KopTalk.com Forums Football Liverpool FC Forum A lesson from the past

In the late 1980’s I went to every game watching Liverpool home and away for about 5 years. So what I hear you say? Well in my view Kenny Dalglish played a very large part of Liverpool FC ‘s fall from grace from the undisputed premier club in British football a title winning machine to a top 6 or 4 club where we have been ever since. Much blame is placed on Souness from that era however I feel he was unfairly maligned. No he was not a success, yes he made mistakes and yes he did that stupid deal with the Sun. But Souness took over a club in absolute shambles with an old team, established players coming to the end of their careers not being replaced (Whelan / McMahon), and some new squad member who were not fit to wear the shirt. Souness tried too much too fast but his ideas were correct as we saw later with Houllier. But the damage Dalglish inflicted we have never recovered from. I know some will point to the honours, the double and almost getting the double in 89 and titles. But if you look back at only the records you will not understand the circumstances back then. Dalglish inherited the top club in Britain the equivalent would be taking over from Alex Ferguson today. He has a very strong backroom with Ronnie Moran, Roy Evans, Tom Saunders and Bob Paisley advising. Plus a very well established and experienced boardroom and very knowledgeable football men including Peter Robinson one of the games top football administrators. To be fair we must include the great side of Barnes, Houghton, Beardsley, and Aldridge etc. Kenny is entirely credited with this however I am unclear how much was Kenny and how much the well oiled Liverpool machine back then. Nowadays he is on his own with owners who are clueless about the game. It’s impossible to see this from the records because there were no records and TV was in its infancy. But I am telling you from my perspective there were many cracks appearing in that great side (even when on the outside it appeared we were invincible) which then developed into a full scale crisis. Kenny in his book states Hillsborough was not the reason he had to quit the game at that time but it must have had an influence. I believe the main reason was the game was changing and he simply did not know what to do. The prospect of Liverpool then being second best was unthinkable and i must have been an immense personal strain. We saw tactics to stop other teams playing defenders left midfield and some bizarre signings. All Dalglish successes as a manager have been short term and taking over either established powerhouses with strong support teams or unlimited funds as in Blackburn. This is why I was against Dalglish being the Liverpool manager that and he had been out of the game for a long time plus his indifferent record at Celtic and Newcastle. However once he was appointed manager I thought we need to run with it and perhaps we still do even now because it would be pointless getting a new manager with John Henry still mulling over what to do with the club. What I see today is not exactly like the late eighties / early nineties but there are some chilling similarities. What I think needs to happen now is Henry needs to set out his vision and at the same time have a quiet word with Kenny who can retire with dignity and hand over to the new manager. All this to be announced in one press conference and one package so no rumours no piecemeal steps all one package. Kenny could even advise the new man for a period as Bob Paisley but then he must move on to allow the new manager not to be undermined. For if we allow history to repeat itself I can tell you this he club could be heading for mid ranking status or worse we are not immune from being relegated.

Thanks ill read that later

Lol.

interesting read, well put together as always.

Relegation is a little extreme at this stage but point taken

A bit harsh stan.

I agree that Kenny isn't the man to lead us forward in the coming years but I don't think he's as bad as you've written.

One thing that he deserves credit for is how he got us playing pass and move again. Ok the goals are a problem but at least we're passing the ball like a proper football team.

His downfall is probably the wastage in signing mediocre players for hell lot of money. The backbone of the team he inherited were all signed by rafa. I'm talking about Torres (before he left), Pepe, Skrtel, Agger, Kuyt, Johnson, Maxi etc. They're still the ones that are proving to be class players. The ones that have failed us badly this season are Kenny's signing bar enrique. Adam, Hendo, Carroll, Downing. Nuff said.

If only we could have rafa signing quality european players for us and letting kenny be the first team coach playing the 4-2-3-1 using pass and move ethos. That would be a dream and we'll solve our goal scoring problems.

It is extreme but look at clubs like Nottingham Forest, Leeds, Newcastle and were it not for Moyes Everton. Once you are not at the top anything can happen particularly if we have another ownsership change (Henry is disturbingly quiet)

Perhaps it was slightly harsh but I don't believe Kenny is a top manager nor has he ever been one. Good yes top manager no and for a club like Liverpool you need the very best. The next Alex Ferguson would be nice Utd did it in the 80's from a similar position to us now so why can't we do it?

who do you suggest

I wud like a young manager in charge, this summer, ie Jose,avb, simone with rafa in charge of the scouting network, working alongside the manager.

Kd in another role within the club.

Comolli, keene can have their p45