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24 Feb 2015 20:18:30
Keep going saurez get them down in the dumps for Sunday.
Also that's exactly what we've been missing.
24 Feb 2015 20:37:29
Or make them hungrier to bounce back - espec against his old team !!!
24 Feb 2015 17:02:40
This world cup in the winter is a joke if they cannot stage it in June July they should not have been selected this stinks to the high heavens, a blind man on a galloping horse can see this what r the European league's going to do keep going with what they've got probably the best way forward not good for us I'd say but all the rivals will be in the same boat.
24 Feb 2015 18:43:02
Money talks. Nice watches and other brown envelopes get what you want these days
24 Feb 2015 23:22:45
What are the European leagues going to do? This is the world cup not the European championships. The kick off times are already arranged to suit European tv audiences at the detriment of the locals in the actual host country. So what if the European leagues have to suffer for one year?
25 Feb 2015 00:35:32
Well Hounsred you are supposed to be a fan of liverpool so therefore you are meant to care about them.I just don't see the sense in this it will not suit anyone maybe Russia at a guess .I can see a record amount of withdrawals from squads for this 1, I would advocate country's to boycott the whole tournament r send semi professional players to represent all nations unhappy with the process of selecting a country that can not put the tournament on at the desired time even after medical professionals had advised the committee that it would be impossible to stage the world cup in June July which should have main criteria for selection, and whether you like it r not its the club's in Europe who pay the best players in the world a lot of money therefore imo fifa have taken the rights away from employees and employers to perform business.All clubs should have more say on these decisions maybe even a representative on the committee.
25 Feb 2015 01:37:49
I think hosting the tournament far out weighs the locals ( which there are very few of)detrimental viewing times.
the point is, it shouldn't be in this position, they never bid on a winter Olympics ( nobody did) the whole thing is a farce.
25 Feb 2015 08:04:11
They said in the original bid that it would be staged at the normal time.That is what annoys me.
I am not that arsed about it being moved to be honest.
As long as there is some football to be watched. I'll watch it.
25 Feb 2015 09:17:00
No problem with moving it but two issues:
1. It's not fair that they get to move it when they bid for a summer tournament. Summer tournament also = winter in Australia, so if they knew November/December was an option, what could they have done? With this decision, the only fair way forward is to re-do the bidding process
2. Fine to say that it's not the European cup it's the world cup and should suit the world audiences but the biggest audiences, and over half of the revenue generated, is from Europe. Over 75% of the players also play in Europe. So yes Europe should have a bigger say than other continents very simply because Europe pays far more than it's way in both money and quality players. When the other countries have the audience and the quality, then they get a bigger say
25 Feb 2015 11:19:02
But if you keep pandering to Europe how will the game expand to other areas of the world? Europe might supply most of the players now but the goal is to have strong leagues in all parts of the world in the futures
25 Feb 2015 12:28:52
Hounsred - we should not have to pay for other leagues to develop. That isn't fair on us and make no mistake - it's us that are paying. How do you think Sky and BT etc raise the money to pay for the television rights? They put our prices up! So we pay for the ability to watch them, that money gets passed on to FIFA to make the thing possible in the first place, and then it's all on at a time when it's not possible to watch them, whilst countries who pay very little get it at a perfect time for them? Does that sound fair to you? It doesn't for me!
China, India, Dubai, Australia, USA, Canada etc are all very rich countries. They want things arranged to be convenient for them? Then they can contribute financially how we do and then they will have every right to tell us to pipe down cause it's not our show. Until then, they need to recognise that no Europe buy-in means no world cup at all - doesn't mean we need to get everything we want when it comes to it, but not a good idea to make it this anti-Europe!
25 Feb 2015 12:40:49
Can't see the game exploding in Qatar to be honest! There were plenty of other areas such as australia arguably more deserving and would fulfill expanding the games reach without the backhanders.
24 Feb 2015 16:36:16
The majority of the fans seem to want Rodgers to stay! So do I, but only under a DoF!!!! So my first question is this, would you still want him to stay if we don't finish in the top 4? And second, if you were the owners would you risk Rodgers making the same mistakes for the 3rd time? So just to be clear, I don't want him sacked, I want him to stay on as HEAD COACH not as manager
24 Feb 2015 17:09:54
Rodgers will be gone in the summer. Can't see him working with a MONCHI on his back!
