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View from the Kop

LFC: The Reality Check

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LFC fans support believe bannerANOTHER weekend has come and gone, another defeat by the old enemy. The result on Sunday, whilst not a hammering by United, was still ultimately a defeat. A bad first 45 minutes cost us the match. The last 45 was by no means perfect but it was better. Personally I’d say I was only genuinely impressed with the last 20 minutes.

As a lifelong Red, I hate nothing more than losing to United, even more so than I hate losing to Everton.

Most United fans agree that losing to Liverpool is worse than losing to City – maybe that’s a generation thing. I’m sure with the title on the line between City & United the younger fans and glory hunters in Surrey may disagree, but ask a United player or a lifelong United fan, they’ll agree losing to Liverpool hurts like no other.

With defeat comes anger and today with social media it comes thick and fast. As a lover of Twitter and all things social I had to just look away from my timeline due to sheer hysteria happening on my screen. Even the eternal optimists such as Kristian Walsh of ESPN issuing stark warnings to Brendan Rodgers to learn the big game lessons and learn quickly; something I don’t disagree with. Yet if an Alien came from another planet and looked at Twitter yesterday they would have been forgiven for thinking Liverpool just lost the title.

It’s time for a reality check here. Liverpool FC are a team not only in transition, but a team struggling to find their way again. 3 years of mismanagement from Hicks & Gillett bringing the club to its knees was enough to stint our progress back 5 or 6 years. New owners finding their feet (albeit far too slowly for me), and a new manager trying to get back to the values of the initial vision brought in by Shankly.

Over the last 24 hours I’ve heard comments like ‘Brendan Rodgers is the worst manager ever’. Any fan saying that can’t have watched us under Roy Hodgson. Not only was his football awful to watch, he didn’t get the Liverpool Way. Praising his team after being thrashed by Manchester United was not the smartest move. Indeed even last year under Kenny I saw some of the worst performances I can remember. At times I also saw some brilliant one’s too. To be clear I’m not slating Dalglish, who is and always will be my hero. I’m simply stating fact.
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As much as I hate to say it, if you look at the greats in football and make no mistake, Alex Ferguson is a great in the game, he was just one game away from being sacked; a late goal in the FA cup over Forrest giving him a stay of execution. That goal seemed to transform the fortunes for United, consistency their main issue got better, not only did they go on to win the FA Cup that year, they went on the challenge for the title, the following year winning the Cup Winners Cup and then the hard work paid off in 1993, their first League title in 26 years. Since then they’ve been the force in football in both English and for a time, the world (they’re not the European force anymore), but they’re still winning all these years on.

I’m not trying to compare Rodgers to Fergie, but if you look at the Fergie’s career you’ll maybe see a lesson. Not only is football a game of fine margins, it’s something that isn’t always solved by a big name. It requires character, football nous and learning when you get things wrong. Fergie has done that, he’s changed his way of working, formation, coaches and players in order to progress. But he was given time initially and he’s proven himself now. What he does all too well is bring the right balance between superstar players and excellent players. Something we forgot to do at Liverpool, with everyone having to be world class.

Real Madrid proved that model didn’t work in the long term after Beckham joined the famous Galacticos!

As fans we should be upset by Sunday and we’re right to demand more. But demand within what is reasonable. Demand the manager learn, demand more from the players and demand more from the owners. Most of all demand we find a way to win. At the end of this season if they don’t respond and in the summer we don’t invest then judge then if you have faith or not; but for now be patient and give Rodgers time in order to stamp his philosophy on the team.

Mediocrity will and never should be accepted with Liverpool, but it’s a long road back to glory – personally I believe we’re on the right road, ultimately it’s up to Rodgers & FSG to make sure we stay on it.
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Lifelong LFC fan from Edinburgh, now living in Wales. I fell in love with Liverpool seeing the amazing team of the late 80's. My favorite player is a strong tie between Sammi Hyypia & Xabi Alonso with Dietmar Hamman coming a close third. Senior marketer by day, father and husband by night. A passion for booze, boats and all things good in life. My proudest achievement is somehow convincing my wife to marry me and creating my beautiful daughter.

56 comments

  • Elias says:

    They should buy attacking midfielders .we have prenty but average

    • Max says:

      Sneider to Liverpool. But i doubt FSG and MR Ayre young policy will finance this deal. Sneider would be awsome pulling the strings in midfield. He is also world renowned therefore in future could attract more quality players. at the moment players see the a manager they have never heard of and kids playing for Liverpool. The only recognition we have is our history and suraze and gerrard. Period.

