WHEN Brendan Rodgers arrived, Liverpool fans were quite optimistic. A stylish brand of football was promised, and words like “the road to the title starts here” were even uttered by some supporters. Everything looked rosy and bright.
And here in November with 11 points from 10 league games, being knocked out from the League Cup and having Europa League knockout stage qualification in the balance, supporters are starting to question whether the right way forward was chosen.
So, let’s look at how exactly LFC can go forward, discuss all pros and cons and make a decision.
1. Go against FSG.
It seems to be a very popular idea among the fans that the Americans aren’t too educated about the football club they own, with their commitment being questioned.
I agree with every point, but still would like to point out that they saved the club from administration once. Yes, they are in it for money, but in any business who wouldn’t be?
And they backed King Kenny with millions, whilst Brendan Rodgers still got around £30m, so they can’t be accused of putting nothing into the club as their predecessors did. They aren’t as rich as the Man City or the Chelsea owners, but surely they shouldn’t be blamed for that.
So, going against FSG doesn’t seem to be the best idea as it never helps going against owners. Remember how the supporters’ disagreement with previous ones absolutely derailed the team?
2. Have patience.
That is what both the owners and Brendan Rodgers ask of the fans. And many experts, former players and journalists agree with it. But supporters need to have something in return for patience and support.
Promises aren’t good enough, constant excuses and complaining about referees is laughable, and the worst of it – there’re no results what so ever.
So, continued blind support and patience seem to be leading to more frustration. LFC fans used to be the most educated football-wise and still are. So we simply can’t buy it anymore.
3. Sack Rodgers.
The least wanted and the most radical decision that nobody really wants to put into practice. But I’ve already heard from a couple of fans that it is the best way forward for them.
The cons are obvious: rebuilding in the middle of rebuilding, inevitable stress and disappointment because of yet again, more changes at the helm and recognising another £30+ mil lost in transactions. And surely with Rodgers gone, the season is as good as over.
I can’t find any pros what so ever. Maybe there will be an opportunity to bring in a better manager (like Harry Redknapp in my opinion), but I don’t think that will happen.
So with his position almost untouchable as it won’t bring any good to the table, Rodgers still has to take a lot of criticism.
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Rodgers has recently stated that it will take three years to rebuild Liverpool and some supporters agreed with this statement, which I find nothing short of ridiculous! There was nothing to rebuild as everything was already in place. Of course, one or two improvements were needed but not a total rebuilding!
The team were passing and moving, had more of the ball in most of games, created one of the highest number of chances, and had the third best defence in the league; never mind winning the League Cup and reaching the FA Cup Final, which could have gone either way but for officials’ failure to spot the ball crossing the line. These are plain facts about the team Rodgers has inherited. Now let’s have a look at what he’s done.
Nine players out, four in during the transfer window. An England international striker was replaced with Italian treatment room resident. Sahin doesn’t look like playing better than Shelvey, Assaidi is the new Nabil El Zhar (remember him?) at best, and Joe Allen seems ok, but he might need a lesson of moving the ball forward and not anywhere but!
Our home record wasn’t the best last term but this time it’s frightening. Goal scoring was a concern, but at least Luis Suarez was not the only hope! And defensive struggles this season are well documented too.
Rodgers keeps telling us that the squad is young and thin. But who made it this way? Last season there were lots of discussions about who should start and competition for places was there to be seen. This year’s starting XI chooses itself. The Manager should take responsibility for things like that and not ask for sympathy!
So, Rodgers has one or two things to answer for, too. And given the current results, I can’t see him as a man who can take LFC back to the top. He’s a good manager, but is he anywhere near Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho or Arsene Wenger? I don’t think so.
So, I’d like to offer an alternative way forward. The Club has always been famous for promoting within. Maybe it’s time to bring the good old Boot Room spirit back? Jamie Carragher is doing his coaching badges, knows the club inside out and is loved by every Liverpool fan.
Sometimes players can take charge of the club even with a manager on a payroll. France in World Cup 2006, and Chelsea last season did that and were pretty successful. So maybe it’s time for one of the greatest servants of the Club to help it return back on top? Because that’s where it belongs.
“A lot of football success is in the mind. You must believe you are the best and then make sure that you are. In my time at Liverpool we always said we had the best two teams on Merseyside, Liverpool and Liverpool Reserves.” – Bill Shankly.
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“He’s a good manager, but is he anywhere near Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho or Arsene Wenger? I don’t think so.” Was Alex Ferguson Sir Alex Ferguson when he started? What kind of stupid comparison is this? Bar Jose every manager who has been successful has needed time at his new club. Even Fergie took 3 years of bad results to take Utd where they are today. Stop whining. Either support the manager or buy Chelsea jersey.
