The Soccer Blog: Of Dalglish and Elephants

Tuesday, 22 March 2011

Of Dalglish and Elephants

By: Noel | March 22nd, 2011
Tweet

Over the last few weeks, it seems as though every pundit has gone out of his way to use Kenny Dalglish to ferment a story full of conflict and uncertainty where none need exist. Every match, at some point, the announcer will ask why John Henry and FSG haven’t signed him up permanently yet, before wondering if it’s a sign of how these new Americans just don’t get football, either. For weeks on end, every paper has milked the issue, wondering what on earth Dalglish has to do to impress John Henry, who must be an exceptionally callous man indeed to be unmoved by the passionate support from the fans for Dalglish and what he’s done so far on his return. And for the most part, the fans at least nod along, because after all they do quite like Dalglish, and beyond being a legend he actually has done a fantastic job building the club back up after the widely celebrated departure of Roy Hodgson.

Of course, a good chunk of those in positions to shape public opinion who are now demanding Dalglish’s ascension be made permanent were the same people clamouring for Roy Hodgson to get the chance they felt he deserved at a big club, and who then went out of their way to make excuses for him when he quickly showed himself lacking: First it was the players, that it was the former manager, that it was the too high expectations of the fans and the fact that any reasonable person knew he would need years to put what everybody knew would be his successful stamp on the club. Dalglish is of course a popular figure, and there are many with Liverpool leanings who will be genuine when they add their name to the pile of those calling for him to be given a new contract, but at least as many of the growing rabble–and often its loudest members–will fall into the former category. For them, it’s just one more artificially created conflict, as in ever more desperate tones they ask why oh why those clueless owners won’t sign Dalglish for the long term and wonder, probably while having a chuckle over the hornets’ nest they’re stirring, if it’s a sign that these new owners can’t hope to understand what the fans want.

Certainly an approach of trust but verify is preferable to blind trust, but to date the new owners have done everything right in the end, even if at times they’ve been too deliberative and quiet in their return to something resembling the Liverpool Way for the ADHD set. And just as certainly an approach that sees every month greeted with some new life or death dilemma that will need to be passed to prove their fitness (or lack thereof) while tabloid journalists wring their hands over the immanent self-immolation of Liverpool’s betrayed faithful is beyond ridiculous. But the likes of TalkSport and Sky Sports know their audiences, and they like to throw chum and watch them whipped into a frenzy–it’s good for ratings, and there isn’t an ounce of the genuine behind their transparently constructed narratives.

***

The long and the short of it is that Dalglish isn’t going anywhere unless he himself decides he doesn’t want to get back into management long term, and though his actions have suggested otherwise one can never completely rule out that exceedingly thin but plausible possibility. Whether the owners actually put pen and paper in front of him today or after the final match of the season, he’ll be there to sign, and outside of a constructed conflict created by certain sections of the media to capture eyeballs, there really is no compelling reason to get it done right this very second.

Or at least there wasn’t until now. With a vocal segment of the fanbase riled up and wondering why this latest crisis that wasn’t isn’t being solved right quick–and with news being leaked daily to the Henry Winters of the world so that they can keep up with developments, thanks very much–there may actually now be a compelling reason to sign him up as soon as possible: to put out a fire that wouldn’t have existed without a handful of self-congratulatory arsonists running around to start it in the first place. In January these same people beat the drums and drove the story of owners who didn’t understand football and so wouldn’t spend the money needed in the transfer market, despite the fact that clubs rarely spend a lot of money in the January window, and by the final week of it every Liverpool-related site was filled with people wringing their hands and tearing their hair out over the possibility that the club was doomed and that the new owners were complete and utter failures. In the same way, without fail, on the eve of every match against United some massive and controversial story breaks, driving the over-excitable to shout the end is nigh.

Really, though, if one steps back there are no genuinely compelling reasons to sign Dalglish up to an extended contract yesterday. It isn’t as though he’s likely to be poached by Real Madrid. And certainly he got the support to go after targets in the transfer market, which shows a great deal of support from the owners through their actions. Meanwhile, any time John Henry has spoken about him it has been in nearly as glowing terms as when the fans do.

There’s obviously a need to get his contract sorted at some point, but with the players playing well and the fans’ passions rejuvenated and the club looking to bring in quality players again it was hardly the most pressing priority in the world over the past few months. At the very least there was nothing to suggest that it need be yet another story kindled and stoked to the point where if the owners don’t get it done within some arbitrary timeframe, to some they will have once again shown themselves to be utter failures who just don’t get it. Though perhaps that a story that could be twisted into the latest crisis of confidence existed at all meant it needed to be dealt with immediately. Maybe if there’s one thing the new owners don’t quite understand, at least from first-hand experience, it’s the rabid nature of some sections of the football following media that at times behaves in a manner more befitting Hollywood celebrity tabloid coverage than sports journalism.

