Does Rodgers deserve another season.

[Stu Monty]

It is a shambles. In terms of what it means on the footballing side, we're probably not any better run than Newcastle. We've just got access to better resources. That may not always be the case.

Newcastle?

 

Newcastle!

 

Come on gents, for the love of God can we reign this in a bit?

[an tha]

If something like that happens then okay, let's see if it works. I have no idea how it will play out.

Aye, sadly I don't think those running the show have any idea either.

[Paco]

Liverpool FC Comment: Rodgers deserves to keep Anfield job but another season like this won't be tolerated18 MAY 2015 07:48 PMBY JAMES PEARCENatives are restless having seen the club regress over the past 12 months

 

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Brendan Rodgers before the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield on May 16, 2015 (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

 

In many respects Brendan Rodgers finds himself back where it all began for him at Anfield three years ago.

 

There’s a divided fanbase worried about the direction the club is going in with many questioning his credentials to spearhead a bright future. There’s also an under-achieving squad in urgent need of reinforcements.

 

Barring a dramatic change of heart in Boston over the coming weeks, the Liverpoolmanager will keep his job this summer. The Northern Irishman won’t pay the price for a season of mediocrity.

 

The bitter disappointment of Fenway Sports Group (FSG) at the Reds’ failure to secure Champions League qualification is tempered by the mitigating circumstances which go some way to explaining why targets for the 2014/15 campaign haven’t been met.

 

The owners know that Liverpool made mistakes in the transfer market last summer that Rodgers can’t be held solely responsible for. They scattered that £116million on too many players, they got quantity when they needed quality.

 

Brendan Rodgers unveiled to the media after being unveiled as the new manager of Liverpool Football Club on Friday 1 June 2012

 

They didn’t replace the world class talents of Luis Suarez and that glaring error was compounded by Daniel Sturridge’s injury nightmare.

 

Of course Rodgers himself isn’t blameless. When a team implodes like Liverpool have done during the run-in the manager will always be held to account.

 

All that bullish talk about getting stronger the longer the season went on proved misplaced. Since Manchester United ended that spirited 13-game unbeaten league run at Anfield on March 22, the wheels have come off.

 

Rodgers deserves the chance to lift the malaise at Anfield

 

The Reds have taken just eight points out of a possible 24. That miserable run included a display of scarcely believable ineptitude at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa.

 

Last Saturday’s home defeat to Crystal Palace sent the alarm bells ringing once again as Liverpool went down with a whimper on Steven Gerrard’s big day. For weary Kopites, the final whistle at Stoke on Sunday afternoon can’t come soon enough.

 

GALLERY: Steven Gerrard's last Anfield game

 

VIEW GALLERY

 

However, Rodgers deserves the opportunity to make amends. He deserves the chance to prove he can lift Liverpool from their current malaise.

 

Some of his critics have short memories. It’s just 12 months since Rodgers was crowned Manager of the Year by his peers and handed a four-year contract after overseeing a thrilling title challenge.

 

Kop legends were queuing up to tell him that Liverpool were playing the most exciting brand of attacking football Anfield had witnessed for a quarter of a century.

 

The argument that Rodgers was simply made to look good by Suarez just doesn’t ring true. Liverpool were a slick, cohesive unit – the whole was greater than the sum of its parts.

 

He was rightly praised for both his tactical acumen and man-management skills as he got the best out of what he had. You don’t become a dud overnight.

 

You can't always be building for tomorrow

 

Dismissing Rodgers and appointing either Jurgen Klopp or Frank De Boer would only bring more upheaval, more instability. Anyway, Liverpool’s issues run deeper than the identity of the man in the dugout.

 

FSG must take a look at themselves and a transfer policy which places too great an emphasis on investing in and developing young talent. It’s a false economy. You can’t always be building for tomorrow,

 

Since Rodgers’ appointment, Liverpool have lost Dirk Kuyt, Jamie Carragher, Pepe Reina, Daniel Agger, Luis Suarez and now Gerrard will join that list.

 

Liverpool's Adam Lallana stands dejected as he rues a missed chance on goal against Man United at Anfield Peter Byrne/PA Wire

 

That wealth of experience simply hasn’t been replaced. Recent defeats to United, Arsenal, Villa, Hull and Palace have laid bare that this is a squad short of both character and leadership. There is a lack of both physical presence and mental strength. Too many boys and not enough men.

 

On the day Rodgers took over at Anfield in June 2012 he spoke about there being “three types of supporters” at every club.

 

“Number one is those who, no matter who the manager is, they love their club and will love their manager whoever it is,” he said.

