What next for Rodgers?

[leftpeg]

Last season we shipped far too many goals and our superb strikeforce bailed us out over and over again by outscoring the opposition.

By a very quick, top of the head reckoning, last season we scored 23 goals against the five sides that finished higher than us this term and only 6 of them were scored by Suarez or Sturridge. We conceded 11 in the same fixtures. So those wins that made all of the difference were clearly not down exclusively to the two shit-hot strikers.

 

[Insignificance]

Hmmm seem like two openings over here with som relevans to Liverpool. Strømsgodset (Our biggest win trough all times was against Strømsgodset back in early 70's) got rid of their coach today, while SK Brann (remember THAT Fowler goal) lost again today whith the coach that got them relegated last season.... So plenty of opportunities for the Brodge!!!

 

[Ryan]

Werent the Manchester City and Spurs games at the end of last season 'Must win games'?

Isnt having a chance of winning the title on the last day of the season and two cup semi finals a sniff of winning a trophy?

Hasnt he taken the team on its two longest unbeaten runs in the premier league era?

There are loads of thing he has fucked up with, but the 'EVERYTHING' line seems a bit ott to me.

We lost 50 goals through Suarez and Sturridge and scored 50 goals less than last year.
We kept MORE clean sheets than last year. We got to two semi finals after bombing out last year.
Im not saying thats good enough, its not at all, but there are areas of progress.
And in context we have probably the youngest squad in the top 7 so plenty of room for improvement. Can he improve us? Fuck knows. The Balotelli experiment was the one really bad thing that happened last summer in my opinion, I cant blame him for leaving Balo, Lambert and Borini on the bench because they were shit when they played.
If we had replaced Suarez with say (eg) Griezmann or Lacazette and Sturridge had played more than 7 games does anyone not think we would be top 4?

I dunno, im just writing whats in my head, not really much point too it and as ive said if a top replacement was/is available we should take it same as we would with any player. I just think we are judging harshly on a man doing his best.

If Chelsea sold Hazard in summer and instead of signing Costa signed Just Remy and then Oscar was injured all season they wouldnt be top.
If Aguero left city in summer and silva was injured all season they would be about 15th

Aguero and Silva and Hazard didn't and wouldn't leave though. Because they're paid well and play for a team that win things. There's the fucking difference.

 

[King Binny]

On a sidenote, regarding the lost of goals, Southampton lost 37 through the exit of Lallana and Lambert as well as injury of Rodriguez (and 16 assists) from the 54 league goals in 2013/14. It is no doubt an arduous task in trying to replace a player of Suarez's calibre but the no. of times Rodgers repeatedly stressed the no. of goals lost is getting a bit frustrating, personally.

 

[leftpeg]

On a sidenote, regarding the lost of goals, Southampton lost 37 through the exit of Lallana and Lambert as well as injury of Rodriguez (and 16 assists) from the 54 league goals in 2013/14. It is no doubt an arduous task in trying to replace a player of Suarez's calibre but the no. of times Rodgers repeatedly stressed the no. of goals lost is getting a bit frustrating, personally.

The vast majority of posters on here say Suarez and Sturridge were the only reasons we finished 2nd so by their reckoning, isn't he manager entitled to bemoan their loss?

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Marca claiming we've approached Ancelloti. I know I know......but hey, any crumb of comfort.

 

[King Binny]

The vast majority of posters on here say Suarez and Sturridge were the only reasons we finished 2nd so by their reckoning, isn't he manager entitled to bemoan their loss?

Suarez's four month suspension and departure came in Jul 2014. We all know about Sturridge's history with injuries. Isn't part of his job trying to solve problems like this?

He is entitled to bemoan the loss but when things doesn't go his way, there's reasons (or excuses) aplenty whereas any form of achievement/success and he starts blowing the (or his) trumpet.

 

[StevieM]

Marca claiming we've approached Ancelloti. I know I know......but hey, any crumb of comfort.

Ayre has a approached him....

.... like a big cat would an antelope in the Serengeti... creeping through the long grass on all fours with his belly close to the ground waiting to pounce on the wounded Ancelotti.

 

[Y1]

Ancelotti recent history to win trophies and tittles require deep pockets and world class team. We have neither.

 

[Silver Sean]

Ancelotti recent history to win trophies and tittles require deep pockets and world class team. We have neither.

At least he's won something, and can attract top quality players.

 

[Silver Sean]

Every morning I'll be hoping to log on and see he's gone and all this is a smokescreen.

 

[StevieM]

Ancelotti recent history to win trophies and tittles require deep pockets and world class team. We have neither.

When I first read that, for some reason my mind replaced the "l" in tittles with "i".

I thought - well that's a double win.

 

[mark1975]

At least he's won something, and can attract top quality players.

You need money to attract top class players too, the pedigree of the manager doesn't dictate the fee.

So what we're basically saying is we need to heavily back a manager who's won things on an extravagant budget?

 

[mom]

He's not getting sacked. We're doomed.

