FSG's throw of the dice

A talented young manager, with no playing experience to speak of, is employed by one of the world's biggest clubs with an apparent remit to transform the team's culture and style, to effect lasting change and construct a new identity. But nine months later he is sacked, his burgeoning reputation tarnished in the process. When Andre Villas-Boas left Chelsea in March, recriminations swirling around him after a turbulent spell in charge, Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers was reported to be a possible contender to step into the void at Stamford Bridge. His response was as emphatic as it was pointed. "I am trying to build my career and not destroy it," he said. The unspoken fear was that a move to such a prominent club, and working under such a ruthless owner, could swallow a 39-year-old manager with one season of top-flight experience - and halt a once promising career in its tracks. Certainly, the way Villas-Boas was chewed up and spat out by Chelsea would have been a salutatory warning to any ambitious young manager. But on Wednesday, Rodgers felt sufficiently emboldened to agree to become Liverpool's next manager, and embrace all the intense pressure and scrutiny that comes with the role. Early Doors argued yesterday that Rodgers was too inexperienced for a club like Liverpool. Rather incredibly, John Henry didn't heed the warnings of an anonymous, semi-lucid and on occasion semi-literate blog and appointed him anyway. But having done so, and having entrusted Rodgers with the huge task of restoring Liverpool to greatness and building a new side in his own image, it is critical that Fenway Sports Group afford the new manager the time he needs to do just that. Clearly Henry is no Abramovich - and Rodgers obviously felt far more comfortable at the thought of working under the watchful eye of FSG at Melwood than the ominous gaze of the Russian and his entourage at Cobham - but when tricky times arrive, when results inevitably dry up for a spell, when fans still rooted in past glories start moaning and there are murmurs about Rodgers's suitability for the role, they must hold their nerve and show patience. Rodgers needs time and space to operate; the task they are asking of the new man is a huge one. Rightly lauded for the style with which his Swansea team played, Rodgers was fortunate at the Welsh club to be able to build from a solid base of attractive, passing football established by Roberto Martinez and then embellished by Paulo Sousa. Last season that manifested itself fully as Swansea were bettered by only Barcelona and Bayern Munich in terms of pass completion percentage across Europe's top five leagues. The terrain awaiting him at Anfield is rather different. In Liverpool he inherits a side shorn of any subtlety or grace, aside from the brilliant Luis Suarez. A team that scored only 47 goals last season and produced a succession of impotent performances. The patient, precise passing of Leon Britton personified Swansea under Rodgers, yet at Liverpool he will marshal a midfield that, boasting Charlie Adam and Steven Gerrard in its ranks, has seen more Hollywood balls than Heidi Fleiss. If he is to mould Adam into Xavi then it will be via a lengthy process of evolution and not an overnight transformation. Changing a team's philosophy - a team with star names, some of whom are nearing the end of their careers - is fraught with pitfalls. A glance at how Villas-Boas had to scale back his ambitions when finding how unreceptive Chelsea's senior players were demonstrates that amply. But this may well be the task that FSG now want him to perform. Like the rest of us, it appears they have been seduced by Swansea's stylish football over the past 12 months. People often drew flattering comparisons between Pep Guardiola's Barcelona and Rodgers's 'Swanselona', yet as he moves to Liverpool a more suitable comparison may be Luis Enrique's appointment at Roma last season, as the Italian club sought to import Barca's approach wholesale, without success. He resigned before the season was out. ED is not suggesting Liverpool's manager will do the same, yet the example, and that of Villas-Boas, highlights the difficulties involved when introducing a new conception of football to a team that ultimately may not be ready for it. You cannot help but admire the courage of FSG to take such a step, but they must show the determination to see it through if the revolution is slower than expected, if players prove resistant to the new man's methods, or, as they did with Roy Hodgson, overly-sentimental supporters decide early on that he is not the right man and start demanding the return of a former hero. Rafa Benitez, who loomed over the recruitment process, seems a likely candidate. After all, it is not just the reputation of Rodgers at stake here. When arriving at the club Liverpool's American owners had Roy Hodgson foisted upon them. They then bowed to the wishes of the vocal Liverpool public by replacing him with Dalglish. As such, the appointment of Rodgers is the first that FSG have really made of their own volition. It is a bold decision. If it succeeds, they and their manager will be hailed as visionaries. If it does not, they will both be depicted as being firmly out of their depth. It is a gamble, without question, for both parties. FSG are all-in, and how their nerve holds during the difficult times may well define how this brave enterprise ultimately unfolds. Taken from Early Doors on Yahoo Eurosport

Here we go again..

