Brendan Rodgers

[EwarWoo]

I reckon it's completely evidence from the overwhelming display of evidence before us that FSG told him to disregard it but he decided he couldn't go through with it.

Probably complete bollocks but makes just as much sense as your conclusion with just as much evidence to back it up.

[Arn]

While we're about it, have you ever considered changing the record, Arnie?

Maybe, maybe not. Not even I know if that will happen. Difficult question.

[peekay]

Why do you think it necessarily points to a "mentality issue"? It could just as easily be lack of individual creativity or tactical inflexibility, either from the manager, the players or both. There may be other explanations that I haven't thought of too.

I have pointed out the squad quality issue in the post. I deliberately did not mention the tactical inflexibility of manager issue as I did not want this to descend into one more Brendan is good/****/bring rafa back debate.

Defensively well organised teams are hard to break down. That's pretty much the definition of the term. So I don't see anything in the points you make that it must be the players' mentality, that they wilt under pressure. It could be but it could as easily be other things.

I said it also points to a mentality issue. Of course there could be a defensive coaching or lack of midfield balance issue also to add to your points. I did not want to bring that up due to the reason mentioned above. I am not saying mentality is the only reason.

And what about the times the team has come back this season? I could be wrong but my guess would be that we've saved far more points from a losing position than we have done at times in the past. Wasn't there some terrible stat a few years ago that we hadn't won a league game from a losing position for years? We've done that under Rodgers more than once, if memory serves. And that suggests a strong mentality, although it also might just reflect the fact that that we're better at scoring goals than we were in some seasons in the past ten or fifteen years.

I am only looking at teams around us. Spurs is the only victory we have in those. And in that game we came back from behind. I dont have any stats for the other games. We have become quite good at dispatching teams from 10 to 20. Though not good enough to make up for the fact that we drop points against 7 of the teams in the top 8.

I bet it's not that rare that when one team loses, teams below them fail to capitalise on the defeat. The reason for that is that if they did capitalise every time then they'd end up above that team. So, on average, they don't capitalise and that's because they're not as good as the team above them.

And anyway there have been times this season when we have capitalised on bad days for our rivals.

I agree with the first paragraph. I am more rankled by the fact that we had plenty of chances to overtake Everton and blew that.

Yes five of the teams above us are undeniably better than that. But when we include home and away against the 7 of our rivals, the fact that we have only one win points to some fundamental issue against compact organized defenses with quality in attack. There could be plenty of reasons for this - maybe Brendan's tactics are not good enough, we need a little bit more quality, more compactness in midfield, develop an ability to grind out victories or close out games, better defenders, be less expansive or less adventurous - whatever it could be any one of the above or more. But this is an issue which needs to be addressed over the summer break.

[Redspin]

I have pointed out the squad quality issue in the post. I deliberately did not mention the tactical inflexibility of manager issue as I did not want this to descend into one more Brendan is good/****/bring rafa back debate.




I said it also points to a mentality issue. Of course there could be a defensive coaching or lack of midfield balance issue also to add to your points. I did not want to bring that up due to the reason mentioned above. I am not saying mentality is the only reason.



I am only looking at teams around us. Spurs is the only victory we have in those. And in that game we came back from behind. I dont have any stats for the other games. We have become quite good at dispatching teams from 10 to 20. Though not good enough to make up for the fact that we drop points against 7 of the teams in the top 8.




I agree with the first paragraph. I am more rankled by the fact that we had plenty of chances to overtake Everton and blew that.

Yes five of the teams above us are undeniably better than that. But when we include home and away against the 7 of our rivals, the fact that we have only one win points to some fundamental issue against compact organized defenses with quality in attack. There could be plenty of reasons for this - maybe Brendan's tactics are not good enough, we need a little bit more quality, more compactness in midfield, develop an ability to grind out victories or close out games, better defenders, be less expansive or less adventurous - whatever it could be any one of the above or more. But this is an issue which needs to be addressed over the summer break.

Or perhaps we need linesmen that don't flag for offside against legitimate goals, or defenders that don't blindly pass back to gift Man City a goal and a goalkeeper that needlessly charges out of goal with the same outcome against the same team when we were vastly superior in both games. There's six points down the gurgler for a start.

The fact is the premier league is terribly mediocre from Man U downwards so it will only take the cutting out of stupid unforced errors, the odd decision going jour way for once and one or two judicious buys and we should be able to make real progress next season. We're surrounded by absolute dross in the main. After fifty tears of watching LIverpool it's hard to remember when our top division was so moribund.

[DannyMan2006]

No doubting that LFC haven't been good enough this year. It's not all down to bad luck that we haven't made the most of our possession and domination against sides from the top 8.

