Style v substance?
As Liverpool consider some of the Premier League's young managerial talent, Adam Bate thinks they're looking at the wrong up-and-coming boss.

Tuesday 22 May 2012 08:39, UK
Adam Bate wonders why Liverpool are focusing on Martinez and Rodgers ahead of Paul Lambert.
The news that Wigan's Roberto Martinez and Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers are contenders for the managerial vacancy at Liverpool is an intriguing development. Of course, the usual European heavyweights also feature on the inappropriately named 'shortlist' - the perennial figure of Frank Rijkaard and the spectre of Rafa Benitez loom large. But the presence of two of the Premier League's up-and-comers indicates a willingness to consider a manager who is capable of stepping up to a bigger challenge. In which case, how can Norwich's Paul Lambert possibly be ignored? It shouldn't be a surprise. While the entire country appears to be au fait with the finer details of Leon Britton's pass completion rates for Swansea, Norwich's efforts have failed to capture the imagination in the same way. Rodgers' zealous commitment to passing football has seen him rightly lauded by his peers and the media alike. But the disparity between the praise given to the two promoted bosses is highlighted by the bookies, who rated Rodgers a 7/5 favourite for the LMA manager of the year award in April. Lambert, whose Norwich were level on points with Swansea at the time, was an 8/1 outsider for the prize that eventually went to Newcastle's Alan Pardew. Indeed, the Swans and the Canaries finished the season level on points, with Martinez's Wigan side a further four points back despite their late rally. A creditable effort by all three given they were among the favourites for the drop. But Norwich's starting point under Lambert must be considered when comparing the prospective Reds candidates. Swansea had just finished in an encouraging seventh spot in the Championship when Rodgers took the reins in 2010, while Wigan had secured 11th place in the Premier League in 2009 before turning to the Spaniard. In contrast, Lambert inherited a League One team that had just been beaten 7-1 by (his) Colchester United. Admittedly, Liverpool do not need a manager able to turn things around at a third-tier team - they need a coach who can fashion the five-time European Cup winners into a competitive top four outfit. But the belief that this favours a manager accustomed to possession football at all costs could be a flawed theory. Firstly, it assumes that Lambert - a Champions League winner with Borussia Dortmund as a player, of course - would not be comfortable adapting his style to the demands of the job. All the evidence available points to the contrary.