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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As a Liverpool supporter i think this is a brilliant article,i totally agree FSG should back Rodgers this tranfer window its as easy at that,He will sign the players needed and top 4 is highly likely next season YNWA
Pls FSG we the lfc fans r saying that u should give BR the necessary fund he needed 4 the transfer market or window.to enable we fan to happy once again.becos we cl football next season.thanks alot
Thats great article, FSG This is the time 2 capitalise bcoz if we do better in transfer likely lfc will be in Top 4. Lfc fans will love u, YNWA!
To be honnest, the club has started improving with Brendan Rodgers. He wants to challenge for at least top four next season and it’s high time for us to do so unless we fancy united to clinch their 21st one under our nose.
FSG must back rodgers now and give him the players he wants.
I am keenly awaiting for our first signing(s). Hendo is coming up gradually and surely… just look at the work being done by Couthino, hopefully Borini should be gradually coming right on time to score goals. We need to keep suarez in the team next season, Kelly will be back and we must strengthen the back line with one or two more additions who can neutralise setpieces( we lost a lot of points this season throuh headers). Dowing is doing well. Sterling, Suso Johnjo , all these fine players will be essential. we need players because sooner or later we will have to rotate to play on all fronts of domestic cup and league. We need to take into account future injuries and ensure that our team is consistently homogeneous with respect to the style inculcated by BR.
Now we are all relying on fsg to supply the financial means to get us to wining ways because rodgers’ style is gradually taking shape for the team.
They need to sign asap to get the new players acquainted with the style of BR and with the team itself during preseason.
I get feeling that this preseason will be turning point of our performance next season so hopefully FSG will play it in phase with our expectations and respond effectively and positively to bring back the atmosphere of winning back to the kop.
I think that FSG will back Rodgers this summer with the money that is available. And I also think that this is the way we should do it. I don’t want us to end up like Leeds, or Portsmouth, by spending money we don’t have. Our scouting must be spot on this summer, but as the signings of Coutinho and Sturridge have shown, it is possible to sign really good players without spending silly money.
Great article Tim. The important thing for me is to get all the signings done early. Everthing else is spot on.
A very good article, please FSG support BR, this time is our best opportunity to get to the top four.
Can’t trust Rodgers with big money. And I don’t trust a ‘ transfer committee’ either
We need a top manager to build a team, not this trainee who is proving useless
Stupid comment, the team has clearly improved,give the man a chance!
He has had a big chance you clown and failed . The team has not improved . You should look at the league table and maybe watch some games
In your opinion why has the team not improved?
Had his big chance? A season?? Stability is what the club needs and what success thrives on
Olsen, you don’t half raise a convincing argument
Well said…. We REALLY Need a decent GOOD Manager and NOT the one that is destroying Liverpool FC and trying to make a Swansea out of it
Questions:
How is BR destroying Liverpool?
How is he making it like Swansea?
Who replaces if sacked?
How long are they given?
What would count as progress for a new manager?
kop on tim u *. stupid questions
Why are they stupid questions? Because you have no answer?
Commenting to personally abuse won’t be tolerated here, Olsen. Either debate sensibly, or don’t bother.
Moronic statement. You want, what exactly? ANOTHER new manager? And this time next year? Another new one then? Maybe Guardiola, hhmmm?
the doctor you refer to is John Cena
Bingo
What’s his prize?
A hearty well done! Worth it’s weight in gold
“…..a path to the dark side” lol
You have an inclination for the theatrics Tim ! 😀
Good article though.
Haha thanks! A theatrical love of a galaxy far far away!
A real golden opportunity is presenting itself here. An investment of 20 million pounds will not do it, though.
They are not going to invest big money. They are here to make it not spend it
Care to embellish?
FSG is really no different then Hicks and Gillette… Henry is spending all his money in Boston and the Red Socks are bleeding him dry… There is no money… He doesn’t have any and he is/will be taking every penny and pound he can out of Liverpool to support his beloved Red Sock which are his One and Only True love
No different to H&G??? Really? You sure? Where are the high interest loans they have taken out on us then? Using the clubs profits to pay interest??? Almost condemning us to liquidation and dragging us through the court??
