SO, it’s now two weeks since we sacked Kenny Dalglish. I raised the point in my last two articles that if FSG were going to make changes they had to make them quickly in order to ready us for the pre season and the inevitable changes that a new manager brings about.
The outbound activity has been swift but not so much traffic in the opposite direction. We can accuse the owners of dragging their feet if we so wish to do so but the fact of the matter is that the search is ongoing for our new manager and the club are being very quiet and very respectful to other teams and their managers.
In fact, the only reason we know that Roberto Martinez is a leading candidate (I have no idea whatsoever why he is but that’s not my decision) is because of his pie mouthed chairman and various newspaper articles. We have had very little concrete evidence to suggest anything of any sort.
However, one recurring theme and the one that I want to pick up on is that the role of Director of Football is something that is believed to be holding up negotiations. Now, whilst I am well aware of the success this system has on the continent, to say I am opposed to the system being implemented at Liverpool would be somewhat of an understatement.
FSG will love it because it’s a fundamental part of the structure of American sports and in particular, baseball. You have the Director of Football (in baseball “General Manager”, but this just makes me think of wrestling and I keep expecting said GM to hit their coach over the head with a steel chair) who deals with everything other than the coaching. In this system, the coach does just that. Nothing more, nothing less.
As I alluded to earlier this has worked well throughout the continent. A (very envious) look at Borussia Dortmund is evidence enough of this. There are countless examples. However, it does not work in this country and is simply not our way. When Avram Grant was the Director of Football at Chelsea (he was appointed against Mourinho’s wishes) The Translator sent him half way down the touchline complete with a stool as he did not feel a Director of Football belonged on the bench during a pre season friendly. I can’t name many examples of it being tried in England apart from Comolli, who was given the boot on both occasions.
That’s not to say that we couldn’t break the mould. We could of course. We might be in the process of putting the final touches to one of the most efficient set ups in Europe. But personally I feel that the presence of a DoF (or as the term being touted is, Sporting Director) is actively hindering our search for a new manager.
Managers are used to total control at their clubs. It was a war Benitez waged for years before he finally got his own way and started to blow money on the likes of Aquilani etc etc. Without wanting to go over old ground that for me is the job of a chief executive. To negotiate transfer fees, wages, contracts etc. That would be the job of the SD. However the waters get muddied here when the reports indicate that the Sporting Director will be in charge of transfers.
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If I’m a manager coming into an ailing football club, and I know I am under pressure from the off, I want to be able to bring in my own players. If the new manager has a signing vetoed by the Director of Football in the early days then the manager is already a dead man walking as he will be butting his head against a brick wall. I think the DOF/SD position is a hindrance to the recruitment process, not a help.
As a final point, it’s interesting to note that Louis van Gaal has been linked with the job of Sporting Director. Personally I’d give him the manager’s job. But say he’s appointed and you’re a young, inexperienced manager. What if it goes wrong? What if you’re struggling? A readymade replacement is waiting in the wings. The pressure will be intense enough as it is – someone looming in the shadows will make it much worse. Especially in the case of van Gaal.
I believe that this is a footballing management catastrophe waiting to happen but hey, it works in baseball. Who are we to argue?
In the unlikely event you want to hear more from Dan, you can follow him on twitter (@TLW1Dan) and you can also catch him as a regular writer in The Liverpool Way fanzine and on TLW forums. Please be aware that any content from Dan may contain sarcasm.
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Got to agree with some of the points made in this article.
Now that we’ve got our man in Brendan Rodgers all his hard work at Swansea could be gone in matter of games if he doesn’t hit the ground running and knowing LVG is there (if he gets the DOF job) who could take his job overnight. Managers don’t like being undermined and prefere to answer only to the owner(s).
Saying that id still like to see LVG at the club and Brendan Rodgers a young manager be given time to mark his own mark. His Swansea team played in the right way some eyecatching football even better then Arsenal and many of the top 6 teams this last season. Good luck to Brendan hope he can deliver the goods.
Brendan believes so should we lfc FANS . Remember kenny will never walk alone nor should rogers.
If BR & LVG can work together, believe me, it can be an outstanding pair for next few years. LVG might have several issues, but, there is hardly anyone more experienced than him available. This man is a master class, in the ranks of SAF, Morinho, Trapatoni, Cappello, Rines Mischels, Wenger, Heartzfield or Hiddinks.
If he & Rogers can turn LFC into that free flowing Dutch or Barca style, I can wait few years for the silverware.
The rumour now is that a Sporting Director/DoF will not be implemented. As you can imagine, there were too many reservations from the managerial candidates.