But at least we're heading in the right direction. It would be harder to fathom had our results been a mixed bag.

For me personally, those results don't point to us as a team lacking creativity to break down sides, more that when faced with a better quality attacking side we concede more goals.

Hopefully we make good signings at the back in the summer, because to push on its vital. Rodgers said he will wait until the summer to address that area, I hope he's true to his word.

Because there can't be many teams who have a worse record against those sides than ourselves.

[Shaggy]

**** in the Cups (not one good run), **** in the league and uber **** against any half decent side.....it's difficult to be particularly positive but at least we have a direction and we're better to watch. If next season is a repeat of this, however, then Rodgers will have to go IMO.

[RichC]

Next season is a massive season for him, he's been backed pretty well in two windows and had this season to mould the side into the way he wants to play as long as he's backed again this summer then he's got to go out and improve on this season.

I will say this though it's going to be damn tough to break into the top 4 but we need to be pushing for it at the very least.

[Alex]

I think finishing 5th with a strong season long challenge for top 4 will be the minimum most would expect from him next season. Its gonna be tough for him.

[Pablo]

**** in the Cups (not one good run), **** in the league and uber **** against any half decent side.....it's difficult to be particularly positive but at least we have a direction and we're better to watch. If next season is a repeat of this, however, then Rodgers will have to go IMO.

Pretty much agree with that

Desperate for him to be a success though, because if we are we will really be fantastic to watch!

Can't take the idea of yet another squad rebuild

[calvoboy]

**** in the Cups (not one good run), **** in the league and uber **** against any half decent side.....it's difficult to be particularly positive but at least we have a direction and we're better to watch. If next season is a repeat of this, however, then Rodgers will have to go IMO.

I agree that another season like this would see him gone, but I think we will do much better next year. Our form since Christmas is top-4 form, and unless we have a disastrous summer in the transfer market we should improve even on that form next season (no more adjusting to the style, young players more experienced, bit more class in the side etc.).

Next season we need to be where Arsenal and Spurs are now as a minimum, with a serious top-four challenge until the last game or two, even if we don't quite make it. Then it's top-four or bust for Rodgers the following season.

[dww]

**** in the Cups (not one good run), **** in the league and uber **** against any half decent side.....it's difficult to be particularly positive but at least we have a direction and we're better to watch. If next season is a repeat of this, however, then Rodgers will have to go IMO.

The more I think about it the more Michael Cox seems right - the big improvement is the purchase of Sturridge and Coutinho in January. Something that would easily be out weighed by the sale of Suarez if that has to happen.

I still think that this type of season was more of less inevitable with the change in style Rodgers demands. The real proof of the pudding was always going to come in the second season. Two defensive signings as good as the two attacking ones above and ......

We've all said something a long those lines every season for the last two decades though.

[Shaggy]

I agree that another season like this would see him gone, but I think we will do much better next year. Our form since Christmas is top-4 form, and unless we have a disastrous summer in the transfer market we should improve even on that form next season (no more adjusting to the style, young players more experienced, bit more class in the side etc.).

Next season we need to be where Arsenal and Spurs are now as a minimum, with a serious top-four challenge until the last game or two, even if we don't quite make it. Then it's top-four or bust for Rodgers the following season.

[Shaggy]

The more I think about it the more Michael Cox seems right - the big improvement is the purchase of Sturridge and Coutinho in January. Something that would easily be out weighed by the sale of Suarez if that has to happen.

I still think that this type of season was more of less inevitable with the change in style Rodgers demands. The real proof of the pudding was always going to come in the second season. Two defensive signings as good as the two attacking ones above and ......

We've all said something a long those lines every season for the last two decades though.

I read this yesterday which surprised me:

anyway, 15 games before Sturridge signed - won 7 drew 5 lost 3

15 games since Sturridge signed - won 7 drew 5 lost 3

Results since Coutinho signed have gotten worse (ave 1.67 points per games as opposed to 1.73 points per game)

I think they are both excellent signings, but their impact to the side hasn't really been translated into results - yet (I hope)

[dww]

That is interesting. Although Neil would have us believe that if we feel better about the results then we are progressing (), Coutinho certainly feels like he's improved us.

[PTP]

He's done one for his season of transition.

We have some positives,

- great football at times smashing teams apart
- coutinho and Sturridge look good purchases
- some youth has come through and gained experience
- managed to cut down wage bill

But we have some issues that need sorting

- defence frailties
- lack of consistency/mental strength
- still lack a bit of quality in squad

Massive summer for us (again)...4 top players (two defenders, a DM and a forward) with no major player leaving (ie Suarez and Reina) and then next season we should push on.

I don't expect us to finish top 4 next year...I just want to see genuine improvements and to at least push and challenge for the top four all the way, with a good cup run as well,