Brendan Rodgers

[Lecter]

If Borini had of f*cked off in the summer, he'd have been a great signing for us.

I dont get how anyone can defend the Borini deal

Unmitigated ****ing disaster that one

[Kenneth]

Besiktas:

Quite clearly the Europa was not the priority. He started Sturridge in both games to get game time, yet had him on the bench in the league. He rested who is probably our best player atm in Coutinho for the away game, subbing him in the home game. He started Balotelli in the away tie who I can't remember last time he started in the league. He rested Henderson who is our key CM, admittedly he had a knock, but as shown v City could've played if needed.

Contrast that with Besiktas who treated the game like it was a World Cup final. Now if you want to win things you can't go at them with half measures, but as I said previously it was clear that the City game had priority. Had Besiktas been in the CL, I imagine you'd have seen a different team and a very different outcome. Anyhow, despite all that we created enough chances to bury them first half but fluffed it.

We started with a front three of Borini, Markovic and Lallana against Real Madrid in the CL. Gerrard, Coutinho, Henderson and Sterling were all on the bench. I guess CL wasn't a priority either. I'm sure a qualifier would be, but I doubt the CL itself would be any different next season.

[dom9]

I'm saying it wasn't "catastrophic" nor an "unmitigated ****ing disaster".

[captainfog]

Lallana could have. Fact he was gonna bring Borini on shows he was trying to blag it. I don't think for one minute he wanted to get knocked out as some managers do. But he clearly wasn't playing his best hand, which to me spoke volumes of how it was being prioritised.

And is why I'm arguing with Foggy that we can't read too much into the Besiktas tie to see Rodgers is useless in Europe.

He reacted far too late to what was going on and then made some odd substitute decisions. That game was there for the taking.

And confidence is what this whole discussion is about. I'm not confident of getting through a qualifying round due to Rodgers previous slow starts and European form and others took umbrage with this conclusion.

[wiw]

I'm not a doom merchant, I think I'm quite balanced. If I disagree with the manager I'll say, if we play well I'll say. Only a few posts ago I said I thought we would do well in the league next year.

Fair enough man

[Lecter]

And don't forget the Jenkins factor in the Borini case.

Still ****ing insanity paying £11m for him however you dress it up

[Lecter]

I'm saying it wasn't "catastrophic" nor an "unmitigated ****ing disaster".

Its ****ing both of them

[dom9]

And Borini has been a roaring ****ing success as well

Right, so at that price bracket, you generally get **** all.

You can roll your eyes all you like. You're making the same point as me now.

[Lecter]

Right, so at that price bracket, you generally get **** all.

You can roll your eyes all you like. You're making the same point as me now.

I still think all those you have maligned are much much better players than Borini AND most are less than what we paid for him!!!!

[captainfog]

I'm saying it wasn't "catastrophic" nor an "unmitigated ****ing disaster".

It was a **** signing, but you're right it's hardly been catastrophic for us. I'd say the Mario signing has been a disaster though, not because of the money (average price), but because we really needed him to come off and instead he was useless.

If we fall short of top 4 you could argue that it was the signing of him and Lovren that really screwed us in the first half of the season. Not scoring goals and letting goals in is, afterall, a recipe for disaster.

[Lecter]

Add Bony to Swansea for £12m in 2013 to that list above

Didnt Swansea sign Michu in 2012 for £2m???

[dom9]

I still think all those you have maligned are much much better players than Borini AND most are less than what we paid for him!!!!

Well, we all have our opinions etc etc etc.

[Lecter]

Well, we all have our opinions etc etc etc.

Yep

IMO every manager has their catastrophes

Generally 1 per season you can get away with

Its when most of your deals in a season are crap is when you get in trouble (like Houllier & Kenny did)

[Lecter]

I have said from the get go this season that I thought we had done reasonably well in the summer

I was unsure initially about Balotelli (but hes been terrible) and I thought early on the money paid out for Lovren looked a terrible decision

The rest I was ok with, and I certainly have no reason to change my mind on them now

[baitman]

If Borini had of f*cked off in the summer, he'd have been a great signing for us.