As I have intimated many times on this blog John W Henry stated, before the season started, during the season and after the Carling Cup win that Champions League qualification was the main target of a season which starting on a high following green shoots of recovery in the second-half of last season with the re-introduction of Kenny Dalglish to the hot chair.
It doesn't take a brain surgeon to recognise that the sanctioning of transfer spend on Adam, Henderson, Downing and Enrique and also a plethora of highly thought of youngsters was on the back of an economic plan based on qualification to the Champions League. The fact that FSG have seen fit to part with him almost on the eve of the final is evidence if needed that the FA and Carling Cup, although important are not the be all and end all for them especially when the dynamics of CL qualifications is so vast in comparison.
As Iain Boyd, Liverpool Supporters Club Member said upon hearing the news, "the fact that so many French speaking players are doing so well in the Premiership didn't augur well for him either".
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| Damian Camolli |
He will long be remembered at Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool - he takes the credit when he signs a player, but when things go wrong, it's nothing to do with him.
ReplyDeleteBit of a shock.
ReplyDeleteMust be some behind the scenes unhappiness with perhaps some of the signings.
John Mac
We believe that is the first step in the process of Dalglish going in the summer.
ReplyDeleteThe role of Comolli had to go into question - he didn't find anyone or wasn't able to convince the previous management or currentmanagement that he had found players who would have brought excitement to the LFC squad - so for mind he was a waste of time having at the club.
It certainly shows that the Yanks aren’t happy and they aren’t afraid to pull the trigger. The timing seems a bit funny to me. If we are going to stick with Kenny whay not just let Camolli see out the season? Why sack him just before a massive FA Cup fixture? I think it means that they have already sounded out a new manager for next season who has refused to work with a director of football and they are clearing the decks in preparation.
ReplyDeleteBaz
Does Comolli getting fired count as Downing's first assist of the season? Boom Boom!
Deletethe guys stitched us right up with some of the players he brought in, glad some has woken up and start to make serious decisions about our club, how much more pain can we see our team dipping
ReplyDeleteDon’t be surprised if Rafa has beensounded out !!!
DeleteThe words “FULL CONTROL” ringa bell during Rafa’s tenure as manager !!!!
He’s probably the only manager that fans would readily accept as a replacement for Dalglish. I could see Kenny going upstairs and Rafa coming back but I hope it doesn’t happen. Rafa did alright sometimes but we had long runs of average results and crap football during his first stint as manager. Also FSG must know that Rafa has consistently waged open warfare with the board of any club he’s managed.
DeleteAlso forgot to say that Ian Ayre was on the board that forced Rafa out so I can't see him wanting him back.
Looking at Rafa’s record – he onlymissed out on CL the season he got fired – so if we have any chance ofgetting back there in the foreseeable future – we are going to need tohave a manager long-term with the tactical nous – if that is Rafa then sobe it – but I also do not believe it will be him.
DeleteRafa is still fuming because whatever he asked the previous owners for he seemed to end up with a table. He refuses to sell his property in Liverpool!! It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he’s not begging to come back. I also heard him talk, when pressed, about the England job!
DeleteI don't believe it should be him.
DeleteAlso, although Rafa was pretty consistent at qualifing for the Champs league we must remember that at that time City were broke and Spurs were a shambles, it’s a different story now so it’s that much harder to qualify.
ReplyDeleteTom Werner Interview
ReplyDeleteTom, the news this morning that Damien Comolli is leaving the club will have come as a surprise to many fans. Can you explain why the decision was taken?
I think it's fair to say no supporter would be delighted with the results we've achieved this year. We feel we are a club that needs to be perceived as the strongest club in football and we want to get there. Frankly, we make these decisions with a great deal of care because it's our track record in Boston to give people authority and we've had great success with our manager, who was there for eight years, and our general manager, so we prefer stability. But when it's time to act, we need to act. We're coming close to the end of the season and the transfer window for the summer, and we felt it was important to make this change expeditiously.
