Brendan Rodgers

[dom9]

Well said Muddled.

[marcus50bucks]

Blood Red: Clock is ticking to bring in players to Liverpool FC
Missing out on Willian was a blow to the Reds

24 Aug 2013 11:36

By James Pearce

Brendan Rodgers didn’t don his tracksuit and neither did he repeatedly vow to simply “focus on training and coaching my team” at Melwood this week.

It was hardly a show of dissent regarding the club’s transfer policy akin to Rafa Benitez’s memorable press conference six years ago, but the Liverpool manager’s frustration was clear nevertheless.

Not for the first time this summer the Reds had failed to land a top transfer target. Rodgers believed Anzhi Makhachkala winger Willian would have been the perfect top class addition to Liverpool’s attacking armoury.

Having the Brazilian winger on board to play on the left would have freed up Philippe Coutinho to weave his magic in a central role behind Daniel Sturridge.

However, the owners’ refusal to increase their initial bid to £30million dashed those hopes.

Of course Willian may not have chosen Anfield anyway but Liverpool couldn’t blame their absence from the Champions League, the player’s wage demands or agents fees for the deal collapsing because it never got that far.

Fenway Sports Group (FSG) had put a value on Willian and were not prepared to go above that figure. Tottenham and then ultimately Chelsea were willing to go higher.

The fact that Jose Mourinho hijacked Willian’s proposed move to White Hart Lane will have been of some consolation to Rodgers. At least Liverpool’s loss wasn’t Tottenham’s gain.

But the business Spurs have already done this summer, which represents a sizeable show of ambition, simply underlines the scale of the challenge facing Rodgers as he looks to plot a push for the top four.

“I have high expectations,” said principal owner John W Henry earlier this month. “The club can’t go on and on without the Champions League. It needs to be playing in the Champions League.”

Yet those expectations currently don’t tally with the reality of the business Liverpool have done in the transfer market this summer.

Nine days before the window shuts Rodgers has returned a profit in his dealings and his squad is smaller than it was last season.

During a period when he has balanced the books, Manchester City, Chelsea and Spurs have spent eye-watering sums of cash.

“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,” Rodgers told the ECHO this week. “There are still a number of days left in the window and we will do everything we possibly can to get the players in.”

FSG’s desire to seek value is understandable. After all they were stung back in 2011 by the fees paid out for the likes of Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam.

They want to avoid making the same kind of mistakes but a greater degree of flexibility is required. Rodgers is their man and they need to trust his judgement.

There is still time to provide the manager with what he needs to ensure Liverpool are genuine contenders for the top four this season but the clock is ticking.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/blood-red-clock-ticking-bring-5780874

[Muddled]

Man City and Chelsea were always going to spend a ridiculous amount of cash. As for Spurs, they'll probably make a profit when they sell Bale. It's been an odd market this summer and I can't begin to explain why.

[Tee]

Blood Red: Clock is ticking to bring in players to Liverpool FC
Missing out on Willian was a blow to the Reds

24 Aug 2013 11:36

By James Pearce

Brendan Rodgers didn’t don his tracksuit and neither did he repeatedly vow to simply “focus on training and coaching my team” at Melwood this week.

It was hardly a show of dissent regarding the club’s transfer policy akin to Rafa Benitez’s memorable press conference six years ago, but the Liverpool manager’s frustration was clear nevertheless.

Not for the first time this summer the Reds had failed to land a top transfer target. Rodgers believed Anzhi Makhachkala winger Willian would have been the perfect top class addition to Liverpool’s attacking armoury.

Having the Brazilian winger on board to play on the left would have freed up Philippe Coutinho to weave his magic in a central role behind Daniel Sturridge.

However, the owners’ refusal to increase their initial bid to £30million dashed those hopes.

Of course Willian may not have chosen Anfield anyway but Liverpool couldn’t blame their absence from the Champions League, the player’s wage demands or agents fees for the deal collapsing because it never got that far.

Fenway Sports Group (FSG) had put a value on Willian and were not prepared to go above that figure. Tottenham and then ultimately Chelsea were willing to go higher.

The fact that Jose Mourinho hijacked Willian’s proposed move to White Hart Lane will have been of some consolation to Rodgers. At least Liverpool’s loss wasn’t Tottenham’s gain.

But the business Spurs have already done this summer, which represents a sizeable show of ambition, simply underlines the scale of the challenge facing Rodgers as he looks to plot a push for the top four.

