Brendan Rodgers

[Doc_Piptorious]

United are absolute ****e but we are worse

Don't think we are tbh. Think the respective squads are about as close in terms of quality ( or lack of quality in certain positions) as they could be.

[Lecter]

Don't think we are tbh. Think the respective squads are about as close in terms of quality ( or lack of quality in certain positions) as they could be.

It's not by much but United have the better team and squad

We also look all over the gaff we seem to have no identity

United do even if it is just hoofball

[Doc_Piptorious]

It's not by much but United have the better team and squad

We also look all over the gaff we seem to have no identity

United do even if it is just hoofball

Looking through their squad and then our own, they have probably as many glaring weaknesses as we do, and about as many good to very good players as we do.


The one place where they trump us, in my eyes anyway, is on the managerial front. We may take the proverbial when it comes to LVG, but at least he knows exactly how he wants his team to play and he seems to have them pulling in the same direction on the pitch hence them getting so many so called lucky decisions (others may say that they get that "luck" because they make sure that they have players in the sort of positions to make the most of things)

So I agree on the identity or established style of play side of things, but I really don't think that they have a better squad.

[Chazza]

Brendan Rogers knows a win against Manchester United changes everything, but he is similar to David Moyes – until he wins a trophy, Liverpool fans will be sceptical

By JAMIE CARRAGHER FOR THE DAILY MAIL

Louis van Gaal and Brendan Rodgers are both feeling the pressure
Manchester United must bounce back from their 2-1 defeat by Swansea
Liverpool are also going into the match on the back of a loss
Van Gaal has fallen out with several of United's stars since taking over
Liverpool have won just five of their last 14 games under Rodgers

So, the biggest rivalry in English football resumes but this game has a different feel: this is a showdown when the scrutiny on two managers has replaced the focus on two clubs.

Manchester United vs Liverpool is not a match that will influence the destination of this year’s title but, given what has happened in recent weeks, it has become the match Louis van Gaal and Brendan Rodgers dare not lose.

That is not a knee-jerk statement. Two weeks have passed since United and Liverpool signed off for the international break with defeats by Swansea and West Ham respectively, and neither set of supporters has forgotten the desperate standard of those performances.

You are always under pressure when you are in charge at Old Trafford or Anfield, but the scrutiny on Van Gaal and Rodgers has been growing. This is only the fifth fixture of the campaign, but it may turn out to be a defining day for both men.

Take Van Gaal. In the 13 days since that 2-1 loss at the Liberty Stadium, he has been forced to contend with more and more stories emerging about how unhappy some of his players are with his methods, and critical words from those he has sold.

Not only that, there has been the David de Gea saga and the world-record transfer fee paid for a teenager. Anthony Martial’s arrival from Monaco has taken United’s spending under Van Gaal to almost £250million — the third highest in Europe behind Real Madrid and Manchester City — but United’s squad still looks unbalanced.

The Dutchman has used 38 players during the last 14 months — no manager in the Barclays Premier League has used more — and there has been chopping and changing of systems, with three at the back abandoned, then 4-3-3 being replaced by 4-2-3-1.

The issues, however, run deeper. Since making his name at Ajax in the mid-1990s during a successful six-year spell, history shows that wherever Van Gaal coaches, he doesn’t tend to spend longer than three years. And there are almost always rows after criticism of his man-management.

True, he lifted the title with Barcelona and Bayern Munich in his first years at those clubs and that kind of success keeps players onside, even if they find it hard to warm to his training methods and approach. If you are winning as a footballer you can put up with most things. Success buys managers time and control.

But United did not win any trophies last season and, for those who are not on board with him, that inevitably means the cracks appear quicker. There have been falling outs with Marcos Rojo, Victor Valdes, Angel di Maria and Robin van Persie, among others. There will have been more.

Looking from the outside, have those confrontations cost them the chance to sign Pedro? Will Gareth Bale, who United are sure to bid for, look at this and wonder if Old Trafford is right for him?

And Van Gaal is not only fighting battles with his players. United fans are seemingly becoming more and more sceptical about the slow way their team are playing and you have to wonder how they would react if Liverpool were to win this evening.