Behave! From what I can tell LFC is in a very sound financial state looking to be self-sufficient and personally that’s how I want my club run! Buying players who want to play for the club and connect with everything that brings not a mercenary signing for their bank!
Do you have proof the owners are using Liverpool money for baseball?
Have FSG not supported each manager with transfer funds? Yes mistakes have been made but lets not be silly
You wait and see about the high interest loans…. We don’t know what is happening in the United States and BOSTON BANKS… He certainly isn’t going to tell us… The Red Socks are his only true love and they have wiped him out financially so rest assured he will take every penny he can out of our club and use it as collateral against massive loans needed to support the Red Socks… Yes when he had some money he did invest a few pound in Liverpool but you won’t see that again… Trust me on this… I am a Yank from Boston (many years ago) and I do know what I am talking about…..
So John, in answer to my question you say ‘we don’t know’.
Lets deal in facts shall we, much simpler.
Does LFC have high interest loans it is having to pay itself? No
Has LFC seen significant expenditure in the player staff in the windows since FSG took over? Yes
Should this change then lets hang FSG out to dry!
Are they perfect? Far from it, big mistakes have been made, but nothing at all like H&G
Olsen, again, you resort to name calling without any substance. Why don’t you create a substantive argument to support your opinion?
If you have read any if my work before you will know that my opinion on FSG is not black/white, it is very much grey! And before you ask, not fifty shades of it either
Um…yeah….don’t think that’s quite right, but i’ll leave you and your fantasies be.
Me or John duffus?
Lovren Tello digne Douglas alderweirweld Diame
young hungry players like: Papadopoulos, liori, Mcarthy, Diame, Tello and Benteke will come in to replace: Carra, Skirtle, Carroll, Downing, Spearing, Coetes and Assaidi. Job done!
Nobody writes pie in the sky delusional articles like Tim does . Unless We get a proper manager there will be no top 4 next season
Thanks for being a persistent reader Dennis!
What do you think a new manager will bring? Instant success? No, ANOTHER new manager will further lengthen this almost endless transition period we are in as they will need to bring in their own players and impose their own ideologies, this takes time! Time I suspect you wouldn’t allow should sai new manager have a couple of dodgy results
Very true. I think 3 or 4 signings would make a great difference. But signing one or more big names won’t do a lot of harm if we can that is. Definately not another allen or carrol
Also adding a striker who is physical as well as with pace like benteke, a defender who is comfortable with possession, and a brilliant CF will take us to top 4 may b even more. We need quality signings. But will FSG back him for sure. Doubt it.
with the perfomance of this season…is the reason why next season is going to lfc time of finding our goals….BR is agood maneger with pstive..vission for our club….let him do what FSG ….told to do
A sensible liverpoolfc fan will never calls for Rodgers sacking if U’re nt a ‘clown’ nd really following d clubs progress,how many managers throughout d whole world can accept our previous *-flop squad nd achieve top 4 position? This is EPL nt La-Liga,Bundesliga or French ligue! Even Mou nd Boas run away 4rm LFC job when they offer them d job!! They new they’re nt gonna get any crazy funding like d one wasted by our former legend!! Even Martinez of Wigan also dodge d job when he new what kind of trouble,strainous nd hard it will be to build a winning team!! But Brendan who loves a new challenge came forward wit confidence to take d job what else do U want 4rm him? You key-board warriors who doesn’t have a clue about what it takes to build a winning squad without spending crazy billions of pounds on useless stars like that of champions to be “BVB” which i believe may happen? Backing,supporting nd patience is only d key to success because “Rome wasn’t built in a day”!!!
Unbelievable bull again . You don’t have a clue
The manager as is own philosophy which the FSG should not termpered with if? The team go back to the zero point of rebuilding it with another manager. For a good work to be done lets assist him (ROGERS) by signing 2 defenders 2 attacking midfielderz and 1 striker then will beable to relief him from duty if he dose not deliver top 4 next season. YNWA