Brendan Rodgers: The man who needs time, lots of it..

Out with the old, in with the new.

In a nutshell, that’s what Liverpool have done.

Liverpool have appointed an untried, young and modern manager and of course, the reality is, Brendan Rodgers is a risk. A huge risk.

But like most of FSG’s appointments in recent times, they leave the Liverpool fans experiencing two extremes. Some have called Liverpool’s decision to appoint Rodgers as shrewd. While others have labelled it an avoidable short-sighted catastrophe given more pedigreed managers such as Rafa Benitez and Andre Villas-Boas were knocking about.

Common sense will tell you Rodgers, with better technically gifted players at Liverpool will be able to implement and succeed with his way of playing the beautiful game.

But with the same token, the players play the managers game. Not the manager. The Liverpool players must buy into Rodgers ways of doing things and the way he wants to play.

I think this could be one of the hardest challenges Rodgers faces at Liverpool. We’ve got to remember, Rodgers was brought in to replace King Kenny Dalglish. A man who was not only idolised by the players, but his rapport with the players was clearly very strong too.

Rodgers first challenge is to get his players onside. But it could be relatively straight forward for him. Top footballers want to play beautiful football, so players may buy into his way of doing things.

But the players wont suddenly play like Swansea, time is needed.

Brendan Rodgers is a modern manager at a club looking to make its way in the modern world of football.

But modern world of football often demands instant success. Patience has no virtue in the footballing world no more.

Liverpool must give Brendan Rodgers time. He needs patience. His football philosophy is very hard to implement, especially in the fast paced Premier League.

However there is hope for Rodgers, the club have shown over the past two seasons they can knock the ball about just as good as anyone.

Look at Torres last goal for Liverpool (against Wolves, Liverpool made 21 passes before scoring the goal)

But doing this week in, week out is another matter. Rodgers states again and again in his press conference that his team won’t play in his image instantly. The players need to adapt to Rodgers vision of the game and have a full understanding of their role in the system. It could take months or even years.

What’s interesting is Rodgers says he failed at Reading as he ‘changed too much too quickly’ in terms of Reading’s style. The Northern Irish manager is fully aware that he will have to be patient, he will have to be methodological in his changes and he has deal and manage with the high expectations while he is forming his brand of football onto Liverpool.

Rodgers himself admits, ‘There will be some additions to improve and improve our way of playing as well.’ It can’t be stressed how crucial Brendan Rodgers signings are. They have got to be more successful than the last batch of Dalglish signings. (Some may think that’s not much of a challenge, as Dalglish’s new imports were dour.) But as Rodgers states, it’s important he makes the right signings so he can imprint his identity more smoothly and effectively onto the club.

Brendan Rodgers passed his first test in being Liverpool manager. He successfully dealt with the press in an astute manner.

Rodgers said he would ‘fight for his life’ for the supporters and stated, he was ‘blessed’ in getting the Liverpool job. Even Liverpool fans who were entirely unsure on Rodgers abilities felt like they had a man who is just as determined as them to be successful again. Rodgers later on admitted, ‘We might not be ready for the title now but the process begins today.’ The new manager’s ambition and desire to be successful has already won over quite number of critics and Liverpool supporters.

But the reality in football is, as much as Rodgers has won over some fans through his words, he can win and lose fans a lot more on the pitch.

Brendan Rodgers needs two things early on in his reign at Liverpool. He needs time and a chance to be successful. All through history, football has proved, give a relatively unknown manager, ambitious manager a chance and he will succeed. Prior to moving to Liverpool, Bill Shankly had never won a trophy as a manager of a football club. But when he moved to Anfield he was given the chance and he paid the club and its fans back in abundance. The same could be said about Arsene Wenger, Jurgen Klopp and Rafa Benitez. These are all managers who had not achieved a great deal prior to their big club moves.

The Liverpool faithful need to know it wont be easy especially in the first year of the Rodgers era. There certainly will be growing pains, but the fans must grit their teeth and continue to support the team and the manager. Liverpool have to build success from the roots upwards.

As much as the fans need to give Rodgers the time, the owners do too. With the club in mid-table obscurity and not in the glory land of the Champions League, it of course will have a significant effect on the commercial appeal of the club.

The owners must give Rodgers at least three years to build his team. Liverpool can’t attract the superstars of today’s current football world. They must create and develop their own ones, through stability and giving Rodgers the time and the chance.

Liverpool, as a collective identity must fight through the rain in order to enjoy the sunshine, or in other words, the club needs to remember, at the end of every storm there is a golden sky.

What next for Liverpool?

Another game for Liverpool in 2012, and another defeat for Liverpool.  That’s been sequence this season for Liverpool. 

Their defeat in the FA Cup final against Chelsea was the defeat which confirmed Liverpool’s season as a devastating disappointment. 

