31 January 2011: A date that will live in infamy. Nineteen months after that fateful day, it's still hard to comprehend why Kenny Dalglish splurged 35m on Andy Carroll, a player who represented the antithesis of Liverpool FC's pass and move philosophy. Since leaving Anfield, Dalglish has repeatedly (and indirectly) defended his decision to sign the lumbering striker, and his latest comments show that he still believes that signing Carroll was the right decision.
As I'm sure many would agree, the long-ball 'tactical' approach is a historical anachronism, and the signing of Carroll simply confirmed the oft-levelled criticism that Dalglish was 'out of touch' with modern top-flight football.
The irony of Carroll's signing is that Dalglish was schooled in the pass and move system at Liverpool, and implemented it to perfection during his first stint as manager between 1986 and 1991.
However, since those golden years, it's clear that Dalglish's philosophy and approach to football changed, and at some point, he became a proponent of the long-ball game, which is - and should always be - anathema to Liverpool FC, its fans, and its manager.
Dalglish in favour of the long-ball game? I'm sure his staunch supporters would reject that idea outright, but 'The King' confirmed his preference in his column for The Mirror today. He explained:
"Marouane Fellaini's man-of-the-match display in Everton’s 1-0 win over Manchester United shows there is still a place for an old-fashioned target-man.
"If you have a player of Fellaini’s size, aerial ability and physical strength, are you not going to utilise those assets? Of course you are.
It would be wrong for a manager not to play to such a player’s strengths, whoever he is. And what’s wrong with putting a player up front in the box and trying to score with a header? Nothing.
"Just because it may take a long ball to get into the opposition area, doesn’t make them any less effective than one that gets there with an intricate build-up of 20-odd passes.
"I know Sir Alex Ferguson said after Monday’s defeat that Everton just 'lumped the ball forward', but I don’t see anything wrong with that if it is effective".
Dalglish also dismissed Barcelona's Tiki-Taka approach, and expressed his admiration for Stoke City's 'direct style', insisting that as long as it was 'within the rules', it 'shouldn't be frowned upon'.
Make no mistake, if Carroll could actually play football without falling over and persistently missing the target, Dalglish would've played him every game, and Liverpool's signature style would've become classic English long-ball.
Dalglish's comments are also (arguably) an indirect criticism of Rodgers' handling of Andy Carroll. Consider the following:
"It would be wrong for a manager not to play to such a player’s strengths, whoever he is"
This is obviously a backhanded reference to Carroll, but Rodgers is right to refuse to play to his strengths. That would mean setting Liverpool up to serve Carroll, which would mean constant long-balls into the box, and endless speculative crosses from the wings.
Where did that get the club last season? Eighth place in the league, with Carroll achieving the lowest conversion rate (5.2%) of all strikers in the Premier League.
As disappointing as it was to see Dalglish's contract terminated (I'd hoped he would resign of his own accord), these comments clearly show that FSG were 100% right to replace him.
Dalglish will always be a club legend, and he deserves respect and praise for everything he's done for the club, but a manager of LFC should surely never be an apologist for/proponent of, the deservedly maligned and tactically outdated English long-ball game...?
Thankfully, the balance has been restored at Anfield with the appointment of Brendan Rodgers, whose total rejection of the long-ball approach has reinvigorated the club.
Jaimie Kanwar
As I'm sure many would agree, the long-ball 'tactical' approach is a historical anachronism, and the signing of Carroll simply confirmed the oft-levelled criticism that Dalglish was 'out of touch' with modern top-flight football.
The irony of Carroll's signing is that Dalglish was schooled in the pass and move system at Liverpool, and implemented it to perfection during his first stint as manager between 1986 and 1991.
However, since those golden years, it's clear that Dalglish's philosophy and approach to football changed, and at some point, he became a proponent of the long-ball game, which is - and should always be - anathema to Liverpool FC, its fans, and its manager.
Dalglish in favour of the long-ball game? I'm sure his staunch supporters would reject that idea outright, but 'The King' confirmed his preference in his column for The Mirror today. He explained:
"Marouane Fellaini's man-of-the-match display in Everton’s 1-0 win over Manchester United shows there is still a place for an old-fashioned target-man.
"If you have a player of Fellaini’s size, aerial ability and physical strength, are you not going to utilise those assets? Of course you are.
It would be wrong for a manager not to play to such a player’s strengths, whoever he is. And what’s wrong with putting a player up front in the box and trying to score with a header? Nothing.
"Just because it may take a long ball to get into the opposition area, doesn’t make them any less effective than one that gets there with an intricate build-up of 20-odd passes.
"I know Sir Alex Ferguson said after Monday’s defeat that Everton just 'lumped the ball forward', but I don’t see anything wrong with that if it is effective".
