WHEN Kenny Dalglish lost his job as manager of Liverpool FC in the summer of 2012, it felt as if there once again was a bit of a divide between the Liverpool fans.
Even though most people agreed that the team had underperformed in the league, many were still outraged by the fact that the legend above legends – the man who held the club together during its darkest hour – were removed from his position in a way that at the time seemed unworthy. The fact that he led LFC to two cup finals, and won one of them, was swept away as almost insignificant.
Now, I’m not writing this to start another argument about whether sacking Dalglish was right or wrong; that is water under the bridge by now and a futile discussion, as harsh as that may sound to some. Neither am I writing it to put pressure on Brendan Rodgers to start delivering silverware or do any comparisons.
What I’m driving at here is that in many ways the summer of 2012 signalled a paradigm shift at Liverpool Football Club; a shift we have seen throughout Europe for many years, but never really experienced ourselves until last year. The old mantra of why this club exists – to win trophies – was suddenly dead. Time caught up with it. It was as if the club finally realised that it couldn’t have it both ways unless choices and changes were made.
Arsenal is probably the best example of the modern way of thinking: for a club of such stature to go without a trophy for that many years is unheard of when you think about it; but still they keep their manager and follow the same path. Why? Because they get that fourth place and qualify for the Champions League – the holy grail. Sure, their owners would prefer trophies, but I doubt they would swap their fourth place for an FA Cup final.
Being in the Champions League, in the inner circle of European football, sends out a certain signal; a signal of strength and growth – of power. It’s the ace up your sleeve you bring to the negotiating table when trying to sign the best players. Because they won’t ask whether or not you won a cup last season – they will ask about whether or not you are in the Champions League; and if you’re not there that ace of yours is suddenly replaced by a six of diamonds, meaning you’ll need something special coupled with a bag of good fortune to get the signature you want.
Because that’s what it comes down to in the end: players and the power they carry. Being without Champions League football isn’t a disaster in itself; but because that’s where the best players want to be it eventually becomes one from a growth point of view.
So, if we have a clear view about how we think Liverpool FC should measure itself, what do we choose if we can have one or the other? What do we cherish the most: is it the day out at Wembley and the euphoria of the moment; the instant gratification and the memories we can carry with us for the rest of our lives?
Or do we hold out for the trip to Barcelona or Munich? It may seem like a pipe dream after what seems like a small eternity outside the circle, but when we get back in I think the feeling will be something else. It will be the culmination of an epic roller coaster, river deep and mountain high (oh yes, I just did) – from the court room to Camp Nou. I’m here by claiming the movie rights.
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Winning a trophy means you have been the best.
Getting to the Champions League (without winning the title) gives you the chance of being the best of the losers.
You do come up against some of the best Champions and also the best runner ups. So to win the champions league as amazing as it is doesn’t necessarily make you the best.
Financially it is wonderful but winning a domestic trophy means you were the best.
Where I stand on the matter as an avid LFC fan is still unclear, I loved winning the champions league but winning the premier league would be the best day of my life.
Champions league is better unless u win premierleague trophy cos league need consistency but trophy is more of luck why? Cos even Saints or Everton can win a trophy.Chelsea remember won the Cl out of luck in 2012 that doesn’t mean they were good enough that season.We may cont to win trophies but can bcom weaker and weaker,So cl please BR
I mean CL football year in ,year out.Another of my happiest day will be the day we win Epl or qualify 4 CL
We qualified for CL nearly every year before FSG came. We have zero chance with Rodgers as boss
All that matters is winning trophies .
Why can’t we do both ? It was not a problem for previous Liverpool teams . There is no reason why a huge club like Liverpool should not be winning domestic cups and qualifying for champ league every season.
I 2nd this. Liverpool was and still IS a Big Club. The human power to forget is mind numbing sometimes. YNWA.The difference between now and when king kenny was in charge is that we have a manager in Brendan Rodgers, who is a master orator and can handle the media in a more ‘gentler’ way with regards to “crisis media frenzying creates”. If one recalls, king kenny was getting killed in the tabloids for the suarez handshake incident and not praised for being the ROCK!! ,That held the clubs’ factions from tearing itself apart during the transition between new and old owners, which i might add, was decided in court. There was a need for this temporary stability kenny provided in order for the new owners to be allowed the time to put their legal/business and social networking plan in place to make a profit with the Liverpool brand.
We are a champions league team and definitely one of the top 4 sides in england. The owners,the fans,the critics and the haters know this. Even the Man Utd supporters are awfully quiet this yr. A paradigm shift in the premier league is taking place right in front our very eyes. Interesting times to be a Liverpool football fan.
YMWA,
Shakeel
qualifying for the champions means finishing in the top four. arsenal and man utd can spend more (fairly acquired money i might add) than us as can citeh and chelsea (unfairly acquired with a sugar daddy wiping their arses every year). will be tough to finish top four up against that lot
Trophies. Everyone remembers who wins trophies. Nobody remembers (or cares) who finished 3rd or 4th in league
Guys u can continue to deceive urselves by believing BR will take us to CL this season. No disrespect to BR but I think he’s gonna lose W’brom if he doesn’t change to 352 trust me cos 3 5 2 requires a very strong and reliable defensive midfielder,unless he switches to 433 expect another lose.Truly BR am afraid of ur overthinking and in truth u are using lfc to learn ur trade.
Guys u can continue to deceive urselves by believing BR will take us to CL this season. No disrespect to BR but I think he’s gonna lose W’brom if he doesn’t change from 352 trust me cos 3 5 2 requires a very strong and reliable defensive midfielder,unless he switches to 433 expect another lose.Truly BR am afraid of ur overthinking and in truth u are using lfc to learn ur trade.
Even if Brenda qualifies for the top four he has absolutely no realistic chance of winning the CL, more likely we’ll get humiliated by the top sides, all this huff & puff pursuit of top four is futile really. FSG will just count the money from group stage matches and BR/Henry fanboys will act like all their dreams have come true. There is no genuine pride at the club.
I agree 100% .well said . I dont think Liverpool FC will ever achieve success with FSG ….and certainly not with Rodgers