Emre Can

[RedReet]

I don't agree, none of our new signings really got a chance until late november/early december, and that was only when Johnson/Allen/Lovren got injured.

Lucas, Sakho, Can and Markovic should have gotten their chances earlier, Balotelli was also untouchable but Can and Markovic didn't get a chance to play consequtive games.

Markovic started our first game and had started 6 times by 4th November, mostly getting criticised for his performances and us wasting £20m.

Can was out for 6 weeks but was still making a few sub appearances either side of the injury, which is what you would expect from a young midfielder joining a new club.

Lucas and Sakho aren't new signings.

Moreno, Manquillo, Lovren, Balotelli, Lallalan all go chances when fit, so we seem to be cherry picking the two that are playing well now, to try and rewrite history saying new signings didn't get a chance and using hindsight to try and prove this point, as another reason to unfairly criticise the manager.

Until about November, the only signing that wasn't labelled a flop was Moreno, with maybe Manquillo dividing opinions, most of teh rest we considered not good enough because people didn't have patience to let them settle, so to now criticise the manage for not playing a certain individual or two is ridiculous.

[The_weatherman]

Maybe, maybe not. Can and Markovic have both played full season of domestic and European football, Sakho has been here since the summer 2013. IMO it's more down to Rodgers. Rodgers handled the team poorly IMO in the first half of the season, but there is loads to learn from that so hopefully he does.

[DannyMan2006]

I don't agree, none of our new signings really got a chance until late november/early december, and that was only when Johnson/Allen/Lovren got injured.

Lucas, Sakho, Can and Markovic should have gotten their chances earlier, Balotelli was also untouchable but Can and Markovic didn't get a chance to play consequtive games.

Our problem at the start of the season was too many forced changes to what had been a settled side. Problems at the back as youngsters were forced to be blooded, but the Spurs away game showed there was hope the plan was coming together. Then Sturridge got injured and when Rodgers lost that pace up top he pinned his hopes on Balotelli in the hope he'd come good. Looking at our options at the time, I think he was justified in doing so.

Quite simply it wasn't working and so in came Lambert & Lucas and Rodgers tried to grind out wins. It worked to a fashion, but it Basel at home was one game to far and as we spluttered towards HT and then Lazar was sent off after a bright start, the end seemed nigh. But then he was saved. We shifted to three at the back and we created chances and were by far the better side despite having ten men. Rodgers saw what needed to be done as Raheem plotted a lone furrow up top and caused havoc.

Sure enough, the next match Rodgers manned up. He could've gone to OT and played for a draw. We'd been solid enough leading up to that and it may have worked. But that wasn't Rodgers. He's an attacking coach, he admits this himself. So he went to attack. And whilst the result was a negative, we've been on an upward curve since.

Now we can talk about what was right & wrong all day. And whilst I was ****ed off with the amount of time it took to find a solution, I can see why it took so long. And in all honesty, I'm just pleased that we've got a manager who can find a solution. Because most managers who can't play the system they know would be lost. The problem this club has is we keep having to change a winning system because of poor player recruitment.

We couldn't play how Rodgers wanted initially because of a lack of players comfortable in possession at the back. He switched to a 41212 to accommodate two strikers as that is what suited the better players. Now he's changed it again as the 3421 suits the better players. Hopefully we won't screw up in the next transfer window splurge, but if we do, I know we have a manager who can pull a rabbit out the hat. Personally, that gives me great confidence.

[The_weatherman]

Markovic started our first game and had started 6 times by 4th November, mostly getting criticised for his performances and us wasting £20m.

Can was out for 6 weeks but was still making a few sub appearances either side of the injury, which is what you would expect from a young midfielder joining a new club.

Lucas and Sakho aren't new signings.

Moreno, Manquillo, Lovren, Balotelli, Lallalan all go chances when fit, so we seem to be cherry picking the two that are playing well now, to try and rewrite history saying new signings didn't get a chance and using hindsight to try and prove this point, as another reason to unfairly criticise the manager.

Until about November, the only signing that wasn't labelled a flop was Moreno, with maybe Manquillo dividing opinions, most of teh rest we considered not good enough because people didn't have patience to let them settle, so to now criticise the manage for not playing a certain individual or two is ridiculous.

