If it were done when ’tis done, then ’twere well it were done quickly.
As well as offering a rare chance to put my degree to some use, the above quote from Macbeth has summed up my recent feelings on Kenny Dalglish’s future at Liverpool pretty neatly.
If Kenny’s departure was inevitable, if it’s what FSG wanted to happen, then it had to be a decision made and implemented as soon as possible after Sunday.
That was the minimum requirement for me – some clarity for everyone on whether we had an ownership standing squarely behind the manager. If that wasn’t the case, then it’s hard to see how Kenny’s position could remain tenable.
Even as a Kenny supporter, would you want him fronting up an organisation with no faith in him, happy to cut him adrift?
And now we know. FSG have played their cards.
It was in nobody’s interests to keep Dalglish hanging on for weeks, with the uncertainty unsettling existing players and deterring potential targets. We needed either a clear statement of support, an affirmation that the three-year contract was a rarity in football in being worth the paper it was written on, or we needed this.
We got this.
Now we need to see the owners acting quickly – though not necessarily instantly.
Some are asking for an immediate announcement on a replacement. While it’s reasonable to say FSG should have people in mind as candidates, a coronation brings with it inherent problems.
Whoever comes in will need to contend with significant opposition from some sections of the fanbase. Not being Dalglish will be a handicap. For parts of the media, not being Roy Hodgson will be too.
So the owners need to be sure about their man, and we need to be sure they’re sure. If this gamble – and it is a gamble – is to succeed, we need to hedge as much as we can to be sure of some genuine payoffs.
All things are connected, and the appointment of a CEO and director of football is essential. Both must be visible. Both must be based at the club permanently. The CEO must bring relevant, outside experience and offer something more than enthusiasm for the club.
Hopefully work on identifying those key figures is well under way. The task of recruiting a manager should be taken seriously and with equal clarity of purpose.
An interview process need not take long. Speak to candidates this week, second interviews next week, new man in place before the Euros. What we don’t need is a rushed appointment which both increases the risk of the owners getting it wrong, and of washing their hands of responsibility if it doesn’t work out. Some time should be invested at the beginning of what amounts to a whole new project.
A new man must be, unequivocally, FSG’s choice. Their Teflon days must end. Good owners would want that.
Who to interview? Who knows. A shortlist of two decorated European managers, a visionary young prospect and a wild card from a smaller Premier League club should ensure a plurality of views.
It seems Kenny was as willing to go upstairs on this occasion as a recalcitrant Dalek, but hopefully he can play a role in the club in future. Whether officially or not he will remain an ambassador for Liverpool FC, and a beacon for all those campaigning for justice for the 96.
The entire administration needs addressing Steve. Whoever comes in, if there’s a void behind them on the executive front, they’ll be undermined and the problem will be repeated. That Kenny suffered for that and that it’s at almost no stage acknowledged by any party (league position + Suarez = sack manager, no matter who he is) is downright tragic.
A manager, director of football, whatever – they need support and authority, or the wheels will come off. If it happens again, any notion that the modern day LFC is intrinsically any different to any other club, or that its fans are somehow special and more intelligent on football matters – that’ll be undermined forever. And if that goes, well, everything changes.
But then maybe the owners want that, with plastic Liverbird bunting on the top.
Very well put, Steve. We all want FSG to act quickly because the club needs the right people in place to make the best decisions and preparations this summer for next season. But we also don’t want to see the decision rushed when so much is at stake.
If FSG thought they had a massive task on their hands a couple weeks ago, they’re really knee deep in it now. We can only hope they know what they’re doing.
Thank God he’s gone ridiculous appointment, a managerial relic from a bygone era massively out of his depth. Every time he opened his mouth to the media it was either toe curling or car crash TV.
A manger lives and dies by his signings and Kenny’s coffin was constructed last summer I’m afraid. All players who are ‘Bottom 6’ standard of quality at best.
