Great post Craney.
Its easy to play the negative card
A bit more difficult to come up with a feasible alternative.
People have mentioned Mourinho and Low as if they are waiting by their phones for a call to come and manage an under-performing former giant of English football.
Change for the sake of it, has Chelsea in the mess they are in today. If Dalglish is to go after having won our first trophy for 6 years because some want success yesterday, then who is to relace him?
If Dalglish went tomorrow his biggest detractors would be on here in a heartbeat calling for his replacement to go once they deemed him to be underperforming.
It took ferguson 4 years to win his first trophy with United and yet Dalglish does it in his first full season back and gets slaughtered on here on a daily basis by fickle, self important experts who have the nerve to call themselves fans.
Many of the people on here will never be happy with what the club achieves because that is their nature.
As fans we can either accept them and continue to let them destroy our site with their multiple identities and own personal agendas or challenge them.
I know what I intend to do.
and me
I understand that people should be allowed to voice there opinion, if they want Dalglish out....or in.
For me, I'm in the middle with it all. I don't want Dalglish out (even though eventually I'll think he'll hand the reigns over *shock horror!*...because of the baggage that comes with being a football manager now, particularly the media)
I think a lot of it is down to players under-performing and not putting the ball in the back of the net. I'm hearing a lot of "the strikers aren't scoring enough" Yes correct, but neither are our midfielders, who should be chipping in. To many players have come in, and gotten to comfortable.
If Dalglish doesn't take a step back in the summer, I'd have to say, I'd be surprised. I wouldn't want him back in the position he was when Benitez was here. But more involved in and around the team. With a young manager growing into the position, under the guidance of all the important people at the club.
We support our managers like no other team (Scum fans have wanted Fergie out after 1 bad result, numerous times, believe me!) Even Hodgson received massive support, until things turned a little bit sour for a little bit to long. But you must remember, it was players who ultimately failed Hodgson.....and while yes, we've come a long way and even won silverware, some players are failing Dalglish and there is no denying that....and it's players that have been brought in and given more faith and time than anybody else.
I'm putting my neck on the line with this. But I've got a strong feeling Dalglish has already made it clear, quietly to the owners, that he doesn't need this modern day nonsense anymore. He'll take a SMALL step back sometime in the summer. He's done his job, he's got us back on track. His aim, when he came back, was to do just that. "And help the club any way he can" words that have stopped in my head to this day.
Even when I look at Fergie, I see the same tired face now. Tired because of all of this media and outside of football effecting the inside game. Difference is, United are winning and we are just starting to win again.
I can see Dalglish playing a massive part this time around, with his eventual replacement.
Villas-Boas.
Why do you think players fail the manager? Why would they do that? Would it happen if we had a top manager? I don't think so. I don't see many players failing Mourinho or Ferguson, and any that do are swiftly dropped and then moved on.
I think some players didn't put in enough effort for Hodgson, however unlike you, I see that as Hodgson's fault. He's in charge. He set the bar low, playing for draws and playing negative football. I see much more effort from the players now, but still the bar is set too low by Dalglish, his transfers, team selections and his tactics.
I'll explain why the best I can.
First question to you is, how do you know that? How do you know that he set the bar low?
It's pretty obvious to me what happened and why it materialized. When players TO THIS DAY are questioned about Hodgson, they go into a shell....as players, "we didn't do enough, we didn't perform."
Stevie has come out and said that numerous times. They know, believe me. They look embarrassed, ashamed.
Kenny was around, they knew that to. The fans after a while came to a general consensus that Hodgson had to go. Dalglish had to come in, the new owners obliged, got on the good side of the fans in doing so. Unity was brought back into the club that day he returned.
I'm going to mention Fulham and I know some will probably cringe at this. But did he set the bar low at Fulham? Or did they exceed humble expectations? Fulham were punching well above their weight under Hodgson. Hodgson is one of the most respected MEN and MANAGERS in football, he took Fulham beyond their wildest dreams.
Liverpool at the time were looking for a manager, after it was pretty clear Benitez's reign had gone dry....and supporters wanted change. IMO THIS is when Dalglish should have came in as manager. But it never happened and we looked at a man still managing, English, managed all over the world, well respected, did fantastic at Fulham, played good football, on the deck, motivated the players.
All the signs were good and many Liverpool fans were optimistic when he came.
So, knowing what we know now, did the players fail him on the pitch? Because it's pretty obvious to me, that they did. The players themselves know that, they've admitted it shamefully.
That would partly explain bore draws and poor performances. Negative football? If he sets the team out to play negative, then I'm not who I say I am. All managers try there best to get the players positive, a negative formation is irrelevant, if the players are positive in the head.
We're not some none league team, playing a top team in the F.A. Cup playing "negative" to get a result. I don't buy that.
I feel the players already had their eye on the next manger, which is a realistic thing to say, looking at it now.
As soon as the players start breaking away from the manager, it's game over. Which is what happened.
Managers can be blamed for numerous things, but in this instance, I don't think all the blame lies at the feet of Roy.
Dalglish is also witnessing it a little bit, although with the signings he's made, not necessarily players already at the club when he returned. Players he signed, who at the time were positive signings of players playing well for the clubs they were at. They're failing him......how is that Kenny's fault?
Blame him for not making a single sub until there was 10 minutes remaining in the game, blame him for bringing Carroll on for 5 minutes. Blame him for persisting with Carra because of sentiment.
But don't blame him entirely for players under-performing. Kenny gives them all the ammunition and support they need, he motivates players brilliantly, all players who played under him say the same....even if they're not in the team. (Chris Coleman mentioned it the other day, when he was playing for Blackburn, but not featuring)
Players have to want it, Kenny's done his playing. Nobody can tell me Kenny doesn't want it.
But do the players? These players who've come in and are so comfortable with under-performing.
But I guess that is "Dalglish's fault"
I'd argue it's a combination, but more so the players.