Dalglish also dismissed Barcelona's Tiki-Taka approach, and expressed his admiration for Stoke City's 'direct style', insisting that as long as it was 'within the rules', it 'shouldn't be frowned upon'.
Make no mistake, if Carroll could actually play football without falling over and persistently missing the target, Dalglish would've played him every game, and Liverpool's signature style would've become classic English long-ball.
Dalglish's comments are also (arguably) an indirect criticism of Rodgers' handling of Andy Carroll. Consider the following:
"It would be wrong for a manager not to play to such a player’s strengths, whoever he is"
This is obviously a backhanded reference to Carroll, but Rodgers is right to refuse to play to his strengths. That would mean setting Liverpool up to serve Carroll, which would mean constant long-balls into the box, and endless speculative crosses from the wings.
Where did that get the club last season? Eighth place in the league, with Carroll achieving the lowest conversion rate (5.2%) of all strikers in the Premier League.
As disappointing as it was to see Dalglish's contract terminated (I'd hoped he would resign of his own accord), these comments clearly show that FSG were 100% right to replace him.
Dalglish will always be a club legend, and he deserves respect and praise for everything he's done for the club, but a manager of LFC should surely never be an apologist for/proponent of, the deservedly maligned and tactically outdated English long-ball game...?
Thankfully, the balance has been restored at Anfield with the appointment of Brendan Rodgers, whose total rejection of the long-ball approach has reinvigorated the club.
Jaimie Kanwar
Rafa beat them with long ball and counter attack ^^
ReplyDeleteThis is another proof of how poor Dalglish is in tactical terms. I was in favor of sacking him not because I didn't like him or because I didn't have patience to wait for another year, but because there were clearest signs and proof that he was going nowhere with his approach and stubbornness.
ReplyDeleteRafas football bored us to death.
ReplyDeletenit picking jamie,....he said nothink wrong with long ball, not that he prefered it.. he never played long ball anyway and your a bit strong on brendan saying it was right for a change, he,s done nothink yet has he...dalglish has gone leave him alone...cheap comments like yours are not welcome....
ReplyDeleteunder dalglish last season liverpool played some excellent footy.. the bar n post was are worst enemy last season.. i totally agree that if u have andy in your team you must play a few crosses into him and give him the chance,, this as all been taken well out of concept,,, Kenny was just saying the long ball is not dead or never will be,,, its away of giving defenders a rest,, getting your team 20yards further up the pitch when needed.. kenny was not saying hit everything high, long and towards the big man,, he is saying its a tactic that every,, yes every team does it.. YNWA JFT96 kenny,,i grew up in the 70s and 80s and ive hit many a goal whilst screaming your name,, your 88 team in my opinion is the best league team ever,, sorry barca fans but its true,, thanks for the memories KD.. and he could play :)))))
ReplyDeleteThere's absolutely nothing wrong with anything he says. Don't see why there's any need to criticize him for those comments.
ReplyDelete@Tornike:disqus What on earth are you talking about? We played really well in a lot of games last season, however, it was post-out unfortunately. You can't blame Dalglish for the players hitting the post 25 times and missing 11 penalties or whatever it was. I'm backing rodgers, but lay off Dalglish, he did his best.
Rafa had us playing some great, dominant football at times, lacked the cutting edge though (relied to much on Torres and Gerrard)... Dalglish also had us playing some great stuff for most of the season, the best I've seen in a long time, Pool did not revert that much to long ball when Carroll was on, but when they did, knock downs and aerial duels were won. Carroll clearly did not fit in at the beginning but as the season wore on, it was apparent he was becoming more accustomed with pass and move...
ReplyDeleteI still feel there is a place for big Andy! He wins everything, surely there is space for that! I hope this wasn't criticism of BR in an underhanded sense by KD because that is NOT the Liverpool way!
BR could learn a lot from KD with his famed "football conversations with those who are knowledgeable in the game." - He's right though... there's nothing wrong with a tactic if it works!
Get involved KD! had his time at the top of the kop, but still have a lot to contribute!
Ynwa!
Well, Kenny is entitled to his opinion like anyone else, but it does seem like he is having a bit of an indirect dig at Brendan here, and tbh i didn't like the way he undermined the appointment of Roy Hodgson either....putting his name forward an all that...
ReplyDeleteWhat i find quite ironic is that here is a player that Kenny bought but wouldn't play who wanted to play..... became seriously pissed of because he wasn't played..... and now he (Kenny) is having a pop because a new manager is doing what he did.....?
Baffling. Kenny is a legend but i do wonder where he is at.... making comments like this....
The way I see it is that Dalglish is defending the way Everton style of play, not that he was necessarily advocating the long ball approach. Everton played to their strengths, which is what any team should do when faced with superior opponents. You can't beat Barcelona at their own game, so just play to your own strengths and you have a chance - it worked for Chelsea.
