MOST football fans like numbers. We repeatedly look at league tables, assessing what hypothetical results may do to positions. We decry strikers who score less than a goal every two games and now even the slow-to-catch-on televised media regularly bombard us with a plethora of numbers, possession statistics and pass completion rates being the present favourites. I like numbers too. But words are equally important.
A great example is the much maligned Rafael Benitez.
Adored by Liverpool fans for winning the most glorious of Champions League finals, fighting our corner against the media favourites of Fergie and Jose, supporting the Hillsborough families with great humility, and forever tinkering with tactics to eke out results in difficult games.
Rafa loves numbers (almost as much as facts!), but while he has done a much better job than the likes of Ranieri & Capello of learning the English language, he has always struggled to convey his personality, warmth, wit and intellect with his words.
I speak Spanish and in his native tongue Rafa is loquacious and effusive but in English he comes across as staid and just not with the program.
‘The numbers’ say he won 2 La Liga titles ending Valencia’s 30 year wait with a fraction of the budget of the great Barca and Madrid.
‘The facts’ say he consistently got Liverpool to the latter stages of the Champions League with owners who were siphoning money away from the club and didn’t have the capability to run it. He did this against the backdrop of the megabucks of Man United and Chelsea.
‘The reality’ is he took over the poison chalice of Inter Milan with a team that had lost all motivation after giving its all for 6 campaigns under Mancini and Mourinho, which were ageing badly with a large number of injuries, and Rafa still managed to win 2 titles – the only 2 titles he was allowed to win.
But Rafa’s words somehow fail to convey the gravitas of these achievements.
I bring up the subject of ‘words’ because of our present and affable young manager, Mr. Brendan Rodgers. I must first disclose that I am a big fan of Brendan. He is a modern manager for modern times. He wants to play football the right way, and through extensive coaching at varying youth levels has developed a philosophy (a newish term when applied to football) that we love to see.
He is engaging with the media (something that Kenny really struggled with) and seems to have a good balance between man-management and tactical work (his recent early substitution of Suso for Henderson in the Wigan game being a good example -“flipping the triangle,” in Rodger’s speak). Despite our lowly position, I am very happy we have Brendan in charge and think his bravery in trusting talented young players is something very few managers are capable of.
However I have one gripe, which is a worrying trend in some of his words.
We are Liverpool FC. 5 times European Champions. 18 times League Champions. Brendan, please stop talking about Swansea!
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As Liverpool fans we accept and acknowledge that Brendan has little managerial experience with only one season in the Premier League with Swansea, but it is quickly becoming rather irritating that we somehow now need to look up to Swansea.
Last season Swansea had some great results at home beating much bigger teams. They were knocked out of the cup competitions early, confounded the bookmakers on many an occasion and were rightly lauded for an excellent season in which they finished 11th. This was Swansea’s best season in 50 years.
Last season Liverpool won the League Cup, got to the final of the FA Cup, qualified for Europe, beat Chelsea twice at Stamford Bridge, beat Arsenal at the Emirates, beat Man City at the Etihad, knocked Man United out of the Cup and finished 8th, three positions higher than Swansea. This was Liverpool’s worst season in 50 years.
Our worst season was better than Swansea’s best season.
Brendan has the support of the Liverpool fans, including myself, and he has acknowledged that we have been patient with him. I know Brendan’s minimal experience means he has few other direct benchmarks but he really needs to cut the ‘Swansea’ from his pre and post-match interviews (with the exception of when we play them of course). Recently he has started talking more about previous Liverpool teams as being benchmarks; this shows he is learning and adjusting his words. I hope to hear more of this. Hence, I was rather dismayed to hear the following after yet another stalemate, this time against his former club…
“I’ll never say coming here is two points dropped”
Brendan. Wake Up! You are the Liverpool Manager. Not getting 3 points at Swansea is always 2 points dropped. To use a word like ‘never’ indicates you are in danger of being somewhat out of step with our expectations.
There are many things that Brendan does really well, and I’m sure in future articles we will talk more about these, including more game and player analysis, but this issue of finding the right words to suit our expectations was one that I felt I should write about first.
