Fenway Sports Group

In my last post, my views on Fenway Sports Group (FSG) and the way they were seemingly running the club was pretty scathing.

Martinez was a rubbish manager, demanding future five year plans, and FSG were living in a bubble were just a few of the comments I made which were probably made in haste.


After a week of stewing over things at Liverpool, permanently glued to Twitter to see what the likes of Paul Tomkins, Tony Evans, Tony Barrett, Simon Steers, The Anfield Wrap writers and general press are saying about Liverpool, I've come to a series of conclusions which make me feel a lot more secure about FSG.


After sacking Kenny Dalglish and Damien Comolli in recent months, we lack leadership and direction of where the club is going, however, what direction were we heading under the two? Damien Comolli and Kenny Dalglish had a serious "disconnect" to use a word used by Tom Werner and Comolli was the 1st to go. A great blog post by Balal Haider (@BalalHaider) puts forward a great debate as to how out of sync Comolli and Dalglish were, so I won't go into that too much. But FSG in the long term I think have made the right decision to remove both men from the managers positions. I hope in the future a role can be found in the club for the King. 

So Fenway Sports Group if rumours and twitter posts are to be believed, are developing a new structure where everyone is pulling in the same direction and following the same philosophy. The role of Damien Comolli will be delegated to 2 or 3 men, in order allow for greater focus and success. The managers role will in essence be more of a head coach arrangement again with greater focus on just 1st team affairs. If this is the case, it is refreshing to see. 


Having plundered millions into the club and it not achieving the success they desire, FSG have seemingly gone to great lengths to find out why it hasn't worked. Using the likes of David Dein and Brian Barwick, widely thought to be assisting FSG in the decisions they're making to me shows they want success. 


The admiration of Ajax and Barcelona is clear, and with the likes of Louis Van Gaal and Txiki Begiristain in the running for a Sporting Director position. One a very successful manager, the other can claim some responsibility  for the Barcelona domination in recent years in appointing Pep Guardiola. LFCtv's recent interview with John Barnes, which looked to have questions catered to answer a series of fan concerns. It all bodes well for the future. 


What FSG have learnt, is that it's best to pick the manager who best fits the philosophy of the club, not the best manager! Hence the links with the likes of Roberto Martinez, Brendan Rodgers and Andre Villas-Boas. 

I was sceptical of Martinez until I read an interview of his with the BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16564747) which gives an insight into his personality. He seems a genuinely nice guy, who showed whatever the situation unwavering faith in his football philosophy. Brendan Rodgers seems to have made the switch from coach to manager, bar a spell at Reading, seamlessly. The way he followed on from Martinez's good work at Swansea and got them promoted and succeeded where Blackpool couldn't in playing great football and staying up. Andre Villas-Boas in Portugal has enjoyed great success. A great analysis by Kate Cohen (@Kate_LFC_SFC) shows just how he got Porto playing some great football and winning Leagues and Cups. 


These managers have shown in short careers that they can get teams playing a great brand of football, and that can only mean FSG are looking for us to play attacking football. 


Then there's the elephant in the room that is Rafa Benitez, whom many still have strong feelings about, so much so there's a website petitioning for FSG to chat to him! 

Who knows, FSG may have engaged with Rafa, he is a font of football knowledge, and Liverpool are benefiting from some of the foundations he lay at the Academy.  As I've mentioned FSG seem to be searching for a manager to fit into a philosophy, not the best manager, can Rafa fit into the system FSG are looking to implent, who knows? If he could fit into the system attempting to implemented by FSG then he could be a fine appointment. Rafa should never have been sacked when he was, but that will open a can of worms commenting on Hicks and Gillett, Christian Purslow etc...


To finish, we as fans should he very happy that Fenway Sports Group are looking to lay foundations for long term success. The difference between John W. Henry & Tom Werner and Tom & Jerry (sorry Tom Hicks and George Gillett) is stark and they should be praised. They may not be in full communication with us, but as Ian Ayre has said recently "It's only right to make announcements when you've got the right solutions." Hopefully they'll be in communication with the fans a lot very soon.

