ROY Evans knows a thing or two about the importance of stability at a football club steeped in the traditions and heritage as large as at Liverpool FC.
Known as the last ‘Bootroom boy’, Evans rose right through the ranks at Liverpool which culminated in the ultimate role of manager; almost winning the Premier League title whilst forming one of the most exciting, attacking Liverpool teams packed full of young English talent.
His stability was eventually disrupted when Liverpool decided to pioneer a unique ‘dual-manager’ role, with the Frenchman Gerard Houllier brought in to sit alongside Evans in the dugout. It, of course, turned out to be an ill-fated decision and led to Evans stepping down from his responsibilities as a series of disappointing performances followed.
Return to today’s Liverpool and, wins at Blackburn and Everton in the Cup aside, a series of poor showings in the league had brought Kenny Dalglish’s job in to question by many. However whilst it is the manager who usually gets the blame during any poor run, Evans believes it is in fact the modern player, who gets off likely:
“He [Dalglish] had a good start, he brought that desire and you hoped the team would go on, but unfortunately that has been derailed a little bit. Nowadays in football the players never seem to bear any responsibility when things go wrong, and it is always the manager who gets blamed.
They have won the Carling Cup, and it’s great to win a trophy in your first full year, and they have a chance of another in the FA Cup. But I think everybody recognises their league form hasn’t been good enough – that’s not to criticise Kenny, it’s just a fact. They have struggled to win games at home and haven’t been their usual force – and I’m sure everyone at the club is doing their utmost to put that right.”
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And for all those looking for a ‘quick-fix’ and instant results, Evans had this to say specifically on the importance of stability at any club:
“Stability is hugely important in football. You see some clubs chopping and changing managers at will, and something needs to be done about that.
You look at the most successful clubs, and they are the ones where the manager has been given time to get his feet under the table and do his job properly.
Owners need to show some patience, and realise you cannot simply buy success while changing the manager every season.
Everybody should keep in mind Alex Ferguson, who people thought was close to being sacked in 1990, and just look at what he has achieved because the club gave him time to get things right.”
For more insight from Roy Evans and other leading managers plus exclusive Barclays Premier League highlights go to www.yahoo.co.uk/sport
except luis suarez
What do you mean Red33? Except Luis Suaerez what?