Brendan Rodgers

[dom9]

I get that, but this is not any type of normal job. This is a quest, a journey that could write someone's name into the history books of an amazing mythical club.

BR has shown this year that we are on the right track. His team needs a catalyst or two to take it to the next level. He deserves that backing IMO.

But if these are the parameters he has to work within, the expectations of everyone (owners included) need to be re-aligned to a fight to stay in the top 7 or 8 rather than top 4.

Nah, it's still a job.

You're caught up in the dream to the detriment of reality. That's not a criticism btw. But ultimately, you need to have a grasp of what is achievable within the constraints of your situation to even push the boundaries.

[MrMichael]

Its £5m less than we paid for a Geordie donkey.

*crys*

Context though, we had just sold Torres for £50m. Would people be happy if we'd sold Suarez but then bought Willian, compared to doing neither?

Its also a figure that would take our net spend to £24m max. Everything is relative - we have the new tv deal money, the club makes shed loads of money from the massive fanbase we have. We should be able to afford this.

The club lost almost £90m over the previous two financial years.

I agree we should have the money to fund a big signing, but the fact we apparently offered £25m+ for him, Costa and Miki shows we do have funds. We just decided this guy's fee was too high.

[Rowan]

Its £5m less than we paid for a Geordie donkey.

Its also a figure that would take our net spend to £24m max. Everything is relative - we have the new tv deal money, the club makes shed loads of money from the massive fanbase we have. We should be able to afford this.

The Geordie donkey that we just lost £20 million on? Or the ex villa winger we lost £14 million on? What about the Scottish chap we lost £3 million on or the fantastic £7 million investment on Coates? I can totally understand why FSG don't use the financial valuation of their managers as the barometer for negotiations. And as nobody actually knows what the difference between what we offered and what spurs offered is it seems a bit glib to dismiss FSG as not backing the manager. Not to mention the fact we haven't got £80 million heading our way to mitigate any errors in valuations.

Horses for courses but while I can see the reason for Rodgers's frustration I totally see FSGs position... And as you can see completely agree

That said I hope we do get someone in and I hope they're flip hot!

[marcus50bucks]

Interesting reading the extra bits

One minor request though. Highlighting one bit for emphasis = cool, but highligting loads of bits randomly makes my eyes hurt And its a bit selective...

Why not highlight this bit too for example? -

[Sarb]

When you read the full quotes I don't find it an attack on the owners. But it will get twisted by people in the press or certain fan sections and used to have a go at the owners. I think Rodgers needs to be careful in airing his frustrations like he is. The club needs a period of stability and everyone working off the same page.

Regarding his comments, I see nothing wrong with a value being placed on Willian and the club not wanting to go above the value. I suspect FSG do not determine the value but the committee has a big say in it. FSG need to take advice off someone. They've been stung in the past and they don't want it to happen again. They wanted a DoF structure, but came up with this instead as Rodgers didn't want to work under a DoF.

At the end of the day, Willian is probably worth £25m max. We bid something like £27m. The thinking might be anything above that is not value for money and the Committee has probably said there is better value out there and they've moved on to another target. It's absolutely the right way to go. The club doesn't want to go and pay over the odds because Spurs came in.

When we signed Coutinho and Sturridge, the deals went through after haggling but the key was the players wanting to play for us. If Willian wanted to come here, the deal could have been done at the price agreed between us and Anzhi. Chelsea have allegedly offered more than Spurs now, but Willian wants Spurs.

If at September 3rd, the position hasn't been filled, then it's valid to ask questions

[marcus50bucks]

Rodgers: Reds must spend for top four
Manager Brendan Rodgers speaks out after Spurs outbid LFC for Willian

23 Aug 2013 08:00

By James pearce

Brendan Rodgers says Liverpool FC must spend before the transfer window shuts if they are serious about competing for a Champions League spot this season.

The Reds boss was left frustrated this week when his hopes of signing Anzhi winger Willian were dashed.

The ECHO understands the club’s owners refused to match Tottenham’s £30million bid for the Brazil international. Chelsea have subsequently tried to hijack his move to White Hart Lane.