“I have high expectations,” said principal owner John W Henry earlier this month. “The club can’t go on and on without the Champions League. It needs to be playing in the Champions League.”

Yet those expectations currently don’t tally with the reality of the business Liverpool have done in the transfer market this summer.

Nine days before the window shuts Rodgers has returned a profit in his dealings and his squad is smaller than it was last season.

During a period when he has balanced the books, Manchester City, Chelsea and Spurs have spent eye-watering sums of cash.

“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,” Rodgers told the ECHO this week. “There are still a number of days left in the window and we will do everything we possibly can to get the players in.”

FSG’s desire to seek value is understandable. After all they were stung back in 2011 by the fees paid out for the likes of Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam.

They want to avoid making the same kind of mistakes but a greater degree of flexibility is required. Rodgers is their man and they need to trust his judgement.

There is still time to provide the manager with what he needs to ensure Liverpool are genuine contenders for the top four this season but the clock is ticking.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/blood-red-clock-ticking-bring-5780874

Can't really argue with that (well not me, but I am sure plenty will).

[Cormack74]

Have Utd spent anything? I'm pretty much oblivious to what goes on there.

[Muddled]

David 'you don't have to win to be a winner' Moyes has successfully attracted nobody to the reigning league champions.

[chadrtc]

I think our supporters need to be realistic with what Rodgers can be expected to achieve with the squad at his disposal. As it stands, any improvement can be seen as a success given the negative transfer spend and wage reductions.

I think we have a good manager at the helm, if we're going to perservere with a plan to build with youth then it will take time. Any talk of getting rid of Rodgers this season (barring a disaster) would be unfair with his resources as they stand.

I think he's doing a cracking job.

[Cormack74]

David 'you don't have to win to be a winner' Moyes has successfully attracted nobody to the reigning league champions.

Thanks. It see I know more than I thought.

[Neil Young]

Can't really argue with that (well not me, but I am sure plenty will).

I would but I'm too busy right now.

I think there's another way to interpret those quotes that does without the contradiction but that's (a) less simple and (b) creates no article.

I think our supporters need to be realistic with what Rodgers can be expected to achieve with the squad at his disposal. As it stands, any improvement can be seen as a success given the negative transfer spend and wage reductions.

I think we have a good manager at the helm, if we're going to perservere with a plan to build with youth then it will take time. Any talk of getting rid of Rodgers this season (barring a disaster) would be unfair with his resources as they stand.

I think he's doing a cracking job.

I agree (except for the negative spend bit - it makes more sense to view spending across a few windows rather than just one).

[Tee]

Have Utd spent anything? I'm pretty much oblivious to what goes on there.

Considering they won the league, getting into the top 4 is still a given for them so I do not think what they spend has any comparison to us. I bet if their top 4 place was under threat they would outspend all the other major teams.

[Slinky Skills]

I've just spent the last 3 or 4 minutes or so scrolling through this thread trying to find out info about today's game only to find every post about Brenda Rodgers and have only just realised I wasn't even in the Villa match day thread.

Dickhead.

[dom9]

I've just spent the last 3 or 4 minutes or so scrolling through this thread trying to find out info about today's game only to find every post about Brenda Rodgers and have only just realised I wasn't even in the Villa match day thread.

Dickhead.

It is unusual for threads to stay so unswervingly on topic, I'll give you that.

[chadrtc]

I would but I'm too busy right now.

I think there's another way to interpret those quotes that does without the contradiction but that's (a) less simple and (b) creates no article.


I agree (except for the negative spend bit - it makes more sense to view spending across a few windows rather than just one).

I was making the point in reference to our squad last season vs this - if we have a negative spend and a reduction in the wage bill, expecting Rodgers to make much of an improvement is unfair... Though I'm not so sure JWH sees it that way.

[Tee]

I was making the point in reference to our squad last season vs this - if we have a negative spend and a reduction in the wage bill, expecting Rodgers to make much of an improvement is unfair... Though I'm not so sure JWH sees it that way.

[EwarWoo]

I was making the point in reference to our squad last season vs this - if we have a negative spend and a reduction in the wage bill, expecting Rodgers to make much of an improvement is unfair... Though I'm not so sure JWH sees it that way.

Much of that negative spend came from the sale of Carroll who was on loan all season. That's basically free money, it as had zero negative impact on the team.

Many would argue selling Downing as had zero negative impact on the team too

If we're talking about the state of the team rather than just wanting the owners to spend an arbitrary value the team as improved.