They did sack Kenny, in a way that I didn't like either. But, as much as it disappointed me, Kenny was never their manager. They knew F**k all about football and wanted to get the fans on side as soon as possible. What better way to do that than bring Kenny Dalglish home? The fans appointed Kenny. Eighteen months to two years in the world of football and FSG thought they knew best. They went in the direction that they've pushed the club in ever since. A young manager with a bright future who wouldn't cost the earth.
So while they have sacked Kenny, to some extent I can understand it if not accept the way it went about.
The man here is royalty, and you don't sack him. Nothing can justify it.
That season, there was the "probably" fiasco, Gerrard out for half the season, Lucas out for the other half. Results understandably were affected. None of that mattered to them, only 4th spot counted. So out he went.
Kenny was, in my opinion, never their man. So I think he would have been sacked for that, not because they don't care about the Cup competitions.
They're not Glazer, Lerner, Kenwright, Peter Johnson, Dave Whelan, Freddie Shepherd, Phil Gartside or David Gould either. Which I'm quite happy about.
As for their man, they had no man at all ready to succeed Kenny, when Kenny was hauled to Boston. And the man they eventually appointed was their second choice. They hadn't a clue then, and they don't really have it now either.
A few months later, they refused to sanction the signing of Clint Dempsey over a measly couple of million. Last summer, they blew €20 million on one of the worst players ever to set foot in Anfield to replace Suarez. To me, they're more Lerner than Learning, a bunch of Yankers that know the price of everything and the value of not a lot.
If they do the right thing by LFC Billy it wouldn't bother me if they couldn't spell football.
As it turns out, they can't. Our sport is "sawk-er". Football to them is something you pick up on an artificial pitch in Denver and throw it at someone resembling a bodyguard.
Rushie I don't reckon wanted to go in first place. IMO that was the clubs guilt trip.
I believe that was more of a peace gesture after the wall collapse in Belgium.
I don't mean to butt-in on your and BBB's POV but, I'd have to disagree with you on not being able to attribute blame on H & G for our on-field performances.
How can any team perform when there was so much discord and changes within the boardroom, broken promises to disillusioned players (Torres & Masch) and playing for a club whose very existence was under severe threat (specifically the 'local' lads)? Not to mention playing in front of a home crowd who weren't 100% supporting the team because we were making our feelings known and 'heard' with regards to Waldorf & Statler.
There were way too many factors involved for it not to affect at least some certain players - no matter how professional they're supposed to be.
As professionals, it was their job to go out and win games, and leave the long knife battles to the boardroom.
Well Hicks and Gillett didn't shell out for Djimi Traore. They instead opted for Paul Konchesky. But in answer to your question, no I don't think it makes a great deal of difference. Many people on here will tell you that I've never bought into the idea that money buys success. If you spend it badly, it doesn't matter how much is spent - Robbie Keane or Alberto Aquilani.
I agree that money doesn't buy success, but the Keane signing wasn't a waste of money. Instead he was used brutally as a political football between the coach and the board. I've never seen it before at this club, and I hope I never see it again. One of them has gone on to win more league titles and honours since, the other is off dressing up Charity Shields in the back of beyond as "success" these days.
I'm surprised that you think money doesn't buy success. It's not a guarantee, as you point out you have to buy the right players, but by pretty much every measurable metric it's the most important factor.
You can put away your articles, and get out a copy of last week's football results. That's more proof should it be needed, that cash will not win anything in this game on it's own.
Evident the players were really concerned. One can only wonder how Benitez coped - I heard his health suffered from the stress involved thanks to those slimy bas**rds.
Apart from Peter Risdale at Leeds, I don't think I've ever seen so much destruction to a club by its owners.
Blackburn, Portsmouth?
I'm sure his health was considerably better when the "slimy bas**rds" gave him a brand new, multi-million quid, 4 year contract we couldn't afford. If he kept his mouth shut the following year and got us enough results, he probably would have served it out in full, the club was up for sale at the time. But he couldn't be trusted to do that, so out he went and soon enough, out they went too. Instead it was Kenny and Brendan who had to pick up the pieces the lot of them left behind, with a much weaker squad to choose from and a board that are only interested in us making manc income from the neighbour's expenditure.