10 Dec 2013

Debunking LFC Myths: No 14 - Kenny Dalglish signed Luis Suarez

Who signed Luis Suarez for Liverpool? The prevailing view seems to be that Reds legend Kenny Dalglish played a big role in bringing the Uruguayan striker to Anfield, but the self-confessed truth is that Dalglish had nothing to do with the transfer.

At the time of the transfer, the mainstream press reported that Suarez would be Dalglish's 'first signing'. An example comes from the Daily Mail, which claimed:

"Luis Suarez could become Kenny Dalglish’s first signing since his return to the club with Liverpool set to step up their bid for the Ajax striker".

In my experience, most Liverpool fans also put Suarez down as a Dalglish signing. Well, the man himself has now debunked that theory, and admitted that he had nothing to do with the Uruguayan's arrival. Over the weekend, he told the Liverpool Echo:

He [Suarez] was coming in anyway before I took over as manager. We knew what he had done for Ajax and what he was capable of doing. We never put any pressure on him, just asked him to do the best he possibly could".

That's as clear as day: The deal for Suarez was already concluded before Dalglish took over from Roy Hodgson. With that in mind, who actually pulled the strings re the Suarez deal? Let's consider the timeline:

* Roy Hodgson became Liverpool manager on 1 July 2010
* FSG's deal to buy LFC went through on 15th October 2012
* Damien Comolli joined the Reds on the 3 November 2010
* Dalglish took over at LFC on the 8 January 2011.

If the Suarez deal was done before Dalglish arrived, that leaves less than two months for Comolli to sort out a deal, and that's not really viable (IMO). FSG certainly didn't have anything to do identifying Suarez, which leaves the Roy Hodgson, who stated in October 2011:

"Yes, we looked at him [Suarez], but it was at a time the club was in the throes of a change of ownership. There was no question of making a bid. It was in between the two transfer windows. I went to see him play in a Champions League game against Milan. Suarez was well researched".

Rafa Benitez also played a part in scouting Suarez during his last year in charge, so, it transpires that Benitez, and his much-maligned succesor set the wheels in motion for the capture of Suarez. Hodgson personally scouted the Uruguayan, and ensured that he was 'well-researched'. Why scout/research unless plans were afoot to sign Suarez?

Hodgson clearly deserves credit for his role in identifying Suarez as a transfer target, and although Reds fans will probably refuse to accept it, he clearly played more of a role in the signing than Dalglish.

Author:


83 comments:

  1. I dont think this bothers any lfc fan actually, all the attention is on gerrards injury, its three days since he picked it up and still the lfc site dont update anything, not proffesional.

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  2. But who actually decided to buy him then?

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  3. true ... sadly but true

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  4. true - sad but true ..

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  5. im really worried for us especially after looking at everton's easy run of games coming up. i can t stand the though of them pushing ahead of us. and now they say henderson may also be unavailabe. would it be wise to go with a mid three of lucas, allen and alberto?

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  6. Why does Jamie keep writing articles that are non news items and that are constantly tinged with negativity towards LFC and its heroes and pillars. Can only be that he is an imposter. The attacks are not even subtle, which is disrespectful to readers at large. Avoid this site !!!!!

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  7. Whatever credit Hodgson can take from this signing, and it seems it was not him that instigated it, although he clearly was involved, to my mind is hugely outweighed by the damage he did to the club's morale and to the club's relationship with it's supporters. The players didn't appear to be happy, some like SG said nothing but others like Agger, made it plain they were not happy.
    The brand of football, and the calibre of recruit (Konchesky, Poulsen etc ) were abysmal. He blamed the supporters for the side's lacklustre showings. No way would we be second now if he had stayed.
    If he found him, great, well done. But that doesn't make up for the rest of it.

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  8. Nobody's stopping you avoiding it.
    Go ahead

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  9. So what went wrong with my comment that got deleted?!

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  10. Debunking LFC Myths Jaime k Liverpool supporter

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  11. Five minutes ago you were saying avoid the site.
    That's the 2nd post you've written since then.
    Make your mind up......