***

For most everybody else, though, there’s the assumption that in the end Dalglish will sign an extended contract. He wants it, the fans and supporters want it, and the owners have given every signal that they support him. It hasn’t been the most pressing priority, but as it wouldn’t seem to make a real difference if it happened next week or next month there’s really no reason why it should have been. One can even quite easily imagine that a contract extension for Dalglish would be something the club would want to keep in its proverbial back pocket. After all, there’s a value in keeping an event that would boost the spirits of fans and potentially, directly or indirectly, the players in reserve until a time when those fans and players do need a little boost. With that existing potential to raise spirits simply by announcing the contract has been extended, it would even seem downright foolish to rush to get the contract done just for the sake of getting it done, wasting such positivity at a time when it might not be particularly needed.

That’s why rumours that a contract extension was immanent in the break between Europa League matches against Braga seemed plausible: the club had a deficit and needed to win the second leg by two clear goals to advance and keep European dreams alive, and doing something that might double the passions of supporters and give the team a boost going in would have made sense. In the end, the rumours turned out to be just that, but it was the sort of situation when an extension announcement would have made sense. The new owners have certainly shown themselves to be savvy when it comes to public relations, as when they leaked that they were actively searching for a new manager in the wake of the Wolves debacle that ended 2010, even though leaking that they were doing what everybody already assumed they were doing didn’t fundamentally change anything except public perception.

So it seems rather unlikely that a new contract, or an extended contract, will be publicly announced at a completely random time. Unless the cries of various Chicken Littles become so great they simply can’t be ignored, one rather expects any contract will be signed with an eye to giving the most useful boost to the club possible. Either that or it will get done when it becomes clear there’s no real use dragging things out any longer waiting for the perfect moment to spring a bit of good news.

In the meantime, people need to take a step back, take a deep breath, and stop worrying quite so much about a situation that is only likely to have one outcome.

Some Related Liverpool Posts:Youth Cup Wrap, A Deal for Dalglish, and Other Sunday NotesHappy Birthday Kenny Dalglish, Redeveloping Anfield, and Other Friday NotesDalglish Signals His IntentMental Health Break, Kenny Dalglish EditionTransfermas Morning, Rolling Updates Edition

Category: Miscellaneous, Premier League

Tags: FSG, John Henry, Keep Calm And Carry On, Kenny Dalglish, Media Watch, Miscellaneous, Premier League, Rending Of Garments, Violent Mood Swings
Tweet « Video: Liverpool v. Sunderland Extended Highlights | Home | YannNoel, I know your post a while back about the debate on ‘standing’ in the terraces fired up a few irrational punters who couldn’t see that you weren’t advocating it but instead raising a topic to be kicked around. Anyway, interestingly it seems the issue is up for consideration by the UK pollies.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/foot...

Should make for some interesting reporting and blogging, especially on Merseyside.Red In AmericaHey I've never posted here before but love this blog. Just wanted to say that as much as I love Kenny Daglish I have just as much for John Henry and FSG. We may not be having the best run right now (slightly improving these past few games) but I can't help but remain cheery and hopeful for the future of LiverpoolNoelGood to have you around, and whether or not you comment any more, hopefully we'll keep posting things that keep you wanting to come back. And while I'm not sure I'd go quite that far on the new owners, they certainly haven't put a foot wrong yet and probably deserve to at least get the benefit of the doubt.NebI have to say, I think not giving the king a permanent contract just yet in my opinion is the best thing to do. The players need some extra motivation to push for 5th and possibly 4th and knowing that their actions on the field have a real meaning on the appointment of dalglish, should be the kick up the backside they all need to ensure performances like that witnessed at west ham don't happen again. It is obvious the players love the king, and making them think he is still not safe as their manager for next season should be all the motivation they need.ChrisLFCIf the reality of fighting for a 4 or 5 spot in league isn't incentive enough for these guys, then something's wrong.5yearplanNice article again Noel, perfectly articulating what many of us have been thinking and IMO not too verbose at all, but all a matter of taste.
The problem with the modern world is everything seems to have to be dragged down to the level of soap opera and as we all know if there is no story, then one must be made up.

The lowest common denominator and the bottom line are the driving forces behind journalism today and it is thanks to God(or whoever your chosen diety,be it Allah, shiva, yeeyaw or Robbie Fowler) and the internet that we have people like yourself to cater to actual football fans.

Must away to my room before they release the dogs but keep up the good workNoelTa. And regardless of anything else, it's handy to be able to fall back on Fowler as one's deity of choice every now and then.steven.quality post Noel...
i find the media blackout heartening .. a return to the way we should be doing business is exactly what we needed after the all too public Hicks / Gillette debacle ..
it's a shame the media hacks needs to start fires just to have something to say....CSDyes it's like waking up to a little present under the Christmas tree you did not even know was theregeorgethey are definitely going to offer him a contract and not for 2 yrs ,my guess is minimum of 4yrs and if im feeling optimistic,for as long as kenny wants it.thers no person in the whole world that can manage our club better than the king.the reason being, in the kings life ,the club is his passion just like shankly,paisley,fagan ,evans and the rest of the legends from the past and present,thats the main reasons why the club has been so successful,they want to represent the club for what it is ,not for financial gain unlike foriegn players that come and go with out understanding why they played football in the first place,it wasnt for money,it was for the joy and pride of representing thier clubs,but with time the majority of the so called proffesionals seem to lose sight of why they started in the first place,which is a damn shame.dont get me wrong i still think rafa was and still is a great manager,but even when he was at a high with lfc in 2005,in the back of my mind,id always wanted kenny to come back home to us. and as for the so called journalists and sports pundits,they can take a run and jump for all i care.trust me when i say this ,old whisky nose is really gonna have a headache now that kennys back.RJBGWell said. I wrote very similar this morning: http://bit.ly/gItDds - At long last, I think the club is in very good hands top to bottom now.NoelGood stuff; anybody interested in another take on the matter should wander over for a look.nateThe media fomenting unrest by using Dalglish's status to create narratives? Well I never!