I've a funny feeling that he's not going to be sacked. Funny, in this case, meaning really really shitty sense of dread.

 

[tony]

The vast majority of posters on here say Suarez and Sturridge were the only reasons we finished 2nd so by their reckoning, isn't he manager entitled to bemoan their loss?

Not when he was given over £100mil to replace them!
S and S definitely papered over the cracks in our horrible defence which hasn't improved in the 3 years since Rodgers has been here.

 

[tony]

You need money to attract top class players too, the pedigree of the manager doesn't dictate the fee.

So what we're basically saying is we need to heavily back a manager who's won things on an extravagant budget?

Rodgers WAS heavily backed last summer and look where that got us

 

[Oncy]

Aguero and Silva and Hazard didn't and wouldn't leave though. Because they're paid well and play for a team that win things. There's the fucking difference.

Thats kinda the point though right?
Do you think it we won the league last year Suarez would have stayed?

 

[Insignificance]

You need money to attract top class players too, the pedigree of the manager doesn't dictate the fee.

So what we're basically saying is we need to heavily back a manager who's won things on an extravagant budget?

There are hardly double figure teams in the world spending (wasting) more Money on transfers and wages than us....

 

[JohnnyRocket]

I keep wondering why I want him gone so much, but for me it's a few clear things:

1. He's never shown that he can build and coach a solid, dependable defence. If you can't do that you'll never win anything.

2. Players have declined under him. Lallana, Lambert, Lovren, Balotelli etc are a shadow of their best

3. Generally no clue how he wants us to play - seeminly buying players with no system in mind for them or how they fit into it.

 

[jexykrodic]

There are hardly double figure teams in the world spending (wasting) more Money on transfers and wages than us....

Don't we spend a lot because we receive a lot for our best players?

 

[Silver Sean]

You need money to attract top class players too, the pedigree of the manager doesn't dictate the fee.

So what we're basically saying is we need to heavily back a manager who's won things on an extravagant budget?

It's worth a try! Got to better than heavily backing a manager who's won nowt on an extravagant budget, surely?

 

[mark1975]

It's worth a try! Got to better than heavily backing a manager who's won nowt on an extravagant budget, surely?

It's not really an extravagant budget is it? The only time we spend extravagantly is when we sell big. It's enough and yeah we have wasted money, but lets not pretend we've invested heavily without sacrifice, because we've usually lost a massive talent.

 

[Silver Sean]

It's not really an extravagant budget is it? The only time we spend extravagantly is when we sell big. It's enough and yeah we have wasted money, but lets not pretend we've invested heavily without sacrifice, because we've usually lost a massive talent.

Sorry Mark, I meant it would be lovely if we COULD spend extravagantly. Imagine Liverpool FC with the investment Man City have got. We'd rule the world.

 

[C/O]

Ayre has a approached him....

.... like a big cat would an antelope in the Serengeti... creeping through the long grass on all fours with his belly close to the ground waiting to pounce on the wounded Ancelotti.

The only reason Ayre would approach Ancelotti would be to ask him where he bought his shoes.

 

[Insignificance]

The only reason Ayre would approach Anncelotti would be to ask him where he bought his shoes.

And Ayre would probably also spell Ancelotti Anncelotti.... 😉

 

[C/O]

And Ayre would probably also spell Ancelotti Anncelotti.... 😉

Doh!

 

[Insignificance]

Doh!

Sorry mate... Wasn't having a dig at you... I was having a dig at Ayre!!

 

[C/O]

No worries mate!

 

[leftpeg]

It's perfectly obvious a very strong case can be made for sacking Rodgers. In fact, if nothing else changes in the club's structure I would actually be supportive of his dismissal because this clearly isn't and can't work. The transfer committee undermines Rodgers. Other managers know it and even his own players know it. How can Rodgers get the best out of an undoubted talent such as Balotelli if the player is looking at him and thinking why should I bust a gut for you or buy into what you're trying to do if your own bosses don't have absolute faith? Perhaps this explains some of his more egotistical comments...he feels he needs to big himself up because his bosses have already undermined him.

When he was appointed, Rodgers was considered one of the brightest young coaching talents in the country. By the end of his second season, that reputation had spread across Europe. Now of course he's taken a step backwards. He is going to be desperate to turn this around because if he keeps his job the next season will dictate the course of his entire career. Get us back into the top 4 and challenging for honours and he's back on track to have his pick of the biggest jobs in Europe (including a long-term option at Anfield). Fail and his career will already have peaked and his career will slide into Glenn Hoddle-style obscurity.

So if they aren't sacking him they need to back him to the hilt. Scrap the committee and give him the control the most successful managers have always had at their respective clubs. Then we'll see if he can coach, if he can spot a player, if he can lead a dressing room, if he can set a team up to win the must-win games. If he can, he is the manager most of us always hoped he would be. If he can't he will deserve the sack that will follow...but at least we'll all know and at least he will have been given a proper chance.

 

[jexykrodic]

What's next? Sky Pundit, I reckon.