Source: Daily_Mail
Liverpool must NOT turn to Rafa Benitez or Kenny Dalglish as Roy Hodgson's replacement
It is indicative of Liverpool's miserablepredicament that many oftheir followers are lookingbackwards, rather thanforwards, for a way out of themess. [LNB]As Roy Hodgson flounders in a rolein which he has looked uncomfortable,the names of Kenny Dalglish andRafael Benitez loom large. [LNB]Liverpool supporters have alwayshad a reputation for being knowledgeable. [LNB]On the brink: Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson [LNB]They are romantics too, though,and currently it is dewy-eyedsentimentality and not logic that isturning their thoughts back towardstwo men from their glorious past.[LNB]It seems wrong to be talking of asuccessor for Hodgson while he adecent man still has a job. [LNB]Come back: Sections of Liverpool fans want Benitez to return as manager[LNB]It isunavoidable, though, because lastsummer's appointment is losing hisbattle for acceptance.On the Kop on Wednesday night, abanner read: 'Rafa Come Home'.Towards the end of a deflating defeatby Wolves, they sang Dalglish's name. [LNB]Between them the two men havewon seven major trophies asmanagers of Liverpool. Dalglish wouldcertainly take the job again whileBenitez back on Merseyside after adisastrous spell at Inter Milan would inevitably be interested. [LNB]Neither, though, should be allowedanywhere near it.Dalglish, at 59, is by no means an oldman. His old rival at Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson, has adecade on him. [LNB]But it is 15 years sincehe managed successfully winningthe Premier League at Blackburn and almost 20 years since stressforced him out of Anfield after a 4-4FA Cup draw with Everton inFebruary 1991. [LNB]Quite simply, Dalglish has beenaway from the sharp end of footballtoo long. The game has changed inmany ways since he won Liverpool's18th and most recent title. [LNB]Many young players, particularly theforeign ones, would not be inspired bythe mere mention of his name or hispresence in a room. Some asdreadful as it sounds wouldnot even know who he was.[LNB]A year at Newcastle in 1997proved that Dalglish's nerveends had indeed frayed.He was tetchy with themedia. He lookeduncomfortable. Fourteenyears on andback at a club withwhich he is synonymous,the demandson Dalglish wouldbe almost impossibleto measure.Would he cope? [LNB]History suggeststhat it is unlikely and to see him try and fail toturn this great club back round wouldbe too painful to bear. Even as a shorttermfix, the return of King Kenny is aromantic notion and should remainjust that. [LNB]Legend: There's been a clamour for Kenny Dalglish to replace Roy Hodgson in the Anfield hotseat[LNB]Benitez, of course, may have a morecompelling case. At just 50, theSpaniard is arguably in his peak yearsas a coach. [LNB]Despite his rather dispiritingtime at Inter this season, hispedigree remains high and his trackrecord compares favourably to most.By the time he left Anfield lastsummer, though, Benitez hadlost his way and so had hissquad, a vast number of whomsimply didn't like him.[LNB]Forefront: Liverpool's new director of football strategy Damien Comolli[LNB]For allhis achievements, and despitethe testing circumstancesunder which he undeniablyhad to work, Liverpoolhad already seen thebest of Benitez. [LNB]The fact Hodgson arrived to find asquad so clearly unfitfor purpose was notsolely Benitez's fault.Nevertheless, it waspartly his fault. Forexample, Benitezleft his successor without a proper,reliable full back on either side. [LNB]By the time he left after six remarkableyears, his judgment was on thewane, on and off the field.Maybe it could change now that theclub are under new ownership. WithTom Hicks and George Gillett back inTexas and former managing directorChristian Purslow with whom henever got on now marginalised, someLiverpool followers may think Benitezwould be able to turn back time.[LNB]It's unlikely. For a start, in DamienComolli, the modern Liverpool has adirector of football strategy, a manwho we learn today will be in chargeof January's Anfield transfer businessand indeed the appointment of thenext manager. [LNB]How easily would Benitez work witha man who is now the most powerfulfootball figure at the club? [LNB]The answeris clear. He couldn't. The Spaniard is,after all, one of the modern game'sgreatest control freaks. [LNB]A look at the current Liverpoolsquad tells us that Benitez's name iswritten right through it. In good waysand in bad.It is clear also, though, thatLiverpool need to look forward. [LNB]Lacklustre: Liverpool have under performed massively this season[LNB]Thisis a club crying out for new directionrather than a desperate attempt torecycle old formulae.If and when Hodgson does leavethen Comolli will be the kingmaker. [LNB]As such, there will be few options onthe continent who will gounexplored.Already talk of Didier Deschamps ofMarseille has circulated and that isunderstandable. [LNB]Waiting in the wings: Didier Deschamps could be a contender for the Liverpool job[LNB]The former Frenchcaptain has been successful as acoach in his home country.More curious is the touting of33-year-old Andre Villas-Boas, thePorto coach who has learned all heknows from Jose Mourinho at Interand at Chelsea. [LNB]To appoint someonelike that would represent a huge leapof faith and it is hard to see whatVillas-Boas would have over domesticcandidates such as Bolton's OwenCoyle or the currently unemployedMartin O'Neill. [LNB]What is beyond doubt is thatLiverpool face tough decisions. It isto be hoped they make themwithout feeling the need to lookover their shoulders first.[LNB] Torres out of touch[LNB] [LNB] Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson insists he still has the dressing room but admits: Fans haven't supported me since day oneMilan offer Ronaldinho at bargain £7m in bid to attract Chelsea and Man CityHodgson's horror: Liverpool fans call for Kenny after Wolves maulingLiverpool 0 Wolves 1: Hodgson looks doomed after Ward turns up pressure[LNB] Explore more:People: Alex Ferguson, Kenny Dalglish, Rafa Benitez, Roy Hodgson, Jose Mourinho, George Gillett Places: Newcastle, Liverpool
