FENWAY 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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Joke article
Excellent article and analysis , if FSG have learned anything about football then they will ( hopefully ) sack Rodgers , but i fear they will give him one more season
Rodgers should be sacked immediately . Our worst season in living memory . Rodgers has a worse win ratio than even Hodgson ( and he only had 5 months) . Virtually out of all 3 cups and nowhere near top 4 . Rodgers must go
What do u expect with
Carroll 35m
Downing 20m
Henderson 16m
Adam 7m… He needs to sort out the wrong first!
Allen 15m – lol , worst player ever
Borini 11m
Assaidi 3m
Sahin 2m loan
thats 31m wasted on rubbish
doing a good job of turning us into average club
We was average from Benitez last season -.- it started then, then more players left we got weaker, in the summer Bellamy,kuyt left, but now we have two good strikers in Suarez,sturridge, and young talented youngster coutinho, he rebuilding I trust him, we could of had alot more points if it wasnt for errors, also he first season in Europe he got us first in the group stage. With a thin squad….
Your joking ? 1st in europa league ? that was a joke of a group and we barely qualified
There is NO reason to trust Rodgers , he has done nothing to deserve that trust . He has won nothing , achieved nothing . what you have is blind hope
plus 15m on Allen ???
@redroy “joke group” haha okay you should of seen spurs and newcastles group. Our was the hardest, yet he got first with using our reserves and youth in it. Well played to him, you and a few others are the only one who doesn’t trust him, go to anfield mate we are behind him! We know what he trying to build.
Rafa was left with a good squad, unlike rodgers, he has to rebuild the team, we don’t have to become another chelsea and sack every manager going, things take time, so don’t write stupid articles.
Rubbish. Don’t write stupid comments
Which part is rubbish? Jog on you muppet!!!!
@dave, get a grip you complete moron.
Judging by all your childish comments and insults id say your the moron LFC4life .Stop calling people names . Grow up
Your don’t even support Liverpool. You probably ask for a change of manager every week, Idiot
Shut Up!!
Yes he must go, and for the whoppers who go on about ‘but who could we get???’.
Sami Hyypia?, Carlo Ancelotti?, Louis Van Gaal?, Michael Laudrup?.
Mourinho
Any of those would be good Ste , but i think Mourinho should be number 1 target
Get the clown Rodgers out b4 he permanently turns us into mid table fodder . Embarrasing season , we will lose suarez in summer if top manager not appointed . Bring in Jose
A reasonably detailed article. However I strongly disagree with your conclusion. Very much seems to be a case of having an opinion and using statistics to support your conclusion. Historic statistics do suggest we have not moved forward with Roger’s. But what you have failed to see is that he was never going be assessed over a single season. This is FSG’s choice and they share the same ethos. The rebuild has began and the worst we have now is being erratic. On the positive side we are playing attractive football with a game plan of how the manager see that progressing. With a young team and slashed wage bill. Brendan will definitely prove you and other quick fix short sighted journo’s wrong. Patience will win and then Liverpool will have genuine longterm success.
yawn .. another moopet pleading for patience , while seeing imaginary success with his magic ball
BR OUT
Your the only “moopet” if that’s even a word or insult, he has to get rid of rubbish before he can start his work (Carroll,cole,aqualani,Adam,aurelio) which was mess from benitez,Hodgeson,kenny, Rodgers has got downing,hendo on there path way to success we are scoring more goals (49 atm) what’s are the real problems? Oh yeah mistakes from players which will be sorted in the summer! Now get gone.
Get gone yourself you moopet . All u fools do is make excuses
cry , cry , excuses excuses excuses . u should be ashamed of yourself supporting hopeless no mark like Brenda
ps. ‘moopet ‘ is a well known slag , look it up fool
@redroy, be quiet you total idiot, your on the small amount of idiots wanting Rodgers out, you see the true fans at the stadium supporting him because we believe in him. And “slang” how old are you 11?
ooh , everyone wanting Rodgers out is a kid ? You believe in a idiot because you are an idiot
Ill be there supporting the team , but any TRUE supporter will not support Rodgers
Grow up fool
Did I say that? I said who ever wants him out is a idiot, also if we really wanted a manager out there be banners out, BUT no, because we trust him 🙂 your not a true support like redmentv say “idiots” so you grow up and get into the real world.
