Kenny Dalglish Dethroned At Liverpool – Who Will Follow The King?

Alan Duffy

16th, May 2012

46 Comments

By Alan Duffy

It’s been coming hasn’t it? Since Liverpool ended the 2011/12 season with another disappointing performance, this time losing to Swansea, King Kenny has been living on borrowed time. And now, in a (possible) attempt to bury bad news on the day Roy Hodgson named his first England squad, the Anfield top brass have decided to part company with their manager.

Here’s the official statement:

“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.”

While Dalglish’s iconic status at Anfield will outlive any managerial mishap, the decision to axe the Kop idol will still hurt some fans. However, despite splashing the cash on the likes of Andy Carroll, Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam, the Scot has failed to revitalise the Reds, with a Carling Cup win this season unable to paper over the cracks of a poor campaign which included finishing below Everton in the league.

A quick gloss over the more damning stats; He paid £82 million for 8 Premier League goals from Carroll, Adam, Downing & Henderson combined, he presided over 10 losses  in Liverpool’s 17 league matches in 2012 (only rock bottom Wolves lost more), 52 points is Liverpool’s worst ever total in the Premier League – though, crucially, Liverpool DO have more trophies this season than Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United combined.

Their poor home form this season has been well highlighted with Liverpool winning just two Premier League games at Anfield in 2012, but life goes on in the red half of Merseyside and the big question now is just who will take over in the Anfield hot seat?

Will the powers-that-be at Liverpool look within the Premier League to young whippersnappers such as Brendan Rodgers and Roberto Martinez? Or will they look further afield to the likes of current Saudi Arabia boss Frank Rijkaard? Maybe Fabio Capello is in the running or, dare I say it, is Rafa Benitez readying himself for a dramatic comeback?

As for Kenny himself; personally, we at Pies have our fingers crossed for a Blackburn return. You know, for old time’s sake?

Anyway, you tell us. After all, we know nothing here!

Posted in Liverpool, Managers

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46 Comments

  1. Wolf Haley says:

    Wolf Haley for the Job

    Look him up, he’s got the best CV

  2. Bakes says:

    John Barnes.

    Or Paul Ince with Dietmar Hammann as is Ast. Man.

  3. JT says:

    As a LFC fan, this is the best news I’ve herad all day. The club would only have got worse with him in charge. He didn’t have a clue tactically and would never of been able to entice big names to the club.

  4. Smudge Smiff says:

    Martinez, end of!

  5. George says:

    “The Reds will be desperate to climb into 7th this weekend; otherwise it will be their lowest league flight finish in 18 years.”

    Not sure I understand this sentence. The season’s over, Liverpool finished 8th.

  6. Toz says:

    I think the fat Spanish waiter shall return.

  7. DickCheese says:

    Pep Guardiola.

  8. usrick says:

    Being non-Merseysiders, you missed a significant damning statistic: finished below Everton in the table.

    As for the new manager, wait until after Saturday and,if Roman is actually damn fool enough to not keep De Matteo at Chelsea, hire him immediately.

  9. js94 says:

    Martinez, AVB, Klopp or Di Matteo (If he doesn’t stay at chelsea) would be my preferences.

  10. Anonymous says:

    AVB PLEASE

  11. 22 says:

    I think we can all agree that McLeish is the man for the job

  12. Anonymous says:

    AVB would be a fantastic choice, I think.

  13. Danny says:

    Shame he didn’t resign when it was obvious that he was going to be given the flick. Could have left on a more dignified note. Three managers in three seasons – not a good look. Pick a young guy next and stick with him!

    Paul Lambert.

  14. Rob says:

    I can’t believe that names like Martinez are getting thrown around. So he’s saved Wigan from relegation in the last few weeks, what the hell was he doing in the other three quarters of the season?
    Some people need to realise that Liverpool hadn’t finished in the top four positions for two seasons, Dalglish took over when they were five points off the bottom!
    Sure, his summer buys have been a bit of a let down, Downing especially, and he needs to take the blame for that, but is it realistic to expect him to get them a top four finish after they have been on the slide for three years, and not being able to financially compete with Man City, Man Utd and Chelsea?
    Whoever comes in now will have a massive influence on whether the club continues to slump or can rise back up, Martinez and co are not the answer.

  15. Al says:

    @ rob – thank you, finally someone talking sense, Martinez has another hodgson written all over it. Di Matteo has done fuck all at Chelsea bar beat Barca , let’s not forget he was sacked at west brom, need a big name if we want to be a big club again

  16. Anonymous says:

    @ Al-pretty sure winning an fa cup, beating napoli and benfica in addition to barca isnt strictly fuck all now is it?

  17. MGJ says:

    Rafa Benitez and 28,999 other people to back him.

  18. Anonymous says:

    Knowing Liverpool and their stupid fans, they’ll probably want Jason McAteer

  19. MGJ says:

    *make that 26,999 people!

  20. Rob says:

    AVB, are you kidding?
    He won the league with a club that just needs to turn up and pick up the trophy, then was out of his depth in a higher quality league.

  21. Tosser says:

    Moyes?

  22. Neil says:

    Rafa is a brilliant tactician, but given that several key players wanted him out to begin with, I doubt he’ll make a comeback. Capello or Rijkard for me. As for AVB, no thanks — I agree with Rob. Martinez — good manager, but I think that LFC need a someone with a bit more experience.