Brendan Rodgers is likely to be announced as the next Anfield victim. Right now, the atmosphere is all peachy as nobody is suggesting that he may be wrong for the club. We can only watch and wait, but the most important sequel to this is the amount of money to be allocated for player purchases. Tomorrow is the day I watch Men In Black III, and also the day the men in red appoint a third manager in 3 years.
Brendan Rodgers will bring freshness and drive to Liverpool | Richard Williams | Football | The Guardian

Bayern Munich 1 Chelsea 1 aet; (Chelsea win 4-3 on pens): match report - Telegraph

The Blues deserve it. They have done a Liverpool, coming back when everyone thought they were dead, including the people dressing Ol' Big Ears red and white, and doing it in their opponents home ground. The spirit of Shankly very much alive here in Munich. This is not meant to detract from Chelsea's effort; they have done very well, but it's a matter of been there and done that. It's an old script.
Good for di Matteo, and good for Drogba, especially considering his compassion for Neuer and Schweisteiger at the end. They finally get their grail and play in the Champions League again next season, consigning Spurs to the Europa League. Well done.
Bayern Munich 1 Chelsea 1 aet; (Chelsea win 4-3 on pens): match report - Telegraph

Official statement on Kenny Dalglish

FENWAY SPORTS GROUP AND LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB PART COMPANY WITH MANAGER KENNY DALGLISH  Search for new Manager begins immediately as owners pay tribute to 'legend' Dalglish Fenway Sports Group (FSG) and Liverpool Football Club announced that Kenny Dalglish is to leave his post today as Manager after having his contract terminated. After a careful and deliberative review of the season, the Club came to the decision that a change was appropriate. It is not a decision that was reached lightly or hastily. The search for a new Manager will begin immediately. Principal owner John Henry was fulsome in his praise for the outgoing Manager. "Kenny will always be more than a championship winning manager, more than a championship winning star player. 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. "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." Liverpool Chairman Tom Werner said it was a tough decision, but ultimately one that needed to be made. "Kenny came into the Club as Manager at our request at a time when Liverpool Football Club really needed him. 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 stabilize Liverpool over the past year-and-a-half and to get us once again looking forward. We owe him a great debt of gratitude. "However, results in the Premier League have been disappointing and we believe to build on the progress that has already been made, we need to make a change. "We are committed to delivering success for our supporters and our ambition remains resolute to return this great Club to the elite of England and Europe, where it belongs." Kenny Dalglish's departure brings to an end his second spell at the Club where, as a player, he won numerous honours, including six English league titles and three European Cup trophies. As Manager he won three league titles, two FA Cups and of course this season, the Carling Cup. Dalglish said he is proud to have served such a great Club. "It has been an honour and a privilege to have had the chance to come back to Liverpool Football Club as Manager. I greatly appreciate the work that Steve, Kevin, the players and all of the staff put in during my time and 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. "Whilst I am obviously disappointed to be leaving the football club, I can say that the matter has been handled by the owners and all concerned in an honourable, respectful and dignified way and reflects on the quality of the people involved and their continued desire to move the football club forward in the same way as when they arrived here. "I would like to thank all of the staff at the Club for their effort and loyalty. I said when first approached about coming back as Manager that I would always be of help if I can at any time and that offer remains the same. "Finally, I want to put on record my heartfelt gratitude to Liverpool's fans, who have always given me and the Club their unwavering support. Without them neither the Club nor I would have achieved anything."

Kenny in Boston

Kenny Dalglish has apparently flown to Boston to have talks with FSG. In a bid to squash the uncertainty surrounding his position, Kenny has opted to speed up the review process rather than wait for the owner's Liverpool visit next week. It is said that the next 24 hours will bring news of his role at the club. Methinks Kenny is taking this too seriously and should just wait and bide his time. After all, these are people who believe in cold numbers and with business interest at heart, and if the numbers don't add up, then there's no mercy. Surprisingly for me, in a straw poll on the Guardian, most people would rather see Kenny go. Oh well.

