Denny Crane

We have played 29 games so far this season, a pretty decent sample size. Last season we played 42 games in total and people have derived from that he is the right man to see out his contract based on last seasons results. You only have to consider the fact, 12 wins out of the 29, (including 2 wins against Championship teams). This includes a negative goal-difference after 29 games (includes Europe and League Cup) Not sure what the point of keep talking about attacking play, if after 29 games we have a negative goal difference. If the attacking play is in deficit after 29 games and Leicester the newly promoted bottom-team, think they can get something 2-0 down, whilst we are attacking the Kop end, something stinks. We have also conceded 4 goals more in the league, than this time last season (after everyone said we needed to concede less all summer). It's not as knee-jerk as people are making out. It is pretty clear he will get the season, but the decision for him to stay in my view should not be based on an emotive rationale. An assessment should be based on what were the achievable goals at the start of the season were. I do think a fair few are moving the goalposts. The narrative all summer was we won't do a Tottenham. The general tone last season was, sneering at Tottenham, after the sale of Gareth Bale and laughing at them following their huge spend. A lot of Liverpool bloggers and fans and journos were listing, reasons a mile high, why we would not do a Tottenham. Now, people are listing as many reasons why it does not matter that we did a Tottenham. This is despite us being the bigger club and having Champions League football to offer. My own view is he gets the season and then they asses what his goals were. I don't rate him half as much as the majority on here. But winning the Europa would be a good way to show he has a bit more about him than we have seen so far. When the manager is in his 3rd season, it is unacceptable to see the type of season we have seen played out. To state the obvious, the manager needs results and lots of them to keep his job come the end of the season.

Everton have two points less than Walter Smith’s 2001/02 team managed at same stage which later saw the Scot sacked and replaced by Moyes.

Privileged to watch him play for us. Ryan ‏@RyanMcTrippy Lasted Hicks & Gillette, Roy Hodgson and 2 failed PL title bids, but 5 months with Dejan Lovren and Steven Gerrard is moving continents.

It does seem very strange to come on a forum and whinge about the quality, whilst calling others fans whoppers who hold a different view.

I see a few people moaning the FF is going downhill or poor quality. TK421, time to bring back the ratings and associated threads and start posting on here more.

You would think if the manager wanted to upgrade the midfield he has had 220 odd million to do it. Totally his choice to strengthen in other areas. Unless people are now suggesting the committee are stopping him buying central midfielders.

Maybe Pochettino could leave early and shake Mourinho's hand.

Watching Mignolet and Lovren sure is entertainment.

One more thing about the Arsenalisation of Liverpool fans and entertainment. Why is entertainment being measured in only goals scored. As Mourinho said, most English fans and the media are unable to differentiate between a team that defends well and a defensive team. As a fan, some of the players I have appreciated watching the most in recent years, scored very few goals. Alonso, Agger, Hyppia, Carragher, Mascherano and Reina. Is not watching good defending considered entertainment. Is not watching a keeper, to quote Rodgers who helps a team play with 11 men not part of the entertainment. Is not watching Mascherano/Hamann, help a team have the right balance not part of the entertainment. Watching Alonso run a midfield is that not entertainment. Or have we become Xfactor style football fans?.

This is right we were just not good enough. Also you don't win a league conceding 50 goals and over the course of a season that is what cost us. Also surprised at the dick measuring contest of which 2nd place was best. This is why other fans mock us, 84 or 86 points who cares, or at what stages people had butterflies. They were both good seasons just not good enough, both managers will look back with regrets. That is not disputing that we were up against excellent teams. Manchester City a very expensive squad and Manchester United the reigning European Champions, heading for back to back European finals. Oh seen Frode post something the other day. Apart from Ferguson, unless a manager wins the title in his first 3 seasons in major leagues he fails to win the league.

Happy early new year TLWrs, enjoy it. I hope to see many more insightful and reasoned debates using sound deductive reasoning and in-depth analysis with the lads on here. Enjoy the New Years have a beer Or whatever your choice of beverage Hopefully we get to see the captain win something in what may be his farewell season. Hopefully Rodgers performs and stops being outtacticed by Warnock and the rest. As it would be horrible to see him sacked without winning anything and go down trophy-wise, as the least successful manager in our history alongside Hodgson.

