As the old adage goes `a week is a long time in football`, how then do you define four weeks? This writers month long sojourn in India encompassed Liverpool winning the Carling Cup, progressing to the F.A cup semi-final and succumbing to a series of humiliating and painful league defeats. With Champions League football now out of reach will Liverpool fans be satisfied if the club wins the domestic cup double?
For the first time since his glorious return from exile Kenny Dalglish credentials to guide Liverpool back to the big time are being openly doubted. Liverpool are having their worst league season at home in almost 50 years, they are set to finish lower than they did last season having spent over a 100 million pounds in the transfer market. Such statistics are damning but they do not tell the full story.
For much of the season Liverpool have created a plethora of opportunities at home only to be denied by a combination of profligacy and often-bad luck. The consistency of their failings at Anfield has turned chronic and in recent weeks confidence has begin to dwindle. The pervading feeling is that only an F.A cup triumph can make the season a success and even then some fans have voiced their opinion that they would give up silverware for fourth place.
The argument is straightforward; the Champions League is the pinnacle of club football and for many has supplanted the World Cup as the globes premier competition. Participation in Europe brings the financial reward and greater bargaining power when chasing high profile players. Liverpool has always had a special connection with Europe and a club of its stature must have Europe as its priority.
By contrast the Carling and F.A cup have seen their own importance diminished in recent years as top teams often field reserve sides to keep the main players fresh for more lucrative competitions. Wenger once claimed clinching fourth was more important than winning the F.A cup and garnered a mixed reaction.
Arsenal’s stunning resurgence now leaves them in the driving seat for Europe but will see their trophy drought continue into next season, whilst Liverpool have ended their barren run but will have to wait at least until 2013 to drink the continental champagne. Which is more desirable?
Much of the debate is subjective and often biased with each club compelled to champion their achievements. In truth a top club should always have the Champions League as its guiding star but there is plenty of merit and advantage in winning the domestic cups.
It certainly spells success for a moronic, out-dated and clueless Kenny Dalglish.