Quantcast
View from the Kop

Dalglish Has a £35 Million Decision To Make

|
Image for Dalglish Has a £35 Million Decision To Make

AFTER the hellish nightmare of losing an FA Cup final comes the process of healing.

Where did it all go wrong? Why did we lose? How can we stop it happening again?

There are a number of things that can be written, but one issue that is overriding is this – Kenny Dalglish needs to put up or shut up when it comes to Andy Carroll.

The big guy might not have the greatest goal return in the team (and nobody else can point fingers at him here) but in my opinion we look a better team when he’s in the starting eleven. He doesn’t have anything like the footballing brain that Suarez has but they should play together. Carroll can be the target man (and his holding up of the ball has massively improved over the last 4 or 5 months) and Suarez can drift into space just behind and cause havoc.

All this of course is in theory.

Dalglish fell into a massive Chelsea trap on Saturday – his line up was more worried about Chelsea than it was Liverpool’s attacking intentions. Hindsight is an easy thing to judge with but in my opinion there isn’t even the slightest element of doubt that Andy Carroll should have started that match.

Chelsea’s centre halves, Terry and Ivanovic, are what they are – slobbering grocks who are good in the air but susceptible to issues with pace and trickery. Terry in particularly has been ruthlessly exposed by players with pace on a number of occasions. I can understand the logic behind putting Suarez up there – he’s a tricky customer. But Luis was then left massively isolated by this ploy and he only came to life himself when Carroll came on early into the second half.

But we can discuss tactics all we want – Kenny has got to make a fundamental decision this summer, if indeed his is around to make the call. Is Andy Carroll in his best eleven or not? He absolutely has to make that call now. We can’t wait until next season to make this massive, massive issue become a priority.

Is Andy Carroll one of Kenny’s starting XI – it needs a “yes” or a “no” answer.

If he isn’t then we are going to have to take a hit and sell him. There’s no point him being sat on our bench whilst the press cry about how a £35m player is reduced to a substitute etc etc etc. We’ll take a hit but we’d get some money back, which we would then have to use to bring in another striker.
[ad_pod id=”unruly-video” align=”center”]
I’m not saying that this is what I want to happen. It’s not. I want this scenario to happen:

Andy Carroll is a starting fixture for Liverpool, paired alongside Luis Suarez. On the bench, we will have a couple of experienced strikers who are capable of coming on and changing the game. What I will say about Carroll is that his FA Cup final appearance is the first time he’s looked likely to change a game as a substitute. He’s generally not been too impactful.

Some players have that problem, they just stink as a substitute. One Fernando Torres springs to mind.

But the time is coming for Kenny to make a decision. Yes or no? I want Andy Carroll to prove what a good player he is. Maybe that’s going to be at another club, I don’t know. But I want him to do it at Liverpool, because on his day he is unplayable. But how can it be his day on the bench? This is what we need to decide – stick or twist.

He either needs to play almost every week or be moved on – he’s no good to us in between. Some serious decisions need to be made at this football club over the summer. This is up there amongst the biggest.

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.

Live4Liverpool is recruiting columnists. For further info contact the site editor at live4liverpool@snack-media.com

Follow us on Twitter here: @live4Liverpool and ‘Like’ us on Facebook

Share this article

I'm a fully trained journalist who shunned a career in the profession due to my disillusionment with the tabloid press, instead hoping to become a professional author. I've written for The Liverpool Way for 7 years and am a regular on the forum using the name Agt Provocateur.

A passionate member of supporter group Kop Faithful, I've been a season ticket holder of 8 years and a regular match goer since 1995.

When not criticising diminishing refereeing standards in football, I can be found at Langtree Park, the home of St Helens Rugby League Club being highly critical of non existent standards of refereeing in Rugby League. I'm is also a massive Lancashire and England cricket fan.

27 comments

  • KOPITE says:

    DOWNING MUST MUST GO OR ELSE KENNY MUST GO and everyone over 32 years old

  • Bomber25 says:

    On his showing in The FA Cup Final, he deserves a starting spot. If he can maintain this form, both he and Suarez will be a success story next season.

    • Chan says:

      “Where did it all go wrong? Why did we lose? How can we stop it happening again?”. I think the wrong question is being ask as the solution is right in front of our eyes.

