Kenny Dalglish Resigns 22-02-1991

The sixteenth day of May 2012 is a date which will go down in Liverpool Football Clubs illustrious history – maybe a turning point for FSG Liverpool’s owners also. For many supporters of the club, at this moment it remains far too raw and sad a moment, to really comprehend in a true context – where once again owners who are not greatly perceived as Footballing people, have chosen to dispense with the services of another Liverpool manager.

Only time and history will tell us indeed how important this day will become, where the master plan was born or if on throwing out the dirty water, the owners have inadvertently chucked away the baby.

Like many fans of a certain age, I would be completely loathing of the conclusion that FSG came to in their review of Liverpool’s lacklustre season – A complete overall of the club with the departures of not only Dalglish but previously four senior members of staff, all of whom were chosen by FSG.

The pain clear for all to see in 1991

It would remind me of a similar day, if different circumstance in February 1991 – Remembering how I had written my feelings in my diary all those years ago. I would head for the attic and dig my way through many an old suitcase in pursuit of such diary.

22-02-1991

The most unbelievable day, cannot quite put into words how I feel right now, you know when you think things will always be the way they are, those constant things in your life that truly make you happy – mainly because they never change, they never disappoint you, as reliable as to never ever let you down.

Kenny Dalglish the Liverpool manager has quit – I am gutted, shocked, stunned I actually feel like someone has died. When Sarah [my girlfriend] picked me up earlier, I was so emotional I cried she has never seen me cry, she said it scared her…wow. I actually have not seen me cry for a while either two years ago probably and Hillsborough and all that shit at Sheffield and the days after – cried out I suppose.

It’s funny , always Liverpool making me cry – It is a bastard of a club for that, always made me cry when I was younger even though we always won I couldn’t take losing – plus I was a mardy kid.

Dalglish looked like he was gonna cry at the press conference – that got me going, he looked like he did at the funerals sad and sombre, really like someone had died, maybe he just feels it like we feel it, for me somebody has bloody died.

God I fucking felt sorry for the man – I fucking love that guy. I suppose I forgot he has a family and pressures all of his own – we don’t own him at all, he does not belong to us. He said he had pushed himself to the limit – Kenny as a person had – we are proper in the shit now without The King.

Managing us lately would be enough to make anyone jump ship – woeful defending against the bluenoses again – it’s all too much.

Really pissed me off how the reporters kept trying to interrupt him while he was talking, clearly it was difficult for the man – hate them.

Hillsborough has done for him, that you can see, my Dad said he should have gone away after that, looks like it’s caught up with him now – I don’t think we will ever see him again, he will just slip away from football, I hope I am wrong.

Then another bit of me thinks good on you Kenny don’t come back go and enjoy yourself – God I am mental today, I don’t mean that.

I feel bloody emotional even writing this shit, tears in my eyes – I don’t think anyone else understands, my Dad was shocked but differently, he says Dalglish will be back in a month or so, but people are saying we will get Alan Hansen as manager or Toshack.

Anyway I don’t want to talk about this anymore – just making me down right sad – not like you understand anyway do you.

Goodnight diary.

Those were the exact words from the day Kenny left us in 1991 – twenty one years later and seven managers; we have not managed to capture the somewhat elusive Title in all those years. Kenny Dalglish leaving Liverpool in 1991 has had a huge bearing on the club – HUGE.

Those people who asked for his head, and our American owners who provided it – had better be very careful that they have not just set us back where we once again find ourselves on a windy day in February 1991 with another fruitless twenty years ahead of us.

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King Kenny Dalglish Dethroned

My father always told me – that I should always treat people in the same way, as I would wish to be treated myself. I would guess that I am not alone in having been given this nugget of information from a parent.

Another pearl of wisdom would be – “You have to earn respect” alas this would prove a little more difficult to achieve, especially if one hides behind a keyboard protected from the world outside by Windows defender and the might of Microsoft (allegedly).

Kenneth Mathieson Dalglish however is what my mother would call “A different kettle of fish” – No I don’t actually know what it means either, maybe it’s an Irish thing. My guess would be it means very different, and Dalglish is certainly that.

