Brendan Rodgers

[Norbs]

It wasn't aimed at you mate, just a general comment to be honest, there just never seems much balance it either dreadful and the world is ending or well actually people don't post when we win

I think the problem is that balance doesnt necessarily create a discussion. Polarization ftw!

[Fredo]

The criticism of Rodgers having spent millions on players that either don't play or haven't shown enough up to now is fair enough. It's got to be said though, that those players need a bit of time to bed in before we sharpen the knives and deem them as not good enough. I remember when Arsenal were spending millions on 'unproven' talent who, at the time, were sitting on their bench or playing in their reserves.

It's unfortunate that we aren't in the League cup anymore, as that would have given some of them some game time. It's all about development and biding our time I guess. We've already improved compared to last season, so criticism is fine unless it's uncalled for; *cough*Tanner*cough.

[tanner]

The criticism of Rodgers having spent millions on players that either don't play or haven't shown enough up to now is fair enough. It's got to be said though, that those players need a bit of time to bed in before we sharpen the knives and deem them as not good enough. I remember when Arsenal were spending millions on 'unproven' talent who, at the time, were sitting on their bench or playing in their reserves.

It's unfortunate that we aren't in the League cup anymore, as that would have given some of them some game time. It's all about development and biding our time I guess. We've already improved compared to last season, so criticism is fine unless it's uncalled for; *cough*Tanner*cough.

We'll see if we've improved come the end of the season, don't count your chickens just yet. Saying that, it shouldn't be too hard to improve on last season surely?

[Sarb]

Just read his quotes in The Telegraph with Bascombe who is pretty close to a few of the big cheeses at LFC. Not quite sure what he is playing at. You can read my posts over the months in this thread...i really like Rodgers. But he is talking bollocks on The Committee and transfers, I'm afraid. For me he will be lucky to see out the remainder of his deal. FSG will not ditch a structure to keep him happy, especially when him wanting sole control of transfers is backed up by Borini,Allen and wanting to spend £15m on Ashley ****ing Williams. I would hazard a guess he also wanted Vorm over Mignolet

He can talk about the lack of No.10 all he likes. But last season most of us would have agreed we needed defensive reinforcements. That is what the Committee did in the summer with Rodgers ok on every transfer. Now he wont play the likes of Ilori and Sakho.

Sakho is a young, quality CB. He's not done much wrong since coming here but wont get played in the Back 4. He is a marquee signing according to Ayre. Werner was involved in doing that deal

Our problem this season again is shipping silly goals. Yet he wont play a £17m CB. Would rather play an average free transfer and then a ****e loan signing as opposed to someone we spent £6m odd on who fits the system better

He okays every signing but is now intimating he doesnt. Crazy.

[G]

Link?

Saw quotes last night from some other interview where he was happily accepting that he's part of a system and that he's just privileged to work here so it's not a problem.

[Shaggy]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/10489838/Liverpool-manager-Brendan-Rodgerss-signings-in-spotlight-again-following-defeat-at-Hull-City.html

From the outside looking in, this 'committee' thing looks a bit of a mess.

[Sarb]

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers's signings in spotlight again following defeat at Hull City
Only Simon Mignolet of summer arrivals guaranteed to start as Brendan Rodgers’ role on committee back under scrutiny

Needing help: Liverpool's Luis Suarez, Lucas and Philippe Coutinho reflect on the dismal 3-1 defeat at Hull Photo: REUTERS By Chris Bascombe
11:00PM GMT 02 Dec 2013
41 Comments
Despite their defeat at Hull City on Sunday, it has emerged that Liverpool have preserved what is becoming a permanent top-four spot. Not because they remain in the Champions League positions of the Premier League, but courtesy of the just-published table of agents’ fees.

The Merseyside club paid £9.4 million to agents between October 2012 and Sept 30, 2013 - the fourth highest in the country - but the stark admission from manager Brendan Rodgers about the depth of his squad in the absence of Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho at the KC Stadium raised questions again as to whether Liverpool have been getting enough bang for their buck.

There were eight new arrivals at Anfield last summer, at a combined cost of £43 million. Only goalkeeper Simon Mignolet is a certain starter for Norwich City’s visit on Wednesday, prompting a wave of cynicism as to whether other signings are worthy of the adjective ‘Comolli-esque’.

Some, such as midfielder Luis Alberto and centre-half Tiago Ilori, are considered ‘for the future’. Others such as Mamadou Sakho have international pedigree but cannot get into the side, while the likes of Iago Aspas and loanees Victor Moses and Aly Cissokho have failed to impress.

Not for the first time in his Anfield reign, Rodgers found himself in a politically vulnerable position when asked about the rationale behind a series of deals that swelled the squad at considerable expense, but failed to provide enough of the high-class, first-team players the club need to have any hope of sustaining a top-four challenge.

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It was nigh on impossible for Rodgers to offer an answer given he cannot be held wholly responsible for all these purchases. Despite the claims when he joined that he would engineer the club’s buying and selling activity, it has become evident that he is a member of the ‘transfer committee’ rather than its chairman.

Rodgers is working alongside rather than commanding the head of recruitment Dave Fallows, chief scout Barry Hunter, analyst Michael Edwards and managing director Ian Ayre. It has created an environment where supporters and reporters alike play a form of ‘transfer bingo’ following each new arrival. “Did the manager sign him or the committee?”

