Norwich (H) post match

[The Birdman]

Criticising Rodgers is perfectly fine when he's picked the wrong team or got the tactics wrong.
Neither of those happened yesterday, yes some may prefer a diamond, I'd prefer Gomez playing ahead of Skrtel but we can't have everything.

99% of us wanted Sakho back in the team, we wanted Moreno in for that balance on the left hand side, we wanted 2 up top (or at least players much closer to Benteke)

All of those things happened, as MOTD2 showed (I wasn't at the game) we got more players in the box, created more than enough chances to win the game and conceded 1 goal from 2 chances Norwich created. Edit, they created 1, we gave them the goal.

That's not Rodgers' fault.
Mingolet flapping at a corner isn't his fault, Coutinho having 10 shots, only 2 on target and 1 of those being the absolute sitter he missed when 1 on 1 isn't Rodgers' fault.

Keep the criticism of him to things he is responsible for, everything else level at the players.
The new lad at Utd has 3 goals from 3 shots in the PL, Coutinho has 10 in 1 game, only 2 on target.
That's appalling and if it were Lallana posters on here would be in uproar about it

[Fierce]

Criticising Rodgers is perfectly fine when he's picked the wrong team or got the tactics wrong.
Neither of those happened yesterday, yes some may prefer a diamond, I'd prefer Gomez playing ahead of Skrtel but we can't have everything.

99% of us wanted Sakho back in the team, we wanted Moreno in for that balance on the left hand side, we wanted 2 up top (or at least players much closer to Benteke)

All of those things happened, as MOTD2 showed (I wasn't at the game) we got more players in the box, created more than enough chances to win the game and conceded 1 goal from 2 chances Norwich created. Edit, they created 1, we gave them the goal.

That's not Rodgers' fault.
Mingolet flapping at a corner isn't his fault, Coutinho having 10 shots, only 2 on target and 1 of those being the absolute sitter he missed when 1 on 1 isn't Rodgers' fault.

Keep the criticism of him to things he is responsible for, everything else level at the players.

Fair points. But I don't think 5 at the back was needed personally

The new lad at Utd has 3 goals from 3 shots in the PL, Coutinho has 10 in 1 game, only 2 on target.
That's appalling and if it were Lallana posters on here would be in uproar about it

Also valid point about Coutinho, comparing him to a £32m striker is maybe a tad mean but he has to be testing the keeper more

[Nicey]

Criticising Rodgers is perfectly fine when he's picked the wrong team or got the tactics wrong.
Neither of those happened yesterday, yes some may prefer a diamond, I'd prefer Gomez playing ahead of Skrtel but we can't have everything.

99% of us wanted Sakho back in the team, we wanted Moreno in for that balance on the left hand side, we wanted 2 up top (or at least players much closer to Benteke)

All of those things happened, as MOTD2 showed (I wasn't at the game) we got more players in the box, created more than enough chances to win the game and conceded 1 goal from 2 chances Norwich created. Edit, they created 1, we gave them the goal.

That's not Rodgers' fault.
Mingolet flapping at a corner isn't his fault, Coutinho having 10 shots, only 2 on target and 1 of those being the absolute sitter he missed when 1 on 1 isn't Rodgers' fault.

Keep the criticism of him to things he is responsible for, everything else level at the players.
The new lad at Utd has 3 goals from 3 shots in the PL, Coutinho has 10 in 1 game, only 2 on target.
That's appalling and if it were Lallana posters on here would be in uproar about it

Fair enough but its his job to get the best out of the team, its his job to manage the people who train the likes of Coutinho to make sure he is more composed in front of goal, its his job to Pull Milner when he is having such and Obvious mare ... I get what you are saying and I hear you, but it seems like we are always responding to crisis ...

[Exiled_red]

Criticising Rodgers is perfectly fine when he's picked the wrong team or got the tactics wrong.
Neither of those happened yesterday, yes some may prefer a diamond, I'd prefer Gomez playing ahead of Skrtel but we can't have everything.

99% of us wanted Sakho back in the team, we wanted Moreno in for that balance on the left hand side, we wanted 2 up top (or at least players much closer to Benteke)

All of those things happened, as MOTD2 showed (I wasn't at the game) we got more players in the box, created more than enough chances to win the game and conceded 1 goal from 2 chances Norwich created. Edit, they created 1, we gave them the goal.

That's not Rodgers' fault.
Mingolet flapping at a corner isn't his fault, Coutinho having 10 shots, only 2 on target and 1 of those being the absolute sitter he missed when 1 on 1 isn't Rodgers' fault.

