Kenny on owners, Wolves and kids
Kenny Dalglish previewed the Wolves clash, spoke about his talks with the owners this week and chatted about potential stars at the Academy in his weekly press conference at Melwood today. Here's what he had to say…
Journalist: Kenny, have you seen a big change in the players over the past few weeks since taking charge?Kenny Dalglish: Well I wasn't here before I came in, obviously. As I've said many times before, I'm delighted with the effort that they have put into training and the matches. I haven't been disappointed in any way, shape or form. We've been delighted with the response in what they have been asked to do and the response to myself, Stevie (Clarke) and Sammy (Lee). As I say, I have nothing to judge it on from before.
Journalist: Even from day one has there been a big difference from the players?From day one to yesterday there's been the same attitude from all of the players. Even last night we let Joe Cole and Danny Wilson have 45 minutes, so we could get them on a football pitch to see what they could do. Both of their attitudes, as well as Dani Pacheco who was involved in Sunday's squad, have been superb. Sometimes when you get so-called first-team players in the reserves you wonder if they could have done a little bit better, but the three lads I've mentioned did well and it was great for them. They are back in training with us this morning.
Journalist: There's been a lot of focus on you in particular recently, hasn't there?Yes, there's been a lot of focus on myself, but if you speak as you find it you aren't going to mislead many people, are you? We have a huge responsibility to do our business in the way it has been done since I've known Liverpool FC, and that is in private. When we've got something to say we will come out and say it. There's a happy medium between us doing it that way and yourselves trying to get some coverage. But there is also a responsibility on both parts to make sure what is said is accurately quoted.
Journalist: Is it important to get back to that type of attitude that Bill Shankly instilled in the club?Well it has never gone for me. It would be nice if we could get back to that, on the pitch especially.
Journalist: Do you feel the owners have brought that to the club, a clear direction?
I think there's a stabilisation with the new owners. Everyone had a great lift when they came in. It's a bit more stable than what it was before because everyone knows who owns the club now.
Journalist: Did you have a positive meeting with them. Did they outline the clear strategy they have for the future of the club?They are good people. We had a positive meeting yesterday with John (Henry) and Tom (Werner) in which we discussed many things. One of them was obviously transfers. There's no problem with transfers. As long as we are responsible we can go and look for players, try to sign them and bring them in here. I'm not going to sit here and give you names or comment on every question that is asked about an individual player. We certainly won't talk about sums of money. Every time I go into the transfer market I am responsible and I will continue to be. I will try and spend the club's money as diligently as I would spend my own.
Journalist: One name that does keep cropping up, though, is Luis Suarez. Has there been any development with that?I'd have thought you misheard me.
Journalist: What about Ryan Babel then, what's his situation?Well, we've accepted a bid from Hoffenheim. Ryan is considering what he wants to do. That's his right. A transfer only goes through if three parties agree. He trained yesterday as if the conversation had not happened. There's no problem for us. If he's here there won't be any sulking, he'll be treated the same as everyone else.
Journalist: The chairman says you fit the criteria to stay in the job and Steven Gerrard has said he'll do all in his power to see you remain here long-term - it's looking quite good for you, isn't it?It would do if we win some games. The sooner we start winning games the sooner we can look forward and upwards. I've really enjoyed being back. If other people are getting the same satisfaction out of it, then fine. But I'm sure we'll all be happier once we start winning games.
Journalist: You must have been particularly pleased with the first-half performance against Everton...I think it's the same thing we've been saying all the time really, that in the first half the players played really well. The first 10 minutes of the second half was the only time we weren't in control of the game. It's up to us. We've got the ability. The performance will have given them great satisfaction, the result not so much. As we say, we keep trying to build up the belief in the players without making them complacent. I'm sure for 80 minutes on Sunday they will have been very pleased with the performance
Journalist: It was back to the old 'pass and move' wasn't it, which is great for the fans to watch...It's great for the fans to watch and you can't underestimate their role in it as well. If the players know that the fans are behind them it doesn't half help them. Everyone has to play their role. We have to lift the fans. If the staff, the owners and everyone else sing from the same hymn sheet, which we are doing, then I'm sure we have happier days ahead of us. Pass and move isn't old fashioned, it's the Liverpool way. It's the way I was brought up and I don't think I could change. That's the way the players would like to play as well.
