Thursday, May 17, 2012

Thank you Kenny and what's next FSG?

As I was preparing my points for me to write a new entry in this blog, I was hit hard by the news that I never wanted to know. Kenny Dalglish was relieved from being the manager of Liverpool Football Club. I have to admit that it was shocking for me to learn that the King had been sacked! Well, I really had to wait for the official news from @LFCTV only to believe the rumors that I had been reading on twitter was true. And finally the official statement was made and Kenny is gone, again .... 

There goes my enthusiasm to post a new entry. Can't believe that a person in Kenny's pedigree was asked to leave the club that he loves, the club that we all do love. 

I would love to see Kenny to manage the club for at least another season. But that's me, just a fan. I am not the owner and I do not have any power to retain Kenny. Then it got me thinking, wait a minute! FSG and John W Henry is the owner of Liverpool Football Club and King Kenny is one of their employees. They must have a very strong reason why they have to let Kenny go. I don't think they want Liverpool Football Club to fall into a very deep dark hole until they themselves can't salvage anything. After all, they are the ones who's paying for everything. It is their right. 

18 months ago, Liverpool FC was in a much more worst condition than now. A couple of seasons before that we had Rafa, who instantly captivated the hearts of the fans when he won us the 5th European title in Istanbul. Then he nearly guided the club to their 19th title until we were narrowly beaten by Man Utd.

Truthfully Rafa was struggling hard. Struggling to keep his best players and struggling get better players as he never got the expected support from previous owner, another American in Hicks & Gillet. Finally Rafa was sacked and in came Roy Hodgson. 

Roy never managed to hit it with the fans like Rafa did. His antics during post match interviews, the players that he brought in, the tactics that he used, everything made Liverpool worst. 

The club was in shambles, in and off the field. Players and fans are not respecting Mr 'Woy', owners are in debt, Liverpool was a sinking ship. 

And the rest as we know, John W Henry and FSG came forward and saved the club. Financially we were saved, but as the 'newcomers' I can see that they need to learn about Liverpool FC in every aspect. The club, the culture, the city, the fans, the history and everything that are associated to it.

They allowed Mr 'Woy' to continue his role as the manager. Well, they could have replaced Roy there and then. But that was not their intentions. They are well aware of their background and of course like Rafa, they need to gain some respect from the 'locals' in Liverpool. 

But they never kept their eyes off on what's happening on the field. Roy Hodgson was not doing that well. The team wasn't performing under him. The fans were unhappy and it certainly affected everybody. Fans started to demand that the new owners to sack Hogdson and get Kenny in. Kenny was already at the club as an ambassador and working with the youth players where he was brought in by then Rafa Benitez. 

It was a no brainer and the most obvious choice. LFC was already heading into mid-season and they need a fast solution. So out went Hogdson and came in the King. The smiles were back and the mood changed instantly. The new owners actually succumbed to the demands of the fans and they obliged. 

From a potential relegation fighting position into a position to get into the Champions League. That was how the King restored the beliefs of everybody. Anyways, he could not really do wonders as Liverpool FC lost the last 3 games and they finished 7th. 

Hopes were high and the King was offered as a permanent manager coming into season 2011/12. Cash was splashed in and new players were brought in. There was hope .... 

After spending more than 100m pounds, finishing 8th, winning a cup and went to Wembley 3 times, it is still not enough for the legend to be given another chance by the owners. They felt Dalglish had done enough to at least build a strong foundation for them to move forward. 

Truthfully, I will never know what happened between Dalglish and the new owners. I just hope that the owners are very serious in making Liverpool FC as the English giant once again. 

I realized that maybe Kenny is not fully equipped to manage a top flight team anymore? Yes he is always following what's happening in the footballing world, but being away from the managerial work for almost 20 years and hoped that he still has it is too much to ask for. 
 
I believe Kenny realized this too. He would have acknowledged the mistakes that he did this season and at the same time, he knows he has done his best and it was a 100% effort. If the owners can bring someone better, someone that can bring Liverpool FC back to their glory days the King would not get in the way. 
 
Now I really hope that the new owners are serious enough to carry Liverpool forward. 
 
Thank you Kenny! You will always be my hero! 
 
John W Henry and FSG, I hope you guys will stick to the plan, that is to make LFC the giant again. Give us some faith and confidence! 
 
#YNWA



No comments: