So this is the first post on here for awhile... a combination of laziness and wishy-washy studenty pressures has kept me busy! Which I should be right now, but I take a break from my essay woes to bring you my thoughts on the latest sports goings on..
I suppose the first thing to talk about has to be Kenny Dalglish's astonishing return to Liverpool, which probably ranks on a par with King Kevin's return to Newcastle 3 years ago...why must our managerial heroes always be Kings, just because their names begin with a K? Benitez won the Champions League for the Reds...I'm sure Righteous Rafa would have been a suitable nickname for him at the time!
In all seriousness, the appointment, at least in the short-term, makes perfect sense. The owners need time to ponder what on earth to do next, and while the next appointment is no doubt crucial, it doesn't have to be made just yet. Dalglish will ensure that the club's fans remain united, and for whoever eventually takes over, it will hopefully be a happy dressing room.
The possibility of Dalglish staying in charge beyond the summer can also not be ruled out. If, for example, they were in the top 6 at the end of the season, would the fans accept whoever replaced Kenny? Perversely, it may be better for Liverpool if Dalglish were to fail miserably; and therefore at least the spectre that haunted Roy Hodgson for most of his reign would be gone from Anfield. To draw a comparison to Newcastle United, Keegan and Shearer were the alleged dream ticket three years ago. Within 18 months, both had come and gone, experiencing varying degrees of failure. Since then, Chris Hughton and Alan Pardew have generally proven that the idea of a club Messiah means very little, beyond a short-term wave of optimism.
Newcastle are above Liverpool in the table currently, with an inferior squad, but a far superior team spirit. Surely the key to success is simply a squad that is willing to work for each other, to merge their own individual talents into a solid whole, and a manager that can bring out those qualities. For a club to become all about the manager is a dangerous area. The manager is not out on the pitch. The manager is not the one winning matches - it is all about psychology. Owen Coyle is not a Messiah. Ian Holloway is not a Messiah. They simply know their players, and know how to get the best out of them.
Does Kenny Dalglish know how to get the best out of the current Liverpool squad? Because in the end, the current wave of optimism will probably already be broken by their 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford. What he must focus on is how to get the best out of key players such as Torres and Gerrard, because no matter how much Liverpool fans protest, until the squad is strengthened, they have 2 players able to turn a game, and they need to be nursed back to form. Over to you Kenny..
Some bias-free and considered sporting opinion, courtesy of me, Gerry Walton!
No comments:
Post a Comment