24 Feb 2015 17:45:41
I'd like him to stay as head coach under a DoF with coaching staff added where we lack and a focus on youth to fill the squad, only buying players to slot straight into the first team (or to go into the academy).
But Rodgers should only stay if he's willing to make the concessions a director of football would need to operate. I'd be wary of who the DoF is, if we cannot get our targets (Cruff?) then do we just add people to the list until we get one. Comolli despite bringing in Henderson, Suarez etc. was a disaster.
24 Feb 2015 18:10:47
If you hire a young, unproven manager you have to expect him to make mistakes. So yes I think he will be given another season regardless.
A DoF and hopefully a stronger no2 will be brought in but regardless of whether they are I hope and think he will at least get another year.
A lot of the criticism aimed at BR is over-the-top, eg the transfers. Firstly we have a committee and no one really knows whose choice was who etc, secondly they actually haven't been that bad.
Also his crazy David Brent impressions have to be somewhat forgiven, because he never played football at high level so isn't used to media, limelight etc.
No one really knows how things will turn out, Bony could of been just as bad as Balo for example. And we could end up with a coach who makes more mistakes than BR, and if we do all these fans with a hate on for BR will vent that anger towards the owners. The gamble to get rid of BR and bring another manager is too great a risk (de boer is probably the highest calibre we could expect), running the club as a business it would be smarter to keep him on for one more year and assume that he's learnt from his errors.
24 Feb 2015 18:40:06
Where do we go for another manager exactly ? Yes Rodgers has made mistakes but who hasn't. Compare us to Dortmund. We both lost our best player before the season started us Suarez them lewondowski and look where both teams are in there respective leagues. Klopp was the guy everybody wanted and I would argue that Rodgers has done a good job in turning things around in recent weeks.
24 Feb 2015 19:47:44
Actually dortmund have lost 4 of their best players over the past few years, not one, and had injury problems that make man uniteds look a walk in the park this season. So imagine what position we would be in if we lost sturridge, sterling, henderson, sakho and lucas to injury, andsuarez had left.
24 Feb 2015 20:17:43
I doubt be in the bottom 3 woolyback
24 Feb 2015 20:44:14
Rodgers will be here next season barring a total disaster in the remaining 3 months
25 Feb 2015 00:01:27
Dortmund are not in the bottom 3.
25 Feb 2015 00:58:13
Extra Bacon, I read your post and I agree with the him working with a DOF and all BUT to me, the rest of your post was to me excuses, suppositions and baseless exoneration of BR for what has gone wrong this year in the first half of the season, . All you did IMO, was absorb him of any blame, responsibility and accountability for all our troubles and all his blunders, I`m sorry to say. Then you make abstract suppositions about maybe Bony would have been no good, it is normal that BR is embarassing in the media because he hasn`t been coaching that long or maybe a new manager would be worse. WTF? NOBODY knows if a new manager will help or hurt because like a new signing, it is always a gamble which is why your research should be on point. Many used that lame excuse to defend Rafa YET we found BR who almost won us the PL in his second year. Morale of the story? NOBODY KNOWS. Secondly, BR`s been coaching professionally for about 6 yrs now and has been here for 3 of them so how long does he need to get his mouth in check? Is he a teenager? Yes, I do expect a young manager to make mistakes. What I don`t expect and will never tolerate from any employee of mine is for him/her to make recurrent mistakes, not learn from them and think he is above reproach, reprimand and accountability for them. That is where we differ. I need a manager to be accountable, responsible and be a leader. Simeone lost a game kaweek w/ AM and the first thing he said was "I got my tactics wrong in the first half". THAT is leadership and is that too hard to ask BR to do instead of the crap he talks and the blaming of everyone but himself? Every manager is prone to mistakes but the good onse learn from them and BR does not learn REGARDLESS of how many excuses people want to make for them. He`s been here for 3 yrs yet the mistakes and TW bunglings remain to the point that the club is amassing debt in the name of PL glory BUT obviously none of that matters provided we play well for half a season. Also, not once did you mention any of his mistakes. If you are to b right, we might as well act as if the first half of the season never happened. If we want to have an honest debate on whether BR should stay or not, then all aspects have to be onsidered and becos I and many of us, are willing to do that does not make us haters or anti-Brendan or all that other nonsense