  • Tommo says:

    Rodgers has shown nothing absolutely NOTHING to suggest he is a good manager , in fact he has a virtually identical record to Hodgson . Many times this season Rodgers has praised his players performance after a beating , so the two cant be seperated in my opinion

    You say mediocrity should not be accepted at Liverpool , i agree. Rodgers is mediocrity personified . His inability to beat one single decent team shows his tactical deficiencies

    It IS a long road back ,but its a journey we cant begin until a proper manager is in place

  • Gary says:

    Look i agre with most of what u say but one sentence sticks out ‘demand the manager learn’ Yes i agree …. but the manager doesn’t learn …. 25 games of inept performance after inept performance by Joe Allen , his pet , and then he still picks Allen away to Utd . That is stupid and unforgivable

    Eventually a manager is judged on 2 things –
    1 . RESULTS
    2 . SIGNINGS

    Lets stop making excuses for the guy and judge him like we would anyone else

    His results are very poor and his signings awful

    • simon says:

      Yes . Judge Rodgers on results . NO MORE EXCUSES

    • Maik says:

      And the really sad thing ? He is so stubborn and big-headed he wont ever drop Allen

    • Chan says:

      We have used the Fergie story since the says of Souness and his Spice Boys, so 23 years later and we are still being patient with 0 league titles.

      Point is how this Fergie thing does not happen all the time and it only happens once in a long, long time.

      Yes we must need patience but with the right person and all signs points to BR is NOT that person. From praising the team’s performance after every bad game to his poor signings and to the love of his own voice, nothing says BR is that person.

      Last weeks game is just the latest example. We just signed a striker who had scored a goal on his debut and BR keeps him on the bench. Fergie must have laugh in glee. BR was too afraid of Manure and we all saw what happened when we took the game to them. Another one of BR’s tactical ineptiude.

      Another thing is, LFC is a great club not a finishing school for some manager wannabe. And BR would never learn the LFC way, please don’t insult the great Shanks.

  • Con says:

    Lots of Liverpool managers have been given time and patience and failed to deliver after many years . Having patience certainly does NOT necessarily bring success and in many cases just prolongs the agony

    Liverpool fans are more than patient , and have been with Rodgers . But when Liverpool fans see really poor players being signed (15m Allen is a joke) and an inability to carve out results then patience must be sacrificed in favour of pragmatism

    If Rodgers even looked a little like a half decent manager – patience would be shown , but he doesnt

  • Slick Slickington says:

    – Keep The Faith Roger’s Renaissance YNWA J4T96 – Wavertree ’86 –

  • Tommy says:

    We are fast becoming a joke. The Muppets are running our once great club again. I hate to say it but we may have to get used to be hanging on to the coat tails of Everton, for the next few years at least. God that hurt!

  • imraan says:

    Please note that I have been a Liverpool supporter for the last 30yrs of my 39yrs in existance …I live for this club and am increadibly passionate about the Club and its ethos> I also study football so this is not a rant of a jonny come lately ….The Man U match was a hugh litmis test for Brendon Rogers and one that proved to me that he is some1 who talks the talk but not desply action …the week before he said we must be brave and what did he do instead of playing Hendo to partner Lucas so that Gerrard could free up an support the attack he played his FAV Allen in the hope that he would suddenly become the player BR thinks he is …As a result he handed the victory 2 Utd before the ball was even kicked …. Hendo is a type of player that presses and presses and runs his lungs off , Lucas would have been the Defensive Mid with Hendo pressing Carrick , Clevery and kagawa and Gerrard could then shrug off his D Mid duties and supply Saurez , Sterling AND Sturrige ( Who needed to start in the first plce ) …He did and allen was like a Deer in the Headlights …give the utd Mid Space due to his not pressing and running away from tackles and ALMOST gifted UTD a free goal only to be saved by the Defenders …
    Everyone talks about patience …they why was KK not afford patience ..What has BR DONE to deserve this patience …He was signed after a season where there where many leasons to be learnt i.e. we need a striker to support saurez , need to play experianced players more i.e Bellamy and Maxi were on FIRE and what did he do …the complete oppisite GOT RID of EXPERIANCE for next to nothing and didnot sign a TOP Striker instead went on an egotrip signing JOE Allen for 15 Mill …For WHAT Allen brought NOTHING we didnt have before soo to waste 15 MILL when money is in short supply is criminal …he certain can wax lyrical about what he WILL ACHIEVE ONE DAY …IN THE FUTURE but with him its always about tommorrow isnt it … Look at AVB or LAUDRUP or CLARKE improved the teams IMMEDIATLY and improving their football … BR is simply a Puppet of FSG dancing to their tune which was the reason AVB was not even considered … Being a passionate Liverpool supporter doesnot meen following and supporting OWNERS and Managers BLINDLY who cannot prove in action that the want to take us back to where we belong soon …which meens not in 2 5 or 10 yrs or maybe never ….

