Oilers Need Fresh Blood

Public Relations Officer of the Liberia Petroleum
Refining Company (LPRC), Wleh Bedell

By Roland M. Mulbah
rolandmulbah@liberiansoccer.com
2316714850 

After what can be described as a virtually disappointing season by the Oilers of LPRC who did not win either of the cups in the national league and knock-Out competition, the Public Relations Officer of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC), Wleh Bedell says the Oilers need fresh blood if they are to be winsome in bringing back the glory days of the past.

"The Oilers need fresh blood. The football squad must be rejuvenated. there is a need for close to ten young, hungry and competitive players who from all indication, will make the team a more spirited one, and will not just be genuine title contenders, but winners as well", he made the disclosure recently when he spoke to a team of reporters.

According to him, there is a serious need to part company with a host of players in infusing fresh blood with a new dynamism as they would add something special to the team in the seasons to come. Mr. Bedell whose views are always respected, indicated that there were in fact some players who did not play a single match or even close to six matches despite the team playing more than 30 matches the whole season.

 "You cannot have a team where others only benefit from salary and are not involved in matches, though they are not injured or ill". Continuing he said the size of the team must even be reduced, stating the economics of team management which he said is a major guide in coaching or leading a team.

 "There is a need to have not more than 22 players registered who will be competitive order than having 30 registered players were the competition will be more of getting salary and not contributing to the squad", he averred.

 He then noted that there are quite a host of young and promising players in the country that can be recruited in replacing some of the players who did not add value to the team during the league.

Though he did not name players that must be dropped, he stated that the writings are on the wall for some players to give way for some fresh legs in making the team lively.

Mr. Bedell further intoned that the team need not more than three clinical finishers who can play in various part of attack. He also indicated that there is a need for atleast two influential, mobile and fluent passing offense oriented midfielders who will provide the final ball to the strikers to pounce on the opponents.

He said such players must be useful as the trequatista which he said was first introduced by the Italians when Roberto Baggio was instructed by Arigo Sacchi in the mid 90's to operate not as a striker or midfielder but a decoy or free role player behind the strikers in providing defense splitting passes. He said that was the role of the Brazilian playmaker Kaka at AC Milan in the famous "Christmas tree formation" of 4-3-1-2 under Carlo Anceloti.

 The analyst also said such role is normally given to Cesc Fabregas at Arsenal, and that though the players Oilers should buy or transfer are not like such stars, the reason he named them was because at times the clubs on the amateur stage must model from the fancy European set up.

"I do not mean these players must be like the Europeans, but they is to play in a role that these guys feature, and should remember to be themselves", he indulged. These players he said must be quick, technically gifted and have the ability to provide a piece of brilliance cum magic by letting in the killer balls and telling passes.

Also, the P.R.O. said the team needs another holding midfielder  two full backs, virtually one center back as well as a younger goalkeeper to be a fringe member or under study to the country's best glovesman Saylee Swen and his deputy Sorsor Jomah.

 On why the Oilers did not win either of the cups they were in contention till the end, he blamed that on several factors. The first according to him was what he termed "the Syrian adventure", he narrated that the Oilers had it all smooth sailing until the questionable trip to Syria came to the fore. "Every title contender would like to have all of its players and coaches on board in every match", this he said was not the c ase of the Oilers. The team got its first defeat at the hands  of minnows United Soccer Ambassadors (USA) when five of its starting players and head coach traveled with the national team to Syria. "That was a deplete Oilers, and to some extent, there was no respect shown by the Liberia Football Association (LFA) the team was not officially written, but the players and the head coach hurriedly joined the rest of the squad in the name of national assignment", he highlighted.

From then on he said the playing field was not level as the Oilers pursuers Barrack Young Controllers (BYC) and Mighty Barrolle were buoyed in breaching the gap as they still had their squad in tact as no player or coach had left for the modest Syrian competition.

The second reason according to Mr. Bedell as to why Oilers did not win either cups was what he termed as tactical stereotype. He explained that the team over used  a certain formation of 3-4-3 where even a basketball coach could read what the player on the park would do in another match. Also, he said the team was too slow in its build up, they did not play with pace, and they lack the element of surprise. "Opponents were rarely caught on the break, and the possession was overdone", he lamented.

 The third reason was what he termed neglect of the rotation policy. The team he said did register 30 players, but in truth just 20 players played on the average in a marathon season that was introduced for the first time in the season. "The technical staff was obsessed with the issue of winning team, so even those players who were tired or injured were still being used. Complacency and fatigue crept in and their opponents took advantage", he analyzed.

 The final reason was what he described as erratic decisions being made by the technical staff. The decision to let five key players along with the coach travel with the national team  to Syria, the overuse of tactic and players, thus neglecting the rotation policy as well as failing to put forth the tactical nous in keeping the Rollers and the 2009 season revelation BYC at bay proved their undoing.

He was however quick to point out that they Oilers did not end empty handed virtually. "The Oilers were better than so many teams, and for the fact that they ended second in both competitions defeat the argument that they were so disappointing", he exclaimed.

Oilers booked a place in continental competition, they wore medals and will earn cash as a result of them ending as runners-up.

"Can someone tell me that West Ham and Arsenal are the same since they both did not win trophies last season?". He asked. According to him, for the fact that Arsenal maintained their top four status and got the license to play in the champions league means they and West Ham are in no way the same.

He also said it does not mean because Accra hearts of Oak did not win the championship in Ghana is an indication that they and KEsbane FC are the same since they did not win. Hearts he said are going in Africa.

On the issue of Oilers leading the  table with more than 12 points and then falling to the end, Bedell hinted "that's football. The game is full of surprises and the Oilers were not the first team to do so.

He reminded people that Red Star Belgrade in the former Yugoslavia won the championship in 1993 by coming from 16 points down. Sporting Reyjavic he said did same in Iceland ten years earlier when they came from 17 points to lift the crown. Polinia Warsaw he indicated came from 12 points down to lift the title in Poland in 1996, Rapid Vienna in 1995 came from 13 points down to lift the title in Austria. Orlando Pirates he said came from 11 points down to lift the PSL in South Africa, and said the list is endless.

He said it was time for the Oilers to start rebuilding for the future in terms of looking back.