Brendan Rodgers

[chadrtc]

I don't want them to spend an arbitrary sum each season, but we clearly have a smaller squad than last season and have reduced the wage bill. Downing does need replacing before the window slams shut, otherwise we should have kept him.

I just think It's unfair to expect Rodgers to make much of an improvement on 7th place as things stand, if we go backwards then he'll have a question to answer.

FSG's choice to move forward with this model could prove to be a sound decision, but it definitely requires both them and the supporters to keep faith with Rodgers until we start going backwards or stagnate for a reasonable period.

I like Rodgers and I enjoy the brand of football he brings, that may have to be enough for the next few seasons as he builds slowly and methodically.

[EwarWoo]

FSG's choice to move forward with this model could prove to be a sound decision

It's not their choice to move forward with this model, we've just missed out on our transfer targets.

The money is there.

Meanwhile we have improved and should do better even as we are.

We've upgraded Reina and (sorry, legend but we have) Carra.

We have Coutinho and Sturridge for an entire season rather than just half of it.

Lucas isn't freshly back from a bad injury.

We have a few new fringe players who could find some form and crack on, not expecting another Coutinhgo but there's some signings there of a similar calibre to what we expected of him.

We have a lot of positives with the 1st team / squad when you get past that arbitrary value people are obsessed with.

Not to mention even if we hadn't improved Rogers no longer as an excuse for a shaky start whilst the team learns to play with his tactics.

I would be extremely disappointed in Rogers if there was no improvement.

However I have complete faith there will be improvement, and I also think we will manage 1 or 2 more signings. If we dip out in summer they'll go seeking again in Jan.

IMO we have the right manager, the right scouting team and the right owners. Things are going just about as well as you could expect without a sugar daddy throwing billions of dollars at it.

I think it's time to just sit back, enjoy the football and have some faith. They want the best for us and I don't think there's anyone more qualified to get it atm.

[chadrtc]

It's not their choice to move forward with this model, we've just missed out on our transfer targets.

The money is there.

Meanwhile we have improved and should do better even as we are.

We've upgraded Reina and (sorry, legend but we have) Carra.

We have Coutinho and Sturridge for an entire season rather than just half of it.

Lucas isn't freshly back from a bad injury.

We have a few new fringe players who could find some form and crack on, not expecting another Coutinhgo but there's some signings there of a similar calibre to what we expected of him.

We have a lot of positives with the 1st team / squad when you get past that arbitrary value people are obsessed with.

Not to mention even if we hadn't improved Rogers no longer as an excuse for a shaky start whilst the team learns to play with his tactics.

I would be extremely disappointed in Rogers if there was no improvement.

However I have complete faith there will be improvement, and I also think we will manage 1 or 2 more signings. If we dip out in summer they'll go seeking again in Jan.

IMO we have the right manager, the right scouting team and the right owners. Things are going just about as well as you could expect without a sugar daddy throwing billions of dollars at it.

I think it's time to just sit back, enjoy the football and have some faith. They want the best for us and I don't think there's anyone more qualified to get it atm.

Of course it's their choice to move forward with this model... Who else's could it be!? They are refusing to over pay for any players. I support them fully in that, but it means they must be patient with the manager if progress is slow. My comment was stating that supporters and the board need to be patient, I think it's pretty clear I have faith and haven't said anything to imply otherwise.

[EwarWoo]

Of course it's their choice to move forward with this model... Who else's could it be!?

The players we miss out on and the clubs that outbid us. Point is they are trying to sign players and missing out.

They haven't chosen not to get any players in, just not to overpay. There's a difference.

I think it's pretty clear I have faith and haven't said anything to imply otherwise.

Someones a little touchy.

[chadrtc]

The players we miss out on and the clubs that outbid us. Point is they are trying to sign players and missing out.

They haven't chosen not to get any players in, just not to overpay. There's a difference.


Someones a little touchy.

Fair enough.

[Neil Young]

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.

I agree expecting a huge improvement would be unfair but my guess is Henry would see it the same way. I think a stronger challenge for the Champions League is possible - even likely - and even if we ended up, say, sixth with the squad as it is I reckon that would be enough for Henry.

Signs of progression could be enough.

I reckon Henry wants Europe as well as it would increase revenue and help attract better players. Again it would be an improvement on last year.

Of course we don't know what's going on in Henry's mind. I think he's probably quite demanding but that's ok. He just doesn't seem the type to ask for the impossible...or at least he'd be open to argument.

He is/FSG are capable of ruthlessness, as we've seen, but the CHAD debacle was a clear failure. Avoid that and Rodgers will be fine I think.