Oh wait...

Match of the Day after Chelsea: https://plixi.com/p/86066362
Match of the Day after Sunderland: https://plixi.com/p/86066461

But I'm sure there's a valid reason the BBC only recently started referring to him as a "caretaker manager" on its flagship football highlights show.Dj-ChutfieldNew tag, "FA and BBC hate Liverpool"EdRampant idiocy once again threatens our way of life.NoelNow that is an absolutely fantastic find.paulThe difference with KK is he was a great player, won just about everything, did the same as a manager, even took a crappy Blackburn to the title too. He will stand toe to toe with anyone and not take any shit. Even at Rovers, he referred to LFC as "we". As such, the real fans, and not 11 year old IRWT drones, know the man has great dignity, and love for the club. We were there before he left, we're still here now. He is one of us (albeit richer and somewhat more successful). He will get the job. Providing KK gets us regular CL entry (assuming FSG open their purse in the summer), the owners will not look to replace him. Money is the bottom line in this business. It's why Arsenal keep Wenger, despite having had no need for Duraglit for many years. CL / TV money keeps rolling in.Teko ModiseNoel, I enjoy the substance of your posts. You have valuable insights that keep me coming back, and I appreciate and respect the effort you put into this blog.

What I'm about to say is not a dig at you, just some (hopefully) constructive criticism. I find the style of your narrative alienates me as a reader. This might be because I have a short attention span, or because my language ability is weak. But the length and complexity of sentences in your posts does tends to labour points that need not be laboured.

Just my 2p worth. Keep up the good work. Adios.NoelI am aware that at times I tend to err on the side of... let's say long-windedness. And that there's certainly a potential for it to be off-putting. As a result, I do try to change things up and also put up some posts that go out of their way to be a little more quick and to the point.

Still, for certain issues I do find I simply end up with something that's trying to be an article more than a blog post, and to a degree I'm alright with that as it lets me feel as though I'm offering up something that isn't always readily available elsewhere. Whether I'm at all successful at that sort of thing, whether even within such a structure I might be belabouring a point, or any number of other questions as to the general wisdom of such overgrown blog posts is something else entirely.

I'll try to keep in mind that it all may be a little much at times.WillFair play to you Noel, not many take some criticism in a positive manner.
YNWAmattteko modise is a fantastic name choice. i'm bummed he fell out and moved to sundowns. pirates isnt the sameRed2deathAnd your post didn't mention any elephants whatsoever. Only little chickens.

I feel cheated.DalemarolwThe really heartening thing about this is that, one aspect of the new owners as well as KK is that whatever happens with appointments, internal promotions, new signings, etc, will return to being done with dignity, in house and with professionalism.

My big hope is that all of the media sh*t that gets stirred and incredibly at a lot of clubs actually influences top level behaviour will not happen at Anfield any longer. It's something that has in the past set us aside from the rest.Dj-ChutfieldSpot on mate, I say in my best attempt at an English accent. I haven't doubted the owners ONCE since they dumped Roy in favour of The King, despite long lay-off from top flight management. They did exactly what was right for the club and exactly what the fans wanted. Then they went and sold an ingrate who no longer wanted to be here and did their hardest to land the player that The King wanted. It stands to reason that different owners would have told the manager to shove it and stubbornly hold onto what they brand as an unsellable asset, but they kept faith with Kenny's decision and sold him without hesitation. Yesterday I read a quote by Mr. Henry talking about The Liverpool Way. He's in favour of redeveloping Anfield rather than moving the club. He's done everything possible under the sun to prove his commitment to LFC and to prove he has a knack for doing and saying the right things at the right time. The Kenny signing will be left until the summer so we fans can have at least one big lift come summertime.

In closing, SHUT UP and enjoy the progress made under Kenny and Henry. 6 months ago, I would not have believed this much progress possible, yet here we are.SignalflashI absolutley agree. Kenny seems totally absorbed with his team and the games at hand while he gets support from all those around him. He is relaxed in front of the media and in control, and says very positive things about the owners where he could say nothing at all. As you say, while I did think we'd be a lot better off without Roy, I never would have believed the difference would be like night and day. Enjoy the team, leave the rest to those in charge.ZachA toast to King Kenny. You'll Never Walk Alone Mate.blog comments powered by Disqus