LFC4LIFE what a braindead plonker u are . keep deluding urself things are going well .you swallow all the bull BR tells us and u follow blindly … sheep , thats what fools like u are , sheep .. baaaaaa !
u are the one who is not a real fan .
@lister grow up you muppet.”braindead” Erm I’m in reality! There is NO quick fix to our problems. Get a grip.
Luckily Shankly is not managing today otherwise you’d want him sacked in his first season.
Our problem now is fans aour not loyal and patient. We have always been known as knowledgeable but no more. The creator of article criticise Rogers saying about tactics. I don’t think she knows what tactics is! and no a formation is not tactics.
Our problem is fans who settle for mid table mediocrity . And i think the author knows tactics better than Rodgers
All that sounds good Rob . Reasonable plan etc …. just one small problem – Rodgers is the wrong guy , he is clueless , every time he puts Allen on the pitch he proves it again
Results are all that matters – this is our worst season (so far) in 60 odd years . Stats say Rodgers is the worst manager in 60 odd years
So when we beat Swansea it’s “Swansea reserves” but when our reserves get beat by Swansea no mention whatsoever. Thin arguments based on handpicked and slanted statistics. I knew you were going to go to Rafa by the middle of this article. So typical of the Rafa loving Liverpool haters. Ridiculous. Rodgers isn’t going anywhere so get used to it. I’m really surprised you can even put a sentence together with the huge lack of common sense this article ejaculates into the ether.
Bulls* article,how can u expect rodgers to compete for top 4 with with the likes of joe cole,enrique,Downing etc…pliz leave rodgers alone and let him build the squad he wants….sick of fans who lyk changing managers lyk sum kind of underwear..YNWA
BR OUT ! let us get special one
Yeah he would really come wouldn’t he? NOT. We are not Liverpool of old, we are average team rebuilding.
yes u dope ! do u know anything about football ?
Mourinho wants to return to England . Who else is big enough for a manager like him . There is ONLY Liverpool , unless City sack Mancini
He will go Chelsea you idiot, plus we are not goner sack Rodgers get use to it. And yeah I know alot, but your in dream land thinking Jose will come to us ha Ha. Deluded
Correct . Mourinho would come here , of course he would … but it will cost FSG _ anyway BR OUT
LFC4LIFE is deluded . prob just some kid who doesnt understand footie . u will kop on in a few years lad
Maybe some new owners… Give Rodgers some Real money… The reasen why we dont buy Stars is that fsg dont have The money or live in a Dream world
Bring back Rafa!!
Not when we have a chance to get Mourinho
Get Rogers out please !!! We need proper manager
What about proper fans, our current lot are not knowledeable. We only sing when were winning. And constantly moan and groan.
And when we get another manager and he doesn’t hit the ground running, you’d want him out.
Yes . A decent manager gets results . Results ? remember what they are ? LFC should have high standards , not a championship manager .
I suppose you wanted Hodgson to stay too . LOL . Hodgson had a better record than Rodgers
Good article , very well summarised . I think Rodgers has had time and money , he has actually spent more net that Kenny . Rodgers asked people to judge him with two months to go , well we are just about there and in my opinion the season has been a failure , we are way worse off than under Kenny
Sturridge looks good , too early to say on Coutinho , but all of Rodgers other signings have been a complete waste of money
We should move heaven and earth to get Mourinho here , or failing that Hiddink orr Hyypia
This mess was started by Benitez. Our defensive platform has been Reina, Johnson, Agger, Skrtel & Lucas for 4 different managers in 4 years now. All signed by Benitez. I rest my case! No more bloody Benitez! Ever!!