many post on here. The fact that his blunders and ego and arrogance got us to play catch up for not even the title BUT for 4th spot after coming 2nd last year cannot be wished away at the snap of the fingers just because we are unbeaten in 10 games and all in the name of "positivity". If we almost won the PL, you can no longer sette for 3rd/4th. If you make 3rd or 4th while aiming for 1st then I`ll take it. Now, we are 6th and that is failure and that lies at the desk of the manager because the buck stops w/ him. FYI, I am always positive because when there is life, there is hope and as a former athlete, you have to believe that as long as there is a chance, you can always win. The fact that many of us here are ready to proposed balanced arguments should also be respected so we can have that healthy and sncere debate. I am not slating you for your opinion. I just wish that you and many others stop with ignoring his errors and mistakes while making a case why he should be kept because trust me the owners will NOT. Let us consider both sides of the coin so we can make progress on this issue.IMO, I want him to stay IF he changes his ways and accept the help he needs, learn quickly from mistakes and just focus on coaching then IMO, he should be kept. What if he doesn`t though? What if the owners refuse to bow to his ego and refusal to work and adhere to the framework they are trying to put in place (DOF, transfers etc)? Should he be kept just because you or I said so? The last time I checked, FSG writes the checks at LFC and if you ain`t writing checks then you are up for the chop. All in all, the owners will consider ALL aspects of his tenure here and if he goes, he goes and if he stays, he stays. For those sayng he will be here regardless or barring a disaster, I suggest you don`t talk too soon because you are not the owners and it wasn`t your money that got wasted. I for one, am ready for any outcome because a manager is an employee and not a fam member I am stuck w/ for life.
25 Feb 2015 05:51:34
I agree with Essexred884 and just add that it will be with no DoF.
25 Feb 2015 09:44:19
Does anyone actually know what a DoF does?
I'm just asking because before Ed01 mentioned it, no-one ever mentioned a DoF. Now, every man and his dog wants a DoF.
I don't know enough about a DoF to make that call. Actually, I know very little about the role of a DoF, but if it improves us a club, then fantastic.
{Ed002's Note - Typically they provide input to the transfer process, they take responsibility for overseeing all footballing aspects (first team, youth, ladies etc.) and they sit between the board and manager or coach.}
25 Feb 2015 10:44:47
Jimmy, surely you're not suggesting that there's a large number of sheep on this site!
25 Feb 2015 10:52:50
Thanks Ed002.
Can I ask what clubs are successfully working with a DoF in the Premier League? I've read a little piece on Southampton and a few internet searches show a couple of disasters, notably Newcastle & Tottenham, so what other clubs have a DoF that seem to be working? Sounds like an obvious statement, but getting the right DoF is paramount, more so than the head coach I'd imagine.
{Ed002's Note - Chelsea and Manchester City sit first and second and both have a Director of Football.}
25 Feb 2015 12:55:19
Thanks Ed002. I guess outside of those two clubs? I'm not sure whether their success is down to the DoF structure or the fact that have spent far more money than anyone else. Maybe a combination of both, but I don't know.
I'm keen to see what other clubs have successfully used a DoF in the Premier League, and indeed what is the criteria that determines whether the DoF setup is a success? If success is based on winning the Premier League, then any clubs outside of the two you mentioned have yet to have success with a DoF. If success is based on transfers, then is that success from a financial perspective, or from those players bought being successful on the field? If it's the latter, then I revert back to point 1 on whether winning the Premier League is the baramoter of success?
Sorry for the questions, but I'm keen to understand more about the very thing people are asking for, and to see whether it's going to work for us and to find out what other people value as a successful setup of the DoF.
{Ed001's Note - Alex Ferguson acted as a DoF in all but name at Man Utd for most of his time there. That is why the style of play changed so much, the number 2 was responsible for that and did all the coaching.}
25 Feb 2015 20:38:41
Redohio, I'm not ignoring BRs mistakes but i think people like yourself are exaggerating them for your own argument.
ive read your posts this season and although your venom towards BR has softened lately, you were ready to hang him from the terraces a month ago, and the mere suggestion of him staying was unthinkable to you.
I've never denied, BR has a lot of faults, his ego and interviewing probably the worst of them. His transfer dealings haven't been as bad as you and others make out.
