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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They want to get it right. I for one hope they do. Dalglish was never the right person for Liverpool in the modern era.
There won’t be a massive exodus if a top manager is signed. Rafa, AVB, or miracle of miracles someone like Klopp, and we would be able to ATTRACT talent. Not sure about the likes of Martinez.
Yes, that’s what i’m worried about.
Agree with this fully. The article seems to be scaremongering but I do understand some of the concerns written about. I don’t think we’ll see an exodus – the opposite infact if we get the right manager in. Skrtel and Kuyt sounded fairly discontented with the way things were going and hopefully a new manager will look outside of the British shores too for signings. Alan Hansen, yes I respect him as a former player and pundit but lets not forget his (and many others) loyalty to Dalglish. After all I think they’re practically neighbours, as well as being good friends. Hopefully by the end of the summer we will have all positions and structures in place and can move m=forward with the right man at the helm (my choices for the record would be one from Rafa or Klopp – both have experience of achievement against teams with much larger budgets – which is what we need!
well said mate
Under Dalglish we saw the worst Liverpool team fo 50 years, he had to be sacked, we couldnt afford to let him waste more millions on sh te, and he would have!.
Change was needed, change happened, is happening stop living in the past Liverpool were a DISGRACE last season!.
Couldnt agree more Steve.
I’m sick and tired of the same people moaning all season about out performances, the amount of money spent in shocking players, our league position yet now they’re moaning when Kenny gets the sack. Kenny admitted himself, he CHOSE to buy Adam, Downing, Carroll and Henderson. All that shows is he was 20 years too late, out of touch with modern football. Legend of a player, loved the man to bits, have done for many years – as a manager, I’m sorry – no where near as good. If he had been ANY OTHER MANAGER all the hypocrites moaning now would have called for his head. Because its Kenny, he’s different! Why?
worst liverpool team, your mad, did you not see hodgsons debacle, this tean played attractive attacking footbal with only a handful of poor games, rotton luck was not an excuse it was a fact.
Luck – good or bad – is never a valid excuse in any walk of life. We were poor for so much of the season.
Yeah, rotten luck. If you hit the posts instead of 18 sq meters of the goal, is what you get. Bad luck
game one blatant sending off (not given ) cost 2 points, suarez booked 3 times at least for blatant fouls against him inc 2 penalties, surez banned for 8 games for saying a lesser word than one known to have been used by evra, unjust presure fron bent newspapers on all issues re lfc, almost 40 times hitting the woodwork, MOST teams never had half as many, an average is not bad luck double the average is, I can honestly sat liverpool only desrved to lose 6 games all season, we are the ONLY team who never won a single point we did not deserve.
worst team, you obviously havnt been following liverpool for long, this team was new young and deserved a lot more than they got out of games.
Seems liverpool has some of the best and at the same time, some of the daftest supporters around.
if your daft son, dont knock yourself, read lots of books and imrove your knowledge.
spot on, on all counts. season12/13 is now gonna be another rebuilding phase. looking forward to lucas being back our best defensive asset back best defence in league till he got injured. poor finishing up front as well as confidence issues and a hefty ban. still created more scoring chances than 17 of or rivals. fact ssssssssss
FSG has approached a number of managers according to the media. These coaches have talent & potential but many of them are young & inexperienced. Is that really what Liverpool requires right now in the present situation? Indeed is that what FSG would want right now? Clearly based on the removal of Kenny Dalglish Champions League football is a priority. So what happens if Liverpool are 7th or 8th next season? New manager? Will FSG come up with the money for a another group of expensive signings? Indeed, will the big-names want to come to LFC the longer they remain distanced from the European Elite?
I am concerned about the overall direction that things are moving in. Most of the key positions in the club have been removed and are open. There appears to be a lack of leadership looking in from the outside. The comments of the Wigan chairman are telling … nobody in the boardroom!
I live in Boston and have coached soccer in the area for over 20 years but I grew up in Liverpool. FSG have shown that they can run a big sports “franchise” in Boston with great success. They have also shown that they understand that LFC is a top soccer “brand” worldwide. However, I think most of us are starting to question their understanding of professional soccer and, most of all, Liverpool Football Club. LFC has a heart & a soul!!! Sometimes change is needed & often change can be painful. However, for a club like Liverpool the challenge of reaching the top still needs to retain some links to its recent past and its rich heritage. The Red Sox were similar in this respect. If FSG wants a good return on their investment they have to get the next coaching appointment 101% correct. They cannot afford a trial run. Liverpool fans will not tolerate it. Personally, I would have given Kenny Dalglish another season. However, I understand why he was removed as modern football is about the money. Not to be in the Champions League cuts off the major source of revenue & prestige in the modern game. To say otherwise would be to hide your head in the sand.
