Really taken aback by this news to be honest.
I think it's FSG's way of firing a warning signal to Dalglish, Clarke and co. Basically, things need to improve. Only, they could hardly sack Kenny two days before the F.a cup semi. Personally I think they are saying privately, we got it wrong with Comolli, and we got it wrong with Dalglish. Maybe I'm wrong like, maybe they do have 'full confidence' in Kenny and maybe he does enjoy their 'full support. I just don't think so. Whether we like it or not, his statement on Kenny was 100% necessary. If he had refused to comment or showed in any way some doubt, the papers would have been all over it. With the semi coming up, it just wouldn't have happened.
I reckon Kenny will leave by mutual consent come the summer, and I think it'll be FSG that make the first move on that front.
The whole thing has been a massive fuck up though really hasn't it? The DOF is the last person you sack at a club. It just shows that the decision to appoint him in the first place was a careless one done with no real care. Even worse, it was apparently just off a recommendation from their mate Billy Beane. You simply cannot forgive giving the most important job at the football club to someone based on a recommendation from someone who isn't even involved with football. It's actually mental and completely amateurish on all fronts. I know people won't like it, but if they weren't happy with the way things were going, then it should have been Kenny going. Not Comolli. I'm not saying I think Kenny should go, but I don't see why Kenny enjoys their 'full support' and yet Comolli is packing his bags not even 2 years into the job. As Kenny said, it was him who picked the players. It's him who picks the team and the tactics. So if we take that out of it, where was it that they felt Comolli was under performing? Were they unhappy with the way he was working at Academy level? Was it the wages he was giving the players? There's not much that comes to mind. At the end of the day, Comolli is the fall guy. The reason? It's less hassle than sacking Dalglish. I hope they acknowledge that they went about Comolli's appointment in totally the wrong manner. If they refuse to see that, then sadly I see it only getting worse.
Who will replace Comolli is the next question. I gotta say, the idea of Van Gaal isn't one that seems too smart to me. Cruyff won't happen either. Txiki would be my preference, but whether we can persuade him to take the job is another thing. Something I've been thinking about... given that the owners will hopefully be consulting various 'football people' about this appointment you wonder whether they'll consult Borrell and Segura? Both of those worked with Begiristain whilst he was at Barca. With the philosophy already in place at the Academy, Txiki would just be stepping in to do that role albeit at a more senior level than Segura. I suppose it depends on whether his relationship with Segura and Rodolfo is a healthy one. Hell, for all I know he might have had some hand in them leaving Barcelona in the first place!
The thing I keep coming back to however is this - if Kenny wants to sign predominately British players, then why appoint a DOF who wants to look a bit farther and wider than that. One of the articles I read mentioned that the signing policy was totally the opposite of what FSG wanted. If that is true, then they need to change the manager. The only other option is telling Kenny that he is in charge of the team, but the signings are totally down to the DOF and he has to take what he's given. That way there's no compromises or clashes in footballing ideals.
Monchi and Corvino are the two most recognisable names in Europe where DOF are concerned. It's not even been a month since Corvino left Fiorentina, so I don't know how quickly he wants back in. Monchi is someone who has kind of slipped off the radar in recent years. He was the main man 4 or 5 years ago, but Sevilla have been in decline and with that there's been less said about him. It does seem as though things are starting to improve at the Pizjuan though. I know Sid Lowe has a theory that when Monchi was working with less money, he actually performed a lot better. When he did have a bit of cash to spend, things went less well. They do seem to have made some nice signings in recent windows though. Manu, Medel, and Rakitic spring to mind. Don't think either of those three cost a great deal of money either. Still, anyone who signs Dani Alves for a pittance has to be worth considering. Makes it an all Spanish affair too. But again, not sure if he speaks any English.
There is a really interesting interview with him in World Soccer in fact. He kind of sums up what I was saying above that the manager can't have as much say as Kenny has been given thus far. Well, he can, but it means you're taking away the beauty of what a DOF gives you.
Here's a few interesting things I took from the interview:
And what if the coach wants a particular player? For instance, Ramos told World Soccer he specifically asked for Freddie Kanoute.
Well, it wasn’t quite like that. We had discussions about what kind of player to buy, and Kanoute fitted the profile. It’s vital there’s trust and confidence, and if we both happen to like the same player, then great. But I would never buy a specific player solely because the coach likes him – the sporting directorate has to like him, too, he has to fit our model. If the coach suggests a player who we don’t have good reports on then we won’t sign him. If we did, our model would be the English model.
What’s wrong with that?
Well, look at the situation now. If we had done that and Juande left, as he has, we would be left with players that were Juande’s players, not necessarily ones that fit the framework we’ve laid down as a club.
It's all a bit of a mess eh?