And let’s be honest, Liverpool at times this season have been lacklustre, woeful and embarrassing to the clubs faithful supporters.

But it’s been an odd season for Liverpool supporters.

Indeed, the club reached two cup finals and they did break the club’s trophy drought which had covered a shadow over the club and symbolised Liverpool’s decline.

But at the same time, it’s been a forgettable season for Liverpool fans. It’s been a season which has left them with more questions than answers as the season has progressed. 

One of the most pressing unanswered questions is that of the King Kenny Dalglish. 

Do Liverpool stick or twist?

Do Liverpool keep him on his throne, or do the club attempt to remove him from his beloved palace. 

Indeed, there are a lot of rumours circulating than Dalglish will be ‘moved upstairs’  as it were given the vacant director of football role, while others feel he maybe shown the door as a whole.

The money men at Anfield face some tough decisions this summer. 

But the situation at especially at Anfield is abundantly clear. Liverpool have been poor, utterly poor. I mean 6 wins at home at Anfield is unacceptable. No wait, it’s not even that, it’s an offensive record for one of Europe’s greatest clubs and what has been before and what the club stands for.

But the poor record at home tells you a few interesting things.

It tells you some of the players especially the new boys, have struggled to deal with the expectations, culture and demands of playing for a club where it expected you have to win each week.

Instead of Anfield being a fortress, it’s become a ground where all the opponent has to do is virtually turn up, defend reasonably well and pick up the point on their way out.

It’s been as simple as that for Liverpool fans.

 In fact, Anfield has become a points shelter for Premier League clubs. 

There is saying amongst football fans that, you know you’re having a bad season, if Liverpool beat you at Anfield. 

But coming away from performances on the pitch, Liverpool’s performances in the transfer market have been even worse. 

Whether Liverpool keep Dalglish, or someone else comes in, Liverpool must be more rational and shrewd in the transfer market.

This season, thanks to the likes of Newcastle, the big boys in the Premier League have learnt a humble lesson.

They’ve learnt of the best things in life can be cheap and cheerful. Newcastle spent a net of around £15mill. Yet the northern club now find themselves with two fantastic and profilc strikers in Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba. While in midfield, Newcastle boast the technically gifted creator Yohan Cabaye. All of whom, cost collectively less than Andy Carroll. 

While Liverpool with their best of British transfer policy, spent hugely on distinctly average players who haven’t really added much to the side. In fact, they’ve made Rafa’s signings at Liverpool look all the more allusive and crucial to the side. 

It seems a majority of Liverpool’s summer signings, bar Craig Bellamy and perhaps even Seb Coates, have all fallen for the big club – little club syndrome. 

Yes, that syndrome. The one where the players are amazing for the respective smaller clubs, but when the big fish goes to the big pound he is nowhere to be seen. 

Yeah, that one.

But you can’t argue, the crazy valuations placed on top of their heads has not helped either. I mean, if you splash £19million on a winger, you expect a few goals and a few assists. But it’s not happened. At all.

The price tags on these new players have been like big rocks being placed on their backs in the blazing sun. They can try their best, but everyone will point out, ‘that isn’t £19million worth of quality.’ The fee that brought them to Anfield is constantly reminded to not only them but to the coaches and directors.

It seems Damien Comolli paid the price for splashing out insane figures for average players. Perhaps this is a sign, the powers that be at Anfield don’t want the same mistakes to happen again.

There has been a lot of talk amongst Liverpool fans of whether Liverpool should sell the likes of Downing, Henderson and the other new buys. I firmly believe the new players deserve another chance. Sometimes, a second season can do the players the world of good.

The pressure of not being the ‘new kid on the block’ could take away some of the pressure on them, also more importantly, chopping and changing will not help Liverpool move up the table.

If you look at the Liverpool team of 08/09, when they finished second, the spine of the team had been at the club for three years or more. It takes years to build a great competitive team, ask Fergie, ask Arsene Wenger and heck as Pep Guardiola too.

Liverpool are in the stage of forming and developing. And they won’t move out of that stage if they keep changing managers and players. 

That’s also why I think Dalglish should stay, so long as the players still believe in him. For me, Liverpool seem to be trying to implement a pass and move type of game. And for most of the season, it hasn’t worked for them. But when it has, Liverpool have at times been unplayable and if the finishing had been better, Liverpool would certainly be higher up in the table. 

But with astute additions, Liverpool have a good chance of making progress. But it is imperative Liverpool get their signings right this summer. Liverpool are currently feeling the consequences of selling very good players and replacing them poorly. Is it really surprising Liverpool have struggled to dominate midfields without people who can effectively play in-between the lines like Raul Merieles?

Success does not happen over night. Ask Man City, ask Chelsea. After years of heavy investment, Man City now only find themselves on the brink of winning the Premier League title. While Chelsea after 10 years of the Abramovich era find themselves only in their second CL final in their history.