Journalist: The relationship between the fans and supporters has always been important but after everything that has happened in the past year, do you think that relationship is even more important?The relationship between us and the supporters is of the utmost importance. We have to respect what they stand for and what they give the football club. We have to give them something back and the best way to do it is by getting wins on the pitch. There was a bit of uncertainty with the previous owners. John and Tom have come in and it's a lot more stable and acceptable to the supporters. We need to take into consideration what their thoughts are. I think they can see the club starting to move forward under the new owners. Everybody here wants the same thing and that's to win games. We can do that if we all stay together.
Journalist: How important is that first win for you?Yes, it's important. I don't know how you evaluate how important but we'd love to get a victory. Even if we get battered and win 1-0 it wouldn't matter - it'd still be a great lift for everyone. If the players keep doing what they've been doing, a victory can't be far away.
Journalist: Do you see signs it'll come at Wolves?I thought it might have come at Manchester United, at Blackpool, against Everton. We've been very encouraged by what the players have done.
Journalist: Liverpool's away form has been disappointing over the last 12 months or so. Do you intend to set the side up slightly differently?We'll do what we think is best. The best way to play is a way that suits the players. We can't have a formation or an idea that doesn't suit the players, so we'll take them into consideration. But the principles of passing and moving won't change no matter how we play. The away form has been disappointing for everybody but I can't be held responsible for 12 months, can I?
Journalist: I wasn't suggesting you were...[Smiles] We've done bad enough - we lost at Blackpool! But it's up to us, it's up to the players to come together and try and turn it around as quickly as we can.
Journalist: Is there a feeling amongst the players after the home game that you owe Wolves one?Wolves played very well against us at Anfield. They were quite positive in how they approached the game and they won 1-0. If some people were disappointed with that result and that's what inspires them, then fine. But we'd want to win the game no matter what happened at Anfield. We'd still want to go to Molineux and win the game. Wherever you get the inspiration from is down to the individual.
Journalist: Can revenge be a healthy feeling for the players?I suppose it could be but you'd need to ask them that - I can't speak for every one of them. Different things drive different people but winning games is the greatest feeling in the world. That's the biggest drive.
Journalist: Wolves' form has been quite good of late - they beat Liverpool and Chelsea and scored three at Man City last week. They're beginning to give a really good account of themselves, aren't they?They were excellent last week at Man City, especially in the first half hour. Even when they went 4-1 down, which was a bit unfair I thought, they pulled it back to 4-3. If Mick McCarthy is in charge of a team they are not going to lie down, are they? They are going to work as hard as they can and we know that from first-hand experience. There are no games in the Premiership where you can rest a couple here or a couple there. They are all really difficult games.
Journalist: Has the away record surprised you over the last 12 months because of the quality of the players here?Yes, it's surprising. The reasons why have yet to be fathomed. It's very unlike Liverpool not to have a good away record. Normally it's excellent. There are some things we've got to put right and that's one of them.
Journalist: How useful was giving Joe Cole 45 minutes last night for him and for you?It's beneficial for everybody. It's all very well training, you still need a wee run about on the pitch. They wanted to stay on, both he and Danny Wilson. But they'd done enough. The way they applied themselves was excellent. We got them off before they got injured and now they can train with us this morning. Some people look at playing in the reserves as a punishment but that's not punishment. It was a necessity for everybody. If someone is going to be punished they will be told about it. Last night wasn't anything other than a very worthwhile exercise.
Journalist: Is it something you plan to use with other players to make sure everyone keeps getting action?Yep.
Journalist: Are you expecting a similar approach from Wolves as what we saw at Anfield?If I could give the teamtalk to Mick McCarthy's team then no! They would be much worse. But no, they'll be going into the game with a lot of confidence on the back of their performances recently. We've got to match up with them.
Journalist: How are you looking squad-wise?Milan Jovanovic has been off ill so we need to have a look how he is and obviously Carra. Apart from that we're okay. That's the first time anyone's asked me about squads.
Journalist: How is it looking with Carra?I think he's gone on record as saying February so that'll be when he's ready.
Journalist: You've seen some of the reserves this week and some of the youth teams. Liverpool fans are desperate for the next Steven Gerrard or Jamie Carragher, but are the younger sides looking in good health?I wouldn't go and say there are any kids who played in the Youth Cup against Crystal Palace are going to be first team (yet) but the progress at the Academy in the last year and a half has been absolutely fantastic. That's great credit to Rafa who brought in Pepe Segura, Rodolfo Borrell and Frank McParland. He reorganised the whole Academy and you can see the benefit in the kids now. It's fantastic to see. The reserve team's average age has been drastically reduced. Whether we get them through or not, we'd never put that pressure on them, but we're clearly encouraged by the work that's being done there and it's a work in progress.
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