Liverpool V Newcastle Monday 8pm KO

[Red_Polo]

Sure, up until they get the boot

Point being the overwhelming majority of successful managers do not progress their teams year on year. There are always dips. It's easy to feel a strong sense of justification for expecting linear progress, but in reality it's incredibly rare for that to happen.

[Tee]

Or maybe FSG are not of the Arsenal mindset and not celebrating 4th as if is winning a cup. Maybe they would be content with.... Well... Winning a cup.

Let Kenny know that please

[Daniel 7]

Has anyone actually ever achieved that?

Houllier!

4th, 3rd, 2nd....5th

[Red_Polo]

Houllier!

4th, 3rd, 2nd....5th

Go on Ged

[DannyMan2006]

Point being the overwhelming majority of successful managers do not progress their teams year on year. There are always dips. It's easy to feel a strong sense of justification for expecting linear progress, but in reality it's incredibly rare for that to happen.

Well if I was to be harsh, progress from last season would've been winning the league and anything less than second is a dip.

Lets be honest here. We all know that the minimum objective set out was to finish in the top 4. As a result of losing Suarez I'd say winning a cup on top would've been progress.

I do not think in anyone's mind that finishing below 4th would be considered as success in the league, but it would be harsh to call a season a failure if we won a cup.

But then you look at Dalglish. He won a cup and made the final of the other. He lost Torres. But he didn't make the top 4 and was booted out. And he was loved universally by the fans.

If people think FSG will be happy with a cup after how we've performed in the league & Europe I'd say they could be in for a shock. You look at how cold they are when sacking the coach of the Red Sox.

Do I think Rodgers will get the sack if we finish 5th? I hope not. But Spurs & So'ton are close & even that isn't a given. I think we need a strong finish to the season at the very least.

I think the FA Cup could be Rodgers Fergie moment. I reckon had we lost to Blackburn the wheels would've come off and we'd have limped over the line. It would've been bye bye Rodgers. I'm sure of that.

Now? I'm hoping we can kick on again. Win every game we can and lets see where we finish.

[DannyMan2006]

Houllier!

4th, 3rd, 2nd....5th

Wasn't Rafa similar? 5th, 3rd, 4th, 2nd, 5th

[Red_Polo]

Well if I was to be harsh, progress from last season would've been winning the league and anything less than second is a dip.

Lets be honest here. We all know that the minimum objective set out was to finish in the top 4. As a result of losing Suarez I'd say winning a cup on top would've been progress.

I do not think in anyone's mind that finishing below 4th would be considered as success in the league, but it would be harsh to call a season a failure if we won a cup.

But then you look at Dalglish. He won a cup and made the final of the other. He lost Torres. But he didn't make the top 4 and was booted out. And he was loved universally by the fans.

If people think FSG will be happy with a cup after how we've performed in the league & Europe I'd say they could be in for a shock. You look at how cold they are when sacking the coach of the Red Sox.

Do I think Rodgers will get the sack if we finish 5th? I hope not. But Spurs & So'ton are close & even that isn't a given. I think we need a strong finish to the season at the very least.

I think the FA Cup could be Rodgers Fergie moment. I reckon had we lost to Blackburn the wheels would've come off and we'd have limped over the line. It would've been bye bye Rodgers. I'm sure of that.

Now? I'm hoping we can kick on again. Win every game we can and lets see where we finish.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think anyone will have a strong argument for us having progressed come the end of the season. But we do need to be malleable with adjusting expectations - if the season ended now I'd clearly be disappointed with our performance but it's not like I went into the season expecting a title challenge. I don't think

[Paddy]

Newcastle?

[ronanm]

Don't get me wrong, I don't think anyone will have a strong argument for us having progressed come the end of the season. But we do need to be malleable with adjusting expectations - if the season ended now I'd clearly be disappointed with our performance but it's not like I went into the season expecting a title challenge. I don't think

Agreed but I expected a lot more than this under a manager who's been here for 3 years.120m spent and maybe can is the only one of use. Outside the top 4, a terrible showing in Europe (could've been worse if the Bulgarians had hung on at anfield) with no team (except maybe chelsea) being particularly good. Poor season for me. I think Rodgers will get one more season but expect more of the same next year from him.

[DannyMan2006]

Agreed but I expected a lot more than this under a manager who's been here for 3 years.120m spent and maybe can is the only one of use. Outside the top 4, a terrible showing in Europe (could've been worse if the Bulgarians had hung on at anfield) with no team (except maybe chelsea) being particularly good. Poor season for me. I think Rodgers will get one more season but expect more of the same next year from him.

I think Rodgers is a good manager, but he's going to be heavily reliant on getting the right players in this summer. If we could ace it in the market this summer we'd be up there competing.

[Daffy Duck]

Sakho out 3-4 weeks.

[meffin]

FFS

[Doc_Piptorious]

Wasn't Rafa similar? 5th, 3rd, 4th, 2nd, 5th

Rafa's team finished 7th in his final season not 5th.

so 5,3,3,4,2,7 were Rafa's finishing positions

[The Birdman]

Anyhows, back to Newcastle.
No Sakho means a back 4 for me, we lose all balance whoever plays on the left of the 3 when Sakho is out as they are all right footed.

Mingolet
Johnson Lovren Toure Moreno
Hendo Lucas Can
Sterling Sturridge Coutinho

[kubrickscube]

Mig
Can Lovren Johnson
Ibe Lucas Hendo Moreno
Coutinho Sterling
Sturridge