Marriage of convenience: Kenny Dalglish and Damien
Comolli as director of football
One of Damien Comolli’s most prized possessions
from his time at Anfield may turn out to be the photograph of him
holding the Carling Cup that was circulating on the internet on
Thursday.
The Frenchman now knows, though, that a club like
Liverpool expect a little more than that from an investment in
players of more than £100million.
As Liverpool’s peculiar season moves towards its
conclusion, it was always likely the club’s American owners would
seek to change something in a structure that wasn’t
working.
The Carling Cup success and an FA Cup campaign that
reaches a critical point with a semi-final against Everton tomorrow
have lent the club’s 2011-12 campaign an air of credibility. But
Liverpool’s progress in cup competitions has stopped the roof
caving in completely on their season.
Liverpool’s American owners have recognised the need for
change. Whether they have chosen the right man as their fall guy
only time will tell.
Certainly, both manager Kenny Dalglish and managing
director Ian Ayre have had uncomfortable moments this season. Had
their respective positions come under intense transatlantic
scrutiny - as some felt they would - this summer then they really
could not have complained.
Dalglish must take his share of the blame for a wretched
league campaign while Ayre allowed the Luis Suarez racism case to
drag on embarrassingly.
brave new dawn: Liverpool stated their intent with a
January splurge to the tune of £57m
But when the knives came out, it was the director
of football who took the blame for what Liverpool chairman Tom
Werner called the ‘disconnect’ on transfer strategy, while
Liverpool also got rid of head of sport science Peter
Brukner.
Cynics may say all Werner and Liverpool owner John W Henry
have done here is fire bullets at the fringes of the real problem,
that they have made changes while shying away from the really tough
decision relating to one of their club’s most popular and iconic
figures.
After all, how can Werner criticise transfer activity on
the one hand and, on the other, deliver such an unequivocal message
of support for the man who earlier in the day had admitted the new
signings were bought on his recommendation?
For now, though, the Americans have made their choice.
Just as they did in appointing Dalglish in the first place, they
have made what may generously be described as a ‘popular’
choice.
Certainly, Saturday will be a glorious day to be a
Merseysider. Liverpool and Everton both have a rich FA Cup heritage
and memories of their final clashes at the old Wembley in 1986 and
1989 remain vivid.
Liverpool, though, look set to enter another testing
period.
Annual accounts to be published soon are expected to show
just how far the club are away from having the funds for the new
stadium they need so badly and, with Champions League riches a
distant dream at the moment, it will become very clear just how
restricted Dalglish will be in the transfer market this
summer.
League doesn't lie: Liverpool slumped alarmingly since
their League Cup win
By all accounts, Dalglish’s relationship with
Comolli was cordial. The plain fact is, though, the two men come
from different worlds, not to mention different
eras.
What was recently described by someone close to the
club as a ‘marriage of convenience’ was never likely to last
terribly long.
Henry now appears ready to seek a new director of
football. Dalglish won’t particularly want one but this is clearly
the structure that makes the Americans feel most
comfortable.
What is certain is that Liverpool must sign better players
this summer. And then they must get better results. Dalglish no
longer has any excuses.
