WELL, we know what Brendan Rodgers has been reading recently, don’t we. Red or Dead by David Peace is the hagiography of Bill Shankly and it is flying off the shelves as we speak.
It charts the life and times of the great man from his arrival at Liverpool Football Club to the end of his days. It is a book centred around his fierce determination, passion, honesty and devotion to his life as Liverpool manager. It is a labour of love that celebrates his socialistic views, his desire for everyone at Liverpool (and indeed, the wider world) to work for each other.
Every fan, tea lady and cleaner was every bit as important in Shanks’ mind as the superstars that he moulded into the great Liverpool teams of the 60s and 70s. Moments of triumph and despair were to be shared and commitment to the cause was not celebrated, but a prerequisite. How times change.
One can only guess how Shankly would have dealt with modern football and it’s spoilt, millionaire players. He’d probably have Luis Suarez doing laps of Melwood for the next three years for turning his back on the club and its people this week.
Of course, in modern football that is not an option and lamentably we have no Shanklys left. Society and football have changed almost beyond recognition but when Brendan Rodgers faced the media to discuss that interview from Luis Suarez, the current incumbent of the Liverpool managerial position sent out messages that fans of any era would have approved of. The origins of those messages were easy to determine.
Rodgers can’t talk like Shankly, few can, but he gave it his best shot and relied on the principles of the great man to get him through a tricky moment.
The easy option would have been for Rodgers to give ‘no comment’ on his want away forward. Instead, he laid things out clearly. With honesty. With passion.
“Obviously the remarks I’ve read are bitterly disappointing – but my job is bigger than that. My job is to fight and protect the club. I will take strong, decisive action, absolutely. There has been total disrespect of the club – this is a lack of respect for a club that has given him everything. Absolutely everything.”
Rodgers is no Shankly. No manager today is. But his words evoked the great man. His words were music to the ears of Liverpool’s supporters. How Arsenal fans would have loved Arsene Wenger to say the same sort of things last year instead of selling Robin van Persie to Manchester United.
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The messages from Rodgers were not ambiguous. Yes, Suarez was bang out of order. Yes, he would be punished. Yes he has betrayed the club. The only surprising thing was that Rodgers didn’t repeat himself again and again during his answers to mirror Peace’s writing style in Red or Dead.
Rodgers appealed to the emotion of fans and spoke of Suarez’s betrayal of them. It was almost textbook Shankly if, understandably, lacking in some of the gravitas that the Scot carried.
“I really, really feel sorry for the supporters, people that have sung his name. We have travelled the world over the course of this pre-season. 85,000 fans were singing Luis’ name in Jakarta. It was the same in Australia, in Thailand and at Steven Gerrard’s testimonial.”
Shankly’s holy trinity of manager, players and supporters were used in Rodgers’ condemnation of the Uruguayan also. When quizzed on whether Suarez could wear the red shirt again, the manager showed how deeply Suarez had cut the club.
“There’s a few bridges to cross before that can happen [play for Liverpool again]. It’s about the respect, that’s the only thing we look for. This is one of the most iconic football clubs in the world, you can’t disrespect it. That’s something I will ensure [an apology] before anything happens in the future.”
Of course, this could all be grandstanding but Liverpool’s resistance to sell to Arsenal seems sincere. How would Rodgers look if Suarez was sold for £40m after claiming that his value is far in excess of that all summer long? How would John W. Henry look after that famous tweet if Suarez made his way to the Emirates? Liverpool have backed themselves into a corner but it was the correct thing to do both from a moral viewpoint and as business decision. Selling Suarez to a rival at a low price shouldn’t even be an option.
The recent developments in the case suggest that Suarez has no legal grounds to demand a transfer at £40m. He is a rebel without a clause.
Liverpool remain in the difficult position of having their best player being unhappy and determined to move but with no offer on the table that matches his value. It’s easy to see that there are many miles left in this saga but Liverpool and in particular Brendan Rodgers have dealt perfectly with it thus far. One hopes that FSG have the courage of their convictions and prevent Suarez from moving to the club that Liverpool need to overtake.
Rodgers’ press conference was a timely reminder that, even after all this time, the spirit of the man who built Liverpool and his ethos still reside somewhere within the corridors of Anfield.
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Loved reading this ynwa
Write on ur teams pages u *
Go away and learn English first, you stupid, stupid idiot!
Lfc will suarez @ the right price and not in the league if the option arrives otherwise let him rot with the resrves the whole year..pple say its not possible but we’ve made loses already we might as well conced defeat in a dignified way by selling him to russia clubs or training with the reserves the whole year.the owners have been inspport business to long to be roled over and screwed by a silly spoilt brat who even got a tougue lash by zimbabwe president robert mugabe.
why keep a player that brings unprintable disgrace all times even @ the moment.
If liverpool claim they a BIG club, then they should do away with Suarez & still remain on their level or still improve massively without Suarez.
