You’ll never walk alone? Tell that to Roy Hogdson. It may be time to change the words on the gate outside of Anfield.
What is wrong with Liverpool Football Club? The fans, the owners, the players, the attitude all can be improved. I think it is a good time for some serious reflection and evaluation at Liverpool. I see this removal of Roy Hodgson as Liverpool manager as a step backward for a club hovering just above the relegation zone.
The fans think they are the board of directors. If you believe what you hear, Roy Hogdson’s departure was due to his questioning the support of the fans. I have to agree with Roy. The fans were not behind him and the club. The fans have too much of say in the operational decisions of the club. While I respect the passion and emotion of Liverpool fans, the negative fans are part of the Liverpool problem.
“You don’t know what you’re doing!” Have you ever heard the chant directed at a struggling coach? Some people may wonder if the new American owners know what they are doing. Do you really think Kenny Daglish can do any better than Roy Hogdson this season and in the future? I don’t think so.
The new American ownership group is new on the scene ready to make a change to secure their new investment. I understand the operational risk associated with the financial changes of being relegated. Sometimes a decisive move is needed to make a course correction to make sure he team is not relegated outside the Premier League. I didn’t think Spurs firing of Juande Ramos was a good move when Spurs were bottom at Christmas a few years ago, but as I look at the result I don’t think anything could have worked out better for Spurs than replacing Ramos with Harry “Houdini” Redknapp. The new Liverpool owners may be wiser than I give them credit. I think it is only fair to give a new manager time to prove himself.
I think the new American ownership group moved the progress-o-meter back six months since any new manager is going need time to build the team’s tactics and players into his system. I liked Hogdson ideas of a football community where players lived and participated in the neighboring area of the club. If you look at what Hodgson did at Fulham with the budget and players he had versus what was done at Fulham before he got there, he is a fine manager. What do I say when I hear how Roy was in over his head for the Liverpool manager position? “Poppycock!”
Well, Rafa Benitez was not the right guy at LFC and now Roy Hogdson is not the right guy either. So, who is this special person that is good enough to take over at LFC? I don’t think there are any magic or miraculous answers for Liverpool and I don’t think Kenny will do any better than Roy would have. LFC needs to commit to a long term strategic improvement plan and business model. Managers need time to be given a chance.
The players are what is wrong with Liverpool. Dudes need to take responsibility for their poor play and start scoring goals and playing as a team. Torres form has been off, until Wednesday goal at Blackpool, and there is no other forward at Liverpool picking up the slack and scoring goals for Liverpool. The Liverpool selfish mentality should be the easiest thing for the players to change. Agger saying you must play me or trade me. If I was manager, I would trade Agger or cut him right away for putting himself before the team. Other examples of a bad attitude, Daglish and Babel complaining about the world’s best referee’s spot on decisions regarding a penalty kick for a push in the penalty area and a red card for a two footed tackle in the recent game versus Manchester United. Another problem area, Jamie Carragher’s injury has not helped the defense situation. For Liverpool to have hope in their heart this season, the focus needs to be on a positive attitude and teamwork.
Manager Daglish, I think you should look for some attacking options in the transfer window, avoid criticizing the refereeing and spend your time on your difficult managerial challenge. It won’t be easy as the club has failed recently with the last two promising coaches. Can you hear the clock is ticking? Tick Tock. Tick Tock. Kenny, are you sure your mobile connection on the boat was good when you took the Liverpool assignment and the owner didn’t ask you to be the undertaker manager, rather than the caretaker manager? Whatever was said, walking alone at Liverpool is not outside the realm of possibilities, even for Kenny Daglish.