Sure it is one thing to be a legend, to be both respected and loved by those who you have also shown that same affection – where you have delivered their own dreams for them, given their hopes and aspirations a realism that they could not give themselves. The failures of average people become a little more palatable – when heroes produce those very same dreams for you, taking them to a level that even your own mind could not reasonably aspire too.

Those in the know – people graced by the playing days of Dalglish, those present at Wembley in 1989, the lucky few who saw the title won at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge in 1986 – a smile I will remember forever – half volley into the bottom corner to secure the League title on the last day of that season. Wembley once again in 1978 when he would score the winning goal and Liverpool’s 2nd European Cup.

Unfortunately this means nothing to those “not in the know” people who owe Dalglish nothing – not even an ounce of respect, for these poor folk they will never have that memory to keep their minds occupied, or their hearts warm.

Mr Werner and Mr Henry have obviously taken their decision to remove the King from his throne, without such memories also – my guess is they care more about business than they do about the club at the moment – they have a great understanding of sport franchise, and I think this is possibly the end of Liverpool Football Club being any different to any other Football club.

What made us different – we don’t sack managers yearly like so many others, the supporters are knowledgeable about their club and their capability with the players they have. The memory that fans have – a rich history that makes them different.

But how do you treat a legend, how to dump him on his sorry arse in the most disrespectful way – you leak it over the internet for 48 hours, you allow others to once again divide our club, to belittle its manager and supporters with the most deafening silence – you don’t drop legends in this way.

We cannot forget where the club found itself less than two years ago – have we improved, I believe we have on and off the field – we now find ourselves with no real direction, from owners who have treated us with contempt, they have minutely picked off the very people they entrusted our club with – just one year in on their own plan.

The sacking of Dalglish is not the main story here, it is a side distraction that hopefully won’t fool any further, the fools running around asking for sackings since week one of this season just gone. Where are our stadium plans – in fact where are any plans?

I suggested last week that indeed if Dalglish were no longer at the helm, then the plan would be in the office bin, well it seems it has also been set alight – never to be seen.

A final note on Luis Suarez – is this the perfect excuse to leave these shores, away from the constant media attention – and would you blame him?

You can find me on Twitter https://twitter.com/christobinsings

Kenny Dalglish Painter & Decorator – Or Silversmith

IN WHAT HAS been an interesting weekend in both a footballing sense with a trip to Wembley and the Hillsborough memorial, and with that has once again come a media interest in our club and its supporters – A dissection of an as yet complete season, and of course comparison to others, with a noticeable slant against us and our Manager in a way that only an objectionable and Machiavellian media would.

What really is most annoying and saddening is the way that some Liverpool supporters allow themselves to be hoodwinked and misled from a perceived more knowledgeable and well-intentioned media – Former professional players vying for an angle, a stance where opinion is assumed correct – Where the Sky Sports brigade will swallow that such opinion with an unmatched gullibility, with an excessive greed for more.

In a synopsis from the weekend media I would glint the following;

So Chelsea have managed to expertly manoeuvre themselves into a Champions League semi-final and F.A. Cup final – skilfully they have exerted every sinew, strained every muscle, perspired every ounce of sweat, given all for the cause, and their supporters, whom earlier in the season they had disregarded with such contempt – When personal glory would take the place of any apparent team work.

Roberto Di Matteo has done a wonderful and fantastic job in guiding a mass of expensive individuals, turning them into much more of a collective – Nothing mentioned about the price of that assembled squad, or the expectation of that return.

Roberto Di Matteo " Football Genius?"

Arsene Wenger is another manager who after an early season debacle which saw his Arsenal side dumped out of both English cup competitions, and another season where the clubs trophy cabinet would remain empty would quickly come to pass. The Medias response; a great run of victories to secure Champions League football.

Compare the above to Liverpool Football Club and their manager Kenny Dalglish who on reaching two Cup Finals in his first complete season, having already secured one Cup clearly having excelled in this sphere.

Unlike Chelsea who’s achievements have been described as SKILFUL – Dalglish would not be afforded such generous praise from those intent on division, commentators only interested in negativity would describe Liverpool’s achievements as purely papering over the cracks, and Dalglish compared to a dodgy decorator with a bucket full of paste in one hand and paper brush in the other, unaware of hidden cameras in a clear set-up, and an attempt to flush out another Builder From Hell.