[chadrtc]

I agree expecting a huge improvement would be unfair but my guess is Henry would see it the same way. I think a stronger challenge for the Champions League is possible - even likely - and even if we ended up, say, sixth with the squad as it is I reckon that would be enough for Henry.

Signs of progression could be enough.

I reckon Henry wants Europe as well as it would increase revenue and help attract better players. Again it would be an improvement on last year.

Of course we don't know what's going on in Henry's mind. I think he's probably quite demanding but that's ok. He just doesn't seem the type to ask for the impossible...or at least he'd be open to argument.

He is/FSG are capable of ruthlessness, as we've seen, but the CHAD debacle was a clear failure. Avoid that and Rodgers will be fine I think.

It's a large chunk of the supporters I'm more worried about.

[Neil Young]

Yeah, possibly. I wouldn't know, I try not to mix with people.

[peekay]

Watched the first 35 minutes of our game again today. Some of the football on display was brilliant, just brilliant. Villa had their tails up coming into the game. We completely rattled them in the first 30 minutes.

It also highlights the need for better quality attackers who can help convert the possession and movement into goals.

Sticking to a vision and style of play religiously, practicing the same plan day in day out will make a team greater than the sum of the parts.

I really do enjoy watching us play now. When we are on song, some of the passing and movement is outstanding. As Brendan drills it more and more into our squad, we are going to start seeing benefits soon. Kudos to him for sticking to his vision.

[Norbs]

We looked really comfortable on the ball, even in our own half. Contrast that to when BR took over and it's plain to see how much progress has been made

[Fredo]

We looked really comfortable on the ball, even in our own half. Contrast that to when BR took over and it's plain to see how much progress has been made

You mean we've regressed. Cos we were passing it to death earlier on.

[Norbs]

Nah mate, I remember early last season and the passing was contrived and totally against what the team naturally wanted to do. Now it looks natural

[DannyMan2006]

The passing was forced last season & I feel at times Rodgers stuck with it just to get rid of old habits. Now the habits are out the system he can reintroduce other styles to keep us ticking over. As a football club it's all about moving forward and having more than one style of playing.

Barca are an example. They have a perfect set of players for the tiki taka system. But even they have been found wanting at times and with no other way of playing have had no answers. We will never match their caliber of player so it is all about being flexible when needs be.

I was fairly happy with the appointment of Rodgers and now I'm 100% behind him. He may have been a bit wet behind the ears when he came but he's a quick learner. I also think its clear he's a great coach and it getting more and more out of the players he has available. But there is a limit to what you can rinse out of players dependant on their ability.

I feel we will progress this season in comparison to last. Having Danny & Coutinho from the off makes a massive difference. When we impose our game on others we've shown we can create chances & in Danny & Suarez we have two players more than capable of playing as a lone striker to an exceptionally high standard. We're also starting to look more solid,

But if we are to kick on to the next level then we need some additional players of real quality & experience. Big week for us.

[Arn]

Premier League: Academy director praises Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers

Liverpool academy director Frank McParland has heaped praise on manager Brendan Rodgers for giving the club's youngsters the chance to make the grade as first-team players at Anfield.

McParland, who has worked under seven different Liverpool managers over the last 20 years, has seen a number of academy players including the likes of Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard progress into becoming household names in world football.

And the 54-year-old has been particularly impressed with the Ulsterman's support of his efforts to develop and nurture the next generation of talent for the Merseyside giants.

"It's a proud moment when one of the boys actually runs out and plays for the first team but the main thing is just to concentrate on trying to get the next one in," said McParland.

"In the past all the managers have been supportive of the academy - they'd be stupid not to - because all we're doing is working for them and trying to get players through, but the boss is very keen on young players.

"He said from day one with me if they're good enough it doesn't matter how old they are, he'll play them and he's been true to his word."

Jordan Ibe became the latest academy graduate to step-up from the youth ranks to the first team after Rodgers gave the teenager his debut in Liverpool's final Premier League match of last season against QPR.

The 17-year-old made his second appearance for the Reds in Tuesday night's victory over Notts County and McParland believes this shows there is no better place for a young player to develop.

"The good thing at Liverpool at the moment is the manager will take 15-year-old players to train with the first team, so sometimes even though a boy might not play in the reserves he's actually training with Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez.

"It's great the experience he gets from that - and not everyone sees that and we don't publicise it a lot - but that is the case.

"In the last three years we've had four of the five youngest ever players in the modern day history of the club that's Jerome Sinclair, Jack Robinson, Raheem Sterling and Jordon Ibe.

"The boss has been true to his word and we're going to continue working hard for him."

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/8893423/

[Yozza]

Phil Orange Brown has just been on Sky Sports news

Reckons he's had private conversations with Brendan

Phil reckons we can finish second! He's a nutter but he makes me laugh