The end of season report

[dom9]

So, I always said I would reserve judgement on BR until the end of the season.

I think in terms of final positioning, we have achieved the bare minimum. Anything less would have a difficult one to take. The performance in the cups has been by and large abysmal. However, final positions do not tell the whole story. It is obvious to anyone that the team have improved throughout the season and that we're on an upward curve. BR has demonstrated flexibility and pragmatism (we are more direct than we were at the start of the season), good coaching and has given out of favour players a chance based on merit (see Henderson). We haven't consistently thrashed teams at the bottom of the league for years. Those games were great fun. But how do we play the teams set up to stifle the system? That needs more work. All in all, there is a feeling of tangible progress.

But, success next year will be determined not so much by feelings of progress, but final positions and performance in the cups. With no European football, the workload should be in our favour.

So my verdict? I think I need another season before I can be sure.

[Arn]

Love watching this team play. That is the main thing for me - we are playing proper football again the Liverpool way. Well done BR, the future looks bright! I just hope FSG appreciate the progress he has made and back him to the level we need to genuinely push the top teams next season.

We are on the right way but the coming season will be key if Rodgers stays or not. We must be a top four club at the end of it or very close.

If we are, give him a new three year deal. If we don't. Replace him.

This season was the building season. Next season is the delivery one.

[Neil Young]

So, I always said I would reserve judgement on BR until the end of the season.

I think in terms of final positioning, we have achieved the bare minimum. Anything less would have a difficult one to take. The performance in the cups has been by and large abysmal. However, final positions do not tell the whole story. It is obvious to anyone that the team have improved throughout the season and that we're on an upward curve. BR has demonstrated flexibility and pragmatism (we are more direct than we were at the start of the season), good coaching and has given out of favour players a chance based on merit (see Henderson). We haven't consistently thrashed teams at the bottom of the league for years. Those games were great fun. But how do we play the teams set up to stifle the system? That needs more work. All in all, there is a feeling of tangible progress.

But, success next year will be determined not so much by feelings of progress, but final positions and performance in the cups. With no European football, the workload should be in our favour.

So my verdict? I think I need another season before I can be sure.

In other words, you're reserving judgment on BR until the end of next season.

[dom9]

In other words, you're reserving judgment on BR until the end of next season.

Exactly.

One season is certainly not enough these days.

[Neil Young]

But surely you knew that already when you said you would reserve judgment until the end of this seas...Oh never mind.

Why are so many people so serious today? We can relax, enjoy life. Football is over for another 88 days.

[dom9]

Football was pretty much over for me after the cup final last year.

[Fredo]

But surely you knew that already when you said you would reserve judgment until the end of this seas...Oh never mind.

Why are so many people so serious today? We can relax, enjoy life. Football is over for another 88 days.

Now we can enjoy watching dogs cycle up and down the Alps and Pyrenees.

[Arn]

Now we can enjoy watching dogs cycle up and down the Alps and Pyrenees.

[Neil Young]

The Dolomites for me.

But if we have to be serious, the Premiership was totally sh*te. Man United won it easily yet were totally outclassed in Europe. Only seven clubs had a positive goal difference. Eighth was only three wins above "the magic 40 points mark" of survival. Following it was a complete waste of effort.

[fah-q]

C- in my opinion.

We've played some good stuff at times, but always look a little bit fragile. We are the footballing equivalent () of Jamie Redknapp's career. We look great when we are 3-0 up and cruising but have a piss weak mentality and find it hard going when things aren't going our way.

Progress in the league without doubt but tempered slightly by the poor showing in the cups.

[fah-q]

Also, our attacking unit looks superp. But our midfield looks lost at times and our defence porous.

[dww]

The Dolomites for me.

But if we have to be serious, the Premiership was totally sh*te. Man United won it easily yet were totally outclassed in Europe. Only seven clubs had a positive goal difference. Eighth was only three wins above "the magic 40 points mark" of survival. Following it was a complete waste of effort.

[malg]

I have probably been overly critical of Rodgers since he took over, however I feel with just concern. Since the turn of the year and the purchase of Sturridge and coutinho there has been a clear improvement. Obviously we have achieved a better points tally than last season, but we don’t know if this was down to us being out of the cups relatively early. He defiantly needs another season, and if he can pull out another couple players to the level of Sturridge and coutinho, who knows where we will end up. My realistic expectations for next season would be EPL Champions and the FA Cup and a semi final in the Lge Cup…………..(only joking) I would like a good run in the cups and a finish of around 5th, 4th would be fantastic.

[~LFCHistory~]

Anyone who thinks we have we have underachieved this season needs to remember that Brendan inherited a team that had just finished 8th, was in relegation form, had no style of play, had lost Maxi, Bellamy and Kuyt for nothing, was overloaded with mediocrity signed by Dalglish and Comolli and had scored 47 league goals all season !!
After a poor opening transfer window Brendan has implemented a clear style of play, sorted out our goal scoring problem, signed 2 very good players in Coutinho and Sturridge and most importantly IMO he has begun to instill a combative mindset in the players. What I mean by that is several times this season we have gone behind in a game and managed to fight back and win. Last season that would never, ever have happened, in fact you'd probably have to go back to the 2008/9 season to find instances were that has happened.
We're still far from the finished article and Brendan certainly isn't perfect, I don't know what next season will bring, football is unpredictable but I believe that if we sign the right players this summer we can at the very least be in the mix for 4th place from day one of next season.

[Reece]

What I mean by that is several times this season we have gone behind in a game and managed to fight back and win. Last season that would never, ever have happened, in fact you'd probably have to go back to the 2008/9 season to find instances were that has happened.

I can recall three occurrences off of the top of my head last season when we won after going behind (admittedly two were in the cup):

2-1 vs Stoke in Carling Cup
3-1 vs Newcastle in the league
2-1 vs Everton in FA Cup semi

Not really that important, but it's not as rare as you make out.