WHISK yourself back a month to September 1st and try and refresh your memory to the general anger in the air, the disappointment and the worry. What was a potentially productive transfer market had seemingly been ruined in the matter of 48 hours, leaving us dangerously light up-top and in the squad as a whole. Worrying times.
Questions, some not exactly politely, were been asked of the owners and the majority fair enough.
At this moment, January was but a dream where vital reinforcements frolicked in a field of overinflated prices teasing us with promises of hat-tricks and assists.
In the midst of this Rodgers picked himself up, dusted himself down and set to work with his squad. Fast forward back to the present and the mood is somewhat brighter, buoyed with consecutive victories for a 1st and 2nd string side as well as numerous encouraging performances slightly marred by the evil man in black, and a squad boasting young talent, a desire to play football the right way (a record number of passes in a match against Norwich, if I’m not mistaken) and a dilemma of how we are to fit Lucas into the starting line up when he is fit again!
Tell me that a month ago I probably would have slapped you (with a lyrical retort of course, as I am a man of peace).
With spirits high this week, and superlatives over our last performances easily rolling off the tongue of every Red, I thought it might be interesting to have a look over the next few months up to what was our promised window….I mean land, and lay down a marker of what I want (with the club obviously, not personally unless someone has Mila Kunis’s phone number?). Some say that I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one and hope that some of you agree with me! If not let me know, or if you think of other aspects you think I have overlooked then get involved and let me know below – what is better than a footie chat!!
Contracts
I think it is vital to capitalise on this positive feeling at the club that I think Rodgers has brought along from the beginning and which is now being amplified with the positives on the pitch.
The big grey cloud that the end of the transfer conjured up has turned out to be lined with the most beautiful silver. Rodgers has turned to the likes of Sterling, Suso and most recently Wisdom who have not just taken but grabbed their opportunity with both hands. As good as it is for these young lads to see their talent, work rate and dedication rewarded in such a manner it is equally crucial for the other young talent to see that in Rodgers they have a manager prepared to trust in them if they apply themselves.
It is at this time, particularly in light of contracts running down, that specifically these three should see their achievements recognised in £’s and years. The future of the club should always be on what we can produce not on what we can afford. Yes, yes I know technically we bought all three aforementioned chaps, but they progressed through our academy and set-up and the cost is a fraction of what teams like City and Chelsea currently pay for the ‘finished product’ as it were. Success brought with talent nurtured will always be sweeter than with talent acquired. These three contracts should be our first priority followed shortly by established stars like the in-demand Dane and our Stevie. Liverpool is a club that retains our best and not one that keeps them warm for the billionaires.
Established names to step-up
As I have discussed we have seen our younger lads chomping at the bit and bossing each and every opportunity being offered. Shelvey, Sterling, Suso, Wisdom being the stand-outs with Assaidi, Morgan, Robinson and Flanagan to name a few hammering at the first team door, and that’s without mentioning the young lads already a part of the first team such as Sahin and Allen.
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What youth brings is determination, desire, commitment and the ‘run through walls’ mentality Rodgers talks about, which is what we want from those lucky enough to don our famous red. This leaves question marks over the more established names in the squad; Downing, Cole and Enrique et al. Between now and January is a hugely important period of time for these guys as they can rise to the challenge put down, or they can shy away. Personally I want Downing, Cole and Enrique to look at themselves in the mirror and come out fighting, demanding their place and producing the goods to keep it.
This sort of competition makes for a healthy squad with each member pushing the man next to them. Whether they have shown it consistently or not in a Liverpool shirt they are undoubtedly talented individuals and if they reproduce their best will clearly be an asset to the club and help us drive forward. Whilst I have highlighted three senior players, this is a message to each and everyone at the club: Rodgers, and fans, want the ‘running through the brick wall’ mentality and this call to arms is for a red army on the rise once more.
Stadium
Silver lining or not, the club made some serious errors in the last transfer window leaving levels of trust and confidence in them at a low – not a H&G low, but still low. Rodgers and the players are showing their commitment and desire on the pitch and FSG need to show theirs off it. This has been an issue for a long time now and the fans are demanding that we enter an endgame.