Dalglish & Clarke Papering Over The Cracks.

We must ask ourselves where the precipitous dislike of Dalglish and Liverpool has come from, if it were from an isolated area, we could comprehend such loathing. The footballing public at large are not enamoured with Dalglish and his charmless interview technique, a constant battle ensuing, belligerence toward a foe intent on drawing Dalglish toward confrontation with a policy to annoy – Far too often The King has been found wanting amongst such battle hardened antagonist, and a turning of the cheek mid interview has been a familiar response.

Having become great fodder for a media, whom Dalglish had always had an uneasy relationship with, something clearly needs to be addressed regarding that relationship, and new rules of engagement put in place – We are suffering because of the constant disingenuous articles which have a perspective toward both bias and clearly attempt to rile a man who has found himself the target for those in need of self-fulfilment, on the back of such derision.

When next we are told to assume that Dalglish is stuck in his very own managerial time-warp, maladroit and clueless, having seen the speed train of the modern game pass him by at a rate of knots, left behind choking on a trail of its Premier League smoke. You may want to rub your eyes, clear your head and consciously arm yourself with the knowledge of what he has achieved in his first full season – Something other managers who would later be knighted for their footballing achievements, would not manage in their first three years of management.

Rather than have an opinion of him being a dubious decorator – I myself like to think of Kenny Dalglish as more of a silversmith making new history for his team and its followers – Whilst carving its name upon silver trophies, in an obvious resurgence of glory hunting, soon finding himself travelling first class on that very same speed train.

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A Letter To Kenny Dalglish About Bromance

April 1^st 2012

 

DEAR KENNY

It is said that you never forget your first love and that nothing is quite so painful when ultimately that love ends, well my first was with a guy called Kevin Keegan in 1974, and for the next three years I would follow his every move, like a love struck puppy, he could do no wrong in my eyes and the eyes of many others intent on displaying such affection in the hope that such appreciation would be equally reciprocated.

I would however be unaware that this was in fact an infatuation rather than real love. Kevin would leave for Germany in the pursuit of another love and in the process break my heart. I would take that pain with me through the subsequent years; I would never forgive that man, ever.

On the 10^th of August 1977 I would set out on another love affair that today would be a bromance, I would be just 9 years old, but I would also know this was indeed the real thing, since that life changing day I have never fallen out of love with you Kenneth Mathieson Dalglish. I cannot say that for other loves I have had along the way, some less deserving of such idolisation.

Even when younger prettier models would come along, yes they would catch my eye, but I would not stray, they would never fulfil my requirements as you had. I would remain faithful in my own way. I would share the pain and anguish of both Heysel and Hillsborough, the fact it was an unrequited love would not diminish its value to me.

February 1991 and particularly 11 O’clock on the 22^nd day of that month would be when I realised that I along with others had taken you for granted, I had not seen the signs, the hurt in your eyes, the stress that you had suffered since 1989 and Hillsborough. Like Keegan all those years earlier you would leave me, but unlike then, you would not break my heart, instead I would be filled with guilt when I would see a man I would hardly recognise a beaten man, broken, shattered and dispirited. We would love you so much we would set you free in a hope that one day you would return to our adulation.

For the next 20 years you would however flirt with those who would seduce you and lead you on with their affection, but they would not deserve you with their unfaithful ways, their fondness would not last through fickle times. I would look on from afar hurting when those affairs would end in acrimony, my love would not fade.

Many would forget that smile that would light up a football field after gloriously turning an opponent inside out then casually stroking the ball into the top corner of the goal, magician like with both hands held high. I still see that smile today it’s embedded in my thoughts when I think of my happiest days and the truly great memories that loving you gave to me.

The reason for this letter; was in some way to show you how I feel today, how I have been forced to question whether after all these years, indeed whether the love was in fact infatuation. The truth is I don’t like some of the people you choose to hang around with, you always had a great eye for things like that, and I think some may be taking advantage of your protective nature and possibly they are undeserving, it makes me mad.