Now what do you do FSG?

What to do with a problem like Liverpool Football Club?

It seems John W. Henry, Tom Werner and Ian Ayre are going to follow the Steve Morgan and Jez Moxey school of thought on appointing a new manager. The rumours of 12 people being on the Liverpool short-list (or should that be long-list)

The current situation reminds of the firing of Rafael Benitez by a host of non footballing people. Kenny Dalglish has been sacked again by businessmen not football men, and again we find ourselves seemingly at a loose end. We look to be aiming at the bottom end of the market as Roberto Martinez (from my understanding) is the only man where a confirmed approach has been made, just as we did when Roy Hodgson was appointed.

Roberto Martinez is not even the best of the new breed of Premiership managers, Paul Lambert and Brendan Rodgers in their 1st season in the league have shown more promise and skill than Martinez. The job Paul Lambert has done at Norwich is nothing short of outstanding. 2 consecutive promotions, a strong 1st season in the Premier League all with a majority of the League One and Championship players who got them in the league. If anyone of those 3 should be on the "long list" it should be Paul Lambert.

John W. Henry and his FSG colleagues speak of a five year plan to return us to the top of the European and English game, it would be nice if they explained some of that to the people who make the club what it is, the fans!

Where does spending some £300m clearing debts, buying average players at top class prices, sacking Managers, sacking Kenny Dalglish, and hiring then firing a Directors of Football fit in the 5 year plan?

John W. Henry and his colleagues need to be in Liverpool if they're going to be making such big decisions with our future. Being so far away in the bubble of Boston instead of at the eye of the storm in Liverpool means they aren't at the coal face and not getting a feel for how poor their leadership has been in this episode.

A King Dethroned, What next?

Now the decision to remove Kenny Dalglish has been made, what next for Liverpool Football Club under the stewardship of the Fenway Sports Group.

What their decision indicates is that they don't take failure lightly. The fact that Kenny Dalglish, Liverpool's greatest player and one their greatest managers cannot escape the guillotine that has removed Damien Comolli, Peter Bruckner and Ian Cotton in recent weeks shows that they're looking for success and aren't afraid to make tough decisions.

However, there remains much bigger problems at the club other.

Liverpool at this moment in time our leaderless. Ian Ayre remains the figurehead for the club in the UK, whilst John W. Henry and Tom Werner remain in Boston. Liverpool need a presence in the UK with the clout to run the football club and make decisions.

CEO

David Dein has been linked with a role at the club and this is the kind of man we need. The job he did at Arsenal is the kind of work required at Liverpool. He played a major part in the move to Ashburton Grove, and made the job of Arsene Wenger a whole lot easier. Brian Barwick has carried out a wide ranging review at the club, and he too could play a role in the club. His experience in modernising the FA, and the pressures involved in running the FA could make his a very viable CEO at the club.

Director of Football


FSG also seem intent on using a Director of Football, much like in Baseball with the General Manager. This appointment is almost as crucial as the manager's role, this is the man that relays information to FSG and need to deliver a plan which will deliver results on the pitch, which ultimately lead to greater success off the field with commercial revenues. Txiki Begiristain has been linked, who had success with Barcelona, and I would like to throw Pep Segura's name into the ring. He is already embedded in the club, knows the Academy inside out and could help with moving players through the system.

Stadium


The single biggest influencer of Liverpool's future. FSG have yet to deliver a cost effective solution which will help Liverpool challenge Arsenal and Man Utd with regards to matchday revenue. In 18 months, there has been no movement on this front, until something is finalised, whether redeveloping Anfield or moving to a new stadium on Stanley Park, the club will remain at a standstill.

Where we're at


FSG's decision to sack Kenny Dalglish has left many fans unhappy, he represents all that's good with Liverpool and is a legend to us all.

