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View from the Kop

Should FSG intervene before it’s too late?

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LFC manager RodgersFENWAY Sports Group should review Brendan Rodgers’ position at the end of the season. I know some people are going to say give him time, he’s building a young, competitive squad that should be challenging for trophies in the very near future and that we are not a club for changing managers like a revolving door.

But I ask you all this…has he improved us since last season?

I would have to say no! He lacks tactical knowledge in the league, especially since we still haven’t beaten anyone above us in the table, barring Swansea Reserves (the table doesn’t lie) and in Europe.

Brendan didn’t take the Carling Cup or FA Cup seriously. His team selections against Swansea and Oldham cost Liverpool massively. I know people make mistakes, but the thing for me is that the same mistakes are happening and we are not learning from them.

Just look at the defeats against Villa, Stoke, Oldham, West Brom and even the draw against Everton; we couldn’t handle strong physical centre-forwards. How do the team prepare for those types of games in training if we haven’t got that type of player within the squad?

We take big strides forward but then go backwards – being an LFC fan at the moment is like being on a rollercoaster.

It’s all good trying to play passing football within a 4-3-3 setup but when our backs are up against the wall we need to have a different option i.e. 4-4-2 or even 4-2-3-1 to try and mix it up.

The team now lacks metal in midfield and has a weak winning mentality. If we don’t score first and concede, the team buckles under pressure which was evident against Zenit last Thursday night, and last Monday v West Brom.

We need someone who is able to instil a positive and winning mentality not just in domestic games but in Europe, and someone who has done it before – ‘got the t-shirt’, so to speak. You may think I’m mad mentioning Rafa Benitez, but look at the bigger picture. Four years ago we gave Real Madrid a footballing lesson in their own backyard and we were fighting for the Premier League title with Manchester United.

I know people are going to say he took us as far as he could, poor signings etc. but Rafa was our ‘Special One’ – 2 Champions League Finals in 3 years is a great achievement, masterminding victories over Inter Milan home and away, the amazing Chelsea victories in the league and in Europe (don’t forget we were the first team to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in four and a half years, they were 44 games unbeaten at home)…the list is endless.

Yes, some signings were questionable, but he gave us Reina, Xabi Alonso, Garcia, Mascherano and Torres, amongst others who were the spine of a top team. Who knows what would of happened if were able to keep hold of Alonso, Torres and Mascherano. What if Rafa was able to buy Silva or Mata like he wanted? Sorry but Allen (£15m), Borini (£12m) or Adam are not a patch on what we had.

Fast forward to 2013 and we are 26 points off the pace at the top, 9 points off the coveted Champions League place and 3 points behind rivals Everton (who have a game in hand) with 11 games to go. We’re also on the verge of getting knocked out in Europe barring a miracle tomorrow. Clinging onto this season’s competition by their fingernails after the 2-0 defeat to Zenit, and placed seventh in the Premier League, it could be a while before the passports are taken from the top drawer again.

Liverpool failed to retain their heads. The ability to keep the ball extolled so enthusiastically by all at the club was missing once more. Much like the Arsenal game a few weeks ago, the second goal was inevitable following the first. In a league game, giving away two goals is galling; in a two-legged European tie, it can quicken elimination.
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Maybe the surprising thing is such a defeat comes as a surprise. Only six of Liverpool’s starting 11 have played in the Champions League, against a team worthy of the competition. When Rodgers was given his first job at Watford in 2008, Luciano Spalletti had already beaten Real Madrid home and away with his Roma side.

How the dogged experience of Dirk Kuyt or Maxi Rodriguez would have been welcomed on a sticky pitch engulfed by an intimidating atmosphere. That the likes of Sterling, Allen and Jordan Henderson will have gained experience of such an evening is one of the only positives to take for Liverpool. Even Kuyt, Maxi, Gerrard and Jamie Carragher had to start somewhere.

We had one of the best midfields in Europe, now we lack the experience and steel to strike fear into the opposition. The midfield 3 was so easily knocked off the ball.

Anfield was once a fortress, now teams aren’t scared; they are buoyed by our home.

Roy Hodgson and King Kenny were dismissed for not taking the club to the next level. I admit under Roy his signings of Poulsen and Konchesky were not Liverpool standard and the football played was so lacklustre we could have been scrapping to stay in the league.

Look at Kenny. He came in half-way through the season after Roy got the chop but he knew what was lacking within the team and helped us finish the season strong. Last year was a poor finish in the league but we reached two cup finals and should have won both of them. He even ensured we had European football for this season by winning the Carling Cup. The fans thought we were on the up.

This season is worse I’m afraid. Look at the evidence from 2009 onwards…is this progress?

SEASON POINTS TALLY

2009: 86

2010: 63

2011: (FSG arrive) 58

2012: 56

2013: On course for 53

Sooner or later Rodgers is going to need to show the qualities of a top class manager but sadly I don’t think he has them. He has never managed a team with such as a glorious history as Liverpool. Just look at his time at Reading and Watford (won only 2 out of 11 games), he has only ever had a 30% win rate as a manager – is this good enough for Liverpool Football Club?

