Picking Mike Marsh as his link with the club's traditions was pretty revealing, and I'm not being revisionist because I said so at the time. Marsh is a good enough lad but he had no real coaching credentials (save for a brief and indifferent spell looking after the youngsters), practically zero communication skills and a marked sense of passivity when in the presence of his superiors. So he represented no threat whatsoever to Rodgers, and, even more so than the infamously forelock-tugging Phil Neal, was the best choice for an ex-red who'll just sit there with a clipboard and say 'Yes, boss' from time to time. At least Ged was self-confident enough to invite Peter Robinson to recruit an ex-red to join his team who could be more of a serious sounding board (and whatever you think of Thompson, he was no yes man).
Obviously most managers want to bring a few staff with them (Shanks didn't, but we'll let that pass, even though the present manager is quick to associate himself with the great man when it suits him), but Rodgers brought a bloody great army with him, and has since spread it all the way down to the academy. An example is Neil Critchley, the under 18s manager, who arrived looking out of his depth and remains so to this day. Rafa did much the same, of course (although even he didn't go quite as far in weeding out anyone who didn't remind him of him), and it's horribly negligent of the club to let it keep happening. Every time a manager goes the whole community (personnel AND ethos) gets ripped out and rebuilt.