ReplyDeleteA lot of managers complain about Stoke's style of play (and Bolton prior to that), but with the level of quality those teams had, that was the only way they could play to get results. Do you then try to play on the same level as Man United or Arsenal and get relegated, or do you fight and play what works for you to ensure premiership survival? Not all teams can afford top quality players, so Managers who criticize their style of play after being beaten are just suffering from a severe case of sour grapes. If they are playing within the rules, then its up to the other team to find a way of countering that direct style, or else get beaten.
Good points. However, I think the key issue here relates to LFC's strengths: for me, the club should.never have to play the long ball game just to play to a target man's strengths. Also, the point would be moot if KD hadn't bought Carroll. The question only has to be considered due to KD's wastefulness in the transfer market.
ReplyDeleteSent from Samsung Galaxy Note
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Subject: [liverpoolkop] Re: Dalglish: Forget Barca - The 'long-ball game' is just as effective. Out of touch...? | Liverpool-Kop.com
I won't comment on someone's wrong perception after he spent around 90m on average players and now the new manager Brendan Rodgers is trying to clean up that mess!
ReplyDeleteYeah but, Kenny was in the rather favourable position to be handed a very large amount of cash.....with which to add quality players to the team/squad.....something that the managers of Stoke City Bolton or Everton can only ever DREAM about...
ReplyDeleteAnd thats the point really, we shouldn't have to play to our "strengths" like Stoke Bolton Everton we should have added more quality.....
I defended Kenny up to a point but it was clear that money had been wasted last summer for sure.
costasy,... every manager even fergie has spent money on players, that have not turned out right... everyone knows we overspent on carol, (panic buy) as torres left but mr rodgers is a pup to kenny his words...the mess you refare to was started long ago,your comment is one of a short memory...disrepect of kenny is wrong. he made mistakes...yes but your comment is disrepectfull..come back end of season when brendon has done somethink till then...insults are not required......
ReplyDeleteFor you to really understand this then you have to define Long ball system. Ans in defining it you`ll see that it not hit and hope as most people think. It is actually kicking the ball to someone far away where the person can use his feet, chest or head to recieve it.
ReplyDeleteIn defining this you`ll realise that Long ball is just as part of football and will always be. Some people play it less than others.
Manchester utd used Long ball alot when mark hughes played with them. He would control the ball and spread it to the wings. Almost 50 percent of their counter attack came through him. Nobody said utd were a long ball team.
Against west brom suarez missed 3 headers from crosses.Is that not long ball? or is it because Carol was not recieving them. Maybe If carol was in the team instead of Suarez and we played exactly the same way most people may have said that Liverpool played Long ball football.
It is all a myth because I know for sure the Carol wasn`t getting 3 clear headers in the 6 yard box.
Fact is good team mix it and that brings results.
Kenny is not our coach anymore and if he wants to praise teams that utilize this kind of approach, that's his call to make. In general, if somebody isn't actively part of the staff/squad of LFC, he shouldn't have to be afraid of being reprimanded by LFC fans for his comments on... well, anything but LFC. It's terrible to see that somebody who gave his best years to this club will not be forgiven for one bad season and a few bad buys.
ReplyDeleteanyone will agree with what dalglish said about evrton and the way they beat manu.what did you actually want him to say?- that fellaini was bad and everton didnt play deserve to win? even after praising evertons style of play, it definitely doesnt mean that this is how dalglish wanted livrpool to play last season. he said it several times that he wanted us to play the liverpool way..the pass and move style. why dont you quote that instead of taking his praise for everton and fellainis performance as reference to judge his (dalglish)style of play?
ReplyDeleteThe season just start, how do you know that the money is well spend by BR,playing beautiful football do not main sure win ,if the long ball start from keeper to striker and goal than what wrong is that, Game is playing for win not play beautifully and lose.
ReplyDeleteIt was not an insult at all, the facts are there, only Andy Carroll is an average player? what about Steward Downing, Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson? what have they contributed in accordance to the money we spent for them?
ReplyDeleteuntil Carroll (or any other of KD's signings for that matter) is sold, his particular case has not been proven or dis-proven as wastefulness of yet.
ReplyDeleteCarroll can add something...
yes 35 mill, stats blah blah... till he's sold you can only judge on what he's done. The past is gone, we're here now...
(personally would like to see the backs of Cole, Downing, Adam and Spearing)...
Club was in crisis! Looking at the time signings were good:
ReplyDeleteAdam did great at blackpool...Carroll - devastating for Castle, strong, young, panic buyDowning - great stats at Villa, best crosser in the leagueHenderson - Sunderland's top young player winning plaudits globallySuarez - nuff saidEnrique - definitely not a wasteShelvey - the boy is classCoates - young, acclaimed, played 90 against city well!lets also not forget Steve Clarke who has a CV longer than my bank statement and who broke our hearrts on the opening day...Hindsight! I kill the one who disrespect Kenny!
