Just because you're paranoid...

[goatboy59]

November 3, 2009

 

Kenny Dalglish to ride to the rescue? Bad idea

 

Matt Dickinson

 

Should Liverpool’s season get much worse — and that could be as soon as tomorrow evening — even those supporters who revere Rafael Benítez as a cross between Einstein and Bill Shankly, even those still drunk on Istanbul 2005, will start to question whether the right man is leading their club.

 

But doubting Benítez is the easy part. We can all do that. We can all cite his duff signings, point to the aloofness that has alienated him from senior players and have a go at his maddening bloody-mindedness.

 

We can all say that six defeats in seven games, particularly if they are followed by an early exit from the Champions League and more Barclays Premier League angst, should put him on the brink.

 

The real challenge is to work out what to do as an alternative, to make sense of a post-Rafa landscape. Because it is then that you realise that, for all his obvious failings, sacking him any month soon could land the club in even greater strife.

 

Let us consider first who you appoint and, in particular, the whispers for Kenny Dalglish that may become a clamour should Liverpool lose to Lyons in the Champions League tomorrow.

 

Already employed at the club as an ambassador and to oversee the academy in Kirkby, “King Kenny” would certainly command the acclaim of the Kop and, in doing so, buy the club’s American owners some breathing space.

 

But the right man for the job, even on an interim basis? The evidence is scant more than a decade after he stepped on to a training pitch at Newcastle United. A short-term uplift could be expected, particularly from those local players who were in awe of him as youngsters, but it would represent a huge leap into the unknown to employ a man whose greatest managerial achievement, at Blackburn Rovers, was almost 15 years ago.

 

Could he joust with Arsène Wenger, Sir Alex Ferguson and Carlo Ancelotti? Consider for a moment if Arsenal, Manchester United or Chelsea would put Dalglish on their shortlist the next time they need a manager.

 

Were Benítez to be ousted and the offer to come along at Liverpool, it would surely be one that Dalglish could not resist, whatever the risks to his iconic status.

 

The blemishes on his CV at Newcastle and Celtic still rankle and having personally called into question Dalglish’s stature as a manager of the highest calibre — and felt the lash of his tongue — I know just how much he would love to have the last word in that particular argument.

 

If only to experience the Kop at its most raucous, I would love to be at Anfield for Dalglish’s first match back, but Liverpool have enough problems without allowing sentiment to cloud their judgment.

 

So if not Dalglish, then who might be available in the short term? Jürgen Klinsmann, once courted by the American owners, is out of work but also not long moved on from a calamitously short spell at Bayern Munich.

 

Klinsmann is bright and innovative, but hire him and you do not just get a manager but a whole West Coast philosophy. He would cost a fortune, which is the one thing Liverpool do not have.

 

They would have even less money by the time they have sacked Benítez, which is another complication.

 

Whether they would have to pay the Spaniard the full £20 million owing on his contract would depend on the lawyers and whether Liverpool could mitigate if he walked straight into another job, but it is a measure of the chaos at Anfield that Benítez even has the contract in the first place. It was a deal agreed in the midst of power battles in the boardroom, one that must almost have been handwritten by the manager, so favourable were the terms.

 

Regrets over the size of the deal may be the one thing that unites Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr, and their continued inability to work together — to make sense of the stadium project, to provide a united front — is another reason why any manager from the top drawer will be interviewing the owners, rather than the other way round. Would Fabio Capello or Martin O’Neill even want the job in the circumstances?

 

A maximum annual transfer kitty of £20 million (and that is not factoring in lost revenue from potentially missing the Champions League) is better than most clubs in Europe, but it is not going to convince José Mourinho that he will be able to take on Manchester City, never mind Real Madrid and Barcelona.

 

It all leaves Liverpool in the position where they are better with the devil they know, at least until the end of the season. But while Christian Purslow, the managing director, may know that, the fans tend to be rather more emotional. Defeat in Lyons may just provoke the first King Kenny chant.

[goatboy59]

"Whispers"?

 

From where?

[Herp McDerp]

Whats this I keep reading about us having to pay him 20 million? Surely those two dozy cunts can't be that thick?

Edited November 3, 2009 by Gowldilocks
Some people clearly need a sense of humour bypass.

[goatboy59]

Ha! What happened to your early drinking post?

 

Winter's disputing the "full pay-out" theory. He also seems to be 'in' with Purslow.

 

The words 'paving the way' spring to mind.

 

But then I'm a cynical twat.

[Whelan]

One thing I would love to ask all these 'southern' twats, Dickinson, Winter, Samuel, Hayward etc is this, all this talk over 'coldness' from a manager, how come this 'coldness' is celebrated when it is the England manager but frowned upon when it is Rafa? How come none of these witless shitbags have the decency to question why this loveable rogue Cappello played a cleary unfit Gerrard in a nonentity of a match?

