Jesus. Come one, 200+ pages in and you still can't debate seriously? It's not that simple, it never is in anything difficult.
Who are these people, Mark Lawerson? Robbie Fowler? Stan Collymore? The average Brit ex-footballer is a fucking moron. Random Hamburger SV ex-DoF? Europe is littered with failed DoF's. Even Cruyff has had bad stints where everyone at the club ended up hating him. Look at United, once Fergie left, it's nothing but a mixed bag of experience and wasted money.
It always seems oh so easy from the armchair. But it's never a guarentee. That's why this thread is so toxic. The vision of these ex-football players could be behind the times. They might have lost a step. They might want to spend more time with their family instead of extra time negotiating the deal. They might have trouble integrating into British and American culture. They might not want to deal with UK work Visa issues. They might not want to deal with the Roman's and Sheik's without equal money to back it up. They might just have a thing against Liverpool Football Club.
It takes an expert to put together the right mix of experienced football people. To have a full infrastructure, in place to make their jobs easier, Bayern, Atletico and Barca European and domestic domination did not just spring up over night. And it takes time to become an expert in that process.
Good post.
I actually agree with Al's sentiments in this thread -which has been pretty painful one at times. But if I'm right, Al does not necessarily want FSG out, but just wants them to have more footballing expertise.
As a concept it's difficult to disagree with, but more difficult to execute, and the post above shows some of the difficulties and the fact that it's not an overnight fix.
I agree about ex-players, you only have to look at some of ours and the crap that they spout(often about us) in front of a live mike - you wouldn't want them anywhere near a strategic decision or managing a budget.
What would be good though if the job that required this elusive "football expertise" was specced out into the skills and experience needed to be successful.
Could it be a bright ex player with the aptitude and profile but without the business skills or experience? (Barnes) but would they be willing to learn those skills - sometimes people get to a stage in life where they can't be arsed learning new stuff.
Could it be someone with a football background, but who didn't make it as a player, but has the academic and business skills - I've just described Edwards there.
Or is it an experienced "football administrator", but how do they become experienced in the first place and are they too entrenched in the club where they made their name?
We may, just may, hit the jackpot by recruiting externally, but I think we have to grow our own. We should be looking at current, recently retired, youngish ex players that have the aptitude and willingness to learn and get them involved in the business side of the club, there may be just one in a hundred capable, but wouldnt it be good if we could get one up to the right standard?
The sad thing for me is that I think that the Ayre years were wasted years. I can sort of see why FSG may have kept him around for continuity, but based on what I have seen the guy was over-promoted, and nowhere near what the leader of a £300m turnover business should be. Any decent leader would have sorted the spat between Rogers and the committee and there's loads of examples of unprofessional behaviour as well as keeping a low profile when it suited. I would love to know how the end came about for him.