FSG! FSG! FSG ARE YOU LISTENING? To quote an early 2000s classic from Moloko, ‘The Time is Now’, to para-phrase the doctor of thug-a-nomics (prizes if you can name who this is) ‘Our Time is Now’, and to listen to the warbling Bob Dylan, ‘The Times They Are a Changin’’.
What is the pop music nonsense I am going on about? Have I lost my mind? Probably, but that is beside the point.
To clue you in on the theme of this article let me give you a statistic that I find utterly ludicrous:
Brendan Rodgers is currently the seventh longest serving manager in the Premier league.
Seventh!
He has been in the job less than a year and is the seventh longest serving manager in the division. Crackers. It does however show where football is in the modern day – that ‘constant’ and ‘instant success’ are the power words with ‘stability’, ‘momentum’ and ‘long-term’ cowering in the corner afraid to raise their heads.
Only in modern football can managers who have been successful and won trophies in a current or last season be sacked as they are deemed failures and that those stepping into the void left behind deemed useless after less than a season.
Yet it is the aforementioned dirty words of ‘stability’ and ‘momentum’ that in my mind are absolutely key in the steps forward for our great club.
What are the facts facing us? We will finish the season in seventh, and in my mind the way we have finished the season has seen clear progression from how we started it. I don’t want to compare this season to last season as in mind this is counter-productive and distracting (please read my last piece on this…it’s very good…honest).
There are six teams above us, and of those, four (Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Everton) will have new managers over the summer with either Arsenal or Spurs having to deal with the fact that they have missed out on the Champions League.
Yes, it is the case that a new manager coming in can have an immediate impact and really push on but for me, it is more likely that a new manager will need time to adapt to new surroundings and time to make his impression at his new club.
In my opinion, the rumoured return of Mourinho to Chelsea falls in the former; I believe the manager he is, and the squad they have (along with signings they will inevitably make) will ensure an immediate impact.
Manchester United are changing their boss after 26 years, a HUGE task for Moyes who has to shoulder the expectancy of the club and deal with the type of players at a title challenging club – Two things he has no experience of.
Manchester City look out of sorts and I expect a rather large turnover of playing and coaching staff in the summer which may take time to settle.
Everton have punched above their weight for a number of years with Moyes galvanising the squad and getting the best out of them. With Moyes gone how long before he is followed by Baines, Fellaini, and/or Jagielka?
Finally, either Spurs of Arsenal will miss out on the Champions League with Spurs likely to lose Bale and possibly others, whereas Arsenal would be in uncharted territory.
Where does this leave us?
This leaves us with an unbelievable opportunity. Above us in the league there is a vast amount of uncertainty in the air. Uncertainty breeds fear, fear leads to anger, anger leads to suffering…undoubtedly a path to the dark side.
The advantage that we hold is that with Rodgers in charge we have negotiated what is normally a troublesome first year in which players and the club adapt to new styles and philosophies. We have seen how good we can play this year and the second season is where you find that consistency.
We don’t have Champions League football, and haven’t for a few years, but we are aware of this, Countinho and Sturridge signed knowing this, Suarez, Agger, Lucas and Gerrard likely extended contracts knowing this. We are better equipped to deal with a lack of the highest level of football for the next season than the rival that misses out.
What needs to happen? FSG need to recognise this series of unique factors and take advantage. This is the time to back their manager. It is clear as the nose on your face what Liverpool need and the positions required. We have had a new scouting setup that has been in place long enough to highlight the potential Michus, Bentekes, Cabayes and Vertonghens that can improve the squad without breaking the bank and without the immediate lure of the Champions League.
If, and this is a big if, Rodgers is backed and we are able to sign the all players identified as first choice, we have the stability and momentum going into the new season to push on and take advantage of the uncertainty above us.
Our squad at present has real gems in it and bundles of potential; this is the time to capitalise! So as Delia says ‘COME ON FSG, LETS BE HAVING YOU!’
If you liked this or didn’t, and have an opinion on it then please comment and let me know. Come find me on Twitter @timdibs
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I jst luv pple makin gud contributions here honestly it gives me joy. Not all dis piece of sh*t tokin nonsense claimin 2 b lfc fans. Let me tel u Rodger is d man for d job weda u lyk it or nt. I tnk God u can’t sack him cos u aint de owner.
BR will be manager next season whether his detractors like it or not, that’s just a fact so get used to it. I hope he gets the backing he needs because he got it so right in January that anyone that says he can’t manage must be blinded by their own dislike of the man. After becoming used to saying ‘if we’d only put our chances away’ week after week or bemoaning our lack of creativity once again we are starting to look like a team that has goals in it. No coincidence that goal shy Man City consider him a possible replacement for Mancini if we believe what we’re reading… He’s good enough for some oil rich Arabs with billions to spend but not good enough for some success starved Liverpool fans that wouldn’t know a work in progress if it knocked on their door dressed as Willow Twankey.
Unbelievable bull. And that shows your stupidity if you even entertain the Rodgers to city ridiculous laughable rumor
And it’s not ‘ a fact’ that Rodgers will be here next season. They sacked dalglish for less and most genuine fans still hope for the sack next week. Unlikely but possible
Dalglish was never a manager,he was carried by Paisley and Ray Harford at Blackburn!Failed at Newcastle and Celtic!
Maybe Rodgers is’n’t good enough,but you are kidding yourself if you think KK was better.
I’m glad to see so many positive fans again, great article I’m tired of plastic fans calling for Rogers head at every turn.
Is there actually anyone out there naive or stupid enough to think that FSG actually listen to , or care what the fans think ?
Kop on people. Your living a fantasy