 

“The second group is those supporters who will accept you but to earn their real respect you will have to be successful – and that’s fine by me.

 

“The third group are the critics, and you never change them. Ever. If you win 4-0 it should have been five, if you win the league you should have won three.”

 

Rodgers knew from the moment he left Swansea City that he had a fight on his hands. Many didn’t agree with the decision to sack Kop icon Kenny Dalglish and others wanted Rafa Benitez to return to Anfield.

 

With just one season as a Premier League boss under his belt, Rodgers couldn’t point to a trophy-laden CV to calm people’s fears.

 

A plane flies a banner displaying 'Rodgers Out Rafa In' before the Barclays Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo.

 

This miserable campaign has been manna from heaven for those in that third group who have always been convinced that he doesn’t belong at Anfield. The noisy minority are desperate to be proved right.

 

But it’s that second group who will ultimately decide Rodgers’ fate.

 

The response in the stands on Saturday evening when Gerrard was asked on the pitch whether he was optimistic about the club flourishing in his absence was uncomfortable for the manager. The natives are restless.

 

Fans who this week are expected to shell out up to £869 to renew their season tickets don’t know where Liverpool are heading.

 

Liverpool's Steven Gerrard applauds the crowd as he walks around Anfield after the Barclays Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool

 

With the club’s only remaining world class player and the side’s Scouse heartbeat heading for Los Angeles, there is anxiety and frustration rather than belief and hope.

 

Fail to win at Stoke on the final day and Liverpool, who have already suffered 11 league defeats this season, could end up seventh. Their current tally of 62 points is just one more than they gathered in Rodgers’ first year in charge.

 

When the squad convene at the Echo Arena for Tuesday night’s Player of the Year awards, there will be precious little to celebrate, This is a team who have lost their identity and regressed over the past 12 months.

 

There is much work to be done and not all of it can be solved with a cheque book. Some flops will be shown the door but others Rodgers will have to work with and improve.

 

Another season like this won’t be tolerated. Rodgers won over his army of doubters once and now he must prove he can do it all over again.

[JermainePennant]

I reckon there is a good 40m a year in wages either coming off or being wasted on shite that adds fuck all.

 

Use that money to attract players from Dortmund or other big European clubs who are earning a fraction of the kind of money we pay mediocre shite..

 

 

But to do that we need a manager who could attract them.

Sahin signed for Rodgers over Klopp and it looks like we will be signing Milner with competition from top clubs.

[Coro]

The question should be do FSG deserve another season?

 

Nah

[stringvest]

Newcastle?

 

Newcastle!

 

Come on gents, for the love of God can we reign this in a bit?

 

 

Ashley picks the club up for a song

Ashley picks his managers against a set of criteria only he understands.

Ashley stands by them or gets rid of them on a whim - logic doesn't seem to apply

Ashley shows precious little interest in what the fans think

Ashley's player acquisition process is a mystery to the fans

Ashley's ambition for the club would appear to be solely financial

Ashley often puts clueless bellends in positions of influence and power at the club, invariably having a disastrous impact on the footballing side of the club

 

Yep, you're right Stu - nothing like at Newcastle

[thompsonsnose]

Ashley picks the club up for a song

Ashley picks his managers against a set of criteria only he understands.

Ashley stands by them or gets rid of them on a whim - logic doesn't seem to apply

Ashley shows precious little interest in what the fans think

Ashley's player acquisition process is a mystery to the fans

Ashley's ambition for the club would appear to be solely financial

Ashley often puts clueless bellends in positions of influence and power at the club, invariably having a disastrous impact on the footballing side of the club

 

Yep, you're right Stu - nothing like at Newcastle

The only difference is that they have better scouts. And they actually DID have a decent manager.

[Gym Beglin]

Dicko, re earlier post, I wouldn't sell Lucas either. I just think we will.

If we sold Lucaa for £6m then there would be a place in our side for an experienced DM to come in as backup to a big money buy.

 

And...if we then found a player under 30, with loads of experience and a fair few Brazilian caps, and he was available for £12m we'd be all over it.

 

Makes no sense in selling Lucas when we'd be lucky to find a replacement as good for twice the money we sell him for.

 

We should have moved for Delph in January.

 

Same old shite story, same old shite manager.

[Captain]

It would eat into the meagre transfer budget and the new manager would have (more or less) the same players to work with.  

 

Rodgers has exceeded my expectations with 2nd and (let's assume) 5th placed finishes.  I'm not sure the next guy would do that much better (as it happens I don't think we'll get to find out as it looks like Rodgers may be safe for now).  