Stevie looking defiant in what may be the latest in a line of kits destined for ignominy. Hopefully not, and in what amounts to wishful thinking at this stage, I have pre-ordered. Insert smiley here.

A Season in Tatters

Listening to King Kenny, Liverpool have done well this season. Despite that, it feels that the campaign has been left in tatters, with records falling mainly for the wrong reasons. The latest abject display against Swansea shattered another, that of never having lost to that team. Apart from some rare occasions, most of the movement was insipid and the team bereft of ideas. Now, all the uncertainty centers on Kenny's role in the club, if any.
Swansea City 1-0 Liverpool | Premier League match report | Football | The Guardian

Liverpool's season summarized in one game

This article says just enough. A tale of two halfs and two teams at one club.
It was the moment Liverpool had dragged themselves back into a game that they had all but lost. Luis Suarez crossed from the right and Andy Carroll met it with a firm header. Carroll ran off in celebration, Kenny Dalglish leapt up and punched the air. Liverpool were level. Only they weren’t.
The cheers from the red end suddenly went stereo as the blue half realised what was happening; referee Phil Dowd had not given the goal.
It had not crossed the line. Liverpool’s players were in disbelief and Dalglish seemed to indicate it had gone about three feet over. It was much closer than that.
Replays could not clarify if the whole ball had crossed the line. One thing was sure: Petr Cech had done superbly to push the ball up on to the bar and create the doubt in Dowd’s mind. It was only from the over-head camera that it looked like the ball might have gone far enough.
In the semi-finals Chelsea had been credited with a goal that did not cross the line, in the final it looked like they had been spared one that had.
Chelsea were relieved. They had dominated this game for over an hour and then nearly thrown it away as Liverpool belatedly awakened.
Ramires had punished Liverpool’s early mistakes and then Didier Drogba had scored his eighth Wembley goal, becoming the first player to score in four different FA Cup finals. Roberto di Matteo made history in becoming the last player to score in the FA Cup at the old Wembley; Drogba tightened his grip on the new.
The game ended frantically but it had begun almost sedately. Then, with 11 minutes played, Chelsea pounced. Jay Spearing gave away the ball in midfield and Juan Mata was on to it. The Spain midfielder rolled the ball out to Ramires on the right and Enrique was caught between going in for the challenge and holding off. Ramires slipped past him and his acceleration left the Liverpool left-back in his wake.
Pepe Reina should not have been left so easily exposed but the Liverpool goalkeeper should have offered greater resistance. He seemed to anticipate Ramires shooting across him towards the far corner and, off balance, could only deflect the Brazilian’s shot in at the near post.
He pounded the turf in anger as Ramires wheeled away in celebration.
Liverpool sought a response. Glen Johnson twisted and turned on the right before putting in an excellent low cross which Branislav Ivanovic had to dive low to head clear. The Serb sprang back to his feet and blocked Craig Bellamy’s volleyed follow up.
That attack aside, the Chelsea defence were barely troubled for much of the first half. Liverpool were being suffocated by Di Matteo’s team in midfield and, under that pressure, started misplacing passes and falling out of sync, with huge gaps opening between the lines and Suarez isolated up front. Liverpool needed Gerrard in the game but Chelsea’s players were not making it easy.
Chelsea began to dominate. Ramires and Salmon Kalou were full of confidence, running with the ball at their feet while Liverpool’s midfielders were struggling to track the movement of Mata, playing centrally.
Kalou almost put Lampard through and then had the Liverpool defence backtracking as he went dribbling into the area. Drogba, full of confidence, was shooting on sight.
The urgency to close down Gerrard went too far as half-time approached, when John Obi Mikel went in late on the Liverpool captain, his studs catching Gerrard’s boot after he had struck the ball. Phil Dowd, after making sure Gerrard was not injured, booked Chelsea’s holding midfielder. Dan Agger followed Mikel into the book shortly after, clumsily sliding into the Chelsea player after the ball had gone.
There were some flickers of improvement from Dalglish’s side as half-time approached – Stewart Downing and Craig Bellamy put in crosses that required astute defending – but Liverpool needed to find substantial improvement in the second half. It came in the game's final third but by then it was too late.
There was momentary optimism they could get back into it quickly – Gerrard went surging forward, past two men and into the Chelsea box, where he crashed into Ivanovic. Was he obstructed? Or did he simply run into the Chelsea defender? Dowd took the latter view. Moments later, the game looked out of Liverpool’s reach.
Lampard span away from Spearing and fired the ball into Drogba’s feet. The Chelsea striker controlled with his right, let the ball run out of his feet and then shot low with his left foot through Martin Skrtel’s legs and into the far corner. It was a superb clinical finish and Drogba celebrated with gusto.
Chelsea were full of confidence now. Kalou curled one shot over after a fine series of passes and then Lampard hit a cross field pass, Mata juggled and passed to Drogba, whose volleyed smashed into the side-netting.
Liverpool were floundering and needed a change – Dalglish sent on Andy Carroll for Spearing and switched to a more aggressive 4-4-2 and then with one moment, the whole complexion of the game changed. Liverpool were making progress down the left but it looked like Jose Bosingwa would clear. Downing got his boot in, though, and the ball flew straight to Carroll.
The big Liverpool No 9 completely wrong-footed Terry with a sort-of step-over, bringing the ball back on to his left foot and thumping it high into the net, the speed of the ball giving Cech no chance.
Liverpool were enlivened, Carroll was a menace and Chelsea were on the back foot. Carroll had a two chances to head an equaliser; Suarez cut inside from the left along the edge of the box and forced Cech to push his low shot behind.
Then came the controversial moment. Liverpool fuelled by their sense of injustice, piled the pressure on. Only a brilliant last-ditch tackle from Terry stopped Carroll scoring from close range. Chelsea were clinging on but they have become rather expert in rearguard actions and they made it to the final whistle.
Chelsea 2 Liverpool 1: match report - Telegraph