Willian became the latest marquee signing to elude Rodgers this summer following failed attempts to land Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Diego Costa.

The manager appreciates Liverpool’s need to live within their means but insists an injection of top class talent is required if they want to be competing at the top end of the Premier League this term.

“There have been a number of transfers we have looked at over the course of the summer. Some may have said they might not be for a club outside of the Champions League, but we always need to try to get the best players we possibly can,” Rodgers said.

“We have been very ambitious in our attempts to try to get players to improve the team. Some might say too ambitious but this is Liverpool Football Club. This is a big club.

“We identify targets and then try and get the deal done financially. Willian is a fantastic player. The club pushed as hard as they felt they could financially but it wasn’t to be.

“It’s the owners’ money and they will always have the final say because it’s they who run the club. The bottom line is he hasn’t come here.

“If you don’t get a player you want, there’s always that initial disappointment but you can’t dwell on it.

“I understand the climate where the club is at, but we need to push in order to get the best players we possibly can into the club if we’re to going to have any chance of progressing.

“If you’re going to climb the league, you have to have quality. There are still a number of days left in the window and we will do everything we possibly can to get the players in.”

Rodgers, whose summer transfer dealings have returned a profit for Liverpool so far, clearly believes his squad require just one or two major additions in order to launch a sustained push for the top four.

However, the manager is keen to ensure that missing out on Willian doesn’t impact on the feelgood factor following last weekend’s dramatic opening day win over Stoke City.

The Reds will be looking to build on that triumph when they travel to Aston Villa tomorrow.

“Whatever the transfer talk has been this week, the bottom line is we have some outstanding players here already,” Rodgers added.

“We will keep finding ways to hopefully win games and add to the squad alongside that. If we can’t get them in, we just have to move on.

"The players showed last week that for all the distractions and speculation over the course of the summer they are still very focused on the job of performing well and winning games. We’ll go into the Villa game with confidence.”

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-fc-must-spend-boost-5775361

[Tee]

Brendan Rodgers

When you read the full quotes I don't find it an attack on the owners. But it will get twisted by people in the press or certain fan sections and used to have a go at the owners. I think Rodgers needs to be careful in airing his frustrations like he is. The club needs a period of stability and everyone working off the same page.

Regarding his comments, I see nothing wrong with a value being placed on Willian and the club not wanting to go above the value. I suspect FSG do not determine the value but the committee has a big say in it. FSG need to take advice off someone. They've been stung in the past and they don't want it to happen again. They wanted a DoF structure, but came up with this instead as Rodgers didn't want to work under a DoF.

At the end of the day, Willian is probably worth £25m max. We bid something like £27m. The thinking might be anything above that is not value for money and the Committee has probably said there is better value out there and they've moved on to another target. It's absolutely the right way to go. The club doesn't want to go and pay over the odds because Spurs came in.

When we signed Coutinho and Sturridge, the deals went through after haggling but the key was the players wanting to play for us. If Willian wanted to come here, the deal could have been done at the price agreed between us and Anzhi. Chelsea have allegedly offered more than Spurs now, but Willian wants Spurs.

If at September 3rd, the position hasn't been filled, then it's valid to ask questions

In the same way Sarb those who defend the owners no matter what will always put another spin on his comments.

Bottom line for me is there was, again IMO, a definite sense of frustration from BR. And it is patently clear, again to me, why.

But I retain hope that this little reminder from BR will get through to the owners and there will be a major signing (that we need, not for the sake if it) before the window [SSN]slams shut[SSN].

[Sarb]

In the same way Sarb those who defend the owners no matter what will always put another spin on his comments.

Bottom line for me is there was, again IMO, a definite sense of frustration from BR. And it is patently clear, again to me, why.

But I retain hope that this little reminder from BR will get through to the owners and there will be a major signing (that we need, not for the sake if it) before the window [SSN]slams shut[SSN].

That wasn't a go at fans who have a pop at FSG. Of course they aren't perfect and can always question what they do. It's more aimed at the ones who'll come out and say 'They've invested nothing', 'They're asset stripping' etc without looking at the facts. FSG are probably losing money at the moment, not making it.

