Brendan Rodgers

[Shaggy]

But we have improved from how Kenny left us

There's very little in it.

We're 9 points behind where we were this time last season under Kenny. 25 points, to Kenny's 34.

Kenny then picked up a dismal 18 points in the remaining 19 league games for a total of 52. So obviously we need 28 points in our last 19 games to better that. Given we have Man Utd, Man City and Arsenal away, it will not be easy.

Rodgers is definitely hamstrung by the colossal wastage of Kenny and Comolli, but to say there's a clear improvement (based only on Kenny's last 19 v Rodgers' first 19) is a bit disingenuous IMO.

We will know for sure at the end of the season, but it's worth remembering Kenny won us a Cup too, as well as taking us to another final.

[tanner]

Sahin and Lucas have barely played, our back four has had to switch around a few times, sterling is very raw still and probably not ready for being a starter and Suarez is our only regular starter. Not to mention a change on playing system. Downing and Carroll are mid table players at best.

There is clearly an improvement from Kenny's last 19 games to Brendan's first 19. The points taken shows that rather clearly.

You over estimate our squad.

Oh yes of course, all the other sides have been injury free. Regardless of Sterling being raw, and Downing and Carroll being mid table players, I still guarantee you that the likes of Stoke and Swansea would only dream of having players like that in their squads.

Change of system....please, its football, these lads have all been playing it for a few years now. As I said, Brendan hasnt been tasked with turning a bunch of overweight couch potatoes into black belts. 6 months in and we can't defend and will struggle to score enough goals to win a match.

Its a clear improvement on Dalglish's last 19, but this isn't the end of the season is it, its the first half, by which time Dalglish's side had amassed 34 points, and was sitting in the top 4.

Lets see how Brendan copes now with the stress of the last 19 games.

[G]

Squad # Player Name Player position
1 Brad Jones Goalkeeper
25 Pepe Reina Goalkeeper
32 Alex Doni Goalkeeper
42 Péter Gulácsi Goalkeeper
2 Glen Johnson Defender
3 Jose Enrique Defender
5 Daniel Agger Defender
16 Sebastian Coates Defender
22 Daniel Wilson Defender
23 Jaime Carragher Defender
34 Martin Kelly Defender
35 Conor Coady Defender
37 Martin Skrtel Defender
38 Jon Flanagan Defender
47 Andre Wisdom Defender
49 Jack Robinson Defender
4 Nuri Şahin Midfielder
8 Steven Gerrard Midfielder
10 Joe Cole Midfielder
14 Jordan Henderson Midfielder
19 Stewart Downing Midfielder
21 Lucas Midfielder
24 Joe Allen Midfielder
33 Jonjo Shelvey Midfielder
31 Raheem Sterling Midfielder
11 Oussama Assaidi Striker
7 Luis Suarez Striker
12 Daniel Pacheco Striker
30 Suso Striker
36 Samed Yesil Striker
29 Fabio Borini Striker


04-05

Keepers:
1 Jerzy Dudek
20 Scott Carson
22 Chris Kirkland
29 Patrice Luzi Bernardi

Defenders:
2 Stephane Henchoz
4 Sami Hyypia
12 Mauricio Pellegrino
17 Gonzalez Josemi
21 Djimi Traore
23 Jamie Carragher
31 David Raven
36 Jon Otsemobor
37 Zak Whitbread

Midfielders:
3 Steve Finnan
6 John Arne Riise
7 Harry Kewell
8 Steven Gerrard
10 Sanz Luis Garcia
11 Vladimir Smicer
14 Xabi Alonso
16 Dietmar Hamann
18 Antonio Nunez
25 Igor Biscan
26 Richie Partridge
28 Stephen Warnock
34 Darren Potter
41 Mark Smyth
42 Robbie Foy

Strikers:
5 Milan Baros
9 Djibril Cisse
19 Fernando Morientes
24 Florent Sinama Pongolle
33 Neil Mellor

Is our squad far far weaker then Rafa's first?

We were all over the shop in the league in 04-05 but we still finished 5th.

[marcus50bucks]

But would you argue that we should still give him even more time?

I think we could and should be doing better with what we have,so if that doesn't change I'd be worried.

G, I'd give him two seasons. I can see why he's sticking with his ideas even if they need tweaking. He's had one window though and deserves a few more yet before I'd consider sacking him. In fact I'd rather fsg move first before Rodgers goes.

