New manager thread

[Reece]

Is that quote genuine? If so my respect for Purslow has increased if nothing else, it can be hard to admit you were wrong.

It would be nice if he'd added to that quote by actually saying that it was wrong to sack him in the first place then, rather than just sounding like a hypocrite.

And then sacrificing himself live on air.

[Reece]

Can't see any good coming out of this Lec. We're facing an uphill struggle and I fear we'll see a few senior players going as well. Think Suarez will go.

Man you're depressing me.

[dww]

John Sinnot of the Beeb tweeted that

Presume its a comment made on 5Live

I dont think it will be Rafa

Reliable source then. The Today programme is Radio 4 which is what made it seem a bit odd to me.

[dww]

It would be nice if he'd added to that quote by actually saying that it was wrong to sack him in the first place then, rather than just sounding like a hypocrite.

And then sacrificing himself live on air.

[Lecter]

Can't see any good coming out of this Lec. We're facing an uphill struggle and I fear we'll see a few senior players going as well. Think Suarez will go.

I think FSG have a huge task to turn this round

Not sure we'll see a mass exodus, its always worried about but very rarely happens

I have a sneaking feeling FSG may sell Suarez anyway

[marcus50bucks]

Kenny Dalglish sacked as Liverpool manager after his failure to finish in the top four of the Premier League
Kenny Dalglish’s second coming as Liverpool manager is over after he paid the price for failing to compete for a Champions League place.

By Chris Bascombe
11:00PM BST 16 May 2012

Liverpool's owners Fenway Sports Group brought Dalglish’s 18-month reign to an end with an emotional tribute, duly recognising the Scot’s legendary status and enduring contribution as both player and manager.

Their decision followed face-to-face talks with the 61 year-old in America earlier this week when it became apparent the manager would be forced to step down due to an inconsistent season. He had returned to Merseyside while the terms of his and assistant Steve Clarke’s departure were finalised.

Dalglish lost his job because of a poor sequence of Premier League results and performances, particularly since January, leaving Liverpool well short of the top-four ambition set by owner John W Henry.

There was a mood of melancholy at Anfield as Dalglish’s exit was confirmed with glowing praise from his bosses.

“Kenny will always be more than a championship winning manager, more than a championship winning star player,” Henry said. “He is in many ways the heart and soul of the club. He personifies everything that is good about Liverpool Football Club. He has always put the Club and its supporters first. Kenny will always be a part of the family at Anfield.”

Chairman Tom Werner credited Dalglish with stabilising Liverpool after a turbulent period, laying the foundations for a successor.

“Kenny came into the club as manager at our request at a time when Liverpool Football Club really needed him,” Werner said. “He didn’t ask to be manager; he was asked to assume the role. He did so because he knew the club needed him. He did more than anyone else to stabilise Liverpool over the past year-and-a-half and to get us once again looking forward. We owe him a great debt of gratitude.”

Dalglish thanked the owners for handling his departure in 'an honourable, respectful and dignified way’.

“It has been an honour and a privilege to have had the chance to come back to Liverpool Football Club as manager,” he said. “I feel proud that we delivered the club’s first trophy in six years winning the Carling Cup and came close to a second trophy in the FA Cup Final.

“Of course I am disappointed with results in the league, but I would not have swapped the Carling Cup win for anything as I know how much it meant to our fans and the club to be back winning trophies.”

The search for his replacement has begun. FSG will pursue a young, dynamic manager in tune with the demands of the European game, with Borussia Dortmund manager Jürgen Klopp an early front-runner.

The club insists no approaches were made to any candidate prior to Dalglish’s exit, but it is understood Dutch national coach Bert van Marwijk and German boss Joachim Löw will also be considered for the role as Liverpool look for the highest calibre managers. Despite his interest in a return to Anfield, former manager Rafael Benítez will not be considered.

“Our job now is to identify and recruit the right person to take this club forward and build on the strong foundations put in place during the last 18 months,” said Werner.

Given Henry made his fortune analysing statistical data, it is no surprise Dalglish’s departure ultimately came down to a numbers game. Liverpool spent £120 million on seven new players and finished eighth.

They were 37 points behind the title winners and 17 points adrift of fourth placed Spurs. Dalglish’s team scored fewer goals than relegated Blackburn and won the same number of home games. Their Anfield record was the worst since relegation in 1953-54.