So critical hey? lol
ReplyDeleteEverton beat the Mancs! I thought that was pretty cool... furthermore, if we have trouble beating the mancs we can bring on Carroll to break their hearts also ;)
highly unlikely though, I have a sneaky suspicion we'll pass them out the park...
SPOT ON !
ReplyDeleteHi mate. I disagree re the wastefulness point. Have LFC received value for.money from Carroll? Not at all. So far, Carroll has cost LFC almost 6m per league goal. I'd call that wastefulness.
ReplyDeleteSent from Samsung Galaxy Note
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Subject: [liverpoolkop] Re: Dalglish: Forget Barca - The 'long-ball game' is just as effective. Out of touch...? | Liverpool-Kop.com
you must be the worm in kenny's stomach,anyway kenny had since left liverpool maybe you could join him too lol.
ReplyDeleteKD was so out of touch that it was painful even to watch his interviews! Emile Heskey was a target man but he was not very prolific. We could not really on him for 25 goals a season! Carroll is even worse!
ReplyDeleteSigning Carroll and the not playing him regularly enough is great! (Sarcasm).
Keeping the past aside, KD was destroying the club and it surprises me because he was schooled on this philosophy so for him to put that aside for one player is rather foolish! So glad we have BR now.
Carroll needs to watch Peter Crouch play!
Henderson 'earning plaudits globally' (!) If England was the whole planet, perhaps.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure kids playing football on the streets of Brazil were raving about Hendo ;-)
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Subject: [liverpoolkop] Re: Dalglish: Forget Barca - The 'long-ball game' is just as effective. Out of touch...? | Liverpool-Kop.com
name one of liverpools best players ? suarez...who bought him coates? who brought bellamy back?charlie adam was good at blackpool henderson sunderlands player of the year. downing was villa,s player of the year....ok they have not performed for us...but how do you buy a player? you buy on there form..carroll was a storm for newcastle... as i said wait till brendon has proved somethink first...
ReplyDeleteThe Dalglish of 20 years ago wouldn't have said that.
ReplyDeleteSo you're basically saying you can't blame Dalglish for splashing ridiculous amounts of money on players not delivering during the season? Hitting the post is a result of not hitting the ball well enough, period.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the way we played: (1) we basically had no attacking play from wings, and (2) our players' contrasting styles and ability meant we didn't play the pass and move game despite many supporters declaring so - players like Suarez and Gerrard would try to do that, but then players with no ability of fast, moving and passing game like Carroll, Spearing and Henderson would find themselves not managing to take their part and being deadwood, to be honest. The City game showed the difference between Dalglish's half-playing team and the real team built for purpose of playing meaningful and effective football.
Dalglish indeed did his best, it's that his 'best' was not enough for more than disastrous season results.
KD long ball system was not the LFC way of playing we all was thinking KD was going to bring back the pass and move which we played his 1986 to 1991 with us this time his system was not the LFC way
ReplyDeleteWhat Dalglish is saying is that had he NOT BEEN SACKED he would have pursued the same tactics from last season.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, he would NOT have dropped Downing.Adam,Spearing,Henderson & Carroll.
I'm betting that when he went to see John Henry at the end of last season with Steve Clarke with his 'report', that Henry was left shocked and mouth agape, with what he demanded and promptly SACKED him.
The reason Dalglish is NOT and has NOT been employed as a Manager since being sacked at Blackburn,Celtic,Newcastle & Liverpool is that he mistakes stubbornness with conviction.
He methods of play are OUTDATED and do not take into account the changes made in the modern game.
There is a reason why Barcelona, Real Madrid and SPAIN have dominated Europe and English style has NOT (Chelsea were lucky).
Dalglish should NEVER have been given the Job beyond the caretaker role until the end of the season.
He wasted vast sums of money and abused the good will and naivety of FSG in purchasing AVERAGE players at inflated prices.
Now he has is cronies in the media waiting for Brendan to make a mistake or screw up.
When MOLBY last week stated in the echo that he said and I quote ' Sterling is not ready for 1st' Houghton on Talksport said the same thing.
Hansen & Barnes backed Dalglish TO THE HILT.
They should do us all a favour and shut up, THANK GOD FSG DIDN'T LISTEN THEM.
I know the season is young but he improvement in pass play and possession are clear for all to see.
Everyone to a man KNEW that the CHAD were not good enough.
Dalglish refused to change it so he paid the price.
FOR ME HIS CROWN HAS PERMANENTLY SLIPPED.
If he really loved the club he;d go play golf and do some charity work and not so ANYTHING to cause conflict with young Rogers.
Dalglish had his time (TWICE) now it's Rogers turn..rant over
lol okay... but he was highly rated...