In light of Damien's departure, do you still think there is a need for a director of football at this club?
We're still confident the structure we've discussed is the right structure. That doesn't mean we won't look at tweaking it, but we feel a collective group of people making football decisions is healthy. The debate is healthy. Part of the reason we made this decision now is because we want to start the process of finding an excellent replacement.
Do you have a candidate in mind for the role?
We don't have any specific candidates in mind. Part of the reason we made this decision yesterday was to be in the best possible position to move forward as quickly as possible.
Is Damien's departure a reflection that the ownership group were unhappy with the return on player investment?
I would say we certainly have the resources to compete with anybody in football. I wouldn't want to get specific about any particular decision that's been made. We feel there is enough talent on the pitch to win and, as I said, we've been dissatisfied, as most supporters have been, with the results so far. But we're also talking about the future - we have a strategy we need implemented and we felt Damien was probably not the right person to implement that strategy.
Does Damien Comolli's departure have any impact upon Kenny Dalglish's position as manager?
Absolutely not. We've got great confidence in Kenny. We feel the team is going to make strides in the future and he enjoys our full support.
Do you envisage any other changes in the senior management of the club?
We do not. It's a good question. We believe the senior management is very strong, Ian Ayre is an outstanding managing director. His charge is to raise revenue so that we can put the resources into strengthening our football club. We've got great confidence in the other people in football operations, and so the answer is there will be no future changes of significance.
In terms of transfer activity this summer, will Damien's departure affect plans that are already underway?
We've had a strategy that we have agreed on. There was some disconnect on the implementation of that. That strategy is a strong one and it will continue. We need to build a strong system under the first team. We're hard at work identifying transfer targets and we will be better next year.
Finally, as chairman of Liverpool Football Club, do you have a message for the supporters ahead of the very important game on Saturday?
We're all excited about this match. We certainly feel the team is healthy and the team is committed. We just attended a practice where they are excited about returning to Wembley. There's only one team in England that has the possibility of winning this cup and the Carling Cup, and I think our supporters around the world should feel very confident.
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/werner-on-comolli-kenny-and-semi
Love to see the report that Kenny submitted...
DeleteSounds like Kenny is safe and Damien was identified as the week link, he obviously isn’t going to bring up individual mistakes made by the management team but it’s clear that they disagree with some decisions have been made in terms of transfers and strategy.
DeleteIn defence of Comolli if Dalglish made all the final decisions on who to sign and DC just handled the negotiations then I can’t see what he could have done to improve our fortunes this year. Surely FSGs disappointment at this years performance has a lot more to do with the coaching staff, but from the sounds of the Werner interview Kenny is as safe as houses. It doesn’t really add up.
Sounds like Dalglish is blaming Camolli...
Delete"[Comolli] has been really helpful in every transfer target we've gone for," said Dalglish.
"Everyone who has come into the club since Damien has been here was of my choice.
"Once I made the choice who I wanted Damien went away and did a fantastic job of bringing them in. ( Comolli overpaid for the players )
Lose the semi and he's gone!!!
DeleteI think being Kenny Dalglish has saved him and bought him some time. Damien Comolli given his remit has obviously bitten the bullet and shouldered the blame in terms of the transfers. What it does say is FSG are not stupid and understand what Dalglish means to Liverpool history.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't mean the manager is bomb proof, not by any means. The pressure is now two fold. First the manager's decision are now, if they weren't already, in the spotlight because the players he brings in over the summer will definitely be his and the team's performance next season will be judged in terms of Premiership form, which supports my feeling in the blog that cup performance, although great for the club is seen by John W Henry and co as relative failure and see Champions League qualification as the holy grail, because its easier to move the club into a stronger economic footing from a top four position.
*One proviso though. After Tom Werner's comments yersterday, it's now very difficult to say if we don't win the FA Cup semi-final whether Dalglish will not increasing pressure before the season's out.
