What's Happening in the Fenway Empire?

Times are tough at the moment for the sports empire that John W Henry is trying to build. Both his marquee teams, the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool are struggling big time with lots of talk about both rosters/teams.

Sox manager Bobby Valentine actually came out with the following statement:

“This is the weakest roster we’ve ever had in September in the history of baseball. It could use help everywhere.” 

Brendan Rodgers and Bobby Valentine - two managers under the pump

(I think we can apply this tag to Liverpool to be honest but more on that later)

And it's not hard to agree with the former Mets manager - it has been some fall from grace for the Red Sox since July and they could struggle to beat the Blue Jays to avoid the wooden spoon in the Yankee division. I watched the Sox earlier this year and the pitching is absolutely amateur and the batting attack has failed to fire on a consistent enough level.

The similarities between the current Red Sox and Liverpool sides are eerie. Both rosters/squads are not worthy of being compared to the glorious, successful sides even of recent times. And both rosters/squads just cannot compare with their much hated rivals - the Yankees are probably more worried about Baltimore and Tampa Bay rather than those mutts from Boston and likewise Manchester United, more concerned about their noisy neighbours at the Etihad Stadium.

At least for Sox fans, the end of season can't come sooner enough and they will still have their regular fix of games against the Yankees, etc. As for Liverpool, there is a real threat of relegation this season if Brendan Rodgers can't get the results.

Yes it is admirable what the former Swansea manager is trying to do at Anfield but he has already made one fatal mistake that could bite later - the inability to replace Andy Carroll with a decent striker in the transfer window just gone by. To put your faith in Fabio Borini to get 20 goals per season is a bit like trusting a Minor Leaguer to pitch a no-hitter in his first game.

As a Liverpool fan, having seen the calamities of the last 4 years, this latest drama is beguiling to say the least and quite terrifying actually. I can get over the fact we won't be in the Champions League next season but being caught in a relegation battle is absolutely unthinkable.

But really the lack of success at Fenway Park has clearly flown with the jets that fly from America to Heathrow and fallen from the sky onto Anfield. Clearing the roster is the theme of the moment and absolutely necessary but it is going to be quite painful for both sets of fans - fans of two of football and baseball's greatest institutions.