But he also has a lot of good qualities, we hired a young forward thinking coach who exceeded all expectations last year. And with losing Suarez and sturridge for 5months, this year was never going to be easy. Plus nobody was going to be surprised by us. A lot of teams have better than expected years than fade away a year later (Spurs, Everton Newcastle in the last 3 years). The fact that BR managed to pull it back is of great credit to him and whether it was his fault or not is almost irrelevant. He fixed a problem and if gets 4th that's an achievement and based on that I would give him at least one more year.
if he reverts back to type than I'll be with you but I'm also an optimist and think he will learn from his mistakes and keep playing the football that we've seen the past few months. If you hire a young manager you have to let him grow into the role, and despite what anyone says I remember the awful cringe worthy 'being liverpool' and BR is not as bad as he was in that. Which shows PR improvement. Why can't he improve in other areas?
Not even Ed002 knows what's going to happen in the upper echelons of liverpool football club in the summer. But I'm hoping BR stays regardless of what changes are made.
25 Feb 2015 20:59:41
Thanks Ed01.
I'm not entirely sure Alex Ferguson is the best example to use, after all, I have never seen an abundance of DoF's tapping their watches on the sidelines, or chasing referees down the tunnel, or doing post match interviews. He was the Manager first and foremost. Yes, he did delegate the training activities to his coaches over time, that much I know. I guess you are privy to more information than me and I can see the correlation of him acting similar to the DoF role, based on the explanation of the DoF but he was the Manager, not DoF.
Anyway, I like the idea of a DoF, but it has to work, not just be a great sounding philosophy on paper.
26 Feb 2015 00:12:13
Extra, I agree that I wanted him gone because at the time, I could not believe what I was watching. How could I? I thought someone kidnapped BR and put an impostor/clone in his place because I did not recognize him nor our team anymore. I defended him to the hilt last season because he was doing the business and provided we were winning, I didn`t care. Some even had the gaul to give Bielsa credit for our showing last year and I faced them head on and defended BR against such pathetic notions. Then the Ed`s revealed that he reverted to his failed system in a bid to prove us wrong and for nothing else. WTF? I have defended this guy all this while and this is what he does? I couldn`t take it anymore. I don`t know if he will revert to it again BUT what we do know is that that system should NEVER be played here again because it has failed, miserably. Now granted we have gotten better BUT there was NEVER a prob to be fixed. This is a fact. He should have just played the system that almost won us the league because at least we know what works because we have seen it work. How hard could that have been? Only BR can tell you that and I beg you not to make excuses or suppositions because that does not help honest debate. If we are giving him all the credit for the good, we should be sincere and honest enuff to demand accountability for his costly mistakes as well and not be quick to absorb him of blame or airbrush his mistakes in the name of "positivity". Is that too much to ask for? He needs to improve in the media aspect. Obviously he has not because he is still being snarled at by the owners about his mouth running wild. How is that improvement? Listen, I love the way we play and would gladly keep him provided he works within the framework and if he cannot do that due to his ego or whatever then, he should go and I will have no prob with it. That is where we differ, Bacon. BR cannot be dictating to the owners or fans what should happen. They are his bosses and if he doesn`t learn quickly, he will be goneregardless of what you and I think. `Hope this clarifies my views on the issues.
24 Feb 2015 15:07:58
Question for the ed's .
Mignolets form is superb, it's like he just turned a switch on and started playing well. What is it down to? Was a goal keeping coach brought in?
{Ed002's Note - It will likely just be confidence.}
24 Feb 2015 15:34:53
Its all down to brendan lol
24 Feb 2015 15:51:39
-3 centre backs. With Can as a ball player confident to take posession (Skrtel was not)
-No last minute passbacks from skrtel because he's a ditherer.
-not playing Skrtel-lovren as a CB pair of a back 4
-playing Sakho not Lovren
-Moreno not getting caught up field as much, and when he does Sakho covering well.
-Playing Lucas.
-Simply doing away with BR's tactics of trying to pass out the back, we concede the ball in the middle of the park more when Migs simply boots it, but we have the bodies in place to win possession back there.
-Coming and punching instead of catching. A clear tactic was for Migs to come and catch the ball, and try to roll it out to a winger or fullback, we've ditched that and now he usually punches it.
-Probably doing away with listening to Achterberg. (I have never in my life seen such poor warm up coaching pre match for a keeper)
Pick any number of them.
24 Feb 2015 16:12:13
It's down to his Mrs. He said it himself. She gave him a stern talking to. Genuinely.
