The manager - where are you at?

[Darkon]

re dropping gerrard - apart from the spurs miracle, it's not a coincidence our best midfield performances have been when he's been out of the starting lineup. he's just not a holding midfielder neither does he have the tactical awarness to do the defensive work, nor does he have the patience to bring the ball out of defence, he's never been one for sharing responsabiltiy, he's always tried to do things by himself, but you just can't do that as a DM.

the first and the second goal yesterday would have been sniffed out by a genuine holding mid, and gerrard was on the wing for the first one, and horribly late in the box for the second one.

now he's not our only problen but he's the only problem that impacts both our defence and attack.

He is a part of the problem, but not the problem. The complete lack of desire / work rate that seems to plague our team is the problem IMO, and to be honest Gerrard is one of the few I see taking really good runs forth and back!! Henderson have done so as well, but to less effect than last season. Allen, Lucas and Can have not been good in those areas, albeit the later needs games and have produced forward at least. Coutinho, Lallana and Sterling have also been guilty at not backtracking and working sideways to keep the organisation.

It's just to easy blaming this on Gerrard as I see it, and it's partly done because he has saved us so many times that we keep looking to him.

Our organization and commitment is what seems off to me, and exactly what's happened I'm not sure.

(Skrtel is actually the biggest common factor (this season and not least the last) in us having a poor organization and clean sheet rate - how he's still in the team is my question)

[Lecter]

I agree with have a tendency to go from close second to what the ****s happening this season, and it's frustrating as hell. Same with Houllier and Rafa really.

I have as hard a time as any seeing the way forward right now, but I don't believe changing manager right now will be the solution, and as most examples through footballing history have shown it really rarely solves anything. It can give a shock effect for a couple of games, but teams sorting to that will usually end up where they were.

As with you I expect(ed) us to challenge for fourth this season, but rulling it out being 5 points behind seems exceptionally rash and firering Rodgers now seems like an overreaction to me. I know it's counterfactual and of little real use, but imagine us being placed in 5th/6th position being 5 points behind CL places, I do wonder if people reacted like now? Even if we didn't play well neither?

I think the club and supporters need to give the team some working space to get a few wins under the belt. With the talent in the team, I'm certain that once we get the crucial few it will turn around.

But right now

To me he has to change things in order to stand a chance of coming out of this slump and give himself breathing space

Hes shown no signs of making those changes and I find that incredibly frustrating its almost to the point where you question whether he sees the problems

I am sure he does but his stubborness seems to be clouding his judgement and ultimately stubborness is often what costs managerd their jobs

[Leyton388]

If we go out the CL this week, which judging by the effort of the players so far I expect us to he will be a gonna. I really thought we had found the right man to take this club forward but he's reverted to the rodgers of 2012 with his team selections.

His transfers alone should be a sackable offence. I hope he turns it round but I just cant see it. At the moment Rodgers cant see the wood for the trees. He wont drop under performing players and persists with playing garbage in the hope they will come good. Im sorry but you cant polish a turd and that exactly what hes trying to do with Lovren, johnson and Mignolet.

We conceed 50 goals last season an Doesn't even bother to buy a decent keeper to challenge the current number 1. Is he kidding or what?

[G]

His autobiography will be interesting reading regarding transfers.

[Sarb]

His autobiography will be interesting reading regarding transfers.

Depends whether you believe what he says on transfers. Got the usual stories today from Bascombe and Pearce regards his missed transfers costing us (Willians and Vorm). That is part of his problem. Why he thinks they were good enough is beyond me. Add to that Borini, Allen, Lambert, Lallana, Lolvren. He wanted all of them. How many are classed a success yet!? None I'd say. That is a hell of a lot of cash.

I think if Lallana stops getting messed about he will come good. But for me the transfers is a bit of a red herring when it comes to Rodgers. He has hidden behind the committee and Balotelli this season. Balo was a convenient scapegoat until yesterday. The main issues have been his player selections and systems. Not seen anything from him that indicates he sees the problem. It is just getting worse by the game.

I hope he turns it around but I'm almost convinced he won't. I believe he is playing a transfer game and it is costing us

[Cormack74]

To me he has to change things in order to stand a chance of coming out of this slump and give himself breathing space

Hes shown no signs of making those changes and I find that incredibly frustrating its almost to the point where you question whether he sees the problems

I am sure he does but his stubborness seems to be clouding his judgement and ultimately stubborness is often what costs managerd their jobs

This is what I fail to understand: He's a bright bloke (I think) but he's acting like a WW1 General which I find truly baffling.

[Sarb]

This is what I fail to understand: He's a bright bloke (I think) but he's acting like a WW1 General which I find truly baffling.

Like Lecter said, it is back to his death by football philosophy. Only people dying is us

[Shaggy]

I imagine his ego is a lot bigger now than it was 12 months ago and that will make him more myopic, single-minded and stubborn.

