Liverpool FC: Damien Comolli Steps Down, First Right Move of the Reds Season
By
(Featured Columnist) on April 12, 2012
Scott Heavey/Getty Images
Liverpool FC director of football Damien Comolli ended his tenure in charge of the club today by "mutual consent." The removal of Comolli seemed a long time coming as his big-money signings have failed to live up to their billing and the club has continued to slide backwards.
Comolli came to Anfield by way of Tottenham where he held the same title. Struggling in his time there, he was dismissed in October of 2008. However, he is the primary man responsible for many of the stars the team currently has including Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and Benoit Assou-Ekotto.
Arriving in Liverpool in November of 2010, he attempted to make his impression felt in his very first transfer window. That January, he sold off Fernando Torres for an English record £50 million. He then took the money and immediately reinvested in two highly touted prospects, Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez.
Suarez was an effective striker in his first season with the club, but has tapered off since then. However, his off-field issues, including allegations of racial slurs, have become more of a defining moment in his career than helping Liverpool get back on top. Rumors have even circulated around that Suarez could be let go in the summer.
Carroll on the other hand has become what many Liverpool fans see as Comolli being a frivolous spender and not worthy of being in charge of the funds. At £35 million, Carroll has been a bust nearing the level of the man he was brought in to replace, Torres.
With only 10 goals in 49 appearances, there is no way to reasonably argue that he was worth the investment put into him. He has become a bench player at best and often is there only for the value put into him, hoping to get something out of it.
Add in the summer signings of Jordan Henderson (£16 million), Charlie Adam (£9 million) and Stewart Downing (£20 million) with the fact that Liverpool has a very good chance of finishing worse in the table than they did last season and it is like money down the drain.
With Comolli gone, will glory return to Anfield?
· Yes
68.4%
· No
31.6%
Total votes: 376
The club has not made very many good decisions over the past few years, but nothing compares to the kind of moves they have made over the past season and a half. Comolli has been at the center of all of them and consequently deserved to pay the price for the direction of the club.
The dismissal of Comolli further intensifies questions surrounding the future of manager Kenny Dalglish.
Dalglish reportedly had a "fantastic" working relationship with Comolli adding:
He has been really helpful in every transfer target we've gone for. Everyone who has come into the club since Damien has been here was of my choice. Once I made the choice who I wanted Damien went away and did a fantastic job of bringing them in.
This may also mark the beginning of the end for the Anfield legend as his Liverpool look to clear house and start fresh.
It may be too late to salvage anything from this campaign, but it does give fans hope for the future. The talent is there and support is always behind them from the loyalists. This move could be the first correct one the club has made in years and will be the one to turn around the team's fortunes.
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