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Worrying Signs as FSG Lack Courage in Their Own Conviction

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FLUMMOXED, Stunned, Gutted!

There were plenty of adjectives I could have used in connection with the initials of the company which owns Liverpool Football Club after the news broke on Wednesday afternoon. None would have been quite so clean and publishable so instead, I opted for adjectives which, fairly accurately, summed up my feelings upon hearing the bombshell and which continue to characterize my disposition as I attempt to digest the brick that has been, metaphorically, thrown through my window.

So FSG have relieved Kenny Dalglish of his duty after barely 18 months in charge. Granted, our league position hasn’t been great this season but there are valid reasons why, and no I’m not going to waste my time going through them. The two other competitions we entered this season resulted in us gaining one cup and cruelly losing out in the final of the other. Does this constitute a bad season? Not in my book.

The Americans like Moneyball. Well how nice for them. A cosy baseball story that shows how if you follow the stats and take some simple steps you can, almost instantly, turn a struggling team into winners. Great! Unfortunately for FSG they are discovering, with no disrespect to Baseball, that Football (soccer as they may refer to it) ain’t Baseball and, whilst simply following the stats and trading players as if they were stocks and shares may produce instant success on the diamond, things are a little bit more tricky in a game with so many more variables.

When NESV took over the club they were welcomed with open arms by most and rightly so. After all, they were the ones who saved us from the terrible days of Gillett and Hicks, saved the club from administration, they seemed competent, and, above all, they seemed to know sport, as if they may have the credentials and the recipe to deliver success. Sadly, it seems at this moment as if their knowledge of sport stops a long way shy of football.

Twenty months on and, after the latest sacking/forced resignation, we are no closer to being successful than we were then. We were undoubtedly making progress under Dalglish, he unified the club after the debacle of the previous year and a half, he brought pride and belief back to the fans, he signed promising young English players – important because of the homegrown rule which is due to come into effect – as well as top foreign talent and he won us our first trophy in six years. Not bad for such a short spell in charge.

Some of the transfers fees paid may well look excessive but that wasn’t down to Dalglish and Damien Comolli had already gone to the dogs over those. Ultimately time will tell but to my mind most of those signings will prove their worth in the coming years, certainly, it seems ludicrous to me to put such large investments in jeopardy because of a child-like obsession with instant gratification.

There are many who now feel that prized assets such as Luis Suarez and Martin Skrtel may now leave Liverpool in the wake of Kenny’s dismissal/resignation. Alan Hansen, a Liverpool legend and one of the only pundits who knows what he’s talking about when it comes to our club, wrote this in his column in the Daily Telegraph:

“My concern is that Liverpool will face a problem in keeping hold of their best players now that Kenny has gone. In my opinion, the likes of Luis Suarez, Pepe Reina, Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger would be more likely to stay at the club under Kenny Dalglish than anybody else.”
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This is a horrific prospect for a club that relies on its core players and their longevity. Should players, the like of which mentioned above, be tempted to leave Anfield in the near future we would surely find ourselves in dire straits. The American owners may want success and they may demand it quickly but it appears that they have no idea how to get it.

The majority of the most successful teams in England have long serving managers and most of the very best clubs are not run on the narrow principles of Moneyball. What FSG would do well to remember is that, whilst modern day football may be about business, it is not only about business and whilst the fans may want success, most of them wouldn’t be willing to sell the club’s soul to achieve it.

Liverpool currently stand without a CEO, without a Director of Football, without a Communications Chief and now without a manager, a situation which is highly unlikely to achieve results. So far the Americans have shown themselves to be very apt at pulling the trigger but less than capable of hiring the right man or more worryingly, of showing courage in their convictions – Commoli and Dalglish were both FSG appointments.

All of these positions need to be filled, with some obviously needing to be filled more urgently than others. A new manager must be appointed quickly in order to put players’ minds at rest, to identify and bring in transfer targets and to ensure that the team is properly set for next season. Whoever the next manager will be, it’s pointless speculating at the moment because you can rest assured that FSG haven’t thought that far ahead, they will need to do well and quickly because, in this money driven business model of football, they won’t last long if they don’t.

The future for Liverpool Football Club is, once again, largely unknown. We face the summer holidays with uncertainty and worry, our great club is in the hands of American owners whose priorities for the club may or may not tie in with those of our own. There is no recognisable plan in sight, no plans for the promised New Anfield and our King has been de-throned. It appears that all we can do now is “Walk on, Walk On With Hope In Our Hearts” and trust that our club can rise again, whether it is because of or in spite of, our Moneyball loving, American owners.

You can catch Neil on Twitter @Neil1980 or on his blog http://itsallinthegameblog.wordpress.com/

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66 comments

  • SSG says:

    OK, this “Moneyball” BS needs to end. Fenway are not disciples of Moneyball. The way this article refers to the concept, I don’t think the author knows what it means.

