One of my first articles on Football FanCast was defending Roy Hodgson as a manager after a torrid several months in charge of Liverpool FC. Whilst the article focused more on Hodgson rather than Liverpool, I did have a dig at his successor, Kenny Dalglish. I was sceptical over the hype of ‘King Kenny’ returning to Liverpool, with the optimism that was around the club with the saviour returning to turn fortunes around. Now all my scepticism has lifted after what Kenny has done since he was appointed interim manager at Anfield, but does he deserve the full time job?
When Kenny Dalglish was appointed caretaker manager after Roy Hodgson’s departure, it filled the Liverpool fans with some hope and excitement (which had been missing for a while given the previous year at the club) and raised eyebrows amongst other football supporters. I was excited to see Kenny Dalglish make a return to football management but I couldn’t help think of Kevin Keegan’s return to football at Newcastle United and I started to worry that things may get even worse for the Reds.
However, unlike Keegan who had been focusing on non-football ventures before his return, Dalglish had been keeping up to date with the modern game. The first highlight would have to be employing the now commonly used 4-3-3 formation, along with the pass and move emphasis that’s in Liverpool FC’s DNA. The players certainly responded well to this more positive style of play rather than the rigid 4-4-2 that Hodgson favoured.
The appointment of coach Steve Clarke actually made me take the appointment of Kenny Dalglish seriously. I highly rate Clarke as a coach and feel that he played significant role in Chelsea’s success under Jose Mourinho, it was unfortunate that Clarke wasn’t able to replicate that with Gianfranco Zola at West Ham. This appointment ensured that the Liverpool players are coached by one of the best in the game, leaving Kenny to focus on other aspects as manager, like the youth development.
What finally made me eat a big piece of humble pie was hearing Kenny’s focus on the youth development at the club. He has shown faith in Martin Kelly with regular starts, whilst also giving a few players from the youth set-up an opporunity to train with the first team. Plus the bold move of adding talented teenager, Raheem Sterling to the Europa League squad showed that Kenny Dalglish is prepared to go the extra mile to turn this club around.
Whilst laying foundations to give the club its identity back and making sure everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet, Dalglish has been able to record some instant performances and results on the pitch from his players. In the Premier League form table, Liverpool currently sit 3rd behind Arsenal and Chelsea, with 4 Wins, 1 Draw and 1 Loss in their last six games. And despite the blip against West Ham, the Reds have been able to win on the road with victories at Wolves and Chelsea.
Liverpool are currently 6th in the Premier League table and were able to bounce back from the defeat at Upton Park with a 3-1 victory of their own over Manchester United on Sunday. It made my mind up that Kenny Dalglish has to get the full time job in the Anfield dugout. Although it’s only been 2 months, Kenny has proven that he has what it takes for the club to progress and the thought of the club appointing an outsider in the summer to take over would be a backwards step.
The article was written by Matt G-Freebody for FootballFancast.com. Make sure to check out the latest news, blogs and podcasts at FFC – ed.
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with kenny or without him, we are going to need to make a huge 60- 70 million pound player investment, its that or pack it in, even spurs have a all round better squad, its high time we have owners who spend.
if we dont get these players or to this level, we will not be doing anything next season.
coentrao
moussa sissoko
ever banega
gary cahill
sanchez or young
fucile
lavezzi
mata
Your opening statement nearly puts me off reading anything else on your article. for you to defend Hodgson shows your lack of understanding what Liverpool need/ed.
to replace Rafa with Roy was an insult. but ultimately, the club had to sink so low for everyone to unite behind the King.
with Torres now gone and the excitement of seeing Carroll and Suarez link up, it will undoudtedly lead to an exciting end of season run. perhaps even a Europa Cup !
Kenny permanent manager ? i guess if Roy Hodgson can still get employed, then there is no reason why Kenny cant be manager. especially as manager of Liverpool !! it might even develop to having Carra and Stevie G as future boot room coaches, being mentored to lead the club, once Kenny has won the league a couple of times !
i dont expect confirmation until the summer that he will be appointed permanently.
Good article. I was of a similar opinion which i have now changed. I think Kenny deserves the job full-time.
I also agree with “Sam”. They are the sort of young players we need to be targetting if the club is to have a bright future. No one knows how much we have to spend in the summer, but hopefully a fair whack considering we are in the most competitive league in the world. It’s amazing to think we are only 18 points off top of the table now. I think for the short term, Adriano, recently released from Roma would be good back up for Suarez and Carroll, then in the summer target some young quality.
Firstly, sacking Rafa and appointing a far more inferior manager in Roy was an insult and a complete disaster, as proved by results and performances. Roy was appointed at the age of 63 and was given a two year contract. It seemed like a short term solution after sacking Rafa but if an inferior manager like Roy could get a two year contract at Liverpool then why can’t King Kenny at 60? There are no doubts over Kenny’s abilities as a manager and I’m sure he can even continue until 70 if health permits. It would be very stupid of the board and the owners to not give Kenny the job at the end of the season unless the rest of our season becomes a complete disaster. Not giving the job to Kenny and taking the risk to appoint an outsider is just not right. If results continue and we have a good rest of the season then Kenny should be given the job on a permanent basis, no doubt.
What Kenny has done is change the mind from negative to positive, there is a belief a and pride again. The games against Chelsea and Man U with no more than Suarez playing as the key change says it all. We do need a clearout Poulsen, Konchesky, Insua, Jovanovic, Cole, El Zar, Ngog, Skrtl, Maxi and Lucas need to be shown the door. Bring in Coentrao, Arda Turan, Mata, Mertascker and Aquilani back. Those would cost £75m but we would bring in £40m but in doing so change the average age down to 24/25 whilst opening space for our promising reserves to come through, like Coady Connor, Raheep Sterling, Suso and Pacheco. Man U are in decline, Kenny’s about to knock whisky nose whino off our perch… YNWA
in my opinion you were also wrong about hodgson being a nice guy, he’s not, he still admits no wrong and he will try to steal credit if kenny wins anything. the man was worse for the club than hicks and gillette. myself and 90% + lfc fans never had a doubt about kenny – one thing remains, it’s not alonso or macherano who need replacing IT IS SAMI HYYPIA, our centre backs are not strong enough. ps kenny has lifted the doom and gloom that hodgson spread.
Totally agree with you there Stan – good to see somebody with his own opinion instead of just repeating what everybody else says!
Our entire defence was a complete joke before hyppia came along and has immediately reverted back to regular chaos as soon as the big man departed. Alonso was nowhere near as important as hyppia as far as I’m concerned
not even jose mourino would stop riots if kenny was overlookd this summer forget clarke who is a top coach kennys the boss end ov
All this article proves is that you really don’t know what you are talking about. Basically, you are reflecting that you didn’t do your home work (he’s been attending youth team matches for a long while) and two, if you knew anything about King Kenny, you’d have realised he coveted a return even before he took over at Blackburn and after he left there. Also, nobody denies Roy is not a good manager, but he didn’t realise or recognise the relationship the LFC supporters has with the club.
Anyone who watched the Aston Villa or West Ham matches at Anfield knew something was a midst even after 3-0 victories.
I agree with Stan Howard, not something I always do but he’s right on Kenny, he’s right on Sami and he’s right on that piece of work Hodgson. Notice how he claimed he was unlucky with us on Sunday morning, get over it you fool, you weren’t unlucky you were negative, small minded and afraid to stand up to the big boys. Hardly surprising that’s his record over 30+ years it just shows hicks, gillett and purslow up for appointing him.