THIS week I found myself talking to a fellow football supporter, if somewhat misguided in his support of Glasgow Rangers, we would mull over the debacle in which his club find themselves.
For those with a perspective on Scottish football that includes words like: Sunday league, amateur and conference, perhaps you should look at the fan base of the Glasgow giants, and quickly a realisation that indeed Rangers are rightly one of the big guns in European football – or at least they were.
My mind found itself wandering back to October 2010, this would be a defining month in the long history of Liverpool Football Club, a game changing moment when the club would itself escape administration by a few hours. The debt at Liverpool at this time would be a paltry £280 million, not a figure that is seen excessively high in today’s debt ridden age. This will go down in Liverpool history as its luckiest month, with not a post or crossbar in sight; they would go on to win this battle and avoid administration and a prospect of relegation.
I have often been disparaging about the deluded Liverpool supporters, whose merry band of men seem to be getting larger with each Cup Final that passes the club and its manager Kenny Dalglish by. Instant success is the only act that these poor folk will accept, this minority that cannot see the trees for the forest. Realism is not in the vocabulary of these people, it was missing when they screamed for Rafa’s head, and it is clearly missing now as once again they shout as loud as is possible to drown out the more sensible, in a new call for Kenny Dalglish’s head.
Long before we address who could or should manage Liverpool to its next chapter in its footballing history, but also take a seat at what is fundamentally a business plan – we must look at some clubs that have also found themselves with such predicaments. The supporters must accept that nobody cares about your history, other than a few people in Asia who tossed a coin and Manchester United lost out, and next season they will most possibly be wearing blue, and You’ll Never Walk Alone will be replaced with Blue Moon – Business is business nothing personal.
In over twenty years now, during which time Liverpool have failed to capture the title – many teams rebuilt, many heroes passed the ‘This Is Anfield’ sign, but only two occasions when they were within touching distance of winning the trophy. The blame for the failure laid at managers, owners, and a varied array of under-performing players during this barren spell – but still no success, do you see a pattern forming?
My fear is that Liverpool and its American owners, will once again let the supporters down, and by this I mean by giving them too much input as regard the future path – will supporters that believe they know best allow this club to modernise itself – to chase the dollar like never before, which will enable the club to move from its current home, to a new, more financially beneficial stadium? The owners are learning, fast and hard, football is a very different business to any other, and Liverpool supporters a breed of its own, after Gillett and Hicks – they will not be fooled again easily. A fancy bit of skirt on the arm of the owner is nice, but it will not detract supporters from the true beauty of seeing the Premiership Title in the cabinet.
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Manchester United along with Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle and Spurs amongst others, have all found themselves relegated from the top division, and with that the opportunity to rebuild from its carcass. So far Liverpool have not had the indignity of finding itself in a similar pickle, a real opportunity to build foundation on which its new history can be built, Glasgow Rangers now finds itself with some very difficult choices to make, while it reflects on how it found the institution struggling on its knees.
In the same season that The Old Lady – Juventus have just won the Italian league title, after finishing 7th and 7th during the past two seasons, and again after spending time away from the top division in 2006-2007. The best way to build is from a position of weakness, which is how you get stronger, yes they have dismissed managers along the way – but fundamentally they stuck to a game plan.
If you go with a plan, and that plan is flawed then by all means screw it up and slam dunk it toward the silver dustbin which resides in the corner of the manager’s office. Where does responsibility lie when failure raises its head? With the man who wrote the plan, or the man tasked with seeing it implemented. Liverpool already has one half of that answer, with Damien Comolli having been given his P45 or whatever the French equivalent is – Le P45?
Which leads me on to Kenny Dalglish – the man charged with implementation of the three year plan, yes THREE years, year one has included winning a trophy and becoming runners-up in another, but the league form has overshadowed any perceived success that having a winner’s medal for the first time in 6 years may have shown.
Some less experienced in the ways of footballing business, would like to see his tenure cut short, a huge mistake if this were to happen, the players have at times been woeful this season, tactics questionable, some signings clearly not what it said on the tin when they were purchased – but footballers will dictate these days, even a man steeped in a legendary status and history as Dalglish is, will find it difficult to survive the modern game, if he can’t get these people to perform at an acceptable level.
This will be the biggest and most important summer footballing break, the signings and the players shown the exit sign will dictate where the plan is – and if Dalglish is not at the helm, which I fear he won’t be – then bet your bottom dollar that yet another plan has once again been consigned to history and the office bin.
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I have to say, I am concerned at all the rumours about Roberto Martinez talking over at Liverpool. If it happens, it could result in a romantic success story similar to what FSG manufactured at the Boston Red Sox when they took over. But what if it backfires? What if Liverpool win no trophies next season, don’t make the top 4 (which they won’t without further, prudent investment this summer) and end up mid-table again? What do FSG do the following season, change manager again?
