Transfers used to be the biggest gossip fuel once upon a time, maybe, at some clubs, it still is. Not at Liverpool FC however, we have the carnival, who needs transfer gossip? A quick glance over the Liverpool FC blogs, sites and other sources of conjecture will show that nothing divides opinion like a manager such as Rafa Benitez.
After his unfortunate departure last week, word of mouth has become word of gospel. Everyone has an opinion and everybody is correct, naturally. What amuses me though is how polarized peoples opinions are and how stubbornly people argue their points. There are certain websites and people out there that seem to be pro-Board, backing the likes of Purslow, Hicks and Gillett. There are some who see themselves as ‘football people’, these guys back Dalglish, the Spirit of Shankly and occasionally Rafa (when we won).
If you find yourself wondering what the hells going on then you’re not the only one. I’ve tried to stay clear of ‘making my mind up’ on anything. I have my suspicions sure, I will admit I was a huge Rafa fan and I would like to wish him all the best at Internazionale, but I accept that we will never know the full truth.
It doesn’t matter how loudly you scream “Yanks out YNWA” or how often you used hindsight to judge the manager, it’s impossible to see the prize through all the acrobats and spinning plates. Liverpool has become a circus of misinformation, deceit, blinded passion and trouble-making. A cauldron of frustration has boiled over and it makes for a bitter broth.
With the fans being so bipartisan you could almost imagine the club being split into two, with each rival ‘gang’ taking an equal share. I personally am trying my best to not get involved with the slander matches going on between pro-Purslow and anti-Purslow. It’s a sad indictment in itself that our MD is in the news so much. He has no business being there, but then again, a place on the Liverpool board is ticket to fame it seems.
When two sides swear on their lives that they’re right and provide selective information to backup their respective points then it’s hard to see what’s true and what’s not. The real truth, one supposes is somewhere in the middle. We will never know what actually happened. Rafa’s hardly going to release an autobiography soon and Parry isn’t exactly in demand, even then, with two of the most controversial LFC figures in the past 6 years it would be hard to decide who was telling the truth.
I would like to think it was Rafa who was right, but as I have said, that’s all I would like to think and I’m not going to go down the path of making unsubstantiated arguments like so many others.
So moving onto the future, the 1st big decision to make is the manager. Some things need to be avoided; appointing a PR manager for one. We need a football manager, not someone who’s good with the media (goodbye ‘arry). I worry that the club will be too conscious of appointing a media friendly spin doctor in the hope of changing the clubs perception on Fleet Street. A collection of hacks and morons are not the mob that needs to be pleased.
The next step would be to think with the head and not the heart. Kenny Dalglish? I’m not in favour of that. Kenny is a legend and was a great manager in the 80’s, but he’s long had his day. The last team he coached ended in disastrous circumstances and I feel that the game has moved on quite a lot since Kenny last took a training session. With Kenny in charge of appointing the successor, then it seems unlikely he would choose himself for the role, despite the rumours.
The most important step in selecting a new manager is to choose a man with proven pedigree. Richard Williams wrote in the Guardian that ‘Roy Hodgson would be a great choice… as he is no better or worse than Benitez as a manager’, which is of course ridiculous. A quick CV comparison would leave Benitez feeling aggrieved that he was mentioned even the same bracket.
Hodgson, although a good manager and supposedly a great friend of Dalglish, might be just too nice for the job. Maybe that’s what the board wants? Who knows! I might start a rumour about the board hoping to appoint a yes man to keep the heat off themselves and satisfy those with the knives out rather than those who want progress. Not that I’m saying that’s true of course, I don’t have a source at the club who is 100% right 60% of the time like those who deal with certainties on the internet.
I don’t believe that we should stand back and allow the wolves to savage the herd but I almost feel sorry for those being drawn into verbal jousts on who’s uncle knows who in the Anfield boardroom. Quite frankly I don’t care, I’ll reserve my judgments for things when they happen. If Liverpool FC suddenly burst into flames, DON’T PANIC, you’d still be in perfect health, so don’t get so wound up about hypothetical fantasies from people who wish their own agendas just a little bit too hard before they even happen.
On a brighter note, isn’t it funny how things work in football? Albert Riera managed to outlast Rafa at Liverpool.
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Dalglish as interim would suffice. LFC hasn’t finished sliding down the table yet as the 2 Americans hold out and hold out and…. They will be here next year of that I have no doubt as who in their right mind spends the amount that they want to leave. After all it is a business and you know what they say? “Some days are good, some days are not good”…Manager post should come when/if sale comes.