ReplyDeleteI agree Jamie that Carroll was overpriced . LFC and KD paid the price in more ways than one. But to say that we played the long ball game last season is wrong. We played entertaining and a good passing game without an end result. Rafa's system was boring and unattractive , but it did produce a certain result to a certain extend.
ReplyDeleteKD is saying play to your strengths. Use the tools available to it's maximum effect.
But we all agree KD was wasteful in his signings. with a lot of help from Damien's recruitment network
he's a relic and should not even be writing for newspapers. he is todays fish and chip wrapping.
ReplyDeleteregardless of what he did for the club over the years, he has undone a lot of that with his egotistical, out of date approach to 'management' and 'tactics'. wasting cash and playing the goat, while implementing very little tactically or improving players he bought.
i hope he enjoys his golf and football dinners in the knowledge, he will NEVER be in charge of any top football team again. his waffle last season was as bad as hodgson, utter drivel.
He is clearly bitter and feels badly treated, and still fails to see how much he set us back. he can play hoof ball on his ps3.
that's only if you count goals scored... if you take assists into consideration at half price it's about 3 Mill a goal.
ReplyDeleteThe boy needs to be retained I tell you!
lets put a ceiling on it...
IF Carroll comes good and scores say 10 goals this season, would you, JK, be able to find it in your heart to appease the poor lad and back him? 35 million pounds asid?
Between, There are reports surfacing that AC is headed for a loan move to AC Milan. Any truth in this Jamie?
ReplyDeleteWe already experiencing the difference between BR's and KD's transfers; just wait until the end of the transfer window on Friday and we will see what players should be playing at LFC, one of the most historic teams of the world!
ReplyDeleteDisagree on the point you make about dalglish favoring the long ball game. Look at the other striker he signed; Luis Suarez = technical ability personified. In his successful spell in management with Liverpool he also used the 'big man, little man combo' with toshack and keegan, in a period in which liverpool were famous for 'pass and move'. If he favored the long-ball game why would he have signed a player as technically gifted as suarez to lead the lines. Ideally I think he wanted versatility and options up front and to forge a partnership between to forward players with completely different qualities. In theory that sounds a solid idea. However quite simply, this time it didn't work. If you remember when Dalglish first took over from Woy Liverpool did start passing more and played better football. We must remember we did try and play good football under dalglish. In fact if he did play long-ball football carroll probably would've been a success. As Newcatle fans will know Carroll can be one hell of a player if you set a team up around him. The problem was ultimately his severe shortcomings in the transfer marked typified by the abject failures of Andy Carroll,Stuart Downing and Charlie 'Hollywood pass gone wrong' Adam. Dalglish actually had Liverpool headed in the right direction. His transfer signings (bar suarez and coates) just completely halted any real progress. Well that's my opinion on it anyway. YNWA
ReplyDeleteThe true test of this team is when teams come to anfield and park 10 players behind the ball and we have to break them down. Watch this space.
ReplyDeleteI think he did deliver in 1 and a half seasons he took us from relegaton threatened to mid table and silverware, not a bad turn of events after the Hodgson debacle. A disastrous season would have been what Wenger, Redknapp and Fergie had, no trophies!
ReplyDeleteThe long ball game was an artifact of Hodgson approach, Kenny brought back pass and move - our posession stats last season demonstrate that.
ReplyDeleteSilverware? Trophies? My table spoons are more of a silverware than that poor ignored-by-all competition, won by us in a scrappy poor final anyway. Don't lower expectations for the club just to make an excuse for somebody to preserve their status.
ReplyDeleteChampions League qualification is what teams are assessed by, not 16th-to-8th 'progress', especially after splashing out some mind-blowing money on transfers.
very good point to.
ReplyDeleteFor the Record Suarez was signed and the process of signing him STARTED WAY BEFORE DALGLISH WAS MANAGER...IN SHORT DALGLISH DIDN'T SIGN SUAREZ COMOLLI DID
ReplyDeleteFew good points, aprt from he do as Jaimie says, but seem to remember that man u were after I'm too at the time
ReplyDeleteOk well what about carroll, henderson, and downing then.. If you're not giving him credit for suarez, you can't exactly place all blame on him for these extortionate fees as comolli was the one the sealed these transfers.....
ReplyDeleteFare does....for Carroll see Augero for Downing see Ramierz for Henderson see Sissoko (the new one) Dalglish went for a buy British policy and the results of that are there for all to see...I take your point about the prices though but these were Dalglish's targets he said it himself
ReplyDeleteAre you actually saying that Dalglish managed Toshack and Keegan?
ReplyDeletewell said
ReplyDeleteMadrid dominating europe?? When?
