“The alarm bells should have been ringing.”
Liverpool’s disastrous start to the season continued last night as they were hammered 4-1 by Napoli in there opening Champions League fixture.
No one can seem to put their finger on why a team that was so brilliant last season, can’t seem to get up and running at all this year.
The finger has been pointed at injuries, last year’s long campaign, a gruelling pre-season, the exit of Sadio Mane – the list goes on.
However, former Liverpool star Didi Hamann took to Twitter to share another reason that he believes the Reds have endured such a faltered start.
During the summer, Pep LiJnders, the current assistant manager at Liverpool, released a book called Intensity, Inside Liverpool FC.
The publication documented past games, training sessions, tactical decisions made, and gave interesting insights to one of the most successful and powerful teams in the Premier League era.
"I think he was born in a rondo." 🤣
See what the first-team squad and management had to say about Pep Lijnders' brand new book 'Intensity' 📖 pic.twitter.com/KKdhInvnqW
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 4, 2022
Hamann however, did not see any benefit to making this information available to the public, and tweeted his feelings on the matter.
“The alarm bells should have been ringing for @LFC fans when the current assistant manager wrote a book while still employed by the club.
“How he was allowed to do it I’m not too sure.”
When the book was initially released, no one seemed to make a comment on any negative implications it may have, and another former player was quick to point out that other clubs have gone public with their own secrets recently.
The alarm bells should have been ringing for @LFC fans when the current assistant manager wrote a book while still employed by the club. How he was allowed to do it I’m not too sure
— Didi Hamann (@DietmarHamann) September 8, 2022
Anfield legend Robbie Fowler, and ex-teammate to the German midfielder replied to the tweet, and clearly didn’t agree.
“I hear ya. But take it you haven’t seen any of the all or nothing series with city/leeds/ Arsenal kais?”
The Liverpudlian makes a good point, particularly with the Arsenal case, as everyone was able to get backroom footage to the Gooner’s dressing room that was never attainable before, and get an up close look at Mikel Arteta’s managerial style.
https://twitter.com/Robbie9Fowler/status/1567819151200206849
If anything, the insight has made the manager and team much more likeable, coupled by the fact that they have got of to a great start in the season, then it does seem that Fowler is right.
In many ways, a book is too easy an excuse for the club’s poor start, and the reality is probably an accumulation of things from injuries and transfers to fatigue.