IF there is one thing worse than a poor loser then surely it is someone unable to accept victory no matter the cost. The striving to ascend and achieve, without excuse and above all showing an ambition to constantly perform to a higher level as is possible – above all endeavour, success.
To quote a famous Shankly saying:
“If a man who’s playing in front of the public, is being well paid, and he doesn’t dedicate himself to the job, I’d be hard on him. If I could I would put him in jail, out of the road of society. Because he’s a menace”
This week Brendan Rodgers would put himself precariously in the High Court of Shankly, he would assume the role of menace, even if only in words he would be guilty as charged as he lacked Shanks’s expected dedication.
His crime would be that of suggesting that perhaps not qualifying for European football next season may possibly be a blessing in disguise, as Liverpool would have a greater chance of finishing within the elite top four of next season’s Premier League – without such distractions.
Firstly, and to add balance to Rodgers’ exact quote:
“We would love to be in there and we want to finish as high as we possibly can, but it won’t be the end of the world if we don’t qualify for Europe. If it doesn’t happen then it could end up being a blessing for us.”
Liverpool’s abject failure to qualify for even a Europa League place should be seen as a complete disaster in terms of the club’s stature and as such, Rodgers rather than looking for and finding a silver lining in a sows ear of a campaign, would be far better suited to expressing the unacceptable position of this great club. It would be no less than three weeks ago when Rodgers opinion, albeit it agenda ridden, was that Liverpool could achieve a coveted top four position.
This seems to be the agenda for Brendan Rodgers – self-preservation. At times like this his rhetoric becomes rather less palatable. Indeed unacceptable. Does he expect supporters to become apathetic toward success, by reasoning our early exits from both The FA Cup and League Cup should surely have resulted in a far greater league position this season? Failure excused by future triumphs, losing battles to have an opportunity to attend the war?
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Rodgers expectation for his Liverpool team has been up and down on more occasions than a whore’s knickers, and with it the fans expectations have become watered down with each passing week or press conference.
It costs nothing to kiss the Blarney Stone. It appears that this season Rodgers has made many a pilgrimage to west Cork and Blarney Castle. His chat has become rather nonsensical at times, more reminiscent of Allardyce, Redknapp or Steve McLaren. As much as I like our manager for footballing reasons and remain less reticent as regard to this, I am increasingly concerned around his discourse, and at times completely embarrassed by it.
I do however understand he is a young man still finding his feet at one of the world’s biggest clubs. With my critique I do feel rather like I am criticizing my friend’s new Adidas trainers for appearing slightly garish.
Football managers do not have, or indeed expect immunity from supporter’s intent on clarification and justification, through their medium of criticism. Blindly following the messiah whilst unable to see and point out his shortcomings won’t win trophies – as Bill Shankly said “is being well paid”.
Summing this up perfectly, Abraham Lincoln once said: “You may fool all the people some of the time, you can even fool some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all the time.”
You can find me on Twitter https://twitter.com/christobinsings
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dont know about kissing the blarney stone i think he mighta swallowed it
Guilty as charged ! I want European football! I want to watch our team as much as possible not once a week!!!
If he gets Europa League football from our league position he can say we have improved from last season even though we will have no silverwear! Next step will be the top 4.
Yes, he is indeed becoming cringy. Also his win lose or draw comments are baffling. Excellent, Outstanding, Marvelous, Fantastic, Brilliant, Etc Etc. These are the words we now hear after every match, even the ones we lose or draw.
I’m still behind him, until next January that is, if we are as inconsistent then, as we are now, i’m abandoning ship.
This is the best post, a mon Avis, an this site to date. To me, this insight has been lacking in other site forums as well as the press.
BR has just given his players permission to fail
Players need belief and belief from the top
That is not the mindset of a great leader. Tactically I like BR’s approach, unfortunately his leadership quality just ain there. I will suffer a neck wrench when I next see him interviewed on the TV post a non-winning performance when I hear him say ‘the players were outstanding today…’
Brendan – winning good – second is nowhere. Listen to all you can, watch what is available, read any scrap of Shankly’s recorded philosophy
Then channel it!