Liverpool need to be patient, stability is the clubs best answer. And the club are fortunate in the sense they have a man who is undeniably just as determined as the fans to be successful. While some managers may get their heads turned by offers elsewhere, Dalglish isn’t one of them.

He has unfinished business at Anfield.  And if anything, this season has given him even more unfinished business.

But he must get it right this summer not only in his transfers, but his tactical decision making, in another summer of change for Liverpool. 

The team need carry on playing with the same methodology and the players must look to further establish a greater understanding. The cup final against Chelsea was a prime example. The reds played with little cohesion and struggled to even get into the Chelsea half in the first 60 minutes. 

Liverpool had no penetration, no idea and no connection between the midfield and attack. Meaning their most threatening player Luis Suarez was left to feed off scraps. 

This summer is huge for Liverpool. The club is at a cross roads. The right decisions could see them move right up the table next season. While the wrong decisions could see the club fall even further behind.

Why it’s only right Kenny Dalglish got the Liverpool job

‘If there is one word in our language that depicts Liverpool FC, its stability. We do not like change for changes sake.’

These were the wise words of former Liverpool Chairmen Sir John Smith. He was the chairmen who appointed Bob Paisley as Liverpool manager. In the last few years, Liverpool have lost that stability.

For the past 18 months, the club has been viciously rocking from one side to another.

But King Kenny Dalglish has come back to the club and he has stabilised Liverpool.

Liverpool’s Managing Director Ian Arye stated, ‘It was an easy decision in the sense that there was never any other candidate.’ This is hardly surprising. Dalglish has fully deserved the job full time. His impact on the club has been phenomenal. The results and the form tables back this too.

Since taking over in January, Liverpool have won 10 out of 16 Premier League games. Perhaps, to some that doesn’t sound that amazing. But take a look at Roy Hodgson Premier League record for Liverpool.

Games Played	Won	Draw	Lost	GF	GA	GD	Winning Ratio	Points
21	7	4	9	23	27	-4	33%	25

Now, take a look at Kenny Dalglish’s Premier League record since taking over.

Games Played	Won	Draw	Lost	GF	GA	GD	Winning Ratio	Points
16	10	3	3	35	14	20	62%	33 points

There clearly is a massive change in form since Dalglish took over. These facts are clear evidence of the positive impact Kenny Dalglish has made. Liverpool’s winning ratio almost doubles, this emphasises the substantial change in fortunes of the side.

Furthermore, when Dalglish took over the side, the team were out of form and bereft of confidence. Yet, under Dalglish, the team have only lost three times in the league. Whereas, under Hodgson, Liverpool lost 9 times.

Kenny Dalglish has been the catalyst to Liverpool’s revival.

Over the past 18 months, Liverpool have been erratic on the road. One could argue, Roy Hodgson lost his job because of his Liverpool’s terrible away form. But Dalglish has made Liverpool far more efficient on the road.

The stats prove this too.

Here is Roy Hodgson’s Liverpool away Premier League record.

Games Played	Won	Draw	Lost	GF	GA	GD	Winning Ratio	Points
10	1	2	7	7	19	-12	10%	5 points

Now, take a look at Kenny Dalglish’s Premier League away record.

Games Played	Won	Draw	Lost	GF	GA	GD	Winning Ratio	Points
7	4	1	3	15	10	5	57%	13 points

It’s evident. The away form has dramatically improved. The stats prove it. Perhaps, Liverpool’s away record under Dalglish has been one of the brightest aspects of his return to Liverpool. Under Hodgson, Liverpool’s away record was of the standard of a relegation candidate. Whereas under Dalglish, Liverpool’s away record is of the standard of a title candidate. The team have scored more and conceded less on the road under Dalglish.

To emphasise Liverpool’s fantastic away record under Dalglish, here is Man United’s away record in the past 7 Premier League games.

Games Played	Won	Draw	Lost	GF	GA	GD	Winning Ratio	Points
7	2	1	4	11	10	1	28%	7 Points

In the past seven away games, Liverpool have gained more points than Man United. They have also won far more games than Man United in the past 7 away games too. This demonstrates the impact Kenny Dalglish has had on the club.

Not only have Liverpool been decent on the road. They have picked up some very good wins too. Take the results against both Manchester sides at Anfield. In both games, Liverpool played both sides off the park. Furthermore, Liverpool have hammered a few sides too. The 5-0 drubbing of Birmingham City comes to mind.

Under Kenny Dalglish, Liverpool have developed momentum and a growing confidence. It was vividly clear last season and at the start of this season, the team lacked confidence. But Dalglish has galvanised the players.

