Brendan Rodgers

[Captain Stu]

Nah, time for Ancelotti.

Haha yeah and people foolishly thinking we'll sack off Rodgers for Mourwhineo.

Rodgers is our manager for *at least* the next two to three years, either accept it or **** off whinging about it because it's vomit-inducing now.

[Sarb]

Nobody is good enough apart from Rafa or Kenny even though employing a 61 year old was only ever a short term move.

*sigh* yup, all the "Rafa in" crowd will be wanking themselves into a frenzy about him "coming home" this summer and further undermining our current manager.

Rafa and FSG would be a match made in hell right now, they'd have been great with the Kenny/Comolli money to spend but he'd be just like he was with H&G - publically bitching about them not giving him money during the windows, etc... Rafa can only come back under FSG if he grows up. A lot.

Agree with all of that. FSG had their fingers burnt by Kenny and DC. They won't give money like that again and in all honesty, I agree with them. Kenny and DC signings were pretty crippling. The whole ethos of bargaining, performance related pay etc is totally the right way to go

[Baracus]

Think a lot of fans want Rafa back and that will be on the agenda again this summer as I'm pretty confident he will be on the market again

But he has said his ideal job is where he gets to invest money. He won't get shed loads here and it will become dysfunctional again. I hated all the in-fighting that was going on in his last year here. It was pretty grim

All he wanted was a set amount before sales and players wages every year to know what he has to work with IIRC about £30m. I think that was the rumoured demand when he went for the Villa job and Randy turned him or Rafa turned them down as it was not agreeable.

[Sarb]

Haha yeah and people foolishly thinking we'll sack off Rodgers for Mourwhineo.

Rodgers is our manager for *at least* the next two to three years, either accept it or **** off whinging about it because it's vomit-inducing now.

Or that other timid bloke, Louis Van Gaal

[Captain Stu]

Agree with all of that. FSG had their fingers burnt by Kenny and DC. They won't give money like that again and in all honesty, I agree with them. Kenny and DC signings were pretty crippling. The whole ethos of bargaining, performance related pay etc is totally the right way to go

If I was FSG, I would have done exactly the same thing. They made a huge gamble and trust Kenny and Comolli and they pissed away so much money and have crippled us financially for at least 18-24 months, having knock-on effects for subsequent managers and transfer targets. Of course they're not going to spooge like that again, if they did I'd be slightly concerned that they hadn't learnt from their mistakes.

Or that other timid bloke, Louis Van Gaal

Aahh he's **** him, way too quiet. What's he ever won anyway?

[Shaggy]

Think a lot of fans want Rafa back and that will be on the agenda again this summer as I'm pretty confident he will be on the market again

But he has said his ideal job is where he gets to invest money. He won't get shed loads here and it will become dysfunctional again. I hated all the in-fighting that was going on in his last year here. It was pretty grim

So did I - but I must say, I don't think it's much better now. Not Rodgers' fault, not Kenny's fault - it just seems like a large portion of the fanbase are now addicted to in-fighting and have been since Hicks & Gillett. It gets me down sometimes. Maybe it's just because I/we don't pay attention to other clubs, but it doesn't seem like this elsewhere.

It certainly hasn't helped that Rodgers' two predecessors - forgetting that Hodgson cunt - were iconic figures. But it seems to me there always has to be some sort of battle, and it definitely doesn't help us.

[Sarb]

All he wanted was a set amount before sales and players wages every year to know what he has to work with IIRC about £30m. I think that was the rumoured demand when he went for the Villa job and Randy turned him or Rafa turned them down as it was not agreeable.

Isn't ours £20m odd including wages? £30m before sales and player wages is a hell of a lot. I'm pretty sure he deliberately priced himself out of the Villa move with those demands

[danperkins]

It's a difficult one, on the one hand we've had a big clear out, got massive wages off the books for ageing players, invested in youth, brought youth through the ranks & have a manager that is trying to make us play good free flowing football.

On the other hand, we lack experienced players & mental toughness, youth takes time to develop, who knows by the time the youth develop (if even) will our top players be still hanging around, if we slip further down in the league.. what calibre of player can we attract & Rodgers is trying to make us play a certain way that frankly... we don't have the players to do this IMO.

I'm hoping that we can have a reasonably strong finish to the season and get some much needed consistency into our results. By the summer, offload a few players, send few out on loan & replenish the ranks with players... that can play the way Rodgers wants. Short of a complete and utter capitulation, Rodgers will and should get next season and then IMO there should and will be no excuses & we can properly judge him and find out whether he is a hungry young manager that is trying to implement a great footballing philosophy at the club ..... or a blagger who was unproven,inexperienced and likes the sound of his own voice.