The media have tried to demonize you which has made me truly miserable and unhappy, when you are interviewed after we have lost games, which is many times this season, I find myself getting despondent even before the interview, in a sense I know what is coming, these people have found your buttons and just keep pushing them. Your response at times has made me sad, but I suppose that’s what comes with loving someone like you.

I keep getting in to virtual fights with my imaginary friends when they call you names, some I have even stopped being  friends with, they don’t understand what you mean to me, they don’t know you like I do. Maybe you are not the only person hanging around with the wrong sorts.

When you left me the first time, I was sad, but understood, and I knew it would be best for you and your family. I fear that people may make you again think about leaving, walking away, please don’t. I have tried to look at this situation with an open mind, but find this incredibly difficult, I try to negate the hate and disillusioned vitriol from those that don’t quite have the understanding of real love, and more importantly what loving Kenny Dalglish really means.

Sorry I have written this letter as I know you don’t like this type of lovey dovey stuff or  to get emotional, but I had to let you know how I feel, I kind of know what you will say “everything will be alright” and of course I believe you, and will continue to support you through good and bad times, I just want you to consider my feelings once in a while, and maybe let some of your new friends aware about how I feel, that would be good also.

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Kenny Dalglish & Liverpool, Crime Victims

ANOTHER RIDICULOUS week in the life of King Kenny, with both Dalglish and his team once again becoming the targets of pick-pockets, thieves, southern softies appearing harder than Liverpool’s less concentrated back four. Like Arsene Wengers band of merry men weeks earlier, Mark Hughes and his Rambling Rangers would commit grand larceny embezzling three points from the Anfield outfit.

Strangely for a victim of crime Dalglish and his team would not get much sympathy, in fact accusations that they deserved to be such victims, and were asking for it would surface, a naivety punished, prey like unable to make eye contact with the perpetrators of such criminality. Whilst crucially the offenders Mark Hughes and his woeful pack of players somehow get away scot free, without so much as a blemish on their characters, receiving praise and applaud from not only their own short sighted supporters but also some of Dalglish’s and Liverpool’s detractors.

The King and The Pickpocket.

Some of Liverpool’s immediate family and friends have suggested that in some way they deserved everything that happened to them, at a time when the victim of crime gets treated far worse than those who instigate and commit such hideous acts. I have to ask what ever happened to empathy toward our victims, the repercussions for those involved, the mental scars may last longer than it takes to pickpocket a pensioner on budget day!

Worst was still to come for our hapless hero, who within moments of the crime having been committed against himself and his crew, and crucially before he had even had a minute to assess exactly what had just occurred and the appropriation of points that moments earlier had been in his Kings bag, and on the way back to his Kingdom of Liverpool, the trauma of victimization still fresh in his crushed mind, and broken spirit by such a pillage, he would have an unsympathetic Geoff Shreeves shoving a microphone under his nose, and an enquiry into said crime would ensue.

Geoff "Touchline Terror" Shreeves

The self-styled “Touchline Terror” has a history all of his own when it comes to upsetting not only pickpocket victims, but those that may support the act of simulation. When asking Alex Ferguson a question regarding Cristiano Ronaldo being awarded (rightly) a penalty against Middlesbrough; Ferguson would question Geoff’s parentage and then politely telling him to F***k-Off; give that man another Knighthood I say.

King Kenny would not overstep a mark in the same manner as furtive Fergie, but his interview technique would once again come under the scrutiny of the footballing fraternity. We have a man who has just been a victim of a mugging, being asked to eulogise about the perpetrators of the mugging, nobody would take into account his posttraumatic stress disorder, the shock he would have felt, a numbness and of course, disbelief, denial and anger all symptoms experienced by victims of crime.

The biggest thing that Liverpool and Kenny require after this misdemeanour is the support of those closest to them, family and friends, an arm around a shoulder, a friendly tweet, a message on a forum asking regard the well-being of players who may have suffered injury during the heist, a stance of defence of our heroes, respectful and dignified approach to those on the undeserved receiving end of loss.

