Kenny is in great company when it comes to the art of man management. The great Bill Shankly was a master of it while Brian Clough built a career around its usage. A man-manager was surely what the Liverpool player’s needed after he took over with the club languishing in 12th position. Dalglish has a stark contrast in style to the Reds’ two previous managers, Rafa Benitez and Roy Hodgson, who focused primarily on the tactical side of the game. It led to teams of the last 18 months which have looked restricted in their play, with players’ seemingly doing jobs for the team rather than enjoying their football. Under Hodgson, the problems that had mounted under Rafa’s reign were exacerbated as he downplayed expectations and rather than building up the club and its players as he should have been, he lowered the standards expected from the player’s at his disposal.
The first thing Dalglish did when he came in was to state the greatness of Liverpool Football Club. He reminded the players of how good they must be to play for such an exulted institution but also took the weight off their shoulders by making training sessions a lot more relaxed, less regimented but always with a purpose. He made sure the player’s understood that there was a “Liverpool Way” of playing, a “pass and move” style would return. It was a style that could release the shackles from the players and allow them to play; to enjoy their football without worrying about the consequences. Confidence gradually grew and combined with the tactical changes that Kenny and Steve Clarke implemented both defensively and offensively, it has quickly led to results and performances increasing rapidly on the pitch.
Fourth place may be a long shot but with Kenny at the helm, he will ensure the players’ feet are firmly on the ground, taking each game as it comes until the end of the season where there maybe a slight chance of Champions League football. What a difference the mind can make.
Follow us on twitter @live4Liverpool
Live4Liverpool is recruiting columnists. For further info contact the site editor at live4liverpool@snack-media.com
This week it is even more of Liverpool WAG Carly Zucker!
————–
CLICK ON THE IMAGE OR HERE TO GET TO THE GALLERY
–
