Creating the perfect Liverpool (The Paul Tomkins Column)

CREATING THE PERFECT LIVERPOOL

Paul Tomkins 07 December 2005

Rafa is a big believer in the team collective, and it's a reason we need to judge this Liverpool team as a whole, and not as a collection of individuals.

Yet still I see all the emphasis on 'this' player over 'that' based on individual performances, ignoring the overall blend of the team. And it's a difficult habit to break; we grow up appreciating particular players before we are capable of assessing how a team functions. As kids we worship the star players, most likely those who wow us with their skills.

In Benitez, we have a manager with a track record in building successful teams which punch above their weight. Teams which exceed the sum of their parts.

I was at Anfield in 2002 when Rafa's Valencia played the Reds off the pitch. I can't remember ever being more impressed by the 'oneness' of a team. They hunted in packs, but it was more than that - every department of the team seemed in synch. In my 200+ visits to Anfield dating back 15 years, they left the greatest impression.

Looking back at their teamsheet now, it doesn't read like a 'Who's Who' of world-class players. Vicente and Mista were only on the bench, while Ayala was totally absent. The much-derided Carew was up front, and Pellegrino's impressive reputation has subsequently suffered due to his difficult five months in England. Aimar, Baraja and Albelda are the only names that leap out at me.

I've been present to see teams outplay Liverpool, and even arrogantly toy with the Reds, as Barcelona did for the last 30 minutes of their 3-1 victory the previous season. But I've never seen a team make it so hard for the Reds to play - so cloying in everything they did without the ball, and so smart and sharp with the ball. They weren't the most spectacular, but they were the most in control for an entire game.

It's why, for all the ups and downs, I've been behind Rafa since Day One. His methods are never about quick fixes but the building, over time, of a team to match his ethos. He doesn't buy a collection of star names, the way Real Madrid have (to resulting mediocrity). He uses players who can think and act as one.

We go to worship the team, but get emotionally invested in individuals. We all have our favourites, don't we? But a manager will be assessing the game in a different way. Rafa has sold some of my personal favourites, and may sell some more. But he's also secured the permanent 'signing' of the European Cup, and got the Reds on the most impressive league run for many a season.



Teamwork

There is teamwork, where players work for one another on the pitch; and there is the emotional unity of the group of players, which goes beyond working for one another for the sake of professionalism, and into the realm of genuinely helping each other, where players want to succeed as much for their colleagues as for themselves.

It's no good having a good bond between the players, but then not translating that into extra effort on the pitch. The tiresomely-reported trials and tribulations of Peter Crouch have helped highlight Liverpool's unity: colleagues were trying to help him score, were overjoyed when he did, and then, in Steven Gerrard's case, stepped out of the limelight to allow Crouch a solo post-match interview.

I see unity between Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso. When Alonso arrived, Gerrard could have felt marginalised. The Spaniard turned up at Anfield, a compatriot of the manager, and arguably an even better passer of the ball. Gerrard was suddenly less crucial in his old role at the heart of the midfield, and pushed further forward. The two men could have ended up hating each other, jealous of what the other represented.

But they don't. They're clearly good friends, and most importantly, they share a hefty mutual respect. There is some overlap in their skills, but also essential differences, such as Gerrard's pace and dynamism, and Alonso's calm assurance. Gerrard seemed to instantly trust Alonso with the ball, understanding he was here not to compete with the captain, but to improve the team.

Together, on the same wavelength in numerous ways, they are far more dangerous than two equally talented players interested only in their own success.

Look at the goal Gerrard scored against Sunderland. Gerrard and Alonso exchanged passes deep in the Sunderland half, and nothing looked on. Then the captain made a fantastic early run in behind the full-back, well before Alonso had looked up. It is the kind of run you only make if you trust the man on the ball to not only spot, but to spot in time and to release the pass with the correct weight and necessary precision. And it was perfect.

Gerrard's current form is sublime. When he's charging forward with the ball at his feet he can be as unstoppable as Ronaldinho. He doesn't have the Brazilian's skill, but he has more pace, power and stamina. Gerrard totally terrorised the Wigan defence on Saturday.

Weneed to look at the way Gerrard is getting forward, and ask how much of it is down to Peter Crouch. In much the same way that Gerrard trusts the quality of Alonso's forward passes, the captain needs to know that all those 40-yard lung-busting 'third man' runs will not prove repetitively fruitless.



Whenever the ball goes near Crouch, Liverpool's attacking midfielders trust the big man's ability to bring them into the game. They are gambling more this season, running off the ball time and again, as there's more to feed off. The increased movement is there for all to see.

There was the perfect example in the first half, when Crouch jumped high to cushion a fantastic, difficult pass with his instep which put Gerrard through on goal, the captain forcing an amazing save from the Wigan keeper. The understanding was almost telepathic. In the second half Crouch produced a similar flick that did the same for John Arne Riise. Crouch has been doing that all season.

Perfect team

You could argue that perfection isn't possible, but all the same, every manager strives towards his own version. In Rafa's case, perfection would surely be based around unity and synchronicity.

In terms of the skills and abilities of the players, he would desire a varied mix: strength, pace, height, skill, bravery,cleverness, commitment, experience, stamina and so on. Some players will have a more all-round game, encompassing lots of traits, while others will offer more specialist skills.

But then - and this is the crucial point - you require a consistency of character and mutual respect to hold it all together; players who will leave their egos at the door.

Is it an accident that Peter Crouch, bought for £7m by Rafa, is now being widely praised in the press for not hiding, and exhibiting a commendable strength of character? Is it an accident that (some) people are now seeing what a good team player he is, now that the team are getting consistently good results? Is it an accident that his teammates like him both as a man and as a player?

Rafa knows the kind of person he wants in his team, as much as the kind of footballer. It's unlikely to be someone with a a Stan Collymore-type mentality. Collymore was one of the most talented players I've seen at the club, but he was an individual who didn't always fit in with the team ethos. Mavericks aren't welcome.

Unlike a lot of managers, Benitez simply doesn't gamble on players of questionable temperament, whatever their ability. The most talented oarsman is no use if he consistently rocks the boat.

Compare El-Hadji Diouf to his half-price replacement, Luis Garcia. The little Spaniard's goals secured all of Liverpool's knock-out victories in last season's Champions League, and last month he almost single-handedly ensured Spain qualified for the World Cup. He's hard working, without being likely to mimic Tommy Smith, and he's usually the first to congratulate other scorers with a genuine smile.

You need players with individual skill, capable of doing something unexpected. But they have to fit into the team.

I feel Benitez craves a lot more skill on the ball than did his predecessor, but also stronger passers.Under Houllier I felt the team was very unified in its defending, but less so in its attacking, and there wasn't enough possession of the ball to work the opposition.

One of the greatest strengths of any team is the way, in a few seconds, it can exchange a number of passes that cut the opposition to ribbons. The better the passers and the greater the understanding, the more devastating it can be. And I feel that's the direction in which we are heading.

You really have to see the Reds playing live to appreciate just what Raffa has acheived at Anfield. They really are a unit and are ruthlessly efficient in the way the whole team move as one unit around the pitch.