Brendan Rodgers

[dww]

I think, as long as we can keep most of the players together this Summer and just bring in a couple of top class players we'll be in the mix from the getgo next season

That's my feeling but I do worry that part of the issue is that Brendan starts the season with different (an in my opinion) ill suited tactics which he improves over time. Both the last two seasons have seen us employ two deep defensive midfielders in the first game if memory serves, something that has repeatedly failed for us.

I think a year of stable growth will do us the world of good.

[DannyMan2006]

Rodgers is, and always has been, ace. We're lucky to have him, I really believe that. He (and the club) have made some mistakes in his time, no doubt about that, but what impresses me so much about him is the way he learns and adapts and improves. He's not afraid to take some very bold steps, completely change his mind about a player or a system when faced with solid evidence, and will go against the perceived wisdom when it is the right thing to do.

When that lineup came out today I'm sure people were queuing up to complain about the lack of strikers, even though that was the system with Sterling, Coutinho & Lallana that has been so successful in the last ~2 months. Absolutely the right decision, he would have got pelters for that if we'd lost but instead we were the better side. Now please for the love of fowler would people please stop suggesting we change completely and go 2 up top!

Good post. My thoughts......

LFC walked into a trap the moment they hired him. It was always going to go wrong at some point. He simply lacked the experience to be hired by a club with designs on being one which consistently competed for top honours. We all knew that when he came, and most of us accepted that. But I fear some only accepted it because of such low expectations we had at the time, in fact, that actually probably applied to all of us. I think what's happened since then is Rodgers has become a victim of his own "success" in that he has significantly raised expectations.

By the end of last season we all had stars in our eyes. We all called it a shock and that Rodgers had done a miracle to get us challenging. But..... Instead of expectations lowering when we sold the worlds third best player, instead we raised them. We expected a title challenge. No, we demanded it.

So should we feel sorry for the stick Rodgers got? Well no. He knew he was lucky to get the job and he knew what is expected of Liverpool managers. You'll get a short honeymoon period, but after that, all bets are off. Back in the day we have players & managers time, but these are different times as shown by the treatment of Hodgson (a criticism, maybe. But I wanted him out long before he got the boot) and so Rodgers could hardly expect to get years to potter around and come nowhere.

His project as such was to make top 4 by end of the third season. Does that mean he should get a free ride in this years version? Of course not. He's Liverpool manager. He worked at Chelsea and he should know expectations. And this is where he lets himself down a bit. He's too much in a rush to credit himself and stuck two fingers up at those who doubted him. A bit Jose if you like. He'd get more favours here if he stayed humble. But he's a young manager and he's learning. Maybe the older fans would point out that Shankly wasn't always so humble. He was cocky and arrogant. But he earned the right to mock others. He was wise to it all and knew when he could cross the boundary.

As it happens I can pat myself on the back here. I said I liked Rodgers as the manager as he entertains and I expected him to turn it round. I continually said he should get to the end of the season, based on what he had shown he could do. I thought it would be Sturridge that saved him (may still be the case I guess) but instead he's saved himself. Anyway, I'm thankful that our American owners who know nothing about football, know enough about sports to be able to identify a good head coach. I'd consider praising Ian Ayre as its mostly likely down to him, but I like to blame Ayre.

[DannyMan2006]

That's my feeling but I do worry that part of the issue is that Brendan starts the season with different (an in my opinion) ill suited tactics which he improves over time. Both the last two seasons have seen us employ two deep defensive midfielders in the first game if memory serves, something that has repeatedly failed for us.

I think a year of stable growth will do us the world of good.

First season he was bringing a new plan to the club so of course we all accept it'd take time.
Second season we were hanging on waiting for Suarez to come back and improved once him and Studge & Raheem integrated in.
This season we've had to compensate for a slowing Gerrard and loss of Suarez - two key players from last season. Plus an increased fixture list.

Tbh, most of his issues come down to involving one man, Luis Suarez.