AVB is the new man 100%
@Tommy smith, Jeesh, what hyperbole. As if Lord Sauron isn’t grumpy with hacks from time to time ffsakes. the difference is they brownose him for the most part. And your suggestion of AVB – heaven forBID we get him, utterly overrrated – and his dedication of Chelsea’s first win after the Terry/Ferdinand incident, where he dedicated the win to his skipper who was clearly seen mouthing a racist obscenity in Ferdinand’s direction was way worse than any T-shirt wearing for the King. AVB’s dreadful, and already proven himself a EPL failure. Why him???
You are a complete arsehole.
Regardless of what your opinion is about Kenny’s job as Manager this year, as a Liverpool fan you have to show respect for what this man has done for the club since 1977. As a player he is our greatest. In his first tenure as Liverpool his record was impeccable. In his most recent spell as manager he offered stability to the club when we needed it. He is what every fan dreams of; a great manager and player who loves the club we all love. His service of the club embodies this. We owe a great debt to this man as Liverpool fans. So, before you talk about him in a disrespectful manner.
You are a clown and everyone who read your post is now dumber.
You call yourself a LFC supporter? Regardless of your opinion of KD’s reign, You should have more respect for a man who has done more for the club and people of Liverpool city than you could manage in 10 lifetimes. YNWA Kenny. And I hope you run into the real Tommy Smith, he’ll have a little word with you if you even had the courage to tell him your vapid thoughts.
What is worrying for me is who is advising FSG? It`s a gimme they have someone in their ear as they are “franchisees” in a “foreign sport” Bottom line is this.Whoever is advising them is NOT lfc,They have just demonstrated with the sacking of Commoli,Cotton,KD and SC and maybe the Anfield cat (Ian Ayre) that their decision making is suspect.Personally I believe FSG to be one step up from Gillet and Hicks.They don`t understand the sport they are involved in and to my mind that puts #LFC with the also rans. I think this is the end of an era and not in a good way.
So because the man doesn`t say the right things to the media he can`t manage a football team?? Preposterous. FSG know fuck all about football they are business pure and simple.To give a man a three year contract who wins the first silverware in 6 years and gets us to another Final and then sacks him shows their lack of understanding of the game.Carrol is starting to justify his fee,Suarez is quality,Enrique has had a couple of blips but a successful buy.We can only do better in the league next season with a bit more luck in front of goal and addition of two quality players.We will never know now!
Very well said Steve.
There must be a plan here, I can’t see JWH & Werner making snap decisions just on the basis of results after 18 months (look at Francona at the Red Sox up until last October).
In my humble opinion we have the ideal opportunity to make a start on building where it all began. We have Carra, let’s get him involved now, try and get the boot room back (I don’t mean as manager by the way…). It will never be a carbon copy but we can at least try?
There’s been a lot of anger tonight about names like Martinez, Rodgers etc. but how are these managers expected to move on if not with jobs like this? Yes Hodgson was wrong but we all know everything as wrong then.
I love Kenny, I always will, but I really do hope that we don’t end up with a Villas Boas type ‘won a trophy’ manager. I am quite happy to support my club as long as there is a long term plan in place otherwise we just become the blue shite from Cobham but with less money…
The two best canidates… One man comes with no questions and one really shouldn’t. They are both Spanish and neither are Martinez!
Cracking Dalek gag
Well put, indeed, Steve.
Hopefully, FSG will not listen to the hysterical English media hype on who should be the next manager.
And I will be seriously gutted if Rafa is not even in contention. He should be at least interviewed by the owners to see what he has to offer.
With Ian Ayre in charge this chance is slim though…
This decision should not be rushed and all avenues should be explored. Whilst we dream of Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, Pep seems determined to take a break and Klopp is building something special at Dortmund a number of others can be ruled out.
I think appointing a CEO and a Director of Football should be done before the manager is sought. Bringing people in who know football a whole lot better than FSG and Ian Ayre (agreed to appoint Roy Hodgson) can only be positive in appointing the right manager.
My shortlist right now for the managers role would be Marcelo Bielsa, Louis Van Gaal, Andre Villas-Boas, Frank Rikjaard and Paul Lambert if we wanted to appoint someone soon. All have experience working under a Director of Football (Lambert not directly but has learnt abroad) and would fit into the structure FSG seemingly want to implement.
