Brendan Rodgers

[tanner]

I'm not suggesting we compete with United, City or Chelsea on the money front. I bet we spend more than virtually all the others though.

I'm feeling like we are damned if we do, damned if we don't. Not convinced by Rodgers but we cannot change managers again so soon.

I think Spurs' squad cost much more to put together too, and it wouldnt surprise me if Arsenals did as well, but then they never divulge the details.

I don't think anyone can be convinced by Rogers at this stage as he's not really shown us any evidence to think otherwise. The style has change but the results haven't. The only thing we can do is to give him time and be patient now as getting rid of yet another manager within 12 months would just be ridiculous. As was posted on here this evening, FSG saw fit to interview 2 relatively inexperienced and unsuccessful managers for the position of manager at one of the biggest names in world football. There's no evidence there either that they really know what they're doing, however, they seem to be financing us to be a top 6 club and until middle eastern royalty or a russian oligarch decides to purchase the club, this will be is as good as it gets.

[little dave hedgehog]

i'm not trying to make it personal tee, you know i'm a tee fan. i'm just saying that boat has sailed and complaining might make somebody feel better about it, but this is the way things are going to be for us as far as the money goes for the foreseeable future. i remain hopeful that we can make some more good signings and turn **** around but that's not going to happen overnight. that's where we are. no amount of complaining will change that fact. we're just going to have to support the team and see where that takes us

[Tee]

i'm not trying to make it personal tee, you know i'm a tee fan. i'm just saying that boat has sailed and complaining might make somebody feel better about it, but this is the way things are going to be for us as far as the money goes for the foreseeable future. i remain hopeful that we can make some more good signings and turn **** around but that's not going to happen overnight. that's where we are. no amount of complaining will change that fact.

It's cool Dave.

I am just struggling to adjust my expectations. Reality is we are a top 10 club now, so I suppose that is a good starting point.

[little dave hedgehog]

i think we can certainly finish bottom 14.

[peekay]

One of the things I have been struggling with is do we have the right coaching setup. Let us assume that Brendan has the right idea to play football and the necessary managerial nous. But do we have the right coaching setup to even implement these ideas. Let us look at his coaching team.

Mike Marsh - First Team Coach

After retiring from playing he was, until recently, on the coaching staff of Southport. In 2008, Northwich Victoria appointed him as their first-team coach. He quit Northwich, to become assistant manager at Bradford Park Avenue in November 2008. Later that month he was appointed caretaker manager of Park Avenue after Dave Cameron resigned following a defeat against bottom-placed Witton Albion; he shared the role with goalkeeping coach Gary Stokes because he had commitments in Spain. Marsh is currently the Head Academy coach of the ambitious Accrington & Rossendale College in East Lancashire, the team competes in the Lancashire F.A under 18 league on a Monday night and a British Colleges Elite league on a Wednesday afternoon. Marsh combined this role with his Academy coaching job at Liverpool F.C (under 16's) and with his Master's football commitments. In May 2011 Liverpool announced he was to move up to coaching the under 18 side. Marsh has since moved up to first team coach at Liverpool FC.

John Achterberg

Played and retired from Tranmere in 2009.

Chris Davies

Davies was captain of Reading’s youth team under Rodgers and was also a Wales youth international.But in 2004 he began studying at Loughborough University and obtained a first class honours degree in sport and exercise science. He had a stint as an academy coach at New Zealand club Hawke’s Bay United before making the switch to Swansea in 2010.

Colin Pascoe

As much as we like to poke fun at Pascoe, he is the most experienced person in our coaching setup. Has been coaching since 2005.

Our coaching setup experience comprises of people at Accrington & Rossendale College, Tranmere, Bay United, Reading, and Swansea. Other than pure faith, there is no hard evidence or pedigree as a player or as a manager/coach that the current setup can deliver results. Mourinho atleast had the Bobby Robson and Barcelona experience. Rafa had the Madrid experience and he also took a sabbatical and interacted with some of the legendary coaches in the game. Also Valencia had a solid setup when he took over. What we have is a bunch of talented individuals with no big club experience working together. I am guessing some of them are learning on the job. Then it is no surprise that we have hiccups and this will continue for some time until our coaching team comes to grips with our club. One of the biggest reason for DBF's success is that he surrounded himself with top quality coaches. I would be less worried about our situation if we had an experienced setup backing a young manager. Our young manager is actually the most experienced of the lot.

I am not criticizing FSG, Ayre, or saying Brendan does not have the capability to manage us. Maybe this coaching team is a bunch of talented innovators whose work will pay dividends over the years. I am actually stunned by the fact that we have invested nearly 50 million on the players this year with the above coaching setup. After all the hoopla about DOF and proper football setup, the strategy seems to be "Trust Brendan, he knows".

[Tee]

Also, tbf given the amount FSG have given the Managers to spend I think it was quite realistic to expect a quick turnaround.

[tanner]

I'm not suggesting we compete with United, City or Chelsea on the money front. I bet we spend more than virtually all the others though.

I'm feeling like we are damned if we do, damned if we don't. Not convinced by Rodgers but we cannot change managers again so soon.

I think Spurs' squad cost much more to put together too, and it wouldnt surprise me if Arsenals did as well, but then they never divulge the details.

I don't think anyone can be convinced by Rogers at this stage as he's not really shown us any evidence to think otherwise. The style has change but the results haven't. The only thing we can do is to give him time and be patient now as getting rid of yet another manager within 12 months would just be ridiculous. As was posted on here this evening, FSG saw fit to interview 2 relatively inexperienced and unsuccessful managers for the position of manager at one of the biggest names in world football. There's no evidence there either that they really know what they're doing, however, they seem to be financing us to be a top 6 club and until middle eastern royalty or an oligarch from russia decides to purchase the club, this will be is as good as it gets.

