Can FSG Really Win?
I wrote about a week ago that my personal choice for the next Liverpool manager was Rafa Benitez and I would stand by that regardless of the other potential candidates. From various polls across a number of sites it would also appear that around 60-70% of Liverpool fans would agree with me. However, at of the time this article is being written Brendan Rodgers had edged slightly ahead of Spaniard Roberto Martinez as the favourite [Editor: With Rodgers now all but officially confirmed].
FSG were placed in a very difficult situation. The short-list that was muted contained perhaps 2-3 that would whet the appetite of most Reds fans, but the rest – the above mentioned included – were not exactly popular amongst most of us and understandably so. This isn’t about disrespecting what are no doubt talented young managers with potential; this is about finding an experienced pro with a proven track-record, so we’re allowed to feel some slight trepidation when Brendan Rodgers jumped ahead of Martinez as odds on favourite.
Because no matter which of these two ended up managing us, they were signing up to a managerial position which couldn’t be more difficult. On the one hand, we’ll be moving on to our 4th manager in little over 2 years – something practically unheard of at this club but we’ll be appointing a man with little experience at any level, nevermind the top level, so they will have an almost impossible job of convincing fans and every move, every substitution, every transfer rumour and move will be scrutinized for some indication of whether they are doing a good job.
However, the situation just got more difficult because they will be following on from the clubs’ most legendary man, and a man that many will still feel should have been given more time. So regardless of which of the two men was appointed, they would constantly be marked against their predecessor and judged even more harshly. Much like Hodgson was more harshly scrutinized at every step after stepping in to Rafa Benitez’s still warm managerial hot seat, Rodgers or Martinez would have been taking over from King Kenny and will feel the heat instantly.
Not only that, but whoever was chosen ahead of the overwhelming fan favourite Rafa Benitez, the fans will be looking down upon them from the stands thinking ‘Rafa wouldn’t have done that’. When a player is signed and he isn’t believed to be Liverpool quality, people will begin to say ‘Rafa wouldn’t have signed him; he’d have spent that money better, etc.’, so the pressure is looking to become three-fold by the time the new man is put in place and should the leading candidate for the DoF position end up getting the job, then they will also have the massively intimidating figure of Louis van Gaal breathing down their necks and that alone is something I’m sure none of us would wish on anybody.
So really, whoever is our manager by the end of the week couldn’t really be stepping in to a more difficult job as there is pressure coming from all directions and they will be judged on the tiniest of details. If they can handle the pressure and do a good job then they will only receive more respect though, given the gravity of the situation they will be in.
There was only really one way that FSG couldn’t completely lose and that would have been to appoint Benitez, as out of the blue as that would probably seem, but even then there would be that 30% of fans that are vehemently against his appointment and never really accepted him to begin with.
While my personal jury is still out on FSG, I really feel for them with this decision they’re currently about to make because it really seems like there really weren’t any right decisions, only varying degrees of ‘less wrong’ and unless they appoint Pep Guardiola (and even then, there’d be some who’d rather have had Jose Mourinho!), they just wouldn’t be able to please us all.
So regardless of who the man is when that very eagerly awaited press conference is staged, it would be wrong to not get fully behind him, despite our reservations and who knows, in 12 months time we may be unashamedly praising FSG for their genius and foresight and hailing our new manager as the next Red messiah!
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May 31st, 2012
I am not sure what FSG seem to have achieved, sacking a good experienced manager who made a few mistakes in his first season to replace him with a novice manager who has achieved very little in his entire football career.
I think it is a massive unnecessary gamble by FSG, surely if this really was their first choice it would have made more sense to give Dalglish another year. Rodgers was going nowhere and would have gained more experience with another season at Swansea. With the pay off to Dalglish and the pay off to Swansea, a lot of money has been wasted that could have been avoided just by giving Dalglish another season. If the league position didn’t improve then we could have made a move for Rodgers next season, less of a gamble, less cash to give in compensation to both parties.
May 31st, 2012
I hear everyone say oh Rodgers plays like Barcelona pass and move and attacking,well what manager doesn’t want to play this way, we are in a very dangerous position as a cub, now i don’t know if FSG can really grasp that, i mean lets face it how much do they really know about football, not much so can they really understand what LFC really means, as far as im concerned all they have done so far is made this club less more attractive to any other really gifted talent out there.
Football today is huge, image is very important, players play for the manager and club, American baseballers play for money, Rodgers will have a problem gaining respect from a lot of our current squad and even less from other future quality targets, in my opinion (which probably dosen’t mean much) we are going to struggle for a while and i believe if LVG is DoF than he will take over.
If i am wrong than i will be back here eating humble pie, i promise.
May 31st, 2012
C’mon Ck and to every FSG basher – can we please stop with Yanks dont know this, Americans dont know that. I am a “yank” and I have loved LFC for 15 years so i have been through the good and bad like the rest of you.
You said, the only thing the Yank owners have done is make the club less attractive. That is complete garbarge. FSG saved our beloved team from 2 stupid owners (yes, i know – yanks), paid off 90% of the clubs debt, got standard charter to sponsor us for alot of money and got a new massive kitty deal with warrior. Oh and handing over major funds last summer to try and bring in new faces. If that is making a club less attractive then i guess im stupid yank fan.
what did you expect? For FSG to wave a magic wand?
Stop blaming the owners, all they did was buy a beautiful football club when no one else wanted to.
Lets go into this year with a clean sheet and hope FSG made the right decision to hire Rodgers.
Can we please do that?
YNWA
May 31st, 2012
well said Karim. i think Rodgers will bring in hard working and good technical skilled players to complement the ones we already have , could be the start of something great and long lasting and bring back the smiles on the terraces. Come on you reds!
May 31st, 2012
Can all the one-eyed Rafa brigade try opening that one eye, we have stood still under previous managers and systems. FSG are to be congratulated in their bold stance, let’s move on, it’s 2012 now let’s look to the future and the rebuilding of another Anfield dynasty YNWA .