We are craving a decision, a commitment to build or improve, which gives clear direction. I think if any decision is delayed longer than January then rumblings of discontent will gather pace and may distract from progression on the pitch.
Coates
This guy is a monster! From my playing days as a centre back (still available Brendan!) I can really appreciate a master at work, and in the big Uruguayan I truly believe with have the making of one. Defensively speaking I think he is rock solid, his tackling consistently impresses me from the reach he has to the timing, he strong in the air and is a goal-threat, be it a header or a ridiculously amazing scissor kick (consistently ignored for goal of the season! I mean Rooney got goal of the Premier League for one he mistimed and went in off his shin!)
My big worry was his play when in possession, I thought he lacked an urgency that seemed to get him in trouble time and time again, but this is leaving his game and the work Rodgers is doing with him is paying off. He has impressed in the cup games and dominated in the City game when called upon. As we approach January I really hope he gets more and more game time and really pushes Skrtel (I see him as competition for the him rather than Agger)
Suarez
I hope he gets a pen! Enough said!
Please come find me on twitter @timdibs and let me know on here what you think, agree, disagree, different idea i would love to know.
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‘Fast forward back to the present’ and ‘Suarez, I hope he gets a pen’ Now that’s funny! 🙂
What are you talking about? You make no sense….
If you’re replying to me then USE the REPLY button. If you’re replying to Tim then I suggest you get reading lessons!!
here is a better list –
5 things i want to see before january –
1. FSG out – they dont know what they are doing and are ruining our club
2. FSG out – they are only interested in making money
3. FSG out – if they dont go soon we will be so far away from the top teams we might never get back ( anyone notice that most tv pundits dont even mention liverpool when talking about the ” top teams ” anymore ? )
4. FSG out – we actually might have a decent manager but he will never have had a chance to succeed while FSG hold the purse strings
5. For liverpool fans to wake up and smell reality ( i mean ,can anyone actually name ever a benevolent yank businessman ? ) – and to stop getting carried away every time we win a couple of games .
Hi Bob,
I know you are not a fan of FSG, but leaving them to one side for a second, regardless of result have you not seen a Liverpool side improving each week? Unlike Joe below I have been impressed with Brendan and think we are moving forward. I think the next few months are critical for FSG, stadium issue is huge and sorting out suso, sterling et al is crucial to do sooner rather than later. If their thought process is to build with youth it’s time to prove their commitment I think
i dont know where you get your standards from tim -‘ a side improving ‘ ( from 18th to 14th ) , we are liverpool not west ham or stoke .
i have just been watching LFC tv for 10 minutes and what they were showing was our 4-0 victory over real madrid … thats what ? 4 or 5 years ago . how the mighty have fallen .
im quite sure we will finish in the top 7 but im not and never will be satisfied with that , are you ? and next season and the season after , and the season after that will be the same without proper funding .
its great to see the kids breaking through isnt it ? but here is one very important point nobody seems to have made ( fans dont want to admit or think about things like this ) . when ( or if) our kids develop into top players they will not stay at liverpool , they will leave for a top team . you only have to look at arsenal as proof , they develop great kids , when they get to 22/23 they want to leave so they can win things , thats a fact . SUSO .STERLING etc WILL WANT TO LEAVE, they wont stay when offered proper money and possibly of titles . its totally stupid and naive to think otherwise .
so in 4/5 years we will be ( only if rodgers is as good as wenger ) in the same place as arsenal . a selling club and still not competing with the top teams .
thanks FSG , your vision ( and UEFAs) of financial fair play is just wishful thinking and not realistic , but then again we all know how much americans know about soccer
Bob, we are 6 games into a season! Can you tell me the performances against both Manchester clubs and Norwich in the league have not been an improvement on our 2012 form? have not been an insight into how the philosophy the new manager is installing is taking place? Am I happy with 14th? of course not, but we having to rebuild and these things can take time, we need patience and toback the team.
