Brendan Rodgers

[ric.williams]

our transfers are a massive issue that needs addressing. for years we seem to have been in an endless loop of not only buying poorly but also over paying and in many cases under selling.

[Darkon]

Southampton havent done a bad job of replacing 4 of their mainstays they lost in the summer

Think that was quite a different situation.

Replacing a young Luke Shaw and Chambers were never really an issue, didn't perform to that high a standard. Lallana they have done very well without, and I doubt many teams would miss Lovren - or at the very least very replaceable. I mean they don't really have any strenghts that are difficult to find other players that can do simliar at a similar level (i.e. mid table PL).

We were in a much more difficult situation as I see it. We have clearly not done well in the task (besides Can and somewhat Lallana - maybe Markovic/Moreno will come good), but it was none the less more difficult our situation considered.

[Lecter]

Earlier in the season all my blame was on the manager , but after he changed the system with three at the back and went unbeaten for three months and played without a recognised striker ,

To then bring in Ibe over 20 million signings showed enormous balls to me , same as playing a free transfer at the back over another 20 million signing , he picks players on merit and performances , Allen pushing his way into the team ,

We just never had that option with the front three as none of them performed , all hoping Sturridge being back would solve all the scoring problems , I think we are a decent team in the making with a toothless striker force and no teams win anything with that ,

Goals are a problem but so is the midfield

Its weak as a kitten, it doesnt compete for enough possession or press the ball enough. Its out fought frequently

Brendan himself has come out and said we need "men in the team" and I completely agree.

You need a good blend in your side of characters but we have bought far too many pretty players and no players who are prepared to do the nitty gritty stuff when it counts

[Daniel 7]

I'm worried that summer signings aren't the answer here, and that any made will act as sticking plasters over gaping wounds - much like Roy Evans signing Paul Ince.

I don't think the answer is going to be as easy as getting a couple of big men in the midfield, I think its a lot more fundamental than that. Brendan's system seems to react badly with just about every signing that's been made since he took over - even Joe Allen who was supposed to "get" what the manager was trying to do.

[Paul12]

Goals are a problem but so is the midfield

Its weak as a kitten, it doesnt compete for enough possession or press the ball enough. Its out fought frequently

I do worry at how easily teams seem to get behind our midfield. Puts pressure on the defence. I also don't think it creates enough against the better teams. Moving the ball about quickly works against weaker teams but the well drilled ones just sit and wait.

[Lecter]

I'm worried that summer signings aren't the answer here, and that any made will act as sticking plasters over gaping wounds - much like Roy Evans signing Paul Ince.

I don't think the answer is going to be as easy as getting a couple of big men in the midfield, I think its a lot more fundamental than that. Brendan's system seems to react badly with just about every signing that's been made since he took over - even Joe Allen who was supposed to "get" what the manager was trying to do.

Agreed

The answer isnt just signing a couple of strikers, it isnt just signing holding players etc..

Its a complex equation for me

Good recruitment all round that significantly improves the side, married with a clear plan to take us forward

The worry for me with regards to Brendan is that the plan will once again be to try a system that has failed to deliver enough good results in his first 3 seasons and has led to an inevitable switch in system which means we are invariably playing catch up

I said it yesterday, managers dont change their ideology unless they absolutely have to. Brendan has had to do that 3 seasons in a row and I'm fairly certain he will start with the Swansea system next year

[Lecter]

I do worry at how easily teams seem to get behind our midfield. Puts pressure on the defence. I also don't think it creates enough against the better teams. Moving the ball about quickly works against weaker teams but the well drilled ones just sit and wait.

Personally I dont think we move the ball quickly enough

I also think we overplay an awful lot

[McDermotX]

https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hvideo...57&oe=55430BE2

weird

[ntto]

Agreed

The answer isnt just signing a couple of strikers, it isnt just signing holding players etc..

Its a complex equation for me

Good recruitment all round that significantly improves the side, married with a clear plan to take us forward

The worry for me with regards to Brendan is that the plan will once again be to try a system that has failed to deliver enough good results in his first 3 seasons and has led to an inevitable switch in system which means we are invariably playing catch up

I said it yesterday, managers dont change their ideology unless they absolutely have to. Brendan has had to do that 3 seasons in a row and I'm fairly certain he will start with the Swansea system next year

its not just about good recruitment - we have a much superior team than Aston Villa and Hull - in fact a team selected from both Aston Villa and Hull squads still shouldn't be good enough on paper to beat us.

If we went out and bought two near world class players (Hugain / Benzima) I still remain unconvinced we'd win the league - as you say its just papering over the cracks.

Being listless (Villa/Hull) or beaten before the whistle goes (Real Madrid) is unforgivable imo). We aren't even competing with the teams above us when we play them.