A sympathetic media is too much to ask, and at times I would think a good idea would be for Dalglish to send out his very own champion akin to Ferguson and his spat with the BBC, when he would not engage with them, neither managers are at their best in defeat and why would they be, they are both winners of the highest order. Imagine how a Shanks, Busby or a Brian Clough would be getting on in today’s hyper sensitive football society, it doesn’t bare thinking about. Geoff Shreeves would be chewed up very soon after having his appendage of a microphone popped into that rather insolent aperture that houses his teeth.

A blatant plug

Chris Morgan LFC Physio

For those fans that are unaware Chris Morgan our Liverpool physiotherapist and all round top bloke, is once again Running and Cycling for The Christie cancer charity, having raised over £20,000 for the charity last year. The following is a bio from his giving page.

Last year I chose the Christie as it was where my former colleague and Liverpool player Gary Ablett was receiving treatment for Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Gary lost his fight with the disease on January 2nd 2012. Unfortunately, my Dad has now been diagnosed with a similar form of Cancer and is currently undergoing treatment at the same hospital (often from the same nurses and specialists who treated Gary).

Below I have attached the link to donate to what is a fantastic cause, which is also very close to my own heart with my own father having been successfully treated for throat cancer, at a time when money is incredibly tight, there is also the opportunity with every donations to WIN lots and lots of signed and worn Liverpool memorabilia, and match day tickets, just make sure you add email, or twitter details when you donate. And of course let all your LFC followers know.

http://t.co/mztvcYAK  Chris Morgan’s Just Giving Page where you can donate.

https://twitter.com/#!/ChrisMorgan10 Follow Chris Morgan on Twitter

http://www.christies.org/  The Christie charity page for an insight to the great work they do.

https://twitter.com/#!/TheChristie Follow The Christie on Twitter.

Thanks for reading and hopefully you will understand me using my forum to promote both of the above.

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Kenny Dalglish Stole Our Childhoods.

It was 1978 the 13^th day of October, a cold evening and with this soon to be 12-year-old boy seated high up in the main stand at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground only adding to how incredibly cold I was. This was The European Cup first round, a knock-out competition in those days, excitement had filled my body for weeks after the draw was made Liverpool v Nottingham Forest, luckily my Uncle John had some close contacts within both clubs through his work, he had told me how we were to go to the game with tickets provided from an insider at Liverpool, it was as if he actually played for the Reds in my mind, in those days if you knew a player or even talked to one, its importance would have a copious meaning for a 11-year-old boy.

It has to be remembered that these games were not shown live on T.V. highlights would be the only avenue to viewing such occasions, Sky Sports would only be a twinkle in our eyes undelivered manna from a not yet produced footballing heaven. The previous season Forest had made me cry when firstly at Wembley in The League Cup Final they held us to a stalemate 0-0, winning the replay at Old Trafford 1-0.

In the first game I ended up with an elbow to the eye, Kenny Dalglish having a goal ruled off-side whilst all around me believing we had scored jumping up ending with one 11-year-old boy crying and with a black eye Henry Cooper would be proud of. It would not be my last black-eye at the hands of our latest combatants we were beginning to have quite a history with Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest, mainly resulting in pain for me.

This Bunch Would Ruin My Life For Three Years.

All my school friends were very envious of my trip to the City Ground to watch my heroes, we were European Champions so in my mind, unbeatable, peerless we had unparalleled success in our corner, the whole World knew we would not lose to Nottingham Forest, more importantly I knew, Uncle John had said we will meet the players after the game in The Jubilee Club next to the changing room exits, a renowned and famous place in Forest fans folklore, which was where all the players would meet and drink after all Forest’s games, I am not sure I can explain exactly what the feeling inside me was, knowing I would meet my heroes, and in particular Dalglish.

From the game itself I remember very little, I do however remember how a hot chocolate would warm my frozen fingers and a steak & kidney pie would have a similar effect on my stomach, it was a foggy and freezing evening. How a certain Gary Birtles would open the scoring with his first ever senior goal for Forest, this would be followed by a second goal toward the end of the match at a point when I no longer cared as frost bite had set in, my feet immobile and hands motionless, my sleeves covered by the constant wiping of a dribbling nose. Yes I was disappointed but this paled in to an insignificance compared to my ensuing death due to hypothermia.