Yes we were awesome, undoubtedly, but what has happened in that 4-5 years? 3 names provide a big clue Hicks, Gillette and Purslow. Under this regime we lost great names, signed some stinkers and almost watch our club sink under. what do we have now? debt free club, retaining our top players with a clear direction. Yes we have fallen some what but not like Leeds did, or portsmouth or rangers, but I fail to see how this can be attributed to Rodgers or FSG??
satisifed with top 7? no! am I realistic? yes, and if we finish there this year we finish there and we continue to build. What do you propose the club does instead?
You see the kids will leave Bob, what like Gerrard? Suarez? Skrtel? Agger? The top players in the FSG reign who have all signed or want to sign new deals because their intimate knowledge of the club tells them the club is going in the right direction. Skrtel and Suarez had a high stock and a long list of suitors in the summer but stayed even though we had only Europa League! why is that? Because we are Liverpool FC! Arsenal lost NAsri, Fabregas, Clichy, RVP despite being a ‘title challenger’ and offering Champions League! how you explain that? It is also remiss to judge decisions that have not and may never be made.
I fail to see how we are a selling club? Alonso left due to a fallout with the manager and Rafa having to juggle money and Masch and Torres left mostly due to fallouts with H&G, under FSG who have they sold to warrant the label a selling club?
What you want FSG to do to appease you? if it is to leave, what you want from a new owner?
Well done and said Bob. I know fans like us could be in the minority as we realized that FSG is just another reincarnation of the cowboys H & G.
Just like the cowboys, FSG had not made any progress at all on the stadium although its crucial if we are to have any hopes conpeting with the likes of Manure.
FSG also had a habit of appointing managers that have the tendency to ruin our club (an expensive has been and a rookie) when the likes of winners such as Rafa is available. I agree that some sections of the fans gets carried away when we won a handfull of games while conveniently forgetting that under BR’s watch, we made the worse start in a century and even the hapless RH had a few wins under his belt.
Lest get real, to FSG, LFC is no more than a buisness, they have zero interest in our values, our history and most of all, our well being. Case in point, refer to the Dempsey saga. It would be great if most fans would wake up to this and start to drive out FSG but i guess i just have to resigned myself that this would not happen. Count ourselves lucky if we don’t end like like Blackburn.
Thats some response Chan, I would like to argue some of those points:
1. FSG are a reincarnation of H&G?? really? how do you justify such a statement? Have FSG lumbered the club with millions of £’s worth of debt? Crippled us with Interest payments? Diven us to the verge of bankrupcy? no to all of the above!! Yes they have questions to answer and actions to take in the coming months to reinstall some confidence but directly comparing to H&G is nonsense.
2. The stadium issue, although still present is entirely different under FSG than it was under H&G. H&G continually promised something they had no intention of delivering, it was a distraction and at times pure fantasy. FSG in comparison have kept things behind closed doors. We are told work is being done but promises have not been made, which means as yet they cant be broken. This is an important couple of months for them as people are grwoing impatient and personally spealing I would be suprised if we didnt know more by christmas.
I fail to understand why you have condemned Rodgers so quickly? FSG have made very clear just before and since his employment that we are at the beginning of a long process which will take time. The season has not started how we wanted but to get rid now is lunacy. Personally speaking I have been impressed with him as a man and the way Liverpool are starting to play. A stroke of luck in our favour of an individual not making a clanger and our points tally would look very different. Would I have been happy if Rafa had been brought back, of course, would I have been happy if Kenny stayed? of course I am a big fan of both men but above all else I will always support my tam and get behind them. It just so happens that I think Rodgers has started to get us playing nice football and his philosophy is coming together.
Of course LFC is a business to them, which football club in the world bar Billionaire playthings can afford not to be?? Claiming they have zero interest in anything is presumptous at best, and quoting the Dempsey saga? nonsense. The club valued him at X, Fulham valued him at Y, after the previous experience is it outlandish to state they didnt want to overpay again? and anyways, had Dempsey signed would Suso have gotten his chance? would Sterling?