The Final Prep

The stage is set, as they say, and all is ready for arguably the biggest game of Pool's season. Having been at the Carling Cup Final, and feeling we were lucky that day, there is a strange feeling of dread that things may not go the scripted way this time. Ah well, I have resolved to enjoy the day and hope for the best without any great expectations. Being the tournament it is, the FA Cup is very unpredictable and we can put aside all the analyses and predictions from pundits, which nowadays, everyone is. On the telly, it seems Pool are the favourites, though everyone keeps referring to the "strange season" Liverpool have had. It really is not, as most hype is media generated and overly dissected, and I would put in its proper perspective as a fair season with cup wins and a good opportunity to see the extent of rebidding required. So, let us enjoy the moment and hope for the best and offer a prayer for a positive outcome with long reaching consequences for the team in red, no matter what the score. Go, the reds!
FA Cup - Matchpack: Chelsea v Liverpool - Yahoo! Eurosport

Debate about nothing

Whilst Liverpool go about preparing for the Cup final this evening, two media men out in print an academic and worthless discussion on what could be better in their twisted dream world. Winning something is always an achievement so don't denigrate the occasion with worthless drivel.

Liverpool fans debate: winning two cups or reaching Champions League? | Marcus Christenson and Sachin Nakrani | Football | guardian.co.uk

Liverpool do well away from home again

We should all be familiar by now of the trend this season. A bad home performance followed by world beaters unrecognizable from the previous week. So it was no surprise that expectations were fulfilled with a performance that is sorely lacking at home. And possibly a preamble to the cup final, although there is the home game against Fulham just before, and we shudder to think of what might happen then. But let's concentrate on the good things, and they don't come any better than Luis Suarez's hattrick, capped by a brilliant long range effort that took his league tally into a respectable double figures. This got the Anfield crowd singing his praises, not least his manager, but we hope this continues on tonight until the coming weekend. Ominously though, Suarez's predecessor in red, also took this time to hit his stride in a similar manner. Torres struck three against QPR and it is not the best time for that to happen if you are a Liverpool fan. Anfield tonight and Fulham the next victims?

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has final word with wonder goal against Norwich to seal hat-trick - Telegraph

Luis Suarez scored one of the greatest ever hat-tricks against Norwich, says Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish - Telegraph

Sensational Suarez!
Luis Suarez scored one of the greatest ever hat-tricks against Norwich, says Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish - Telegraph