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Patience Is Key But Pragmatism Looms For LFC

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LIVERPOOL’S American custodians John Henry, Tom Werner and their partners at Fenway Sports Group have a strategy. One summed up by an early quote from the former: “We are not going to be successful by merely filling short-term needs at LFC.”

We need to realise that we are at the birth of a new era and when new philosophies and structures are being brought in there is no quick fix, no magic wand to elevate us to the promised land of sustained Premier League and Champions League success which we could smell and almost taste under Benitez.

This topsy-turvy season has saw abject league performances and results, coupled with the failure of our big money signings to make the instant impact their hefty fees demand. But on the other end of the scale we have had two if not three trips to Wembley including an all Merseyside semi-final on the eve of the 23rd anniversary of Hillsborough. This year’s events have been caused divide amongst devotees not unlike the turbulent last few months of Rafa’s reign were there was civil war in the boardroom and in the stands.

FSG could not have started their internship into the bosom of the club in a stronger position having emerged as the new owners after the dark clouds which were surrounding this great club were finally lifting during a seriously worrying time for the Reds when the Texan mob were attempting to reduce this institution to ashes with claims that they were forced out of the club. The new guard came out with the right noises promising investment and using their American models Boston Red Sox and the newly crowned Daytona Race 500 champions Roush Fenway Racing Nascar team as a template for the successful long term plan. Bringing Kenny back to the forefront, albeit on short term trial basis was the populist choice, a decision which gave the club, players and fans the jolt in the arm which woke us from our slumber.

Mistakes have been made which have led to Adidas pulling the plug on the cashflow coming our way due to underperformance on the pitch and the stigma of racism attached to the club following the Suarez affair which led to a drop in share prices. Privately this would have incensed the owners resulting in a telling off and perhaps a longterm blot on the Uruguayan and Kenny after his widely condemned decision to back him to the hilt. This may not have immediate repercussions for the pair but for long term strategists if results don’t improve their pragmatic nature may over-rule their current populist one showing them the door. Their distaste for Suarez’ actions were subtly in evidence as the players received warm embraces from Henry and Werner after collecting their medals at Wembley while the Liverpool forward was left with a cold handshake.
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Unsurprisingly FSG have looked at ways to expand the “Liverpool Brand” offering the most bankable sportstar in the U.S, NBA’s LeBron James a stake in the club. This was the charm offensive on their homeland, in a relatively young footballing nation where Manchester United, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester City have all toured over the last few years trying to crack America. In a country where many sports all try to suck in the punters association with personality and branding ours includes a kit deal worth a colossal £300 million over 6 years from clothing giants Warrior. It remains to be seen whether Kopites will be happy to trade the traditional Adidas stripes for what looks like two boots kicking an exclamation mark! We shall let the Merseyside youth decide if it works! When there is so much money sloshing around, what we all want to know is whether it will be put back into the team or possibly to invest in a new stadium, for the club to be more self sufficient in time of (UEFA backed) financial fair play, an increased capacity is well over-due. But let’s walk before we run – soundbites from the owners have been encouraging:

“We’re trying to leverage the collective power and appeal of these brands to drive revenues. These revenues are being reinvested on the field or the track, whether it’s in new players for the Red Sox or Liverpool or our [Nascar] drivers.”

This tells us that our recent spending won’t be the last and plans are being made to invest in the future.

Patience is certainly the by-word for success according to Werner: “We want to make steady progress…but we have a way to go before we can catch Manchester United on the pitch or in commercial revenues,” as it shows FSG are in it for the long-haul. There may or may not be many comings and goings at the club over the next few years in the mean time before they find that winning formula which of course will not happen overnight. We all have opinions on: Whether Kenny is the man for this mission? Who should play each week? Should we invest more interest in the youth set up? What tactics should be played? Is Comolli doing a good job? The message is clear though, we are building something here and time will be offered and chances will be given unless progress is being scuppered, then changes will be made and pragmatism will replace sentiment.

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I've been following the Reds ever since I set eyes on the majestic sight that is the Kop in full voice with flags aloft, albeit from the television with my dad as a 5 year old in my hometown of Dublin! He would tell me about the Irish contingent, the likes of Heighway, Whelan, Beglin and Houghton, he is a Leeds fan due to his hero Johnny Giles but I had to go against the grain on this one, his 3 year old grandson will not be afforded the same opportunity!
I completed a Higher National Diploma in Print Journalism back in Dublin where I briefly worked for the Irish Independent on a placement, covering Rugby, obituaries (including the great John Charles) and some sub editing. I then made the short journey to Liverpool, where I currently reside to undertake International Journalism at John Moores University. Some will say that over the years I have picked up a Jan Molbyesque native twang but I'm not so sure!
I was also lucky enough to have worked for the socialist publication "Morning Star" covering the Reds at Anfield which allowed me gain access to the press box and press conferences, I covered about 10 games and loved every minute of it!
I am excited to be joining the team at live4liverpool.com. From what I have seen so far the standard of articles have been first class, I hope to contribute to this by publishing pieces which create opinion and debate.