 

It fucking stinks, a quick look down this from page and I see the names John Salako, Stand Collymore and you can add Mark Bright to that list as well, a shower of useless no marks, seriously, you get the impression those who want Rafa out will be quoting Siralex next! Any fucker will do, so long as he agrees me, well fuck you!

 

The only player I can think of who has specifically been criticised this year has been Torres 'get on with it' he was told by Rafa, Nando has scored 9 goals since then!

[Dirk]

Ha! What happened to your early drinking post?

 

Winter's disputing the "full pay-out" theory. He also seems to be 'in' with Purslow.

 

The words 'paving the way' spring to mind.

 

But then I'm a cynical twat.

 

Winter's article appears to be a paving the way exercise. Even as a supporter of Benitez, I'm resigned to him leaving now, his departure has an air of inevitability about it.

[Whelan]

Winter's article appears to be a paving the way exercise. Even as a supporter of Benitez, I'm resigned to him leaving now, his departure has a sense of inevitability about it.

 

Fuck that! He is one of the shinning lights we have at this club!

 

There is no perspective at all at the moment regarding Rafa, I had a conversation with an Evertonian who was sarcastically suggesting that he wants Rafa to stay, I pointed out that he is in no position to gloat, he said they had an injury crisis!

 

We don't have 10 first team players out! We rely on Gerrard and Torres too much!

 

Rafa should never have taken Torres off and to top it off he runs the risk of running him into the ground by playing him too much (that is this mornings theme)

 

We are only 9 points behind the leaders, in November!

 

One things is pretty certain in my view, I predict fighting within Anfield in the near future.

[lifetime fan]

Winter's article appears to be a paving the way exercise. Even as a supporter of Benitez, I'm resigned to him leaving now, his departure has an air of inevitability about it.

 

As much as I hate the idea I feel you are right.

[lifetime fan]

One thing I would love to ask all these 'southern' twats, Dickinson, Winter, Samuel, Hayward etc is this, all this talk over 'coldness' from a manager, how come this 'coldness' is celebrated when it is the England manager but frowned upon when it is Rafa? How come none of these witless shitbags have the decency to question why this loveable rogue Cappello played a cleary unfit Gerrard in a nonentity of a match?

 

It fucking stinks, a quick look down this from page and I see the names John Salako, Stand Collymore and you can add Mark Bright to that list as well, a shower of useless no marks, seriously, you get the impression those who want Rafa out will be quoting Siralex next! Any fucker will do, so long as he agrees me, well fuck you!

 

The only player I can think of who has specifically been criticised this year has been Torres 'get on with it' he was told by Rafa, Nando has scored 9 goals since then!

 

This would be the same big nasty manager who has stood up for Carra saying how great a defender he is when his performances at times have been truely woeful this season.

[Whelan]

This would be the same big nasty manager who has stood up for Carra saying how great a defender he is when his performances at times have been truely woeful this season.

 

Wrong side twice on Saturday, BUT, in Carraghers defence we have played 14 matches and he has had 4 different defensive partners and three different right backs! Not exactly ideal if you are trying to play yourself into form.

 

My gut feeling is we will be okay, the team is there and hopefully come January we can get that promised 12 million and get adequate replacement for Nando and hopefully midfielder!

 

In three years the Yanks have showed us nothing, but I really hope that for once they show a bit of leadership, and realise that people who phone up talkshows are wankers and to be ignored.

 

Ps Dirk and Yossi could do with stepping it up at the moment

[lifetime fan]

Carra is a truely exceptional centre half, a true defender. I have gone on record saying the only guy in my life time better than him is Franco Baresi, can I pay the lad a bigger compliment?

 

Januray we will get fuck all money wise, we should be looking at Benni McCarthy in my opinion. He isn't plying regularly under Fat Sham, he has pace which we embaressingly lack without Torres up front, has european cup winning experience and has scored a goal every other game for every club he's been at.

 

Not ideal I know, but when your begging for change with the whinos what you expect?

[Trucker Paddy]

The sad thing is some of our fans would love Kenny in charge, its not 1990 lads football has changed.

[lifetime fan]

As many Rafa fans have been accused of having a blind pot, so do the 'King Kenny' lovers.*

 

 

EDIT* We all love Kenny but you know what I mean.

[Donkey's Fanny]

Isn't Purslow Kenny's friend? That article stinks.

[DJLJ]

Fuck that! He is one of the shinning lights we have at this club!

 

There is no perspective at all at the moment regarding Rafa, I had a conversation with an Evertonian who was sarcastically suggesting that he wants Rafa to stay, I pointed out that he is in no position to gloat, he said they had an injury crisis!

 

We don't have 10 first team players out! We rely on Gerrard and Torres too much!

 

Rafa should never have taken Torres off and to top it off he runs the risk of running him into the ground by playing him too much (that is this mornings theme)

 

We are only 9 points behind the leaders, in November!

 

One things is pretty certain in my view, I predict fighting within Anfield in the near future.

