The Liverpool Thread 2017/2018 featuring Jurgen Klopp

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Liverpool have lined up Roberto Martinez to replace Kenny Dalglish as the club’s new manager, Goal.com understands.
Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the Reds’ American owners, made contact with Wigan boss Martinez last week through third parties and sources have described the Spaniard as the hot favourite to take over at Anfield after Dalglish was sacked on Wednesday.

As revealed by Goal.com in April, Martinez has already decided to leave Wigan this summer and, despite Latics owner Dave Whelan denying that an official approach has been made, Liverpool are now expected to make a formal move for the 38-year-old, who is also on Aston Villa’s shortlist.

Former Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas is also under consideration as John W Henry, Liverpool’s principal owner, targets a younger and more progressive manager to mount a challenge for a top-four finish next season.

Martinez guided the Latics to safety in the Premier League this season following a stunning run of form towards the end of the campaign that included victories over Manchester United, Arsenal, Newcastle and the Reds themselves.

He has been continually tipped by Whelan to manage at the highest level and feels ready to make the next step in his career after turning down the opportunity to take over at Villa a year ago.

Villas-Boas was sacked by Chelsea in March but still has a reputation as one of the most promising managers in Europe and is the leading candidate for the vacant managerial position at Italian side Roma.

But Martinez is in pole position to land one of the most prestigious jobs in English football after Liverpool legend Dalglish following the club’s poor performances in the league this season.

The Scot met the owners in Boston earlier this week but could not save his job after 16 months back at the helm, with FSG particularly frustrated with Liverpool’s failure in the transfer market having spent £110 million on new players. It is believed that Henry and chairman Tom Werner had been leaning towards sacking Dalglish for several weeks and have been considering potential replacements.

The Reds won the League Cup and reached the FA Cup final, but could only finish eighth in the league, 37 points behind champions Manchester City.

Dalglish was left in a vulnerable position following the dismissal in April of director of football Damien Comolli as FSG underwent a major restructuring of the club.

“Results in the Premier League have been disappointing and we believe to build on the progress that has already been made, we need to make a change,” said Werner in a statement on Liverpool’s official website.

"We are committed to delivering success for our supporters and our ambition remains resolute to return this great Club to the elite of England and Europe, where it belongs."

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/...-after-sacking

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

It was the only logical decision as an outsider - either the squad wasn't good enough, in which case that's Dalglish's fault, having assembled it at huge cost, or he couldn't get the players to perform and somebody else will probably perform better.

spot on. easy to look from the outside but we haven't spent £100m+ on the club. i guess they came to the stark reality that existing management weren't going to take them to that next level and alongside certain incidents (suarez) that occurred during the season, which didn't make their brand look good, they took the decision to get rid. had it not been kenny the kop would have turned on the manager a long time ago. im guessing the board want to spend a lot of money and reinvest into the squad this summer but if they give the money to kenny again, who's to say he'll spend it wisely this time? they've splashed an awful amount on awful players so there's probably a mistrust there and rightly so.

kenny stabilised the club but he was certainly never their first choice; he took over from roy and had to completely overhaul the squad, get rid of the crap benitez had bought in (kyrgiakos, ngog, nemeth etc), and create a togetherness at anfield. he certainly did all that but didn't take them to that next level, only a top class manager can do that. thats why they've made their decision and although he's a legend, it's probably the best for the long term. it's not going to make them worse is it, they've had a poor domestic campaign. just wish our board were half as ruthless as some of these owners and would inflict some pressure onto wenger.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

spot on. easy to look from the outside but we haven't spent £100m+ on the club. i guess they came to the stark reality that existing management weren't going to take them to that next level and alongside certain incidents (suarez) that occurred during the season, which didn't make their brand look good, they took the decision to get rid. had it not been kenny the kop would have turned on the manager a long time ago. im guessing the board want to spend a lot of money and reinvest into the squad this summer but if they give the money to kenny again, who's to say he'll spend it wisely this time? they've splashed an awful amount on awful players so there's probably a mistrust there and rightly so.

kenny stabilised the club but he was certainly never their first choice; he took over from roy and had to completely overhaul the squad, get rid of the crap benitez had bought in (kyrgiakos, ngog, nemeth etc), and create a togetherness at anfield. he certainly did all that but didn't take them to that next level, only a top class manager can do that. thats why they've made their decision and although he's a legend, it's probably the best for the long term. it's not going to make them worse is it, they've had a poor domestic campaign. just wish our board were half as ruthless as some of these owners and would inflict some pressure onto wenger.

My God, I don't think there's anything I can argue with there.

