Fans must support Rodgers and FSG

Fenway Sports Group are altering the landscape at Anfield and while change is always daunting, hope abounds.  

FSG have been extremely busy over the past couple of months. Liverpool and it's owners have been in the headlines day in day out as the foundations of the club have been been uprooted. FSG have recently sacked the long serving communications director (Ian Cotton), the Director of Football that they appointed themselves just 18 months ago (Damien Comolli), the head of Sports Science (Peter Bruckner) and removed the beloved figure of Kenny Dalglish in a flurry of cold, calculated activity that has resembled the Corleone family's killing spree at the climax of the Godfather. For Michael Corleone and Tom Hagen read John W. Henry and Tom Werner.

All this change and the time that FSG are taking to amend the situation has left many Liverpool fans suspicious, angry and sceptical of their owners. The supporters did not appreciate the way that their eternal idol Kenny Dalglish was made to fly to the other side of the globe and back for a meeting before being relieved of his duties just hours later. They do not like not knowing what the desired managerial structure of the club is and they haven't enjoyed the two week merry go round of managerial interviews to replace Dalglish. However, for FSG, as the saying goes 'it's nothing personal, just business'.

John W. Henry: Doing things his way

The imminent arrival of Brendan Rodgers to Anfield shows one thing in particular: FSG have balls. To replace an Anfield God like Dalglish with a young manager whose C.V pales in comparison and who has never once been charged with such a high pressured situation as the one he is about to enter into on Merseyside is extremely risky. Not only have FSG annoyed a huge section of the Anfield faithful with the decision to sack Dalglish as well as the manner in which they chose to do so, they have also inflamed the anger of a portion of the Kop who have been longing for the return of former manager Rafael Benitez by ignoring the Spaniard when seeking Dalglish's successor. They have even managed to alienate some of the fans who didn't relish the idea of rehiring Benitez as those people are upset at the lack of the arrival of a new messianic figure of worldwide repute such as Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp. In short, Liverpool fans wanted Dalglish's replacement to be a sure thing; a manager with a glowing C.V filled with experience who has succeeded in similar circumstances as those at Anfield. Instead, they are about to receive a young, relatively unproven manager who was sacked by Reading less than three years ago.

If FSG wanted to get the Kop on their side and pander to the masses then they have gone about it in totally the wrong way. However, a crumb of comfort remains with the very fact that this is not what they have tried to do. Popular or not, Henry, Werner et al are doing things that they believe are in the best interests of the club. That is all anyone can really ask for. They will stand or fall on their own decisions and will not simply meander along taking the easy way out at every turn. That is encouraging.

Dalglish and Rodgers: The past and the future

For all their unpopular decisions over the past few months, FSG have proven that they mean business. They have ignored the clamour for Benitez and are willing to pay Swansea a hefty amount of compensation for the manager that they deem the best fit for their club. And therein lies the salient point that all Liverpool fans must now accept. This is FSG's football club. They will run it how they see fit. If they decide they need to bring in a director or football and managerial candidates don't approve (as has been suggested was the case with Roberto Martinez, the man who was initially expected to replace Dalglish) then they will find another man who does. If the supporters long for the return of an icon like Benitez but they don't see themselves being able to work with the Spaniard then they won't even make contact with him to discuss the situation. If they want to spend weeks interviewing managers who are deemed too inexperienced by many people to manage Liverpool Football Club then they will. If they want to sack Kenny Dalglish when most supporters would like to see him get another shot at the job then Dalglish is history. If Damien Comolli isn't doing his job well enough in their estimation then they will get rid of him. It may seem callous and hard-headed to Liverpool fans who exhibit unparalleled levels of sentimentality when it comes to their club but for FSG this is just about getting things done and dragging Liverpool out of their current malaise. They wanted a young, dynamic and progressive manager and they have seemingly got the one they most desire much to the disappointment of Swansea City and some Liverpool fans.

While many supporters of the club may disagree with some or all of the key decisions that FSG have taken recently, they must acknowledge that the American owners are doing what they truly believe to be the best thing for everyone concerned with Liverpool Football Club. Time will tell on whether Rodgers will be a success at Anfield and whether or not a new director of football will be working above him. Time will also tell on whether Anfield is to be redeveloped or pastures new are required. But while Liverpool fans are waiting for the answers they must do so while supporting the club, it's owners and it's new manager unequivocally. Liverpool need to become a force again and the chances of that happening are greatly diminished if the clubs fan base are pulling in several different directions against those at the helm. Benitez is not coming back, Dalglish is gone and FSG are here to stay. It's time for Liverpool Football Club to get back on track and showing some faith in the group who saved it from the brink of oblivion back in October 2010 is the least it's supporters can do.

For too long Liverpool have lived in the shadows of the past, trying endlessly to recapture former glories with the same old methods that succeeded in times now long gone. The club has needed to be altered for a long time and now, finally, it has owners that wish to implement such change. A new hierarchy with new ideas and a new manager completely detached from the past are now taking charge at Anfield. It's time for the fans to get on board and embrace the new culture that is upon them. Liverpool Football Club isn't where it used to be but with the right leadership and unity it might just get back there even if the ride is going to be bumpy and the route ahead is unfamiliar.