 

Sad state of affairs, when this is one of the things we cling onto.

[TheHitman]

I don't know who the article insults more. I personally do not see Kenny as the sort to take a position within the club and then jump into the hot seat. Secondly the fans, does he think we are akin to Newcastle fans looking for the next messiah. Whatever next the bookies will soon stop take bets on Carra to be appointed player manager.

[lifetime fan]

I don't know who the article insults more. I personally do not see Kenny as the sort to take a position within the club and then jump into the hot seat. Secondly the fans, does he think we are akin to Newcastle fans looking for the next messiah. Whatever next the bookies will soon stop take bets on Carra to be appointed player manager.

 

ATK wants to know the odds.

 

He has to finish beating someone up who doesn't agree with him first, but he's interested.

[Paul]

Winter's article appears to be a paving the way exercise. Even as a supporter of Benitez, I'm resigned to him leaving now, his departure has an air of inevitability about it.

 

Really? I think it's, if not impossible, extremely unlikely that he'll be sacked before the season is over. I also reckon we remain the best bet to take the all-important fourth place in the league, regardless of the current mess we're in. The thing I'm least confident about is getting out of this CL group. However, I can definitely see Rafa still being in charge at the end of the season with us having qualified for Europe again.

 

Whether that is enough at that point is another matter, but I think his hand would be strengthened immeasurably in such circumstances while the significant downsides to his dismissal (primarily financial, but also organisational) would remain.

 

Despite all that, I think Christian Purslow would be remiss if he wasn't currently considering the alternatives and laying the groundwork for any possible future decisions with regard to Rafa's tenure.

[stringvest]

The speculation will continue all season, and no doubt develop a momentum that could well become irresistible if results don't pick up. He won't go before the end of the season, and nor should he. Of course the club needs to put in place a plan B to cover the possibility of Benitez leaving.

[Carra_is_legend]

Really? I think it's, if not impossible, extremely unlikely that he'll be sacked before the season is over. I also reckon we remain the best bet to take the all-important fourth place in the league, regardless of the current mess we're in. The thing I'm least confident about is getting out of this CL group. However, I can definitely see Rafa still being in charge at the end of the season with us having qualified for Europe again.

 

Whether that is enough at that point is another matter, but I think his hand would be strengthened immeasurably in such circumstances while the significant downsides to his dismissal (primarily financial, but also organisational) would remain.

 

Despite all that, I think Christian Purslow would be remiss if he wasn't currently considering the alternatives and laying the groundwork for any possible future decisions with regard to Rafa's tenure.

 

Agreed.

 

Even if we lose tomorrow and go out of the CL, Rafa will still be here for the rest of the season. And quite rightly so.

 

Who are they going to get at this point of time? Would Mourinho or Capello or Hiddink walk out of their club and national teams, half way through? More importantly why should they? We are not that attractive right now and they are not so desperate to leave anyway.

 

Also, a new manager now (even if we manage to get a Mourinho or Capello or Hiddink) will have the safety net of blaming our results in the first 3 months. Rafa will feel he has to correct the situation and will definitely put 100% behind it, new manager will look more into rebuilding and may not worry about interim results, which could land us in shit in the long term.

 

As always, the time to think about these things (however much groundwork is done before hand) is in the summer. When we know clearly where we stand with regards to our manager and also other managers who are potential targets.

[Major Tom]

Really? I think it's, if not impossible, extremely unlikely that he'll be sacked before the season is over. I also reckon we remain the best bet to take the all-important fourth place in the league, regardless of the current mess we're in. The thing I'm least confident about is getting out of this CL group. However, I can definitely see Rafa still being in charge at the end of the season with us having qualified for Europe again.

 

Whether that is enough at that point is another matter, but I think his hand would be strengthened immeasurably in such circumstances while the significant downsides to his dismissal (primarily financial, but also organisational) would remain.

 

Despite all that, I think Christian Purslow would be remiss if he wasn't currently considering the alternatives and laying the groundwork for any possible future decisions with regard to Rafa's tenure.

 

Agree with all of this.

[ratcatcher]

Dalglish's 'greatest managerial achievement' was at blackburn was it? someone seems to be forgetting who was our manager when we won the double.

 

Benitez should stay in the job until the end of the season. Then and only then should he be replaced if the season has turned out to be a bad one.

[Whelan]

Sad state of affairs, when this is one of the things we cling onto.

 

Sad state of affairs?

 

Or not as bad as the hysterical rants would have you believe?

 

One of the first two WILL drop points on Sunday, possibly both of them, a draw and a win and we are 7 points behind. Sorry but since when has that been insurmountable.

 

I think we will get twatted on Wednesday, but it doesn't alter my belief that Rafa can win the league with us this season.

[Red Nick]

If the rumours get severe then Kenny should do the right thing and resign his position at the club

[WhiskeyJar]

If the rumours get severe then Kenny should do the right thing and resign his position at the club

 

Finest post yet from Red Nick.