Brendan Rodgers

[dww]

I think this all seems predicated on the idea that improvement generally happens gradually. For me it seems equally possible that we will suddenly click with the small things needed to make Rodgers strategy work coming into place but that to do that we have to be doing the 'right things' in the first place.

There is a danger that we over estimate the quality of our squad or at least their suitability to play together. Much of the core of the team has been the same for several seasons and under a variety of managers and approaches we have been average. For me the main constant across that time has been a failure to be able to put more than one consistent goal threat in the team.

[Bender]

'There is a bigger picture for sure and it goes back to affordability,' said Rodgers. link
'We will spend money in January to try and bring fresh faces and give us that support at the top end the reality is all the names bandied about are they going to be available?

'Certainly we will bring in what we can and help us and then we will revisit it again. All our problems were never going to be solved in this window because the January window is one of the least productive and the least movement goes on there.

'But we will look to solve some of our problems then and then we will look to revisit it in the summer knowing that in the summer we will be in a much better placed then we were the previous summer.'

Plenty to ponder: Liverpool manager says the January window won't solve his problems
The previous window ended in farce, as Liverpool missed out on signing Clint Dempsey from Fulham, but Rodgers is adamant the situation now in terms of recruitment is vastly different. He has no doubt Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool's owners, will back him.
'There is no doubt we will get reinforcements in and there is no doubt that we will get the backing, but it will come down to two things,' he said. 'The availability and affordability of players.

'I see lots of names bandied about and with all due respect names that are pie in the sky because there won't be too many top players moving about in January because clubs want top money.

'But there is no doubt that we want to bring in goals and we want to bring in players who can assist in scoring goals.
'If we can do that then that will set us up and then we can really reinforce again when the market opens up in the summer again.'

[el matador]

I think this all seems predicated on the idea that improvement generally happens gradually. For me it seems equally possible that we will suddenly click with the small things needed to make Rodgers strategy work coming into place but that to do that we have to be doing the 'right things' in the first place.

There is a danger that we over estimate the quality of our squad or at least their suitability to play together. Much of the core of the team has been the same for several seasons and under a variety of managers and approaches we have been average. For me the main constant across that time has been a failure to be able to put more than one consistent goal threat in the team.

i definitely think there's something to the over estimation of the ability of the current squad but if we keep losing midfield battles and and keep inviting others to play through us i dont think any amount of new players will solve that.

people thought lucas coming back would shut those gaps and granted he's only been back a couple of games but he was badly exposed against villa's pacy attack and we had no answer to benteke's power.

We need to shut up shop and first and foremost make ourselves a solid unit and hard to beat. we're not going to score three goals every match so why not just tighten up and keep clean sheets. that way one goal will do it.

[DannyMan2006]

Regardless of lack of fire power, it's undoubted, he's underachieving with the squad at his disposal.

We've a back four of England's best right back, Denmark's best player, Slovakia's best player and then the weaker link at left back. Worrying this defence is being made to look average at best and it's not even by targeting the left back.

It's all well and good saying Rodgers needs time to build his squad. But never in my life have I heard of a club completely disregarding results in the short term, until a manager has the players to play his style of football. He should be getting the best out of what he has and slowly changing the squad in his image.

Of course there's not going to be rapid improvement from the get go, but he should at least be able to tread water for a season or two, until he gets more of his players in. Failure to do so and going as far backwards as we have been doing would be called changing too much too soon, something he's admitted to doing at Reading, and said he learnt from. Well not where I'm sitting he hasn't.

Rodgers needs to be much more pragmatic with the players he's got and stop making a team of internationals look like they're worse teams, then average but well built sides like West Brom and Everton.

He had two choices when he took over.

1. Change slowly for better short term gains.
2. Change quicker for better long term gains.

Most managers would have changed things slower. Rodgers has been bold and asked them to change from day one. What I wanted to see was progress. I thought we was getting that until the shocker against Villa. I'll be very curious to see how we go on from now. I am hoping that it will be a one off as has been said. Time will tell.

[dom9]

Yup - everything else is Chelski kneejerk at its worst. Continuity is key.

Yes, you're right.

You can't move at Anfield for the BRENDAN OUT banners. And the constant booing even drowns out YNWA. The vitriol displayed is truly disgraceful.

[dom9]

Let's dig out some match threads from then and compare the level of moaning to what we have now. I bet it was similar. Not enough width blah blah blah.

[Phoenix07]

Reading the Rodgers quote again, he talks about names around as being pie in the sky, yet the only two consistent ones are Sturridge and Ince.

Those fees alone are a lot, and the way he's talking, it sounds like we might go short term i.e. Drogba, Anelka, especially when he refers to 'really reinforce' regarding the summer window.

Brendan Rodgers
But there is no doubt that we want to bring in goals and we want to bring in players who can assist in scoring goals. If we can do that then that will set us up and then we can really reinforce when the transfer market opens up in the summer again."

[Phoenix07]

What does any of this have to do with Brendan Rodgers?

[Neil Young]

What does any of this have to do with Brendan Rodgers?

Rodgers has been dealt a bad hand, I think we all agree with that. And that's Rafa's fault.

It's not rocket salad for frigs sake!

[Dr-Gonzo]

It'll be great if we're slagging off Rodgers for only managing 82 points in the league in a few years time.

[Phoenix07]

Rodgers has been dealt a bad hand, I think we all agree with that. And that's Rafa's fault.

It's not rocket salad for frigs sake!

Or FSG's.

[G]

*the post i was replying to is gone to the Rafa thread so not much point in my one being here*

[dom9]

[Alex]

Could everyone keep the Rafa stuff to the Rafa thread please?

[little dave hedgehog]

apparently not, alex.