    • Scouse Ed says:

      I 100% agree with everything you say . Well said mate . We have had enough excuses thrown at us , this incompetent manager MUST be removed

    • erin says:

      100% accurate in your assessment. It took me a long, long time to figure out Brendan Rogers. I have been supporting Liverpool for 20 years and i know a thing or two about patience but patience must be earned. Rafa earned his patience with a couple of good signings, the CL and the pedigree.

      I look at BR signings and see total failure and a slight hope that Sturridge might turn out ok. Lets hope Mancini, RDM, Rafa and the Chelsea backroom are all wrong and he turns out world class!

      BR must be great at giving interviews. Talk the talk but can not walk the walk kind of guy. All i hear from people who defend him is pure fantasy. Great managers have made mistakes? Very true, but not repeatedly like Rogers has.
      YNWA

    • jimmy says:

      well said imran , excellent assessment

    • Chan says:

      You are spot on. I had been a fan for 28 years and barring RH and KD (his second coming), BR is the worst i had ever seen.

      Its very simple, FSG needs a complaint manager, not the best for the club, just complaint. That was why Rafa never got the call.

  • kunle says:

    Enough with this crap and start saying the truth!!rodgers isn’t good enough for our club..and stop with the transition crap,a club in transition don’t spend the kind of money we do,we are just being run by inexperienced owners who know nothing about soccer,and are ignorant enough not to hire those who actually do

  • Dan says:

    You all think that 25 games in BR can create a miracle and change the way we play, you all slate Allen (agreed not playing well) but do you remember how Lucas started off? You slate FSG yet they saved us from bankruptcy and being sent to oblivion. Building this team into a force to be reckoned with will take time it’s not going to happen overnight and yes there will be mistakes along the way, nobody’s perfect. BTW I have been supporting the club for over 40 years and I like all REAL supporters want success back at LFC and I for one will back BR as I think he is the right person but will need two seasons to get us on the right track but no matter what I will support LFC wherever they sit in the table. We are finally going back to playing some attractive football and I believe top 4 is still possible but if not this year for sure next year.

  • Howard says:

    Personally i find it hard to believe any real fan would give Rodgers the time of day . 7 months of transfer blunders , ridiculously poor signings , totally devoid of tactical awareness , sideways boring football , desperately poor results , and an egotistical personality

    I dont think any real fan wants more of the rubbish Rodgers has churned out , all we hear are more excuses from his fanboys

    • Dan says:

      He has a far better team here than he had at Swansea what makes you think he can’t be good. 25 games in and you want instant results to put right the years of carp as asking a little too much, he’ll prove you wrong of that I am sure as long as the owners back him in summer. Let’s not forget the financial fair play rules are finally being enforced with 25 clubs banned from receiving prize money already. The owners have cleared the huge depts that the club had and we will see investment back into the club once the books look in better condition this will take time

      • Terry Mac says:

        What a total utter fool u are

        yes he has better players here than swansea and look we are not doing any better than them .
        putting right the years of crap ? we had 2 cup finals last year and still have some excellent top class players

        You must be a absolute thick if u think financial fair play rules are going to make any difference . Grow up and face reality you naive fool

      • Caster says:

        dan you are very stupid . how much more time would you give a loser like brendan . any manager would have done a better job

      • Maik says:

        LOL ? Financial fair rules . Dont be so gullible . I dont know where you get your silly ideas from . Have you even heard of the clubs banned ? No , you dont have a clue . Living in cloud cuckoo land . You are worth a laugh though LOL

      • Chan says:

        The only manager who had rewarded us with our patience in recent years is Rafa and he won the CL in his first season, at one point with no strikers.

        While we do not expect BR to repeat this feat but to have your worst start since 1954?

        Many says “oh you slate Allen but remember Lucas”?
        There is a difference here. Lucas was Captain of the Brazilian (yes the serial World Cup winners) under 21 (that shows his potential) ,have no prem experince and got to learn the language. He cost less than 7 mill.
        Allen cost 15 mill, had prem experience and speaks fluent English, so what is his excuse?

        Any manager with half a brain would not let any of his players go without confirming replacements. BR let go Kuyt, Maxi and AC.

  • Dave says:

    Like him or loathe him , does not really matter . What matters is getting results for this football club .
    His inability to win any matches against any top half teams shows he is not up to the job . Considering in Suarez we have the league’s best player , that is an astonishing and disgraceful stat .
    People say he needs time – rubbish . He has had more than he deserves . Good managers come in and have an immediate impact , Rodgers has after all some great great players at his disposal

    • Dan says:

      Really, how long did it took whisky nose and even after all the money they threw at the club how long did it take man city and after all the money thrown at chelski where has it really got them and how long did it take. Wake up man people like you just like to trash the manager without backing it up, just stating a good manger comes in and makes a difference.