Let me ask you a couple of questions:
1. You are in charge, you sack Brendan after 6 games, why?
2. Who do you bring in to replace? Why?
3. How do you balance the books after having to pay off Rodgers and the money spent to bring in a replacement?
4. What if the new manager decides he doesnt like the players at the club, has a different vision, where would you get the money to replace the squad?
5. You dont like FSG, you ‘force them out’, who buys the club?
hope you answer these! Personally I am prepared to give Rodgers time, he is installing the right mentality and a philosophy that is seeing us playing football the right way in my eyes. he is a man prepared to give youth the chance which will save us millions in the long room and create a team spirit and bond in the same process (exactly what Fergie did at United with the Giggs, Beckhams and Nevilles of this world).
Appreciate the intelligent and factual response Tim. Here are my answers to some of your queries.
1) Sacking BR : For having our worse start in a century. Even the hapless RH does not managed to do that.
For putting priority on paying 10 mill for an unproven Italian starlet while letting a proven 23 goals slip that cost only 6 mill.
For being so one dimensional that once his copy-cat tiki-taka fails, he has no plan B and it cost us. Please refer to games against WBA, Arsenal, Manure, etc.
For hyping up his own “philosophy” when a guy named Shankly had already brought it here decades ago.
For being Silly enough to let ago a 35 mill striker while not making sure the arrival of a replacement.
For being a rookie who had won 0 titles.
There are more but i would leave it at that for now.
2) Replacement: Rafa. 1) Because he is available and most importantly, he is passionate about LFC, knows what he is doing and a winner.
3)That is for FSG to answer. Wht did they apppoint a rookie manger in the first place when better options are available (see above).
4) If that happens, why can’t we just sell the players? Isn’t FSG strategy to buy young and cheap with sell on value? Or it actually does not work like Downing, Adams,etc.
Rafa has the ability to use these players. Remember he won us the CL largely with GH’s team that is largely devoid of star players and at one time with Mellor as striker.
5) For a ckub of our stature, THERE WILL BE A SUITABLE BUYER, one that does not make managerial blunders and would not baulk at paying a measly sum (by today standards) for a proven 23 goals striker. If we end up like Blackburn, a real possible scenario under FSG, THEN WE MUST WORRY WHO WOULD BUY LFC.
FSG a reincarnation of H&G. Yes you are right, for now. FSG had YET to load us with debts, in fact they cleared them. Other than that had we progressed under their leadership? We do not expect them to compete with the likes of Roman and the Sheikhs but refusing to top up another 1 mill for a proven prem striker that scores 23 goals last season. In total Dempsey would only cost 6 mill. FSG is no H&G yet but the similiarities are there. Noticed how they announce to their baseball team in the US that they would spend big but too over at LFC they are too skint to pay 6 mill for Dempsey?
Yes Fulhams valuation is higher than FSG’s but at he end it’s only a fraction of what its being paid for Carroll. FSG insist on appointing BR but refused to back him, is that not an issue?
I do not expect BR to challange for top 4 now of course but to record our worse start in a century? In the meantime, his old team with a new manager sits above us in the league and our resource deprive neighbour sits above Manure in the CL places?
Talking about youth :
1) Those are not his youth. Rafa bought them. Yes the likes of Sterling, Suso and company.
2) HE is forced to sue them, not because he wants to due to lack of activities and having to put a chunk of his transfer budget on a misfiring Italian.
As a fan i want to see us do something to dave our club while we still can. When would be the trigger point, when we end up like Leeds of Blackburn?
here is even better list:
1) steven gerrard retires immediately and promoted to coaching role
2) signing david villa
3) recall andy carroll from loan
4) sack BR
5) appoint louis van gaal as new manager
6) tim williams will write his last article on liverpool
Haha take it you are a fan joe, but that’s 6 and not 5 😉
I can only agree to point no. 4
all these are a silly and unrealistic ,but no.6 … well ….maybe ?
