Skip to main content

Mersey Beat: Bill Shankly tradition must remain at Liverpool

10

View comments

Of all the famous one-liners that Bill Shankly delivered in his own inimitable way, there is one that stands head and shoulders above the rest: 'Liverpool Football Club exists to win trophies.'

The long-held tradition at Anfield was to go gathering cups in May, whether it was the League Championship, an FA Cup or one of those sparkling European gongs.

First was first according Shankly, to the most significant figure in Liverpool's history. Anything else was failure.

Prize guy: Bill Shankly lifted plenty of trophies as Liverpool manager

    More from Dominic King...   Mersey Beat: Liverpool can't afford to miss out on Europe... and Everton would love to qualify too 12/04/13   Mersey Beat: Liverpool, West Ham or Newcastle? ... What next for Andy Carroll? 28/03/13   Mersey Beat: Keeping Suarez will be Liverpool's biggest test as Europe's elite eye summer move 22/03/13   Dominic King: Almost four years ago, Liverpool were winning in Madrid and jousting with United for the title. Now they're 29 points behind 12/02/13   Farewell to a Liverpool legend, the man who had the Kop dreaming of a 'Team of Carraghers'. Now his No 23 shirt should follow him into retirement 07/02/13   Mersey Beat: Powerful and now prolific, Everton's patience with Anichebe is finally paying off 11/01/13   Mersey XI for 2012: Find out who makes the cut for our combined Liverpool-Everton side 28/12/12   Mersey Beat: Kop kids need old heads beside them to bring glory days back to Liverpool 14/12/12   Mersey Beat: After years in the shadows, Osman finally emerged to prove his international class 16/11/12   VIEW FULL ARCHIVE  

It was a simple maxim but it was one that served the club well during their era of dominance in the 1970s and 1980s.

The thought of finishing fourth was never entertained and it was certainly not something that would ever have been celebrated.

Times, however, change and the events of the past few days have shown that Liverpool which moves forward under Fenway Sports Group will be dramatically different to the one of the past.

Winning trophies, it would appear, is no longer enough.

'The Carling Cup and the FA Cup don't generate the revenue and the success that is needed to keep investing,' Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre explained.

'If you want to be successful, you have got to keep investing. People don't want to hear that football is a business. They don't.

'They want to see us put lots of money into the team and win lots of trophies and games. But you have got to have both. If you don't do well in the league and don't get into the Champions League, you are writing cheques from your own pocket. That is not a sustainable way going forward.'

Ayre's point is clear. Fenway Sports Group do not have the same spending power of, say, Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United but they want to be competing with those clubs on a regular basis going forward.

Kenny Dalglish was jettisoned because Liverpool's performance in the Barclays Premier League was unacceptable over the last 12 months and finishing eighth with 52 points was not what John W Henry and Tom Werner envisaged when they bankrolled last summer's transfers. 

The good: Kenny Dalglish got his hands on the Carling Cup in February

The bad: Dalglish's Liverpool side struggled in the Premier League

 

But, in years to come, what will resonate more in the minds of supporters when they look back on the 2011-12 campaign?

The disappointment of home draws against Swansea, Norwich and Aston Villa or the dramatic afternoon at Wembley when Liverpool won the Carling Cup?

'I understand there is a balance for the club financially,' said Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard in January.

'I understand that being in the top four is massive. But I don't want to say I finished in the top four five times. I want to look back and say I won the Carling Cup three, four or five times.'

Joe Cole, currently on loan at Lille, offered a similar view in the build-up to Liverpool's FA Cup final clash with his old employers Chelsea.

'Everyone talks about the Champions League these days,' he said. 'But what are you going to tell your grandkids about in the future? The days that you played in low key group games around Europe or the days that you celebrated winning a cup at Wembley?'

Nowhere to hide: Liverpool were left stunned as Norwich won a point at Anfield

Making relentless progress whilst adhering to old traditions is almost impossible to do in sport but FSG have shown they can blend those two elements, given all they have achieved with the Boston Red Sox and Fenway Park.

But to propel Liverpool forward, they have no option but to be sensitive to the past.

Liverpool resonates with players at home and abroad because of trophy winning exploits and many fans will continue to wonder why Dalglish was not given another opportunity to build.

'There is not a Liverpool fan on the planet who does not want to see this football club in the Champions League and winning it,' Ayre explained.

Next in line? Liverpool were granted permission to speak to Roberto Martinez

'The way to get back into it is by winning in the league. It's great that we have got back into Europe through winning the Carling Cup.

'But (finishing in) eighth place? We were 37 points off the winners (Manchester City), 17 points off fourth place and had 14 losses. (Whether Dalglish stayed) was never about an individual result – and rightly so. It was always about taking a review of the stock of the season in full.'

The season is not the only thing the FSG need to take stock on.

The Champions League may be required for finance and while Liverpool need to be competing in that competition, it is vital they continue to win trophies.

Shankly's days are gone but his philosophy remains as relevant as ever.

  More... Swansea to Liverpool? No thanks! Rodgers snubs Anfield talks in race for hotseat Pep talk: Guardiola gave up Barcelona... but Liverpool think they can tempt him to Anfield! Why Liverpool cannot afford to see the back of these two Kop idols All the latest Liverpool news, features and opinion





Popular posts from this blog

Study Abroad USA, College of Charleston, Popular Courses, Alumni

Thinking for Study Abroad USA. School of Charleston, the wonderful grounds is situated in the actual middle of a verifiable city - Charleston. Get snatched up by the wonderful and customary engineering, beautiful pathways, or look at the advanced steel and glass building which houses the School of Business. The grounds additionally gives students simple admittance to a few major tech organizations like Amazon's CreateSpace, Google, TwitPic, and so on. The school offers students nearby as well as off-grounds convenience going from completely outfitted home lobbies to memorable homes. It is prepared to offer different types of assistance and facilities like clubs, associations, sporting exercises, support administrations, etc. To put it plainly, the school grounds is rising with energy and there will never be a dull second for students at the College of Charleston. Concentrate on Abroad USA is improving and remunerating for your future. The energetic grounds likewise houses various

Best MBA Online Colleges in the USA

“Opportunities never open, instead we create them for us”. Beginning with this amazing saying, let’s unbox today’s knowledge. Love Business and marketing? Want to make a high-paid career in business administration? Well, if yes, then mate, we have got you something amazing to do!   We all imagine an effortless future with a cozy house and a laptop. Well, well! You can make this happen. Today, with this guide, we will be exploring some of the top-notch online MBA universities and institutes in the USA. Let’s get started! Why learn Online MBA from the USA? Access to More Options This online era has given a second chance to children who want to reflect on their careers while managing their hectic schedules. In this, the internet has played a very crucial in rejuvenating schools, institutes, and colleges to give the best education to students across the globe. Graduating with Less Debt Regular classes from high reputed institutes often charge heavy tuition fees. However onl

Sickening moment maskless 'Karen' COUGHS in the face of grocery store customer, then claims she doesn't have to wear a mask because she 'isn't sick'

A woman was captured on camera following a customer through a supermarket as she coughs on her after claiming she does not need a mask because she is not sick.  Video of the incident, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on Twitter alone, allegedly took place in a Su per Saver in Lincoln, Nebraska according to Twitter user @davenewworld_2. In it, an unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of the customer recording her. Scroll down for video An unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of a woman recording her A woman was captured on camera following a customer as she coughs on her in a supermarket without a mask on claiming she does not need one because she is not sick @chaiteabugz #karen #covid #karens #karensgonewild #karensalert #masks we were just wearing a mask at the store. ¿ o