      • Terry Mac says:

        Mancini won cup 1st season and league 2nd . Wenger brought immediate success as did Rafa for us . Redknapp improves things instantly wherever he goes . When Kenny returned he dramatically improved results. Chelsea have had massive massive success or would u like me to count all the trophies they have won

        You really have no idea what your talking about , do u ?
        ill make it simple- good managers get good results , bad managers get bad results . understand ? Rodgers has had awful results

        Kop on you fool

        • Dan says:

          really u idiot who was there before Mancini the money was thrown at the club way before that, KK blew money what instant difference did he make except win some crap cup, I am talking about the league not local cup games. Redknapp improved things fine where is he now, You are the fool your living in some Fifa video game think you know everything idiot supporters like you should bug off and support another team you thick moron. What has Wenger done by the way what has he achieved in the last few years, nothing. Improve my backside. Go live in the real world twit

        • Maik says:

          I agree Terry but i think your arguing with someone who is not the full shilling

        • Chan says:

          Terry, i appreciate your goodwork but i am afraid you are wasting your time with Dan who is just too thick to understand what we are saying.

          @ Dan,

          Rafa, won the CL in his first season with little money and no strikers. See good manager = good results and immediate impact, bad managers = bad results.

          We kept is simple so at your level you could understand.

  • Liam Traynor says:

    Well done and said Terry and Chan

  • imraan says:

    Guys Brendon Rogers was the one who with his car salesman talk complete bulls* the Loyal Liverpool supporters with this patience talk .Look at the FACTS …Firstly KK gets fired for unpreforming ( I personally didnt think we had the worts of seasons KK and Clarke made mistakes but in your first year of a job you are going to BUT WE did BEAT the TOPSIDE …EVERY TOPSIDE , Man U , Chelsea , man city and Arsnel @ HIGHBURY ) soo anyways KK was fired for UNDERPREFORMING , u would assume that the NEXT manages immediate job would have been to make this team preform asap . Soo they overlooked AVB ( who spent his whole time after Chelsea trying to proof his worth and have a number of well researched targets ) and went for BrenDoM with his 1500 pages on how he was GOING TO TAKE US TO THE TOP …. what did he immediatly do when he first came in was dramatically weaken the team but GIVING AWAY NEXT TO NOTHING , Maxi < Bellamy < KUYT < AQULANI ( wats the dif between Aqua and ALLEN ????) and then said that Liverpool needs time to build because we have a weak squard ….So give me time guys , Patience , we not where we need to be …Look at our POOR results we have a weak team ( yes but BrenDOM you made it weak ) …So you now see how hes instantly bought him time and U HAVE TO BE PATIENT GUYS ….at the end of the day dont be baffeled by the bull* …compare the current MAN U team to ours , we have a better Keeper ( whos declining this season ) a back line of Johnson / kelly /wisdom / Agger / Skrytl and Enrique whos LAST YEAR WHERE THERE BEST DEFENSE …so he F that one up as well , a Mid of Lucas < Gerrard , Shelvey < Hendo who are better that Cleverly ,anderson and Carrick and forward attack we have saurez who is equal if not better than RVP …. WE DONOT HAVE A BAD TEAM GUYS ….IF FERGIE managed this team we would be TOP AT WORST …we just have a very very POOR manager and the longer we buy into the bullshit the longer we are going to be from a turn around ….I have read " The emporers NEW CLOTHES " i dont think either FSG have OR the LIVERPOOL SUPPORTERS have cuz I really dont know who the wool is being pulled over ….

    • redrum says:

      Everything you have said is correct . 2 things need to happen for our club to move forward
      1 . Liverpool fans need to wake up , and show their dissatisfaction ( shock horror yes that means booing , banners etc ) at our unimpressive manager , until he is sacked and a proper manager put in place

      2 . Fans groups need to sit down in dialogue with FSG and ask them to sell up . We can never get back near the top without proper investment and owners who have our best interests at heart

    • Santosh says:

      Right on, inner Rodgers we will not go forward.he has no clue how to handle a club like Liverpool. He has the mind set of a courtroom of the table club n unless a act soon that’s where a will be.

  • imraan says:

    Appoligys ment our defensive team was the 3d best in the league not where we are now , which is probelly the one of the worst .

  • Red Dawn says:

    I disagree author – Rodgers IS the worst manager in our history , at least since the 50s . Idont remember further back

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