At least there seems to be some sort of growing consensus, fail to get top 4 or win the Europa, Rodgers goes on his way.

The only way you can make a case for Rodgers challenging for the league is if he leads us out of the European spots. The reality of him finishing out the European places, is he will rightly be sent packing, so very very unlikely that he would survive such a disastrous season. So if he gets 7th/8th and fails in all the cups (like in his first season) then he might have a small chance. His two starts to a season where he has had Europe have been on a par with the Hodge. A Liverpool manager is expected to balance the League and Europe.

Sam Allaydyce has played better and more expansive football than Rodgers this season. I would pipe down portraying Rodgers as some Guardiola, doyen of football it's a bit embarrassing considering what has been dished up, especially following a 120million spend.

BR: We’ll see how Dejan (Lovren) is tomorrow. If he’s not fit to face Leicester, he’ll be back for the next game.”

Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City all played around 15 games more than us last season. Due to Europe and longer runs in domestic cups also.

One of Rodgers biggest problem when it comes to transfers is he does not know what he wants. Does he want to play with a back 4 or back 3, which means does he need fullbacks or wingbacks. Does he want to play with 1 up top or 2. Which means different attributes from your striker. Does he want to use proper wingers or use number 10's bloating his attack. What type of keeper does he want. What type of midfielder does he want sitting in front of the back 4. Does he even want anyone to sit. Allen, Gerrard, Lucas, Can etc all different players who offer different things. All these have played there this season alone. You could go all through the squad and see similar things. I know the squad is not as bad as Rodgers has made it look, just unbalanced and devoid of clear and consistent planning and structure. He seems to be keen on this 3 at the back but if we had a bad run I get the feeling he would rip it up and start again. For me it is much more fundamental than buying players and viewing players individually, you buy and build a team.

One thing I saw posted that I struggled to comprehend. Is that we have the 2nd most expensive defence in Europe after PSG. I would like to think that has been exaggerated, but it's still an expensive defence nonetheless. If part of the Rodgers philosophy, is we will concede goals anyway. Why did he spend so much of the budget on expensive defensive replacements?.

Maybe a better question for Brownie is if Rodgers has performed at the same level as Benitez in the transfer market. Why was Benitez on the way to his 4th final in his 3rd season. When you consider Kenny left him a squad that reached two finals. Yet most of our fans think even winning the Europa League is beyond Rodgers capabilities. Despite us having the most expensive squad and biggest squad and highest wage bill in the Europa.

Indeed Sportsmail understands Pulis has already rejected the advances of Newcastle, who are also understood to have approached him through intermediaries but stated immediately that he would have to fit into their own management structure with owner Mike Ashley and head scout Graham Carr. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2891113/Tony-Pulis-insists-sole-charge-West-Bromwich-Albion.html#ixzz3NPKNBcOs Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook I see a mid-table team who have not won anything for 60 odd years did not let Pulis dicate terms of his employment .

I think they know but four years of looking at Pardew being smug and slimey has worn them down.

You can get shorter odds on Ant & Dec being the next Newcastle manager than us winning the league this season.

No way Sherwood would get the job, he's no stooge I'll give him that. I reckon some out of retirement Frenchman who managed in the French 7th divison that no-one has ever heard of, or Joe Kinnear. Bruce is struggling at Hull and probably wants out and is a geordie but is also a sacked Sunderland manager.

Jermaine you are a good lad and whilst I disagree with nearly everything you say. I respect the fact you defend the manager vociferously. Although I think you and a few others are a bit cuckold. Couple things, the wage bill has been going up the last reported numbers were up 11% in the last set of figures released. This did not include the likes of last summers spending. Despite all the waffle Rodgers is not shopping at LIDL. Knowing what we know now it is clear Reina and Agger and Carroll were pushed out as the manager did not rate them not because of their wages.

Jermaine, I seem to recall a few players signed under Kenny's reign being instrumental last season. Would Rodgers still be in a job if Suarez was not signed under his reign?. According to Bascombe 400million was spent since Benitez left. Not exactly short of funds/inherited players within the squad. Hence me saying there should be a minimum expectation for managers. I am sure the owners have set him one, but fans seem to want to play down expectations. I had sympathy for Rodgers when they refused him Dempsey to partner up with Borini. Even if I thought they were wank. But since then he has spent and also had a decent inheritance.