Brendan Rodgers

[Captain Stu]

I said this. We should have signed some cover for him. His role is pivotal to how we want to play but we're demanding too much of him after two bad injuries. Should have been helped out

If only we had signed a world class player to cover Lucas over the summer. Maybe someone with experience at the highest level of playing as a deep holding midfielder.

It'd be ideal if his first name was Nuri Sahin.

Oh, wait...

You can see, using this Barca formation, exactly where every single Liverpool player falls into it... even right down to have Alves/Johnson further forward than Abidal/Alba/Enrique.

[Marina]

This thread depresses me. The footy forums depress me.

I choose to be optimistic about Rodgers, the team, and the future, because the alternative would make each day less good than it could be. Suboptimal, if you will. Obviously people will be negative and critical, and that's their right given that it's a forum. Many of you are in your 30s and 40s and seem ridiculously jaded, but that's natural given the circumstances I suppose.

I am still hopeful though. It's unbelievably tiring finding everything wrong with the team and critiquing it for hours, saying what should have been done differently and ruing all those missed opportunities. I sound like a broken record, but it's deflating. It's not what supporting a football club should be.

[Pablo]

This thread depresses me. The footy forums depress me.

I choose to be optimistic about Rodgers, the team, and the future, because the alternative would make each day less good than it could be. Suboptimal, if you will. Obviously people will be negative and critical, and that's their right given that it's a forum. Many of you are in your 30s and 40s and seem ridiculously jaded, but that's natural given the circumstances I suppose.

I am still hopeful though. It's unbelievably tiring finding everything wrong with the team and critiquing it for hours, saying what should have been done differently and ruing all those missed opportunities. I sound like a broken record, but it's deflating. It's not what supporting a football club should be.

Same here. I'm pretty much refusing to read most of this.

In my eyes it's time for us fans (and the board) to back a manager for the long term. We all openly mock Chelsea for how many managers they sack, but the reality is we're becoming like them. We used to be able to mock them as we were somewhat special in that regard (we'd never sacked a manager during a season until Hodgson), so we had some justification for feeling superior. With our attitude recently I think we're losing that privilege. We're too quick to judge, too knee-jerk, too impatient.

Rodgers is a young, energetic manager with big ideas. We have to give a manager a chance for the long haul at some point IMO, and for me that starts now. We might well suffer in the short to medium term because of all the upheaval, but in the long run I believe we'll benefit.

[tsb]

It's driven by the endless cycle that seems to have set in since the Hicks / Gillett fiasco was resolved. Everything that can go wrong seems to go wrong!

[dom9]

Same here. I'm pretty much refusing to read most of this.

In my eyes it's time for us fans (and the board) to back a manager for the long term. We all openly mock Chelsea for how many managers they sack, but the reality is we're becoming like them. We used to be able to mock them as we were somewhat special in that regard (we'd never sacked a manager during a season until Hodgson), so we had some justification for feeling superior. With our attitude recently I think we're losing that privilege. We're too quick to judge, too knee-jerk, too impatient.

Rodgers is a young, energetic manager with big ideas. We have to give a manager a chance for the long haul at some point IMO, and for me that starts now. We might well suffer in the short to medium term because of all the upheaval, but in the long run I believe we'll benefit.

This thread generally depresses me, but today I've found it quite interesting. There's been some honest, mature discussion (nobody got called a cunt - I know, crazy) about expectations and how BR is measuring up to those expectations.

Refreshingly, it hasn't been suffocated by the 'he needs to this, that and the other' know it all brigade who can often be found revelling in this thread. It's at those times I really feel depressed reading it.

[Tee]

Same here. I'm pretty much refusing to read most of this.

In my eyes it's time for us fans (and the board) to back a manager for the long term. We all openly mock Chelsea for how many managers they sack, but the reality is we're becoming like them. We used to be able to mock them as we were somewhat special in that regard (we'd never sacked a manager during a season until Hodgson), so we had some justification for feeling superior. With our attitude recently I think we're losing that privilege. We're too quick to judge, too knee-jerk, too impatient.

Rodgers is a young, energetic manager with big ideas. We have to give a manager a chance for the long haul at some point IMO, and for me that starts now. We might well suffer in the short to medium term because of all the upheaval, but in the long run I believe we'll benefit.

Totally get all that mate, but speaking purely for myself I think 23 years (since our last title) of watching each rebuild, hoping and actually being patient is starting to take its toll.

It is all about winning that title again and I would love nothing more than to see this team challenge and eventually win it, but (there is always a but!) I am only being honest about what I am seeing from us.

[Yozza]

Totally get all that mate, but speaking purely for myself I think 23 years (since our last title) of watching each rebuild, hoping and actually being patient is starting to take its toll.

It is all about winning that title again and I would love nothing more than to see this team challenge and eventually win it, but (there is always a but!) I am only being honest about what I am seeing from us.

I feel exactly the same way - hate to say it but I'm losing interest big time

Have given most of my season ticket away this season - my nephew loves going - enthusiasm is hugely on the wane

The loss on Monday night was a real kick in the balls - just seen it happen too many times to us

Maybe I'm just on a downer at the moment; hopefully things will pick up soon for me

[dom9]

Totally get all that mate, but speaking purely for myself I think 23 years (since our last title) of watching each rebuild, hoping and actually being patient is starting to take its toll.