Else also-ran is everywhere
YNWA
KP
This just proves on how much the CL has blinded everyone! I’m only 39 and growing up watching the FA cup was a huge thrill and every team and players dream was to win that trophy!
The UEFA cup was important as the European cup! Why had everyone made the CL such an importance above all?
I know it’s the best playing thd best, but if teams can’t compete in top honours, then what is available should be fought for!
It’s a shame that it had become like this!
🙁
Is that why we dropped out of all the cups as quickly as possible this year? we should be happy, if we were going to 2 finals we would have been bottom of the prem with BR.
Good point, Simon!
Another is that BR has not connected well with the fans. All successful LFC managers have tapped into the fanbase psyche – BR does n’t seem to want to be motivated to do this. Motivation comes from within, it cannot be switched on – if it ain’t there it ain’t happening.
Personally can never see BR doing a Henry V speech to rouse himself, troops and players a la holy trinity. As previously said, I like his playing philosophy – would just love to see some genuine passionate leadership from the guy.
Just can’t see it coming
Can anyone name a successful football manager that does not demonstrate real passion?
Am I in the few that thinks BR does not?
KP
BR is trying his best and i think all he needs now is backing from both fans and the management. all we should be hoping on is to see FSG back BR financially in this transfer windor. BR was able to bring downing and hendo back to life and give our young players from academy hope.
Rodgers management also resulted in the drastic decline in the form of all our defensive players….and some of our youth
spot on Adrian. His management has destroyed our defense. And we will end up paying 10-15 million for Williams….a defender who has spend all his career in the championship to replace Skertel, one who has played in every top competition.
Rogers is a fraud and is doing more harm than you can think off. It really amazes me how no one criticizes this man.
Brendan Rogers out asap!
Rodgers out. This article is correct and shows the man for what he is
Rodgers is truly a terrible manager and a arrogant man too
He had NOT connected with the fans . He doesn’t understand Liverpool fans …and we have had enough of him
i’ve said it once, and i’ll repeat myself again(like BR does)….
your all wrong about BR…he has a plan b, c,d:
plan b: pass, pass,pass, pass,pass, pass,pass, pass,
pan c: pass, pass,pass, pass,pass, pass,pass, pass,
pan d: pass, pass,pass, pass,pass, pass,pass, pass,
his plan is to turn LFC into a mid table team, and it’s working according to his plan.
all LFC fans should be happy the plan is working.
No, can’t fool us all . Mr Rogers has talked the talk, but can’t walk the walk. I was one of the people who preached patience. Give the man 10 pl games, plus fa cup and Europa and lets see… Couldn’t make my mind up. Another 10 games passed. It became evident that this man was out if his depth at this level. Knowledge in the transfer market, his so called tiki-taka football, his lack of plan B. his happyness at being mid table. Enough is enough. The man is a fraud . I know some of you still believe. Some of you pick stats like, the last 6 games show progress. 13 wins out of 32….. Not good. Open your eyes. If you still believe he is the ONE, you better hope a bolt of lighting strikes him and he becomes a different man ….
all well and gud criizing br wen to be fsir he inherited a bunch of misfits and had to clear out the overpaid crap thst was at the club playets that would really have shanks turning in his grave at the value for money we got br needs 2 more transfer windows to get us wrre we want to be YNWA
Rodgers is a small club manager with a small club mentality
I’m sick of his bull , sick of his excuses and sick of his ego
I doubt even Swansea would want him back, in fact no they definitely wouldn’t
Why would they want him back ? They have got an upgrade, a manager who won them their first trophy in his first season.
Brendan Rodgers is not the man for us , he is not taking us anywhere except mid table mediocrity . he opens his mouth far too much and hides behind his excuses . He is a fraud and will never be a top manager
Rodgers out now please
I knew we would draw today, Buck Bodgers out!, immediately. Anybody who believes Mr Rogers needs time, is tripping on a New football deluded drug, this manager has stated many times that he’s given up the ghost. I just don’t feel this man, he can’t connect the Liverpool fans, he hasn’t a clue. Please FSG grow a pair and sack this man this end of season, this year has been dismal.
