Steve Nicol calls for "drastic change" at Anfield

Interesting comments by Liverpool legend Steve Nicol today, before events at Old Trafford.

When Steve Nicol says he is "trying not to be too gloomy", it has nothing to do with the threatened player strike casting a cloud over the new MLS season in the United States. Instead the New England Revolution coach is reflecting on the fortunes of his former club, Liverpool.

The ex-Scotland defender was a member of the team that won the last of their 18 League titles in 1990. Two decades on, he is the longest-serving coach in the MLS, entering his ninth season with the Revolution, whom he has led to four runners-up spots.

Yet Anfield retains a special place in his heart and Nicol pulled no punches. Something "drastic" was required to restore the pre-eminence of a club described by Albert Riera ss a "sinking ship".

"I am a coach so I wouldn't call for someone to be sacked," says Nicol. "But something drastic has to change because the team is going nowhere and ultimately someone is responsible for that. They need players and they need investment."

Liverpool fans direct their ire at the club's American owners but Nicol believes manager Rafael Benitez should not be above blame. "They've spent over £200m so you can't say they've not had money to buy players. If you don't get the right players, you're not going to win games, and you have to say they haven't got the right players as a unit."

The result is a Liverpool side in which two individuals, Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, bear too great a burden. "You watch Torres and Gerrard, they look as though they're carrying the whole stadium on their back. Every time they touch the ball they are under so much pressure to do something. You have big European nights where Gerrard and Torres are winning the games but it is not possible to carry that burden every single time you step on that field."

Nicol, who spent 14 years at Anfield, is also dismayed by Benitez's cautious tactics. "When teams used to come to Anfield they were scared before they started because they knew we were coming after them but now they play against one up front."

A lack of mental strength is a failing too. "If you have mental toughness then on days when you go to Hull, the pitch is bobbly, the wind howling, you end up with something. It's as much about that as silky soccer."

Still, the 1989 Footballer of the Year wouldn't be surprised if Liverpool won today. From 1983-84 to 1987-88, they won just one of 14 meetings, yet picked up three League titles and a European Cup. Today Liverpool can record a fourth straight victory over United but it's United who are chasing the domestic and European crowns. "Liverpool can go to United and win but the roles are reversed now. When we were winning the League, United always raised their game when they played us. Now it's the other way round."

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/drastic-change-needed-to-save-reds-says-nicol-1924702.html

So basically, all he said was:

"I am a coach so I wouldn't call for someone to be sacked," says Nicol. "But something drastic has to change because the team is going nowhere and ultimately someone is responsible for that. They need players and they need investment."

Talk about state the obvious. Tell us something we don't know.

Too right something drastic has to happen.

The owners need to top themselves.

Useless article!!!

What a Load of crap

well said Stevie

One trophy in 9 years in the MLS.

Maybe we should get him in to manage us.

Doesn't take a genius to say we need drastic changes does it ? it's something that's been the subject of debate by the faithful on this forum ,the drastic changes start with the two cowboys in charge

Drastic change = Get rid of the owners, get rid of Rafa, get a decent buyer with tons of money, sign Messi and Aguero, get rid of Insua.

And we all know that none of that is going to happen

We could get him with Ronnie Whelan as his assistant

We could get him with Ronnie Whelan as his assistant

Stan Collymore for youth development

Could we do any worse ??

Who would you like? Rafa made some bad buys and named some equally bad selections this season.
 
Quite surprised King Kenny not been involved in the background.

Lets not start slaging off a legend for saying basically fook all

Lets not start slaging off a legend for saying basically fook all

True.  I apologise for my exceptionally tongue in cheek comment earlier.

Nicol was the fans player of the season the year I had my first ever season ticket.

And you're right - basically he did say nothing at all.

True.  I apologise for my exceptionally tongue in cheek comment earlier.

Nicol was the fans player of the season the year I had my first ever season ticket.

And you're right - basically he did say nothing at all.

Your reply was actually the best mate something along the lines of the owners topping themselves

Another boring ex-player calling for changes,I suppose for a fee from a tabloid.I'd rather go and wax my arse than read his comments.Like always sh*te comes to the surface first because of it's low mass(weight).

Another boring ex-player calling for changes,I suppose for a fee from a tabloid.I'd rather go and wax my arse than read his comments.Like always sh*te comes to the surface first because of it's low mass(weight).

Go on then whats he said so wrong? Has he said sack Rafa?