Additionally, their is the undercurrent that all the major clubs need to position themselves for the coming European League. A club of Liverpool’s stature & rich history has to position itself so that in time it becomes another Corinthian Casuals in the history of the game. FSG can do much off the field to enhance this possibility. The way they rebuilt and renovated the Red Sox is testament to this. On the field it is a different matter.
I have it on 100% accurate authority that FSG has made no contact with Rafa Benitez. They are selling Liverpool FC, the fans and themselves short if they do not at least hear what Rafa has to say. Look how strong LFC has been on the field as recently as 2009. That is both in Europe and the Premiership. This is in spite of the fact that LFC, at the tim,e were beginning to become unstable off the field. This has triggered the decline that the club now finds itself in right now. Still they were a force and Rafa was the reason.
Looking around many, many LFC web-sites it is very clear that Rafa is a strong & popular choice of the vast majority of the fan-base. Yes he has his opponents. Rafa was never the darling of the media. He was also not popular down the East Lancs Road as he was never content to stand in line and tip his hat to SAF. Look what he brings to the table … a track record of success, tactical acumen that is second to none, great knowledge and understanding of the transfer market and most of all, in my opinion, he is resourceful. This is a fantastic asset and one that Liverpool truly needs right now.
Everyone remembers Istanbul but the resourcefulness Rafa demonstrated just to get us there! If my memory is correct just about everyone on Liverpool’s books played a part in that great run. Names like Le Tallec, Biscan, Pongolle, Carson, Welsh, Josemi, Warnock, Nunez, Potter, Kirkland & Mellor may not loom large in Liverpool folklore but all played their part in that great triumph representing the Reds on their way to one of their finest hours.
Liverpool fans we need to band to get together. We need to let FSG know that they at least need to talk with Rafa Benitez. Findout what he has to offer, listen to his thoughts and his visions for LFC. If it is not a fit then so be it. I fear that because he is a connection to the past and because of some of the negative press Rafa is being pre-judged by FSG. Rafa is a modern manager who understands not just the game on the field but what it takes to get to the top. He has done that already and has not be funded in the same way as so many of the top clubs he was competing with have been.
Again, FSG has to get the next appointment right. A poor choice of leadership may lead to them taking a similar path to their predecessors even though they have far greater credibility in the sports industry. They will alienate a passionate group of fans who are renowned throughout the football world. As they themselves demonstrated with Kenny Dalglish, they cannot expect the empathy of the fans just because they are good guys.
As a sincere Liverpool fan I just want to see my team challenging as they should be. Rafa Benitez has taken us there before and has the not just the potential but the ability to take us there again. He is experienced! The facts speak for themselves. John Henry & FSG own Liverpool Football Club. For this investment to come off please don’t neglect the heart and soul of the club. You don’t necessarily have to pick who the fans want but Benitez is a great choice and would be on the list of any of the elite European clubs. We are trusting you to make the best choice from the pool of candidates you are putting together but at least speak to Rafa. You might be surprised to learn that a great choice is already in your own backyard. YWNWA.
Very well put 🙂
I rate Rafa very highly also. Kenny was appointed because FSG listened to the fans when things were bad last time. u cant blame them if they don’t do so this time. they have to stamp their authority and tell not just the fans but the entire football world that they are their own people and they know what they are doing. Patience is key.
Very true. At the very least they must consider rafa. AVB ? Ok, won the Portuguese league and the uefa but players at Chelsea fc were not ready to be replaced, hence didn’t perform for him.
Martinez? Good football. Flavour of the month. I wonder if anyone approached him in march !!! When DW himself was considering options. Owen Coyle any different??
Moving on to dechamps! Have a glance at the French league please.
Rogers? See above. One promotion too quick is a way to failure. Clever guy.
For me, experience. Cappello and Rafa please. Check them out. Cappello is self explanatory . In the case of england (which I don’t give a …. Compared to my club. Cant polish a t’urd.