A realy enjoyed reading this. its good to see am not the only fan taken back but the fact are club seams to have been split in two.
I know we had a very bad season but i really think this season will be much better, and a really do think we will be in the top four next season. we had a bad run with injurys and a bit of bad luck (like the beach ball) things will be better next time around. our side isnt much diffrent than the one that finnished 2nd this and last year.
I also think its in the Yanks best intrest to give the new manager a little but of money to get 2 or 3 players in. we aint a million miles away form being a good team and its easier to sell a team thats doing well.
As for the manager i think the best thing for the club to do is to get King Kenny in untill its sold, see how he gets on. if he does well he can keep the job if not the new owners can get there own manager in. With how bad the press would have us thing the liverpool team is so long as we finnish in the top half kenny would have done well so i dont think theres much pressure on him.
YNWA
Liverpool FC & Liverpool fans need normality.
I really really appreciated your article.
FInally an article whick is focused on the future.
I totally agree with the figure, the scenario that You have just described and, in my view, it’s time to move on.
Hmmm..your point is interesting..
I think that next manager must fight his battles into the Club & boardroom, behind the scenes instead of screaming to the press.
I prefer a moderate, costructive & reservate character in public relations with the Media, Who like to fight his battle in a private way.
What’s the utility to make public domain of Liverpool’s struggles? It’s only a way to give fuel to Media’s fire & undermining the Club, simnply reducing the ability of Liverpool Football CLub to attract good players.
On ROy Hodgson: I do not know the character of the Man.
Surely for driving Fulham to an historic european final He should have strong personality on the pitch, but I have not the know – how to judge him.
however, Hodgson’s CV includes fantastic results at international levels with small country like Swizerland, which are almost equal to some Rafa’s results.
I will talk sincerely: although I always think that Rafa’s time is surely over at Liverpool, Rafa remains one of the best manager in Europe, and You can compare fewer manager with him.
Liverpool whould represent first test or proper chance at highest level for Roy Hodgson. I think that the man is a very very kind man & good manager, and He deserves this chance to prove his potential. Kenny trust in Hodgson so, in Roy Hodgson I trust :)))
Ok?
In any way, good article.
We need to concentrate on future, and stick together.
Surely We always have different opinion, but We totally agree to one point: it’s time to move on 🙂
What total tripe. Every red blooded ‘pool fan does have an opinion, is very upset at the demise of the club off the pitch and on it.
The problem is not with the media, it is with the idiot owners who have failed to deliver , remain aloof and oust a manager at the wrong time whether you agree with the oust or not it was badly timed.
And (perhaps more importantly) there’s no one lined up to take the reigns.
I’ll admit it – I loved Rafa and believed in him immensely but he’s gone and now we’re worse off than before he was ousted – in that there’s no one out there available who is better, gerard torres and masch are all likely to leave in the vacuum and all we seem to hear is King Kenny may or may not be putting himself in the frame.
Kenny is a legend and MIGHT just be enough to keep Gerard & therefore Torres but only for one last season at best. Finish the season outside the top 2 and they’re gone – no doubt.
The club needs a wise head, a good reputation and enough charisma to keep our big players whilst attracting in a few more. The only name that fits the bill is Guus Hiddink and his agent has pretty much said he won’t be coming.
I say take Hodgson for one season (rolling contract), steady the ship, sell the club and start the new stadium then go for a talented young coach eg Jorge Jesus (Benfica) for the longer term.
Everyone has an opinion but there is one cleaer truth LIverpool FC is at a cross roads and MUST make the right decision or we’ll be another 20 odd years away from the dizzy heights that ManUtd have been at for years….
Thats right take down the posts that go against you!!
@Jim,
How dare you call my writing tripe sir. I think you have missed my point. The article is not about people giving their opinion, but people using their opinion as if it’s fact in an argument. On the subject of managers, have you considered Quique Sanches Flores?
@fizer,
I don’t know what you’re on about, I don’t have control of posts on this site. I merely write for it.
The supporters may be split in two, but they are definitely not split in half. Many supporters harbours at least some doubts about Rafa, but most weren’t prepared to judge him until he got a fair crack of the whip. The overwhelming majority of fans appear to anti-board however… yes there are some pro-board voices but these are rare and often appear to be simply agitators…