I thought at the time that Can, Sakho and Lucas should have played more, pretty sure I said so a couple of times here. Lallana was injured of course and Can as well I know that. But Lovren played, poorly, week in, week out as did Gerrard, Johnson and Balotelli. While Can, Markovic, Borini

Rodgers settled on a formation with three at the back but he played Johnson there first, then Kolo and finally Can after the other two were injured. He played Sakho only after Lovren got injured. Balotelli has been injured more than not since mid-november.

I criticised Rodgers at the time and I'll stand by it now as well, it's now revision or hindsight. Didn't expect him to turn things around though so I'll hand him credit for that.

[BobTheCharmer]

I don't agree, none of our new signings really got a chance until late november/early december, and that was only when Johnson/Allen/Lovren got injured.

.

[The_weatherman]

Our problem at the start of the season was too many forced changes to what had been a settled side. Problems at the back as youngsters were forced to be blooded, but the Spurs away game showed there was hope the plan was coming together. Then Sturridge got injured and when Rodgers lost that pace up top he pinned his hopes on Balotelli in the hope he'd come good. Looking at our options at the time, I think he was justified in doing so.

Quite simply it wasn't working and so in came Lambert & Lucas and Rodgers tried to grind out wins. It worked to a fashion, but it Basel at home was one game to far and as we spluttered towards HT and then Lazar was sent off after a bright start, the end seemed nigh. But then he was saved. We shifted to three at the back and we created chances and were by far the better side despite having ten men. Rodgers saw what needed to be done as Raheem plotted a lone furrow up top and caused havoc.

Sure enough, the next match Rodgers manned up. He could've gone to OT and played for a draw. We'd been solid enough leading up to that and it may have worked. But that wasn't Rodgers. He's an attacking coach, he admits this himself. So he went to attack. And whilst the result was a negative, we've been on an upward curve since.

Now we can talk about what was right & wrong all day. And whilst I was ****ed off with the amount of time it took to find a solution, I can see why it took so long. And in all honesty, I'm just pleased that we've got a manager who can find a solution. Because most managers who can't play the system they know would be lost. The problem this club has is we keep having to change a winning system because of poor player recruitment.

We couldn't play how Rodgers wanted initially because of a lack of players comfortable in possession at the back. He switched to a 41212 to accommodate two strikers as that is what suited the better players. Now he's changed it again as the 3421 suits the better players. Hopefully we won't screw up in the next transfer window splurge, but if we do, I know we have a manager who can pull a rabbit out the hat. Personally, that gives me great confidence.

IMO our problem this season was Rodgers' reluctance to play a DM, namely Lucas. Lucas didn't get proper chances until november I think? Koeman can hit the ground running with massive changes in a new team but we need a settled back four, that's why pre-season is for? Rodgers is adaptable regarding tactics but IMO he lost the plot bigtime the first half of the season, it's a massive failure no to progress from a group containing Basel and Ludogravets.

Also I think he has a tendency to play his favourites, but I hope this has been learning experience and I'll give him credit for turning things around, albeit too late for the CL.

[The_weatherman]

Sorry, Lovren got way too many chances and Sakho wasn't a new signing. My mistake.

[RedReet]

I thought at the time that Can, Sakho and Lucas should have played more, pretty sure I said so a couple of times here. Lallana was injured of course and Can as well I know that. But Lovren played, poorly, week in, week out as did Gerrard, Johnson and Balotelli. While Can, Markovic, Borini

Rodgers settled on a formation with three at the back but he played Johnson there first, then Kolo and finally Can after the other two were injured. He played Sakho only after Lovren got injured. Balotelli has been injured more than not since mid-november.

I criticised Rodgers at the time and I'll stand by it now as well, it's now revision or hindsight. Didn't expect him to turn things around though so I'll hand him credit for that.

Lucas and Sakho are a different argument. This was about our new signings and in particular Can and Markovic, which I think is ridiculous.

Your comments in December...

This window was a disaster, only compounded the problems we needed solving. Still I think it's a priority to get a new DM and a striker in. Balotelli clearly isn't gonna work out, Borini neither in the long term and we need someone in midfield, preferably a proven quality.