      We have a manager who plainly does not know what he is doing and HE needs to be change first before we talked about players, whether coming or going.

      We can give the whole Barca team plus Ronaldo to KD at one go but i guarantee you we would have the same dismal results. KD does not know his best eleven, does not know his tactics, does not know anything about modern foofball period.

      Any LFC fan would know that for all the stick that Carroll had been getting, he had shown some form of late. So what does KD do? Bench him. Also, like the author said, why are we so worried about Chelsea? Can’t we just play our own game?

      Downing had been rubbish in the final and throughout the whole season. Keep losing possession, putting unnecessary pressure on the defence but KD starts him.

      Also, everytime Henderson and Spearing starts a game together, most of the time we would lose. I know Spearing is a local lad but does sentiments overide the importance of LFC? He and Henderson is simply not good enough to play for LFC period, let alone a cup final.

      The longer John Henry wait to sack KD, the worse it would get for LFC. If KD is still around in the summer, expect relegation dogfight.

  • wk says:

    common! rebuild rebuild rebuild! KD must go, andy must go, downing must go, adam must go….there r so many cheap n good players out there, go get them!

    • Ghazi says:

      Downing has a record of not performing in his first year ..you can check it. but in 2nd season he is really good. hav faith and patience.KD is the best thing to happen. he was there to lift the club.in the time of turmoil. he will be there to lift the title bcd he was just unlucky this season but this doesn’t happen every time.
      TELL ME how many years did say TOOK TO WIN ANYTHING FOR manutd.
      You want instant success thats y you don’t get any.patience is the virtue f success.ALL HAIL THE KING

    • dizo says:

      i absolutely agreed with u bro…

  • BMW says:

    If Liverpool get rid of Carroll before they sack that idiot Dalglish, it goes to show that we’re not making any progress. Sure the guy doesn’t have the best stats this season, but who’s the man that supposed to be on top of having not only him but the team fit and ready….. Dalglish is. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks but you certainly take that new dog and build it up to something amazing. Dalglish is no shout of a doubt a legend by playing standards, but is an utter moron when it comes to being a club manager. YNWA!!!!!

  • nigel says:

    OUT – Aurelio, Maxi, Kuyt, Adam, Downing, Aqualani,Cole, minimum
    Henderson is still a young player and can get better, but is a squad player for now. Spearing is a squad player, no more.
    We need competition for enrique at left back. We need WINGERS! With SKILL and an END PRODUCT (Crossing, through balls, scoring a few goals) DIRECT and INCISIVE( knows what to do with the ball, no aimlessly crossing into an area of space and hoping we get someone on the end of it).
    We need quality players. If we buy young, they actually have to have something about their game now, not in 3 or 4 years time. We need a good back up striker if carroll stays. if he goes, then we need a clinical finisher. These are the priorities. We also need another centre back and a creative midfielder.

  • Shibashis says:

    Why on earth Spearing started the final instead of Henderson in the proper middle of the park I will never know.
    Also why was Downning on the left, when the few times he has been effective this season has always been on the right?

  • nick says:

    How about they keep Carrol and buy another striker… We don’t have enough quality up front if either get injured as it is, and strikers aren’t in form all season – so rotate. Pleased by Andy’s progress in the last couple of months, hope it keeps on.

  • clement says:

    KD must go,We need Rafa.

    • kay says:

      Simple as it will ever be. Rafa back and we back amoung the best(in Europe too). No matter how well we pass the ball at times, the team under KD never has shape and we live an 90min of hope every single weekend. And i got sick of it towards the end of last season!!!!!

  • Jack says:

    After following Liverpool for 25 years, I think this really is the first time that I’ve started to accept that we’re a Europa league level club. All through those barren years, there was something to hope for, but in a strange way, it feels better not to expect anything anymore. I’ve accepted we will finish next year 5th or 6th and maybe another decent cup run but that’s about it. We can’t possibly match the money of City, Utd, Chelsea, and still we have to compete with Arsenal and Spurs and maybe even Newcastle for any Euro spot that’s left. The disappointment/hope has taken it’s tole on me. But reality can be a sad but relieving thing.

