6 Reasons for Liverpool Fans to Keep Faith in FSG
The concept of ownership is becoming increasingly important in modern football. The heightened financial implications and marginal gains that influence a club's success on the domestic stage and in Europe have put heavy emphasis on the need for a sensible ownership.
So do Liverpool have one in Fenway Sports Group?
After the debacle of Tom Hicks and George Gillett's reign on Merseyside, the arrival of John W. Henry and Tom Werner, co-founders of the Boston-based FSG, was universally lauded—a breath of fresh air.
But with tangible success eluding the club throughout the group's tenure, question marks have been raised over its suitability—and in some corners of Anfield, its commitment.
So why should Liverpool fans keep faith in FSG?
Here are six key reasons, inspired in part by the seismic change in direction taken in recent weeks.
Jurgen Klopp
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Appointing Jurgen Klopp as manager is a significant statement of intent from FSG.
Though the German's predecessor, Brendan Rodgers, brought the club one of its most enjoyable seasons in recent memory in 2013/14, the Ulsterman's tactical deficiencies and transfer-market inexperience brought about a justifiable end to his reign on Merseyside—and FSG would not have sanctioned his dismissal if it did not have an upgrade in the offing.
Klopp is an A-list appointment by the club, and with FSG paying him up to £7 million a year, according to the Mirror's David Maddock, it is clearly willing to back the club in order to achieve success.
"In Jurgen Klopp we have appointed a world-class manager with a proven track record of winning and someone who has the personality and charisma to reignite this football club and take the team forward," Werner told the club's official website following Klopp's appointment.
The notion of reigniting the club is of paramount importance, and Klopp's appointment has restored faith in FSG.
A Renewed Focus on Transfers
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The £29 million summer signing of Roberto Firmino may not seem a significant one at this stage, with the Brazilian enduring a slow start to life on Merseyside, but the 23-year-old's move from Hoffenheim underlined a key change in focus from the Reds in the transfer market.
With Manchester United said to be "closing in" on his signature by Alistair Tweedale of the Telegraph, Liverpool hatched a decisive grab-and-go mission, with CEO Ian Ayre travelling to Chile to discuss the deal with the player and his representatives—Firmino was on duty with Brazil at the Copa America—as the Liverpool Echo's James Pearce detailed:
"Moving swiftly and decisively, Ayre was able to go much further. Helped by a ringing endorsement of life at Anfield from Firmino’s Brazil team-mate Philippe Coutinho, personal terms were quickly agreed on a five-year contract. A buoyant Firmino was ready to sign on the dotted line.
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Ayre's personal approach clearly enamoured Firmino, and Liverpool were able to secure a marquee signing from under the nose of their wealthy rivals.
With the Reds having missed out on deals for big-name targets such as Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Diego Costa, Alexis Sanchez and Memphis Depay throughout FSG's reign, the acquisition of Firmino represented a shift in dynamic on Merseyside: FSG is ready to compete with the club's rivals for top-level signings.
Marquee Signings Incoming
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The appointment of Klopp, coinciding with FSG's new hard-line approach to the transfer market, is set to prompt a refined method of recruitment, according to Chris Bascombe of the Telegraph:
"The hope within Anfield is that Klopp will invigorate Melwood and ensure no more overhauls are required.
In future summer transfer windows Liverpool plan to be limiting their focus to two or three significant additions, recognising making seven or eight deals each season does not work and is not sustainable.
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Bascombe's assertion that Liverpool would plan to make "two or three significant additions" every summer underlines a vision of stability and continual growth that contrasts wildly with the perennial rebuild of Rodgers' reign.
The use of the term "significant" is likely, in itself, significant: Like many of their rivals, it seems Liverpool will now look to add quality-enhancing marquee signings each summer as opposed to squad-fleshing low-level arrivals.
Manchester City's four-strong senior recruitment drive this summer, which saw the club bring in Raheem Sterling, Fabian Delph, Kevin De Bruyne and Nicolas Otamendi for a total of £134.82 million, is a prime example of this method.
Whether Klopp can tempt the likes of Ilkay Gundogan and Robert Lewandowski to Anfield is highly unlikely, but they are the level of player Liverpool are set to target—and this is a key reason for supporters to keep faith in FSG.
Key Contracts Secured
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While regular additions to the playing squad are of key importance, securing the futures of those already at the club is similarly crucial, and FSG has continued to work to extend the contracts of Liverpool's key players in recent seasons.
In the past year, Jordan Henderson, Philippe Coutinho and Mamadou Sakho have all extended their deals with the club, as well as high-potential 19-year-old winger Jordon Ibe.
Daniel Sturridge signed a new contract at the beginning of October of last year too.
Speaking on the announcement of Henderson's renewal, Ayre told the club's official website that rewarding key players was central to development:
"He joins Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge as players who have signed long-term contracts with us this season. This, other renewals and further additions in the summer are all part of moving the club forward.
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As a club we are committed to investing in the team and our manager and a crucial part of that commitment is retaining the talent we currently have and making sure they grow, develop and achieve success with us, here at Liverpool.
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FSG has recognised the core of this Liverpool squad—regardless of which manager is at the helm—and moved to secure their futures, in turn reinforcing the likelihood of success.
Anfield Redevelopment
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Finalising the group's £100 million plan to redevelop Anfield to an eventual capacity of 58,000 last summer, Werner told the Telegraph's Bascombe this would be FSG's "legacy" at the club:
"This is a monumental moment for us as a club.
This will be our legacy at Liverpool, resolving the stadium issue. I am as proud of protecting and preserving Fenway Park in Boston as I am the three World Series we have won and will feel exactly the same way about repeating this at Anfield. It will be the most exciting day at Anfield in 2016 when we can welcome the additional supporters to the stadium.
I think this will change the future of the club.
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FSG's intervention concluded a long-running saga on Merseyside, with the club debating whether to relocate to a newly built stadium in the city's nearby Stanley Park, but the decision to preserve the Liverpool's historic stadium underlines Henry and Werner's affinity with the club—and their understanding of the city's sentiment.
Redeveloping Anfield prompts an era of sustainability for the club—providing there is success on the field.
Commitment to Success
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Appointing a world-class manager, targeting world-class players and both preserving and improving the foundations of the club in terms of the squad and the stadium serve as evidence of FSG's commitment to Liverpool. Speaking to the Liverpool Echo's Pearce in August, Werner clarified this stance.
"I could spend a lot of my time swatting down rumours about how we’re supposedly looking to sell Liverpool. The reality is that we're very much focused on taking the club forward," he said.
By highlighting the ownership's attempts to strengthen on and off the field in targeting "more trophies to put in that trophy cabinet," Werner spoke of commitment.
From the first days of the group's tenure, Merseyside has been awash with murmurings FSG would look to sell the club when the renovation project reached a profitable climax, but Werner's words quash this speculation.
Under FSG, Liverpool are moving in the right direction.
Transfer fees courtesy of Transfermarkt.co.uk.
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