Oh Bob you tease, you dont want me to write yet you always read?
surely it is better that others have and offer differing opinions to your own? thats the beauty of football! In fact I would love you to write a piece on why you have no faith in FSG and what you would do with a problem like Liverpool….
tim just fish out all my posts in the last few weeks , stick them together and there is your piece .
im not a writer and dont even like responding to articles , but only the ( no offence ) most stupid articles like the one you did a few weeks ago makes me put my finger to work
Any good team need at least 4 strikers, e.g. the champions ManCity. So, Liverpool need 2 more established strikers, e.g. BA and Torres
Agree some what with you, but who in this country besides city an Chelsea can afford to have top established forwards on the type of wage they demand sitting on the bench? I see Suarez as number 1, borini as number 3 to really push, settle in and gain experience and with the system we play suso and sterling can be seen more as attacking options than midfield. What we are lacking is what Carroll would have offered, an established striker who provides us with different options. Is Carroll the right man in Rodgers system? Only Rodgers knows but recalling or replacing him in January is vital I think
Come on fellas, we cant buy like Man City and Chelsea. I think barring the mistakes of the last transfer period FSG are doing ok. In the long run, I think we will be better off than the big spenders. We have a great manager, a young team that will be around for long, and because we are willing to give the youngsters some playing we will hopefully become the destination of choice for upcoming talent. Things can only get better, believe me. On the FSG front lets not forget that it wasnt a cup of tea finding new owner after H&G, going through all of that again would just push us back. Lets have a little faith and see what happens. I think we are on the right track, regardless of the summer transfer setbacks.
Agree with you there, we are seeing the fruit of the seeds rafa planted! We have a young manager who plays the football we want to see and invests playing time in to those who deserve it not just who is established!
We have a great manager? Besides having won exactly 0 titles as manager, the only thing he is famous for is writing 180 pages dossiers and using big sounding words that means nothing. His dossier by the way i think does not include how to actually win games, hence our worse start in a century.
Oh did you notice once his copy-cat tiki-taka does not work, we are sitting ducks? It means he has no alternative game plan.
Oh those youngsters that you guys are raving about, Rafa brought them in, not BR.
As for the BR “philosophy”, sorry you BR fans, someone else beat him to it decades ago. His name is Shankly and the last i heard, he did O.K during his time with us.
BR is nothing more than a poser and only Americans would fall for one because just like BR they are good at PR, issuing great sound bites that meant exactly nothing. Guess they met their match.
like him or loathe him ? it doesnt matter . he is here , we should give him a chance and support him , he is trying his best and its not his fault he is working with the worst liverpool squad since early shankley days .
at least its nice football not the dour defensive crap hodgson made us watch .
Are neither of you encouraged at all?? I will give you positives:
Allen
Sterling
Suso
Wisdom
Sahin
style of football employed
performances against the manchester clubs
our b team winning away in switzerland and at the hawthorns
What a bunch of short sighted, short memoried, bitter and depressing bunch some of you are. It’s a game day for Christ’s sake people, let’s pick up the enthusiasm.
you have got the wrong site pal .this is not the hare krishna support group.
bob can you explain how the financial fare play system will work. is it something to do with club depth. you tit
Glad you got the hint Bob!
tim , ive already pointed out the facts about FSG here and in previous posts , im not going over it again , its like trying to explain to someone who is brainwashed by religion , why its stupid . you can point out facts , proven science but they still choose to believe rather than see things the way they really are .
thats what your like with FSG and liverpool , naive , ridiculously optimistic and closed to all reality .
however just a few quick points – i dont blame rodgers its all FSG for lack of backing
– “improvement” wow yeah , typical fan nowadays getting carried away with 2 wins !
– i dont particularly care about nice pretty football , arsenal have had that for years ,its about being successful first
– gerrard of course would stay , but suarez skrtel etc will put up with mediocrity only for so long before wanting champions league ( dont be totally naive )
– we were not a selling club back then , i agree with you over the reasons for those sales but we will be from now on because top players wont want to stay at a club that is not competing for the top
– finally what i want from owners is for them to care about my club , not about making money . it doesnt have to be a abramovich or whatever , another moores would be fine . if liverpool make 50m – then i want 50m spent on liverpool not put into some yanks back pocket
hmmmmmmm Bob, not entirely sure you have pointed out facts or ‘proven science’ and likewise and not really aware I have been blowing the FSG trumpet as it were. There is a big difference between being naive and being optimistic. Just because I try and seek the positives in any situation does not make me naive. In fact even in this very piece FSG are called out to sort contract and stadium issues before January.
