Brendan Rodgers

[Leyton388]

The display yesterday was so bad that no one is really mentioning the Balo offside goal near the end. We got exactly what we deserved and fair play to villa .

Losing cup semi finals happen and I wouldn't have a problem with that of we would have put the effort in but it was just bad as there was no commitment or will to win.

As for Sterling if the club pay him ,£150k a week that would be a slap in the face to the fans.

[Lecter]

We have a group of players that are best suited to different formations. I don't think I'd be able to cobble one formation that would suit eleven players. There would be players that are clearly unsuited in anyone we went with. Because we have a mixture we have allowed Rodgers to be a bit flexible, but there's no point being able to come up with multiple different formations if you don't have a really good plan A. What you end up with is a complete joke like yesterday.

Yeah this is a great point

When you look at the side we have some players are totally suited to the diamond system we played last year (Coutinho, Sterling, Henderson and maybe even Lallana). Yet we dont have any decent fullbacks and the central defenders arent great as a pairing. We also dont have two fit decent strikers

Equally I think the current system poses as many similar problems

[Lecter]

I would be happy to keep Rodgers if I knew next season he'd head into it with a clear direction and plan, signing players in the summer who suited this plan and letting go of those who didn't, however talented they are.

What I don't want is for him to sign players suited to wing back roles and then decide he actually prefers a back 4 as the 3421 isn't working. All it would do is waste a summers spending, like last year. I've no idea where he expected Markovic to play, or Lallana for that matter.

[Chris]

However I would certainly be looking at what alternatives are out there and if we could attract a Klopp or a De Boer then I think it might be the right time for a change

Klopp is 9th in a 2 team league, he's got an excellent CV but there seems to be a delusional dreamworld building already where he comes in and solves everything. We have the 5th highest wage bill and look like we'll finish.......5th! Are we in that much of a crisis?

[Daniel 7]

Its a twofold thing. The major concern is that he can't motivate a team in a cup semi final, there are stories of a lost dressing room, and his record this season in big games has come up short. The other side of it is the FSG recruitment policy - taking chances on youth to get players on the cheap isn't working. Its confounded by playing these young players out of position, which will hamper progress in them rather than aid them in fulfilling potential.

[Exiled_red]

We have a group of players that are best suited to different formations. I don't think I'd be able to cobble one formation that would suit eleven players. There would be players that are clearly unsuited in anyone we went with. Because we have a mixture we have allowed Rodgers to be a bit flexible, but there's no point being able to come up with multiple different formations if you don't have a really good plan A. What you end up with is a complete joke like yesterday.

IMO the most creative players we have Sturridge, Coutinho and Sterling we could probably get playing well in most systems (aside from a regular 4-4-2), the problem is the defensive side of the game. I think we need to build a formation/system that works defensively and let the attacking players slot in around it.

[danperkins]

I don't know, Lucas was definitely integral to it, but i think that teams stopped trying to cover the wife positions as much and focused on overloading the central midfield.

absolutely

[Buzzo]

I would be happy to keep Rodgers if I knew next season he'd head into it with a clear direction and plan, signing players in the summer who suited this plan and letting go of those who didn't, however talented they are.

What I don't want is for him to sign players suited to wing back roles and then decide he actually prefers a back 4 as the 3421 isn't working. All it would do is waste a summers spending, like last year. I've no idea where he expected Markovic to play, or Lallana for that matter.

I agree with that, however surely if he had a clear plan, we'd have seen evidence of it by now? Brendan's job must also surely be to explain what his plan was, and why it went wrong. If he can successfully explain that and outline a coherent future he has a chance. His worry must be that he is exposed as a complete bluffer.

[danperkins]

He was a 433 possession manager who liked to control games and introduced a more modern thinking high pressure game to great effect. He was trying to build Barcelona and now I don't know what he's doing. Barcelona have played 433 for years and other than the odd twist to suit an outstanding player you know what their game plan is.

He should've sticked to his plan and signed players to suit his system. Now we've got a collection of players where we don't know what they fit. If you pick a system based on the players you have available that particular week, you just end up continually changing things and messing it up as you get injuries, loss of form and suspensions.

If you have a solid formation in place, you can sign players suited to that so you have cover in all areas. I think it's pretty inexcusable to get a long term injury to one player (Sturridge) and then have no idea on how to cope.

great post

[Rich]

I agree with that, however surely if he had a clear plan, we'd have seen evidence of it by now? Brendan's job must also surely be to explain what his plan was, and why it went wrong. If he can successfully explain that and outline a coherent future he has a chance. His worry must be that he is exposed as a complete bluffer.

Perhaps his plan is to not really have a structured plan. It *could* be seen as a strength having the ability to roll with the punches and be adaptable... all very well and good if you're winning...

[Exiled_red]

I would be happy to keep Rodgers if I knew next season he'd head into it with a clear direction and plan, signing players in the summer who suited this plan and letting go of those who didn't, however talented they are.

What I don't want is for him to sign players suited to wing back roles and then decide he actually prefers a back 4 as the 3421 isn't working. All it would do is waste a summers spending, like last year. I've no idea where he expected Markovic to play, or Lallana for that matter.

[Buzzo]

Perhaps his plan is to not really have a structured plan. It *could* be seen as a strength having the ability to roll with the punches and be adaptable... all very well and good if you're winning...

A bluffers plan! I've offered a few like that in my career. As you say, he'd actually get away with it too if we didn't keep losing crucial matches.

We are certainly not hearing too much in the press about how well mentally prepared we are this season.

[Lecter]

We have the 5th highest wage bill and look like we'll finish.......5th! Are we in that much of a crisis?

We had the 5th highest wage bill and finished 5th 3 years ago and sacked Kenny

Every managerial change you undertake is a gamble, what you are gambling on is whether they will do better than the current manager

I'd happily take that gamble on Klopp or De Boer over Rodgers

I'd also take issue whether we think Klopp or De Boer would waive a magic wand and make everything ok

All you are looking for is progress, we havent progressed this season. I never had unreal expectations either I didnt expect a title charge but I thought we would get top 4. Frankly we havent even been close to that this season

[Lecter]

I agree with that, however surely if he had a clear plan, we'd have seen evidence of it by now? Brendan's job must also surely be to explain what his plan was, and why it went wrong. If he can successfully explain that and outline a coherent future he has a chance. His worry must be that he is exposed as a complete bluffer.

We are 3 years into his tenure and its hard to say what the plan / system is because its changed at least 3 times

When he arrived he tried the Swansea system, then he bought Sturridge and went to 2 up top

Second season he went back to the Swansea system and then moved into the diamond

This season he started again with the Swansea system and then went 3-4-3

I assume he would be trying the Swansea system again early part of next season assuming he stays

[Lecter]

Perhaps his plan is to not really have a structured plan. It *could* be seen as a strength having the ability to roll with the punches and be adaptable... all very well and good if you're winning...

**** all use if you have a glass jaw mind