Sunday, January 16, 2011

Social Engagement or Social Suicide?

It was good to see the flags out in force today in support of the Return of The King. The return of our beloved Kenny to the dugout brought goal celebrations we've not seen since Gerard Houllier's reign but familiar expressions of concern as the team failed to defend a lead and showed worrying signs of lack of confidence again.

More importantly though, we witnessed a unified and galvanised Kop (and team) getting behind their new leader. The songs were in full flow, the imagery from our successful days was abundant, and we felt in touch with the club once again. And Kenny really appreciated it as well, of that I am certain. Not because be smiled and applauded, but because he just told me so via his @kennethdalglish Twitter feed.

Liverpool are at the forefront of a revolution and not necessarily on the pitch either. As far as my limited research suggests, Liverpool Football Club are the only Premier League outfit to have their Manager and Owner both actively using the social networking tool to communicate directly with the public. Therein lies the revolution.

I can't yet decide whether this is a good or bad state of affairs. Twitter is largely used by the celebrities of this world to inform their followers of the 'truth' often in response to lazy or vindictive journalism. Although when I say 'truth' that could include what ham sandwich Kim Kardashian has just eaten, or what girl Jason Manford has just pulled. After @John_W_Henry exposed 'Gerrard leaving' rumours to be lies, football fans suddenly had a route to the top, a voice on the Board and a word in the Managers ear.

I have already seen (and chastised) moronic fans with no insight into man-management for violently swearing at football players after a poor performance. I took serious issue with a man who felt he had the right to tell Mr Henry to 'f*** off' if he didnt sack Roy Hodgson and buy any new players. The idiot egoist felt his message had got through when there was a change in management but the last time I looked, that fan hadn't worked hard all his life to invest £300m into the ailing fortunes of our beloved club. And I don't recall swearing ever working during negotiations.

Opening up lines of communication should be a good thing in my mind, although to me the oft-quoted 'Liverpool Way' is about conducting your private affairs in private and informing the public on a need to know basis - something a certain Tom Hicks got very wrong indeed. I don't want to see fans trying to tell Kenny how go run the team, or John Henry who to buy and how much for. I don't believe for a minute that the men in charge will actually listen to anything other than the general feeling about the club, but more importantly I don't want fans thinking they have a direct line to the top. I love the fact that I can read Kenny's thought on a subject but often it is better to just listen.

Liverpool have (nearly) always handed five year contracts to their incoming managers, and I'm very proud of that fact. It is a recognition that things take time - even for their top interview candidate - and a reminder that patience can be a virtue. But football is changing almost as fast as technology, and with it expectations that we perhaps might one day pick the team in only 140 characters. But change isn't always a good thing, and maybe neither is communication. Perhaps they should leave us to the banter and squabbling, whilst they get on with their jobs in virtual peace?

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