Do you agree Brendan should spend a little less time eulogising over Swansea or do you think that he is simply trying to lower our expectations to ensure no one gets too carried away? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.
You can catch more from me on my own blog: http://taintlessred.
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I believe he is trying to lower expectations, not really going to work though. Liverpool fans will always want to be at the top of the table. Reality says that, even with 2/3 of the season left, first place is virtually impossible. I would be among the happiest people on earth if that last statement were proved wrong but…..
Rodgers really should not wax poetic so much about his Swansea time but it had to be somewhat expected on his first trip back.
He can make this forgotten by bringing home the full 3 points home from Spurs.
Kop on lad , with this goon in charge top 6 is impossible
We’re only 5 points away from 5th and have been improving as the Season has gone on. I prefer to be an optimist.
Totally agree. Liverpool fans set their expectations high and Brendan could do well to stop making comments such as “7th place would be a fantastic season,” as he made recently. 3 points against Spurs sets us up well though. Without Modric & Redknapp I think Spurs have a fragility to them that I hope we exploit.
I u said he’s from a small (swansea).i think he has it in him 2take u forward
Like u said he’s from a small (swansea).i think he has it in him 2take u forward
Like u said he’s from a small (swansea).i think he has it in him 2take u forward.with a few signing’s we ll be strong again
This guy is a lower league manager at best , dont forget Reading sacked him after 23 games , he has a mid table team mentality
As Liverpool manager he is nothing short of a disgrace , he is bringing us down to his standards – there is nothing good about him , he talks bull and his football is boring
Shut up Brendan and go away
what are you trying to suggest with the Reading comment here? We all agree Rafa was an excellent manager but if you dlve into his past he had horror shows at Valladolid and Osasuna.
Calling them man a disagree is extremely harsh, but I would love to hear the reasons why you think he is….
Hes worse than disgrace . You are a troll for ridiculous defence of a moron
Im the troll? Can you read? I asked a question as to why he thought Rodgers was a disgrace! feel free to answer if you agree or simply continue to post abusive comments, whatever makes you happy
Excellent point Tim. I think Brendan showed at Swansea that he learnt from his mistakes at Reading, just as Rafa did at Valladolid. However, despite what Brendan says Liverpool is a world away from Swansea and he only has one year experience managing a small club in the Premier League. I very much like what Brendan is trying to achieve but I think we can expect quite a few mistakes along the way. But I choose to believe that his best years as a manager are ahead of him.
LOL dream on . this mug coulnt manage a burger van
please tell us why you think that Moose, enlighten us with your footballing knowledge….
Who would have thought we would not replace our strikers last transfer window ? after that debacle I expect nothing, we need proven goalscores bought, loaned, parachuted anything les is football suicide. Again I tell you it was not all bad buys we have a £20 million player who cost one million who is being hidden for some unknown reason. Texiera.
do you hold Rodgers solely responsible for no strikers being brought in folowing Carroll’s departure?
definition of a troll , i thought was someone who repeats mindless things online again and again … does that not describe you and yor loving defense of Rodgers and FSG ?
if thats how you want to read it Simon, does it not describe your behaviour as well?
I would define a troll as soming setting out to cause grief without explaining their action because of the kick they get out of it.
I express my opinion on matters, which is far from the loving defence you describe, i then try and support my opinion and why i think it. This is something you have continually failed to do despite numerous attempts on my behalf to engage you in mature conversation. But I will carry on to do so. Just because someones opinion is different to yours does not make them mindless.
So the comment you replied to, do you hold Rodgers accountable solely, for the Carroll debacle?
I think it actually describes you better, “Simon” 😉
Go back to Swansea you fool Rodgers – Im sick of this waster ruining our season
heaven forbid you explain your reasoning…
100 % Correct
Iam not a fan of Rodgers……..I do not believe we are building.I think we’ve got world class players that can deliver but Rodgers relied solely on Suarez! We’ve got Reina,Johnson,Skrtel,Agger,Enrique,Lucas,Gerrard,Allen,Sterling,Suarez!The only teams that can boast of this squad are already in the round of 16 of CL!We need a real coach!!!!!!!
how can you have a sensible debate when you have contributors like BR.He contributes nothing but unjustified insults and fails to give any reasons for his inane assertions.
why should anyone need to give reasons , isnt it blatantly obvious to everyone what a horrible mess he has made of the job ? Giving reasons seems pointless
yes well quite! why the hell should anyone provide their reasonings behind their opinion on a fan site. Surely if you are discussing something that is of mutual interest but opinions differ, should you not try and convince someone why you are right and they are wrong?
