Is Kenny REALLY the right choice?

[LadyRed]

Obviously we all love Kenny, etc. And no one questioned whether or not he should have been appointed as caretaker manager: he should have, and he's done great.

But long term, don't we want to look to a manager who can be here for the next 5-10 years, is Kenny really that man? Or do we really want to be looking for another manager in a couple of years?

 

[ankreds]

The owners like him they'll probably back him and I trust him to bring in the right players in the summer window.

 

[Squiggles]

I see no reason why Kenny couldn't be here in five years.

 

[Farkmaster]

Houllier and Rafa were both managers selected who we hoped would be with us for a long time. The reality is that it's rare for that to happen, and it doesn't seem like something that can be planned for.

We needed Kenny very badly this season, and he's done brilliantly. Given the disastrous situation we found ourselves in, and are just starting to climb our way out of, it's a bit presumptuous to start thinking a couple years down the road. If Kenny is the man to get us back into contention, which is most certainly doable, he's the right man, simple enough.

It would be like considering getting rid of Gerrard since he's getting older and we will need midfield cover in a couple years anyway.

Kenny has just been magic too, the magic the club needs. The whole spirit surrounding Liverpool is so much brighter right now, even if the football is mediocre, and I've always thought in some romantic but historically proven way that this club is a matter of collective will.

 

[Spionkop69]

[quote author=LadyRed link=topic=44637.msg1303291#msg1303291 date=1300725928]
Obviously we all love Kenny, etc. And no one questioned whether or not he should have been appointed as caretaker manager: he should have, and he's done great.

But long term, don't we want to look to a manager who can be here for the next 5-10 years, is Kenny really that man? Or do we really want to be looking for another manager in a couple of years?
[/quote]

Ferguson is 69. Kenny has 9 years on him and frankly despite the loss to West Ham and the draw at home to Wigan, the form that we have shown since he took over, means he is the right choice. For me he is anyway.

The reasons why?:
1. He knows the club inside out
2. He deals with the press in just the way he should
3. Yes, he makes mistakes but he learns from them - look at Jay Spearing getting a game ahead of Poulsen and performing well. Never would have happened under Hodgson.
4. He's getting the right results in the league - look at the form book since he took over
5. He's getting under Ferguson's skin just by being here
6. He's willing to vary his tactics and not stick rigidly to one system.
7. He understands us (the fans) and knows what we want but is managing our expectations.

He IS the manager for the long term and those with doubts (and I was one at the beginning of the season) should look at the evidence before our eyes.

The title will be coming home sooner rather than later.

 

[themn]

Yes.

Lock the thread.

 

[mark1975]

20 out of 30 points so far, we lost our best striker, our replacement for him has only just returned from injury, while Gerrard has either been injured or out of sorts for the most part.

Last season it would have been unthinkable to spend the majority of the time without Gerrard AND Torres, but we've got by since Kenny's appointment and by and large, other players like Ming, Kuyt and now Suarez have stepped upto the plate and shown we CAN play good football, win games and not be so reliant on the players who've carried us for the last few seasons.

When Roy was losing, alot of people in the press blamed Rafa and the players. When Kenny took over the press were willing him to fail to prove they were right about Roy, Rafa and the players and just because it would smash the fairytale. We've gone from strength to strength and so has Kenny. We look more unified than we have in a long time and we're playing better football.

It's all small steps on the way back to challenging again, but it's significant progress. In the current climate the immediate future of the club should preside over who'll be here several years down the line. We need to get back to the top, fast.

 

[mark1975]

Sorry, I think it's 23 out of 33*

 

[SaintGeorge67]

[quote author=themn link=topic=44637.msg1303311#msg1303311 date=1300727724]
Yes.

Lock the thread.
[/quote]

Exactly

 

[themn]

[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=44637.msg1303317#msg1303317 date=1300728292]
20 out of 30 points so far, we lost our best striker, our replacement for him has only just returned from injury, while Gerrard has either been injured or out of sorts for the most part.

Last season it would have been unthinkable to spend the majority of the time without Gerrard AND Torres, but we've got by since Kenny's appointment and by and large, other players like Ming, Kuyt and now Suarez have stepped upto the plate and shown we CAN play good football, win games and not be so reliant on the players who've carried us for the last few seasons.

When Roy was losing, alot of people in the press blamed Rafa and the players. When Kenny took over the press were willing him to fail to prove they were right about Roy, Rafa and the players and just because it would smash the fairytale. We've gone from strength to strength and so has Kenny. We look more unified than we have in a long time and we're playing better football.

It's all small steps on the way back to challenging again, but it's significant progress. In the current climate the immediate future of the club should preside over who'll be here several years down the line. We need to get back to the top, fast.
[/quote]

Yep, pretty much what I said.

