Dalglish to Killie … No, not that one

By: Ian Rose | February 16th, 2008

Kilmarnock, currently eleventh in the SPL and nine points above Gretna, has decided to look all the way to America to sign their newest Scottish striker, and have agreed terms with Paul Dalglish. Kenny’s boy Paul, no longer much of a boy at 30, is making the move from repeat MLS Cup champions Houston Dynamo, where he was best known for his Man of the Match performance in the club’s first Cup win two years back. In Scotland, of course, and in Britain as a whole, he remains best known as Kenny Dalglish’s son, and for his habit of never playing for a single side for more than two seasons. Killie will be his thirteenth British club, and his fourth in the SPL.

Personally, I have to say I’m not sure what Killie expect out of Dalglish. Two things are obvious about Killie right now - first, they desperately need a reliable striker, and second, no matter how badly they play, they are probably staying up at least another season. If the relegation side wasn’t playing so much like a relegation side, there would be more worries, but Gretna are headed down. Since their place leaves little to play for beyond survival, and Gretna’s play makes survival all but certain, I’m not sure what is gained from a short-term investment in an over-the-hill striker with injury problems and a spotty record at best.

To be frank, as much as I like Killie coach Jim Jeffries, the longest-serving active manager in the league, I think Dalglish the elder would have been a better move. Losing to everyone but Gretna, when Gretna looks this poor, is little consolation for a side that should be mid-table, a side with one of the best keepers in Scotland in Alan Combe, and a side which made significant profit on the sale of Steven Naismith to Rangers.

Maybe they’re thinking that when St. Mirren brought in Andy Dorman, a British-born player signed from an American team, they went on a nice little run in both the league and the Scottish Cup. Maybe they can do the same … problem is, Dorman is about five years younger than Dalglish, and scored about a dozen more goals for his MLS side. Name recognition aside, this one baffles me.