Football focus: Over the last 10 years, have Liverpool become perennial underachievers?

In this i have made a strong effort to keep speling (that's a joke btw) to the minimum.

Over the past 10 years Liverpool have been in dire need of silverware. If my memory serves correctly, it usually does, the last trophy they lifted, was the FA Cup in 2006, in dramatic scenes, Gerrard with a trademark wunder strike. Since then the years have gone by, and at the beginning of every season, there are high expectations of a title challenge and perhaps a cheeky cup, be that FA, League Cup or European Cup. Note that I have left out the UEFA Champions League. In analysing this where does the blame fall, the players, the manager or the owners, or a lethal concoction of all three. In truth it naturally will be a mix of all three, however the manager buys the player and the owners authorise this so the blame should fall at their door. On the other hand, even with the best players in the world, they can still not play to potential, and therefore naturally it's a combination of all three.

Firstly one will analyse the long running Gillett and Hicks saga. I genuinely have no idea why these American clowns bought the club. It has been one long train wreck. They now sit at the helm; I believe trying to get the club in good standing to limit losses on a future sale. A couple of years ago, a saviour seemed so close in the form of the Chinese government. It's impossible to say that this would have worked, but considering the Chinese authorities control over its population, one could be looking at a whole lot of people indoctrinated into supporting the club. Poor leadership in all organisations at the top, filters down to the bottom of an organisation, leading to indecision at all levels. At Liverpool, this can be seen through management decisions and players unwillingness to commit there long term future at the club on the basis they believe they are in limbo. This can be seen through the indecision of key players to sign long term contracts and also affects the ability of the club to sign top class player, as they don't wish to join a sinking ship. In this sense a lot of blame falls at the door of the two imbecilic (what a word, check it AD and ME, 10 points to Ravenclaw, I think you would agree) owners.

We not turn to the managers. The majority of the decline but also success was seen under Benitez, his tenure lasting from, 2004 - 2010, winning in the process, the aforementioned FA Cup and European Cup. The following managers, Hodgson, who seemed an inspired signing from Fulham where he had successfully lead a weak side to the European Cup final, gained no trophies. And in the shirt time Dalgleish has been at the club, no trophies have been forthcoming, but is there hope for the future. This will be discussed later. The signing record of Benitez, is highly questionable, there is a whole class of just regular, if not bad players, whom he has signed, for instance, N'gog, and that Italian midfielder whom was always injured. Dalgleish, has it would have appeared, began to correct for his predecessors mistakes. The likes of Carroll, Henderson, downing, Adam, are all class English players. Time will tell how they develop but first signs are positive. Suarez is a revelation and when not injured looks very bright. So in terms of managers, Benitiez's previous successes perhaps make up for his failings in the transfer Market and although new, Dalgleish had made positive in roads. Yes Hodgson, appeared out of his depth, but his tenure wasn't particulate long, and thus little blame, in my eyes falls on the manager’s doors.

We know turn to the players, who even given the problems happening above them, I believe can take the majority if the blame. You can lead a horse to water, but can't make it drink, or in footballing terms, you can give the player very opportunity, but you can't make him score. Yes throughout, the campaigns they have suffered injuries to key players such as Torres and Gerrard, but all clubs suffer this, think Drogba with Chelsea, or Rooney at United, get over it. You could argue that the players aren't of the high enough quality, and that’s the managers fault, however Birmingham won the FA Cup with an equal if not worse quality team. There is no excuse for lack of commitment, and at many times, Gerrard aside, the players seem unwilling to commit to those 50 - 50 challenges, they are not fighting for the badge in their shirt or for those most inspirational of fans, those that fill the Kop. Torres, post injury, was a a waste of spit, and the foreigners, not to be xenophobic, seemed to have no care or knowledge of Liverpools rich history and had no pride in wearing the shirt.

In terms of the future, hopefully the ownership issue will be sorted, and with Dalgleish at the helm, things seem to be coming together under this living legend. The midfield and attack appear strong, and with Gerrard to come back, a 4-3-3, of Carroll, supported by Suarez and Downing, with Gerrard, Adam and Henderson in midfield, carries a real threat. If a couple more seasons could be squeezed out of Carragher and the defence strengthened in general, there is reason to be excited. In Reina, between the sticks, they have a truly great keeper, if not a bit eccentric at times. As such, somehow this half baked club, do appear to have bumbled into a position of great strength.

To conclude, although perhaps the most vilified party, the managers, for these are the people who have suffered, through chopping and changing the manager, have done the least damage to the club. The sooner the issues regarding ownership are resolved, the better. The final blame should rest at the player’s doors however, yet as is the world, players rarely get punished for poor performance. Yes they may be chastised by the press, but in truth, the nature of their contracts, means they are untouchables. As discussed before the future is bright, and perhaps red. So yes, they were perennial underachievers, but this could be all about to change, as it always is with Liverpool.