 

[HC]

I'd say Fergie is an exceptional circumstance for a man of his age to still be at the very top of footballing management and therefore not a fair benchmark.

Although, by the same token I can't see why Kenny couldn't be here for the next 5 years, in that period potentially groom and oversee the passover to young blood who'll have learnt the clubs game, spirit and soul from the great man.

I don't think we'd be any better off at present if we had Jose or whoever and as far as im concerned as long as Kenny is saying the right things and showing the right things on the pitch, he's the right man for the job.

 

[Le Chacal]

He is.

There is only one guy I'd pick before Kenny and hes not available.

 

[keniget]

Part of me does want to look to the future with a new manager who can write his own history with the club - someone like Klopp perhaps. But then, as Fark said, the best thing we can probably do right now is try and re0establish ourselves as a top club and enjoy a bit of stability.

I'm not entirely convinced by the tactics we've employed at times or by a lot of the football we've seen, but the results have largely been positive and that should probably earn Kenny a proper season to show he can do.

 

[RolandG]

I wanted Kenny from the get go. There's no questioning the credentials of a multiple league winner who knows what Liverpool is about and what this institution is about. He's done it before and can do it again.

Any doubts should be dispelled by how he has taken us out of the rut we were in. As for the future, let Kenny groom our next manager throught the Bootroom. Sorted!

 

[dmishra]

Ferguson and Robson managed into their 70s. Health permitting, continuing is only a matter of will and I'm sure Kenny has it. So I don't see why he can't be around for another 5-6 years.

If it's a question of track record, Kenny's record is as good as any manager who'd be available to us in the next 5-6 years. While you may make a case for someone like Mourinho over Kenny, the fact of the matter is that this club needs to be re-built not just as a team but as a club as well. And while Mourinho might possibly be better at the former, I'm convinced that there's no one better available on the planet at the latter than Kenny.

And this is coming from someone who had initial concerns about Kenny's ability to fit in with modern day management. In fact, I still think Kenny will face a lot of challenges tactically and in the transfer window, but with the backroom team we've assembled (Clarke and Comolli), I get a feeling that we have for the first time since Rafa and Pako, a group of individuals with defined roles and a common vision (and all with a point to prove).

And if FSG stay true to the initial promise they've shown and Borrell and Segura keep up the brilliant work they're doing, I'm quietly confident that the league title will be paraded at Anfield sometime within the next 5 years.

 

[LadyRed]

[quote author=keniget link=topic=44637.msg1303333#msg1303333 date=1300728942]
Part of me does want to look to the future with a new manager who can write his own history with the club - someone like Klopp perhaps. But then, as Fark said, the best thing we can probably do right now is try and re0establish ourselves as a top club and enjoy a bit of stability.

I'm not entirely convinced by the tactics we've employed at times or by a lot of the football we've seen, but the results have largely been positive and that should probably earn Kenny a proper season to show he can do.
[/quote]

I guess these are the thoughts I'm having. I watched the game with my dad yesterday, who obviously lived through Kenny's first reign, and he's certainly convinced, despite his love for Kenny, that long term it would be best for the club and Kenny for a new manager to come in.

For what it's worth, I'm not sure either way at this point. Sentiment is swaying my judgement and wanting Kenny, but the fear of it all going wrong and how badly it would effect him and the club worries me.

 

[Squiggles]

What's stopping Kenny writing more history with this club?

Okay, there maybe doubts over his age, but managers never seem to last more than five to six years here anyway, and we're considered extremely patient.

We've improved hugely under Dalglish and to upset that this summer would be highly illogical. It could all go very wrong in the next year or two, but that can happen with anyone.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

We shouldn't be looking long term, we just need to get back to being competitive ASAP and there is no one better for Liverpool than Kenny for that job

I have to admit I was nervous about Kenny taking the position at first as I felt we were making the decision based on sentimentality and had the same fears for Kenny i.e it would crash and burn and take the shine of his crown.

How wrong I was delights me on a daily basis, we are currently matching some of the best football we've played in the last 20 years with probably the worst group of players we have had in the same period. OK probably a slight exageration but stiil I can't wait to see the team that Kenny puts together over the summer and for once don't care who we sign once Kenny wants them.

Honestly with a bit of luck and some good spending we could challenge next year as none of the other sides are exactly pulling up tress, the United side topping the table is their worst in years and everybody else is tripping over themselves to hand them the title.