    • Charlietoon says:

      Considering your currently 9th on the table, at best finishing 7th and at worst tenth I think you need to accept that unless serious changes are made you wont be even Europa league level much longer. You guys have been on a steady decline for a few years. I dont think you will ever get relegated as we did but your kind of in that perfect storm at the moment. A lot of fans dont support the manager (your own messiah), a lot of the players are very very highly paid and on massive long term contracts and finally the majority of the team is under performing. I think if you could have won the cup it would have saved your season but the carling is not enough for a team like liverpool unless they are also competing for the top 4. I think the best thing you could do is move Kenny on as he just is not doing the job he was hired for.

    • Chan says:

      We have 5 people to thank for the dismal state of affair we are in :

      1) Parry and Moores for selling our club to those American Morons

      2) The 2 cowboys, we all know the story.

      3) And KD, for squandering 113 mill and stick to a jod he knows is well beyond him

  • Ben says:

    That old manager that called him self Kenny should go, he doesn’t deserve to be a manager, the worst manager I have ever seen in my life, Liverpool fc has been laughing stock all over the world, he is Liverpool fc problem, the reason why we are very easy for any team to beat us is because we are playing primary school football, no style, tactic, game plans, fighting spirits, and lack of reading games, he will just ask them to go inside filled and play, without game plans, if Liverpool owners fail to sack that full Liverpool fc is going to be relegate, just look at what is happening, all referee in the premier league is now against of Liverpool fc we don’t get favor from referee any more, there only going against us

  • alex says:

    Its simple Carrol is the best player Kenny bought for crazy money and its Kenny mistake not Andy.okk
    But Carrol will improve for sure ,give him one more year and let him start the games.

    Kenny must go its simple he chose wrong 11 in Fa final

  • daboy says:

    Apart from Dalglish going the team need to go through a massive reformation, Carragher Cole Aquilani Downing Wilson Kuyt Maxi Adam Jones Agger and Johnson should be sold to make way for younger better talent.
    There are many reasons those players need to be sold but the main reason is value for money.

  • Raj Penang says:

    Get Rafa back & surely we can win more trophy again with current supportive owner.Im dissapointed with FA cup player selection with spearing/downing spoiled the game.Luckily Adam is injured otherwise another Marron surely will make us sick!
    KD is a legend & maybe he can continue tocoach Liverpool youth team.Target is to get 4th place but we are 9th now even worst right??

  • ApoN? says:

    If Liverpool FC owner WOULD give’s’ us another major overhaul…
    plese sign these player KK… i have no doubt that these player would
    bring us where we belong… The CHAMPIONS of ENGLAND…

    NAME:Manuel Neuer
    POSITION:Goalkeeper
    PRICE:10M
    FACT:Gr8 ability. Quick Agilities. Gr8 hand on the ball. Good sence.
    Could give Pepe Reina a competition at the rear post for
    the no.1 spot.As Reina have been BIG HEADED that he thinks no
    goalkeeper in LFC can take his spot at the post.

    NAME:Benedikt Höwedes
    POSITION: Centre Back
    PRICE:18M
    FACT: A born leader. Good technique. Quick on the ball.
    Have every confidence in himself. Have no doubt he n Daniel Agger
    can prove a good partership n solid denfence.

    NAME:Aaron Lennon
    POSITION:Right Winger
    PRICE:15M
    FACT: Dribbles the ball with intelligence n good technique. Gr8 stamina.
    can over runs opponent anytimes. Could contribute alot especially a good
    cross to the striker like Andy Carroll. A natural winger.

    NAME:Arda Turan
    POSITION:Left Winger
    PRICE:10M
    FACT: A gifted left footed player.Dribbles the ball with intelligence n good technique.
    A Liverpool Fans. Could give his heart n soul to the beloved club that he
    support as a kid. Can easily dumbed out Downing to the bench if he did not show
    his true potential that he did at Middlebrough and Aston Villa.

    NAME:Lars Bender
    POSITION:Defensive Midfielder
    PRICE:15M
    FACT: Dribbles the ball with intelligence. Good passer. Can do a gr8 combination
    with other players. A solid defensive display may put out our Lucas at bay.