Hopefully it's a former rather than the latter

[Muddled]

It all depends doesn't it. I think Houllier bought Hyypia and Henchoz in the same summer didn't he? Did they hit the ground running, I can't remember? Sturridge has come in and hit the ground running. Granted Allen and Borini haven't (Think Allen was very good in the first couple months).

Think if you can get players who you know can play your way and fit your system, they can come in and make an immediate impact

That's where my concern lies; Rodgers has a hit-and-miss approach in the transfer market (so far, and quite clearly this can improve). Houllier only had to buy two competent centre backs and it was infinitely better than what he had inherited. Benitez also had that luxury whilst obviously developing Carragher into the role.

However, alongside this they addressed a very important part of their team during the early stages of their tenure, when expectations were low and fans afford them time and patience. Will Rodgers be afforded that same patience when he has a second year of transition?

I guess what I am trying to get my head around is building a team from top to bottom and the implications it will have.

[Baracus]

If I was FSG, I would have done exactly the same thing. They made a huge gamble and trust Kenny and Comolli and they pissed away so much money and have crippled us financially for at least 18-24 months, having knock-on effects for subsequent managers and transfer targets. Of course they're not going to spooge like that again, if they did I'd be slightly concerned that they hadn't learnt from their mistakes.

You gotta put some blame on FSG for being so navie. A decent CEO or MD with a back bone would have put a stop to that and owners with some undertsnading of football would have put a stop to some of the signings ( I would have hoped)..just like they did with Dempsey situation in the following year ( I guess they learnt on the job..which is a good thing).

[Sarb]

So did I - but I must say, I don't think it's much better now. Not Rodgers' fault, not Kenny's fault - it just seems like a large portion of the fanbase are now addicted to in-fighting and have been since Hicks & Gillett. It gets me down sometimes. Maybe it's just because I/we don't pay attention to other clubs, but it doesn't seem like this elsewhere.

It certainly hasn't helped that Rodgers' two predecessors - forgetting that Hodgson cunt - were iconic figures. But it seems to me there always has to be some sort of battle, and it definitely doesn't help us.

Have to agree totally with this. To be honest, the enjoyment has gone out of watching football for me. You just know after every bad result that there will be fans calling for the head of the manager, blaming FSG for not giving any money, calling for another manager etc. I actually dread us dropping points to be honest.

You're right. I think some who rose to prominence as fans in getting rid of H&G now can't let it go. They want to stay in the limelight, get their name out there and keep bitching and moaning about anything and everything. We never used to be like that and it's a pretty sad way to be. It's not a pop at Spirit of Shankly, but more the other individuals who just don't let it go

[Captain Stu]

You gotta put some blame on FSG for being so navie. A decent CEO or MD with a back bone would have put a stop to that and owners with some undertsnading of football would have put a stop to some of the signings ( I would have hoped)..just like they did with Dempsey situation in the following year ( I guess they learnt on the job..which is a good thing).

They appointed Comolli who, at the time, was reasonably well respected having pulled off some decent deals for Spurs. They clearly saw him as the "footballing brain" to help the transfer strategy, it's not their fault that he decided to completely abandon his principles on transfers and just piss money on English wasters and triple their wages.

It's not a pop at Spirit of Shankly, but more the other individuals who just don't let it go

I'll have a pop at them - I ****ing detest them and the fact that they consider themselves to be the voice of fans. They're not my cunting voice, they're a bunch of militant ****wits with delusions of grandeur. **** them.

[dom9]

Have to agree totally with this. To be honest, the enjoyment has gone out of watching football for me. You just know after every bad result that there will be fans calling for the head of the manager, blaming FSG for not giving any money, calling for another manager etc. I actually dread us dropping points to be honest.

You're right. I think some who rose to prominence as fans in getting rid of H&G now can't let it go. They want to stay in the limelight, get their name out there and keep bitching and moaning about anything and everything. We never used to be like that and it's a pretty sad way to be. It's not a pop at Spirit of Shankly, but more the other individuals who just don't let it go

Me too.

[dom9]

They appointed Comolli who, at the time, was reasonably well respected having pulled off some decent deals for Spurs. They clearly saw him as the "footballing brain" to help the transfer strategy, it's not their fault that he decided to completely abandon his principles on transfers and just piss money on English wasters and triple their wages.

[Sarb]

You gotta put some blame on FSG for being so navie. A decent CEO or MD with a back bone would have put a stop to that and owners with some undertsnading of football would have put a stop to some of the signings ( I would have hoped)..just like they did with Dempsey situation in the following year ( I guess they learnt on the job..which is a good thing).

But Comolli was supposed to be that man, who spotted the players and got a good deal. He didn't. I had fears when we appointed him because he had a history of overpaying. I can't fault their intentions to be honest. Gladly with the exception of Hodgson, they have backed their managers with funds. Think the deals now are a lot less onerous on the club if they don't work out either