As Rodgers is part of the committee, Liverpool can always answer ‘both’ but it does create an impression the manager was required to compromise his immediate needs last summer for the long-term strategy.

When asked why Liverpool signed young centre-half Ilori from Sporting Lisbon for around £4 million, Rodgers admitted: “Hopefully in the future, maybe long after I am gone, he can prove to be a talent. That is the responsibility of myself and the club going forward to nurture it.”

In the same breath, Rodgers added: “You have to focus very much on the here and now, as well as having one eye on the future.”

Liverpool can justify the introduction of the committee’s checks and balance system since the traditional policy of letting the manager have who he wants was not working, either. Rodgers’ first two major signings, for a combined £26 million, were Joe Allen and Fabio Borini, whom he knew from Swansea. As with last summer’s deal, they absorbed plenty of cost for little return.

Owners Fenway Sports Group considered it essential to prevent a repetition of the errors of previous regimes, where the manager was granted too much control and too often delivered mediocre players via the same agents (although given the weekend revelations, one of the early promises to significantly reduce spiraling agents fees still needs to be addressed).

When Sturridge and Coutinho were signed 11 months ago, the new transfer system appeared to have yielded instant results.

Last summer’s activity and the acknowledgement the squad remain short of quality inevitably prompts more scrutiny.

Rodgers made it known publicly on several occasions that he wanted a No 10, but when Henrikh Mkhitaryan decided to go to Borussia Dortmund, Willian took a detour to Chelsea via White Hart Lane and Diego Costa renewed his contract at Atlético Madrid, the club instead found themselves signing Moses.

“There were areas that needed improving,” said Rodgers. “There is no doubt that we wanted to bring in other players who could have really helped us. But for whatever reason, they didn’t come in.

“We all recognise we wanted to get in one or two more starters, which didn’t materialise. A lot of work went into it. What is the case is we are not in a position to spend money for the sake of it. We are trying to build for the future with a sense of the present, to strengthen where we can. You can only do that if you can bring in players who will enhance the team, or you just stockpile players.”

Liverpool’s most expensive signing last summer was Sakho, but with Kolo Touré already signed on a free transfer to join Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger, it seemed the club had spent £17 million on a player they did not really need.

This January, Rodgers has made it known he wants first-team rather than squad players.

It was the former Liverpool manager Rafa Benítez who once famously said about his club’s transfer policy (while still at Valencia): “I asked for a sofa and they bought me a lampshade.” If the squad players fail to keep Liverpool in the Champions League places during Sturridge’s two-month absence, one can imagine Rodgers offering a similar lament.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...Hull-City.html

[Sarb]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...Hull-City.html

From the outside looking in, this 'committee' thing looks a bit of a mess.

Yeah I can see that going after the likes of Costa, Henrikh and Willian but then settling for Moses is a bit odd. But maybe they didn't/couldn't sign the other alternative whoever that was.

We needed a CB more than we needed that type of player imo. Signing Sakho was a coup. But our defence is still a mess and he doesn't get a game. Even in January, I wouldn't be going for a No. 10 first. I'd be looking at a defensive midfielder, and another central midfielder along with a LB. Only then would I be looking at a forward or attacking mid.

[BobTheCharmer]

Sarb mate, you've gone all 'Craig H' on us these last couple of days.

[Sarb]

Sarb mate, you've gone all 'Craig H' on us these last couple of days.

I hear his name mentioned a bit...was a he a bad'un?

Sorry. Just that I hear a few other things that don't always make it into the papers as to things going on

[BobTheCharmer]

I hear his name mentioned a bit...was a he a bad'un?

Sorry. Just that I hear a few other things that don't always make it into the papers as to things going on

not bad, but just imagine a dog with a giant bone and not letting it go despite the fact he's been warned its been laced with poison.

I think its because there isn't much activity on here lately and so when one persons name pops up on a regular basis in a thread you notice it more. From your brief flurry of posts, I now have you down as a Brendan hater.

[Sarb]

not bad, but just imagine a dog with a giant bone and not letting it go despite the fact he's been warned its been laced with poison.

I think its because there isn't much activity on here lately and so when one persons name pops up on a regular basis in a thread you notice it more. From your brief flurry of posts, I now have you down as a Brendan hater.

Nah I'm not. I like the guy. Most of the time I like what he says. But I think what he is saying on and off the record about transfers/committee is disingenious (**** the spelling )

[Lee]

When asked why Liverpool signed young centre-half Ilori from Sporting Lisbon for around £4 million, Rodgers admitted: “Hopefully in the future, maybe long after I am gone, he can prove to be a talent. That is the responsibility of myself and the club going forward to nurture it.”

Strange thing to say.

[BobTheCharmer]

Strange thing to say.

completely bizarre. either he thinks he's grade A **** or Brendan doesn't expect to be here for all that long. or another answer perhaps.

[Sarb]

I think the comment about having needed more first teamers isn't going to make Sakho feel any good either. But Ilori won't feel much good after reading that.

Don't know what it is, but the last few LFC managers seem to have a brain scramble after their first couple years and get this arrogant streak which ****s things up