Rafa, a man who expected to win the league with a club in turmoil . He kept the lid on it, and everyone in the media hated him. For what? Quote ‘ the club’s finances have nothing to do with the players.” Meaning, you get paid to play for the club, not to read newspapers. That only worked for a while. In the end , negativity got in. Couldn’t do more and left. It was enough to get anyone insane.
Experience player for now. Monitor Sami Hyppia
YNWA
Very interesting read and well put. I also think KK could have done with another year but appreciate the decision so long as they are smart enough to upgrade to a better alternative, not gamble with untried potential. They certainly have to get this right and tested experience is vital. This is my worry with Martinez, MON, and a range of the others, including to some degree AVB. There is no doubt however that Rafa is a risk too – have we not been there before, albeit the circumstances were quite different… Hiddink for a few years with an able understudy could be an option, I am an Aussie and rate him very highly. He is getting on a bit and FSG want youthfulness, so I understand, but the trade off with youth is lack of significant experience. What do we prefer? I want someone who can guide and who has been there before. If we have a young squad they need someone to develop them. Again, I am with you, we need this decision to be the right one.
Have anyone put any thought into the fact that FSg them self is a big part of the current problems? What good does it do anyone to start sacking people 2 days before the FA cup final. They were the ones who hired camoli and if they were no happy with then fine. Could they not have waited until after the final?
Brilliant article Neil son. I’m glad you’re so in tune with what FSG are thinking and doing. You either have a direct line of communication with Henry or you’re a little bit of an oracle. After all, Henry and Werner are very unsuccessful people, both in business and in sport. And never mind the fact that they saved Liverpool from oblivion, are providing funds for transfers and want desperately to bring success to our club. Yes, what we want is to do well in the cups and be challenging Everton for 7th. I love King Kenny, an absolute legend of man, but it was quite obvious this season to anyone who watches football with an ounce of intelligence (no, that excludes you Neil, sorry) that tactically Kenny was not up to par. At least during matches. Great managers change the course of a match during a match. Kenny failed to do that time and again. Great managers improve players, ingrain them in the team and make them better as a sum rather than as individuals. Kenny didn’t do that. So instead of wasting another year, FSG acted quickly and decisively. Remember Houllier for 6 years? So before you start thinking of an article to write Neil – at least what you call thinking – try to examine the different variables. Try to look at all the angles. But my guess is that would take too much brain capacity for a genius like you. Cheers.
EXACTLY!!
Spot on
I agree!
couldnt have said it better….
Everone wanted kenny to succeed, unfortunately he presided over the worst side i’ve seen at Anfield. Kenny and Comolli assembled it, so they paid the price. Well done FSG for nipping it in the bud, this lot will see us in the championship. Just hope they get the right man, one who is big enough for the job. YNWA.
The sky is falling the sky is falling… this is the tone I read in this article. look, if the yanks are such bad owners then that’s why the people they hired are too! A little logic could do you some good mate. Think before you type. Let’s hope they are learning and that their new hires show that change. By the way, knowing so much about the sport of football I am sure that you actually know that the word “soccer” was first used in England for the great game. Do you have a problem with America mate? Some grievance that needs to be healed before it gets projected upon somebody else?
Thought the same thing myself.
Oh my god, they’re putting a entire new team together, CEO,then communications, followed by DOF who then will work together with the new manager who will be introduced in 1 big press day at anfield! If u think these 4 jobs aren’t at least 80% done, than u must think john w henry and tom werner got their money by winning the lotto or something! They aren’t stupid people, and the investment in our club wasn’t because they have undying love for us! No, its to make money, and u won’t make money, with out being in the champions league and being an attractive club for other investors! They never really wanted kenny full time, but the 1st 6 months he took over, he played some wonderful, winning football!n but when given the job full time, he spent loads, and the players who actually got him the job was put on the not wanted list, maxi, kuyt, sold merelies and started playing a different style! Defensive, and never really played until we were behind! I love kenny has a man, player, legend and as a manager! But something changed! And it wasn’t good! Wish fans would have faith in fsg decisions, stop saying he isn’t good enough, we don’t want that person, no way he has no ? ? ?, and evens some fans protesting tonight saying we want benitez back! Who ever gets the job, it will be because fsg think its the best thing! And not because fans demand what they want! We r 1, so stop acting like its us And them! Y..N..W..A
Right!
