Kenny Dalglish has described Liverpool's current form as the worst run he can remember as a manager, player and supporter. But the Reds boss would do well to recall a dreadful six-game losing run he oversaw while in charge of Blackburn exactly 20 years ago. LIVERPOOL'S LEAGUE RUN 11 Feb Man Utd 1-2 3 Mar Arsenal 1-2 10 Mar Sunderland 0-1 13 Mar Everton 3-0 21 Mar QPR 2-3 24 Mar Wigan 1-2 1 Apr Newcastle 0-2 7 Apr Aston Villa 1-1 The similarities are striking: Form that crumbled in March, big money signings failing to perform, and back page stories questioning whether 'King Kenny' could still cut it as a manager. If Dalglish was to reflect on that run amid growing pressure at Liverpool he may find some reassurance at how quickly things can change. The run ended with a draw, Liverpool's last result. Three years later, his team won the Premier League. Now Dalglish's Liverpool have a chance to end their bad run at Ewood Park against Blackburn on Tuesday. Blackburn record goalscorer Simon Garner, who was part of that 1991-92 squad, describes how Dalglish coped during such a bad run of form and what he did to turn it around. TRAINING AND TACTICS Kenny Dalglish Ray Harford succeeded Dalglish as manager in 1995 "He left all the coaching to Ray Harford [his assistant manager] who was a very, very good coach. Kenny would come in with a smile on his face and have a laugh and a joke. "Every Friday we would have five-a-sides and Kenny would play. We wouldn't stop playing until Kenny had won a game. Kenny is happiest when he is around the training ground with a bunch of footballers. "We didn't talk about the run in training. We approach every game the same way, training was the same. We carried on as normal. "Generally, we used to train for the opposition. I remember one game against Charlton and Kenny said to Ray Harford 'we will play a long ball game just for one game as Charlton won't expect it'. We trained to that plan all week and won. "However we never used to know the team until 2pm on matchday. Kenny wasn't afraid to change a team. Time and again he would come up with a selection you wouldn't have expected." MAN-MANAGEMENT "Some players need an arm around their shoulder, some need a telling off and Kenny understood that. "When you were behind closed doors he could lose his temper. The only time this would happen was after a match when you'd had a bad game. But he wasn't one for throwing tea cups. Most of the time he would encourage you and this didn't change during a bad run. "He wouldn't get annoyed as long as you worked hard and were giving everything you could give. If you worked your socks off he would understand." HANDLING THE PRESS Simon Garner Garner scored 194 goals for Rovers "Kenny would always defend the players to the press and public, like he does with Liverpool now. We appreciated that. "You don't want to read your manager in the papers saying you were having a bad time. Kenny never let that happen. "He tried not to let the players feel the pressure and it helped. We were expected to get promoted because of all the money Jack Walker had spent. "At the back of your mind you were thinking about it, but it wasn't talked about during the run so you didn't dwell on it." SIGNINGS "Back then you could sign players until March. He is missing a goalscorer at Liverpool. At Blackburn he was able to go out and buy players to try and get the goals mid season. "He was happy to sign a player to do a job and get us up a division knowing he would replace them in the summer. You can't make those signings now with the transfer window. "If he is still in charge in the summer there will be a lot of changes." TURNING POINT "We had a great team spirit. I don't think you get that so much nowadays in the Premier League. The game is so different. There are so many foreign players. BLACKBURN 1991-1992 Dalglish appointed October 1991 by Jack Walker. Blackburn hit first place in December after eights wins in 11 games. Top for three months until six defeats puts them seventh. Two wins in last four matches sees them finish sixth. Win over Leicester in play-off final secures promotion. "Back then all the players stuck together and got on well, socialised together. I don't think that happens in the modern game. "In that run it wasn't happening for us but we all thought deep down that we could turn it around. "Kenny lives for football and I think he will be playing it similar to how he did it at Blackburn in that he will have the belief they are good enough. "He will be hurting. Liverpool is in his heart. He looks older and tense this season. He looks like he is under pressure but he will try not let that get to the players. "When you look at their squad they have enough to stop the run and he still has the FA Cup to go for."
I have to saythe only comment in here thats going to really matter to today is the fact we can't sign anyone until the summer. I think there will inded be a lot of changes this summer
Possibly MITO. A lot of people are writting Kenny off, but it is not beyond the realms of imagination that Kenny could turn it around. History shows it is possible. Hopefully it starts tonight with a strong win against Blackburn.
In the article he mentions how Kenny was willing to sign some one to do a job, even if he replaces them in the summer. In January he had time to sign, funds available and players available to be signed. But he didn't take it, which to me looks like a huge mistake to me now. A Bent, Jelovic, Cisse, could have done a great job. I really hope he turns it around though.
I don't think that it could be history repeating itself because it's the same manager. But that story just proves that give him another season before we really can say whether he should go or not. Managers have off seasons, it's more likely to happen in the earlier years and not many are given the time to prove themselves. My biggest concern is that we cut him off in the middle of his work for someone else to come in and start fresh...square one again. Dalglish knows the weaknesses and strengths of the current under performers we have at the moment...he is in the strongest position to change it for the best.
