Brendan Rodgers

[BigChief]

We over analyse things here.

[Resu]

If you look at most managers taking over a struggling club (against relegation etc) they usually start with the defense. That is because it the the one thing you can work that often gives to relatively quick results.

Rodgers didn`t go to a club that struggles in that sense, just underachieves, and that actually had a decent defense. So he he probably though he didn`t have to pay that to pay that much attention to that part. He chose to look at changing the way the team plays. The change of tactic has had more impact on the defense than I thought it would have, and maybe more than what Rodgers thought as well.
If this is the case he can either stay focused on the tactics he wants, and let the defensive part struggle for a while, or he can start to focus on the defense. The downside with this is that it will take longer before the team plays the way he likes.






This is all my opinion, before anybody starts arguing about having to prove it, etc.

[Lecter]

If you look at most managers taking over a struggling club (against relegation etc) they usually start with the defense. That is because it the the one thing you can work that often gives to relatively quick results.

Rodgers didn`t go to a club that struggles in that sense, just underachieves, and that actually had a decent defense. So he he probably though he didn`t have to pay that to pay that much attention to that part. He chose to look at changing the way the team plays. The change of tactic has had more impact on the defense than I thought it would have, and maybe more than what Rodgers thought as well.
If this is the case he can either stay focused on the tactics he wants, and let the defensive part struggle for a while, or he can start to focus on the defense. The downside with this is that it will take longer before the team plays the way he likes.






This is all my opinion, before anybody starts arguing about having to prove it, etc.

[kris90210]

I could bore you by saying I played at a decent level semi-pro and also have a handful of the old FA coaching badges but what does that mean

It doesnt qualify me to talk football anymore than you do

You think arranging a defensive unit is very difficult and takes an inordinate amount of time, I dont

Your opinion is no more valid than mine is

I've given examples of how things can be done quickly and how other managers have failed to do it

Oh and whilst your comment about management is amusing perhaps I could have used the same argument to criticise you last year when you were slagging off Dalglish week in week out for his buys, lack of tactics etc...

Nope. I have no idea how long it takes. No clue. And neither do you. You're guessing, and I'm not comfortable forming a solid opinion on something I know so little about. What I can say is if it was as easy as you seem to think it is, we'd be doing it. **** me, everyone would. Premiership level football is on a totally different level, and I think we should bear that in mind when using amateur experiences to make judgements.

[kris90210]

We over analyse things here.

[Alex]

Ok, can we cool it with the 'You said this, and I said that' stuff. Stick to the topic at hand rather than trying to score points off each other please. Thanks

[el matador]

One explanation I have quite liked for the failing to be organised in terms of pressing is that the Rodgers idea of lots of movement and interplay is disrupting that pattern of defensive work

Interesting idea that imo

That is a good point. If all of the players are expected to be involved in ball circulation then theyre not always going to be in their own positions.

Also his philosophy involves creating triangles where players are stood not square or infront of each other but rather at 45 degree angles. it means that the players have to constantly adjust their positions around the ball. Nobody stands still so its probably no surprise that we leave big open spaces for others to exploit.

[el matador]

If you look at most managers taking over a struggling club (against relegation etc) they usually start with the defense. That is because it the the one thing you can work that often gives to relatively quick results.

Rodgers didn`t go to a club that struggles in that sense, just underachieves, and that actually had a decent defense. So he he probably though he didn`t have to pay that to pay that much attention to that part. He chose to look at changing the way the team plays. The change of tactic has had more impact on the defense than I thought it would have, and maybe more than what Rodgers thought as well.
If this is the case he can either stay focused on the tactics he wants, and let the defensive part struggle for a while, or he can start to focus on the defense. The downside with this is that it will take longer before the team plays the way he likes.




This is all my opinion, before anybody starts arguing about having to prove it, etc.

Were still losing approx one in three games so it doesnt look to me like hes building from the back either.

[Alex]

We have conceded a lot of goals from individual mistakes. A manager cant change that. He can change the mentality, but that must take time. It has too.

