A New Direction

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 Martínez 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.