[dww]

I do wonder how much the poor form at the end of last season was due to the cup runs - a lot of teams have had dips after winning the league cup. For me one of the failures of Dalglish and Rodgers has been that the team has appeared mentality fragile under both of them.

I agree that the comparison of the last 19 games of Kenny vs the first of Brendan is unfair. I do think though that Rodgers is offering a clear direction forward and Dalglish seemed to have lost that towards the end. That may be a misinterpretation from outside though. Changing manager and philosophy too often is the worst thing we could do now IMO.

[Mattshark]

There's very little in it.

We're 9 points behind where we were this time last season under Kenny. 25 points, to Kenny's 34.

Kenny then picked up a dismal 18 points in the remaining 19 league games for a total of 52. So obviously we need 28 points in our last 19 games to better that. Given we have Man Utd, Man City and Arsenal away, it will not be easy.

Rodgers is definitely hamstrung by the colossal wastage of Kenny and Comolli, but to say there's a clear improvement (based only on Kenny's last 19 v Rodgers' first 19) is a bit disingenuous IMO.

We will know for sure at the end of the season, but it's worth remembering Kenny won us a Cup too, as well as taking us to another final.

He also gave us the second worst form in the league after Christmas and seemed utterly clueless to turn it around. We then lost 3 players in the summer who'd have made a huge difference for us. We are as weak as we have been as a squad since the 50's right now IMO.

[Mattshark]

Oh yes of course, all the other sides have been injury free. Regardless of Sterling being raw, and Downing and Carroll being mid table players, I still guarantee you that the likes of Stoke and Swansea would only dream of having players like that in their squads.

Change of system....please, its football, these lads have all been playing it for a few years now. As I said, Brendan hasnt been tasked with turning a bunch of overweight couch potatoes into black belts. 6 months in and we can't defend and will struggle to score enough goals to win a match.

Its a clear improvement on Dalglish's last 19, but this isn't the end of the season is it, its the first half, by which time Dalglish's side had amassed 34 points, and was sitting in the top 4.

Lets see how Brendan copes now with the stress of the last 19 games.

We were not in the top 4 under Kenny.

Why did you think changing system and coaches will not have an effect exactly?

[G]

G, I'd give him two seasons. I can see why he's sticking with his ideas even if they need tweaking. He's had one window though and deserves a few more yet before I'd consider sacking him. In fact I'd rather fsg move first before Rodgers goes.

Fair enough mate

[Shaggy]

This was the table after 19 games last season. Looks a bit better than now

http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/premier-league/2011-2012/table/2011-12-30

[Fredo]

Results are pointless at this stage.

[marcus50bucks]

He also gave us the second worst form in the league after Christmas and seemed utterly clueless to turn it around. We then lost 3 players in the summer who'd have made a huge difference for us. We are as weak as we have been as a squad since the 50's right now IMO.

At every opportunity you take a shot at Dalglish's record. Hey, I wanted him gone too. However, Matt lets add some balance to your posts when defending Rodgers because you make constant excuses for him. I'd like to know what mistakes you think he's made and what he could do to stop us leaking goals with the players he's got at his disposal.

[Shaggy]

Results are pointless at this stage.

Our results are

[tanner]

taken us backwards? mate, we've been **** ever since finishing 2nd.
the football in rafa's last season, under uncle roy and in kenny's full season was dreadful. rubbish. we are where are because it's where we truly stand at the moment. don't overrate our squad but don't underrate what others have got. we've changed management at chelsea's rate and everytime it's completely different to what it was before.

I'm talking purely about the this year and last year, we all know we've been spiralling downward since finishing 2nd, but Rafa deserved another season or two to turn it back around. There's no way you can expect a man to be able to keep us fighting at the top each season when the likes of City, Utd and Chelsea have far bigger squads.

What I was referring to was the fact that we can't score well or defend now. We hit the post time after time lasts season and at this point had conceded 11 goals less. This improvement that people keep talking of under Brendan is complete and utter poppycock.

[Ams12]

Heyy where's martin kelly gone all of a sudden!?

[Mattshark]

At every opportunity you take a shot at Dalglish's record. Hey, I wanted him gone too. However, Matt lets add some balance to your posts when defending Rodgers because you make constant excuses for him. I'd like to know what mistakes you think he's made and what he could do to stop us leaking goals with the players he's got at his disposal.

No it is not. But if you think that you feel free.