ReplyDeleteI do think that your blog will be a better one if you can be a lil mor balanced, and you eschew sentiments. Having said that, I do not think the context in which you have interpreted Kenny's statements is correct. Available evidence from last season would indcate that Liverpool dominated most of their games without playing long ball. This is frther highlighted by the fact that Carroll was benched in many games last season. You will improve your analysis and earn more respect by just being less sentimental. Cheers
ReplyDeleteJaime, You've completely misinterpreted what Dalglish said. He never dismissed Barcelona's style - just pointed out it's not the only way to win games. If you looked at how LFC played back in Dalglish's first spell, you'd know they didn't play 'tika taka'. Just see how direct we were at times in the 5-0 thrashing of Forest! You might also take time to check out LFC's pass stats in the final third last season (compared to say, Swansea). Lazy, Jaime, very lazy...
ReplyDelete9 League titles, 4 FA cups, 5 league cups, 3 European cups, amongst other titles. If one season (in which he got silverware for the first time in six years) is enough to make the supporters consider these successes mostly undone, then the term supporter is being misused. The word I'd use is ingrates.
ReplyDeleteI get that people weren't satisfied and I agree that BR is probably going to do better, yet why not just let it rest and show some proper respect.
Hey Folu - thanks for your comments. So many people seem to misunderstand what this site is about, including yourself.
ReplyDeletePeople seem to think that I write about LFC to somehow gain approval/try and earn 'respect'. That is the complete opposite of the reality; the truth is, It doesn't bother me how I'm perceived, and if people don't 'respect' me then I couldn't care less.
I don't write to appease an audience, or to curry favour, or to become peoples' best friend; I write what I think, and the way I write about LFC is the way I discuss/debate football in real life (and the people on the site who've actually met me in real life would confirm that).
When people start altering their views or the substance of what they write just make others happy, it shows, and the integrity of what you write dissipates.
Football fans are not 'balanced'; every fan is biased, and that includes me. I don't try and hide that; I don't hold myself out as some kind of paragon of objectivity. I'm merely a fan with an opinion, just like you.
I have a very specific, individual view about LFC, and I think most visitors appreciate that. And if my view is coloured by sentiment or anything else on occasion then so be it; that's me.
If I wanted to be balanced and objective, I'd be writing for a newspaper (and I've had the opportunity). I prefer to do my own thing though; I don't answer to anyone, and I don't have to work to anyone else's editorial agenda, and that's precisely how I like it.
Re Kenny and he long-ball game - with respect, I did not state anywhere in the article that LFC player long ball last season; I said that if Carroll had been a success, he would've played more, and LFC probably would've played the long ball game more.
No, Jdevitt - it is not lazy, it is my personal interpretation. Everyone perceives things differently, and I perceived Dalglish's comments differently to you. Is that okay, or should I ask for permission next time?
ReplyDeleteStevie G` own words today
ReplyDeleteThe midfielder also spoke about the impact Brendan Rodgers has had at the club since taking over."Of course it's different. All managers are, and we have had a new coaching set-up, so there are bound to be differences, but it's not drastic changes," Gerrard said."All the managers I have worked with have tried to play the right way for the club, it's worked out for some and it hasn't for others. Let's hope that it's a bright future under Brendan.
I REST MY CASE
He himself didn't play Carroll regularly after paying 35mn for him. Such a howler...worst transfer in entire football history. Why did he buy him? to bench him? He also tried swapping him for tevez...How can ANYONE make such a big mistake...!!35mn are you kidding me...!!!
ReplyDelete100% right...that's why he is king no more...
ReplyDeleteWhilst that may be what the corporate side of the club aspire to surely as fans we should be more concerned with winning trophies and reaching finals both of which KD did last year. He also, for the most part of the season, had us playing some great football and creating plenty of chances - but for a decent goalscorer the season could have been completely different.
ReplyDeleteWould you really rather be another Arsenal than a club that wins things? Strange.
We entered three competitions last year, won one of them, came runners up in another and didn't do too well in the third - is that really failure or have you just been conned by the media into believing so?
He wasn't having a pop - he was talking about Fellaini on Monday night but the author of this ridiculous column has twisted his words and made it appear so because, and I am only assuming, he is an idiot.
ReplyDeleteThe column probably wasn't even written by KD - the majority of these columns are ghost written and the "columnist" is only there to give the article more credence or, as in this case, to allow small minded idiots like the author of this particular piece to twist "his" words and create some false intrigue.
KD a proponent of the long ball game? Shanks and Bob are probably turning in their graves at the mere suggestion.
Challenging for the Champions League spot, as well as being in that competition every year, is not just good for 'corporate side' - as John Williams, the Liverpool historian and author of "Red Men", wrote, the emphasis in football has changed from what he calls the "event", such as a cup final, to the "process", such as qualifying for the Champions League. It's this process itself that makes a club competitive, and much more so than a club winning second- and third-grade competitions like domestic cups.
