Brendan Rodgers

[DannyMan2006]

Not sure why Rodgers gets more a of a hard time compared to other managers. Maybe they all do, but he certainly has every little bone picked whenever there is an opportunity.

Rafa and Houllier had it bad too but they were 'foreign'. There's no hiding place for our managers it seems, wherever they are from.

I can't believe how quickly LvG's pamphlet of fachts has been brushed over and forgotten.

Rodgers had it right when he got the job. Some will support him regardless, some will hate regardless and some will be swayed either way. The ones in the middle are what dictate the atmosphere at the club.

I think it's very obvious that those open to change are mostly over to the side of disagreeing with everything he says or does at present. He can't complain, results have dictated where they lie. If he turns it round they'll be back on his side as they were in 13/14.

What never helped him was making his first signings Joe Allen and Borini for about £25m. Then the summer after agreeing to a host of gambles to bulk the squad like Aspas and Luis Alberto. It's been one mess in the market after another, the only bright point being that January window where we got Sturridge and Coutinho.

[ronanm]

Well, this will be his 4th season. No one can say he hasn't been given a decent chance. No one else to blame this season.

[Yozza]

He must be the only manager then. LvG did spend the same and win the league, the CL and the world cup. Obviously.

Yes he was the only manager who bought 31 players for £289,050,000, won **** all, failed to qualify for the CL & got dicked by Stoke 6-1

Van Gaal has only had one season in charge & yet finished higher than us

He will get a hard time because of recent results - but I really hope he turns it around because I want us to always do well; irrespective of who is in charge

[DannyMan2006]

Well, this will be his 4th season. No one can say he hasn't been given a decent chance. No one else to blame this season.

Definitely. He's been given the targets he wanted by all accounts and he's had time enough to bed them all in, or as much time as can be as expected as the deals have been done early.

I think he now has the exact squad that he wants. I think if he fails he has no one to blame now but himself.

[Yozza]

Well, this will be his 4th season. No one can say he hasn't been given a decent chance. No one else to blame this season.

[Buzzo]

Well, this will be his 4th season. No one can say he hasn't been given a decent chance. No one else to blame this season.

Yep, that's the bottom line.

[Muddled]

Well, this will be his 4th season. No one can say he hasn't been given a decent chance. No one else to blame this season.

Yep, that's the bottom line.

With that in mind, what would be your expectations this season?

Is it as black and white as a top four finish?

[ronanm]

With that in mind, what would be your expectations this season?

Is it as black and white as a top four finish?

I expect us to finish 5th.

In terms of what I think is acceptable, it's all about the league for me this year, so 4th should be the minimum. A competitive 5th and a Europa League win I would take (or maybe an FA Cup and a strong 5th), but I can't see us winning the Europa League. Anything less than that should mean we look for a new manager imo.

[ChrisDR1968]

Definitely. He's been given the targets he wanted by all accounts and he's had time enough to bed them all in, or as much time as can be as expected as the deals have been done early.

I think he now has the exact squad that he wants. I think if he fails he has no one to blame now but himself.

Except for the 8 new players who are coming to the club for the first time.

If things go wrong early on next season that will be his number once excuse judging by what he said over and over again last season

[The_weatherman]

Except for the 8 new players who are coming to the club for the first time.

If things go wrong early on next season that will be his number once excuse judging by what he said over and over again last season

He can't come out with that excuse without getting battered for it IMO, no excuses, many managers would have been sacked already, he's lucky to still have the job and I think most fans don't have time for excuses. Having said that i do think this has been a good window and I expect a top five finish and a challenge for fourth, and a cup.

[Buzzo]

With that in mind, what would be your expectations this season?

Is it as black and white as a top four finish?

I think Brendan needs top 4 and a trophy. I don't think he'll see Xmas, he's under too much pressure and scrutiny and unless we go on immediate winning run the media will, be all over him.

We won't go on a run like this, because the team has too many unresolved issues, which he will pretty much have to resolve as we go.

[captainfog]

He's spent 270 million. Too bloody right he better win something.

[BigChief]

He can't come out with that excuse without getting battered for it IMO, no excuses, many managers would have been sacked already, he's lucky to still have the job and I think most fans don't have time for excuses. Having said that i do think this has been a good window and I expect a top five finish and a challenge for fourth, and a cup.

I'm not in the most fans bit then.

For me Rodgers ****ed up last AUGUST/SEPTEMBER. I said it back then and the rest of the season almost didn't matter. As it happen the rest of the season panned out EXACTLY as I thought it would.

Two reasons: he was given control of player purchases. He is fcking **** at buying players and always has been. Secondly, he played Gerrard regardless. Back in September I said this would screw up our season, and so it did.

So why don't I want him sacked (yet)? Why am I still a 'fan'?

Because he's addressed issue 1, buying players, by doing it sensibly and calmly (no last minute rushes). He's been on holiday for most of these purchases so I don't think he's had as much free reign with whom he wanted. Good.

Issue 2, no more Gerrard. We have two powerhouse midfielders (Milner and Henderson) ably backed up by Lucas and Can. Rodgers can now finally play 4 at the back (admittedly with the crap defenders we still have) without having to go into silly 3 at the back formations just to cover Gerrard and Skrtel.

We will win games and we will play attractive football doing it. Lots of short memories in these forums, but the best football I've seen since 1990 was under.....Rodgers. He can give that to us again now that he's hands have been untied.

[BobTheCharmer]

He's spent 270 million. Too bloody right he better win something.

Wow dramatic statement alert. Context anywhere? What have we sold in the same time? What have our rivals spent? If we spend a billion do you expect results? What if everyone else spent 5 billion?

Don't get me wrong it's lots of money but that's the game, you need to spend to keep up,you need to spend even more to get ahead and then more to stay there!

[Lecter]

I'm not in the most fans bit then.

For me Rodgers ****ed up last AUGUST/SEPTEMBER. I said it back then and the rest of the season almost didn't matter. As it happen the rest of the season panned out EXACTLY as I thought it would.

Two reasons: he was given control of player purchases. He is fcking **** at buying players and always has been. Secondly, he played Gerrard regardless. Back in September I said this would screw up our season, and so it did.

So why don't I want him sacked (yet)? Why am I still a 'fan'?

Because he's addressed issue 1, buying players, by doing it sensibly and calmly (no last minute rushes). He's been on holiday for most of these purchases so I don't think he's had as much free reign with whom he wanted. Good.

Issue 2, no more Gerrard. We have two powerhouse midfielders (Milner and Henderson) ably backed up by Lucas and Can. Rodgers can now finally play 4 at the back (admittedly with the crap defenders we still have) without having to go into silly 3 at the back formations just to cover Gerrard and Skrtel.

We will win games and we will play attractive football doing it. Lots of short memories in these forums, but the best football I've seen since 1990 was under.....Rodgers. He can give that to us again now that he's hands have been untied.

You are placing an awful lot of faith in his acumen in the transfer market and also that it will all click, his formation that he's tried and failed with numerous times before will work and that the attractive football will be back

I don't share your faith in much of that frankly

Last season an awful lot unravelled and I am none too convinced he's going to fix it all