Champions League return a must (ESPN article)

[Babb'sBurstNad]

Scouting networks still cost money, and we're better placed than many to put in place a system that should find a few gems. There's talent out there, and not all of it can be hoovered up by the CL clubs.

 

People mentioned Dortmund, well Lewandowski's a case in point, offered to Blackburn for peanuts. The key may be in taking a few risks rather than just aiming for the most obviously talented youngsters. Newcastle picked up Ba and Ben Arfa when no big clubs would go near either. Wigan aim their scouts further afield, in less high profile countries and, though they haven't found too many world beaters they remained competitive on a shoe-string and look unlikely to make a loss.

[xerxes]

The key may be in taking a few risks

 

Carroll, Babel, Aquilani, Borrini, we haven't been shy about taking risks.

[spider-neil]

I think it's fairly obvious why Rodgers was hired.

 

1) He's a coach first and foremost

Therefore we can buy players and through coaching and tactics he can improve those players.

 

2) He plays an attractive brand of football.

If we are playing an attractive brand of football people will want to watch us and that sells tickets and merchandise.

 

3) He is young, hungry and has fresh ideas.

So the manager and club can grow together rather than have a been there, done that manager who may not be as motivated and may not be it for the long haul.

 

FSG are going to put their hands in their own pocket so they have hired a manager who will hopefully be able to identify players with potential and have the coaching skills to make those players realise their potential but that will take patient from the fans and few fans are willing to give that patience (which is understandable)

[xerxes]

I think it's fairly obvious why Rodgers was hired.

 

 

A fair summary, to which should be added:

 

4. He was about the only appointment whom Ayre and FSG could outrank in PL experience.

 

5. He would not have got a similar appointment elsewhere so owes his chance to FSG- he can't "threaten" to leave, he is a placeman like Ayre.

[Magic Sponge]

Xerxes mentions Ayre.

[Major Tom]

FSG don't like people working with them who will challenge them, they favour placemen who owe their jobs and careers to them.

 

Really? They have built a successful business careers on hiring 'yes' men? Does this also ring true in their baseball exploits?

 

You don't half speak some shit sometimes, xerxes.

[Babb'sBurstNad]

Carroll, Babel, Aquilani, Borrini, we haven't been shy about taking risks.

 

They may not have worked out - i still hold out hope for "Borrini" - but four young internationals plying their trade in prominent leagues is hardly the think-outside-the-box approach i was alluding to; i suspect you knew that anyway though.

[Skidfingers McGonical]

Hermes has a very good point. When was the last time an unknown came from lower leagues and became a regular? Doesn't seem to happen all across the PL at all.

 

That is only because he is old enough to remember watching Keegan in the Scunthorpe Under 9's side.

[Trumo]

If anyone is interested, I've uploaded a bunch of new games on Sporcle, one of which asks you to name every team Liverpool have played in Europe since they first qualified. My username is right beneath the title so you can see my other games too (click on 'iDom' and select the 'Contributed Games' tab, which allows you to list the games in different ways such as most recent, most played, more favourited etc). You can even link it to you Facebook, Twitter etc. So have a go, and spread the word.

 

Teams Liverpool have played in Europe Quiz by iDom - Sporcle Games & Trivia

 

EDIT: You don't need to spell out the full names of most teams. One word names are full names. To give you an example, you can type 'Gladbach' instead of trying to remember how to spell their full name!