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  12. Kenny's got plenty of credit in the bank and doesn't need to take credit for things he didn't do. It may be a non news item, but I don't think Jaimie's being negative or attacking anyone. If
    Hodgson did have anything to do with Suárez, so what; he's got nothing in the bank and needs all the credit he can get.

    Makes no difference to me. Just glad we've got him and I think that even Jaimie's starting to feel the same.

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  13. I've created a joke that these "posters" saying "Avoid the Site" are actually JK trying to stir up controversy to bring even more people to this site.


    GENIUS!

    Or in the words of Brendan, "Brilliant. I can't fault him for that!"

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  14. You got the wrong bloke mate

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  15. I fail to understand why you continue your personal vendetta against KD. Time and time again you have made disparaging remarks against him

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  16. Yeah, like I said, it was credited to Sharath, then Rational red, then another to rational Red, then you.
    Strange....

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  17. This post was nearly so good.
    Then you wrote simples.
    I hate those fecking meerkat bastards.

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  18. Where can I read this fully developed theory in article form?

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  19. Well done Hodgson for doing a thing right.
    Truly, no man accepts credit more readily than Roy Hodgson.

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  20. For all we know, Rafa could have been the first to identify him. The scouting seems to have been long term. If Hodgson had first thought of it, I'm pretty sure he would have let us all know by now....

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  21. I'll tell you what HAS stopped since KD came back-
    All those disparaging remarks by a certain Mr Nicol............

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  22. and the relevance of the comment is?

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  23. I rarely find myself defending Jaimie, but if KD himself acknowledges that the deal was already done, or pretty well done, when he arrived, how can knowing the facts form part of a vendetta against KD?

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  24. Just something that occurred to me. I shall take care not to involve you in such irrelevances in the future..

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  25. holi Camolli has already grabbed all he credit - " judge me on Suarez" - t seems all his mistakes were wiped out by th Suarez deal - in his mind.

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  26. there has been a long series of negative comments against KD. This on its own, I agree with you but when one of many it suggests an agenda designed to destroy KD's reputation

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  27. it was a genuine question not a sarcastic one

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  28. Then I apologise for the tone of my reply.,

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  29. No one can take away from KD what he achieved on the pitch and his first stint as manager. Very few, if any, have done more for the club, but we all get some things wrong.

    Even KD is not above criticism and even though he willingly stepped into the breech after the damage Hodgson did, sadly it set us even further back in terms of money wasted and failure to keep up with the modern game.

    It's what the fans wanted, but FSG would have done better to ignore the fans and make a Rodgers type decision at the time they offloaded Hodgson.

    That is still not a criticism of KD. How can you blame him for taking the job he wanted with the club he loved and had given so much to. He just wasn't very good second time around.

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  30. That said, he's the perfect ambassador for our club and I'm very glad that he's still with the club.

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  31. In fairness though, when KD took over in the second half of the season for Hodgson, the team was playing very well. I can't really blame FSG or the fans for believing that he could continue that run of results, especially if he could bring in the players he wanted.


    KD's downfall was predicated primarily on the wasted amounts of money and overpaying for British players. His best signing was Bellamy on a free transfer at the end of the August window.


    Downing, Adam, Henderson, and Carroll... that's over 80m spent. Of which we have sold three of those players for less than a total of 30m.


    Also, something else to keep in mind with the owners, they put themselves in a precarious position by having KD come back in the first place. If and when he failed, they'd have to oust a club legend who the fans adore, which would never be a popular move. And people still hold it against FSG to this day.

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  32. I think the best liverpool fan site is "thisisanfield", Very well written and thoughtful articles just about football and no negative biased slander but on the other hand the site does not post as much as liverpoolkop (i guess i like the slander as well, sometimes. :). A perfect site you be a combination of these two. More articles less slander.

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  33. There's nothing worse than not liking someone, having all the reason in the world not to like them, letting time solidify that dislike, then finding out that he miiiight (ok probably) was the reason your club captured a player who might be the best to have graced the fields of Anfield in a generation...thanks a ton Jamie! :/

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  34. Can't disagree with anything you've just said, but whatever your reputation, ultimately you are judged on your results. Whether Kenny was badly advised by the Comolli muppet or not, you've identified the problem yourself.