From what I have heard and read it appears that FSG offered Kenny a different role, was it Comolli’s old job? Maybe it was an advisory role for a young Martinez?. But it seems to me that they banked on Kenny saying yes and they were stunned when he said no so they had no choice but to sack him outright. Carragher said it was Kenny and not gaffer before he even flew out to the USA so it seems that Kenny knew the score but refused to take any other position than the managers job and rightly so too. Is this the reason why FSG are in a spin as to what to do next?
By the way the crowd havnt helped, they need to less singing and more roaring the team on.
And so we hear all of it because Kenny has been relieved of his duties. Would this article even be conceived if Kenny was still in charge? I do not think so. Just because Kenny is gone (I agree that he perhaps could have been given another season, or at least the the start of one) is there really any need to talk of all possible doomsday scenarios?
Why not be positive?
Why not think that this could be a fresh start for a new manager, Kenny has rejuvenated the club and lets move on to look forward? Instead everything that could be going wrong has suddenly on the Skies over LFC because Kenny is no longer in charge…no, that is NOT the case.
Don’t make the problems bigger than they are just because your, our sense of loyalty has not been reciprocated by the owners. That is wrong.
Kenny failed in the transfer market. Pure and simple. Adam, Henderson , Carrol, spearing at the moment are championship material. Never mind what we paid. No potential to become top 4 players. Carrol? Dont fool yourselfs. 3 good performacies out of 38 is not enough. Moving on.
The owners know exactly what they are doing. Comolli failed , so did the director of communication (Suarez saga damaged us), gk coach , health department etc.
Blank page is needed.
I was listening to talk sport earlier. What a load of rubbish. Rogers rejected liv. What hope of guardiola and they played a prank …. Truth is, Rogers is one promotion too far. A case of I’m not ready. Guardiola is on a break for a year …. They are simply drawing up the spec, not ruling out anyone and then make a decision.
Have faith. YNWA
Spot on ! Worst league points tally in over 50 years, no excuse , cups can lie league doesn’t !
The problem with the present liverpool crowd is that they cant get themselves into gear for lesser side, but you get the same 3 points for those games, we give visiting teams, supporters, referees to easy a time, by that i mean visiting teams get more confident, visiting supporters see they can outshout us, and refs dont feel under as much presure – 3 pearls that will win us loads of points DO IT.
I’m sorry to disagree but this article is negative, don’t mind honest … but way to negative!
I feel the owners have shown they have balls, Kenny was never going to be their first choice manager but fan pressure pushed them that way. His style just wasn’t working, a 5th place and he’d still be manager but if you want high investment 8th and 17 points of CL is not good enough. If he had finished 5th maybe 6th and a handful of points off 4th then he would have had more time but 17 points off is disasterous!
Having watch Kenny play (showing my age now) he was a legend, can’t say the same for his management, sorry.
The players won’t leave on mass, one or two might go but the new manager may want to off load some, so i think the players will be the worried ones…
We need a strong-willed manager who can handle not just the players but the media. Although I’d prefer an experienced older manager, I’d be happy with a younger manager but he must have had success elsewhere, if he is up and coming it will be a bigger risk and right now we need to keep our risk to the minimum. Not sure I agree with going backward, as some fans are calling for Rafa but on the other hand, I’d take Rafa over the younger unexperienced managers.
With money available and it will be, we need to ensure the finishing touch to the present squad is off quality …
I’m confident for the future but we must stay focused and positive…
Paul
Nobody in the boardroom after games to entertain visiting owners etc ? very businesslike, i am very very wary of these people, not because they sacked daglish it is their right but because they did it in such a distasteful way and i for one wont forget it or trust them “kenny’s job is safe no mater what happens in the cup final” tom werner “kenny would have gone even if we had won the fa cup” ian ayres.
if you read my last post you will see we are being told lies.
I too think its the wrong reaction,all the vacancies will be filled and there is plenty of time to do this,we will be watching the Euro finals (allbeit not to long with England)and the Olympics and behind the scenes LFC will be starting afresh with new ideas,new people and i hope with Rafa anoraking our way to glory,glad all the guy`s above are more positive than this post. YNWA
at least with rafa we will have someone who knows like kenny and shankly that the fans are the most important part of the club.