Inter Milan's Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho is pictured before their second leg in the round of 16 UEFA Champions League match against Chelsea at home to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge football stadium, London on March 16, 2010. The match ended 1-0 to Inter Milan.CARL DE SOUZA
After another lacklustre performance and 1-1 tie against a resilient yet tiring Birmingham City squad Liverpool are a team and a club in disarray. True they could still finish in the all important fourth spot in the English Premier and true they could still win the Europa League but let's not hold our collective breaths on it. A review of this current game tape is all we need to recognize this is not going to happen.
After all it has been one excuse after another as to why the club have failed this year. Injuries to Fernando Torres and Stephen Gerrard; time needed for Alberto Aquilani to rehabilitate and then to settle; ditto Glen Johnson - in fact with Johnson, are we still waiting for him to defend as well as he attacks?; an ageing Carragher; debt ridden club affecting everyone; new stadium still far into the distance and the list goes on.
This is not complicated. Rafael Benitez's sell by date has come and gone. His final act of desperation - no not the signing of Maxi Rodriguez - was the declaration of a guaranteed fourth place finish some time ago. Failure here seals his fate.
Here's the real issue though, since when should finishing fourth be considered the hallmark of great success for a club that has such a storied past. Oh how the mighty have fallen. It has been so long since Liverpool have been crowned the kings of the land through the winning of a domestic league title that it now appears to be a secondary thought.
Ironically there is no better time for them to make the overhaul they need to make. And the manager they need to do it is waiting. Well, surprise, surprise Jose Mourinho. Name a better alternative?
His most recent claim that he does not like Italian football and Italian football does not like him could not be a stronger rebuttal to those who believe he will stay on in Serie A for another year. And so his alternative choices?
Manchester United - No. Timing is wrong. Sir Alex Ferguson is staying and besides what kind of challenge is that? Manchester City? Not likely, Roberto Mancini has been a quick learner of English football and his confrontation with Everton's David Moyes was not choreographed, just a timely display of passion and care that would have adhered him to his players and the fans. Finish fourth and he will stay. Real Madrid. Not likely, especially if they win this year's La Liga. Manuel Pellegrini was an outstanding choice for them and has so far done an excellent job.
No, whichever way you look at it Liverpool is the place for Mourinho and he has admitted it himself, provided the money is available to him. So, rather than wasting energy debating it or covertly scheming who should take over the club the fans should recognize that Mourinho is the manager to bring back some of the glorious past. A Premiership title or two and another Champions League crown. That's the vision. Sell it to the club, hit them over the head with it if need be and then get them to sort out the financial part once and for all. Easier to sell once you have an exciting but realistic vision. Mourinho is not in the business of failing and so that's the clubs guarantee.
Either that or hire someone else and continue the mediocrity for another decade or two.