Games against Liverpool were crucial for Van Gaal last year. The 3-0 victory at Old Trafford in December came at the right time after a poor start, while the 2-1 victory at Anfield in March virtually guaranteed a top-four finish in the Premier League.

That performance, along with big wins over Tottenham and Manchester City, gave a glimpse of what Van Gaal might be able to put together.

Those two results also had great significance for Rodgers. Liverpool went 13 games unbeaten in the Premier League after Rodgers switched to a 3-4-3 formation in December, and there was talk, as the club crept into contention for the top four, of him being the next City manager.

He oversaw a fine 2-1 win over City in March when Manuel Pellegrini was struggling but, a few weeks later, the loss at Anfield to Van Gaal was when things began to unravel for Rodgers.

And what has happened since that day shows how quickly fortunes can change.

Results and performances have not been good enough. Liverpool have won only five of the 14 games they have played and defeats have included the FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa, a 6-1 shambles at Stoke City in May and that startling loss to West Ham two weeks ago.

It appeared that Rodgers had ridden the storm after an encouraging performance in the goalless draw at Arsenal, but it was only going to take one bad day for the natives to become restless again and losing 3-0 to a club who had not won at Anfield since 1963 was as bad as it could be.

That result in isolation could be brushed off but Rodgers is under pressure because of what has happened over the last 12 months. If he was fortunate to keep his job in May, it is his misfortune that the heat is back on him so soon.

Were Liverpool to lose and perform badly — and it is startling they have been struggling to create chances — the criticisms of Rodgers would resurface.

What helps Van Gaal and hinders Rodgers are their respective trophy hauls. Gerard Houllier and Rafa Benitez got a hard time near the end of their Anfield reigns, but they could point to the silverware they’d won at the club and before. Rodgers is in a similar position to David Moyes during his spell at Old Trafford. Until Rodgers wins a trophy, the fans will be sceptical about his ability to deliver.

Yet Rodgers will know a win in this game could transform things. There is no better stadium to win in when you are associated with Liverpool, nor is there a worse place to lose. Those with United allegiances would say the same thing.

There is always so much at stake and that is true once again. Particularly for the men in the dug-outs.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3231395/Brendan-Rogers-knows-win-against-Manchester-United-changes-similar-David-Moyes-wins-trophy-Liverpool-fans-sceptical.html

[SB]

I agree with Bender that the countdown is on for Brendan & a few more inept performances could see his head on the chopping block. If he fails to play 2 strikers he deserves the chop IMO as he's being pig headed & set in his ways.

[Chazza]

But if he plays 2 strikers and we lose?

[~LFCHistory~]

Brendan's support amongst the fanbase is at an absolute all time low, lose tomorrow and an already bad situation will get ugly, don't know if there's any coming back from that.

[SB]

But if he plays 2 strikers and we lose?

I'd give him more time personally. seriously though we've bought how many bloody strikers in the past 3 TW's & he insists on playing the lone striker. Ings looked good in pre season & will give there defenders no time on the ball. He's a must IMO but he needs someone up front with him.

[DannyMan2006]

It's never set in stone in football. It is only three points after all and nothing is decided this early in a season. The losing manager you would say could win the next five games and everything rosy again.

But I actually think that this game is more than that. Both if they lose could bemoan missing key players. But I think a loss for either team would be a huge setback, one that would take a lot of work to get over. This is a game where most of the column inches the day after will be around the manager whose team lost as opposed to the players who starred for the victors.

The confidence derived from this game for the opposition will be a massive factor. Let's be honest, these two teams will be lucky to get anywhere near the top and will likely be slugging it out for top 4. A repeat of last season tbh is on the cards. Giving the opposition momentum and sapping your own would be a huge factor.

Imagine LFC beating United and then winning the two following games at home to Norwich & Villa. LFC would go into the Derby at Goodison bouncing, we'd likely be second in the league and with the return of Sturridge just around the corner.