However, having sacked the King and not yet delivered a stadium solution, FSG could well find themselves under pressure to deliver on both fronts other wise find fans turning on them. A manager of proven success is what is required, not the young things that have lit the Premier League this year. Owen Coyle was the next big thing a couple of years back, now he is a Championship manager. Jurgen Klopp would be my 1st choice, but he is building something dynastic at Dortmund and would be very difficult to attract. Andre Villas-Boas could be the answer, he was excellent at Porto, but tried too much too soon at Chelsea, but ultimately was doing a job that was necessary.

I await John W. Henry and Tom Werner's next move with baited breathe.

To Dethrone a King!

How does one go about moving onto the next generation when the past is still a ominous spectre. 


In her 60th year as Queen, no-one would expect Elizabeth II to bow down and let Charles take the throne. In as many ways, no-one would expect Kenny Dalglish to easily be removed from his position as Manager of Liverpool Football Club. 


The recent furore surrounding his position has seemingly left the King in a perilous position, off on his holidays without knowing for sure whether he'll have a job when he comes back. 


Kenny came back of his cruise ship last January and led us on a merry dance, where we were the 3rd best team in the league upon his return to the throne. Liverpool were playing great, attacking football, getting the likes of the once maligned Maxi Rodriguez playing like the season Argentine international that he is. He steadied the ship and much more in those 5 months before his permanent return. 


Since his 2nd coming was finalised and made long term, Kenny and the club has left a lot to be desired. Plenty has been said about his transfers, the Suarez Case, tactics, and so on, so I will concentrate on where it has left us. 


We currently find ourselves at a cross roads. 


No CEO, No Director of Football, No decision on the stadium, Kenny Dalglish....


Kenny's position is not the most pressing concern at the club at this time and given the coverage that has received in recent days, it says a lot about the state of the club at this time.

A CEO running things from Anfield is required. Someone who knows football, with the relevant experience to take on the day to day operations of the club is imperative. Brian Barwick would be my choice, given his FA experience and his time in the media. Ian Ayre has shown himself to be an excellent commercial man, and should return to his former position

A DoF who can develop a strategy as to how we will return to the upper echelons of English and European football is a must. Someone who can organise the clubs scouting, recruitment, playing philosophy who can remain when managers come and go. Txiki Begiristain formerly of Barcelona has been linked, someone of his ilk and clout, after the Comolli era would be welcome.

The Stadium, the single biggest decision that will influence our future. Arsenal and Man Utd close to £100m in matchday revenue a season, over double what LFC get at Anfield, the longer this goes on, the further we'll fall behind. Until a decision is made, we're at standstill.

Redevelop Anfield, retain the history and our identity, at a said to be lower cost. Build a new stadium, move on and be thought of as a modern, forward thinking club but at a cost of £300-500m. Personally I think the stadium determines how long FSG remain owners, if they can't find a cost effective solution, I would not be surprised to see us change hands once again.

Then to Kenny Dalglish, the living legend, the embodiment of all that is good at Liverpool Football Club. However, to simply give up on the League after losing to Arsenal at Anfield in March, our general form in 2012, our results all season at Anfield.

The lack of flexibility in tactics, the bringing through of youngsters, the speed of thought and movement all apparent last season we're clearly missing, which makes me wonder whether Kenny Dalglish is the long term answer.

However the names linked as a replacement don't fill me with hope. No doubt Roberto Martinez's achievements with Wigan are fantastic, Brendan Rodgers and Paul Lambert have been refreshing in their management of promoted teams, but none of the above are what is required. Keeping Mr Dalglish would be a better option than the 3 suggested.

If FSG were to decide to replace Kenny Dalglish, managers of greater clout and gravitas are required. Fabio Capello or Louis Van Gaal could be short term answers, proven winners at club level. Long term the likes of Joachim Loew, Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola, Andre Villas-Boas, Laurent Blanc are younger ambitious managers who could thrive under the challenge of returning us to our former glories.

Whatever FSG decide with regards to Kenny Dalglish, he or whoever they replace him with need to have foundations of leadership above them to move the club forward.