Because tossers like you dont listen probably , go troll somewhere else . if people want to air dissatisfaction without writing an essay – let them
We are ALL sick of hearing your moronic questions and options
Well perhaps if someone actually gave some grounds to their opinions there would be no need for ‘moronic questions and options’.
Yet instead we find ourselves in the situation where people who don’t comment using their name accuse people asking rational questions to attempt a mature conversation and them call them ‘tossers’. Well done you and thanks for reading.
Signed pictures of me are available on request 😉
Before I go, you did stump me ‘mac’, how can I be accused of not listening properly when provided nothing to listen to? Or should I accept one sentence responses calling me something from a cretin to nazi??
Agreed with the article, 5cl and 18 league titles and we are benchmarked with swansea? Its crucial that we get atleast 3 attacking and defensive players to replace the likes of gerrard and downing, and give br 3 seasons to get us to the top. I reckon he needs time to clear king kenny’s mess .Should he fail? Its risk we all have to take
he has failed . u want 3 more years of this ? if u do then your not a fan
I believe prement means 3 years to win the title not 3 years of languishing in 11th place. FSG won’t wait 3 years if we aren’t challenging for the title in 2 years. We’ve clearly improved since the beginning of the season but we obviously have to improve a lot in offensive areas to get where we want to go. However, we are only 5 points away from Everton in 5th and West Brom (presently 10 points ahead) are never going to stay there.
we havent improved at all . in fact the man city performance was our best moment . its been downhill ever since .
3 wins versus wigan ,reading and norwich is nothing to shout about , in fact its embarrassing .his signings are looking worse with every week , and i hate to be a pessimist but sooner or later suarez’s hot streak will end . what then ?
this guy will only bring us down to newer depths of mediocrity , he has failed , lets not waste any more time on him
It is very simple, either the owners want to invest or not?
There are so many good players who are moving on in jan and summer beacsue of contract runnig down or there clubs are in bad finance.
Its time to start just buying better players and i dont mean spending 150 million but for god sake any man and his dog can see we need 2- 3 players in jan and another 3- 4 in the summer, in two windows we should be ready to hit the ground running.
Its getting to the point now suarez will turn around evry soon and think as much as i like it at liverpool i want to win things and he will say why did i stay here!? its either fsg pay out for better quality or sell up and let someone who wants to win run the club.
I mean come on if we are really paying scouts full time to come up with tom ince, dan sturridge, bent and etc then we are done for…
Invest or f* off
spot on
Spot on Simon. Well said. Rodgers you spoofer get out of Liverpool football club.
BR needs to go for the sake of our future quick . Hopefully he will take Joe Allen back wherever he goes
Im sure some Championship club might take him as a manager
If Rodgers dropped Allen things might actually improve , but he wont
I think BR was not so far of the mark in saying what he did about the points dropped/gained at Swansea. He is above all a realist and the reality is that Swansea is a difficult side to play. I agree that we are LFC and 3 points at at all places other than the rich three should be taken for granted and even at the rich three they should be expected. However we are not there in terms of squad size and quality. I would say another couple of years before we are there, provided we show patience and support. Nothing BR or FSG have done, so far, deserve the derision being thrown their way in these comments.
yes they have BR + FSG have been poor in EVERY way for our club . They have taken Liverpool backwards and are destroying a once great football institution
how have they taken the club backwards? pointless just vomitting out words as you do without providing your reasoning!
Let me suggest to you why I think the club is not going backwards.