    NAME:Edinson Cavani
    POSITION:Striker
    PRICE:30M
    FACT: Good finisher.Dribbles the ball with intelligence n good technique.
    Can do a gr8 combination with other players. Gr8 stamina. Could give the scouses
    an EXCELLENT partnership with Luis Suarez easilly. Have every confidence
    that he could score atleast 15-20 goals per season. 100% GUARENTEED. =D

    and this can be the team that can bring back the BPL home to Anfield…
    If the owner gave us 50m on our next transfer budget, i wounld willingly buy these
    player as i thought they can make a different to our team. Peace. YNWA!!!

    Position: GK
    Name : Michel Vorm
    Price: 4.5m
    Fact : Gr8 ability. Quick Agilities. Gr8 hand on the ball. Good sence.
    Could give Pepe Reina a competition at the rear post for
    the no.1 spot as Reina have been BIG HEADED that he thinks no
    goalkeeper in LFC can take his spot at the post. Futhermore,
    Vorm has amassed an arrogance in goal and has made top saves this season.

    Position: CB
    Name : Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa
    Price : 7m
    Fact : A born leader. A versitile defender & has good technique.
    Quick on the ball. Have every confidence in himself. Have no doubt he n
    Daniel Agger can prove a good partership n solid denfence. However he can play
    anywhere across the back line and even as a defensive midfield player.

    Position: RW
    Name : Victor Mosses
    Price : 10m
    Fact : Dribbles the ball with intelligence n good technique. Gr8 stamina.
    can over runs opponent anytimes. Could contribute alot especially a good
    cross to the striker like Andy Carroll. A natural winger.

    Position: AM
    Name : Stéphane Sessègnon
    Price : 8m
    Fact : Dribbles the ball with intelligence n good technique. Gr8 stamina.
    can over runs opponent anytimes. Could contribute alot to the team. The pintsize
    playmaker is hugely versatile and possesses the pace and trickery to
    open up many a Premier League defence.

    Position: ST
    Name : Luuk De Jong
    Price : 12.5m
    Fact : Good finisher.Dribbles the ball with intelligence n good technique.
    Can do a gr8 combination with other players. Gr8 stamina. Could give the scouses
    an EXCELLENT partnership with Luis Suarez easilly. Have every confidence
    that he could score atleast 15-20 goals per season. Luuk is big, strong, brilliant
    in the air and scores goals so easily. He has every quality a top class striker
    needs to have for a big club.

    Position: ST
    Name : Steven Fletcher
    Price : 8m
    Fact : Good finisher.Dribbles the ball with intelligence n good technique.
    Have every confidence with ball on his feet. Even a disaster campaign with
    Wolve, he manage to score 10 goals. Fletcher’s goal scoring abilities are
    needed at Anfield to fire them closer to fourth spot. Whilst Luis Suarez brings
    creativity to the forward ranks he remains anything but prolific. Fletcher could be the man.

    YNWA!! 🙂

    • Shibashis says:

      Neuer is going to come to Liverpool leaving Bayern? Who most likely will be champions league winners this year, and that too to compete with Reina for the no. 1 goakeeper’s spot? Not happening.

    • Jack says:

      Christ! You really have it all sorted! And I have John Henry’s number. I’ll give him a buzz with that list and they’ll all sign no bother on the dotted line. LOL……Oh the madness!!

    • Hyperbeat says:

      While you are at it, why don’t add you Messi, Robben, Kompany and Yaya T? Zzzz and then you wake up and your dream is over!!!!

    • Red Datuk says:

      I can’t stop laughing….ROFLOL

  • Kaysayi says:

    FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 25YRS AS AN LFC FAN HAVE I WITNESSED OTHER LFC FAN JOINING IN THE COMMON BRITISH CULTURE OF EMBRACING MEDIOCRITY!!! SHOULD WE ACCEPT MEDIOCRITY JUST BECAUSE “KING KENNY” IS AT THE HELM??? AS BEST AS WE’VE PLAYED IN 18MNTHS,THE TEAM STILL DOESNT HAVE SHAPE,TACT OR SYSTEMATIC APPROACH. KD IS ALWAYS DANCING&KICKING TO EVERY MOVE ON THE TOUCHLINE IN BODY LANGUAGE THAT SUGGESTS THAT HE ALSO LIVES IN HOPE. HOW LOW CAN WE ACCEPT TO BE TAKEN,AS LFC???

Comments are closed.