Building a team around a player..

[NeilMcD]

Benitez has told the press that he wants to the build the team around Stephen Gerarrd. I am always puzzled when a manager does this. I dont really know what it means. What if a player that you are buidling the team around gets injured does that mean you are ****ed. Any views on what it practically means when a manager says this.

[Stuttgart88]

Maybe he's just massaging Gerrard's ego?

[Bosco]

Its the type of thing you say about a player who you want to commit his future to the club........

[noby]

Alan Ball did it with Le Tissier in '94.

When he took over Southampton, he called the first team squad together. Up on the white board he had his preferreed team and formation, and began to explain the player's roles. Eventually someone pointed out there was only ten players in his formation.
This, he said, was because the eleventh player was Le Tissier, who could do whatever he wants, and it was their job to give him the ball. Le Tissier had probably his best season ever, and Southampton finished 10th.

Then Ball went to Man. City, and it all went pear-shaped.

[superfrank]

It's a stupid thing to do. It'd be like building Chelsea round Lampard, as a Chelsea fan, I think that'd be hard enough.

But with a player of questionable loyalty like Gerrard, it'd be stupid. What happens if he has another panic attack and decides to really leave, then you are truly ****ed arseways.