Kenny Dalglish is one of Liverpool's most successful managers, and is one of only three managers to win the league with two different teams. Liverpool fans would almost certainly argue that the King is a World Class manager, but former Leicester City and Blackburn Rovers midfielder Robbie Savage is not so sure.
In his column for The Mirror, Savage, who recently argued that Andy Carroll, Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing would not get into Chelsea or Man United's first teams, argued:
"Kenny Dalglish was a world class player, but is he a world class manager? I know he won the Premier League with Blackburn, and I think, Liverpool, but has he won anything in Europe as a manager? Is he a world class manager? I think the Jury's out on that one.
"He's a very very good manager, but is he is in the same bracket as a Cryuff, Beckenbauer, or the current one, Guardiola, who's doing so well for Barcelona; winning the Champions League.
"Is Kenny Dalglish really a world class manager? Not sure".
I know that Savage is reviled by many Liverpool fans but it's an interesting question. Objectively speaking, is Kenny a World Class manager?
I think he's potentially World Class, and if Liverpool had been in Europe in the mid to late 1980s, then I'm sure he would've proved it, but unless and until Dalglish proves his credentials in Europe, I don't think he can be considered to be a World Class manager. What do you think?
Jaimie Kanwar
In his column for The Mirror, Savage, who recently argued that Andy Carroll, Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing would not get into Chelsea or Man United's first teams, argued:
"Kenny Dalglish was a world class player, but is he a world class manager? I know he won the Premier League with Blackburn, and I think, Liverpool, but has he won anything in Europe as a manager? Is he a world class manager? I think the Jury's out on that one.
"He's a very very good manager, but is he is in the same bracket as a Cryuff, Beckenbauer, or the current one, Guardiola, who's doing so well for Barcelona; winning the Champions League.
"Is Kenny Dalglish really a world class manager? Not sure".
I know that Savage is reviled by many Liverpool fans but it's an interesting question. Objectively speaking, is Kenny a World Class manager?
I think he's potentially World Class, and if Liverpool had been in Europe in the mid to late 1980s, then I'm sure he would've proved it, but unless and until Dalglish proves his credentials in Europe, I don't think he can be considered to be a World Class manager. What do you think?
Jaimie Kanwar
I'm not sure about that either. I have this perception that everything we do tactically we have from Clarke and Keen, while Dalglish has relegated himself to the role of motivator and man-manager.
ReplyDeleteyou dont know that for a fact. if that is the case then why does everyone slate kenny for leaving out maxi or playing carrol. I believe the transfer blunders of downing, carrol, are down to commoli not kd
ReplyDeleteAs if we care what somebody (Savage) thinks about Kenny ......
ReplyDeleteNothing better could have happened to us than the return of the king and we all know it !!!!
Savage needs to remember he was a very average player who never played in any decent team.......stick to dancing boy (and he's pretty dire at that)
ReplyDeletelet's give transfers a break, and judge them after they have had more time especially as the majority of them are in there early 20's at a much bigger club than they are used to. Look at the way Lucas was slated year after year and has turned into a quality player. Lets get behind the team and not on their backs.
ReplyDeleteMy god you are an idiot. Even more so than Savage!!! That's what a manager is; someone who man manages. A Coach; coaches. Jesus!!!!
ReplyDeleteThink Lilly Savage has forgot football existed in the 80's. Our team of '87-88 were the equivalent of say Madrid in the 50's, Ajax in the early 70's or today's current Barca side - i.e the best team on the planet. Many would argue Sacchi's Milan side was as good, if not better. The fact we were banned from Europe means we'll never know. But that Milan side remind me of today's City side, or Chelsea under Morinho. By this I mean they are strong, powerful and disciplined. Functionality and efficiency over flair.
ReplyDeleteThat Liverpool side though was a cut above. Just go and watch our 5 - 0 win over Forest that season - the speed of play, the passing and movement is 10 years ahead of its time. Like the Premiership - only in 1988.
And my point of all that waffle being is that KD built that side himself. Aldo, Barnes, McMahon, Houghton etc etc... need I say more. Some argue the 86 double winning side got lucky that season with the BS failing away at the end, and the Mancs having a mid season nightmare after a faultless start. That in itself takes some managerial skill surely?
Again I'm guessing Savages memory is muddled under all that blond hair.
And that's just the football side of KD's managerial skills.
No one even needs to go into any detail to know how impeccable the man was post Hillsborough. And that 86 double winning side needed lifting too after the events the previous year.