Dalglish’s latter days were dominated by pleas to look at the bigger picture and he hoped the Carling Cup win and occasional flashes of brilliance would save him. Dalglish’s cause was hindered by the fact he was never FSG’s man.

Henry candidly admitted he’d turned to Dalglish during a period of volatility after his takeover. Henry wanted a young coach such as Didier Deschamps or Andre Villas Boas (both also back in the reckoning for the job) to replace the beleaguered Roy Hodgson. At the time, neither were available and the FSG vision was immediately compromised.

So they turned to the ultimate Kop icon and Dalglish was asked to resume where he had left off in 1991, initially in a caretaker capacity while the search for a full-time appointment continued.

In his six months in temporary charge, Dalglish was an instant catalyst for improvement.

The arrival of Luis Suárez two weeks after his appointment helped, but other fundamental changes convinced the Americans to offer a three year deal. More varied training, assisted by Clarke’s arrival, a more attractive brand of football and personable management of players who adored their boss even if, privately, many of them wondered if the tactical nous would match the off-field charisma.

In his first six months, Dalglish won as many points as the top four. The numbers began to add up for Henry. Dalglish, he decided, could be trusted with the huge summer outlay that was so critical to restoring Liverpool’s position among the European elite. Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam, José Enrique and Sebastián Coates arrived at a cost of more than £60 million, building on the £58 million already invested in a new strike force.

“We’ll be disappointed if we’re not in the top four,” said Henry, setting heightened expectations.

But the shape of the team was altered. Raul Meireles, voted the second best player of the 2010-11 season, was sold. Maxi Rodriguez and Dirk Kuyt, two of the best players in Dalglish’s first six months, were increasingly marginalised for the new arrivals.

Returning to the Champions League after one season was a target rather than a job condition. Had Liverpool still been in a fight for a top four place at Easter, Dalglish’s position would not have been subject to a review, but the league position was a growing concern after a sequence of home draws.

Then there was Suárez-gate. Dalglish influenced every miscalculation from the moment an inflammatory word was aimed at Patrice Evra.

It seemed the Director of Football, Managing Director and, initially, even the owners, bowed down to the conspiratorial accusations against the Football Association and Manchester United. Wearing a 'Suárez’ T-shirt played out beautifully to those Liverpool supporters who relished a scrap but poorly to everyone else. Eventually, the saga ended with apologies and FSG intervening to take control of their own club.

When Comolli was dismissed before the FA Cup semi-final, the implications for Dalglish were clear. Although Comolli took the blame, Dalglish could not escape culpability. He won the Carling Cup and reached the FA Cup Final, but the league form deteriorated. Weekly hard luck stories made no impression on Henry and Werner.

When Dalglish was appointed the permanent Liverpool manager a year ago it was described by the Anfield board as 'a no-brainer’.

Despite the tributes, with Liverpool nearer the bottom three than top four despite a £120 million investment in the squad, Liverpool’s owners evidently feel his departure was a no-brainer too.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/9271245/Kenny-Dalglish-sacked-as-Liverpool-manager-after-his-failure-to-finish-in-the-top-four-of-the-Premier-League.html

[Bender]

well either way fsg better get their cheque book out again.......

[Lecter]

Simon Clancy@SiClancy

Words fail me. RT @JohnSinnott: Christian Purslow tell Today programme: "Two obvious names - Capello and Benitez." #lfc"

[AnfieldForever]

Wayne Gordon @Gunga__Din
Its gonna be AVB. **** sake

[Danoner Forrest]

Id love to know who is qualified to make this decision

Id also love to know why Rafa wont be considred, what is the reason, nobody who has quoted 'He wont be considered' has yet given a decent reason why?

[Reece]

He (Gunga) also said that Ayre had gone though, so I wouldn't hang on his words.

[cream]

Its not going to be Rafa for sure, so I want Klppp.

[Bender]

Its not going to be Rafa for sure, so I want Klppp.

go for klopp

[kingfunk]

Evans and co know **** all. Owners would be stupid not to at least hear what Rafa has to say.

[TheElephantMan]

I'm sure that Rafa will be considered. Benitez is the option that makes most sense, everyone else would be a gamble. The owners obviously want us to be successful and they won't dismiss Rafa.

It may go against Benitez the fact that many of us are clamouring for his return, they listened to the fans last time. Whether we think it was right or wrong to sack Dalglish his main objective was getting us back into the Champions League or at least competing for a CL place. I think we should be patient and see what FSG come up with.