Regardless of whom we find in the manager's office at Liverpool Football Club, I would argue it likely won't make a blind bit of difference. The fact is that the club went down the toilet on 06th February 2007. That's the date that David Moores sold the club to a couple of cowboys called George Gillett and Tom Hicks in exchange for a £450m debt, in preference to hard cash offered by Middle Easterneners the Dubai Investment Corporation. And there endeth the lesson.
For since then, Liverpool has fallen foul to more mismanagement and poor decision making than the British Leyland Motor Corporation. The cowboy years were swiftly replaced by the Fenway Sports Group era, the lackadaisical period we currently find ourselves in. And, like many distressed and impoverished subjects, the tendency to believe whatever your told is evident. FSG rescued the club from near certain bankruptcy and with this good will in pocket, they have moved on to swiftly set about the club's dismantling. They've fooled many, but not me.
Brendan Rodgers was no more than an expensive experiment undertaken by those that can afford it. The club's much vaunted "strategy". Get a fresh, up and coming, albeit unproven manager. Invest in the best young footballing talent with resale value. Whilst at the same time, this young manager with young talent is going to reinstall the club among the great and the good of world football. On what basis did FSG think this would work? Indeed, where has this ever worked before? Don't get me wrong, I'm all for innovation. However the very essence of youth is, inexperience and the said experience, comes at a cost. It just depends if you're prepared to pay it. It seems to me that John W. Henry and company clearly aren't.
Liverpool FC is a business it always is been and it always will be. However, in business a lot of your success depends on your strategy, which of course depends on the type of business you're in. What works in one area may not in practice, work in another. Expectations need to be adjusted depending on the longevity of the investment and the expected return. If you want a quick return, you have a higher risk. Said investment needs to be employed in the area that will give you the greatest return. This coupled with an aggressive approach, gives you a greater chance of achieving your goal (excuse the pun!).
In the case of FSG, they have sought a quick return on their investment. They've invested close to £1bn if you count the £300m spent on players, the reported £150-£200m investment in stadium redevelopment plus of course their original stake in the region of £300m. I use the term "quick return" because this is implied by the Boston based organization's behavior. In sacking Rodgers, the message I received is: Considering the investment we've made in the club, we expect more. Which is the bit that confuses me. Their signal is mixed.
If you want success or a decent return on your investment after three years, then as I said before, an aggressive approach is required. This is achieved, not in the taking risk in untried tools and methods. These tools and methods being young players and an inexperienced manager. That, for me is a long term approach. That will take much longer than three years. An aggressive approach entails employing your capital to recruit the best manager. The best players. The best methods. FSG's approach in the last three years has done none of those things. All due respect to Rodgers, Colin Pascoe and Mike Marsh. Lazar Marković, Luis Alberto and Fabio Borini. These are not the kind of aggressive installations for success.
A Director of Football and a Transfer Committee. All employed by FSG in order to achieve their return and neither of them can be remotely considered a success. With the exception of Luis Suarez, no recruits into the club have been anywhere near what is required to get Liverpool FC back among the elite. A five year plan that lasted three years is simply nonsense and smacks of fat cat incompetence.
Here we are, looking at the club in 10th place without a manager or a decent performance in god knows how long. I don't think the manager is solely to blame. Fenway Sports Group now have a choice. Put up or shut up. Put your money where your ambition is and employ the quality and experience to get the job done and the return we all want on our investment. Or shut up shop and sell the club to those with the right ambition AND the right approach.
Forget Jürgen Klopp. He's just another attempt at trying to get something for nothing. He's not a bad manager don't get me wrong. He has tasted success. But it has to be said, not at the highest level and he's definitely not in the class of Carlo Ancelotti this is without question. A proven man with credentials to back it up. A man who has won just about everything worth winning in European club football. Nothing in the beautiful game, or in life is a given but whenever one takes a risk, always protect the downside and you have a better chance. Ancelotti is a risk worth taking.
For me, it looks as if the club are about to take another wrong turn. Following the sign that says mediocrity. As for Liverpool fans, sometimes you need to be careful what you wish for, because you might just get it.
Follow Ben on Twitter @MrBengreen
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