Can I sum my point up quickly - Savage you muppet. KD is a world class manager without a doubt.
a bit like shanks with paisley then
ReplyDeleteremember they are not blunders yet give them time but if they do turn out to be blunders they will be joint kd and dc blunders
ReplyDeletethink the headline should have been insignificant dopey knobhead asks is kenny etc etc
ReplyDeleteRobbeie what's up with you slating Liverpool so much! Your just a forgotten distant memory to many of your so called "fans" & i use the term fans loosely. your so sad & desperate you need to go on strictly come dance with me so your not forgotten. What a man you are! As for saying dalglish is not a world class manager what would you know about management.
ReplyDeleteJAMIE DON'T WRITE ANYTHING ABOUT THIS TOOL AGAIN
PMSL YOUR ALL A BUNCH OF IDIOTS !!! Savage was a nobody in football yet you all seem to side with his crap view on Kenny !!! What has savage win to earn an opinion on Kenny ??? What have you all achieved to have an opinion against Kenny? I will tell you... YOU HAVE ALL WON NOTHING AND THAT INCLUDES THAT CRAP EX FOOTBALLER SAVAGE..
ReplyDeleteKenny Dalglish is a world class manager end of.
Michael Roberts. Read properly the comment above before you kick off. now that's end of
ReplyDeleteRobbie Savage looks the part, can always be relied on for a good quote but very simply, irregardless of this question, WTF does he know given his career? A journey-man at best who won what, played how many times for his country and played how many times in Europe?
ReplyDeleteAs someone else said, don't bring up this tool again.
in fairness who els could of come in and done what he did. everyone was calling for avb las summer he went to Chelsea and we beat them twice already. he seen Torres wasn't at the races anymore so sent him packing as soon as he started complaining same with Merelis.
ReplyDeleteseriously guys, he has only been in charge of Liverpool for 10 months..to early to judge but all I can say is that Liverpool are playing their best football the 10 years I´ve been supporting them and I hope the good play will eventually come good by silverwares in the future, sooner rather than later. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteWhy take it that im aiming it at you and those who defend Liverpool ? It's obvious I'm aiming it at the noobs who worship savage. Not my fellow LFC fans.
ReplyDeleteNow it's End of
SAVAGE IS A CLOWN, WAS NOT A GOOD FOOTBALLER EITHER...WHO CARES WHAT HE THINKS...JERK-OFF JOURNEY MAN
ReplyDeleteso we're talking about things robbie savage doesn't know, are we. why?
ReplyDeleteIndeed... Savage may have whatever opinion he has.. but what exactly is he? How is his opinion valuable in the world football? Most of the football fans regardless of the clubs they support either think Savage is a clown or simply dislike him.
ReplyDeleteI personally find him an ok sort of guy, quite entertaining, but where the football knowledge is concerned, I'll seek someone else's insight.
He is a media person, and his job is to say or do something that in this or another way will attract attention, and the more controversial it is, the better for him, as it generates more attention.
why is there even robbie savage crap on a so called liverpool fc website.its pointless, its just out to get peoples backs up, whos after the headlines savage or kanwar? JK you should get a job working for a paper lol its a joke never ending
ReplyDeleteI think Robbie needs to wind his neck in.
ReplyDeleteI agree
ReplyDeleteI think you all need to look at the question objectively, regardless of the tool asking it. Is Kenny a World Class manager. And it's a fair question. We all love Kenny for what he has done for Liverpool, both as a player and a manager, but the question remains is he a world class manager.
ReplyDeleteThe 80's were a different era with a different style of football. the only way to answer this with objective truth is to ask well what has as a manager won achieved anything outside of Britain? And in the last year has he achieved anything that is truly noteworthy?. Yes we are playing the best football we have played in many years, and i hope we keep improving, but as a manager he has made a few mistakes, tactically and buying players, the biggest one is purchasing Carrol. He is not an LFC player, regardless of what you "die hard" fans think. He does not fit in with our style of play.
Straying from the point, If Kenny can get us into Europe, and Keep us in Europe and possibly even win a trophy or 2, then yes he can be classified as World class. But at the moment he is just a Legend in the eyes of all Liverpool fans, and that is the the point of the whole argument isn't it?
You are a sour grape, Robbie Savage. As your name suggests you're really a savage.
ReplyDeleteIf Kenny is not world class, then Alex Ferguson is also not world class as he has only won champions league twice in his twenty years career.
ReplyDeletetrue but i hope and think that downing will turn out good as for carroll i have lost all faith
ReplyDeletespot on and savages name speaks for itself
ReplyDeleteWhy are we even debating about what 'Robbie who' thinks? This is the second article about what he had said, Jaimie, does it really matters whether KD is 'world class' or not?
