez may be destined for top billing.
But how can managers make strides up the league without
opportunity? If given it, like Pacino they could revel.
In directing his short, Di Matteo has given such logic some
credence.
A VIP club for the top jobs does no one any favours.
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| Some Liverpool players need direction in their second season |
Everyone needs an opportunity. It’s the timing in handing
one out which seems so tricky. There never seems to be a right one.
Martinez – who carried Swansea to league success in 2008 –
is temporarily hot.
Would he have the strength of character to direct an under-performing cast to perform?
Last season, Pepe Reina was the only Red's player ranked in the top ten of a host of Opta categories. Individuals seemingly need inspiration.
But it’s perhaps the Martinez method which brought around his
audition for the role.
Unlike so many other managers, he has a clear
method. A framework, a structure and an ethos which can be dripped through a
club.
Patient, passing football, a love of possession and
positivity in all round play.
It’s easily identifiable, offers players a clear definition
of what’s expected of them and makes the scouting of talent more straight
forward. A clear outline of what characteristics a player needs becomes visible.
If Fenway Sports Group seek a long-term mantra, the Martinez
style maybe the real spark for their interest.
The opening sequence of a new
Liverpool era is set to role.
In Scarface, Pacino told us he’d go straight to the top with
the right woman.
Martinez has the clobber for the part, but whether Liverpool
is his ideal partner remains to be seen.
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