Saturday 8 January 2011

The king is dead...long live the King!

Well, what a day to start a Liverpool blog! I've just spent an hour writing my first post asking Roy to give us a treat to remember him by by beating Manchester United in the FA Cup, and the bleeding owners decide that now is time to dispense with his services! Ho hum!

So my first substantive post on this blog will be a few thoughts on the second coming of the King...

Managerial record

I think the first thing to be said is that Kenny Dalglish was a truly outstanding manager at Liverpool in his first stint in charge, and later added the Premier League title with Blackburn to his CV. Even his much maligned reign at Newcastle started well, with a second place finish and an FA Cup Final in his first season in charge. He remains one of only three managers to win the First Division/Premier League title with two different clubs. The others are Herbert Chapman and Brian Clough. Pretty exalted company by any standards. The point made against Kenny taking over was always the fact that he has apparently been 'out of the game' for a considerable period of time. Only time will tell whether he will succeed in his time in charge, whether that is simply until the summer or on a longer term basis, but Liverpool do have a man in charge with the pedigree to do the job (which Hodgson never had). The fact that he just so happens to be a club legend, our greatest ever player is something of a bonus!

United fanbase


Secondly, this appointment might represent the first time that Liverpool's fans can unite behind manager and team for at least the past two seasons. For all his qualities (and I'm a huge fan of his) Rafa Benitez was a divisive manager for the supporters. By the end, the strength of feeling on both sides of the pro/anti Rafa divide  reached surprising levels. Worshipped by some, hated by others, he displayed an almost unique ability to absolutely polarise opinion. Similarly, Roy's reign was (until very recently when practically the whole fanbase united AGAINST the manager) characterised by a division between those (like me) who felt he was never good enough and should never have been appointed, and those who always felt that the 'Liverpool Way' dictated that he deserved time and money to make his mark.

Now though, the Roy days are over and the second age of Dalglish has begun. The atmosphere at Old Trafford tomorrow will redefine 'electric' and spares for the games (which under Roy might have been more easily available than ever before), will suddenly assume a quality not unlike gold dust. I cannot conceive of a genuine Liverpool fan who will not have a smile as wide as the Mersey when Kenny takes his place in the dugout for tomorrow's game, and the atmosphere at Anfield for the derby next weekend should be something to behold.

Tactics and approach

So how will Kenny approach matters? Initially, I would suggest having a read of this piece from the ever-excellent Paul Tomkins and his book 'Dynasty'.

I am slightly too young to clearly remember Kenny's last few years as Liverpool manager, but I've seen and heard enough about some of his teams to know that he created one of the greatest, in 1987/88. Of course, Liverpool are nowhere near as dominant now as they were during the 1980's, and the personnel are not of the same quality (although in my opinion they are vastly better than they have shown in recent months).

Initially, I would expect to see Kenny change little in terms of the starting XI, but I would be hoping to see a bolder approach, more prepared to take risks when attacking and far less reliant upon the 'thump it and lump it' approach favoured by Hodgson, particularly away from home.

Beyond Sunday, I will be fascinated to see how Kenny sets his side up going forward.

Egos of players


Another point often raised by those arguing against appointing Kenny is that he may not be equipped to manage the colossal egos of modern day footballers. It is clear that there are some big personalities inside the Anfield dressing room at the present time, something Roy always seemed a little in awe of. I have never believed that Kenny won't be equipped to control the dressing room. In fact, I would go the other way and suggest that there is no one better to get big personalities (including one or two bona fide Liverpool legends in their own right) pulling in the right direction than the biggest Liverpool legend of them all. Furthermore, if there is anyone better equipped in the short term to motivate those players, to instil in them the mentality required of a Liverpool player, to demand the commitment and dedication to that shirt that is required, than Kenny Dalglish, then I don't know of them.


the Future...

Once the initial headlines are tomorrow's chip paper and the United game has been and gone the pundits will no doubt turn their attention to Liverpool FC beyond 2010/11. It is too early to speculate whether this is a recovery act alone in preparation of a new face for the long term coming in in the summer, or the start of a longer second act to Kenny's Liverpool managerial career. However, for what it is worth in my view FSG would ideally have wanted to wait until the end of the season before appointed a younger, arguable more 'modern' manager to lead Liverpool long term. That idea has gone out of the window, and perhaps the best way to approach the next few months on both sides is an audition process. If Kenny is a 'success' (and that would see us top 7 by the end of the season for me, starting where we are), and FSG, Comolli and Dalglish find a working relationship which seems good for the club, the fans are happy and the future looks bright, then perhaps this might be the start of something more than a rescue act.

Whatever happens, today it feels wonderful to have Kenny back and it truly feels like we've got our club back. Roy (to me) was the last remnant of the era of Hicks and Gillett, a lingering reminder of the mediocrity which awaited us and the destruction of so much that makes Liverpool special. To have that swept away and to be returned to hope and optimism and to be able to wholehearted back the manager with no reservations is amazing.

Also, a nod to FSG, who kept their heads when all around them were losing theirs. I have been critical of them this week but they have made the right decision, they have listened to the fans without bowing to them, and they have shown again that we might, just might, have stumbled into the ownership of a group befitting of the club. So well done FSG, welcome back Kenny, and bring on Utd!!!

No comments:

Post a Comment