  23. KKK says:

    CAPELLO…

  24. Anonymous says:

    Several key players wanted rafa out? What like Albert Riera?

    Hopefully it wont be Martinez, who appear to be good at saving Wigan from relegation at the last minute.

  25. JuanosDios says:

    Damn, the Klan beat me to it. Capello is the answer.

  26. Barnsley Lad says:

    Wont go wrong wi’ Mick McCarthy – grand choice

  27. Barnsley Lad says:

    Wont go far wrong wi’ Mick McCarthy

  28. Neil says:

    It was widely circulated that players like Stevie G and Carra wanted Rafa out. This was after the whole debacle that saw Xabi hand in his transfer request.

    I don’t like Capello as a personality, but his league record is unquestionable!

  29. jimbo says:

    I don’t care who replaces him. It looks good on Liverpool after sacking Roy Hodgson due to fan pressure. I’m sure they would have finished much higher in the table had they just left Roy alone.
    HA HA HA. Idiots

  30. Joe says:

    Steve Kean might be tempted.

  31. Chris says:

    Martinez!!!! PLEASE?!

  32. Jarren says:

    Mick McCarthy’s available!

  33. George says:

    I’d be down to give Rafa another go now that lfc has owners who have something more than n

  34. George says:

    i’d give Rafa another go now that lfc has new owners who might actually give him something resembling a budget.

  35. bellend says:

    Your all fools! Mick McCarthy is the only clear choice

  36. Papi says:

    You are all -fools-, and I laugh at your suggestions.

    Two words:

    RAFA BENITEZ

  37. Jarren says:

    Meanwhile, this just in from Tevez…

    RIP KING KENNY LOL J/K

  38. Al says:

    @ anonymous – he beat Napoli with John terry behind him calling the shots, not 100% but think they were already in the fa cup quarters when he took over, Di Matteo does. It have a record worthy of any top job

  39. Milkchew says:

    I would say it will be an established upper club manager who has had success i.e. Not Martintez who save Wigan from relegation. Capello would be a person Fenway would look at, although at 65 I dont think hes a long term option.

    To be honest Rafa does fit the bill on the remit. Would not be shocked.

  40. Nick says:

    Liverpool are in a massive process of re-building and need to start looking for a young, hungry manager. The unique pressure of managing a massive EPL side such as Liverpool mean that they should be selecting someone with a bit more experience on the big stage, and so who better than Frank de Boer?

    He’s been doing great work with Ajax, 2 titles already in a time when Ajax had been surrendering titles to Twente. He’s had enormous experience with their youth team, and Liverpool could do with someone to revolutionise their youth set-up which hasn’t produced any great talent in a decade. He’s got Champions League experience, he’s young enough to have great contacts and relationships with existing players, speaks good English and this would be an ideal step up for him.

  41. Wynton says:

    Jurgen Klopp would be a fantastic choice.

  42. Wolf Haley says:

    We definitely need someone who can attract big players, Capello or Rijkaard for me.

    Capello doesn’t quite fit the Fenway mould though, Rijkaard with Cruyff as the Director of Football might work, pass the Dutchies over.

  43. Nick says:

    @Wynton

    Klopp would indeed be a fantastic choice! But Liverpool have got to be in the Champions League again before they can attract that kind of caliber of manager. Like it or not, they’re in a huge amount of difficulty. They’re 37 points off the title race and 17 off the Champion’s League spots, so they need another good 6 wins to get up to just that level and they only had 14 this season full stop. That’s an enormous swing.
    Klopp is in possession of arguably one of the Top 5 most talented teams in Europe at the moment, and he’s not going to take a step down in order to fight through some qualifying games in the Europa league.

  44. lfc_man says:

    Rafa would be in the running, but hes a love him or hate him figure. “I think the fat Spanish waiter shall return” that was hilarious. The former valencia coach is a decent choice. I do not want any former Liverpool players. I would like Martin O’Neil to take the job, likeable guy with a good record, excellent man manager. Sunderland wont want to let him go.

    Things are always difficult for Liverpool mangers because the club is measured by 1980s standards not by the capabilities they have today. The fans don’t really help the situation. Rafa won a champions league, established LFC as a european power again, won an FA Cup, got LFCS highest ever points total. Benitez did have weak points no doubt,on the whole he was a pretty good coach but was largely unappreciated. The funny thing is if Benitez didn’t love LFC as much he might consider the job below him. Hes got two spanish league titles, champions league, uefa cup, FA cup and we have club thats not in the Champions league and may not be for some time by the looks of it.

    Theres always a chance of a Euro manager quiting and taking a club side. Hoping for Jochim Louw.

  45. Dave says:

    The answer is staring you all in the face…..Little Sammy…Little Sammy Lee. Theres the man for the job.

  46. Andy Carroll's Ponytail says:

    @Nick: I like FdB too but the question now is really whether ANY coach who is contracted to a club that is in the UCL next season would want to take a possible step down to Liverpool and the UEL.

    In the short term, we need a really solid person who can re-establish us in the upper ranks of the League. Fabio Capello is my top choice but again, will he want the job and more importantly, how’s he’s relationship with Stevie G and other members of the England squad?

    In the long term, we need a BIGGER stadium!!! Pronto!

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