To respond to your points:
1. explain to where I have got carried away with 2 wins? I have actually stated that the improvements have been performances on the pith rather than results off it. We are at the start of a process and there will always be teething issues but it is clear that the players are responding to Rodgers regardless of the results, so I was looking more in depth rather than final score. Unlike some I wont condemn for a defeat but also wont lose it over a win. Credit where it is due.
2. This is step one in a process. The team has to adjust to Rodgers, who happens to play decent football. We have to find our style, be comfortable with it and bond as a team to be successful, success is not an overnight thing.
3. There are no facts in this statement. If you want to talk about facts both Suarez and Skrtel both signed long term deals praising the club on and off the pitch and lauding the direction. That is fact. If down the road it is a ploy to get more money for them then that is something to take issue then, but for now you are simply assuming and you know what it is to assume…
4. again assumptions. you criticise me for blindly following (not true) and highlight your ‘facts’ but these are assumptions at best. If we struggle to get CL in the comings years then can you blame some for wanting out? no, and they are issues we have to review and address every year, but do you honestly think that we would lose players even if we were in CL? Liverpool is more than a club it is a family! City wanted Agger, Agger wanted Liverpool not £. It is about getting and keeping the right players for the club and who want to play for the shirt and for us.
5. Again not defending the owners but lets deal with facts. you do not know what they think about the club and neither do i. First and foremost after H&G I want whoever runs the club to do so primarily in the correct manner, I dont want the wory and the stress of our club in the courts again staring liquidation in the face. As for your comment about make 50m spend 50m?? you call me naive!! Neither of us know the state of the club finances or what is going on behind closed doors. Have you seen the accounts? I havent. Of course I want FSG to invest in Liverpool but I wont criticise them without any proof that money they receive/make from the club is going anywhere else other than the club. If it transpires that they do a ‘Glazer’ and pocket LFC money then I will be first up on my feet calling for action, but money for a football club is needed for more than simplay transfers and wages.
tim i could argue all the points you made for eternity but i dont see the point . ill just make a couple of quick points .
im sick and tired of hearing about 3 things . 3 things which the manager , the fans and sites such as this one continually use . i challenge you not to use these terms ( or different words with same meaning ) in your next few articles . because to me these are synonymus with losing .
1. improvement – a word used by rodgers , you ,and one or two on LFCtv to try and be positive instead of facing reality ,ie improvement v the two manchester clubs , so what ? we got 1 point .
2. building – ive been hearing this since roy evans days ,its non-applicable now as rodgers wont have the funds to build
3.liverpool can take the positives out of that – translated means we weren’t good enough again but lets cover it up with this and that .
i know if you take these 3 things out of your articles , you wont have much to say .if i met you in person i wouldn’t mind your points of view , what bugs me is you are in a somewhat influential position as a writer for a liverpool site and it annoys me when you (in my opinion ) continually spread apathy , false hope and a naive sense of possitivity instead of reality . we dont need to be marching down anfield road or booing the team , but we do need to be letting FSG know that we are united and will only put up with so much , which is why people like yourself are inadvertently acting against LFC
Inadvertently acting against LFC??? Come on Bob, really? Searching out the positives in a situation does not equate to spreading apathy and damaging the club! I quite agree that FSG need to be aware that fans of Liverpool are unique and that we won’t take things lying down, but I fail to see how I am supporting them! I have continually asked the questions that need answering and pulled up on errors they have made but to compare them to H&G and the glazers as I have seen is quite frankly ludicrous. Time will tell what type of owners they are and as I said we will have a better idea come February 1st 2013 (if the Mayan prophecy doesn’t finish us all off).