    Poor bang for buck in the transfer market and results tailing off. What do fans want? Sentiment, nostalgia, rose tinted specs, or actual current success, not just history? Sad, but it doesn't always work second time around.

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  35. I did not want KD sacked. I believed that the profligacy in front of goal by suarez and Kyut in particular the 30 odd times we hit the woodwork and the 7 out of 8 pens we missed paint a picture of extreme bad luck rather than managerial incompetence. Having said all that I have moved on. I just wish JK would do likewise

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  36. What 'disparaging' remarks? If you can't hack valid criticism of LFC, that's your problem, not mine.

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  37. There is no statute of limitations of discussing stuff related to LFC. You love KD - good for you. I'm a big fan of him too, but his time at LFC is not above analysis/exploration. With respect, you are the one with the problem here, not me. You want to censor anything critical about Dalglish, and if you had your way, that's what would happen.

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  38. Ayre? I feel like if it was as well researched as Hodge said it will have been a few people giving the nod.

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  39. Suarez did...he decided Liverpool would buy him, got the paperwork together offered it to the first person he saw at Liverpool HQ...probably a doorman. The doorman signed it, Suarez signed it and Suarez moved his junk in and claimed the locker he wanted. That's why he thought he could leave when he wanted to last summer;-)

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  40. it is you with the problem. You have almost psychological need to be negative about LFC. I am not in a position to censor you as you have control but your continual snide comments about KD suggest that you are only happy when you have nasty comments to make

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  41. A very good point.

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  42. I know it's like when I found out santa didn't exist but in reverse.

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  43. Greg
    if this was a singular comment which sought to be a negative comment, then I agree with you but time and time again the author seeks to create a negativity about KD. Suarez has been the best player I have seen play for us. His signing happened on KD's watch yet JK is utterly determined to ensure that it was almost despite KD's appointment rather than because. Why not just move on and try to be positive

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  44. I always thought it was Hodgson who started the process of signing
    suarez. and I found it strange when the press attributed the signing to
    Kenny Dalglish when he clearly didn't really have much to do with it seeing as there was so much talk of suarez signing in the months before he was even hired.

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  45. JK of all the lfc discussion sites yours seem to be the most intresting site with very good analysis and constructive debating and also you pick good articles.keep up the good work mate much appreciated

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  46. Considering what an asset Suarez has become you would think someone would be claiming ultimate credit as the instigator of the deal, comoli is a tosser so i take any of his comments with a pinch of salt.

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  47. Kenny admitted himself that it wasn't because of him that we signed Suarez. We may have signed him if Hodgeson has stayed on so that does suggest that would have happened either way. Not despite KK but just the king didn't have that much to do with it.



    I don't agree we should always just be positive but i do subscribe to the belief that we should be positive at the ground and not too disparaging about any of the current players as this translates in pressure on those players. But on forums like this I have no problems a bit of negativity. It helps people to see things in other ways.



    I personally doubt that JK has an agenda re KD but even if he did how effective could it possibly be? Are there really going to be many people going "oh I thought Kenny was one of the all time players and brilliantly successful manager. I also thought he loved the club and has showed it numerous times but I read he made some bad signings and got some things wrong in his second spell as manager and this one site seems to make him look bad so I have changed my mind completely" ? Even if there are some so idiotic would there minds not be easily turned back with a few logic bombs?



    Truth is I had never read that Kenny admitted that about Suarez before and for me no information is bad information. Apart from your mum talking about her sex life. That stuff does not need to be known.

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  48. Eyþór Mar Halldórsson9:56 pm, December 10, 2013

    http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/media-watch/rafa-lines-up-suarez

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  49. Hey Greg - you hit the nail on the head there. Lots of fans don't know that KD admitted the he didn't sign Suarez. It's info that fans might want to know. It's not negative, it's just stating fact. I like to compile info that fans may not have heard before, and/or present it in a way fans have not considered before.

