‘THE problem with Brendan Rodgers is that he has no plan-B. He should have kept Andy Carroll but he got rid of him because he didn’t fit into his rigid style of play and 4-3-3 formation that he never deviates from’. Plenty of people in plenty of places have peddled the above notion all season long – until Brendan Rodgers proved their words to be unfounded over the past month.
Liverpool’s season is up and running and as they now stand unbeaten in their last 7 league games, Brendan Rodgers is also showing the flexibility and fortitude that many people doubted he was capable of. Rodgers’ teams always play ‘nice’ football but when they’re up against it a question lingered as to whether they had the capabilities to shift up a gear or move in a different direction to obtain a result.
Glenn Hoddle criticised Liverpool at half time in their match against Chelsea recently for exactly this reason, and he was right to do so. Liverpool had kept the ball well enough in the opening 45 minutes at Stamford Bridge but they weren’t threatening Chelsea and changes needed to be made. Fortunately, Liverpool’s manager, while being a strong believer in his philosophy, is now also displaying genuine signs of pragmatism and variation.
At Chelsea, Liverpool were being outplayed after an hour but Rodgers made the bold move of switching to a 4-2-3-1 formation after starting the game 3-5-2. He introduced Suso, a teenager of little experience, and pushed the much maligned Jose Enrique to a left wing role that he had seldom previously occupied. It showed guts to gamble on players such as Enrique and Suso to salvage the match for the hitherto disappointing away side, but it paid off. Liverpool ended the game in the ascendency and could have had more than the point that they rescued from their eventual 1-1 draw.
Last weekend against Wigan, Rodgers again made substitution that helped change the course of the game in the Reds’ favour. After just 35 minutes he withdrew Suso and brought on Jordan Henderson to ‘flip the triangle’ in Liverpool’s midfield. On the face of it, it wasn’t a popular decision, nor an easy one to make. Suso is well liked by the crowd at Anfield and was Liverpool’s most threatening player until he was withdrawn. He is also of tender age and being substituted in the first half without an injury could have been embarrassing and dispiriting for him.
[ad_pod id=”unruly-video” align=”center”]
His replacement isn’t so well appreciated by Liverpool fans and has started few meaningful games this season. Henderson is seen by many as an expensive flop (indeed, Rodgers’ reluctance to use the midfielder this season suggests he may well share this view) but Rodgers had made his decision and stuck with it. Popular or not, he altered Liverpool’s midfield and after an uninspiring first half that saw Wigan leave the field with a clean sheet intact, Liverpool then romped to a comfortable 3-0 win with Jose Enrique again adding the dynamism that has been lacking on the wings this season.
The ability to alter a game or even his team’s system was a genuine concern that surrounded Rodgers when he took on the role as manager but already this season we’ve seen that while he has a very clear way he wants his team to play and a preferred system to use (4-3-3), Rodgers is not averse to chopping and changing to obtain results. Already this season Liverpool have played 4-3-3, 5-2-1-2, 3-5-2 and 4-2-3-1 as well as subtle variations of each the formations mentioned.
Aside from just changing formations, Rodgers has also tried to augment the style of his team during games as evidenced by Henderson’s replacing of Suso and Enrique’s new deployment in an advanced role. Henderson doesn’t offer the deft touches of a Suso but he has energy to burn and while Enrique lacks finesse, he offers Liverpool power and stamina. Both are clear examples of Rodgers using the strengths of individuals to benefit the side rather than merely trying to force ill equipped players into his system and its requirements. A plan ‘B’, if you will.
When questioned about his change in the Wigan game, Rodgers wasn’t shy about explaining his tactical switch. Some may think he lauded his game changing decision a little but perhaps the substitutions, the changes of system and the public explanations are an indication of a growing confidence within.
From the moment the Northern Irishman made significant changes to his side at Goodison Park when his young team were being overrun by a rampant Everton side, Rodgers has shown his flexibility and courage consistently and it is benefiting Liverpool on the pitch. It appears that he is growing into his role more every day and he seems at ease with his surroundings.
Tactical flexibility was a potential negative against Brendan Rodgers when he took charge of Liverpool Football Club but, to borrow a phrase from the man himself, recent events seems to suggest that he has ‘flipped the triangle’ in that particular department.