[captainfog]

That's my feeling but I do worry that part of the issue is that Brendan starts the season with different (an in my opinion) ill suited tactics which he improves over time. Both the last two seasons have seen us employ two deep defensive midfielders in the first game if memory serves, something that has repeatedly failed for us.

I think a year of stable growth will do us the world of good.

I'll be very surprised if we start next season with 3 at the back. He really likes 4,3,3 and he seems to go with that at the beginning of every season and it generally doesn't work that well partly IMO because of the way he sets them out to play and partly because we haven't had/played the right kind of players in midfield. He then finds a way of changing it to accommodate his best XI. He needs to start reacting quicker if the system isn't working, or better still just get it right from the start.

The summer is very important. If we get top 4 then the committee's decision to spread the Suarez money over a number of players to bolster the squad rather than just on a couple of proven top quality players will have been vindicated because now we will be in the enviable position of being able to concentrate our budget on a couple of first teamers of proven quality. In many respects we will have done the hard part already so it would be a crying shame if we wasted the opportunity to build a title challenging squad in the summer.

[McDermotX]

[BigChief]

Past and future Man City managers?

[DannyMan2006]

Past and future Man City managers?

Love Rodgers. But he loves himself more than I love him. No way he would pass up the opportunity to be the man that brings glory back to this club.

[EwarWoo]

Love Rodgers. But he loves himself more than I love him. No way he would pass up the opportunity to be the man that brings glory back to this club.

[RedAndWhite]

Love Rodgers. But he loves himself more than I love him. No way he would pass up the opportunity to be the man that brings glory back to this club.

Much more prestige and fame to be gotten from being the manager who get Liverpool back to the top, than one who wins a few things with a billionaires play thing.

[Muddled]

Lallana and Skrtel were our only two outfield players over 25 yesterday. Mangala was Manchester City's only player under 25. We're building something special for the future and looking for sustained success, not immediate success.

I'd certainly imagine the Premier League title challenge last season and a potential FA Cup run this would prove to be invaluable experience for the years when they do reach their peak together.

[Lecter]

The big worry is can we keep the younger players together and add one or two top quality players

We've seen already with Sterling that its difficult to get them tied down to long term contracts and then there is the question of how much contracts matter when the vultures start circling

[wiw]

When he was asked about Noel Gallagher on MOTD and he said "wonderful artist" I laughed so hard

[Shaggy]

When he was asked about Noel Gallagher on MOTD and he said "wonderful artist" I laughed so hard

[BigChief]

I was secretly hoping for another title tilt this season despite Suarez leaving because I believed in Rodgers' system being more important than any individual. That dream was shattered when Sturridge got injured leaving us goalless and Gerrard's continued appearances.

However, I reckon next season Rodgers has the 'group' he needs to go for the league title. Even if Sterling leaves!Chelsea/City can't buy anyone bigger than what they already have in the summer (unless they get Messi, Neymar, Ronaldo or Suarez which ain't happening).

Only half hearted overpaid mercernaries will go to a cash rich but CL-less Utd and Arsenal will forever remain Arsenal.

[DannyMan2006]

The big worry is can we keep the younger players together and add one or two top quality players

We've seen already with Sterling that its difficult to get them tied down to long term contracts and then there is the question of how much contracts matter when the vultures start circling

I read an excellent piece on why we were struggling with contracts.

Basically most high level clubs base wages that are increased as each clause within the contract is triggered. The big one is being in the Champions League. Whilst we can offer the same as other big clubs, the agents of players are less convinced we will make the top 4 and as such they want a higher basic rate of pay.

If we can start nailing down a CL spot then we will have less trouble getting players to re sign and stay at the club. I think Raheem is at the point where he is convinced we are on a good run and he wants to stay a long for the ride. But the agents of players are less convinced and need to see some cold, hard facts. If we make the Champions League for a second year running, I think the facts are starting to be shown.