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  50. Hi Syed. I'm humbled by your kind words. There are lots of great posters on the site who elevate it with the quality of debate. Thank you, and thanks for visiting :-)

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  51. Shut up Jaimie you hate Kenny ;p

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  52. No, you just don't get the editorial approach of this site, and you never have done! How many times have we had this same conversation? Critical analysis is always seen as negative by people who disagree with the subject being analysed. No one escapes on this site. I've been critical of Gerrard, Benitez, Dalglish, Suarez, Carra, Agger, Souness, and even my favourite ever player, John Barnes!

    The likes of Benitez and Gerrard have been the subject of far more critical articles than Dalglish, yet as I'm sure regular visitors will confirm, I've also been very complimentary about them also, as I have been about Dalglish.

    There's no agenda/vendetta/personal element. The site has a specific approach, which - rightly or wrongly - simply mirrors my view of LFC.

    Ultimately, you just want this site to be like all the other LFC sites: reverent; lionising; operating under the principle that support = blind faith etc. Sorry, that's not going to happen. Challenging the accepted beliefs of fans is important (IMO), as is forcing people to justify their beliefs. When people do that, it helps them see things from a different POV, but also allows them to solidify their own opinions.

    I've never made any 'disparaging' remarks about Dalglish. Stating a fact is not disparaging.

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  53. Just a heads-up: Anyone who likes posts that disparage the site will get banned. If you agree with posts like this, why are you here?

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  54. Yes, I'd agree with that. If Suarez sticks to playing football, I have no problem with him. He's a genius player, it's just that the last two years have been plagued with negative incidents, and I can't ignore them. It would be the same whoever it was.

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  55. In that case you got no choice, and to push an u21's to the bench...
    I stand behind saying that Gerrard's current injury is the worst we had in a long time. 80% that were screwed. Were depended either on Rodgers over rising or Allen, Lucas over rising. Honestly it's hard for me to see that happen.

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  56. Man, i have to say this article does very well come as interest to me. Thanks for this information.
    I have to suggest - I think you should simply ignore how many likes or dislikes are put on the 'murderers'/'monkeys' comments. Who cares.

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  57. Bottom line is that had it been any other person they would have milked signing Suarez for all they could. The fact that KD didnt shows the greatness of the man. Clearly his period in charge became a nightmare from the moment it was made permanent. The signings were atrocious. amd set the club back a fair bit. As i said in a previous post 200 million odd has been spent since rafa left and in reality only now are we looking any where near a team - and that too i still believe we are at least 2 midfielders short of challenging for the title. Kudos to Kenny for being the honest person that he is.

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  58. He might have turned some of those draws around in the second half of that season. Oh what could have been.

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  59. Just out interest, is your ID 'Pigman' a homage to Seinfeld, by any chance? If so, I love the pigman episode :-)

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  60. l'angelo misterioso1:37 am, December 11, 2013

    http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/media-watch/rafa-lines-up-suarez

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  61. Hopefully he doesn't do anything stupid for the rest of year at least..surely he has learned from the last incident. Btwt that is a top episode. It didn't turn out to be a pigman though did it? Just a guy who looks like a pig lol

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  62. I was simply attempting to keep it less confrontational.
    It amazes me that people go to a site to tell others whether to go on it or not
    And yes, they have been chronically overdone

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  63. If you want to be less confrontational you do this:
    :)))))) amirite? Peace, bro
    That's how the pros do it.

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  64. That's harsh, the might just enjoy the way it is written. Like Christopher Hitchens or summit.

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  65. Don't you know how to internet!?
    Cut this complimentary shit!!!
    It's cat pictures and insults from here on out, bub.
    Also: leave porn to the professionals. The internet already has that covered.