[danperkins]

IMO Rogers knows exactly the way he wants us to play but just doesn't have the players to implement the system properly yet. He needs some good signings in january which is notoriously bleak for signing players. We need to get some of the **** players who offer us nothing but drain the wage bill out the door & of course ......some luck!

I like Rogers passing philosophy, we seem to be trying with that aspect. The pressing IMO just hasn't been up to scratch, we allow too much in the middle of the pitch. But i also think that has got to do with personnel. Lucas gone & no real DM to cover, Allen playing in a much deeper role than he has ever been used to & of late he is really struggling with it leaving massive gaps in the centre of the pitch and infront of the defence.

That along with the obvious no replacement striker, injuries to key players & big players like Reina & Gerrard playing at a sub standard level.... hasn't done Rogers any favours. In saying that Rogers has to bear the brunt of the responsibility as he is the manager. He has shown alot of faith in the youngsters, too much at times but sure with our squad being so thin it was forced upon him.

It's a results business and 2 league wins in 10 speaks for itself. It will take time and personally... i won't be calling for his head anytime soon, but we are going to have to show progression sooner rather than later. I don't see anything wrong with constructive criticism either with any LFC manager or player.

P.S. A lot of us talk a good game on here, but nobody knows sweet fa when compared to any premier league manager,championship manager etc.

[Lecter]

Nope. I have no idea how long it takes. No clue. And neither do you. You're guessing, and I'm not comfortable forming a solid opinion on something I know so little about. What I can say is if it was as easy as you seem to think it is, we'd be doing it. **** me, everyone would. Premiership level football is on a totally different level, and I think we should bear that in mind when using amateur experiences to make judgements.

Pity you never did that when you slagged off Kenny

[Alex]

Agree with that. I think the Lucas issue and the Striker shortage has really screwed him. Hopefully we will see a different team after Jan.

[Darkon]

The thing is you should be starting to see some signs of progress in terms of the shape, pressing etc..

I cant say I've seen that

We are 20 games into Rodgers reign and despite progress in other areas a fundamental area such as defensive shape and or pressing intructions has shown little or no improvement

I find that must surprising and somewhat worrying

My guess is you find it surprising because our last 4 managers before that have build a team up the other way around and struggled on the offensive parts and passing parts in sacrifice of a solid defence. To me it seems like Rodgers is taking the opposite approach. Sort of the 'best defence is an attack' approach. He want's to control the game in the last third, Houllier, Rafa, Hodgson and for most parts Kenny approached the game the other way around.

I don't think it's entirely true that we have seen no improvement in pressing and defence. We have started to conceed less than we did at the start of the season, and recently had three clean sheets in a row.

The way I see it we are still progressing, we are getting a lot of youngsters introduced to the first team and generally there seems to be optimism running in the team - something that's rarely present in a team regressing. We just need more time to perfect things and a few more key signings that are breed in to the system.

[Lecter]

A lot of us talk a good game on here, but nobody knows sweet fa when compared to any premier league manager,championship manager etc.

Taking this to the extreme then we cant criticise any signings made, tactics drawn up, team selections, substitutions etc.....

I agree its the smartest thing you've said for awhile

Lets just close the forum down and not bother discussing anything

[Lecter]

My guess is you find it surprising because our last 4 managers before that have build a team up the other way around and struggled on the offensive parts and passing parts in sacrifice of a solid defence. To me it seems like Rodgers is taking the opposite approach. Sort of the 'best defence is an attack' approach. He want's to control the game in the last third, Houllier, Rafa, Hodgson and for most parts Kenny approached the game the other way around.

I don't think it's entirely true that we have seen no improvement in pressing and defence. We have started to conceed less than we did at the start of the season, and recently had three clean sheets in a row.

The way I see it we are still progressing, we are getting a lot of youngsters introduced to the first team and generally there seems to be optimism running in the team - something that's rarely present in a team regressing. We just need more time to perfect things and a few more key signings that are breed in to the system.

I disagree there has been little or no progress in terms of our defence remember we have conceeded goals in the last 4 games we have played

I must stress I'm not advocating getting rid of Rodgers but I'm nowhere near as optimistic as some on here