ReplyDeleteDoes everybody agrees that Scolari is a 'world class' manager? Having manage to win the world cup with Brazil, he must do really well with Chelsea right? But only manage to stay on the job for 9 months. He didn't win the League Cup, FA Cup, Premier League or the Champions League.
Hey Jaimie, where did your little yellow IMdB logo go??!!
ReplyDeletehahahahahahaha
ps, we all pi$$$ed ourself in the office when you had your accident!!
ReplyDeletepps, Rachel is the one who has been feeding your nemesis Mr Hicks all his infomation
ReplyDeleteI think he can only be measured by his results which against 'world class' opposition have been very impressive.So in theory I'd have to say yes as the Premiership is a world class league.
ReplyDeleteTHE REASON KD DID'NT MANAGE LIVERPOOL IN EUROPE WAS BECAUSE THATCHER GOT US BANNED
ReplyDeleteTo be Totally Honest with everyone I had to google robbie savage because I couldnt remember who he was
ReplyDeleteIt's a stupid question to ask,hen King Kenny was in charge of Liverpool England was not in Europe because of suspension, if we were in Europe while he was in charge that time with the squad he had and the way he made us play we would of had more european trophys in out locker. So for me yes he is a great manager and i do believe that he would of won european cups with he's old squad in the 80's, and Robbie Savage before you speak please look at yourself and ask this, am i a good player or a average player? well Mr Savage in my opioning you are bad player not even average and you had your whole career playing football.
ReplyDeleteWith the kind of transfer kids, a world class manager could have bought Sergio Aguero, Juan Mata and Eden Hazard instead of A. Caroll, S. Downing and J. Hendersen.
ReplyDeleteI'm inclined to agree reluctantly with Savage.
ReplyDeleteThe case is simple to me in that phrase WORLD CLASS MANAGER is bandied around too much.
World Class Managers win things in WORLD CUPS and CHAMPIONS LEAGUES regularly.
Mourhinio is a World Class Manager because he has won the Champions League with TWO different Clubs. As is Beckenbuer,Vicente del Bosque who have eithe won the champions league as Managers and then went on to Manage World cup winning teams.
Guardiola,Fregie,Cryuff,Paisley.Clough,Ancelotti,Hitzfeld have all won Champions Leagues more than once but at the Same Club.
Kenny has not won the European Cup/Champions League, these are facts not opinions.
However Kenny has a contract with Liverpool again and now has the opportunity to demonstrate his abilities.
However bare in mind his back at the same club he won it with as a player.
Damn You wild Savage !
ReplyDeleteLFC and Other English Club wasn't at Europe When Kenny On The Top With
LFC . He's Team Quality Was Better Even Than Paisley's Side In My Mind !
Robbie Savage ..er who's this tosser.He was a slightly below average player who wished he played for Liverpool.
ReplyDeleteMy point exactly, so if Mancini win the Champions League does that make him a World class Manager? with all his money that he can spend? i think not,
ReplyDeletesavage hasn't a clue.... he has small club syndrome, like mad cow disease ... lol . How can a donkey sit and judge on a world class player / manager and not draw negative abuse from everybody
ReplyDeleteand you mean you actually found crap on this pr#ck.
ReplyDeletebare in mind he had to park the Liverpool Juggernaght in the garage for five years after Heysel.
ReplyDeleteWhere's the confusion? The title 'World class' has to be earned and Kenny is yet to do anything on the world stage. Are some of you guys confusing world class with the American World series whereby America are the only nation involved in this 'world' event. Domestically Kenny's track record can't be faulted. If he wins us the league a European title and signs players who go on to be genuine World class we'll review the situo and title him accordingly.
ReplyDeleteI can't even believe this topic is up for debate! Anyone who knows anything about Kenny's managerial career would know that he is world class. The fact that Savage himself can't seem to remember that Kenny won the league with Liverpool tells you he has no idea about the King's career so how on earth can he judge?
ReplyDeleteThis is the man who has had Fergie in his back pocket throughout his managerial career and it has only been since he "moved upstairs" and then up north that Fergie's winning began. Prior to that the King had us playing some of the best football ever witnessed anywhere (just look at the 1987-1990 teams), won the double in his first year of management after changing the team around half way through the season and then won the league with a so called lesser club in Blackburn. Yes, Blackburn had money to burn then, but you still have to go out there and win the league and he did that with them.