I think every fan is pretty frustrated that we haven't signed the 1-2 players we require. But at the end of the day every player has got his value. When you look at the whole interview it isn't as bad as what the sections reported make it out to be. Even if we'd bid £30m for Willian we probably would not have signed him. What's the point in having a Committee if they don't set a value on a player at the maximum you need to sign him for?

Willian could have made the move happen. To me, he just comes across as driven by money and we have had too many of them over the past. I just don't share Rodgers' frustration at missing out on him

[Phoenix07]

Reading the full quotes, it sounds more like a message to spend that little bit extra than an attack on agents.

I am also interested to know who decided to veto an increased bid for Willian. Was it the committee or was it a phone call from Boston?

By the way, I've read on RAWK and TLW about some posters who listened to Talksport the other day talking about Willian, saying that we had Michael Gordon (Director) talk to Willian once.

At first, it sounded random, but then I found this from his first year with us (Rodgers in 2012):

He told Liverpool's official website: "There's a lot of great work going on, obviously with the board and Ian Ayre in particular doing a lot of work behind the scenes.

"I've got regular contact going with our American owners and, in particular, Mike Gordon from Fenway Sports Group.
http://www1.skysports.com/football/n...g-on-transfers

Maybe this might shed some light on the process?

[Tee]

That wasn't a go at fans who have a pop at FSG. Of course they aren't perfect and can always question what they do. It's more aimed at the ones who'll come out and say 'They've invested nothing', 'They're asset stripping' etc without looking at the facts. FSG are probably losing money at the moment, not making it.

I think every fan is pretty frustrated that we haven't signed the 1-2 players we require. But at the end of the day every player has got his value. When you look at the whole interview it isn't as bad as what the sections reported make it out to be. Even if we'd bid £30m for Willian we probably would not have signed him. What's the point in having a Committee if they don't set a value on a player at the maximum you need to sign him for?

Willian could have made the move happen. To me, he just comes across as driven by money and we have had too many of them over the past. I just don't share Rodgers' frustration at missing out on him

Fair enough, I just share that frustration with BR - honestly wish I didn't but cannot help it.

[marcus50bucks]

In the same way Sarb those who defend the owners no matter what will always put another spin on his comments.

Bottom line for me is there was, again IMO, a definite sense of frustration from BR. And it is patently clear, again to me, why.

But I retain hope that this little reminder from BR will get through to the owners and there will be a major signing (that we need, not for the sake if it) before the window [SSN]slams shut[SSN].

[marcus50bucks]

Reading the full quotes, it sounds more like a message to spend that little bit extra than an attack on agents.

I am also interested to know who decided to veto an increased bid for Willian. Was it the committee or was it a phone call from Boston?

By the way, I've read on RAWK and TLW about some posters who listened to Talksport the other day talking about Willian, saying that we had Michael Gordon (Director) talk to Willian once.

At first, it sounded random, but then I found this from his first year with us (Rodgers in 2012):



Maybe this might shed some light on the process?

The article from the echo that I posted above suggests the owners refused to increase the bid.

[kingfunk]

In the same way Sarb those who defend the owners no matter what will always put another spin on his comments.

Bottom line for me is there was, again IMO, a definite sense of frustration from BR. And it is patently clear, again to me, why.

But I retain hope that this little reminder from BR will get through to the owners and there will be a major signing (that we need, not for the sake if it) before the window [SSN]slams shut[SSN].

I hope so.

[Sarb]

Fair enough, I just share that frustration with BR - honestly wish I didn't but cannot help it.

I think most are frustrated as 1-2 players could make a huge difference. It's what the Committee are paid for. Got so many scouts and also quite a few people in that Committee, they should be able to go out there and find someone

They've got 10 days to sort it. Let's see if they come up with anyone

[Tee]

I think most are frustrated as 1-2 players could make a huge difference. It's what the Committee are paid for. Got so many scouts and also quite a few people in that Committee, they should be able to go out there and find someone

They've got 10 days to sort it. Let's see if they come up with anyone

Fingers, legs and everything crossed.