Now you are saying the disaster signings (of your choice) should have played more before you made that post.

[frank the tank]

i would like to see Can in place of Lucas for the Bolton game.

[The_weatherman]

Lucas and Sakho are a different argument. This was about our new signings and in particular Can and Markovic, which I think is ridiculous.

Your comments in December...



Now you are saying the disaster signings (of your choice) should have played more before you made that post.

I said the transfer window was a disaster, I was annoyed but up until now, not many have contributed to the first team. I have not spoken negatively about Can, Manquillo, Moreno or Markovic. But the window was a disaster, we didn't replace Suarez at all and went into the season relying on Lambert, Balotelli, Sturridge and Borini up front, which was in quite optimistic. We also didn't sign a DM but we signed Can who only got to contribute at the turn of the year.

This is only my opinion so no need for the

[RedReet]

I said the transfer window was a disaster, I was annoyed but up until now, not many have contributed to the first team. I have not spoken negatively about Can, Manquillo, Moreno or Markovic. But the window was a disaster, we didn't replace Suarez at all and went into the season relying on Lambert, Balotelli, Sturridge and Borini up front, which was in quite optimistic. We also didn't sign a DM but we signed Can who only got to contribute at the turn of the year.

This is only my opinion so no need for the

But the window wasn't a disaster. At that time people were arguing it was because the new signings hadn't settled yet and looked out of place, which is why they weren't playing more. That's my point. I don't think it's fair to say now that they've settled, that they should have played more back then, because at the time they weren't playing that well which is why they were being categorized as a disaster (and that was a common theme, not just from you).

It's a similar situation to the committee crap, in that Rodgers can't win. If he's a good player, he's a committee signing, if he's crap, it's Rodgers. Similarly, if he's a good player, he's a fault for not playing him more, if he's crap he's at fault for playing him too much. As I said, he can't win.

That was just to highlight my confusion with your points, didn't meant to cause offence.

[Chris]

Cant keep up with the criticism! And this is apparently weatherman giving him credit!

[The_weatherman]

But the window wasn't a disaster. At that time people were arguing it was because the new signings hadn't settled yet and looked out of place, which is why they weren't playing more. That's my point. I don't think it's fair to say now that they've settled, that they should have played more back then, because at the time they weren't playing that well which is why they were being categorized as a disaster (and that was a common theme, not just from you).

It's a similar situation to the committee crap, in that Rodgers can't win. If he's a good player, he's a committee signing, if he's crap, it's Rodgers. Similarly, if he's a good player, he's a fault for not playing him more, if he's crap he's at fault for playing him too much. As I said, he can't win.

That was just to highlight my confusion with your points, didn't meant to cause offence.

Those who criticized Rodgers when things were bad go told off and apparently "only came on the forum when things were bad or we lost" I'm only repeating what I said months ago, I have to be consistent.

I thought Can should have played more after Chelsea and Markovic instead of Balotelli (both new grant you) and Johnson also came in for Manquillo a couple of times after good performances from Manquillo.

The young players look very promising but we failed to invest in areas we really need to and cement a top four finish, that was a disaster IMO, admittedly I lost faith in BR and didn't think he could turn it around credit to him and shame on me. Still feel he had favourites and played the wrong players the first half of the season though.

[The_weatherman]

That was just to highlight my confusion with your points, didn't meant to cause offence.

Oh, and OK I can understand the confusion, tbf I think I may have muddled the waters with the inclusion of Sakho and Lucas, but that was also a F-up by BR but not new signings.

[SK]

Those who criticized Rodgers when things were bad go told off and apparently "only came on the forum when things were bad or we lost" I'm only repeating what I said months ago, I have to be consistent.

I thought Can should have played more after Chelsea and Markovic instead of Balotelli (both new grant you) and Johnson also came in for Manquillo a couple of times after good performances from Manquillo.

The young players look very promising but we failed to invest in areas we really need to and cement a top four finish, that was a disaster IMO, admittedly I lost faith in BR and didn't think he could turn it around credit to him and shame on me. Still feel he had favourites and played the wrong players the first half of the season though.

It's not the young players who'd let brendan down.