    In simple terms, Moneyball refers to statistical analysis to find undervalued players. In Baseball, the stats traditionally prized were things like batting average and stolen bases. But other stats, like getting on base a lot, can also lead to runs. Moneyball meant finding players with stats like high on-base or high slugging numbers, but were inexpensive because Baseball didn’t really value these concepts.

    What Pool have done is splash a ton of money on potentially good players. This is the OPPOSITE of Moneyball (again, buying cheap, proficient- at-certain-things players). The Boston Red Sox have splashed huge amounts of money on players, so that team doesn’t even use the Moneyball concept!

    Please, no more “Moneyball” talk. It’s incorrect.

  • sunny says:

    FSG must know that any manager put in place by them must have something better than RAFA. If Rafa is not appointed, be prepared for fans backlash once the results start to dip. Dont forget, Hogson did not get support because from day 1 we knew that owners short changed us with ordinary manager and he proved us all right… Martinez, will be given a chance to.manage a bigger club but he will be under tremendous pressure from day 1 if he’s our next manager.

    • You heard says:

      Fans (not all) will backlash at who ever is the manager. Kenny is iconic and got backlash, why wouldnt rafa be so differnt if he starts bad?

      Just relax until we have a manager then all you negative fans can whine…

      embrace the change and be positive. Dont be like neil.

      YNWA

    • Red Rod says:

      There will only be a backlash from those fans who attached themselves to the club round about 2005! The CL obsessed xenophobic idiots who think foreign is best.

  • NJRedsFan says:

    Neil you’re a twit. I wouldn’t be surprised if you referred to us as ‘the colonies’ in private conversations. You obviously watched the movie ‘Moneyball’ or maybe most of it…or at least the movie trailers. SSG is correct, please stop spouting off about Moneyball, you’re only embarrasing yourself. As for your buddy Alan, he has to fill space in the paper so in creating such drivel he is simply fulfilling his contractual obligation.

  • ss says:

    I don’t get this concept of playing offensive or beautiful. It all depends on quality of the squad, if you have Barcelona or Real squads then by all means play expensive but if you think that Liverpool squad should play the “Liverpool way” then we end up where we are which is 8th. Mourinho, when he was in Chelsea and Inter was different compare to Real simply because of the squad. That is why Kenny get the sack obviously in the middle with Henderson and friends you just can’t afford to play such an expensive style.

  • jb says:

    I think we should do a survey on the Manager we think can best take us forward.
    I have my 100% confidence and trust in RAFA!!
    What do you say? Let’s put this in the numbers clearly in the face of FSG!!

  • Erin says:

    True, did anyone here want kenny to fail? Hand up. No one did. Truth hurts but sooner or later we face the facts. Some of us believe in fairy tales. King comes home and sorts his castle and all that. Worst finish in 50 years. On course to break the 1900 record for less goals scored. Believe some of us, and the woodwork (damn you) is to blame. Move on. If his name was Rob Smith, we would be in arms. I watched kenny sign Carrol and co and kept silent. Hoping it would come well in the end . Hmmm, blind faith gets you nowhere .
    Cappello or Rafa for me.

  • stah h says:

    won la liga – won the eufa cup – won the champions league – won the fa cup – reached a european cup final, gained 86 points in a premier league season. -THERE IS NO CONTEST WITH THOSE MENTIONED. LETS HOPE THE AMERICANS SEE THE BOTTOM LINE HERE.

  • stah h says:

    BIG CLUE ? PEP SEGURA TO TAKE A SIMILAR ROLE WITH THE FIRST TEAM TO THE ONE HE HAS WITH THE YOUTH TEAMS. IM ALMOST TEMPTED TO HAVE A BET ON GUESS WHO.

  • Ynwa says:

    Please please appoint rafa. Seriously it will be a big mistake if you don’t.

  • brian b says:

    Can we get away from the sentimentality. Kenny is a legend but he was not the man too move us forward, hitting the woodwork that many times isn’t bad luck it’s poor finishing. Rafa is the man for the job, he always was. Martinez is too young and inexperienced. Putting him in as manager will ruin the club. Rafa back end of, and lets all enjoy the memories Kenny gave us and not the disaster this season was.

  • alfie says:

    Really sorry for Kenny. A great heart. 3 or 4 years ago we had just finished second in the league and playing attacking football had walloped R.Madrid 4-0.manu 4-1 away and drew 4-4 at chelsea in their pomp.liverpool had 5 spanish internationals and the captains of
    E
    england and argentina. Watching gerrard and torres wasa pleasure

  • alfonzo mo says:

    rafa should never be let near the club again. went through huge numbers of players and found a few gems alright. bought in the great alonso and managed to fall out with him as he did with many. football was puke. even when we got 2nd i found it hard to watch the team. rotation of players in transfer market and even with match day selections was infuriating and never lead to any settled team or squad. furthermore he was a disaster in milan. he was even too negative for italy. cant bear the possibility of having to endure another five years of football by numbers if he is given the job. god forbid a player runs beyond a player designated to play further up the pitch. we all were disappointed with woy and his negative football and yet rafa’s tripe is acceptable. granted results were different by enlarge but wake up and ask yourself which other team in the top 6 or indeed in world football play negative football nowadays. get real on rafa.