Its too late to change now , lets give him til end of season ,and replace him then .
I like BR but i think Liverpool was just too big for an inexperienced manager . Out of his depth is the phrase best suited .
You are a total moron. I won’t even dignify my stance with reason, you clearly don’t have the capacity to even begin to understand.
This time last year we were getting ready for wembley , high hopes for a first trophy in 6 years , also had hopes for a cup double ,and we were 7th in league suffering because of a woodwork curse
Wembley ? Remember that ? 3 fantastic trips last year , plus A TROPHY ! hoooray
Now ? … Nothing , a miserable season with not even a hope of any success , 7th in league with no chance of top 4 in february .
Are we better or worse ? Silly question .
We had pride under Kenny , We had unity , oh a few moaning fans … but mostly unity , togetherness and we ALL supported the team
I go to all the home matches , i would never boo the manager or players , and i sing the songs … but like many others , my heart is not in it 100% because i know Rodgers is not good enough and we are wasting our time with him
We need to move on . Sack Rodgers , he has been a huge disappointment and has failed . A new top manager would restore faith , unity and get the withering atmosphere of Anfield back on track
Like it or not , with Rodgers as manager – there is no 12th man
best comment . spot on
EXCELLENT point Peter . We need our crowd back . Sacking Rodgers and gettin top manager Will unite us
We werent’t getting 4th at the same time last year and we lost 6 games out of 7 under Kenny. Legend as he is stop being so blinkered.
How wouold a new manager restore faith! especially if you don’t agree with the appointment. What about supporting the team 100% and then if he still fails then fair do’s but our current fans are hoping he fails.
I am ashamed being Liverpool Supporter, one time we where knowledgable and supportive but no we have changed for the worse. It’s alright when team is playing well and winning things but when things get difficult you can see how good the fans really are! Rubbish
He has failed or do u think 7th in the league , and performed miserably in cups is success ?
FAILED
O trophies
O cup runs
O champions league qualification
possibly even O europa league qualification
Let me see – success or failure ? hmmm
If thats NOT failure , i dont kno what is
BR out .he failed . simples
There is alwaays a few Rodgers apologisers on here , making excuses , begging for more time – u would think ‘if’ they wer true fans they would want to see pool successful , not languishing mid table with this joke of a manager .
Ask any ManU or chelski fan ‘ should pool keep Rodgers ‘? they will all say “YEAH” please . They are laughing at us with this fool in charge and they are laughing at our fans cos some dreamers wanna keep him
I think your being harsh ive watched lpool for 37 years and i know we have had some bad results but this young team is going to get better we outplayed man u at home city home and away and utd again second half where just not getting the rub of the green give it time instead of saying get rid of the manager hes a young manager look at rafa and morineho they started off at the bottom and look now what them too have won even morineho calls rodgers the special one
Mourinho started at Porto and won league in first season . Rodgers got sacked by Reading after 5 months . See the difference ?
and outplayin teams counts for ziltch unless u get results , n Rodgers hasnt had results
My wife calls me ‘the special one’ . should i be manager of LFC too ?
Rodgers OUT jose IN
Darren Whittle i wonder why some of u here are so blind to see the truth!u outpolayed City, Man U bla bla bla did u win after outplaying them? u didnt cos there is no wining mentality in the Manager if he had a winning mentality we wuld have won those games even, Arsenal n Everton games 2-0 up and conceeding 2 to draw the game.the best teams with good managers play badly and still win games, it has happened to LFC b4 where they will play badly and win, that is winning mentality. give Rodgers 2 yrs, he cant coach Liverpool, he will always come up with high unreachable hopes. we are goin to loose all our best players by then with Gerard aging and Jamie retiring. moreover Rodgers cannot attract any big player.
Rodgers thank you for all you have done! leave by the end of the season, go for coachn training n come bak for considerations. CLOWN