I would have been convinced that if we won 5 out of our last 6 games (and competed with Chelsea) Brendan was still the right man for the job, but we're rolling over and getting our tummys tickled and that's not good enough. And that buck falls firmly at Brendan

[npinn001]

Personally I dont think we move the ball quickly enough

I also think we overplay an awful lot

We really do. We pass it around alot without much porgression or penetration. There is also a real lack of urgency sometimes. In games when we are chasing a goal, we just have the one pace and thats easy to defend against.

What we were good at last season was switching the tempo up and playing intense pressing for 20 minutes a time.

Arsenal have employed it in some games this season to good effect too.

We just lumber around.

[Cormack74]

She wouldnt have signed balotelli. thats good enough.

Is a fair point

[The Birdman]

Parry is one of the FSG's advisors.

Really?
That explains a lot.

[baitman]

I don't think in any organisation you can dodge every bullet when you are in a key position. We need more than excuses here.

Rodgers undoubtedly has to provide some answers to the board, and also outline his vision for the future. If you can only come up with excuses as to why things have gone wrong, then any board in any business would and should fire you - Brendan needs to offer more.

I'd say this summer will one way or other be the defining moment in his career as Manager of LFC. He shouldn't be getting an easy ride right now, the questions of his ability are valid, and asking them doesn't make you less of a supporter - it is more complicated than that. Rodgers is a grown man in an incredibly privileged position, with that comes great pressure to perform and deliver results. We don't look back we look forward. The greatest LFC teams, in fact all of the great teams carry this ethos 100%.

For me, currently, I don't think I care if he stays or goes, so long as the result is an improvement. The worry is we stagnate, as current performance and this season as a whole has been a backwards step, we haven't consolidated we've gone backwards - no question. The season has contained more bad performances than good, and more worryingly a complete lack of direction, some shocking management decisions (Line up v. Madrid, persistence with failing tactics and ailing players). So we need some off field impetus in the summer, and that will come in either the shape of a few eye-catching signings, or a new manager and some eye -catching signings.

We are going out with a whimper not a bang, and after the fireworks of last season this season ends about as badly as any I can remember in some time. Without passion. And that is unforgiveable.

good post.

[danperkins]

I don't think in any organisation you can dodge every bullet when you are in a key position. We need more than excuses here.

Rodgers undoubtedly has to provide some answers to the board, and also outline his vision for the future. If you can only come up with excuses as to why things have gone wrong, then any board in any business would and should fire you - Brendan needs to offer more.

I'd say this summer will one way or other be the defining moment in his career as Manager of LFC. He shouldn't be getting an easy ride right now, the questions of his ability are valid, and asking them doesn't make you less of a supporter - it is more complicated than that. Rodgers is a grown man in an incredibly privileged position, with that comes great pressure to perform and deliver results. We don't look back we look forward. The greatest LFC teams, in fact all of the great teams carry this ethos 100%.

For me, currently, I don't think I care if he stays or goes, so long as the result is an improvement. The worry is we stagnate, as current performance and this season as a whole has been a backwards step, we haven't consolidated we've gone backwards - no question. The season has contained more bad performances than good, and more worryingly a complete lack of direction, some shocking management decisions (Line up v. Madrid, persistence with failing tactics and ailing players). So we need some off field impetus in the summer, and that will come in either the shape of a few eye-catching signings, or a new manager and some eye -catching signings.

We are going out with a whimper not a bang, and after the fireworks of last season this season ends about as badly as any I can remember in some time. Without passion. And that is unforgiveable.

good read buzzington.

[baitman]

I agree with all of that except the bit about it being farcical to give him another year based on last season. I don't think its good form to just move a manager out after one poor season, especially when it follows a good one, and especially when we're probably going to finish exactly where we should following our expenditure. The question will remain, who was the major factor last season, Luis or Brendan? He has next season to prove it wasn't all down to chompy.

However, I'd also argue that our expenditure should see us sitting far further ahead of the likes of Southampton.

I agree 100% about the squad weaknesses too, after the amount he's had over the 3 seasons here, we seem to have very few positive options on the bench and weaknesses throughout the starting 11, but who do we blame for this? I'm not entirely convinced that Rodgers is only a minor player on the committee as some would suggest when a transfer flops.

There needs to be more transparency imo. I think the fans have the right to form an educated opinion of the man in charge on the pitch as without us the club is nothing.

you make some good points.
btw, i wasnt suggesting it would be farcical to keep him on just because results are not as good as last year.
we all knew losing suarez would be a massive blow. then the often injured sturridge has made a poor situation into ****.

our targets and spending [ultimately the managers responsibility] have not really improved the team. too many maybes, no real certainties. not how i want to see the manager of the club i love spending our money and flushing away our chances to make a respectable effort at rebuilding and showing some proper progression.
the lack of progression in the team due to poor purchases coupled with the lack of fight and determination of the players must ultimately come down to the manager.

most of this group are his players. non of the ones he has bought are the best of the group. even sturridge and coutinho were committee signings, then lucas, skrtel and sterling are the old guard. these lads would all be first team starters, but all would be above any of the 'new players'

its a ****ing mess. the manager is responsible.