Secondly, the dismissal of Comolli highlights the sub-standard performances Henderson, Carroll, Adam and Downing and each player knows the time is not on their side and they must start delivering or their stay on Merseyside may be short.
Given Dalglish recent mantra over the Suarez/Affair it is difficult to know whether his statement of the transfers being his choices is him saying that at LFC we don't signal out anyone person, but on the flipside if they were his purchases he can count himself lucky.
That said, get through to the FA Cup final with a strong performance by one of the maligned players above and the time of the announcement maybe seen as very big up the backside which served its purpose. But, the long-term prognosis for the manager its all about Premiership performance in 2012/13.
Head of Sports and medicine and science Peter Brukner and the goalkeeping coach John Achterberg were fired which suggests that blame was apportioned everywhere, but at the manager's door. Take a look at Brad Jones and Gulasci both keepers were sent out on loan and were unable to hold down a place at their loan clubs which says a lot about whoever sanctioned the buys, was it Dalglish or Camolli... who knows, but there is a belief that the club owes him the chance to put things right.
Sent from my HTC
I may be a little harsh but what could a former Tranmere keeper (who hasplayed 253 times for Tranmere) teach a former Barcelona, Villareal & current LFC keeper– except for techniques in how to pick the ball out of the net !!!
ReplyDeletePepe deserves to work with the best to improve as a keeper –he has been a top class servant for us and you only realise how good andreliable he is when he isn’t in the team.
Ominous signs are that the owners are supposedly looking atthe work of the great Johan Cruyff and brilliant Louis van Gaal as potential newDirectors of Football – Cruyff for his part in setting up the outstandingacademy at Barcelonaand van Gaal for his history of producing great young players over the years.
I feel if either of them are brought in they would want aDutch coach like Rijkaard or Van Basten/Gullitt to work with – might bewrong but that’s my hunch on this situation.
I thought Pepe's coach was Vinnie Jones after the nut!
Deleteguys tomorrow game is it on TV?
DeleteESPN.
DeleteNot for me, fortunately managed to acquire a ticket.
DeleteTo look at these players Comolli bought Dmitar Berbatov (£10.9m), Luka Modric (£16.6m) and Gareth Bale (£10m) for Spurs that's only £37.5m £2.5m more than Carroll, in addition, Charlie Adam (Blackpool) £9m, Stewart Downing £20m what was he thinking.
DeleteMervyn
Even if money wasn't an issuing....who would want Carroll, Henderson and Adam anyway? It's not just poor financial business but poor quality of product too. Average players make average teams and so far in the last 10 years Liverpool have sacked numerous members of staff that have left the club with too many average players in the squad. Spurs, Newcastle and even Everton are proving that you can scale down squads and slowly build stronger squads without wasting the finance we do.
DeleteTotally agree with Leon on that point - we have been naively arrogant with our spending, thinking we can add another £5m here and there for players who quite frankly are just not up to the standard required to get us to CL qualification minimum and ultimately to compete for titles and get to the later stages of the CL.
DeleteThe guy had money to burn, but the fact is Kenny wanted to go all out and buy English players, bring back the hay days,
Deletethus: Carroll, Adam, Downing, Henderson. So that is what Comolli brought in, and then he gets sacked fo it.
But you should always look to buy value for money players not just players for buying sake - it was pointless buying Henderson this season as he hasn't done anything at all to justify the purchase and we already had another young midfielder Jonjo Shelvey bought the previous year who we were heralding as the new Gerrard and has shown more potential.
DeleteSuarez to me is a hit with the quality he produces on the pitch - his goals to chances ratio improving is the only thing missing from his game.
I feel next season Andy Carroll will now longer have any more excuses as he has been at the club long enough to be established and ready to start firing goals from the start of next season - I expect him to be left out of the Euro 2012 England squad and for him to be determined to show that he is a very good player - who can link up play and give any defence nightmares.
