Brendan Rodgers

[Norbs]

Regarding Johnson and Lovren then yes. I mentioned a few days ago though that Sterling in particular, but not solely, didn't really deserve to dropped. It seems that BR has the ideas to want to make changes but that he's not always right in the execution of these ideas. There would've been no harm to include Gerrard and Sterling against RM but that would've made the other exclusions more damning.

Edit, to Boogar

[Norbs]

I'd like to see underperforming players dropped too. Thing is though he clearly didn't drop them for Real Madrid, because they were reinstated despite their replacements performing well. They were rested. I'm sure I read he told SG of his plan over a week before the game.

Rested, dropped. Surely players are rested for the unimportant games and dropped for the important ones. I'm not suggesting that RM was a crucial game as it's clearly not, but it was a very high profile one.

I just don't get bringing them all straight back in. Lovren needs time watching the game an reflecting on what he should be doing. Johnson needs to be wrapped in cotton wool so that he's not carrying a convenient injury throughout the January transfer window. All that stretching yesterday isn't going to do him any good at all

[Red_Polo]

Rested, dropped. Surely players are rested for the unimportant games and dropped for the important ones. I'm not suggesting that RM was a crucial game as it's clearly not, but it was a very high profile one.

I just don't get bringing them all straight back in. Lovren needs time watching the game an reflecting on what he should be doing. Johnson needs to be wrapped in cotton wool so that he's not carrying a convenient injury throughout the January transfer window

It was an important game, I agree. The whole controversy is surely that by resting players in such an important game he was half-conceding defeat since he couldn't possibly have felt it was an easier game to choose to rest people. It has to be that rather than them being dropped given they've come right back in.

I'm not sure what Lovren or our defence needs any more, I've given up having what were becoming increasingly angry opinions on it

[Boogs]

Regarding Johnson and Lovren then yes. I mentioned a few days ago though that Sterling in particular, but not solely, didn't really deserve to dropped. It seems that BR has the ideas to want to make changes but that he's not always right in the execution of these ideas. There would've been no harm to include Gerrard and Sterling against RM but that would've made the other exclusions more damning.

Edit, to Boogar

Damming or not it is a results business in which BR is being judged by everyone. If players are not performing then they should be dropped as you point out. I read somewhere that he has told Lucas and Johnson to find alternative clubs in Jan. If this is true why does he keep persisting with Johnson?
When is Flanno back as I would like to see him back in that position?

[Norbs]

I get what you mean and I think you're right about resting and that makes me sad. Sad for the players shipped straight back out again. Whatever happened to being picked on merit

[Norbs]

Damming or not it is a results business in which BR is being judged by everyone. If players are not performing then they should be dropped as you point out. I read somewhere that he has told Lucas and Johnson to find alternative clubs in Jan. If this is true why does he keep persisting with Johnson?
When is Flanno back as I would like to see him back in that position?

Not soon enough. Daft thing is that Manquillo's fit but not getting a good run. Johnson must be a shop window thing

[Boogs]

21st dec

Didn't know Enrique was a crock again? Another glass man!

J Enrique Knee Injury no return date
D Sturridge Calf/Shin Injury 23rd Nov 14
J Saez De La Torre Groin/Pelvis Injury 6th Dec 14
M Sakho Hip/Thigh Injury 23rd Nov 14
J Flanagan Knee Injury 21st Dec 14

[Norbs]

That's been a huge lay off for him, poor bugger

Suso's fit again for the tranny window too I see

[marcus50bucks]

He definitely deserves at least the season barring an unforeseen horrendous run of results and performances (like losing 5 games consecutively without scoring). People are saying this is Hodgson esque, which really it isn't. Even though the performances and his press conferences have been dire, I don't think I can really liken them.

Having said that it's extremely worrying and there appears to be little hope of turning things around. A couple of good results though can change things pretty quickly, I know there are a number of well documented personnel and tactical issues/dilemmas currently, but a few wins would paper the cracks.

I've said from day one, I'm not really a fan with Rodgers footballing philosophy, but he's definitely capable and this poor spell hasn't dragged on for long enough nor been poor enough (it's not like we're bottom or out of any competition yet) to do anything reckless/drastic. As it stands at the moment, Sturridge is definitely his trump card.

He deserves the whole of this season no doubt about it and if not longer. However, Rodgers is under big pressure now. We're almost 1/3 into the league campaign and it's difficult to find positives. He has got to get the players performing much better. He can't complain about money either because he's been backed by fsg. He's signed a lot of players this summer but you could probably name only two or three players that have looked pretty good. I doubt he'll get much money to spend in January and to be brutally honest I don't trust that he'll spend it wisely anyway. Fsg have a right to ask Rodgers some serious questions and challenge him to work with what he's got at his disposal. Why is it the likes of Pulis can go straight into Palace and within a few weeks get them organised and performing better defensively? Why is it Koeman (yes Southampton may fall off) is able to get his team well drilled despite losing some of their best players and are eleven points ahead of us. Yet we have a manager that in 3 years and having spent over £50m on defenders is still unable to address our defensive issues when we lose the ball.