7 comments

  • Costasy says:

    The recent development from John W. Henry and Thomas Werner to require a written report by Damien Comolli, Kenny Dalglish, and Steve Clarke is a very encouraging/promising movement that simply signalize their intention not to compromise with mediocrities and their determination to not tolerate from anyone, even if his name is Damien Comolli or Kenny Dalglish, with his decisions to put the overall success of turning the fortunes of this historic club around and guide/lead it to a new golden era in jeopardy. Every cent/penny that will be provided by them as a transfer budget should be spent wisely not on ambiguous value football players, but on players that have a proved record that can make the difference. On this specific aspect both Damien Comolli and Kenny Dalglish have failed and they are held responsible for that. Damien Comolli has succumbed to Kenny Dalglish’s limited knowledge of modernized football and tactics by bringing in players that are not made up for a club as LFC. This proves that they both (Damien Comolli and Kenny Dalglish) do not have the knowhow of how to build a title contender team in today’s modernized football. My assessment on Damien Comolli is based on the fact that by holding the position of football director should apply veto when he feels/believes that the players the manager/coach is asking for cannot stand up to the standards of a club like Liverpool. My assessment on Kenny Dalglish is based on the fact that he was out of the game for a decade and he cannot understand the changes that applied in this field.

    • Robert Anderson says:

      You really are a loathesome attempt at a fan Costasy. The Mata Hari was more loyal than you are. The time has come for you to p**s off and support Chelsea or City with your £s and pence attitude and your complete disregard for the history and traditions of the club. You make me sick!

    • Chan says:

      I agree perfectly with Costasy. As for you Robert, consistent with all other KD fans (not to be confused with loyal LFC Fans) and even the plastic king himself, you offered no facts nor wisdom in your response, just blind loyalty even if it means jeorpardizing LFC’s future.

      KD and DC (yes lets not forget him) was given a simple brief at the start of the season, get us 4th anything else such as a cup would be a bonus. No grand talk of winning the prem, 113 mill for 4th seems reasonable to me.
      KD had an advantage at this club, he is familiar with it (no learning curve) and backed by the owners to the tune of 113 mill. The results so far is disastarous. We are on a losing run that dates back to the 50’s, closer to the team at the bottom than to the top 4, let alone the top and despite the money spent our player quality is not better compared say to the time of Rafa.

      Now lets look at the 2 teams directly above us.

      Everton who is spent 5.5 mill at the same time and Moyes as usual get by with loan signings and bargain, got more points than us and are in the FA Cup semi as well.

      Newcastle, whom AP finance balf his squad with the 35 mill they got for Carroll sits a massive 11 points above us. They too have to integrate a new team and a newish manager, a common excuse use by the KD brigade as to why KD’s failures should be tolerated. Oh and their owners happens to be Mike Ashley, hardly a stabilizing factor.
      Their chief scout happens to be Graham Carr, no fancy title like Director of this and that, no use whatever metrics like DC but discovered gems at afraction of what we paid for bungling fools like Henderson, Downing, Carroll and Adam. Take note Mr. Henry.

      KD had been given time, money basically the fans backing and this is what he has to show for it?

      It’s time KD and his brigade take a good hard look in the mirror and see whether they would like to see LFC a great club cementing our recent new found status as a cup and mid table team. Oh it could be worse, Birmingham won the CC last year and got relegated in the same year.

      Is this the type of “progress” we are looking for?

      • Costasy says:

        Dear Chan with your very well-written article you prove that you do not base your support and commitment to our beloved team by being an idolatous as others but simply a pure LFC fan. Those who come to a point to be using a slang language just to provide vast of sins to those who are held responsible for the current embarrasing season in 58 years, are 100 miles away from being named pure LFC fans! So, may be they should reconsider their approach!

        • Chan says:

          Thank you Costacy. Some like KD had forgotten why he was given the job in the first place and those 113 mill is from LFC coffers, not his own, so there is this small matter of accountability and some like HIS fans had forgotten our loyalty lies with LFC not KD even though he was great as a PLAYER with us.

  • ray says:

    I hope we are not daft enough to risk Gerard before Everton

  • NJRedsFan says:

    Your paragraphs where you go on whining about Adidas are off the mark. The Warrior deal was done because Adidas had decided they could devalue LFC and offer a good bit less than they offered in the past and were offering other teams. Warrior decided they wanted to crack a new market and made an offer that was multiples of what Adidas had offered. Am I a bit apprehensive of what the new look might be, a bit but it will be LFC making the final approvals. You also show a short memory, Adidas has not been the only kit supplier for LFC.
    One more point of contention, the kit deal was done long before Evra got his panties in a wad and the immediate LFC management dropped the ball by not realizing the spiders nest they were sending Suarez into.

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