 

[Squiggles]

[quote author=Bob Loblaw link=topic=44637.msg1303364#msg1303364 date=1300731963]
We shouldn't be looking long term, we just need to get back to being competitive ASAP and there is no one better for Liverpool than Kenny for that job

I have to admit I was nervous about Kenny taking the position at first as I felt we were making the decision based on sentimentality and had the same fears for Kenny i.e it would crash and burn and take the shine of his crown.

How wrong I was delights me on a daily basis, we are currently matching some of the best football we've played in the last 20 years with probably the worst group of players we have had in the same period. OK probably a slight exageration but stiil I can't wait to see the team that Kenny puts together over the summer and for once don't care who we sign once Kenny wants them.

Honestly with a bit of luck and some good spending we could challenge next year as none of the other sides are exactly pulling up tress, the United side topping the table is their worst in years and everybody else is tripping over themselves to hand them the title.
[/quote]

That's a huge exaggeration, Bob, but I agree with the rest of it.

As it stands the league is there for anyone who can consistently perform. There isn't a huge gulf in talent for us, or anyone else, to overcome next year - although we definitely still have the most catching up to do.

 

[HC]

Can everybody please stop rehashing the same 'no' answer and give us something new?

 

[LadyRed]

Are we really playing 'some of the best football we've played in 20years'? We've had a few good performances, yes. But yesterday, Thursday, West Ham and Wigan certainly wasn't.

 

[localny]

I think the only reasons we might have question marks over Kenny is

1. his ability to attract European talent - a sexy v neck younger manager might be more appealing
2. His results in Europe are underwhelming thus far. I would have concerns over him in Europe.


But I can't see anyone else doing any better. The names mentioned thus far are all more of a risk.

 

[iseered]

He has done well under very difficult circumstances, taking us from 12th to challenging for 5th, beating Chelsea and Man U in the process.
He should get proper backing in the summer, and then we can properly judge him after a full season.

 

[Farkmaster]

[quote author=LadyRed link=topic=44637.msg1303375#msg1303375 date=1300733229]
Are we really playing 'some of the best football we've played in 20years'? We've had a few good performances, yes. But yesterday, Thursday, West Ham and Wigan certainly wasn't.
[/quote]

We've played better football just a couple years ago, let alone 20 years, but by god are we better than under Roy, where I'm not sure if we played football at all.

 

[Squiggles]

[quote author=localny link=topic=44637.msg1303376#msg1303376 date=1300733458]
I think the only reasons we might have question marks over Kenny is

1. his ability to attract European talent - a sexy v neck younger manager might be more appealing
2. His results in Europe are underwhelming thus far. I would have concerns over him in Europe.


But I can't see anyone else doing any better. The names mentioned thus far are all more of a risk.
[/quote]

A manager who is a club legend and has won the best trophies as a player and a manager should be more appealing than some twat in a V-neck.

(Sorry Once)

Point two is valid, but only if we're able to qualify for Europe in the first place.

 

[LadyRed]

[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=44637.msg1303391#msg1303391 date=1300734418]
[quote author=LadyRed link=topic=44637.msg1303375#msg1303375 date=1300733229]
Are we really playing 'some of the best football we've played in 20years'? We've had a few good performances, yes. But yesterday, Thursday, West Ham and Wigan certainly wasn't.
[/quote]

We've played better football just a couple years ago, let alone 20 years, but by god are we better than under Roy, where I'm not sure if we played football at all.
[/quote]

This is what I mean Fark, things were so bad under Roy comparably of course Kenny has been amazing, but is this clouding our judgement?

 

[Judge Jules]

No. By the time we got rid of Roy we'd have been grateful just to be safe from relegation. In the event we've done massively better than that. The scale of the improvements which are evident right across the club is little short of miraculous and it would be madness to do anything other than appoint the King now.

 

[Farkmaster]

[quote author=LadyRed link=topic=44637.msg1303395#msg1303395 date=1300734754]
[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=44637.msg1303391#msg1303391 date=1300734418]
[quote author=LadyRed link=topic=44637.msg1303375#msg1303375 date=1300733229]
Are we really playing 'some of the best football we've played in 20years'? We've had a few good performances, yes. But yesterday, Thursday, West Ham and Wigan certainly wasn't.
[/quote]

We've played better football just a couple years ago, let alone 20 years, but by god are we better than under Roy, where I'm not sure if we played football at all.
[/quote]

This is what I mean Fark, things were so bad under Roy comparably of course Kenny has been amazing, but is this clouding our judgement?
[/quote]

If Kenny got the performances he's been getting for an entire season, we'd be in the CL places. Given that that's what we want as the best first step, it'd be crazy to consider getting someone else, even if he weren't an unassailable legend.

 

[red_maradona]

post manu definitely - post braga maybe?

 

[Judge Jules]

No. One bad day at the office is nothing when set against the overall progress we've made since the King's return.