Look how Everton stuck with Moyes and the team they have now, even with all the budget constraints.
Quoting Bill Shankly doesn’t make you a good fan. Supporting you team does…
Thank you. You saved me the time writing the same comment.
fools call for patience . we are Liverpool not a mid table club . go support someone else and be patient
Hey D##K head I have supported this team for over forty years through good times and bad and I am no fool but unless you can find us a multi billionaire who wants us as a plaything then there are no quick fixes and whoever owns us and whoever manages us will require time so if you want quick results there are two or three teams out there who can give you them so why don’t YOU f33k off and support them while us REAL fans give the patience and support the manager and team needs FOOL!
open your eyes to whats going on . u sound like a fool when u talk like that
Sick of hearing foreigner fans telling us how to be good fans . Fans from the city have had enough of poxy USA owners . Go support your local team , let us worry about our club
Maybe you should buy us then Fred you D##K head
its retard fans like u baz that are holding us back
Good article. Don’t think carra is right for the job just yet. I think the quote about Ferguson is fair. He had won the cup winners cup with Aberdeen so had merited the United job and the patience he got. Rodgers didn’t deserve the Liverpool job and has done nothing to merit keeping it other than lower expectations. We were the number 1 rated team in Europe in 2009 under rafa for f#ck sake.
“We were the number 1 rated team in Europe in 2009 under rafa for f#ck sake”
and what after 2009? Rafa was still there wasn’t he??
Rafa was the one who came up with the idea of replacing Xabi Alonso with gareth barry.
inter milan won a treble before he joined and within 6 months where Inter??
we must go against FSG
your figures are wrong , the net spend in the summer for rodgers was about 12 million , less than QPR,sunderland ,southampton ,west ham, and all the top sides . kennys net spend was roughly 20 million only .
having patience with an unproven manager is silly , there is no reason to think he will be a success . so far he has totally failed , his transfers have been appalling too. if LFC had a top manager , we could give him a bit more time ,but a top manager wouldn’t have us in this position
FSG have outlined their policies of cutting back wages , being frugal not spending too much on transfers , bringing youth forward . this wont let us compete at the top .
they are basically copying the arsenal model- if ( and its a massive IF ) our youth turn into great players , and if ( a even bigger IF ) rodgers turns out to be as great a manager as wenger , IF those two IFs miraculously turn into reality – then at best we will be the same as arsenal . they are not winning anything and are not even competing for titles
so after 4 or 5 years of ‘ patience ‘ , maybe just maybe we will be competing alongside arsenal and spurs for fourth. to me thats not good enough for liverpool
we need proper funding to compete , FSG wont . so for the future of our club we must get FSG out quickly
spot on bob
WAS SHANKLY PROVEN?
duh ! You really are stupid , shankley took over a run down 2nd division team , with no recent history of success – thats where unproven managers should be tried out
rodgers with no history of success , is given the job of one of the worlds biggest clubs . u really dont know what u are talking about
Excellent arrticle , all true . Personally i think both Rodgers and FSG need to go . LFC Fans think things cant get any worse , well they can . Its unlikely Suarez or Sterling will be at the club next season , Any Fan who thinks they will stay in that team is dreaming .
We can talk tactics,money,players,formation,JW Hendry,but, ultimately if we don’t bring Rafa back or another coach of his calibre,we will just remain a mid-table club. Since 2000 it has been realised in football that you can no longer keep a manager for future success,cos what happens after 5yrs if it doesnt work out? Do we start another 5yr project. Rafa won the CL in the first season,Pep won the double,Jose,Klopp,Wenger,Ancelotti to name a few. Guys like Fergie(going 5yrs without silverware,yet having the best budget) would never make the grade in the current game,he still be working somewhere in his hometown… So why as LFC are we trying to be a grooming arena for an unexperienced guy like Rogers? He should do his time like Pep did at Barca and understand the game more thoroughly,no disrespct to Rogers,but, WE ARE LIVERPOOL!!!!
also true . moves must be started for FSG and Rodgers removal
chelsea and city and spurs are growing n growing . we cannot afford years messing around , the gap to the top teams is already huge
F##K OFF
stop trolling you nob
Rodgers out is achievable and should happen. Fgs are going nowhere unfortunately.
Rafa come home.
The most stupid article in months!
