Brendan Rodgers

[BigChief]

Played on the counter attack tonight.

Sends out a beautiful signal to cunts who think they can come to Anfield and press us high. We'll break you, break you hard! This is our ****ing fortress!!

[Rigadon]

Played on the counter attack tonight.

With Henderson playing a deeper, more controlled role. No one would have guessed that. Top marks to BR for his tactics - the players obviously listen, respect and believe in what he says (he's the anti-Moyes)

[Fosterbloke]

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers hopeful of 'major signing'
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/25939620

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is hopeful of making a significant breakthrough in the transfer market before Friday's deadline.

Dnipro's Ukraine winger Yevhen Konoplyanka is among a number of names linked with a move to Anfield.

Rodgers said: "We are working together and hopefully we can have a major signing in before the window closes."

...

Rodgers also defended the club's transfer policy after a proposed deal to sign Mohamed Salah from Basel ended with the attacker joining Chelsea in an £11m deal.

The Reds boss insisted he was united with the club's team behind the scenes after the frustration of seeing the move for Salah fail to materialise.

Konoplyanka, 24, has won 35 caps for Ukraine and scored at Wembley in a 1-1 draw in September 2012.
Rodgers said: "I've seen stuff about the manager being angry with the club but nothing could be further from the truth."

"I came here because of the collective effort to try and turn the club's fortunes around and the owners have been brilliant."

"The people behind the scenes are working very, very hard and we are not always going to get the players we want for a number of reasons. The people here are very important to what we are trying to do."

"If we can get someone in before the window closes we can then set up for the remaining games this season."

[peekay]

Rodgers got his tactics spot on today, the team deserves a hell of a lot of credit for that performance but so does the manager

He schooled Martinez today

[Shaggy]

Excellent adjustments and corrections from the Villa game. Always learning from mistakes, extremely encouraged by Brendan

Definitely.

Also, he is without question being more flexible. All this death by football stuff - we're actually more dangerous on the counter attack and I think he knows it. He is showing much more flexibility than last season. What a great job he's doing.

[el matador]

Definitely.

Also, he is without question being more flexible. All this death by football stuff - we're actually more dangerous on the counter attack and I think he knows it. He is showing much more flexibility than last season. What a great job he's doing.

Can you imagine telling Suarez he cant take people on when he gets the ball but instead he has to just lay it off and look for the easy ball. None of those 40 yard lobs please Luis.

That sort of style is very hard to implement with world class attacking players, unless those players are schooled in that philosophy.

[The_weatherman]

Definitely.

Also, he is without question being more flexible. All this death by football stuff - we're actually more dangerous on the counter attack and I think he knows it. He is showing much more flexibility than last season. What a great job he's doing.

I'm pressed by how he reacts after bad games and he is a quick learner. Gerrard looked good yesterday as well, hopefully he can play like this against other teams as well. Funny what a result and performance like this can change your mood

[Trippendicular]

Definitely.

Also, he is without question being more flexible. All this death by football stuff - we're actually more dangerous on the counter attack and I think he knows it. He is showing much more flexibility than last season. What a great job he's doing.

I think all this talk of adjusting his philosophy is a bit overstated. If great counter-attacking opportunities present themselves, no manager in the world is going to be pushing for the team to slow down and consolidate possession. Barcelona score their fair share of counter-attacking goals, and I think Brendan is still pushing for a high-tempo, possession-based game, but if we can kill off games with 2 or 3 counter-attacking goals, he's not going to say no.

[Shaggy]

I think all this talk of adjusting his philosophy is a bit overstated. If great counter-attacking opportunities present themselves, no manager in the world is going to be pushing for the team to slow down and consolidate possession. Barcelona score their fair share of counter-attacking goals, and I think Brendan is still pushing for a high-tempo, possession-based game, but if we can kill off games with 2 or 3 counter-attacking goals, he's not going to say no.

Of course not but he is definitely showing more flexibility. When he came he was a rigid 4-3-3 man; he's since altered the formation several times (4-4-2, 4-2-3-1) and as far as I can tell has definitely placed less emphasis on 'tiki-taka'.

[Alex]

Anyone else think Rodgers doesnt fancy an outright DM? But more of a ball carrier and someone who is comfortable with it in tight spaces?

Gerrard last night almost played like a Libero, breaking up play with the defence and setting up attacks from deep midfield ala Beckenbauer. So there might be something in us not going for DMs this window with that in mind.

Not forgetting that its obviously a newish position in the modern game, and there is more than one way to skin a cat.

[The_weatherman]

Anyone else think Rodgers doesnt fancy an outright DM? But more of a ball carrier and someone who is comfortable with it in tight spaces?

Gerrard last night almost played like a Libero, breaking up play with the defence and setting up attacks from deep midfield ala Beckenbauer. So there might be something in us not going for DMs this window with that in mind.

Not forgetting that its obviously a newish position in the modern game, and there is more than one way to skin a cat.

I really think we need a CM, preferably a defensive one at that. But Rodgers clearly wants an attacker so I hope he gets one. If Allen is back against Arsenal and Lucas in March the squad looks considerably better so maybe it'll work out, big risk for me though.

If our attacking options consisted of Sterling/Suarez/Sturridge/Coutinho/Konoplayanko we'd be well stocked in that department for sure. Actually IF Suarez goes in the summer we'd only have to replace him with one player if these were our options.

[Fosterbloke]

Anyone else think Rodgers doesnt fancy an outright DM? But more of a ball carrier and someone who is comfortable with it in tight spaces?

Gerrard last night almost played like a Libero, breaking up play with the defence and setting up attacks from deep midfield ala Beckenbauer. So there might be something in us not going for DMs this window with that in mind.

Not forgetting that its obviously a newish position in the modern game, and there is more than one way to skin a cat.

I think M'Vila has been described as such a player.

[The Birdman]

Anyone else think Rodgers doesnt fancy an outright DM? But more of a ball carrier and someone who is comfortable with it in tight spaces?

Gerrard last night almost played like a Libero, breaking up play with the defence and setting up attacks from deep midfield ala Beckenbauer. So there might be something in us not going for DMs this window with that in mind.

Not forgetting that its obviously a newish position in the modern game, and there is more than one way to skin a cat.

We don't need an outright DM. Gerrard as the deep playmaker is perfect as I've explained in the Gerrard thread.

How many PL's have Man U won without one?

**** loads and they played Carrick and Scholes as their deeper players.

Europe is different but we can worry about that when we get there.

[danperkins]

Gerrard in the deep holding role IMO only works if we have that frenetic work rate from Hendo & Coutinho & on the flanks in Sturridge & Sterling cover the spaces. Gerrard was magnificent no doubts he really was but the work rate around him was nothing short of ridiculous. Not sure we can keep that work rate up in every game, the derby certainly does inspire big performances.

The big test for Stevie & our midfield is Arsenal... they destroyed our midfield in the previous game so it'll be very interesting to see how we cope with their guile & movement. But if it's anything like last night.. we'll do well.

[Alex]

He wasnt playing the deep holding role. Never has done. Which is why I suggested what I did.

He is far too good attacking wise to shackle that down.