In the past few weeks I have been reading many comments, mostly coming from ex-Liverpool players turned tv pundits, all giving their expert advice on how the Club should be run, most of them claiming that the owners are making a balls-up of the situation and blatantly accusing them of running the Club ‘the American way’ !
I do not want anyone to take me as a staunch defender of Fenways Sports Group, nor do I want anyone to think that I do not keep in the back of my mind that this is first and foremost and investment in their hearts and minds. However, being objective and utterly direct, I feel obliged to point out that just over a year or so ago we were praying, begging and imprecating the Gods to save us from the vortex of sure administration, and save us they did!
Not that this gives them an undisputed right do away with the traditions and heritage of this great Club but we must put everything in perspective. First and foremost people should stop referring to the ‘Liverpool Way’ because this, like the boot room, like all our historic managers, like our era of invincibility are all locked in our past. They give us credit; heritage, a glorious history, but they will not have any effect of bearing success or titles in the present and future. Being the most titled club in English football will not help you win honours! Our history is something to treasure for life, especially people like me, who lived through what is undoubtedly the finest hour of football history for this club, and sadly two horrific sporting tragedies one of which marks it’s anniversary today!
Fenway came in, made money available, granted the fans their ultimate wish of having Kenny Dalglish back at the helm, gave our living legend 18 months to work his magic, and did their best to support him in this every wish, including bringing the players and technical staff he asked for. Plan A did not work, so now they decided to do things ‘their way’! Can they do that? Bloody right they can!
The ‘Liverpool Way’ was special even unique, and when KD was brought in, we saw a glimpse of it again. But in today’s scenario and in today’s game, you need to be pragmatic, almost ruthless, because one cannot afford to be either sentimental or nostalgic.
Just for the sake of having ‘saved’ us from limbo and having given us at least financial stability, I am ready to give Fenway Sports and John Henry the benefit of the doubt and am ready to allow them to do things ‘their way’!
There are two things this club needs right now, stability off the pitch and consistency on it! We need to get a manager who knows the game and who is capable of grafting out every ounce of adrenalin from each player game in game out! We need to spend wisely and bring in the right players. We need to work our way up the rankings and we need to do that by being humble. We must make Anfield the fortress it once was, and we need to make teams comprehend that playing Liverpool is no foregone conclusion.
Be it the Liverpool Way or the American Way, the hope is that it leads us up the Right Way!