However with the Euros on the horizon, appointing a man now when the likes of Laurent Blanc or Joachim Loew could potentially be approached maybe pumping the gun.
I hope Kenny can return to the club in some capacity, he is the King after all.
I also hope FSG don’t rush this decision
Time to rebuild. Get in a young manager with a vision and a plan. Just like the club did in 1959.
I’ve got my finger on the trigger.But I don’t know who to trust!
I am a Kenny Dalglish supporter for many more reasons than space to explain.But if you had a shop with £50,000 worth of stock and after 12 months of managing it you had to explain to the owner that you had taken 10 x £50 deposits but nobody had actually paid the rest or bought anything.And you were the Owner,what would you do?
FSG came in and said that they would sit back and let the Club run and give support when needed.Americans are very good at P.R. and marketing and they didn’t get too involved over Suarezgate.But sooner or later they had to and they did.I wouldn’t blame Dalglish for one second over that but the simple fact is they had to act.And it’s the same with this season.Where do you draw the line?
As Bill Shankly once said “A man who can’t make a decision is a bloody nuisance!”.
So,today I see a statement acknowledging Kenny’s efforts and I see Kenny’s reply accepting the decision .I think it was worded on both sides with great dignity.
I happen to think that they have a Manager lined up but will not reveal that name just yet out of respect to Dalglish.
But I’ve still got my finger on the trigger!
They simply have to consider Rafa. He is the only candidate out there who has actually walked the walk, and uniquely among the prospects he knows the club and the fans. Bring in AVB, Lambert, Martinez or Rodgers and you’re taking a huge risk…remember the rep Coyle had a year ago? Look what a strong dressing room did to AVB. Rafa is a known quantity, with a deep emotional investment in the club and a proven track record on the pitch. He even wants to do the job. Just what have we got to lose here? I know Dalglish leaving has cut deep to a lot of people, but we must look to the future. Dalglish came back. Now it MUST be Rafa’s time, Dalglish was the tourniquet required after the Hodgson debacle. Let’s not lose this opportunity to heal the club, Go with what we know works.
ferd
Oh, by the way Tommy Smith,
Aren’t you in The Simpsons? Or some other cartoon?
Well put Neu
Isn’t TommySmith the most obvious wind-up?
Dark days for Liverpool FC, but we can always comfort ourselves with the despair inflicted on Tommy with the 3 derby wins this season, knocking them out of the cup, and the fact that Kenny Mk2 won more trophies in a few months than Moyes has during 10 years at the pit.
Heart says Rafa mind says it MUST be Jose or Pep. If the owners want LFC to really be the best in the world it’s as simple as that. They are both available and Jose has stated many times he wants to come back to the Premier League.
Capello, AVB and whoever else are only next best candidates and should not be considered as first choice. We’re LFC, we can attract the best and they should want to come, if not they can fuck off.
Why is a DOF essential? There isn’t one at United/Arsenal etc and we have never needed one before. It wasn’t even a position any of us even thought about before Commolli was appointed. For a strong manager with vision, a DOF would probably be seen as a hindrance.
Great article Mr Graves.
As a Liverpool supporter I am sad that Kenny has gone and he should have been given more time. But what happeans if results hadn’t improved by December? Then we are back into a Hodgson situation again and appointing an interim manager gain=vicious circle.
Surely it is better to get rid of a manager now and get the right person in, instead of waiting til december and acting with a knee-jerk reaction.? Also can I say to all LFC fans that we never be like Chelsea, this is because of the way we act towards people in terms of tragedy. We always stick together when other supporters need each other. We value our club too much. If Abramovich was to suddenly do a ‘Hicks and Gillete’ on Chelsea, could anyone see chelsea reacting in the same way as we did? No I dont think so. Thats what makes us LFC and that will never change regardless of who owns or manages the club. Finally to quote a reacent rock song. ‘WE MUST STAND TOGETHER’