LFC would be creating daylight between themselves and United in what is a nightmare opening set of fixtures for us. It's a crazy scenario but one that totally rests on Saturdays game. It mirrors the Anfield fixture of last season for me in that a victory for either side will have huge implications.

I think whoever loses on Saturday, that manager will be in serious trouble and the other will be top dog again and before you know it, the best thing since sliced bread. Crisis? What Crisis?

[SB]

Brendan's support amongst the fanbase is at an absolute all time low, lose tomorrow and an already bad situation will get ugly, don't know if there's any coming back from that.

I've been supportive of him but if he can't see the formation needs to change I don't think he's the answer.

[SB]

It's never set in stone in football. It is only three points after all and nothing is decided this early in a season. The losing manager you would say could win the next five games and everything rosy again.

But I actually think that this game is more than that. Both if they lose could bemoan missing key players. But I think a loss for either team would be a huge setback, one that would take a lot of work to get over. This is a game where most of the column inches the day after will be around the manager whose team lost as opposed to the players who starred for the victors.

The confidence derived from this game for the opposition will be a massive factor. Let's be honest, these two teams will be lucky to get anywhere near the top and will likely be slugging it out for top 4. A repeat of last season tbh is on the cards. Giving the opposition momentum and sapping your own would be a huge factor.

Imagine LFC beating United and then winning the two following games at home to Norwich & Villa. LFC would go into the Derby at Goodison bouncing, we'd likely be second in the league and with the return of Sturridge just around the corner.

LFC would be creating daylight between themselves and United in what is a nightmare opening set of fixtures for us. It's a crazy scenario but one that totally rests on Saturdays game. It mirrors the Anfield fixture of last season for me in that a victory for either side will have huge implications.

I think whoever loses on Saturday, that manager will be in serious trouble and the other will be top dog again and before you know it, the best thing since sliced bread. Crisis? What Crisis?

Brendan came into this season with a big question mark over his head & another few bad results/ performances & a reluctance to change his formation could be the final nail in the coffin for him.

[DannyMan2006]

I agree with Bender that the countdown is on for Brendan & a few more inept performances could see his head on the chopping block. If he fails to play 2 strikers he deserves the chop IMO as he's being pig headed & set in his ways.

He can play any formation. If we lose games and perform badly, there will be major criticism. And rightly so. He alluded to the United game at Old Trafford as being his best defeat in the PC. I get that.

Last season we could finally see a proper way of playing that was creative and exciting. We lost but were unlucky in many ways. I remembered feeling positive after that, despite the loss.

I want a result tomorrow, by hook or by crook. But if we do get beat, it better be us going down in a hale of bullets as opposed to a lifeless and spineless performance.

[TheElephantMan]

Brendan's support amongst the fanbase is at an absolute all time low, lose tomorrow and an already bad situation will get ugly, don't know if there's any coming back from that.

I said this two weeks ago and got called a Manc **** and was told to shut the **** up.

Rodgers has very little scope for failure, it's a disaster waiting to happen.

[SB]

He can play any formation. If we lose games and perform badly, there will be major criticism. And rightly so. He alluded to the United game at Old Trafford as being his best defeat in the PC. I get that.

Last season we could finally see a proper way of playing that was creative and exciting. We lost but were unlucky in many ways. I remembered feeling positive after that, despite the loss.

I want a result tomorrow, by hook or by crook. But if we do get beat, it better be us going down in a hale of bullets as opposed to a lifeless and spineless performance.

Agree. I just hate watching a lone striker run around trying to press their defence & having no petrol in the tank to attack. The lone striker route is the death of football IMO.

[DannyMan2006]

I said this two weeks ago and got called a Manc **** and was told to shut the **** up.

Rodgers has very little scope for failure, it's a disaster waiting to happen.

I think in modern football the manager is never too far from the sack. He's been lucky to last this long as one bad season in football is normally the death knell. A bad start following a bad season? He'd need a fairy godmother to keep him in a job.

It's funny. Defeat tomorrow and it's been a disastrous start. Win tomorrow and follow it up with home wins v Norwich & Villa and people will talk us up as title contenders. On such knife edges are jobs kept and lost.