Imagine Liverpool receiving a substantial bid for Andy Carroll. One that made the loss versus the initial £35m outlay not look too bad? Would you sell him, take the cash and invest in other quality players? The fact is this scenario seems to be getting closer to reality.
At the beginning of the year I don’t think many of us would have said no to Carroll’s sale. (more…)
Andy Carroll is now becoming unplayable
To say it’s been a year of transition for Andy Carroll would be quite the understatement. Carroll struggled to make any kind of impact or find consistency throughout most of last season and at times he looked like the proverbial cart-horse. The £35m fee paid for him was way over the top and is one of the main reasons for Damien Comolli‘s departure and cast doubt over Dalglish‘s ability to identify quality players at a decent price. During last January’s transfer window there would have been few who would have questioned Carroll being sold although the financial loss would have been too horrendous to contemplate. Carroll simply looked slow, ineffective and, from Dalglish’s point-of view, unplayable.
But over the last few months Carroll has been transformed. (more…)
The prediction (still no official announcement at the time of writing) on Wednesday that Brenda Rogers will be Liverpool’s new manager will be met with a fair amount of skepticism and surprise. FSG seem to be applying their formula of bringing in a young, progressive, manager that has both on eye on developing youth as well and promoting attacking football. The problem is Rogers’s doesn’t have a pedigree that would lead anyone to think he has the credentials to take Liverpool into the top 4 of the Premiership or lead them successfully in Europe. (more…)
It’s sad news but FSG have made the decision to part ways with Kenny Dalglish today. I have mixed emotions about the decision as I feel for Kenny and know he only wanted the best for Liverpool but unfortunately he was unable to deliver on the expectations, especially a top four finish.
The speculation is that Roberto Matinez from Wigan will replace Dalglish but I’m not happy with them bringing in a manager who has won nothing and has spent his career helping clubs avoid relegation. Maybe that’s the point?
I’m torn, I mean seriously torn, about whether Kenny should be given the opportunity to stay for another year to show exactly what he can or cannot do at Anfield. I just don’t want to have to suffer another season of frustration and disappointment like the one we just had to endure, especially in the league, and be no better off 12-months from now and fall even further behind the likes of Man City and Man United. (more…)
Andy Carroll Liverpool FC celebrates scoring the winner against Everton FC
Let’s face it Andy Carroll never asked to be bought for £35m but that price tag has weighed heavily on him and seems to have been a major factor in his poor performances this season according to those close to him. With such a large transfer fee hanging over his head, thanks to Liverpool’s ex-employee Damien Comolli, Carroll was on a hiding-to-nothing when he was signed in January 2011. Kenny’s philosophy of “buy young, buy British” was the order of day and Carroll was seen to fit that bill perfectly, seemingly at any price. Everyone, including Carroll himself, knew we’d paid too much for him and the expectations were too high with only an immediate impact and hatful of goals were going to keep the critics at bay.
When Liverpool and Kenny Dalglish return to Wembley on Saturday for the semi-final against Everton don’t be surprised if you see Kenny ponder for a moment to take it all in. Wembley, even though it is now rebuilt, has been and integral part of Dalglish’s career both as a player and a manager. In many ways Wembley has defined Kenny success. When Kevin Keegan departed for Hamburg many Liverpool supporters, including myself, wondered how Keegan could ever be replaced. Bob Paisley solved that one when he signed Kenny from Celtic for a British transfer record of £440,000. Dalglish’s playing career at Liverpool marked one of the club’s most successful periods with him winning seven league titles, three European Cups and five domestic trophies. And where did King Kenny make his Liverpool debut, wearing Keegan’s number seven shirt? Wembley on 3 August 1977 in the Charity Shield match against Manchester United. The 82,000 crowd witnessed a 0-0 draw and with no penalty shoot-outs in those days, the shield was shared. However, Liverpool didn’t have to wait long to experience Kenny’s impact as he scored his first goal on his league debut a week later on 20 August against Middlesbrough.
Dalglish signs for Liverpool for a record fee and made his debut at Wembley in 1977
Kenny needs to change his approach
With Liverpool’s form in free fall it’s time to simply forget about this years league position. It doesn’t matter who we finish above or below as the reality is it’s all now meaningless. We won’t be relegated, thankfully the league didn’t start in January, and we won’t end up in a position of any relevance. What Kenny needs to do immediately is throw his book of tactics out the window (they’re obviously not working), start fresh and begin the process of building for next season. (more…)
As a Liverpool supporter you want to show nothing but loyalty and get behind your manager and team through thick and thin, the good times and the bad times. That’s what makes Liverpool the unique and special club it is. From a league perspective Liverpool are in really bad times and although that loyalty will never waiver it’s only right for concerned supporters to question the current situation and demand to know what’s going to be done to improve our form. Things cannot go on as they are. Changes need to be made and the planning for next season has to start now, including reviewing the manager role. (more…)
It’s all about winning trophies isn’t it, so you’d have to say winning the FA Cup on top of the Carling Cup would add up to very successful season for Liverpool. Two trophies in Kenny’s first season would be something special. However, should they fail to get a top 4 spot, which seems to be the reality right now, then the true measure of the quality of the team will still be in question, especially with their inconsistent league form. It seems Liverpool can raise their game for the big matches but they can’t do the same when they meet teams like Sunderland. It’s a very frustrating and telling scenario.