Seek wise counsel from Le Prof. In Arsenal who have done away with Arsenal rebels ( “King”Henry, Hleb, Flamini, Adebayo, Nasir, Clichy & Van Persie e.t.c)
Liverpool is a global brand of choice. The unfolding drama would rather drag your name deeper in the mud than is already is. suarez will always register his name with stunning strikes (Goals) in the hearts of his admirers, fans, mates, coaching staff & employers.
Sell Suarez now!!! Avoid further damaging of your corporate image.
A word, enough for the wise.
Liverpool until I die…
Sell him? Yes! To Arsenal? No!
Shanks would be turning in his grave if he saw a character like Rodgers being compared to him
Rodgers is a fraud , a bullsh*tter , a egotistical self-obsessed li ar.
Shame on you for insulting Shanks memory like that.
Oh dear.
Colin, Shanks is dead. Yes he is revered, respected and his was and still is the blueprint of Liverpool. A successful Liverpool. The standard is high, definitely top of the world but remember, the helm is under the charge of BR and the owners. He may not be perfect and as legendary as Shanks, but he could be and he will be if we Liverpool fans were to unite and stand wth the team through thick and thin. I sense an optimistic season ahead so calm your crackerjacks.
Shanks is a level every Liverpool manager wants to end up at and I for one am certain if the ‘Holy Trinity’ were to improve relations (added with such steel backboned owners like JH) not only BR but other Liverpool managers in the future would be a recollection of Shanks.
Yes, BR has a lot more to prove (being his second season and all) but the journey is long and is RED.
Have faith lads!
Your damn right Colin . Bodgers shames this club everytime he speaks. Total waffler . Sacked by xmas we hope
Oh yes. Another pearler… Hopefully we lose so the coach gets sacked… And replaced with who? U r clearly the most moronic non supporter of this club in here. *.
Ozred. Everyone knows you are the thickest ‘supporter’ on here.
Somebody with an half decent record, and who doesn’t lie so much to the fans, see its not hard……………,moron drone.
Completely agree, the mans a liar, simple as, and I can’t respect liars, and why would anyone?.
Demon or whatever ur name is its a pity u lack manner and understanding, u don’t even have an idea of how things work out. Liv was one of d best if not d best team in d whole world in d 60s and 70s but now things changedand dey coldnt stand d fit anymore bt now dey have d opportunity to move and get things right and d main rival is here to take off dier main hope of getting better this comingsason meanwhile u r there calling dem names.u must be a *and I’m sure u don’t have basis
Ah, you again. Why don’t you go trolling your club’s websites?
As for “who is more disgraceful”. They all look like altar boys compared to you.
Yesterday you claimed that not letting Suaréz join Arsenal was slavery. That is a racist remark of the highest order, given what the victims of slavery actually went through.
Yeh, the working classes of Europe have been exploited and treated like trash by the land-owners, aristocracy, royals…for centuries, agree with you.
Lol, of course is wasn’t a racist remark, it was a saying that most people use, cowards like you are eroding free speech, sticks n stones and grow up.
@coll u really nid pile cos u r definitely suffering from lt
How is rodgers a lier?
Duh . He lies every time he opens his fat mouth. Pay attention will u please
Rodgers should talk less.
You are obviously not a LFC fan. If you were you views would be respected whatever your opinion on this matter was. As it is I will treat them with the contempt such utter vitriolic drivel deserves so don’t bother posting again you D1 ck head
Respect a man who lies constantly like Brendan does, yeh right, talk about braindead.
@ colli you lack respect moreover, you have display to us how you used to insult your Father at home.. To Luis is not bound for sell, but no to any epl team. MaNunited is replica same stand by telling chelsea no to Rooney.
Rogers,is a great coach,i lov his policy,saurez everybdy accused him as a cheater,nw everybdy is looking for him.
Lol . Rodgers is a proven liar. ….and a useless manager
Lol. Bodgers is a proven li@r. ..and a bloody useless mana too
Totally agree with you . Rodgers is far far away from all the Liverpool legends.
speechless
one is from London with jamaican origins
the other is from Uruguay, South Amercan coutry FYI
this is nothing to do wiv Liverpool.
Presumably you are a Mancunian Troll..
Sad really I must say.
Rodgers isn’t a pimple on Shankly’s butt.
Agreed.
Rodgers shouldn’t be even mentioned in the same sentence as the great man . In a year Rodgers will be gone .
I predict he will be gone by December . 😮
What a surprise, we play an half decent team like celtic and struggle, I new it would happen.
Well what is new about Liverpool . INCONSISTENCY .
Agreed, the trouble is, being that it never seems to improve.
I know am in the minority here, but I think it will be a mistake to sell Downing. He wants to stay, is getting better and is quite direct and incisive during matches, as well as versatile. In addition, I wonder why BR has failed to develop Coates. I think playing alongside Kolo would make him better, as Kolo would shout him out of his sluggishness, which seems to be his only weakness if you ask me. I support LFC and any manager we have, who seems willing to try. BR might turn out fine in the end, but he aint no Shankly. YNWA.
All depends on what if anything he’s going to be replaced with.