[ad_pod id=’DFP-MPU’ align=’right’]
Live4Liverpool is recruiting columnists. For further info contact the site editor at live4liverpool@snack-media.com
Follow us on Twitter here: @live4Liverpool and ‘Like’ us on Facebook
ridiculous one sided article . rodgers has proved nothing except how inept he is . any blind and drunk half-wit could mastermind a home win against wigan with the players we have .
rodgers picked the wrong formation and bored us to tears in the 1st half , only a wigan error and superb finish opened up the game for us to dominate
liverpool beat wigan despite rodgers , not because of him
Head off back to your Manc slum!
stop trolling you ignorant kid
Ridiculous, one-sided comment.
If a Manager is deserving of criticism when his team plays poorly then surely he is worthy of praise when they play well.
I’m certainly not convinced that Rodgers is the man to restore our fortunes but let’s give him some time eh?
After all, we’re not Chelsea are we (thankfully)!
Chelsea are 3rd and sack manager who won champions league , we are 11 th with a no mark for a manager who has done nothing
mmm ? who out of those two has a winning mentality ???
Rodgers deserves to be sacked not praised ~I never thought i would see a LFC side as poor as he has made us
Ah yes, dopey reddumb again.
i think everyone knows by now that ‘troll slayer ‘ is in fact ‘jack the lad’ – this sites number one troll
yep i think it is
No confidence in this coach , he is making Liverpool worse and boring
Slow negative possesion football , how can you compliment him ? Stupid biased piece
Very one sided. Liverpool fans are patient , knowledgable but not stupid. We are seing our team keep the ball by passing along our back 4 and our keeper. It makes stats look good, but doesn’t add points to the table.
Let’s see, you talk about bold substitutions . Well, if you pick the right formation, you want change it after 30 min. Then explaining it as some kind of masterstroke .
7 games unbeaten in the league. Yep stats don’t lie, how many games were won?
Reading and Wigan. Correct me if I’m wrong but, we were beaten by Swansea at home, out of the Carling Cup, lost to anzhi and drew with some young boys. Hmmmmmm, exciting isn’t it? It makes my blood boil. We beat Wigan at home and Brendan saved an interview to big himself up every day till we played the boys.
Even those 2 wins came curtesy of one Louis Suarez.
heaven forbids if he is given money, he will probably spend 15 mil on a Chelsea bench warmer.
Rogers needs to shut up, see the season through and have the decency to asses himself. Liverpool fans are patient, Not naive or stupid
YNWA
LOUIS!? It’s Luis! Now there is one stupid Manc fan.
Just because I have a different opinion, doesn’t make me a Man U fan , or scum. I am not sure what your opinion is, other than try and insult everyone
any one that wants BR gone is mental
Or maybe we can see him for who he is. David Brent
It just a few dopes like Vickers, Reddumb and even Erin but he’s beyond dopey!
jack the lad what a sad immature troll u are
I think it’s high time u went to schl to complete ur grammar make-up. U think u knw best or, are u becoming a devil over night? Allow the God sent to do what he can do best. First manage ur life and schl b4 u judge him. Fan flops …
Good article but surprised u said enrique lack fitness.
I found it a very well written article. In fact, I agree with every point and find people who want Rodgers out ridiculous. If I were to believe some of the earlier comments, I would have to disbelieve my eyes when I see a game. To expect Liverpool to win every match is a great hope but a very improbable one. Our club has been lacking stability for a long time. And Rodgers is building a stable base to build on. And some said in the earlier comments that Liverpool won despite Rodgers and that we are being saved Luis Suarez. Well I agree Suarez has been a major factor this campaign. But how come King Kenny when he had the same Luis Suarez, couldn’t get him scoring like he is now. Now that is due to a system set by Rodgers. And people have been complaining about matches against YB, Anzhi and Swansea. Well all the teams that are mentioned played a full strength squad right from the start. But given our squad’s lack of depth in terms of quality due to faulty recruitment policies and lack of communication in the last transfer window, Rodgers basically played our youth players and reserve players and they performed admirably considering the star power of the opposition. And yes Liverpool fans like me are patient and not naive o stupid. Yes, I’m not stupid to demand Rodgers out, as I can recognize what he is trying to do. And I’m not naive as I can see the effects on the pitch and how the players are reacting. Well, BR you have my backing. YNWA
Whose fault for last transfer window ? The manager of course . I think Rodgers is totally out of his league , Liverpool is far too big a club for him .