ReplyDeleteWhen you've as much ambition as Liverpool have, until you're successful in the league and are consistently in the Champions League, you have no progress and no justification for a manager to stay.
Shelvey was bought by Rafa ...just like Raheem Stirling
ReplyDeleteCan't believe JK hasn't deleted this lol !!
ReplyDeleteJamie,
ReplyDeleteLet it go. Once again trying to make something out of nothing. All he said is to play to players strengths. We'll see if youre still championing br at the end of the season.
Are you going to delete this comment aswell when u have no response?
Why would I delete this comment? It contains no insults etc.
ReplyDeleteSent from Samsung Galaxy Note
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Subject: [liverpoolkop] Re: Dalglish: Forget Barca - The 'long-ball game' is just as effective. Out of touch...? | Liverpool-Kop.com
You say Kenny is a "club legend" and deserves "respect" well how about you show some! He has been sacked, he has moved on, the club has moved on so why don't you Kanwar?
ReplyDeleteSo the fact KD is no longer at LFC means there's some kind of moratorium on critiquing his time as manager? Total nonsense. Your problem is you equate fair criticism with lack of respect. I have not personally attacked KD, so please get over it. Yet another fan who wants to censor all discussion about their Anfield idols...unless it's glowing praise, of course.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to say but I think KD and DC really drowned LFC by their ultra wastefulness in the transfer market. Until now, I'm still very bitter about the fact that we actually paid 35 mil pounds for a young unproven AC that scored 14 goals in 33 top-flight games in his short career. With this ratio of price, games and goals, Messi would have cost at least 800 mil to a billion pounds and Chelsea actually got a big steal in Torres, who is supposed to cost at least 200 mil pounds, rating using the same ratio. 20 mil pounds for JH, a player rated for the future. Not the least to mention SD, a 'player of the year' caliber player who failed to provide a goal or assist in 36 league games as an attacking winger. If anyone thinks that all these dudes came with good credentials, then we must agree that KD failed to utilize the players to their best potential.
ReplyDeleteWith no disrespect, these 2 champions, KD and DC, have no common sense about modern football, finance, running a non-oil oligarch backed football club and identifying/utilizing potential players. Both of them must have at least 1000 hours of compulsory sessions in games such as FIFA manager or championship manager if they ever want to get themselves involved in football management and DOF again, unless they are employed by someone to annihilate a football club, which they are effortlessly capable of.
Agree or not, I think LFC performed much better under BR and he spend money much wiser than KD, rather being forced to do that. As far as I can see, we will have a tough rebuilding phase under BR. So for now, we fans really must manage our expectations well and get behind the club despite results on pitch.
Considering the amount of money Dalglish spent it was no surprise that Liverpool finished top half and with some silverware, the only surprise was that we didn't finish higher in the league.
ReplyDeleteAny top flight manager could have achieved a similar return given the money he spent and trying to big up the League Cup as some sort of achievement? Really? This is the competition for which, never mind Man Utd, teams battling relegation from the premier league will put out reserve players because the cup has so little value in comparison.
A few points to note Jamie. It has never been the intention of Dalglish to play a long ball game. During the best period of Dalglish's first stint as manager we played pass and move (as you mentioned) with John Aldridge as our striker, he was not a pass and move technical player but could get on the end of crosses and the service off Barnes and Beadsley was exceptional. The type Carroll would thrive off. Dalglish thought he could replicate this formation with Downing in the Barnes role and Suarez like Beardsley, hence not a long ball game.
ReplyDeleteIt may well be in our best interests to sell Carroll but to challenge the best in the English game their are times when a variation in play is necessary. Everton demonstrated this perfectly by dominating United. All fans want to watch good football and I admire Rodgers principles but do you see a day when we can beat Barcelona at their game? Chelsea have great players but had to play a certain way to match Barcelona over two legs.
Rodgers actually did try to utilise Carroll's strengths to get a winner against city and he won every header and gave City a different challenge. However for some reason you felt it necessary to point out his passing accuracy stats which actually referred to headers he won. Why?
10 goals in a season from a £35 million striker? I can't tell if you're being serious or not...
ReplyDeleteNo, sorry I just meant that as a reference.My bad!
ReplyDeleteKK = racist would only sign white British players.
ReplyDeleteSorry Jaimie, didn't mean to cause offence. It just seems like your interpretation isn't very well informed.
ReplyDeleteWell he'll more often than not be playing off the bench... ok so if he scored say 15 goals a season (in the league) and they are really really important goals... would that be acceptable?
ReplyDelete100% agree with you mate! Dalglish screwed the club completely and still some people think Dalglish is LFC's god.
ReplyDeleteI find it so hard to accept Liverpool's bad fortune. After decades we had owners who gave manager £100 million to spend and Dalglish wasted it all. We are still counting the cost of his signings as Adam wants £2 million pay-off to leave the club.