He doesn’t have the attitude or the winning mentality to be the Liverpool manager
This is a guy who hasn’t won a thing in his life
exactly . the man is a loser . i dont think he will ever have a successful managerial career
Exactly. His successor at Swansea, first season at a new club AND a new country, already won the League Cup. How did we fared under BR in that competition ?
The man inherited a bunch if bull players. I believe next season Would be the real testing
He inherited a top class squad that were in 2 finals. 300 million plus valuation on that squad
We battered reading just like we have done to 90% of the teams we’ve played this season, but keepers/ defenders have good games and prevent the win.
We are scoreing goals for fun and with a few additions in the summer we will be deadly.
I wanted the 3 points as much as anyone, but this season was all about building a team capable of competing for top four. We have a young hungry squad now and its growing week by week. We just need to iron out the silly errors in defence and we’ll be fine.
All the br bashing in the world won’t win us the league.
All the patience in the world won’t make Rodgers a decent manager.
The guy is not even a premier league manager
Worse team than last year. Clueless manager. More rubbish signings in the summer
We were better In defence last season but not as good in attack.
We created loads of chances and had 17 shots on target, how can you put the blame on the manager? He can only line up the team he cant score for them.
When the fair play rules kick in we will have a young squad on reasonable wages and and be able to compete financially with all the rich teams.
No manager can bring us instant success.
Br is doing the best with what he has, we don’t know the details that surround transfers etc only what were fed by the media.
If we can improve the defence next season then we will compete as scoring isn’t a problem overall.
Give the man 2 seasons and then judge him.
rubbish . 2 seasons and the idiot will have us relegated
Did you also carry this “2 season ” mantra when Hodgson was with us ? Talking about hiprocrites?
If BR has an ordinary job like us and say heads a department, he would be answerable if any of his staff does not perform, period, no excuses. He is the manager, he had to make the team work, period.
If a manager in the real world was told to get rid of all the high earners at the firm and replace them with lower paid youngsters, he would be allowed time to build his young team and increase their proficiency. The owners understand that time is required. You build success with hard work and dedication. The team is gelling well apart from the back four that are struggling to cope with the new system,but surely we must improve the defence rather than scrapping the whole system.
Scoring goals for fun ? Talking about selective memory. Please refer to our latest games with West Ham and Reading, 2 clubs battling relegation with the latter rock bottom. 0 goals.
BR is of course hoping we are all fools but we are not. However he did managed to convince FSG and certain section of the fans to be just that, fools. Fools for believing this is the man that would bring us progress when his utmost priority is as the author said, “self preservation”.
Rafa went to war with the cowboys just because he believe he had to do so for the best interest of LFC. Compared this with this coward and a sorry excuse of a man.
FSG is of course the biggest fool of all because BR had convinced them to allow an idiotic, inexperience and clueless chap to do his “big club apprenticeship” at our glorious club.
Totally agree Chan…now it’s time for us fans to voice our disapproval at the matches and on social networks
Rodgers must go…and then lets worry aboutgetting rid of FSG
Your a * and everything thats wrong with some of our fans.
I’m ashamed for you.
Why dont you rip off your tear stainned bed sheets and make a banner while your there you joke.
You,chan and laim all holding up a banner that reads” we have supported this club since 2005 and we demand instant success, BR out”
Have a word with yourselves
Cop on u fool
You are always on here licking Rodgers ar@e and making excuses
Chan, you need to let rafa go, he isn’t coming back.
I know that you became a fan after istanbul but that was then and this is now.
Typical Rodgers apologizer – full of BS
So Tommy, who would you hire and why.
Cos you do alot of trolling on this site but none of it is very constructive and anyone who can see the reality of
The situation must be up rodgers arse. Any manager would have had the same problems
Never ever has such a huge giant club like LFC been lumbered with such a unqualified out of his depth manager
What we’re FSG thinking ???