Keep the criticism of him to things he is responsible for, everything else level at the players.
The new lad at Utd has 3 goals from 3 shots in the PL, Coutinho has 10 in 1 game, only 2 on target.
That's appalling and if it were Lallana posters on here would be in uproar about it

The performance yesterday was much better and to be honest I thought we could and should have won the game, but the finishing and decisions in the final third were poor.

I think some of the comments / critisism of Rodgers has been unfair I think the problem is that the majority of people here have now turned on him and every time we fail to win people will be on his back. There was a group of people like that with Rafa as well.

My personal position is one of frustration I think that he is capable of finding a way out of this and putting a good run together, his record here shows that there are patches of very good runs of games, followed by very bad one. The problem is that we have never been able to maintain a good run over a season the combination of good and bad runs usually sees us finish about 6th which isn't good enough. I thought that last summer he deserved another chance, I wanted to see us develop a plan and system of play for the season ahead and buy the players to suit it. That clearly hasn't happened we don't seem to have any formation that suits the players we have (for example Moreno is more a left wingback than a left fullback, but Clyne is more a right fullback than a right wingback and they are the only real players who are options for those positions. This season feels like it is going to be a transition season or one we are going to write off. Given the time Rodgers has been here and the fact that this is now very much his squad we shouldn't be in this position. For me it feels like we have reached a 'when rather than if' situation. I've not got to the point of calling for him to go yet but I just don't see him taking us where we want to go long term.

[Buzzo]

On a game by game basis Rodgers will undoubtedly have some days where he gets it right, yesterday wasn't to far off. We definitely should have won.

But I don't think the fanbase are basing opinions on a 1-1 draw at home to Norwich, Rodgers has a far bigger body of work for us to base our opinions on. And the majority of posts criticising him are based on this body of work, not on one home draw. Its a project approaching 4 seasons which shows few signs of being any closer to baring fruit than it was 4 years ago.

The main issues are a lack of fight and identity and the fact that despite going on another multi million pound spending spree to fit a certain formation we have hastily abandoned this formation to go to one which has at least one guy relied upon to play out of position.

Rodgers is winging it, he's making it up as he goes along and that is where the discontent lies. Can anyone see a trophy laden future with Rodgers at the helm, and if not, then surely it is time to change or we have truly become a team without ambition.

We DID deserve to win yesterday, we probably will beat Villa on Saturday - but for me, Rodgers should go and a replacement should be brought in who can get us challenging for trophies this season with this expensively assembled squad.

As many have mentioned, the Europa League is a path to the Champions League, and we appear to be treating that with seasonal disdain.

[Maxiedge]

Just watched the highlights from yesterday and, even though it's highlights, there did seem to be better passages of play.

I would say now, I'd like to see us playing two up front for a number of games while also playing our best CB and a dedicated LB (Moreno). It's not rocket science really.

So even though I wanted him gone, I think one last chance would be my opinion.

[Lee]

As many have mentioned, the Europa League is a path to the Champions League, and we appear to be treating that with seasonal disdain.

It's a tough one to win though mate.

Numerous games and then when you get through to the latter stages you're then going to meet a team who has been knocked out of the CL. It's a massive task.

[Roboklopp]

I think some of the comments / critisism of Rodgers has been unfair I think the problem is that the majority of people here have now turned on him and every time we fail to win people will be on his back. There was a group of people like that with Rafa as well.

Difference is IMO that Rafa had/ should have had some serious credit in the bank, and he had a hirtherto coherent strategy prior to his one bad season. Plus he had loads of off field ****e to deal with. Brendog doesn't & hasn't- & has had much greater investment, so the criticism is fair.

[Exiled_red]

As many have mentioned, the Europa League is a path to the Champions League, and we appear to be treating that with seasonal disdain.

It's a tough one to win though mate.

Numerous games and then when you get through to the latter stages you're then going to meet a team who has been knocked out of the CL. It's a massive task.

To be honest I don't have too much of a problem with the approach taken to the Europa league - I think that the youngsters and squad players do need game time and while this will sound arrogant I think that teams containing the likes of Lallana, Firmino, Lovren, Gomez, Origi and Ings should be able to get through the group stage, and the first team players could come back in for the knock out stages to try to win it. IMO this is a good use of the squad. I guess the interesting question comes if we find ourselves in difficulty trying to make it through the group stage - would we then put a strong side out to ensure qualification - that would give you the answer to how seriously we are taking it.

