Many feel that the writing is on the wall for Rodgers
Following Wednesday night’s shocking performance against League 2 Carlisle, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers came in for another torrent of criticism from Liverpool fans and pundits alike.
Despite the home side having almost fifty shots at goal (and eventually scraping through), the finger was pointed at Rodgers again, for problems many perceived as long-standing, from the defensive lapses that lead to the away sides goal, to profligacy in front of goal.
And the last 48 hours have been no easier, with both Carlo Ancelotti and Jurgen Klopp having their odds cut on becoming the next Liverpool manager, with some former Reds wading into the debate themselves.
Strangely, both Danny Murphy and Didi Hamann are in the camp that believe Rodgers needs more time and has been hampered by the recruitment policy. Speaking on talkSport, Murphy said: “I’ve harped on about the recruitment at Liverpool, and it’s killed Brendan at times, really.
“I think he’s taken the backlash for the owners and the transfer committee.
“He’s been outspoken in the past of his admiration for Ashley Williams at Swansea, but he wasn’t within Liverpool’s criteria.
“Two seasons ago, when Liverpool were close to winning the league, Brendan showed a lot of intelligence in terms of tactics and changes in formation.
“He’s shown a lot of bravery at times, maybe too much with changing the systems and personnel.”
But while Murphy believes Rodgers isn’t completely to blame, he does think that the manager really only has until the end of the year. He continued: “But it is now at a point when come Christmas, if things haven’t picked up…there is a time for everyone.
“Up until Christmas, I don’t think there is a decision to be made. Simply you have to stick with the manager now because if you wanted to change you should have done it in the summer, not after five games.”
Like Danny Murphy, Didi appears to believe that Rodgers shouldn’t be sacked so soon, after having been backed in the summer. But there is also the fact that it is widely believed that both John Henry and Tom Werner were in favour of sacking Rodgers in the summer, but were convinced to give him a chance to prove he is still the man for LFC by Ian Ayre and Mike Gordon.
But another former Reds, BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson, believes that Rodgers is in a dire situation after winning so few games since March last season and spending another fortune over the summer.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Lawrenson said: “He’s under pressure for his job because he has not won for six games and spent many millions in the transfer market in the summer – that’s life.
“Steve McClaren is under pressure at Newcastle and some people were saying Jose Mourinho was under pressure at Chelsea the other week.
“I don’t think Rodgers can afford to lose any of his next three games.
“Aston Villa is massive and then we have the derby. It’s a massive 10 days for him. Absolutely massive.”
The Reds game against Villa on Saturday has no taken on enormous proportions for Rodgers (presuming he makes it that far) and after two successive ‘must win’ games at home that have ended in 1-1 draws, the feeling around the club is that Rodgers can’t lose this one.
How are you feeling about Rodgers at present, are there any fans left that feel he can arrest this drop? Let us know your thoughts below.
I beg to differ… This sacking could not have come any sooner and should have gone ahead since last year… The year he lost us the title with his tactical naivety, doubts on his capability to bring Liverpool to its next level has already been cast… He was definitely lucky to have Suarez’s services (bought by Dalglish) and an injury-free Sturridge… Losing is fine… But losing with non-committal and disspirited displays game after game with no forthcoming solutions to address the alarming slide in performances is definitely not acceptable…
He has his say in the transfer committee… Why buy if you’re not going to use…??? but the fact is, he went ahead and gave his agreement to buy the players that he did not actually want… The players he wanted, Allen and Borini… Are they great buys…??? Absolutely not… They were a waste of funds… And these 2 fellas are definity chosen by Rodgers at the start of his tenure… Why blame the owners…??? How do you expect the owners to trust Rodgers’ judgement in bringing players with great potential to Anfield…???
It’s definitely the time for Rodgers to go now… There’s no question about it…
You are d man bro,,,well spokenn,very on point…I felt d sane way u felt,,wen he failed to win d epl,two years ago…I felt like,,at dat point,,wen all games were mathematically,calculated,,no worthy coach will not win it,even if it meant,winning it dirty…But,then,,i knew,,if suarez,left, Rodgers will be exposed.
You are d man bro,,,well spokenn,very on point…I felt d sane way u felt,,wen he failed to win d epl,two years ago…I felt like,,at dat point,,wen all games were mathematically,calculated,,no worthy coach will not win it,even if it meant,winning it dirty…But,then,,i knew,,if suarez,left, Rodgers will be exposed.