Another
season has come and gone. Another poor performance in the Premier League.
Another Manager has been let go. A return to Wembley. A trophy after 6 years of
competing. New players that haven't performed as expected. A change from the
old defence. It has indeed been an eventful year for Liverpool FC.
The past
few weeks has seen a change. A new manager had to be signed after Kenny
"The King" Daglish was let go. He took over in a period of
transition. The current England Manager, Roy Hodgson, did not bring what some
expected of him. The King took the team from near relegation to a respectable
finish. The King brought in two players, whom much was expected of. One has
proven himself. The other has shown glimpses of the reason we paid a lot for
him. The King was expected to deliver the past season. I believe he did.
Getting us
out of a trophy less six years. Irrespective of the downright awful league
finish, Daglish did what hadn't been done in a long time. A trophy brings
smiles and hope back to the players and the fans. How much ever people say that
the Carling Cup is the "Mickey mouse Cup" doesn't matter to me. We
won a trophy. We achieved something of significance in a truly insignificant
season. After the last whistle of the 2011-12 season was blown, no one expected
Daglish to be let go. But, he was. And the search for a new manager began.
Names
aplenty were thrown into the air. Pep, Andre, Louis. The big names. Expected to
win trophies and bring LFC back to the top. Out of nowhere, Roberto MartÃnez
became a favorite. I, personally, took this as an insult. No disrespect to
Martinez, but he was a manager who was able to steer a club away from
relegation towards the end of the season. A manager whose club was in a
relegation dogfight throughout the season. Sports websites said he was a
favorite. Martinez to be Liverpool's next Manager, they said. And again, there
was something else brewing. Brendan Rodgers, who had impressed (surprised)
everyone with Swansea's performance in his first season in the Premier League,
was said to have pushed ahead of Martinez. Rodgers, who had previously said he
did not want to be a name in the consideration, had interviewed and as of
today, the First of June, 2012, was announced as the new manager of Liverpool
Football Club.
Initially,
I was aghast. Another new manager who had just barely begun to prove himself.
Another manager not experienced enough to take the pressure that comes when
managing a club like LFC. Another season in the doldrums. What was going
through the heads of the owners, Fenway Sports Group.
Then it
dawned upon me. After the past few seasons, one under Benitez, a half under
Hodgson and one & a half under Daglish, Liverpool had lost its claim as one
of the top four. There is no doubt that Liverpool FC is still a huge club.
However, when it came to performances and league positions, other clubs have
overtaken us. From what I have read, I believe that Tom Werner and John Henry
know what they are doing. Rebuilding.
They bought
the club when it was going through a tough change. Daglish was brought in to
please the fans after Hodgson's debacle. They splashed the cash for Daglish.
Now, after close to two and a half years in charge, they are taking things into
their hands. They are making the decisions. I believe their decision to hire
Rodgers could be similar to their decision to hire Theo Epstein for the Boston
Red Sox. I believe they hired Rodgers to signal a change.
Now, I am
totally behind the hiring of Rodgers as the manager of Liverpool Football Club.
He might be young, but he has trained and impressed one of the best ever,
Mourinho. He has been signed not to deliver immediate results. He has been
signed to re-build. Right now, Liverpool is, at best, a top 10 club. I believe
that he can deliver silverware and a push to the pinnacle of English Football
again. A change on the pitch and in the mentality that can deliver results.
With the
backing of owners who know sport, who are ready to build to win, I truly
believe that he can be a success. He will be bringing something different to
the club. New ideas, a new system. And in time, I believe that he will deliver.
He can bring Liverpool FC back to the pinnacle and our rightful place in
English Football.
I believe
in Rodgers.
I believe
in Liverpool FC.
You'll
Never Walk Alone.
Atu
Liverpool
fan for life.