I do think any fan who has faith in this guy IS naive . Did you want patience shown to Hodgson too ?
Supporting Rodgers is detrimental to our club as it just delays the inevitable . Rodgers needs to go now , and i cant believe anyone other than mancs or evertonians would want him staying
well you see there was a difference, the players did not like what Hodgson was doing. They did not like what he was doing, if you remember Agger’s outburst. And last transfer window the manager did not receive the backing from the owners because of the disaster of last season’s window. But in this case, the players are responding positively, the Kop is responding positively and only a very short-sighted person would want Rodgers out.
what in blazes are you Muppets blaming Rogers for? if Mourinho makes a clever substitution after 27, he is genius. if it’s Brendan, he is an idiot. ffs grow up. beyond names.
he is not an idiot for that , but he did pick the wrong team against wigan , and dumb selections against YB , not to mention his rubbish transfer dealings and dull football
Rodgers has turned our side into a joke , tactically useless , all his signings are total flops , he has been very lucky to have the league’s best striker saving us from worse
A more clueless manager i have yet to see . World class players and he has us 11th !!! . How can anyone defend him ? Only people who hate Liverpool would want us to keep him
I really think utd fans have infiltrated this site to laugh at us and praise Rodgers
yeah rodgers is super . manager of the year in my opinion .
his genius has guided the mighty liverpool to 11th . fantastic performances in europe against the very best europe has to offer .
fantastic entertaining performances (no backwards passing here) , and his buys wow , assaidi the new john barnes , borini such a threat , and allen surging forward creating chances galore , player of the season so far .
whats not to like ? everything is wonderful , i mean come on guys we are 11th ,no relegation fears , its great
give the man a 6 year contract before chelsea or man ure try and poach him
I’m a Liverpoolfc for life…..YNWA. I rather see my team stays unbeaten than lose a match. And LFC is playing better football now. To BR build for the future…..the young hunger for success but the old keep dreaming…..take out the old slow legs….give chance to the young.
pleese sack rodgers ,he is killing our team
Ask any swansea fan > Do u want Rodgers back ?
They will ALL say no . they are better and more exciting now
Rodgers is a waster . Get rid
BR is not good with tactics or team selection which is why we are in bottom portion of league . it is no blame to refs or luck or injury , the blame is with Rodgers , he should be manage of lower league team
Rodgers is one dimensional , tactically naive and negative . boring boring boring possesion football zzzzzzz.
28m wasted in the summer , and no top player will sign for our club because 1. he has us mid table and nearly out of europe
2. he is a nobody
We cant move forward til Rodgers goes , only with a top manager can improve _Forget this season ,Get temporary manager til summer , get the kids experience , then get Rafa back
I really dont get it , why are we even talking bout this . this amateur has had 6 months of failure
– transfers in – disasterous
– league results – disgraceful
– cup results – disgraceful
– type of football – dull
– tactics/formations – poor
6 months of failure , and NO reason to think the next 6 months will be any better
Why ? Why keep a man in a job who is not good at it ?
He is the best and we are expecting more from rodgers forget this criticizim.
the best ? not shankley who built this club ? not paisley fagan ,kenny or rafa who all won many things ?
you probably haven’t even heard of those names
I agree with most of the comments , rodgers is not up to the task . its a results business not an excusess business
rodgers has given us many excusess , and very few results . all we hear on these pages from his ‘supporters’ is excuses – bad luck ,refereeing decisions , injury , tough fixtures ( yes one moron actually gave that as an excuse ) , team getting used to each other etc etc etc .
every manager has hard luck stories every week . facts are he has spent what little money he had atrociously , left the squad short , won only 3 league games ( v 3 poor teams ) and has given liverpool the worst start in living memory
forget excuses , 12th in league , out of LC , nearly out of EL , disgraceful return even by evertons standards . anyone wishing for 6 months or a year more of this for our club is not someone who cares for the club
and if you are going to defend him , try doing it without excuses