Should the Liverpool owners publicly back their manager or stay silent?
A vote of confidence from a football club’s owners or chairman is widely acknowledged as a kiss of death.
The question is, will Kenny Dalglish receive one?
After a troubled season in the Premier League, finishing in eighth place, the reward for the Liverpool manager is a trip to the USA.
When Kenny met John; Part 32648 – But what will go on over there we may never know.
We may be reading too much into it. Dalglish may have gone over for a cosy chat with John W Henry regardless of results this season.
What we do know of course is that the subject matter of discussions will not be as jovial as it would had the club secured a top four place.
Up for discussion will be plans for the future, of both parties, and if that is resolved then transfer targets and timescales.
The big question is, assuming at this point Dalglish will not be sacked, whether what goes on over in America will become public?
Should the owners back the manager via a public statement or interview, afterward, or would do more harm than good?
Putting pressure on the manager could undermine him, and if FSG are nervous about reaction from fans if they one day have to sack him, they will not want to be seen as over-interfering.
What is right, is that talks are taking place; Liverpool need an action plan this summer to get back on track.
For all the positivity garnered from the 4-1 win over an, admittedly depleted Chelsea side in midweek, their dire loss to Swansea on Sunday was really the one to sum up their season.
This season has been an immense disappointment, and he has taken them backwards, but surely he cannot do the same again?
Giving Dalglish a vote of confidence would do two things. It would assure him that he will be manager next season, but it will increase the pressure on him to get it right.
Not making any statement at all, would leave him sweating, perhaps deservedly so, and allow him dwell on Liverpool’s season, but also allow the board to stay in the shadows.
Finishing behind Everton is the toughest blow for Reds fans to swallow, and a Carling Cup win will matter little to fans who crave the sort of success which Manchester City achieved yesterday.
In eighth place after all their summer spending, Liverpool are further away from the summit than ever.
The nuclear option, which a divided portion of fans want, is to see Dalglish removed now and Rafa Benitez – or other – brought in to replace him.
We suggested last week, that a less controversial option, would be to offer a sacrificial lamb, such as forcing through a sale of Stewart Downing – the club’s most underperforming player, regardless of price, to ram home a message that this season’s failure will not be tolerated.
Already, Kenny Dalglish is getting perturbed at the reports about the possibility of his exit.
After the game at Swansea he was asked about a media report that he could in fact face the axe.
He commented: “I expect the owners to have more dignity and integrity than to believe a story in a newspaper.”
Will the owners rise to his words? Will John W Henry publicly back Dalglish to end the uncertainty?
We would be surprised if King Kenny left Anfield this summer, but the finer details of how this whole saga plays out we are not so sure.
A vote of confidence won’t be interpreted as so black and white; it never is.
Let us know what you think the owners should do? Should they comment on Dalglish’s future or stay quiet depending on what happens in America?
image: © kong niffe
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