[Imy]

If the idea is that we stop the opposition by keeping the ball then that isn't really working. We don't transition into defensive positions quickly enough so as soon as we lose the ball we are too open to counter-attacks. That's the same for most teams though, more goals are scored on the counter than by keeping the ball and moving defenders around until you create an opportunity. That's probably why Barca are as good at pressing the ball as they are at keeping it once they have it.

We used to be brilliant at stopping the opposition through defensive positioning. It isn't as obvious as good attacking play so when we battered Real Madrid apparently they were awful when actually they played as well as we let them. We need to get back to playing well without the ball, be awkward *******s to play against, then build from there.

Been saying it for ages, the bare minimum should be that we are difficult to beat.

[little dave hedgehog]

Also, tbf given the amount FSG have given the Managers to spend I think it was quite realistic to expect a quick turnaround.

faint praise?

i agree i'd like us to be doing better. but we have spent a lot of money on substandard players. not sure how much of that is on the owners, they've certainly backed their managers. and one of them was kenny.

[Tee]

Well, FSG deserve credit for giving, by my loose calcs, at least £120m in 2 seasons. We should have a world class team for that kind of money.

[Imy]

faint praise?

i agree i'd like us to be doing better. but we have spent a lot of money on substandard players. not sure how much of that is on the owners, they've certainly backed their managers. and one of them was kenny.

I think they've been naive especially with the appointments they've made, too many inexperienced men in positions of power.
I also don't think think they'll do anything with the stadium.

I'd love to know who's been advising them? also someone should tell them about a tool called google.

[CJ]

One of the things I have been struggling with is do we have the right coaching setup. Let us assume that Brendan has the right idea to play football and the necessary managerial nous. But do we have the right coaching setup to even implement these ideas. Let us look at his coaching team.

Mike Marsh - First Team Coach

After retiring from playing he was, until recently, on the coaching staff of Southport. In 2008, Northwich Victoria appointed him as their first-team coach. He quit Northwich, to become assistant manager at Bradford Park Avenue in November 2008. Later that month he was appointed caretaker manager of Park Avenue after Dave Cameron resigned following a defeat against bottom-placed Witton Albion; he shared the role with goalkeeping coach Gary Stokes because he had commitments in Spain. Marsh is currently the Head Academy coach of the ambitious Accrington & Rossendale College in East Lancashire, the team competes in the Lancashire F.A under 18 league on a Monday night and a British Colleges Elite league on a Wednesday afternoon. Marsh combined this role with his Academy coaching job at Liverpool F.C (under 16's) and with his Master's football commitments. In May 2011 Liverpool announced he was to move up to coaching the under 18 side. Marsh has since moved up to first team coach at Liverpool FC.

John Achterberg

Played and retired from Tranmere in 2009.

Chris Davies

Davies was captain of Reading’s youth team under Rodgers and was also a Wales youth international.But in 2004 he began studying at Loughborough University and obtained a first class honours degree in sport and exercise science. He had a stint as an academy coach at New Zealand club Hawke’s Bay United before making the switch to Swansea in 2010.

Colin Pascoe

As much as we like to poke fun at Pascoe, he is the most experienced person in our coaching setup. Has been coaching since 2005.

Our coaching setup experience comprises of people at Accrington & Rossendale College, Tranmere, Bay United, Reading, and Swansea. Other than pure faith, there is no hard evidence or pedigree as a player or as a manager/coach that the current setup can deliver results. Mourinho atleast had the Bobby Robson and Barcelona experience. Rafa had the Madrid experience and he also took a sabbatical and interacted with some of the legendary coaches in the game. Also Valencia had a solid setup when he took over. What we have is a bunch of talented individuals with no big club experience working together. I am guessing some of them are learning on the job. Then it is no surprise that we have hiccups and this will continue for some time until our coaching team comes to grips with our club. One of the biggest reason for DBF's success is that he surrounded himself with top quality coaches. I would be less worried about our situation if we had an experienced setup backing a young manager. Our young manager is actually the most experienced of the lot.

I am not criticizing FSG, Ayre, or saying Brendan does not have the capability to manage us. Maybe this coaching team is a bunch of talented innovators whose work will pay dividends over the years. I am actually stunned by the fact that we have invested nearly 50 million on the players this year with the above coaching setup. After all the hoopla about DOF and proper football setup, the strategy seems to be "Trust Brendan, he knows".

Being manager at Bradford park avenue is clearly no way to prepare to be prime minister

[Gibbo]

To be fair to FSG the amount they've spent for the return they have got is absolutely shocking.

Carroll & Downing for a start.

[CJ]

Perhaps/we should have bought carol downing

[little dave hedgehog]

Well, FSG deserve credit for giving, by my loose calcs, at least £120m in 2 seasons. We should have a world class team for that kind of money.

I think they've been naive especially with the appointments they've made, too many inexperienced men in positions of power.
I also don't think think they'll do anything with the stadium.

I'd love to know who's been advising them? also someone should tell them about a tool called google.

the thing about naive people is that if they're smart, they mature. i know it might not be acceptable to some, but a thing that american sports management often does is arrange their teams to peak after x amount of time. it's not really possible to spend like city in american sports, so the idea is to get young players in and then add players closer to their peaks afterwards so that as many players as possible are hitting their peak years around the same time, and then sustaining that. it's like buying a kid shoes to grow into rather than shoes that fit perfectly today but need replacing soon after.