Good point David... be interesting to see if Carroll is picked for Euro's, be a joke if he is. Can someone tell me how much Cisse of Newcastle cost???
Delete9 mill
DeleteThat means that Carroll is supposedly almost 4 times better!!! NOT!!! LOL
DeleteCarroll's price will give us 4 of his kind.
DeleteI certainly understand the reasons for those dismissals yesterday.
DeleteCamolli - wasted lots of money, partly funded by hard pressed supporters cash. Dalglish identified the players he wanted but not the cost or wages of those players. Harry Redknapp runs a similar ship. Bottom line is that the owners found that they couldn't trust him with another bean of their money.
Chief of medical staff - supposed to get players up and running after injury, performing at their optimum level. I don't know if Carroll and Stevie would necessarily endorse him. We've had a problem with medical staff at the club for some years.
Goalkeeping coach - couldn't catch a cold!
Very disappointed that the head of media didn't lose his job too.
Said before that the owners are pretty ruthless in the sphere of baseball, but they should take some of the blame. Comolli's been sacked from his last two jobs so where's the surprise!?!
DeleteMe too.
ReplyDeleteHopefully me as well.
DeleteForget about Damien's misdemeanours with the FSG Chequebook, what's your
ReplyDeletepreferred team for tomorrows mighty exciting FA Cup Semi with the
Bitters? Here's mine....
My Preferred Line up:
Jones
Johnson Agger Skrtel Enrique
Maxi Gerrard Spearing Suarez
Shelvey
Carroll
What I think Kenny will actually pick:
Jones
Johnson Agger Skrtel Enrique
Kuyt Gerrard Spearing Downing
Carroll Suarez
Do not be surprised if Kenny plays all his summer signings in this game with the watching owners in attendance.
DeleteYes, he'll probably have Adam running about on crutches in centre-mid!
DeleteAll the ones that are not out injured I meant!!! LOL
DeleteI bet you to the full lengtof my mortgage, Jordan Henderson will start ahead of Maxi tomorrow.
DeleteI hope he does start... back in Liverpool!
DeleteLike David said and I agree, the owners are in town, so he will play them, most likely from the start. A lot of pressure on tomorrow's game.
ReplyDeleteIt's game that Everton are going to be extremely up for and we need to be on our best game for 90 mins to get through with the victory.
DeleteI'm hoping that Kenny knows that there is tonnes of pressure for us to win this game so he'll make his selection nased on who he thinks will win the match and not base his selection on who signed the players. If we lose tomorrow will put him on very shakey ground despite SFG's profussed confidence in him.
DeleteBaz - for me it's the dreaded vote in confidence that was announced yesterday - lose the semi and see what happens then!!!
DeleteLose the semi final and Kenny HAS to go and take Carroll with him.
DeleteCarroll did okaythe otherday but still not value for money.
Couldn't afford to buy a ticket for Wembley So I have got myself a job there tomorrow to wtahc it while I work.
Good stuff
Valerie
Val - How you get a job as the Lierbird mascot at Wembleyand didn't tell us til now??? LOL
DeleteCome back please with live pictures on your smart phones.
DeleteThis is the game we are underdogs and Everton favourite to win. Make no mistake, if Steve G produce on the pitch the same venom he produced at the press conference yesterdsay, then we are in for a moth watering semi-final but FA cup semi-final between Liverpool vs Everton and they do not come any bigger.
DeleteInteresting team as usual Barry! Think I'd go the same with shelvey dropping into give us a five. pretty concerned by enrique's form of late but no real alternatives....
DeleteCould see you're predicted team being correct again also and wouldn't have any real problems with that line up as think despite having a really poor season Kuyt is still a big game player and his energy and strenght could be vital to winning the midfield battle, whilst downing provides a good balance and is sort of player who usually benefits from a bigger pitch....
Be gutted if carroll doesn't start as think he is finally starting to show the form that made us sign him, dominating defenders and winning every ball in the air and holding is up well and bringing others into play.....