His one failure, if you could call it that, was with Newcastle who he took to the runners up spot in the league and then a FA Cup final before getting sacked 4 games into the following season. Hardly a disaster. Celtic was as a role upstairs and his failing was getting Johnny B to be the manager there.
Since he's been back we have witnessed a renaissance and are playing great football again. So is he world class? Damn right he is and all evidence simply confirms that.
It show's his lack of knowledge by not being sure if Kenny had won the Premier League with Liverpool!!
ReplyDeleteA few weeks ago people were saying Henderson was a bad buy. But to me, now, he's looking like an excellent acquisition. Two footed, skillful, great vision. He's just a young lad but already he's mixing it with the top teams in the hardest division in the world.
Sure Carroll has to prove himself yet but I think he'll come good. Just needs a break.
Charlie Adam is getting better with every game.
For sure Downing has been the biggest disappointment after a good start.
But Kenny is getting better. I think he messed up against Spurs when he should have played a 5 man midfield like he did against Citeh. He probably thinks that's negative but Barca don't play a 4-4-2 so why should we. But lately he's started getting things spot on.
Bringing Maxi back in the fold has been a great move although to be honest, he should have brought him on against Citeh as Downing wasn't having a great game, going forward anyway and some of the chances that fell to Downing I feel Maxi would have buried.
Proper tards on here..best has to be but he shoulda/coulda bought aguero etc.Scary ..point is IF you take any notice of a plonker like Savage then you're on the right site.
ReplyDeleteAttack the argument, not the person. It doesn't matter where the opinion comes from - it's a valid point to make, and an interesting question. Those who personally attack Savage instead of debating the issue he raises seriously need to grow up.
ReplyDeleteThe irony is if Savage had praised Dalglish to the hilt then you'd all be agreeing with him, and no one would be slagging him off.
With the current Varcelona team I could win the champions league, and im pretty sure my nan could win the la liga. My dog in the other hand could do the double ;)
ReplyDelete**Barcelona**
ReplyDeletePlease guys don`t listen to him...That guy is a muppet! How dare he talks about world class when he himself was just a mediocre footballer playing in some mediocre premier league teams. He should know his position. Kenny dalglish is a world class manager. His CV speaks for himself. He won dozens of cups both as a manger and a player. He is also one of the only 3 managers that managed to win the league with 2 different teams. Thats not what any manager can do, is it? He was not as successful with newcastle or celtic afterwards but who cares? There is no manager in this world who has a 100% record. The football we are playing right now is world class. We outplayed manutd man city and chelsea this year making them look like a bunch of amateurs in front of us even though they have far better calibre players. Despite poor signings like caroll and co, the system with which dalglish is making them play make all of them look like world class players. Only a world class manager can do this! So Robee, please put on your tutu and go dance your ballet elsewhere! Leave the footballing matters for others.
ReplyDeleteWho cares what Robbie Savage says! He was a shit player and is now a shit pundit and dancer.
ReplyDeleteHe's a dancer too? Would love to see him dance with his beautiful hair haha
ReplyDeletePlease everybody read this post, this seems to be the factor everybody has overlooked, as to the reason king Kenny wasn't successful in Europe. Robbie savage needs to do his homework before making silly comments! You can't be accused of failing at something, if you never got the chance to do it in the first place! Barnes!, Beardsley!, houghton!, Aldridge! We'd have walked a few more of those champions leagues!
ReplyDeletethose comments wont win you dancing votes Robbie...BIG mistake
ReplyDeleteIrrespective of what Savage said about Kenny, I would still categorise him as an infantile attention-whore who trades on his reputation for being controversial for the sake of it...sorry, "honest". Hope that's okay with you. As to his profound and "valid" observations about Kenny's management, well...there are a number of obvious problems. At LFC, (where he won 3 titles and was runner-up twice in 5 seasons, Robbie), Kenny never had the chance to play in Europe. Let's assume the 4 top-flight titles and two FA cups are a reasonable measure of his aptitude for the job and maybe ask the delightful Mr Savage to stop stating the obvious in such a way as to make it seem as though he's unearthed a fatal flaw in Dalglish's armoury.
ReplyDeleteThis is a non story. The Liverpool Team which Kenny presided over in the late 80s early 90s could be regarded as one of the best English Football has produced, with a style of play and players of top quality which is in no small part down to Kenny Dalglish selection and man management. I like Robbie Savage personally speaking, but it isn't because he's the brains of the operation as a football pundit. Ask football pundits who were interested in football around this time and you'll get a better impression of how good Kenny was, not Robbie who was probably too busy listening to Bananarama & Yaz to give much thought to football back then. The fact that Robbie Savage is of respectable age to remember this period in English Football and he should well know the circumstances surrounding one of Liverpools best sides ability to win in Europe speak volumes, and the shame these players could not showcase their talent on the european stage. The fact the writer of this article also gave heed to this Savage also speaks volumes....he most probably took up Liverpool supporting after Istanbul.