If any other manager had that kind of money, we would be challenging for League this season.
Dalglish made Liverpool a joke in media. When Fergie was attacking club on Suarez issue, Dalglish had nothing to say against him. Hid himself with tail between his legs.
I have no respect left for that man. He and his mates(who kept mum during Dalglish's mismanagement) have no right to make any comment about Liverpool.
Clearly last season degenerated into a train wreck both in terms of results and the performance of the players Kenny signed. He did pay for this with his job. So what is to be gained from going over it again? I think the point of his column is that there is more than one way to play football and surely people are allowed to have a preference, even if it is something different to Barcalona. I don't want Liverpool to play like Stoke, one Stoke City is more than enough! On the other hand do we want a world full of second-rate Barcalona copies? I suspect there is probably something in between.
ReplyDeleteGood article Jamie - We can only now dream of what Butch would have done with 100m to spend. KK stabalised us and then we went backwards. The league doesn't lie in this respect. Calling us 'unlucky' for hitting the post a million times is just unclincial finishing. We move forward as one under the new system which in 2/3 games has already got me pretty darn excited for the future. It's time to stop all the ifs and buts and move on a reds together. Get behind the team, the manager and the rest will surely follow. YNWA
ReplyDeleteDaglish has no clue how to manage a team in this premier league era. Last season proved it.
ReplyDeleteI like your view and i wish fans could take thier tinted glasses off and look at reality.
ReplyDeleteSome of the best football? You must have been watching another team...
ReplyDeleteButch???
ReplyDeleteYeah me and some of the lads call BR 'Butch' after it slipped from Uncle Buck - for no apparent reason. We like it so it stuck! ;)
ReplyDeleteWhy Dalglish bashing now? Not very constructive.
ReplyDeleteI think people have judged Adam too quickly. I think among more competent passers he would do a lot better. I am not saying he is a world beater, but I think when you are surrounded by Downing, Henderson, Spearing; it is not so easy.
ReplyDeleteHey Robbie how about it is not only a way of giving defenders a rest but a way of giving up possession. 9 times out of 10 long balls fall to the opposition. If the basic concept for the team is just to hold possession for as long as possible then long ball tactics won't work
ReplyDeleteI disagree. During the month of March in 2009 where we beat the likes of Real Madrid, Aston Villa and Man.UTD heavily, the football we played was close to footballing perfection and for the Liverpool fan, it was the greatest pleasure to watch while to our rivals, it was the worst type of football we could play ;) . As a Liverpool supporter who started watching our games from about 2002 onwards, we played our best football under Rafa. For many reasons which I have my opinion about, we could not sustain that type of play the following season. That was also when our footballing style started to become boring and sterile again.
ReplyDeleteWe have struggled for goals ever since Rafa's last year because we lost creative play-makers like Alonso and Meireles and players such as Benayoun who could unlock resilient teams. Thankfully, Rodgers seems to have acknowledged this straight away and brought in Allen and Assaidi as well as giving Sterling a good chance.
I have to disagree with Dalglish and agree with everything Jamie has written in this article.
Under Dalglish, we were going to become a mid-table team like Stoke. It's no coincidence that the first thing Rodgers did was bench and limit to Europa League action the useless players Dalglish bought. During our game vs. Man.City, where we dominated the game and lost due to lack of understanding by some players of the new system, no player who Dalglish signed was used, apart from Carroll in the last few minutes. Unfortunately, when Carroll was introduced, we starting hoofing the ball up to him and this was neither good for the team, nor for Carroll as a person because if Carroll wants to force his way into the team, the last thing he wants is being perceived as simply a target man by both his team-mates and manager.
Blaming Dalglish for his players hitting the post is fair. He pretended that our players stop hitting the post by a divine intervention from heaven called lady luck. If it happens once in a game, that's understandable, but if it happens throughout nearly every game, than that shows a deeper problem which is most probably of psychological nature. Lack of basic psychological tricks to bring a change from his players was what Dalglish mostly lacked, this reflected itself in his players, especially when our season was deemed over by some first team players after our Carling Cup win. Had Dalglish stayed, I would refer to that cup win as the worst thing to happen to Liverpool, but that negative attitude meant FSG had to act and brought Rodgers in. The clever business-man they are, they managed to turn a win-lose situation heavily biased towards the losing side, towards a win-win situation heavily biased towards long-term stability and more meaningful success.
ReplyDeleteI love how people like you can have these views... From exactly where did you gain your fountain of knowledge??!
ReplyDeleteSO DOES THAT MEAN THAT YOU SPLASH OUT 35 MILLION ON A CRAP PLAYER
ReplyDeleteIT ISN'T ABOUT THE LONG BALL OR THE SHORT BALL IT IS ABOUT THE RIGHT BALL
ReplyDelete