Not giving established players the opportunity to prove they could still last the pace at Liverpool was the downfall of Graeme Souness' Anfield reign.
That's according to former teammate Mark Lawrenson who has recalled how the ex-Anfield captains' managerial-like qualities were obvious from the start. Souness took over as Liverpool boss in 1991 after Sir Kenny Dalglish sensationally stepped down from the role.
But despite winning the FA Cup in 1992, he was unable to replicate his predecessor's high level of success and was eventually sacked in 1993. Despite enduring a tough tenure in the Anfield dugout, retired centre-back Lawrenson has recalled how, as a player, Souness was already effectively a future manager in waiting.
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Speaking on Football Saturday, Lawrenson said: "Graeme Souness was like having a manager on the pitch. The boot room obviously knew. He would test them sometimes. Ronnie Moran played left back for Liverpool for quite a long time, and obviously was a coach there and eventually manager. Ronnie, basically, was the sergeant major.
"If you played at left back for one half of the game it was a nightmare, because he was always on that side. The ball would come to you and he'd say three different things! We came in at half-time one day, we weren't winning and weren't playing particularly well. Alan Kennedy used to get it in the neck all the time.
"Graeme was captain then, and just said to him, 'Ronnie, it can't be him every single week! It's all of us!' In fairness to Ronnie, he kind of kept his mouth shut for a little bit."
Souness enjoyed a decorated career at Liverpool as a player with a record that few can match. Between 1977 and 1984 the tenacious midfielder won five league titles, three European Cups and four league cups, cementing his legendary status at the club.
But when Lawrenson was asked how such a successful football figure could fall short in a management roll at the same club, he was quick to confirm that he knew the real reason.
Lawrenson said: "I know exactly why, because he told me. He'd been to Rangers... he signed player after player after player.
"He made lots of changes. When he came to Liverpool, he said he made changes too soon, which is really unusual. The thing about Liverpool would be, if they thought your legs were going, they'd give you an extra six months just to make absolutely sure. He didn't do that, Graeme. He just made the decision with [Peter] Beardsley, Ray Houghton, Ronnie [Whelan], there was quote a few of them.
"He said, 'I wanted my own team, but in hindsight I should've given all those players another six months just to make absolutely certain'.
"Let's be fair, the three or four mentioned were all top players, and their legs hadn't gone, by the way."
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