Are things ideal at the moment? Far from it! But as you say we need realism and the reality is we have a new manager installing his personal style and this will of course take time. Has he been helped by FSG? Yes and no! They backed him with the likes of sahin, Allen and borini but failed him with the Carroll saga. You would have to be daft not to realise that financially speaking we were up shit creek without a paddle! We had squad players on champions league wages and unless you want to pile the club with debt again that had to be changed so we had to say a sad farewell to the likes of kuyt and maxi. I firmly believe in credit where it is due and FSG have done well in the players they signed and reducing the wage bill. You agree or not? But at the same time they made a big mistake with Carroll and the last day of the window, and the silence over the stadium is frustrating so they need to address this.
At times like these when our team is struggling on the pitch us as fans have to be positive and back them and that’s why on the pitch and off it need to be separated which is what I try and do. We didn’t sign a Dempsey or sturridge but this means we get more of suso and sterling! How is that being apathetic?
The team is taking shape with Rodgers style and I as many other may argue Liverpool haven’t got all they deserved this season but in lack of points on the board you need to look deeper.
You keep mentioning funds, this isn’t championship manager, the reality is we haven’t got billionaire owners, we are recovering from the mess the cowboys left us in, and similarly mistakes FSG made. Amongst Our best performers this year are arguably shelvey, sterling, suso, Kelly and now wisdom who cost virtually nothing. It is about the right player being given the right opportunity.
i have always backed the team and never layed any criticism at rodgers door , although patience has its limits . i dont care too much for the sideways football and would rather see penetration and goals , anyway the problem i have is with the owners not rodgers .
yes FSG are not billionaires and are here to make money not spend , yes we are on a sound financial footing only because of the way they took over . and i do think liverpool were not really in that perilous position , i mean we are probably in terms of sales , fans and sponsorship the 4th biggest club in the world . whats the worst that could have happened ? administration yes , 10 points gone and we finish 15th , so what ? then they would be queueing up to but a club like ours on the cheap . queueing up !
this might be simplifying things but –
chelsea , man u , man city , spurs even arsenal all spend big money .
what do they have in common ? they are at the top every year because they buy the best players
great players = winning
good players = mediocrity
hell even sunderland southampton west ham qpr and others have spent more net .
gone are the days when a watford southampton or ipswich can challenge for the title , football has moved on , you cannot compete with inferior players . thats common sense . but it is FSGs plan to compete with cheaper inferior players but to combat that with a magical fantastic brand of football . it wont work , arsenal have tried with a great manager and failed , and even the most positive (or delusional )liverpool fan cannot compare rodgers to wenger
so we need money ! if FSG aren’t willing (i know they are not ) , they must step aside and find a buyer who will let liverpool compete , if they cared (i know they dont ) they would . there would be many interested in a global brand like ours .
we cannot have success with FSG , i see us only going ( and many others like me ) backwards and we might not still be that attractive global brand like we are now ,in a few years .so therefore FSG must sell and if needs be the fans must put pressure on them to sell . if they dont , all the ‘optimistic’ ‘positive’ ( naive IMO ) fans like yourself WILL realise the truth in 2 ,3 or 4 years .
and IF we do have 3or 4 years of mediocrity with no champions league , young stars leaving etc . think about it for a minute – what state will liverpool be in then ?
stupid stupid piece of amateur journalism , have you any idea of football ? the state the team is in because of the owners , and you dribble on about improvements ! passive armchair fans like you annoy me with your be a fan routine once a week . those of us from liverpool live and breathe the club and we know where fsg have taken us , thats into a mid table team .
stop defending them
You have made a lot of assumptions there about me Michaela! And amateur journalism? Of course it is, unless you want to pay me?
I’m not quite sure where I am defending FSG. If you read the article it is clear that I question many aspects, but I am a firm believer in picking my battles. FSG have a few questions to answer but you are blaming them for the state of the club? What state is that? Debt free and financially secure? Do you realise how close the club came to disaster?
Looking for positives in a situation is not a bad thing. But I want to know your point of view, and I won’t make any assumptions about you, what do you hold FSG accountable for? What woul you do if you had control of decisions at Liverpool today?
the writer does seem very over optimistic , the real facts are league table . it doesn’t lie
the writer does seem a tad delusional . has he watched any of the games or seen the table ?