You said: ‘but is he(BR)anywhere near Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho or Arsene Wenger? I don’t think so. and then you mention Carragher and your excuse was ‘he’s loved by every Liverpool fan’…….So was Dalglish!! Now that’s just one thing among an article of trash……Give up the writing!!
Though FSG’s net spending is not more than 50-60mn over 2 years, but we should remember that, they have removed the debt on the club. Only from freed debt servicing, we are at least 25mn richer every year.
I think, the football ignorant yanks blindly supported the previous manager (who was, is & ‘ll be a club legend) & suffered a 75mn bluff. This time, they are playing the cards close to chest. They ‘ll definitely open the bank again – simple, they bought this club as a business & unless we are in CL, it ‘ll never be profitable. & to do so, they ‘ll have to invest big time, but may not be the scatter gun City or Chelsea style.
The positive side of this change over is, we have got at least 5-6 top class youngsters, who might have left the club untested under previous circumstances. We are not winning much, but I am happy the way the club is playing & moving. May be a couple of top signings in next Jan & another couple in following June can take us to CL as early as next year, specially the way the youngsters are developing.
20-25million net , check it out
good article . only the sheep think rodgers should have more time , and there is less of them every week
unfortunately FSG arent going anywhere for the moment , but we as fans must put pressure on them to pack up
Excellent article again . You seem to be the only writer on this site that knows what he is talking about , all the others do is cry about bad luck ,make up excuses and stupidly plead for patience .
As to the point , its obvious to anyone FSG are not good for our club , and Brendan is unfortunately out of his depth , so i support 1 and 3 , and i agree with above no.2 is for the sheep !
are u people mad ? WHY are we even discussing this ? we are 13th in the league playing boring side passing football . all of Rodgers buys are dross , he is a total no mark !
wake up people . WE ARE (supposed to be ) LIVERPOOL , there shouldn’t be any talk , every true fan should be screaming for Rodgers to go , if your not then your not a proper fan
Don’t be stupid Bellers, every true fan will get behind Rodgers, the way the team is playing is much better than previous seasons, there is a sense of urgency going forward and you can feel the players wanting to make a difference. Rodgers makes good tactical decisions, and somehow we are just off that little. Remember Mr Hogson? Now, THAT was rubbish. If we look beyond the stats and believe in the philosophy of what Rodgers and FSG are trying to do, it really makes a lot of sense. Common guys, Liverpool fans are wise, surely we can look beyond this season’s results. There is genuine hope, in what FSG and Rodgers is doing. I believe what they have done so far are clearly wise decisions, and though results are not looking up at the moment, the future’s definitely worth the wait.
delusional is the only word i can use to describe you . ‘ just off a little ‘ no way , we are rubbish . are you watching all the games ?
wheres the hope in FSG ? they are here to make money . have you ever heard of benevolent american businessmen ? dont be naive . they wont spend whats required so we need them out
‘rodgers makes good tactical decisions ‘ lol lol and lol . this is the only manager in the world with no plan B. this is the man who goes into a season with one striker . this is the man who continues to play the best attacking midfielder gerrard in a withdrawn role , wasting him . this is the man who signs total rubbish in assaidi borini and allen . wake up pal .
and the biggest laugh is ‘ there is a sense of urgency going forward ‘ lol lol and fkin lol . are you a comedian ? urgency ? backwards sideways backwards sideways sideways backwards and on and on . its the most boring football ive seen liverpool play . one way , no variation , no crosses , not much goal action just pass pass pass pass …. its boring
be delusional as much as you want in your own little world , just keep your madness to yourself please
110% agree
i disagree . every true fan will do what they think is best for the club , i believe fsg and rodgers are wrong for this club , so i wont back them . im from the city , have supported for 34 years and spend a lot of money supporting my team , most from the city want them gone
FSG are ruining our club and need to sell up . BR is not the right man and the footie is boring to watch
get rodgers out , and take allen assaidi borini too . none of them are liverpool class
yes , go rodgers and yanks , ur ruined our club
Though from Rafa , Dalglish and now Rodgers the facts remain the same of Liverpool improvements are not so “regulate” particularly infront of post to score and that of Liverpool’s defenders intime of giving too much of priviledge to opponnents strikers or of trusting and believing too much on each others and goal keeper they stop defending and stupidly take goals .the2 goals taken against Mcity and Everton 1goal against Newcastle and so on if they don’t care not 3 years perhaps another decade a manager act as a”MENTOR” not to exploit players
good article nicky lad . you are the only one who tells it like it is
Times up Mr Rodgers , we gave you longer than Reading did , take the yanks with you on the way out
rodgers out yanks out
if u love our club help force them out