Dalglish needs to improve, the whole team needs to improve. But no-one should be replaced unless there are good grounds to suggest the replacement is a better option.
Good to hear there’s sensible fans still out there..patience and loyalty YNWA
3 year plan to get into the champions league or win the title? I don’t see us doing the former in 5 years nermind 3 with Kenny in charge. I don’t know how close he’s playing his cards to his chest on summer signings but the noises from the club is everyone’s staying(playing staff) and limited funds are available. How can we progress when the general fan consensus is that the player we got are not good enough. Downing, Adam, Spearing, Flanagan not good enough..
Maxi, Kuyt, Carragher, Bellamy(constantly injured) are past it.
Dalglish… on the verge of turning Liverpool into the champions of England and Europe? Nay, Dalglish is more likely on the verge of being sacked. Deservedly so if I may add.
The target is top 4 for now. If we can finish even 4th for a couple of seasons the players we will need to sign might well want to play for us
Chris Tobin has rocks in his head by suggesting tha LFC fans were calling for Rafa Benitez’s head! The VAST MAJORITY of fans would have him back tomorrow,and that needs to happen quickly to avoid Dalglish waisting more of the club’s finances!
You obviously dont go to Anfield very often or you have a very short memory – I may have rocks in my head – but unlike you I have Liverpool in my heart – maybe you should write an article about the time everyone in your house wanted Rafa to stay – not sure that the editor would accept an article lasting all of ONE paragraph- But try you never know.
Somehow just do not see the logic in the comment. lol
I’ve supported LFC since 1952,don’t ever suggest I have a short memory! Plus you should give up writing,you hav’n’t got a clue! AND I REPEAT THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF LFC FANS WOULD HAVE BENITEZ BACK TOMORROW
I think Kenny needs time but if he truly thinks that he needs to keep everyone we have despite owners basically telling him he has little funds then I am not looking forward to next season at all.
There are a good few players that could and should be offloaded to generate funds.
I cant see him being sacked to be honest as I feel that would have come after the FA Cup final if at all.
Its pretty clear they are trying to blame everything around him as the reasons for failure and a number of people are loosing their jobs, some rightly so (Camolli) the rest im not so sure.
For me Kenny has done ok with what he has but what he has is in part his own fault and he has to take responsibility for that yet he continues to stand by his decisions.
Its been a season to forget for me which is sad considering we picked up silverware (even though its a cup no one else in the league seems to give a hoot about).
There has been a dark cloud over the club, partly down to results, partly down to Suarez gate and the clubs handling of the situation.
The romantic in me wants Kenny to come good and wants us to be a force again with his name at the head of it all but I think thats all it is. If he has a different name I think people would be happy to see the manager go. Hodgson for instance got no time at all to make up for his poor start and he was promptly ushered out of the door. This not to say Kenny should get the same treatment but its proof that we would put up with a lot worse just because of who the manager is, often to our own detrement.
I only blame Kenny for last summers signings.The players are not good enough for LFC.Weakest midfield in years!
For as long as kenny is in charge and brings in mediocre players , you know who they are, and plays players like Jay, who wouldn’t get in the first 11 of any PL team, we have 0 chance of getting in the champions League or challenging for the title.
Some of you with their blind devotion and nostalgia don’t help either. Open your eyes , please. For the sake of the club. Kenny himself knows he has failed. He is just either too stubborn to admit it, or thinks he can fix it. Truth is, kenny has been out for too long , has no knowledge of the transfer market and can NOT be trusted with any money after the mistakes made. This has been the worst season in over 50 years, yet the blind faith is still there….
This is business, the club is the most important thing. Any chief executive who wastes so much money must be held accountable! There is no room for sentimentalism .
Anyone else surprised we lost again today? Long live the king. He is making history for sure. For being the most inept manager in the league
Totally agree with you Erin.
Dear keith,stop hanging on the fence mate,make ur point clear. Are u for or against the petition that dalglish should leave the club?
Did not quite appreciate your potshot at the Asians Chris.
It seems you have not been able to grasp the fact that Liverpool FC is a global franchise, and it is actually for the better of the club. So according to you people in Asia should not talk,cheer,follow or suffer heartbreaks due to LFC? It is you lot in your 2 local pubs that will talk of Anfield over a pint? I do not believe Luis Suarez to be racist, but perhaps you are.
Pity you are now being owned by yanks, who do not know anything about football. Perhaps you should find British owners for LFC, because judging by your cheap comment about Asians you would want only British eggheads to support LFC.
I love the club, I buy the shirts, the banners, the mugs and the lot. Thankfully LFC is more than you Chris, and I can still support the club. But at your face-value ‘Asians’ should stay away from the club.