  • Chambers says:

    The truth is FSG don’t have any idea of what to do when it comes to football. I said before they bought that they were prats and prats they have proved to be! Next season? 14th I expect!!!

  • Bekim says:

    Reina,Agger and Skertel were brought to the club by Rafa. They didn’t leave when RAFA was sacked. Why would they leave now. They will all b there if RAFA was to come back. And just that we will have more top players coming to Liverpool cos of him. So its RAFA BENITEZ 4ME. VAMOS BENITEZ.

  • vjm says:

    Whatever the out come it must be the best for our beloved club….Its very pain full to see our club going down season by season. Now 12/13 will be another building phase.

  • david says:

    So according to your article the difference between you and the owners is , you listen to excuses and they don’t ! Also you cannot compare them to moneyball as that is based on buying players for almost nothing based on stats for a winning formula. Redsox are third highest spenders in baseball and we didn’t buy are flops for cheap now did we ?

  • Neil Patterson says:

    I firmly believe that Kenny should have been kept on and that he was the right man.Not trying to scaremonger, simply pointing out that the club is in a mess right now. I don’t think anyone can disagree with that. Also pointing out that this will now be another year of transition and that losing players is a possibility due to all the managerial instability. It is no secret, players like to feel settled.

    Still, rant away if you wish.

    • tommy says:

      neil when dalglish took over in the 80’s ,he never bought a player barnes beardsley and aldridge were already coming in , as joe fagan sorted them deals out before he retired , kenny bought carter from millwall for 750,000 which was massive money back then , carter played half a game then went back to millwall for 200,000 , he bought hysen too saying he was the next alan hanson , he put peter beardsley in reserves and then sold him to everton, over personal crap, EGO!!,,Kenny couldnt or wouldnt release ageing mates/players , and wouldnt bring in the youngster , it was joe fagans team that done the double in 86 and still his team when kenny jumped ship in 91

  • hunter says:

    this man called neil is just either adamant or foolish sacking daglish is the best decition fsg have made since taking over lfc weather you like it or not liverpool will move forward without kenny as manager. Ynwa

  • hunter says:

    this man called neil is just either adamant or foolish sacking daglish is the best decition fsg have made since taking over lfc better than when they aappointed him permanently weather you like it or not liverpool will move forward without kenny as manager. Ynwa

  • HERBIE says:

    It will be nice not to be called a punter by the manager of liverpool, I,m no punter, I,m a 100% committed supporter or fan, but certainly no punter! Why when only a few weeks ago 85% of fans wanted kenny out, now fdg r worse than hicks and gillet, they probally thought kenny would understand why he had to leave his post, but kenny spat his dummy and wouldmt take a job he was entitled to in his contract, leaving us a bit of a pickle, he always showed his backing to andy carroll didn’t he, yeah right, he tried to swap tevez fdor him, an the f.a cup final, he knew chelski were struggling in the centre back department , yet leaves carroll on bench, he always made the club look ugly in press conferences, the suarez affair, say no more, and acted like he had the biggest chip on his shoulder, he left us in limbo (yes, hillsborough played a part, but he was soon manager of wealthy owners blackburn), he came and helprd us! Yet just before roy hodgson was to be named liverpool manager, kenny comes out publicly, saying he wants the job! I,m a kenny admirer, but not as old as most who think he is the messia, since he took over, most r fans act like they’ve got a chip on the shouders, kenny rubbing of on them, us against the world! We was once liked by most fans of all clubs (except mancs, bitter blues and some others) now we r hated by most! R fans reputation has being the most loyal, understanding and respectful has now long gone, if we ever want to be back where I think we should at least be challenging, then fans need to stop acting like no it alls, show fsg some believe and credit, and give any manager linked with r managers job, some credit, by saying nothing if ya not happy, at least untill he has been given a chance! I don’t know if its the old generation (doubt it) or the new want sucess yesterday brigade who have never been to 1 single game, live in far away parts of the world, being a fan means u support, love and back your entire club to the hilt, owners, chairman, chief exec, dof, manager, players and even the tea lady! We r liverpool f.c, and we have been going since 1892, and will go long after! So show your support and faith, or go and support teams u know can pay wages like £300.0000 a week! Like city and chelski! We haven’t got owners willing to act stupid, and want to act responsible, arsenal is the club to follow! They’ve won nothing for 6 years, but the stadium is nearly paid off! They’ve had champions league for at least 11 years non stop! And isn’t that what we and fsg all want! Sorry for going on, have faith! No 1 can predict the future (unless your marty mcfly) so chill and support, 1st, 2nd, 10th, 15th, championship, doesnty matter, liverpool will still be her and I will still love and support my team! Good or bad! Y..N..W..A jft96! Godspeed to all

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