Compare that to Rafa’s win percentage of 56 % as LFC boss think it speaks volumes of just how lucky we were to have him as manager.

When Brendan arrived at Swansea the ground work on how the team was going to play was already in practice by Roberto Martinez and Paulo Sousa – he just helped it along. Even Michael Laudrup has taken Swansea to another level this season. An example of this is us getting played off the park by them in the Carling Cup. Their passing and fluent game play is a joy to watch when they have their full team out.

Of course the players have to take some of the responsibility, but the buck stops with the manager as he picks the players and tells them how to play. Pretty ironic that Warriors slogan is ‘We Come Not to Play’

FSG appointed their own man in Brendan Rodgers but surely discussions need to take place before LFC becomes a truly average club and disappears off the football map. At the end of the day LFC is, and should be, one of football’s greatest institutions.

Follow me on Twitter @MRSSG
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I am a lifelong Liverpool supporter from Huyton Liverpool just like Stevie G and go all over the world supporting my team I go the games in my wheelchair as I suffer from Cerebral Palsy however that does not stop me having a ball cheering on the World’s Best Team.
I write a weekly column talking about various topics whether that is tactical analysis of matches, opinion pieces, looking through the archives of previous matches, former players and current articles on Brendan and the first team.
It is great being part of the first class writing team at Live4liverpool.com and bucking the trend in being the first woman to write for the site.
Follow me on Twitter @MRSSG to keep up to date with my articles. Y.N.W.A

126 comments

  • Jayz says:

    Get gone Rodgers u divvy .useless tw*t

  • Moose says:

    Tonight typified Rodgers time as manager –
    – poor team selection
    – valiant performance and effort
    – but ultimately _ failure

    Zenit were there for the taking , but Rodgers couldn’t make a sub , tactical switch or anything that good managers do , to effect the result .

    Face facts people – our manager is a loser
    _ but im sure more excuses are forthcoming

  • sk says:

    Guys,

    you need to be realistic.

    BR’s LFC style of play, when compared to Hodgson is certainly much much better. At least i don’t get the “heart attacks” when i watched them play.

    Under BR, we are playing a very smooth pass and move play. We are no longer a one man team. for the past few games, we have more than 5 people on the goals/ assists list.I will take this as a major improvement for the side.

    Our major mistake is why we did not buy Sturridge in the summer instead of Borini.

    • Andy says:

      Results are ALL that matters . Rodgers is rubbish at getting them .
      Last season trophy , finals , beatin city , utd , che , arse – Glory
      this season , nothing , no good wins , no success – Misery

      Rodgers is a Joke

  • Kev says:

    1st English team out of europe says it all . Rodgers is steeped in failure and honey tongued excuses

    LFC in Feb — Out of everything . 7TH in league with no chance of top 4 . Is this a joke that sum ‘fans’ want this cabbage to be given more time ????

  • TrueRed says:

    Rodgers has brought Liverpool to their worst season in 60 years, and there are still dopes out there who are still backing him ?
    are you manure fans in disguise ? Why else would you want a manager whose only achievement is finishing 11th in PL .
    Liverpool fans should be ashamed of themselves for backing mediocrity and failure

  • RedScouser says:

    I sat on the fence until now . I wanted to give BR a fair crack at it , i thought maybe a europa cup final or something might salvage a horrendous season ….. but there was more shockingly bad decisions from BR last night .. and he lost us another chance of a cup

    nightmare season , the manager must take responsibility for it , and if Suarez leaves it will be because of Rodgers failings

    BR out , first time ive said that

  • paisley says:

    I regrettably agree with the article. Brendan is a gent but no tactician. If he were we would have won against Zenith. As it was the players were heroic and I am mighty proud of them. If Rafa had the funds available and peace of mind we have now the sky is the limit. Remember we beat the giants of Barca, Real, Juventus and amid the turmoil at the club. Please bring Rafa back. B4 it is 2 late. LFC is in my heart. YNWA.

  • Tupman says:

    Do any of you go to the games?

    Fortunately or unfortunately according to some of the posts here I have had a season ticket, for near 30 year, in my view BR is positioning the club in the right direction; though I do not agree with everyting he has done.

    This is a three year, two season project judge BR after that; if you want instant gratification sort yorself out or go and support an instant soup team like Chelsea or Man City.

    I am sick and tired of listening to “fans” that complain and moan. We do not do that bad, Everton’s season is made if they beat us and finish above us – so they are happy.

    The easy targets are the new players this season the senior players are below par.

    Get behind the team and no more of this nonsense

    • Bellers says:

      Backing a useless manager is wrong , its something no true fan would do . We need to put pressure on FSG to get rid of Rodgers

      3 More years of this dross ? No LFC fan should wish for that . Rodgers has been an embarrassment and a failure _ Liverpool deserve better

      I go to nearly all midweek home matches , and a few weekend games , I cheer and support the team , and i spend a lot of money doing it , – but i wont support a clueless manager who is making us worse

      If your such a great supporter , i suppose you wanted Woy given more time and support

      If you Love LFC – Help get the useless fool OUT

  • Bellers says:

    I too agree with article . Plenty of top managers out there , Rafa or Jose whatever , but Rodgers must go

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