Why Kenny Dalglish Has To Go…

Liverpool’s 2-0 defeat against Newcastle epitomizes their season; early promise, inability to score, supposed unlucky decisions, the failure of big name signings but ultimately it told the fans what they already knew; Liverpool are simply not good enough under Kenny Dalglish.

The defeat left them a point below Everton, and at the moment it is hard to see Liverpool regaining their title as the top team on Merseyside let alone England. In their last twelve games, they have amassed the measly total of eight points and find themselves on their worst run in 59 years; in 2012 only Wolves have won less points in the Premier League.

One of the reasons for Liverpool’s failure this season is undoubtedly their lack of creativity and goals. So far this campaign has produced a pitiful 36 goals in 31 games; at the same time in 2010 they had 41 and in 2009 had scored 53. Dalglish has been far too negative, and his side lack cutting edge in the final third. They have the highest number of successful passes in the oppositions half per goal at a 105, compare this to the 48 of Manchester City and the problems are clear; a lot of pretty passing but no end result.

Dalglish’s tactics are undoubtedly the reason for this. His decision to chop and change from a 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3 every other game means Liverpool have no footballing identity, no way of playing that produces consistent performances. In addition, Dalglish is too negative, playing five defenders at Anfield to a Stoke side who have scored eight goals away from home, shows how out of touch he is with the modern game. His rightful status as a Liverpool legend who won seven league titles as a player and three in a previous spell as manager is the only thing keeping him in the job.

But sentiment has no place at a club that has not won the title for twenty-two years. Dalglish’s record is not good enough for a club that should be challenging for league titles not top half finishes. In his first full season Liverpool have a total of 42 points after 31 games at an average of 1.35 points per game. The man who John Henry sacked, Roy Hodgson, had a similar record at 1.25 points per game and without the financial backing Dalglish has enjoyed, in fact overall, Hodgson made £6 million pounds profit in his transfer dealings. In stark contrast Dalglish has spent £104.5 million on Adam, Carroll, Downing, Enrique, Henderson and Suarez.

Except Suarez and Enrique the other four singings have been flops and expensive ones. The responsibility has to fall at Dalglish’s feet and his inability to get the best from them. Stewart Downing in a below average Villa side last season scored 7 and created 9 goals; at Liverpool his return has been just 3 assists and 2 goals. Likewise, Adam last season, at Blackpool scored 9; under Dalglish he has only scored 2. And the biggest outlay, Andy Carroll, at 35 million has only netted six times this season, when he scored 12 in three months for Newcastle. Overall Dalglish has turned average players into bad one’s, that if sold now would not recoup even half what was paid for them.

What improvement have Liverpool fan’s seen under Dalglish then? The most avid Dalglish fans will point to the League Cup triumph at Wembley over Cardiff, and the impending semi-final in the F.A Cup. But the minimum expectation this season, with the amount of money spent, must have been to mount a realistic challenge for Champions League qualification. In a season where Arsenal and Chelsea have been below par Liverpool and their new signings have failed to capitalize and now lie a staggering 16 points behind fourth placed Spurs.

Dalglish’s failure to even challenge for Champions League qualification, his tactical naivety, his failure to create a footballing identity, and ultimately his failure to get results means he has to go if Liverpool are to have any chance of qualifying for the Champions League next season.

What do you think? Is it time for King Kenny to go? Get involved in the comments section….