[Redspin]

He is a part of the problem, but not the problem. The complete lack of desire / work rate that seems to plague our team is the problem IMO, and to be honest Gerrard is one of the few I see taking really good runs forth and back!! Henderson have done so as well, but to less effect than last season. Allen, Lucas and Can have not been good in those areas, albeit the later needs games and have produced forward at least. Coutinho, Lallana and Sterling have also been guilty at not backtracking and working sideways to keep the organisation.

It's just to easy blaming this on Gerrard as I see it, and it's partly done because he has saved us so many times that we keep looking to him.

Our organization and commitment is what seems off to me, and exactly what's happened I'm not sure.

(Skrtel is actually the biggest common factor (this season and not least the last) in us having a poor organization and clean sheet rate - how he's still in the team is my question)

It's that Rodgers seems in awe of Gerrard that's the problem. He just doesn't seem brave enough to bench him or substitute him.

The fact is that Gerrard offers very little to the team right now and when he doesn't play we don't miss him at all - not in the slightest. In fact the team usually plays at a much higher tempo, retains possession better and looks infinitely more solid defensively.

Until Rodgers is able to sort out the Gerrard conundrum I'm afraid nothing will change

[rodo]

I imagine his ego is a lot bigger now than it was 12 months ago and that will make him more myopic, single-minded and stubborn.

blame the weight loss the new teeth the sunbeds and the new younger bird

[G]

Depends whether you believe what he says on transfers. Got the usual stories today from Bascombe and Pearce regards his missed transfers costing us (Willians and Vorm). That is part of his problem. Why he thinks they were good enough is beyond me. Add to that Borini, Allen, Lambert, Lallana, Lolvren. He wanted all of them. How many are classed a success yet!? None I'd say. That is a hell of a lot of cash.

I think if Lallana stops getting messed about he will come good. But for me the transfers is a bit of a red herring when it comes to Rodgers. He has hidden behind the committee and Balotelli this season. Balo was a convenient scapegoat until yesterday. The main issues have been his player selections and systems. Not seen anything from him that indicates he sees the problem. It is just getting worse by the game.

I hope he turns it around but I'm almost convinced he won't. I believe he is playing a transfer game and it is costing us

My point being we're all guessing because that side of things is as clear as mud.If he gets the bullet he's likely to be quite frank about these things and will say more than he can now. I'd like to hear it, then decide if I believe it. He's on record saying he didn't want to buy loads in the summer, just one or two proven quality yet we do the opposite. His book would be interesting for things like that, why exactly that happened. In my opinion he doesn't have full control over these things but he should have, even if that means he signs Williams and Vorm so be it. At least then you can categorically say he lives and dies by who he signs and the results they get. Right now he can justifiably hide behind things like " I wanted player a, they gave me player b and he wasn't good enough".

[Sarb]

My point being we're all guessing because that side of things is as clear as mud.If he gets the bullet he's likely to be quite frank about these things and will say more than he can now. I'd like to hear it, then decide if I believe it. He's on record saying he didn't want to buy loads in the summer, just one or two proven quality yet we do the opposite. His book would be interesting for things like that, why exactly that happened. In my opinion he doesn't have full control over these things but he should have, even if that means he signs Williams and Vorm so be it. At least then you can categorically say he lives and dies by who he signs and the results they get. Right now he can justifiably hide behind things like " I wanted player a, they gave me player b and he wasn't good enough".

[Shaggy]

My point being we're all guessing because that side of things is as clear as mud.If he gets the bullet he's likely to be quite frank about these things and will say more than he can now. I'd like to hear it, then decide if I believe it. He's on record saying he didn't want to buy loads in the summer, just one or two proven quality yet we do the opposite. His book would be interesting for things like that, why exactly that happened. In my opinion he doesn't have full control over these things but he should have, even if that means he signs Williams and Vorm so be it. At least then you can categorically say he lives and dies by who he signs and the results they get. Right now he can justifiably hide behind things like " I wanted player a, they gave me player b and he wasn't good enough".

Rodgers may well have said in public that he signs the players and no-one else, but managers and football clubs lie in public all the time. There's not enough accountability with the way we do things.

[RichC]

Rodgers may well have said in public that he signs the players and no-one else, but managers and football clubs lie in public all the time. There's not enough accountability with the way we do things.

Exactly too much is taken as gospel

[Lecter]

My point being we're all guessing because that side of things is as clear as mud.If he gets the bullet he's likely to be quite frank about these things and will say more than he can now. I'd like to hear it, then decide if I believe it. He's on record saying he didn't want to buy loads in the summer, just one or two proven quality yet we do the opposite. His book would be interesting for things like that, why exactly that happened. In my opinion he doesn't have full control over these things but he should have, even if that means he signs Williams and Vorm so be it. At least then you can categorically say he lives and dies by who he signs and the results they get. Right now he can justifiably hide behind things like " I wanted player a, they gave me player b and he wasn't good enough".

I dont want him having full control, we have seen that under Roy and Kenny

I prefer there to be checks and balances

He can try and justify whatever he wants I dont give a **** - Borini and Allen were enough for me to question his judgement throwing in Williams and Vorm only tips the scale further