I don’t know if people read my post as some sort of a grudging acceptance that Houllier’s time was up, that I had all I could take, and that it was time for Ged to move in, it was never intended in that frame, but from the comments it does appear that this is how it has been taken.
I don’t believe that.
I am at a loss to see a way forward but I take literally hundreds of positives from Ged’s time as manager, far more than from the Evans and Souness eras. There is plenty to be positive about and while it would be ridiculous to blame everything on injuries, it would also be ridiculous to take no account of them.
We have a squad which contains the names Kirkland, Carragher, Finnan, Le Tallec, Kewell, Diouf, Gerrard, Owen, Baros & Pognolle, someone work out the average age of that lot and there is plenty of reason for optimism, throw in Otsemebor and Welsh, home-grown talents, and watch that average come down again. If anything we lack proven experience with only really Hyppia, Henchoz and Hamman with any real quality in that area, something sadly missing at times this season.
Spare a thought for the first half performance against Arsenal, another for the league cup victory at Cardiff and a final one for the way we battled at Goodison and it becomes clear that everything is not as gloomy as some would portray it. Spare a thought for the time, patience and money that Ged, the coaching staff, the board and SOME of our fans have invested in Heskey, Smicer, Riise and Murphy and you can understand the frustrations.
More than I anytime that I can remember there appears a need to paint everything black and white when in reality we are working in shades of grey. Houllier’s reign can never be compared to those of Kenny, Bob or Bill’s but there were plenty not too upset to see uncle Joe go in ’85 after one season of the toffees winning the league.
I honestly cannot see too much that can be gained from the departure of our manager at this stage, apart from saving him from the savage undignified way that some Liverpool fans appear to think that it is right and fitting to treat a man who has given his all for our club.
I hope and pray for Ged, I still believe in him and hope that those on the board who heaped so much on his shoulders at the AGM as he returned from his heart operation have the courage to stand shoulder to shoulder with him now. People can talk about the players having lost faith in the manager, if that is true it is a disgrace, he has stood by everyone of them, sticking up for their cowardice to show a united public front. Ged’s departure must surely signal the end for many that he has shown so much loyalty towards. Ironically his biggest critics are quick to identify as a weakness his unwillingness to publicly criticise the players or the club. Some describe this as stubbornness, I prefer to see it as loyalty to players and often fans, who have steadfastly failed to show him the same loyalty and respect.
Like everybody else, I can see that Ged is hurting, never the easiest time to make clear and necessary decisions. When you are in the trenches you need those there with you to dig deep, be united and stand as one, unfortunately neither the fans nor the players appear capable of that now.
Ged’s era for me will forever be epitomised by thousands of kids lining the streets of Liverpool to applaud a bus with three trophies around the city, many reds seeing silverware for the first time in their lives. It will be epitomised by Cardiff, Rome and Barcelona, by the thoughts in the minds of those of us who travelled to Kiev after the Leeds game. I won’t remember it for a half-hearted lifeless display against Southampton, wherever and whenever that reign ends.
It is not about blind faith and why should it be, it is about belief and hope, and if for many then this has gone, then I cannot honestly say that it has for me.
I would no longer be surprised if Ged called it a day, nor if the board did the easy thing and took the Leicester or Man City way, I have always been proud of the fact that Liverpool Football Club are different from the rest, that they would not go down that path, but sadly, that no longer seems to be what fans want.
Others can write their obituaries of Gerard’s reign if they like, I’ll hang on for now, hoping and mostly believing that he can breath life back into the lifeless shell of a team which should have dragged themselves off that pitch on Saturday heads hung in shame.
YNWA