ReplyDeleteCome on guys, stop being biased, Kenny clearly is a good manager but he is not a world class manager. Someone like Mourinho or Ferguson can be said to be world class based on their track record. If a journalist asked Kenny this question he himself would deny that he is one. Someone like Paisely and Shankly are wordclass.
ReplyDeleteArsene Wenger, is she world class?
PS I think Kenny is a very good manager, much better than most around, however I don't think he is "world class". Personal opinion anyway
ReplyDeleteok, lets start, carrol is crap, im sorry but to me kd should of took him off against chelsea, he was defo our worse player, as for downing i think he will come good, but a good manager would of removed carrol, look at bellemy/ carrol look who ran around looking like a young man, and the other looked like a old man. in kd we trust mmmmmmm hope so
ReplyDeleteNot without the carrot of Champions League Football.
ReplyDeleteAs others have said, you don't know that. But what of it, even if true?
ReplyDeleteFrankly I think I'd put a motivator ABOVE a pure tactician/coach. Success in Football management usually involves some kind of double act: Ferguson and his No.2, Clough & Taylor, Shankly & Paisley (Rafa & Paco anyone?).
Although Liverpool never were much into tactics: Didn't Shanks say something like "Football is a simple game complicated by fools" and Paisley that "we just play our usual game and it's up to the opposition to try and counter us". But they could still win when the odds were against them (which wasn't often).
But I take the point of the question. Whilst I like to think that Kenny's 80s side would have been on their way to overtaking Real Madrid's EC/CL wins, people can still point to the fact that Kenny has yet to tested at the very highest level.
Still love him though!
although i dont agree with savages comments i would just like to point out that his playing career and success (or lack of) does not invalidate his opinion may i point to a certain Mr Ferguson who achived nothing in his career as a player but i am sure no one would doubt his abilitys as far as knowledge of the game is concerned ( and belive me it pains me to say that but it is the truth). Plenty of ex-players who havent had successful playing careers have immense knowledge of the game and infact plenty of people not involved in the game what-so-ever have more knowledge of the game than those involved in it. i guess what i am saying is that it is ok to dislike someones opinion but make your reasons for disliking it relevent.YNWA
ReplyDeletewell said.
ReplyDeleteI wonder why a piece of shi* Savage bast**d is talking about KD!!!! Has he ever played under a so called world class manager? Has he ever won anything? He's just a loser trying put his nose where it doesn't belong! Has he ever gone for the ball in a tackle? He was just a SAVAGE bast**d!
ReplyDelete"Liverpool never were much into tactics": I do agree about that regarding 70s/80s/90s, but doubt you can achieve anyhing major in modern game without tactical tinkering, and our biggest achievements for the last decade have been result of Benitez's obssession with that. We've been able to beat teams of much more expensive players through determination AND tactics. So while I do agree that it's totally OK to split responsibilities between manager and coach(es), it needs mentioning that one can't be called world class manager if they depend entirely on their coach(es) in such significant matter as tactics.
ReplyDeleteThe easier question is, was Robbie Savage a good player? No. Is he worth listening to? No.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that Savage said 'he won the league at Liverpool, I think', shows he barely knows a thing about the man. Save the judgement for someone educated on the matter.
Robbie Savage is just what he is, someone seeking attention, it still puzzles me how your career lasted so long, i mean, you were never a good footballer as a matter of fact you were a rubbish footballer. And now you are trying a dig at this journalism gig, FAIL! Kenny D, has proven that he is a world class manager,he has done it time and time again with world class teams. Any team good enough to win the English Premier League is and should be considered a world class team.
ReplyDeleteand benitez was nothing without paco
ReplyDeleteAnd he was a world class midfielder the fuckin twat.
ReplyDeleteHahahaha! 2nd class player (Robbie Savage) with serious attitude problem gives opinion on a world-class player and great manager and people take him seriously? Do me a favour!!! Dalglish is world-class, no doubt about it. Ask the opinion of somebody who is world-class please, this guy is a joke!
ReplyDeleteWho?
ReplyDeleteHow did his excursion with Blackburn go ? Was it because even Jack's pockets wern't big enough to buy the best in Europe ? Or just tactically naive
ReplyDelete?