It is all about winning that title again and I would love nothing more than to see this team challenge and eventually win it, but (there is always a but!) I am only being honest about what I am seeing from us.

See, I'm torn. Of course I feel frustrated and jaded at the prospect of another few years in the wilderness. It's really bloody depressing.

But...

I think I have to be realistic at what is achievable too. From what people have said today, we're probably performing in line with expectations for this season. Maybe a bit less. Next season, we'll be expected to seriously challenge for top 4, but maybe miss out. The season after, top 4 is definitely required. Then there's the final massive step to win the league itself.

We're looking at 5 years again aren't we, if we're lucky? The only way to handle that is try and reflect on progress (or not) one step at a time taking into account the circumstances we're in, otherwise we're doomed to a lifetime of misery and self loathing. And what good does that do?

It's blimmin hard though, I'll give you that.

[tanner]

Its taken a long time to come to this. For years and years we always hoped next season would be the one that we lifted the league title again. There was always hope and always genuine belief that it would happen next season. We were too big and too good not to fight for the title. At least thats what we always believed. We've seen Dalglish come and go, we've seen Rafa take us to the CL final twice and 2nd in the league, we've seen Dalglish come back and spend a fortune. Next season could be the one... but alas we've found ourselves further behind the top and there are now several more sides better equipped than us.

There is no longer the belief that next season could be the one, and thats the difference and why we're all ****ing depressed and negative.

[Tee]

Its taken a long time to come to this. For years and years we always hoped next season would be the one that we lifted the league title again. There was always hope and always genuine belief that it would happen next season. We were too big and too good not to fight for the title. At least thats what we always believed. We've seen Dalglish come and go, we've seen Rafa take us to the CL final twice and 2nd in the league, we've seen Dalglish come back and spend a fortune. Next season could be the one... but alas we've found ourselves further behind the top and there are now several more sides better equipped than us.

There is no longer the belief that next season could be the one, and thats the difference and why we're all ****ing depressed and negative.

Mate, that just sums it up perfectly for me.

[Tee]

I know I keep harping on about the league and that it should be our obsession, but those old enough may remember how Man Utd and the media would talk about the Holy Grail (i.e. the title) every single season in the 80s and very early 90s. I would laugh knowing full well that they would never win it with the team they had, but looking back I totally respect and understand that they had to make it their obsession otherwise they would never have got there. And when they finally did it must have felt unbelievable.

I just feel we have never made it our obsession in the same manner and find it sad/depressing that right now it is almost laughed at within the club if mentioned.

[tanner]

Mate, that just sums it up perfectly for me.

People talk about the team being in a period of transition, but I think we're all in a period of transition too. We're a side used to winning, or at least a recent history of memorable victories and cup runs. Now I think most of us expect nothing, and thats taking its toll.

We're being told that we need to give Brendan time, I think we need to give each other time to readjust to the new level as well

One things for sure, none of us like being where we are and I don't think anyone actually enjoys being negative.

[dom9]

I know I keep harping on about the league and that it should be our obsession, but those old enough may remember how Man Utd and the media would talk about the Holy Grail (i.e. the title) every single season in the 80s and very early 90s. I would laugh knowing full well that they would never win it with the team they had, but looking back I totally respect and understand that they had to make it their obsession otherwise they would never have got there. And when they finally did it must have felt unbelievable.

I just feel we have never made it our obsession in the same manner and find it sad/depressing that right now it is almost laughed at within the club if mentioned.

Are you sure it is not an obsession?

And as for the "laughed at" comment, I'm not sure that's true. If you're talking about winning the league in 2014, then yes that is indeed laughable given our current circumstances.

But if you're talking about winning the league as an aspiration and target within a realistic timeline, then I don't think it's laughable at all.

[dom9]

People talk about the team being in a period of transition, but I think we're all in a period of transition too. We're a side used to winning, or at least a recent history of memorable victories and cup runs. Now I think most of us expect nothing, and thats taking its toll.

We're being told that we need to give Brendan time, I think we need to give each other time to readjust to the new level as well

One things for sure, none of us like being where we are and I don't think anyone actually enjoys being negative.

I think you're kinda right, but I don't think people expect 'nothing'. They expect tangible progress, an aspiration to win trophies, but expectations are becoming more realistic to most of us. They have to.

[Tee]

Are you sure it is not an obsession?

And as for the "laughed at" comment, I'm not sure that's true. If you're talking about winning the league in 2014, then yes that is indeed laughbale given our current circumstances.

But if you're talking about winning the league as an aspiration and target within a realistic timeline, then I don't think it's laughable at all.

Definitely not an obsession, nowhere near the same way as it was for Man Utd. They had the media on their side and built a momentum that eventually, and with a bit of luck I might add, got them that elusive championship title.

And when I say laughable what I really mean is that I don't think there is that drive to win the title from within the club. It is more a case of pushing for top 4, basically the same mentality as Arsenal.