The success of football clubs in the modern era stems one thing; ownership.
There is no point denying it. Without the appropriate people in charge, then success will be hard to come by.
Before I go any further, I’ve not written this on the back of poor results against Swansea and West Brom. I’ve written this on the back of Fenway Sports Group’s (FSG) eight years at Liverpool Football Club.
As we sit here today, the club have won one trophy, the League Cup against Cardiff City in 2012, since FSG have been in charge.
Sure, there have been some close calls in terms of other silverware during their time at the club. The 2012 season almost saw The Reds go on and win the FA Cup. Everyone remembers the thrilling 2013-14 season where we nearly won that illusive Premier League title. Then we had the arrival of Jurgen Klopp in 2015-16 where he took Liverpool to the League Cup final and the Europa League final. All the above were nearly moments for the club, only to fall short in every single one of them.
It is fine margins in football, but despite the above nearly moments, FSG only have one trophy to show for their time as Liverpool’s owners.
Supporters can point to the fact the ownership ‘saved us’ and they have done some good things like the development of the new Main Stand, but that should not detract from the lack of success on the pitch, and that is ultimately what makes fans happy.
So many Liverpool fans have been miserable for years, and it is all to do with the lack of success on the football pitch. There was a time when the owners/chairman would be under extreme pressure with finishing second in the league. Imagine if FSG were in charge during those days!
The lack of success at Liverpool since their arrival comes from an obvious problem, and that is the lack of investment on the pitch. The club, during a time when others in the Premier League are spending money consistently in big sums, are in a profit from the last two seasons.
2016/17 season – £61.9m on signings, £76m on player sales (profit of 14.1m)
2017/18 season – £154.9m on signings, £177m on player sales (profit of £22.4m)
* Figures are estimates as not all fees are disclosed. Via Kevin Palmer.
How can a club like Liverpool be in a profit when it is clear that spending wins you trophies?
Some supporters can sit there and go on about not wanting to ‘buy the league’. How can you say that? We haven’t won a Premier League title and it has been going on for too long! Do you not want to see success? I certainly do and if it means spending like the other clubs, I’m all for it. It is now the only way.
Then there’s the ongoing issue of the club selling it’s best players. I understand, at times, it cannot be prevented, but what can be prevented is the lack of trophies within the club. If FSG made Liverpool into a force again, then players would be more reluctant to leave.
Why do you think Emre Can is seeing out his contract? He can go to Juventus and win trophies. That’s why you play football, isn’t it?
Let’s have a look at the sale of Philippe Coutinho. How can you sell the best player within the club halfway through a season and not have a replacement lined up immediately? To receive £142million for him was great, but where is the replacement!?
The sad part is £75million of that was to fund Virgil van Dijk. Klopp constantly has to defend his bosses and that says enough. When the owners are a big enough talking point for the reasons they are, should they be in charge? Probably not.
We are so lucky to have Klopp in charge of Liverpool’s first-team and so are FSG. Let’s be honest, he is overachieving with the resources available. Remember when Carlo Ancelotti was linked to the club at the same time? There is a reason he had no interest in the job. He wouldn’t have been able to work the way he has worked at his previous clubs. He would have had one arm tied behind his back by not having the adequate financial backing of FSG.
They are not football people. There is no denying their passion lies within baseball, and that is fine. They grew up around it and that is exactly why they have more time for it. So, what is the motivation to buy a football club? Seriously, if you think they are in it to turn our great football club back into a powerhouse then you are wrong.
How often do you see John W Henry and Tom Werner at Anfield? It is rarely. I understand that they aren’t supporters from when they were growing up, but at least show some interest!
Compare it to the owners of other football clubs. Roman Abramovich seems to make quite a few appearances at Stamford Bridge. Daniel Levy never misses much at Wembley Stadium. So, why do we just accept that both Henry and Werner are exempt from visiting Anfield? They didn’t even attend Steven Gerrard’s final game at Anfield against Crystal Palace during the 2014-15 season.
I think that says enough.
More and more supporters are starting to wake up and see where FSG are taking us, and it will only be a matter of time until more start to speak out. So stop defending them, because by doing so you are defending mediocrity. This club deserves success and has been starved of it for far too long.
If FSG are to walk away with any success when they eventually sell up, then only one man can make it happen and that is Klopp.
He has worked miracles under them so far and developed a fairly decent side with obvious flaws, but can he achieve what everyone wants him to achieve under FSG?
I suppose time will tell.