Many players have gained far more confidence whilst under Dalglish. Maxi is a prime example. His form since returning to the side has been nothing short of sensational. 7 goals in three games is incredible. While Dirk Kuyt is enjoying the form of his Liverpool life. Kuyt has scored 13 Premier League goals this season. The most he has ever scored in the league for Liverpool.

However, Dalglish has faced some tough issues during his short stint as temporary boss. The sale of Fernando Torres was perhaps the toughest situation. But Dalglish in his interviews and attitude reacted defiantly. In fact, he set the standard.

Dalglish continually emphasised the importance that ‘the club was bigger than any individual.’ In addition, Dalglish reinstated that Liverpool do not want players who do not want to be at the club.

This no-nonsense approach unified the players and the supporters. They believed in his words. For the first time in a long time, there was trust at Anfield.

There was no real mourning over the sale of Fernando Torres. Liverpool’s new signings assisted Liverpool getting over Torres. The signings of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll gave the Kop new hope and fresh optimism. It seems with every game, Liverpool are more unified and ever more confident. The late late draw at Arsenal is a definite example of this.

Kenny Dalglish symbolises Liverpool Football Club. He symbolises everything that is positive about the club. He symbolises the unification, the confidence and the glory days of the past.

The simple facts prove Kenny Dalgish’s immense impact on the team. When Dalglish returned in January, the team were 4 points away from the relegation zone. Now the club find themselves 22 points away from the relegation zone and in a European position.

Sir John Smith said ‘stability’ defines Liverpool Football Club.

Kenny Dalglish has achieved that and more.

It’s only right he can finish off the brilliant job he has started.

Things you may like to read

How Rafa Benitez is intelligently using the media to increase his chances of getting a job - http://tiny.cc/m9p4i


Why Emile Heskey's Premier League days should be all but over - http://tiny.cc/yu9u7

Just how good is Gary Cahill? - http://tiny.cc/jpccx

NOTE: This article was published on Thursday, but Blogger had server issues and accidently deleted!

Why the appointment of King Kenny Dalglish is the right move by Liverpool

The appointment of Kenny Dalglish is probably the appointment most Liverpool fans would have wanted to see in the summer of 2010. This was fuelled by the fact Dalglish made it clear that he was seriously interested in taking the reigns left by Rafa Benitez. However, the board opted to pick the LMA manager of the year, Roy Hodgson. And in hindsight this saw the club take to another level of decline. Within 6 months, Hodgson was kindly shown the door.

To most fans Dalglish is the perfect appointment. He is a man who cares so dearly about the club. He is a man who has won virtually every trophy with the club. And a man who has and knows how to inspire both players and fans. Fenway Sports Group have made an incredibly logical decision in their appointment. The continuous chanting of ‘dalgish’ a chant which foreshadowed the beginning of the end of Roy Hodgsons stint as the Liverpool manager. However, the chant clearly showed John Henry and Thomas Werner what the Liverpool fans wanted. And that was King Kenny Dalglish. This was the right move by the owners. As the owners in various interviews have spoken of the importance to listen to the Liverpool fans. The appointment clearly shows to the Liverpool fans they are listening to the demands of the fans. Even though the owners reportedly feel Dalglish has been away from the game for too long. Kenny Dalglish symbolises to the Liverpool fans that they have their club back. After all the turmoil with the two fools of Hicks and Gillett and the failure of Hodgson’s tenure, the fans feel that the individual at the helm cares and will do anything to see the club being successful.

One word which sums up the last two years of Liverpool Football Club is ‘insecure.’ The tensional battles off the field regarding the debt leveraged against the club and the brittle displays shown by the team have seriously hurt the Liverpool fans. The fans felt they were losing grip on their club, as the club was becoming a shadow of its former self. However, the appointment of Kenny Dalglish makes the fans feel a sense of security. As they know that the club is in the right hands. Dalglish offers the Liverpool fans a certain expectation. The fans know Dalglish is deeply embedded in everything that was right during Liverpool’s glory days in the 70’s and 80’s. Dalgish is fully aware of the dna which makes Liverpool successful. He understands the club and the fans understand him. This will motivate fans, and get them behind the team.

The Fenway Sports Group (FSG) has gained a lot of credibility by their decision to appoint Dalglish. Ive discussed the idea of the owners listening to the fans demands, but the group have taken an intelligent gamble. If Dalglish actually improves the fortunes of the club it could pave the way for Dalglish to have a period as Liverpool boss. After all, Damien Comolli confirmed he is a candidate for the permant role. And it seems apparent the club are unwilling to spend this January. If Dalglish can get this underachieving squad to fulfil its potential, he surely has to be a strong contender for the job- for the long term. Which im sure the fans would be more than happy to back. However, if Dalglish is unable to progress the team the owners can look to appoint someone who they feel is suitable for the permanent role. The fans would be far more supportive than they were of Roy Hodgson’s tenure. As they know that their first choice was given the chance at the helm.