Unfortunately Rodgers has created a rod for his own back for his team selection against Madrid. Those players that performed well and missed out yesterday have every right to be pissed off with him. He sent out the wrong message and if he's not careful and doesn't stop picking his favourites he'll lose the dressing room.

[Chris]

Sir Bob @BobtheRed1 37m37 minutes ago
Rodgers took over Reading summer of 2009. Given 'substantial funds' in the summer window to 'build upon' success left by Steve Coppell...

In : Mills £2m, Mcanuff £500k, Rasiak £300k, Howard £500k, Cummings £300k
£3.6m

Out : Doyle £6.5m, Bikey £3m, Hunt £3.5m
£13m

Really "substantial".

[Daniel 7]

In : Mills £2m, Mcanuff £500k, Rasiak £300k, Howard £500k, Cummings £300k
£3.6m

Out : Doyle £6.5m, Bikey £3m, Hunt £3.5m
£13m

Really "substantial".

So those were Brendan's signings for Reading? McAnuff (189 appearances) and Cummings (76 appearances since 2009) were pretty long term investments for them at low cost.

[Chris]

So those were Brendan's signings for Reading? McAnuff (189 appearances) and Cummings (76 appearances since 2009) were pretty long term investments for them at low cost.

Yep them and two loan players (Bertrand being one), Mills was eventually sold for over double what he was signed for too! Doesn't look too bad to me. Obviously didn't go well for him there for whatever reason but not sure the transfer stuff holds up.

[PTP]

I'm starting to get some real serious doubts

What's worried me, is every game this season, bar spurs...has been identical performances and it's not working, the players look shot, we look a mess at the back, we never look like we are going to score, the midfield is over run and non existent and what's the worry is, from the outside looking in Rodgers so far looks clueless about how to stop the rot.

This ridiculous persistent attempting to pass it from the back is embarrassing. It's so obvious when the ball is at mignolet that he's only going to pass it to skrtel or lovren that every opposition press high, the ball comes into play, and were under pressure, 3 or 4 rushed passes later and we've lost possession and on the back foot. Mignolet clearly can't kick the ball, so why oh why do we keep putting him in that situation, that's the manager imo. It's like the back four/five a **** scared to go long

I don't want to see us hoof it, but every now and then mix it up FFS.

It's also worrying that now, everyone is questioning his team selections and subs...people are losing faith and first.

Going the game yesterday, me and my dad had **** all idea what the starting XI would be or even what we wanted it to be....3/4 months into the season and no one has any idea what team will start.


For me, Rodgers needs to swallow his pride a bit, realise that we need to get back to basics, pick a solid/organised side with the aim of keeping it tight, working hard and look to hit on the break and then keep the same side for the next four or five games and go and grind out some results and get some confidence.


Other worrying things for me are also some of the signings are just all over the shop. Lovren, Markovic, balotelli, lambert even Lallana who started well looks lost.....then mix in how bad mignolet is and Henderson seems to have really gone of the boil.

It's just very very worrying. We don't look like scoring, we certainly can't keep a clean sheet, we are not organised, we don't seem to have any fight, we are not busy enough on the pitch, and I don't see any signs that it's gonna turn the corner

[BG1973]

I get what you mean and I think you're right about resting and that makes me sad. Sad for the players shipped straight back out again. Whatever happened to being picked on merit

We all know that doesn't happen when you have 7 games in 21 days.

Being picked on merit was another reason we were better last year. If you weren't performing you were out of the team with no other games to prove yourself in.

Last year was the absolute optimum for us. The best chance we'd have.

This year the opposite. A perfect storm for poor performances.

BR said from day one we'd be better in the second half of the season. This wasn't just a soundbite, it makes perfect sense.

No Suarez
CL to manage
New players bedding in.

For me, I'd be happy with a strong Second half and then look forward to next season where we will be on better shape.

As usual laughing at those that are talking about him leaving.

[-V-]

Wow, considering Luis and Sturridge has been injured all season you would think people would cut Brendan some slack considering last season we played some of the best football in the last 20 years.

People question his position are ridiculous. We haven't had a good start but there are plenty of factors involved in that. The heartbreak of last season and the loss of both our strikers!! Luis especially was the driving force and the one who got the whole team fired up, his loss was always going to take time to recover from.

Brendan has made mistakes this season but he will recover and we will improve as the season goes on. He is absolutely the right man for the job. Questioning his ability is pure stupid