The difficulty I had walking around the ground with feet and digits I could no longer feel, momentarily forgetting about my heroes who would be waiting with open arms, and hopefully signing my now screwed up match programme, it would seem like the longest walk, fans rushing everywhere similarly wanting to get out of the cold. On eventually making our way to the players’ lounge I would have to wait what seemed like an eternity until Dalglish turned up, as we approached him to get his autograph, he swept past us almost knocking Uncle John over, which was a job in itself as he was twice the size of Dalglish, and with that the yet to be crowned Dalglish was gone.

That was my first introduction to the greatest Liverpool player I ever had the gratification to see play, and my first moment I was brought down to earth with a bang by my assumed Gods, an ordinary man, ignoring me in a way my Father did when I wanted to play rush goalies in the park, and all he wanted was to sit down after a heavy days labour. Was I hurt? No I was devastated. Luckily at home I had a poster from Shoot magazine with his signature on it, and with a piece of tracing paper I would have my signature, and proof I had met Kenny Dalglish and shook his hand, and how he had spoken to me, jealousy is a terrible thing, and so are lies.

When Dalglish in 1991 was to resign his managerial position after suffering from stress and physical illness post Hillsborough, in under six years as Manager we won 3 League Titles and 2 F.A. Cups, including the illusive Double in 1986, but the day when Dalglish quit can go down as one of the saddest days in my life. What Dalglish did for this club, for this City should never be forgotten.

The Stresses Of Hillsborough Have Taken Their Toll.

Somebody said the other day we were “stuck in a time-warp of greatness” how somehow we have not progressed under Dalglish part deux, yet after being trophyless for six years, we can now shake the dust from our cabinet with the incoming League Cup, leaving it slightly ajar in case its cousin The F.A.Cup turns up in May.

My biggest fear is that Dalglish will walk away from the project in the summer, maybe going back upstairs, some suggesting arrogance, and a stance where he is bigger than the club he has always stated is more important than individuals. Well this is being said of a man who I will always remember with his head in his hands, tears in his eyes, after attending his FOURTH funeral of the day for other innocent victims of Hillsborough, only for two days later him and Marina attending another THREE in a day. How many funerals have those people asking for his head been to? I like Rafa Benitez but younger fans and some who should know better go on about £96,000 being donated to HJC as a game of comparison, who is more worthy, it is disgusting and repulsive, those fans know nothing about Hillsborough or our Manager for if they did surely the treatment he receives would be very different.

They say why should Dalglish be treated any differently to Roy Hodgson, or Rafa Benitez, lets deal with Roy a man who had won precisely nothing of note as a manager, and unfortunately was the wrong man at an even worst time. Rafa Benitez however was an excellent proven manager who had won Trophies in Spain and then at Liverpool, and he was rightly given SIX years at Liverpool, but again with owners that did not support Rafa he was on a hiding to nothing, and those same fans shouting “Bring Rafa Back” were the same asking for his head on a waiter’s tray!!

The Two Great Men Together At The Hillsborough Memorial

Kenny Dalglish should certainly be treated differently, we are a club at the start of something, a blueprint for a trophy haul, and it has begun. Liverpool Football Club do not want to go down a Chelsea road, hiring and firing every season, you have a manager with proven pedigree, a man who has won four titles with two different teams, has he made mistakes, of course he has, but the players have let us down also, the Suarez incidents have cost us in concentration and made it difficult to prepare properly, focus has been lost by not only our team, but its supporters.

I did not want Dalglish to return as Liverpool Football Club manager, because as is being proved, our fickle fantasist fans are turning on him, and somewhat changing his status within this club, I did not care for these people re-writing Dalglish’s history, twisting and turning what is written in stone, for some of us, we will never be deceived by such clueless individuals, but others less educated jump on board.

I never ever got a Kenny Dalglish autograph, although I have been lucky enough to meet him on a few occasions, but he has more than made up for the lack of his scribble on my bedroom wall, I can’t remember the man who barged past me in 1978 but I do remember Eight League Titles, Two F.A. Cups, Five League Cups not forgetting Three European Cups, if you are looking for man and a manager who wins trophies; look no further than Kenneth Mathieson Dalglish.

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