In terms of FSG under their ownership the club is not in fear of liquidation, I would suggest that is a forward step? Are they perfect? no do they need to improve? very much so
As for Rodgers, The form post Carling Cup last season was akin to QPR this season and it was only the points amassed before christams that stopped a truly horrific season. The fact that this run has been stopped and the side is not as mentally fragile as it was a few months ago is a step forwards. COuld things be better? obviously, but what did you expect? instant turnaraound? this isnt FM, you cant turn off and start again
Stop talking rubbish
TW how many times are they simply going to offer their moronic responses instead of actually responding with an educated counter. I know I am, after all, just a dumb yank who couldn’t possibly understand THEIR Club or THEIR game. Like it’s really that difficult and THEY’RE a bunch of flipping brain surgeons. It’s a shame they simply don’t realize that in todays world LFC would not be able to compete if they only had supporters who live in Liverpool.
Hang on a min NJRedsFan? Your a yank? Well that automatically makes you a greedy club drawer no? 😉
It’s funny how many sign in with a random name offering identikit responses and failing to support them!
Anyways, why enter a conversation with some of a different opinion when you can say something like ‘stop talking rubbish’
Yes, I live in the NEW Jersey, not the old/original Jersey although I prefer to wear a RED jersey!
I am a die-hard LFC fan from South Africa, and have always had much pride in the knowledge of our beloved fans, but reading these posts & the associated idiotic comments, makes me wonder why it has always been written that LFC fans are knowledgable. Most of you want BR out, but the harsh reality is that his system will take time to adapt to & we have improved. However, to those who want him out, not ONE of you have come up with a solution to the problem or made any positive comments. So, unless you have something positive to say, “SHUT UP” and keep supporting the greatest team on the planet….something that i will continue to do with much pride, dignity and joy, irrespective of who manages or plays for us.
Any total idiot can see we have not improved . what position were we in last season ? you SHUT UP u moron u dont know our club , our team , our city .
Our club is in bits and all idiot fans like u can say is be positive , everything will be ok . well its not ok
As for solutions ? Get a decent manager would be a start , instead of brendan no hoper rodgers
Well, i refuse to get into a slanging match with a bigot, but FYI, it may be “your” city, but that does NOT make me any less of a supporter. Im guessing you have a tattoo-ed cousin who you think may be a better manager than BR, or do u actually know of anyone you would like appointed as OUR next manager? I will be the first to admit, that CL qualification and competing for ALL trophies should be an absolute minimum for OUR wonderful club, but even without those rose-tinted shades, you have to admit that with our current squad, and the new philosophy, time is of the essence…and that would be the same, irrespective of who our manager was…Pep, Rafa, or Jose.
In closing, we should ALL be on the same side, and even though criticism is something that should always be welcomed, we must endeavour to constructively say positive things, else the other trolls on here will just continue to deride OUR wonderful Football Club.
PS, while our position may not have improved, our style of play certainly has, and as is the norm with change, it does take time for the results to bear fruit. Lets just all pull together
Check league tables , our position is worse and as good as out of 2 cups . Dont make comments if you dont know facts . As for style of play , yes it has changed for the worse , its the most negative boring football ive seen from Liverpool before . Our club is wonderful but when it is being damaged by greedy yanks and managed by a clown , i think its time to say stop , and try and get things changed , not sit back and let it happen
Vickers again, please explain the comment ‘greedy yanks’, if you are going to accuse somebody of something then at least back it up.
How are we as good as out of two cups? Europa Qualification is in ouor own hands. Is our qualification any different as to the European qualification in Rafa’s first season?
If you want to compare league position in terms of progress then you have to at least wait until the end of the season. In the real world, the form showed by Liverpool towards the end of last season will have rolled on to this, so first and foremost this had to be put a stop to, and the side is mentally tougher this year.
and as for fotheringham, the Geography argument is very week and very pathetic. I dont care where Ranjiv Singh is from, he is a red supporter thats all that matters, and hey least he is brave enough and man enough to put his name on here!
this is idiots mancs writing here. in Brendan i trust. YNWA
The only people who are happy we have Rodgers is mancs , so go troll your osn clubs sites
Rodgers expectations are that of small club . BR must go , he is not good enough for Liverpool FC
why do you think that?
Talk well of your friends and of your enemies say nothing.
We at LFC should seek the highest standards obtainable . That includes a level of excellence in our manager . That level has fallen far short from BR
Why do you ink that Dave?
Obviously I meant think and not ink!!!
rodgers get out please , your useless