King Kenny's reign comes to an end

Down and out- Dalglish sacked after poor season

It has been announced this afternoon that Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has been sacked. The news comes after days of speculation in which a trip to Boston for a meeting with the Liverpool owners was reported to have not gone well.

Fenway Sports Group released this statement:

"Fenway Sports Group (FSG) and Liverpool Football Club announced that Kenny Dalglish is to leave his post today as manager after having his contract terminated.After a careful and deliberative review of the season, the club came to the decision that a change was appropriate. It is not a decision that was reached lightly or hastily. The search for a new manager will begin immediately."

T-Shirt debactle

For me this decision has been coming. The sacking of Damien Comolli proved that the writing was on the wall. Liverpool spent an awful lot of money on players this season and in truth the returns have been poor. Signing such as Andy Carroll, Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam, Jose Enrique, Stewart Downing and Sebastian Coates have all not been impressive. None have had good seasons. An eighth place league finish is simply not good enough. The performances themselves have also been very poor as they have struggled all year. Dalglish's handling of the Luis Suarez racism issue was also appalling. That episode brought the whole of Liverpool football club into disrepute. The way they conducted themselves was awful. The T-Shirts (above) were a disaster as Luis Suarez was found to be guilty. Even after this Dalglish seemed to never regret his actions. He was forced to make an apology by the club. His attitude towards the press was terrible. The arrogance of the man was unbelievable as he would just walk out on interviews. I doubt any journalist will shed a tear over this decision.

For me Dalglish has got exactly what he deserved. I did personally think that the Carling Cup win and a FA Cup Final would have brought him some time however it would appear not. Their season can be categorised as nothing but failure for a team of Liverpool's stature. The fans will still mourn his departure as he will always be regarded as a 'god-like' figure. Although Liverpool are now better off. They can now move forward with a new manager. It will not be easy, the team needs serious investment in the right type of players. If Liverpool do not get this appointment right they could continue to slip and remain outside of those Champions League places for years to come. The two Manchester clubs will continue to improve as will Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea. If Newcastle can perform again next season, or a team such as Everton continue their great form Liverpool will again be struggling to be in the top six. The Premier League is a very very tough league and it will not be getting easier for Liverpool anytime soon.

Is Martinez the answer 

The next appointment will be interesting SkyBet has Wigan manager Roberto Martinez (right) as the 7/4 favourite. Martinez has been linked with the Aston Villa and West Brom jobs in recents days however this is by far a much bigger job. If Liverpool will actually go with him I am not sure. Is he the man to take Liverpool forward? Only managed a team at the lower end of the Premier League will low expectations and no european experience. He does not seem the sort of man they will go for to me. He has done wonders at Wigan by keeping them in the Premier League year after year and likes to play a good brand of football. I do think he can manage at the bigger club however this jump may just be too far too soon. I am sure Martinez will be extremely keen to get this job. Liverpool desperately want to end their wait for a league title is Martinez the man to supply that? For me Liverpool are so far away from the title that it will take years to even get close.  It is a massive job as serious rebuilding needs to take place.

Other candidates include that of former manager Rafa Benitez (4/1 SkyBet), former England Fabio Capello (10/1 SkyBet), former Chelsea Andre Villas Boas (10/1 SkyBet) and current Swansea manager Brendan Rogers (6/1 Skybet). I am sure that over the coming days the number of names linked with this job will rise and rise. I am sure Sven Goran Eriksson will suddenly express an interest soon as he does in all available jobs. I have heard numerous fans saying how they would not mind Benitez back however I feel that this would be a disaster.

For me I have no idea who they will go with. However @25/1 (Skybet) Guus Hiddink would be a wonderful appointment and maybe worth a few quid.  

Mcleish sacked by Villa

Time to go

Alex Mcleish's sacking has been coming since the day of his appointment. The man never really had a chance. I am by no means a Mcleish supporter as I do question why he took the job. 

To be honest the man deserved the sack. Aston Villa have been so poor this season. The only won 7 games out of 38. They limped their way to Premier League Survival by boring teams and amassing a staggering 17 draws. They survived by two points. In truth Aston Villa deserved to go down. They never showed any fight or will. The lack of quality was staggering. 

Key signings such as Charles N'Zogbia were a disaster as Villa failed to improve on last seasons poor display. Mcleish never seemed to have the backing of the players or the fans and when this is the case you have no chance. The key for Villa now is who do they replace him with?

They have said that they want a 'vibrant' manager. Someone with new ideas an reinvigorate the club. Currently SkyBet have Norwich boss Paul Lambert as the favourite. Lambert has done a magnificent job at Norwich in the past three years. He would be a great appointment although why would he leave Norwich for Villa. Norwich have a better squad and probably better finances. I think it would be mad to leave Norwich for Aston Villa at this moment in time. This can be said for another candidate that of Roberto Martinez (5/1 SkyBet). To be fait it would be seen as a step up for him to go to Villa. Although I doubt he will see the appeal. Martinez is holding out for a big job it seems and he seems to be waiting for that job. 

Villa Park bound? 

The problem for Villa is that not I really do not see who they are going get. No top manager will want to go there. The likes of Claudio Ranieri and Rafa Benitez have been linked however I cannot see either of them happening. If I was putting money on it I would back them to go and get Gus Poyet (20/1 SkyBet) from Brighton. He fits their bill. He is young, up and coming and will have new ideas for the club. Personally I do not think he would be successfull however do think that this is the way they will go.