Liverpool FC's Catch 22: To Sack or Not to Sack Kenny Dalglish

Liverpool have won just one out of their last nine fixtures in the league. This kind of form hardly suggests that things are very close to turning around for the club. The person arguably responsible for and in the thick of it: Kenneth Mathieson Dalglish.   

Opinion on Kenny Dalglish as the present manager of Liverpool Football Club is divided within the Liverpool faithful. He is undoubtedly a club legend, and that is why the majority are in his favor. However, there is also a camp that has grown frustrated at the output obtained out of so much spent and so much promise at the end of last season.

To the “catch 22” then, to sack or not to sack Kenny Dalglish? To best answer this, let us first start from the reasons to do both.

Why should John W. Henry not sack Dalglish? Perhaps because he does not deserve it, as the one who is Liverpool through and through more than most who have ever worn the Reds’ jersey? In that case, he will have to be given another role if he does not resign without results improving.

Let us look at the football. Most would agree that barring a few performances it has been good this season. My personal opinion is that it has not been as great as some of the games that Liverpool dominated towards the end of last season. Readers may be reminiscent of a particular performance against Fulham when Maxi Rodriguez, Luis Suarez and Raul Meireles absolutely cut the opposition’s defense to shreds. The sort of football we have not seen from Liverpool for a very long time.

The football has regressed this season, but with evidence from last season, the potential is certainly there. With a good influx of talent buzzing in the reserves, waiting for a chance, and a transfer window to set things right, things may still change under Dalglish.

Let us look at the squad. This is where the question of, “Why the owners should sack Dalglish?” emanates. There was a lot of talk at the beginning of the season of how the squad was stronger and had “depth.” After the last nine games, one may see just how wrong a judgment that was. 

Liverpool were arguably better with Alberto Aquilani and Raul Meireles to choose from without having the British trio of Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam. But then it is easier to make that statement after the latter three have had woeful seasons. In fact, so woeful that even the nature of indifferent seasons had by Meireles and Aquilani fail to overshadow a fallacy that might have been made in that comparison.   

The players bought by Dalglish might still start performing after learning the system. Dalglish, though, is not willing to stick to a best 11. This is his main flaw, and unless he changes this factor, he has got to go. Yes, the players are not performing, but that is what management is all about. Good players do not become less than average all of a sudden. The cliché of a “big fish in a small pond” is at times ludicrous, to say the least.

Stewart Downing was better than Ashley Young last season. Then how do you explain the vast gap in class this season? One of the reasons is obviously better players around Young who start the vicious cycle of making everyone look good. In my opinion, it is also a management issue.

Charlie Adam is not hitting his dead-balls as well as he did at Blackpool. This may be because he is one of many takers. At Blackpool he was always the obvious choice for all. To give him a confidence boost, Dalglish should give him the authority to have a say for all dead-ball situations rather than play second fiddle to Steven Gerrard. Liverpool need a specialist who will take responsibility for the next six or seven years. Steven Gerrard is certainly not that person and should move aside.

Jordan Henderson, as much as he has been criticized, is a class act, in my opinion. He has potential, and that is why Dalglish is sticking with him, despite playing him in the wrong position. Evidence this season alone has suggested that he has a knack of finding his teammates in goal-scoring positions with a delightful first time through ball. That has to be given a chance to develop, and Steven Gerrard, once again, is the man coming in the way. Dalglish did not give Henderson his preferred role even when Gerrard was not fit.

Which begs the question: Does Dalglish know what he is doing? Or is he tactically inept? He has outsmarted Chelsea and Manchester City without having an equivalent team. Manchester United have been battered at times. Surely that can not be the reason. Perhaps his methods have not bore fruit as yet. The Carling Cup, for all we know, may be that success. It may count for nothing for most, but it may be the sapling of achievement; the achievement that needs more time to come to notice of the doubters.

“Looking at the situation from rose-tinted glasses” is an accusation I will be belittled with. I confess. But what choice do Liverpool and the owners have?! Handing over the reins of Liverpool Football Club to Dalglish last season has tied everyone’s hands to let him continue, at least one more season anyway. The negatives are numerous if someone else takes over.

The summer transfer window of 2011 was one of the biggest, if not the biggest, in Liverpool Football Club’s history. Mistakes could just not have been made. Talking about mistakes, it was a disaster to say the least, while looking at present performances. Even Jose Enrique, who was being lauded a few months ago, is now seen as a liability. That is football, fans, and fickle for you.

Trying hard not to digress, continuing the negatives to take over the job, I must say that next season is going to be tougher than ever for Liverpool to get back among the top four in the league. In such a situation, one would back continuity. To add more misery, Financial Fair Play kicks in from next season onwards. The rich will get richer, and the league will be left to be had for only those who achieve big, in other words through Champions’ League money.

Liverpool have to guarantee that they finish in the top four next season. If they do not, they might drift into mid-table obscurity, which in all truthfulness is where they are already languishing. Each season thereafter will be that much tougher.

The reason for sticking with Dalglish is not that simple, but it may be the only one that the owners have. Should the Reds deliver the FA Cup too, it may be hard to not continue with Dalglish. Let us just pray that success will eventually be achieved and lady-luck is on the Reds’ side for next season at least.

To give you the last ounce of my thinking, this has by no means been a season in which Liverpool players have played to their potential. Add to that Luis Suarez out for nine games, his saga’s effect on the team, Lucas’ absence for more than half a season and Gerrard’s injury.

Further, Liverpool have had the lowest conversion rate and are one of the League’s lowest scorers. That almost sounds like relegation stuff to me, yet it is not. Liverpool are still in eighth position and were it not for a deflating defeat at the hands of Arsenal, they may have pushed on for fourth—maybe not achieve it, but challenge for it at least.

Finally, Liverpool have one of the most talented set of youngsters ready to make the break through next season and a transfer window to splash cash and wheel and deal. A 20-goal-per-season striker will be at the top of the wish list to address the low conversion rate. To sum it up, things can only get better. Wait for the weekend for starters.

Thanks for reading.