Perhaps Liverpool's dominance of English football would have continued for a bit longer (and could well have won a few more league titles) had Kenny Dalglish not unexpectedly resigned as manager at Anfield in early 1991. It was after this that Graeme Souness returned to Liverpool (he resigned as manager of Glasgow Rangers in April '91 to go back to Anfield, much to my annoyance!), as as every Reds fan will recall, his tenure wasn't exactly the most successful.
Originally Posted by: David M Porter
Maybe.
But let's remember that Dalglish inherited a hugely experienced Liverpool side who were used to winning. When those experienced players started to retire, Dalglish had a massive rebuilding job on his hands and, IMO, largely failed. The players he brought in were too often below the standard needed to continue Liverpool's dominance, especially toward the end of his reign. Players like David Speedie, Ronny Rosenthal, Jimmy Carter, Steve Harkness, Don Hutchinson just weren't of anywhere near equal calibre to Hanson, Dalglish himself, Craig Johnston, Lawro, etc.
Of course, like you say, when Souness came in, he made an utter horlicks of the job. Dean Saunders, Neil Ruddock, Paul Stewart, Nigel Clough, Michael Thomas, Mark Walters, Julian Dicks, Stig Bjornebye, Torben Piechnik - all big money signings back then and not a one wore the Liverpool shirt with any distinction.
Perhaps in Leeds hadn't sold a certain Monsieur Cantona to Man Utd late on in 1992, they could well have gone on to dominate football in England for a good few years; they certainly looked well capable of it after winning the league in 1991-92. Cantona was as big a factor in Leeds' success that season as he was in all Man Utd's title winning sides during the following five years or so.
Originally Posted by: David M Porter
The story goes that, during his time at Leeds, Cantona was porking Lesley Ash, wife of Leeds striker Lee Chapman - hence why Cantona was drummed out of Elland Rd. Dunno if it's true, but it's a great rumour!
As a way of linking the two above snippets, Cantona was apparently offered to LIverpool before he joined Leeds, but Souness declined. Says it all.
Martin
Home: St Helens (26m asl) Work: Manchester (75m asl)
A TWO addict since 14/12/01
"How can wealth persuade poverty to use its political freedom to keep wealth in power? Here lies the whole art of Conservative politics."
Aneurin Bevan