 

I'm not sure at all it comes out of the transfer budget, but even if it did it's not clear at all we'd be worse off imo.

 

At the going rate, we're not going to finish 5th next season. I doubt we will this season either tbh.

[BCM]

A managers pay off is the least of the worries when over £100 million pound is wasted on shite.

 

Some very good managers available this summer. Lets see how ambitious Fsg really are

[bossy]

Sahin signed for Rodgers over Klopp and it looks like we will be signing Milner with competition from top clubs.

You actually made me laugh out loud there. Well done JP!

[Gym Beglin]

FSG have ambition, it's just totally based on luck and scratch cards.

 

They need fucking off if they don't bring in Klopp or Rafa.

[bossy]

I have'nt seen him accept responsibility for anything yet.So that would be a first.

He accepted responsibility for a couple of world class goals Couthino scored.

[Pureblood]

I'm not sure at all it comes out of the transfer budget, but even if it did it's not clear at all we'd be worse off imo.

 

At the going rate, we're not going to finish 5th next season. I doubt we will this season either tbh.

 

Fair enough, it's just a guess. 

[Pureblood]

A managers pay off is the least of the worries when over £100 million pound is wasted on shite.

 

Some very good managers available this summer. Lets see how ambitious Fsg really are

 

We don't have over £100m to waste on shite, though.  Getting rid of Rodgers and all his staff, getting rid of whichever players the new manager doesn't want, signing new players he does want.  Can you honestly see all of that going well for us in one summer?   Without the Suarez money to fund it all. 

[Brigant Moloch]

FSG have ambition, it's just totally based on luck and scratch cards.

 

They need fucking off if they don't bring in Klopp or Rafa.

 

Only reason they'll keep Rodgers will be their naivety after Roders bullshits his way to another season, not bad will.

[BCM]

We don't have over £100m to waste on shite, though.  Getting rid of Rodgers and all his staff, getting rid of whichever players the new manager doesn't want, signing new players he does want.  Can you honestly see all of that going well for us in one summer?   Without the Suarez money to fund it all. 

 

Im sure there will be reduced severance fees for targets not met. Id doubt he would get as much money for being fired as people realise.

Also a lot of top managers that are available won't need to be bought out of their contracts because they will be free agents.

 

I still think he is off. And the silence from Werner and Henry is deafening.

[mattyq]

I want Brendan gone but only if we can get an experienced and successful manager. A Rafa, Klopp or Ancelotti. Another young and upcoming manager will just make similar mistakes. 

We also need a an experienced and successful administrator who knows their way around transfers and the politics of European and World football.

This season has been a shambles from start to finish.

The European campaign was a disgrace and an embarrassment 

[Pureblood]

Im sure there will be reduced severance fees for targets not met. Id doubt he would get as much money for being fired as people realise.

Also a lot of top managers that are available won't need to be bought out of their contracts because they will be free agents.

 

I still think he is off. And the silence from Werner and Henry is deafening.

 

 

I'm sure we'll hear something from FSG soon when the season ends.

[Russ Atmosphere]

We don't have over £100m to waste on shite, though. Getting rid of Rodgers and all his staff, getting rid of whichever players the new manager doesn't want, signing new players he does want. Can you honestly see all of that going well for us in one summer? Without the Suarez money to fund it all.

That's not really specific to getting a new manager.

[Pureblood]

That's not really specific to getting a new manager.

 

Disregarding all of that I don't expect a new manager to make much of an impression.    

[therevivalist]

The problem is if we persist with Rodgers for another season, it would just be more money spent/wasted on average players, hence further compounidng our predicament. Rogders has been at the helm for THREE seaons now and he hasn't shown substantial progress. All the exciting football we saw last year has turned out to be a mirage, Rodgers not being able to establish/ reestablish it as the Liverpool way of playing football. Will he be able to bring it back next season. I very much doubt it. The sooner we get rid of Rodgers along with Sterling the better off we would be. Rodgers is part of the problem now.

[Brigant Moloch]

Rodgers is part of the problem now.

 

no, he's THE problem.

[Coro]

no, he's THE problem.

 

No he isn't cos he doesn't exist in a vacuum all of his own making.

[skend04]

If things carry on as they are we will be relegation candidates next season. None of the names leaked by the club/management address our fundamental flaws which are now being exposed weekly by the likes of Villa and Palace. If it were just the top 4/5 that we lost to then fair enough, you wouldn't like it, but you would accept it and hope to improve. But when teams with a 5th or 6th of your spend are outplaying and outfighting you there's something seriously amiss.