[Dennis Bendtner]

The problem with most new managers would surely be them needing an overhaul of sorts to be able to maximise their own ability to be successful. I'm not sure what to expect Martinez or Benitez to do with Carroll and Drowning. That is the issue with committing to and backing a manager - as the owners did - and pulling the plug early. Well obviously it ultimately goes back to it being a poor call in the first place. But now surely it'd get worse before getting better for Liverpool. Might be a short-term bounce under a new manager, but the cycle would continue. Depends on how much the Yanks are prepared to back the new man after the amount already spent.

That said, Lambert could probably turn Carroll into Holt and Drowning into Hoolahan. Lots suggesting Martinez is the favourite, though.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Whoever the new guy is, he needs to be there for the long term and given time, money and 100% backing from the club. It never really felt like Kenny got that support, which is understandable as he was never really their choice.

Not a stop gap, or whoever RAWK wants, or a short term name, but their choice.

I would hope there's a bit of movement with regards to the stadium, and the behind-the-scenes jobs if only for the image some stability.

Personally: Lambert - meh, Martinez - louder meh, Rodgers - quietly optimistic, AVB - I can see the pros and cons, Klopp - would scream like a little girl but it won't happen, Rafa - Noooooooooooo!

[tpyo]

Is Pardew not a candidate?

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre has paid tribute to Kenny Dalglish whilst rubbishing claims that he had also left the club.

The Merseyside giants confirmed the departure of Dalglish on Wednesday, sacking the Anfield legend after their worst league campaign in over half a century.

Ayre, speaking to Sky Sports News, confirmed that Dalglish was still held in the highest regard by the club.

"Obviously it was a difficult decision, he is a great legend of this football club who has brought a lot, even in this last 18 months," said Ayre.

"But we feel it is the right decision and something we have to move forward with, but lots of praise and admiration for the great man.

"We have a big long-term plan for this club, and we have always talked about moving forward and progress on and off the pitch, we have created a lot of foundation to build the business on and increase revenue and other things.

"But next, the most important thing is football and results were perhaps not where we wanted them to be and that drives the decision."

Quizzed about whether Dalglish could again move to a role 'upstairs' at Anfield, he refused to be drawn.

Moving forward

"Today is about moving forward and the future is for discussion in the future," he said.

He was also quick to deny rumours suggesting that he was also on his way out of Anfield

"Absolutely not, no question of that from my point of view, and no induction of that from anyone upstairs," he said.

"The football club is now in a much healthier shape than it was last January off the pitch.

"The owners have removed the debt and everything is now being put in place to compete commercially and financially with our main rivals.

"The only missing piece of the jigsaw - the most important piece of the jigsaw - is football and success in the Premier League.

"The club has a clear long-term strategy in place to get to where we want to be - on and off the pitch - and that is why changes have been made on both the football and business sides of the club.

"Whilst Kenny is disappointed to have left, he's a man of great dignity and the respect we have for him will never change."

http://www1.skysports.com/football/n...ying-with-Reds

[cricketsi]

Whoever the new guy is, he needs to be there for the long term and given time, money and 100% backing from the club. It never really felt like Kenny got that support, which is understandable as he was never really their choice.

Not a stop gap, or whoever RAWK wants, or a short term name, but their choice.

I would hope there's a bit of movement with regards to the stadium, and the behind-the-scenes jobs if only for the image some stability.

Personally: Lambert - meh, Martinez - louder meh, Rodgers - quietly optimistic, AVB - I can see the pros and cons, Klopp - would scream like a little girl but it won't happen, Rafa - Noooooooooooo!

Why's Lambert a meh but Rodgers an optimistic hope?

[Cripps_orig]

LIVERPOOL last night axed Kenny Dalglish as boss — a month after bosses said they had total faith in him.

Owner John W Henry will now fly into Britain to interview candidates with inspirational Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers understood to be top of his shortlist.

Wigan’s Roberto Martinez, Newcastle boss Alan Pardew and former Chelsea chief Andre Villas-Boas are also in the frame. There was even a betting stampede last night for ex-Kop boss Rafa Benitez.

Liverpool legend Dalglish paid the price for the Reds’ worst league points tally in 50 years, despite his Carling Cup triumph.

Dalglish said: “Of course I am disappointed with league results but I would not have swapped the Carling Cup win for anything.

“Whilst I’m obviously disappointed to be leaving, the matter has been handled by the owners in an honourable, respectful and dignified way.”

Dalglish made it clear he wanted to remain as manager, rather than consider a move upstairs, leaving Henry and Tom Werner’s Fenway Sports Group with the decision to make.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...the-frame.html

Would Liverpool fans swap a Carling Cup trophy for anything?

Also Rodgers, AVB or Pardew, who do you want?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

From BBC Sportsday:

Mark Wells on Twitter: "My personal preference would be Frank Rijkaard for the Liverpool job. He turned Barca around before Pep."