The day men like Steve Nicol cant pass a remark about there club without being disrespected isa fooking sad day indeed. If Torres for example said anything its all "ooh Nando said it I love it" Yet a man who done great things for us be it a few years back says a fw words, not too much wrong either, hes abused and slagged. Seriously cant say boo without some here getting the hump 

Go on then whats he said so wrong? Has he said sack Rafa?

The day men like Steve Nicol cant pass a remark about there club without being disrespected isa fooking sad day indeed. If Torres for example said anything its all "ooh Nando said it I love it" Yet a man who done great things for us be it a few years back says a fw words, not too much wrong either, hes abused and slagged. Seriously cant say boo without some here getting the hump 

Who the f*ck is Steve Nicol,good player,Yes,Legend no,manager of repute,no,qualified in Europe,no,what gives him the right to criticise Rafa,nothing more than any of us,and we true fans reserve our comments until the end of the season.So f*ck his comments,he's Irish ffs,he should understand loyalty more than most.Miche Eirre.

Is this the press taking the piss though, Steve Nicol was asked a question and answered it, how much of the answer was included only the reporter would know. It happened to Robbie Fowler last week, he was asked about Rafa and only a tiny bit of the quote was used to make it sound like he was slagging Rafa off, when in fact his full answer was in praise of the man, but that didn't suit the newspaper's agenda.

Maybe the same thing has happened here!

He's right.

In a ruthless kind of way.

Stan Collymore for youth development

Jamie Redknapp as a Club Ambassador

Why is it always when some1 (fan or ex-player/mgr) gave there view & if its not to the liking of some here, they are abused!
If these ex-players do not have LFC in their heart, they can always answer with a simple "No comment". 

And to those that doesn't respect these ex-players doesn't deserve any respect from LFC! Atleast these people (ex-players) have played under the LFC shirt b4! What have you abusers contribute to LFC?

Its really sad to see that we can't even accept constructive criticism. So i guess in future if nando become an ex-LFC player & give his view which are not to the liking, we are going to abuse him too.

Is this the press taking the piss though, Steve Nicol was asked a question and answered it, how much of the answer was included only the reporter would know. It happened to Robbie Fowler last week, he was asked about Rafa and only a tiny bit of the quote was used to make it sound like he was slagging Rafa off, when in fact his full answer was in praise of the man, but that didn't suit the newspaper's agenda.

Maybe the same thing has happened here!

So true, the press will manipulate anything an ex player says to suit their purpose.A perfect example was Robbie Fowler as you have pointed out.

Who the f*ck is Steve Nicol,good player,Yes,Legend no,manager of repute,no,qualified in Europe,no,what gives him the right to criticise Rafa,nothing more than any of us,and we true fans reserve our comments until the end of the season.So f*ck his comments,he's Irish ffs,he should understand loyalty more than most.Miche Eirre.

What the frig are you on about here. Who the F**k is Steve Nicol? Well as it points out in the article, he was a member of the last title winning Liverpool squad. Therefore he is entitled to his opinion don't you think?
It is not like he is full on slagging Rafa, he dose'nt even call for his head. He simply points out changes need to be made (yeah no sh*t right?)
Seems to me he has been asked a question by a journo and he has given his honest answer. What the F**k do you expect of the guy. Not all of us our prepared to just sit and watch Liverpool's demise quietly. Reserve our opinions untill the end of the season? Why exactly? Potential catastrophe for this club is happening here and now.

Who the f*ck is Steve Nicol,good player,Yes,Legend no,manager of repute,no,qualified in Europe,no,what gives him the right to criticise Rafa,nothing more than any of us,and we true fans reserve our comments until the end of the season.So f*ck his comments,he's Irish ffs,he should understand loyalty more than most.Miche Eirre.

Irish? You sure know your history - try again and this time i will give you a clue, hes not Irish, Northern Irish, Welsh or English so that means hes Sco_ _ish!!!!!

Sounds like he knows more than you.

Irish? You sure know your history - try again and this time I will give you a clue, hes not Irish, Northern Irish, Welsh or English so that means hes Sco_ _ish!!!!!

Sounds like he knows more than you.

What he said

Lets not start slaging off a legend for saying basically fook all

ay,

if there is an inclination of critisim towards you know who, such legends are hung drawn and quartered.

Go on then whats he said so wrong? Has he said sack Rafa?

The day men like Steve Nicol cant pass a remark about there club without being disrespected isa fooking sad day indeed. If Torres for example said anything its all "ooh Nando said it I love it" Yet a man who done great things for us be it a few years back says a fw words, not too much wrong either, hes abused and slagged. Seriously cant say boo without some here getting the hump 

get in there lar, too many fickle faced opinions are about as insightful as as alzheimers.