[Lee]

To be honest I don't have too much of a problem with the approach taken to the Europa league - I think that the youngsters and squad players do need game time and while this will sound arrogant I think that teams containing the likes of Lallana, Firmino, Lovren, Gomez, Origi and Ings should be able to get through the group stage, and the first team players could come back in for the knock out stages to try to win it. IMO this is a good use of the squad. I guess the interesting question comes if we find ourselves in difficulty trying to make it through the group stage - would we then put a strong side out to ensure qualification - that would give you the answer to how seriously we are taking it.

Very true.

It's a tricky balance. It would be fantastic to win the Europa League and qualify for the CL, but it is difficult.

**** it. I'd be happy with the League Cup this season. Any trophy would be nice.

[Buzzo]

It's a tough one to win though mate.

Numerous games and then when you get through to the latter stages you're then going to meet a team who has been knocked out of the CL. It's a massive task.

True, but we are a big club with aspirations to be competing in the CL. What better way to learn?

It is difficult just now as it is hard to predict where the team will be and who will be leading it in 6 months or a year. We need to stabilise though, and missing out on good opportunities for moral boosting wins is not helping the cause - no matter how much better we played.

[Exiled_red]

Difference is IMO that Rafa had/ should have had some serious credit in the bank, and he had a hirtherto coherent strategy prior to his one bad season. Plus he had loads of off field ****e to deal with. Brendog doesn't & hasn't- & has had much greater investment, so the criticism is fair.

I'm not saying that the critisism of Rafa was fair or unfair. My point is that IMO once people have made up their mind that it is time for the manager to go it is very unlikely that they will change their minds back and usually everything they see if from that polarized view - meaning that they will more than likely pick up on the bad things that he does.

[Buzzo]

I'm not saying that the critisism of Rafa was fair or unfair. My point is that IMO once people have made up their mind that it is time for the manager to go it is very unlikely that they will change their minds back and usually everything they see if from that polarized view - meaning that they will more than likely pick up on the bad things that he does.

Theres some truth in that.

It seems a herculean task for Rodgers to get the supporters back on side. We'd need to go on a 15 game unbeaten run, whilst crushing a few of our closest rivals (I mean City and Arsenal, not our current closest Rivals, Norwich and West Brom)!

But I'd say most are basing opinion on what has been going on over the last 12 months, not just on the odd home draw with Norwich.

[Exiled_red]

Theres some truth in that.

It seems a herculean task for Rodgers to get the supporters back on side. We'd need to go on a 15 game unbeaten run, whilst crushing a few of our closest rivals (I mean City and Arsenal, not our current closest Rivals, Norwich and West Brom)!

But I'd say most are basing opinion on what has been going on over the last 12 months, not just on the odd home draw with Norwich.

I'm in somewhat of a dilemma - I don't see the point in getting rid of him now as there are limited options available manager wise and even in January we will struggle to bring players in that a new manager would want. I think that Rodgers could turn this around and get a decent run of good results (he has shown in his time here that we can put fantastic runs together and follow them up with **** ones - averaging out at 5th or 6th in the league). I think that given that he is capable of this and he assembled this squad there is case for letting him continue. The problem is I don't think he is the solution long term - even if we were to get into the top 4 I don't think he could take us beyond that level, so I don't really see a future for him beyond this season.

[Phoenix07]

Although some passages of play were good, Norwich also had their chances too. Also, would we be able to replicate those passages against better opposition?

We're a club full of inexperience from top to bottom, expecting to keep plodding along until something clicks. It's as though someone has the keys to immortality, and is just happy for different things to be tried, with no change in the outcome, hoping that one day, it will actually work.

It said it all when Rodgers said in his pre match presser that one good performance swings opinion. In his case, it doesn't, and that is how out of touch he is with the general consensus from the fans on him. We expect several performances of a good nature, because he doesn't have any credit left. He used it up, and when overdrawn last season.

No one at the club apart from Ayre attends matches, and I don't trust him to report or provide an accurate assessment on things.

Back to the game, and Norwich knew exactly what to do. They overloaded our midfield, and we never responded. Because Norwich are abysmal, our superior quality shone through, but it won't always work out that way. Houllier counted on Owen. Hodgson had Torres and Gerrard on occasions.

I just feel so frustrated with it all. I have no confidence in anyone at the club. I don't even know what the culture of the club is, because I feel that winning isn't one of them. We're just a bog standard club with no personality or ambition. Even under Gillett and Hicks, we had Benitez & co give us an outlet which connected us to what we believed in.

Now, there's nothing there. It's hollow.