Progress

[Neil Young]

We need more aphorisms.

[Mark79]

I'm all out.

Although I do have this weak visual metaphor about how we're all taking great strides in the right direction.

[fah-q]

We need more aphorisms.

Can we aphord them?

[Neil Young]

Sometimes the question is not can we aphord to but can we aphord not to.

[fah-q]

What's an aphorism between phriends?

[Shackanory]

Rodgers inherited an unbalanced squad, which you'd expect having gone through the ownership crisis and two managers in two years. There were too many on big wages that they didn't deserve, and too many others that were under-performing regardless of wages. He also had a remit to change the style of play to one more pleasing on the eye.

So we had a massive clear-out, to the extent that we had to rely on totally untried youngsters to pad out the squad. He was then given a fair amount to spend, but not enough to solve all the problems in the squad. He focused on the attack, which is fair enough given our problems scoring goals last season, and has a reasonable transfer record (Coutinho and Sturridge great, Allen jury's out, Borini looking poor at the moment) So we've pulverised the wage bill, changed to a more entertaining style of play, and have more or less sorted the attacking side of the squad. I'd say that represents solid progress for this season, under the terms of Rodgers' appointment. To do all that whilst maintaining our league position and hopefully even improving it a little on last year is decent work. Not outstanding, but decent.

He now needs to sort out the defence and make a serious challenge for fourth place next year, as I'm sure that will be FSG's minimum expectation for next season now that he's been here a while and has had a chance to mould the squad (not to mention the amount they've given him to spend and will continue to give him).

Borini's been injured, he's only been a part of nine games, you can't judge him on that. It's like saying Lucas was ****e for the most part of last season. Borini, if he's utilised properly, will be a top top player, and a vital one at that. We've only got a handful of players with genuinely boss pace coupled with spacial awareness, and he's one of them.

[Patricks_Berger]

Borini's been injured, he's only been a part of nine games, you can't judge him on that. It's like saying Lucas was ****e for the most part of last season. Borini, if he's utilised properly, will be a top top player, and a vital one at that. We've only got a handful of players with genuinely boss pace coupled with spacial awareness, and he's one of them.

Is Borini quick?

[calvoboy]

Borini's been injured, he's only been a part of nine games, you can't judge him on that. It's like saying Lucas was ****e for the most part of last season. Borini, if he's utilised properly, will be a top top player, and a vital one at that. We've only got a handful of players with genuinely boss pace coupled with spacial awareness, and he's one of them.

I'm talking about the transfer, not the player. At the moment that was a lot of money to pay for a player who's hardly played and who, when he has played, has failed to contribute much (great though his movement and awareness is). I hope he comes good for us.

[dom9]

How many clean sheets is it now?

[RichC]

13 I believe

[dom9]

From 33 games?

[RichC]

I do believe so

[dom9]

Awful.

[RichC]

Vole even

[danperkins]

Just watching irish soccer saturday Ray Houghton & Ronnie Whelan.

This is what they agreed on our squad:

YES:

Reina
Johnson
Enrique
Suarez
Gerrard
Sturridge
Coutinho
Downing
Lucas
Sterling
Kelly
Skrtel
Wisdom

MAYBE:
Coates
Allen
Shelvey
Robinson
Wilson
Henderson

NO:
Assaidi
Carra
Borini
Suso
Pacheco
Flanagan
Spearing
Carroll