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  66. Puga Ver Twopointo5:02 am, December 11, 2013

    I still can't believe we actually thought Andy Carroll was better than Suarez. Justified by his 35 mil to Suarez's 23 mil. hahaha

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  67. Great article JK I read the full article on lfc.tv site. Firstly I don't see this as a vendetta because in all honesty this was one of the arguments used by KD fans to justify his poor 2nd tenure. The other being a cup final win! Everytime the contrary was argued the response was usually emotional claptrap, similar tosome of the posts I've being reading! 2ndly it shines a light on the quality of his transfers which I imagine is too much for some! This in no way diminishes KD's ledgendary status if you consider his contributions as a player & 1st manegerial stint!
    I've been on many lfc blogging sites & this is one of the few which tries to explore all angles, the others are usually tinged with tribalism- scouse players & KD are beyond criticism or if you're not born/from liverpool you have no right to comment! A form of jingoism, this really is why I appreciate this site because it's critical realism!

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  68. Good work JK because I read this a few days ago & wanted to bring it to your attention but you beat me to it!

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  69. Wish I could claim that, but no, it's a nickname my wife gave me 33 years ago and it's stuck. Allegedly it's meant to be affectionate.

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  70. Hodgson did a fine job as out manager given the situation he was in and the way he was treated was the only time in my life I felt ashamed to be an LFC supporter. People always have 100 different excuses for the likes of Benitez, Dalglish and Houllier or even Rodgers now but Hodgson wasn't given the any chance what so ever. Just the thought of that time makes my stomach turn and not because of Hodgson.

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  71. From The Guardian:

    One of the first assignments given to Dalglish by Rafael Benítez, after
    the former returned to the club as ambassador and academy figurehead in July 2009, was to scout Suárez at Ajax.

    "We have known about him
    for three years," said the Scot, who will give the £22.8m striker a
    debut at home to Stoke City tonight, subject to international clearance.
    "When I came back here [in 2009] it was early on that we were looking at him, so when we were talking about players it was pushing at an open door regarding Suárez. He'll be a fantastic player and he's fantastic in the dressing room. For a Uruguayan, and a forward at that, to be captain of Ajax tells you something about the personality of the fella."

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/feb/02/kenny-dalglish-liverpool-caretaker-manager

    There is more detail in he Irish Times but it's behind a paywall.

    If you are going to debunk a myth you should try and find the truth. We'll see whether you have an agenda or not, when you do or don't post a correction.

    Rafa identified him, Kenny scouted him and so when he was signed when Kenny was Manager, Kenny already knew that the club had been working on signing him for 3 years, he was already a target. He was already a work in progress.

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  72. Yes!!! The series are back! Thanks Jamie, this info is good to know.


    Roy did do something good after all! Credit to him.


    Still, he should have never been even considered for the job. I am sure there we're better options than Roy available, he together with KD set us back, more so KD.

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  73. What personal vendetta?


    The article is simply highlighting the fact that it was RH not KD who signed Suarez. The article goes on to give praise to Roy for doing so. No disparaging remarks at all.

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  74. But KD himself said (you cane google it) that Suarez was on the way before he became manager! What else is there to say? Where is the negativity in that?

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  75. Couldn't have put it any better.

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  76. Don't get me wrong, when he came back and we were playing really well I was all for him to be given the job full time. The future seemed so bright!


    Carroll scored 2 goals vs City and was doing well enough, Suarez too.


    And we played some good football in his 1st half season.


    When we signed Adam (who had an amazing season with Blackpool, mostly because Vaughan was doing all the dirty work for him which allowed him to roam), Henderson (didn't know what to make of this one) and Downing who had a really good season with Villa, I was excited.


    Unfortunately it did not work out.


    FSG did make some mistakes but they are rectifying it. The plan was always to bring a younger manager, they really had no choice but to appoint KD after he done so well.


    So yea I agree with your comment mate!

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  77. I got banned from a LFC forum because I expressed my opinion that it was the right decision to sack him. The forumites took it so personal, like I had made a personal attack on their family or something, it was ridiculous. I am banned to this day haha! I don't miss it a bit.

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  78. Is Seinfeld a series you would recommend?

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  79. For some reason I think we'll be okay mate

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  80. It's true, he was not very welcomed I agree. I was one of the people that did not understand why he was hired. Then his signings were poor as well and tactics too.



    I don't like when we sack managers as that's not our style but I don't know. Maybe it was for the best?

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