Hasn't said much in that interview. We need money. Everyone knows it

Hasn't said much in that interview. We need money. Everyone knows it

Is right. He's said what we've all said, just more straight forward.

Steve has one or two decent things to say about the owners but calling for the managers head will not achieve anything, I know he do not directly say that, but that's what he means. He was right about Hicks needing to invest, but he won't. Where he got it wrong is saying Rafa has spent 200mill on players, we all know that the total is misleading unless you chuck in all the players Rafa had to let go to reach 200 mill. Where i do agree with Nicol is about the defensive mindset Rafa has, take the game yesterday, Rafa set us up not to lose, when he should have played Aqualini instead of Lucas, that would have been the one thing our opponents wouldn't have expected, then it would have said we want to win this game. Sometimes Rafa has to throw caution to the winds.

Who the f*ck is Steve Nicol,good player,Yes,Legend no,manager of repute,no,qualified in Europe,no,what gives him the right to criticise Rafa,nothing more than any of us,and we true fans reserve our comments until the end of the season.So f*ck his comments,he's Irish ffs,he should understand loyalty more than most.Miche Eirre.

Pity you can't put a sentence together which we can understand, plus your foul mouthed rant about a player who had a superb track record with our club, don't suppose you even saw him play, no one should be allowed to denigrate the character of any ex Liverpool player and what the hell has his country of origin to do with what he was as a player or a person.

He's obviously got a right to his opinion but its all this talk about our club going nowhere is rubbish.. These are reactionary comments to a horrendous season.. If these ex players (who do have a right to their opinion but all think they know best) asked the question "Are we moving quick enough?" I wouldn't have a problem but to suggest we haven't moved on is ridiculous.. I didn't hear a murmur from these morbid "no it all's" last season after a 2nd in the league finish because it was pretty evident that we were continuing to improve under Mr Benitez.

yes very complex situation no easy answers i dont think you have to spent a lot of money think buy one superstar villa have a sell off to finance that. bring some young guys through the ranks pacheo,kelly ayala. but if rafa leaves that could cost 20 mill. but if that us group comes in we might get new stadium built thats positive as generates more revenue

Like always sh*te comes to the surface first because of it's low mass(weight).

No it doesn't. You are mistaking sh*te for scum.

That's why United are at the top at the moment.

Yet again we see an ex-player voicing their concerns which many of us share.

Yet, do we really need 'drastic change' or a greater consensus to move the club forward, which has characterized Rafa's time at the club?

We don't want to become another Newcastle, a team that took 'drastic change' time and time again by swapping managers and personnel.

We are a great club with a great history, lets not forget this, and all we need is everyone at the club 100% committed to keeping it like this!!

He used to live near us 

One minute everyone is saying

"F**k me we need more press exposure!!!!"

Next minute when someone says something in the press about LFC and the sh*t situation we're in:

"F**k off talking about our club you w**ker, we've heard it all before and we don't need people saying sh*t in the press"

WHAT THE F**k do you guys want exactly!?

why is it that a lot of these ex players cant get their heads around simple F***ing maths. Lawerenson was on about us over spending only last week in a high profile article he had written, and yet again heres another from an ex player who really hasnt got a clue. Ok 200 Mill has been spent but if you look at the facts our net spend over the last 5 years has in fact been 16 mill a season. Over the 5 years that Rafa has been in charge that equates to a total of 80 mill spent.

I really do wish some of these ex players who have turned to journalism would get their facts right, they obviously have no idea about whats really going on. They just seem to reading into what other press people are saying and taking that as fact when in fact its complete bias bollox. If they really need to comment on our current situation, why dont they just do some proper research instead of adhereing to what they see written by others elsewhere.

One minute everyone is saying

"F**k me we need more press exposure!!!!"

Next minute when someone says something in the press about LFC and the sh*t situation we're in:

"F**k off talking about our club you w**ker, we've heard it all before and we don't need people saying sh*t in the press"

WHAT THE F**k do you guys want exactly!?

There is a difference though mate, we want fair and interesting couverage, this article is a lot of fuss over nothing, nothing is actually said that is remotely worth reading, look at the Phil Tommo article, here is a man not mincing his words, he hasn't done it for a few quid on the side, he has said it because he cares and wants to make an impact on the owners to leave.

OK yea I can see where you're coming from as well but you have to admit that any coverage about our plight is good coverage!

He's said nothing to the detriment of the club Steve Nicol is a sound lad and has the respect of the vast majority of supporters.

I agree, thats why I said the article is a lot over nothing, people seem to have reacted a bit angrily to an interview that was as interesting as watching sailing.