Its amazing what having a good woman behind u will do.
24 Feb 2015 16:19:05
His partner, a boxing glove and a bottle of baby oil. So I heard??
24 Feb 2015 18:43:42
Not playing Gerrard as a defensive midfielder leaving the defence exposed.
25 Feb 2015 10:02:48
Phooey
Have you been watching 50 shades of grey again lol.
24 Feb 2015 14:57:59
{Ed001's Note - We have posted a new article entitled, The Potential Summer Re-shuffle at Liverpool FC
24 Feb 2015 15:59:14
Very good post ed 01 sort of the way I feel about the set up myself personally I would have rafa as DOF and Steve Nichol as number 2 hopefully Brendan does see the need for change and I'm a bit shocked Pascoe could get such a high job at Liverpool just out of familiarity my recommendation has done years of hard craft learning the game of coaching in America if you like served his time and has a very good reputation I believe in this field aswell as being a liverpool great.
24 Feb 2015 17:15:26
Question, would a DOF be responsible in the scouting, selection and purchase of players or would it be the "committee" ? in any instance would it be the Head Coach that would have the final say?
Adam/ED01, what makes you think/do you think Mike Marsh is worth keeping? you mention his passion but that on its own is simply not enough is it?
24 Feb 2015 18:03:15
You'd be suprised how many coaches get jobs due to managers having worked with them previously Tommy. Similar things happen with players. For example Redknapp and his love affair with Defoe, Crouch and Krancjar. Some people just like feeling comfortable so stick with people they know, even if they're not the best option.
In response to your question 18and5. Monchi's current role at Sevilla incorporates work with the academy and the scouting plus other roles that Ed's are probably more well equipped to answer.
Regarding Mike Marsh, I have heard he is a fairly good coach, but not spectacular. I would like to give him a little longer to prove himself though as he's only been coaching first team football for 3 years. Pascoe has been doing it for a bit longer though and I can just imagine him curled up on Rodgers lap purring "yes master". I suppose the honest answer is, Marsh might not be good enough long term. But one more season working more closely with Rodgers and Vizcaino isn't going to hurt.
24 Feb 2015 18:38:08
Very good article, passed some time at work.
If its EMS Adam, you can tell you have time on your hands now!!
24 Feb 2015 18:46:22
Sorry but Steve Nicol, as much of a great player he was is utterly clueless when it comes to management, wouldn't want him involved at all, he's as bright as Sammy Lee and that's not good.
24 Feb 2015 19:18:04
The issue i have with articles like this is they are purely one sided. As if to enhance the feelings of the author. So they don't offer a balanced debate. How does the author know that Pascoe is not a good no2 or a "yes man"?
24 Feb 2015 20:40:31
It's a fair question Rover. A good number 2 would stand up to Rodgers when he tries to revert to his boring pass-pass-pass. They should be confident enough to say "hey boss, you're wrong here" and then offer solutions. Pascoe clearly doesn't do that. You can't have a man In charge of everything surrounded by people afraid to tell them they're wrong. It's a fair point though mate. I don't know them personally and I'm just going on perception and rumours.
24 Feb 2015 21:45:30
Fabulous article.It's without doubt something along those line's need's to happen regarding the coaching staff.Hopefully BR will work alongside a DoF but if not then it would be a great pity.
Barry inLouth
25 Feb 2015 00:37:48
I take it steve Nichol won't have to get hiss passport ready anytime soon lol.
25 Feb 2015 10:48:53
Good read Adam and well written, thanks.
24 Feb 2015 14:32:46
I've got to hold my hands up, and was throughly peeved with Mignolet, everytime he was near the ball,
But I feel I need to give credit where credit is due, and think his turn around has been impeccable and he's like a new signing for us.
After reading a lot of post before writing this one myself. Maybe us reds should just enjoy the football right now. Everyone's getting so irate about little things, but have forgotten we've had 4 clean sheets and 10 games unbeaten. That's awesome.
Let's just enjoy and come May well can all have a bitch why something didn't go right.
24 Feb 2015 13:26:06
Ed2 that's a bit harsh, I put a bit of effort in to that post! Maybe you could just reply to it in this post? Just the £300m plus question? It'll be just me that knows what the answer is for??
Thanks
{Ed002's Note - Your original question: Ed2 I was just looking at liver pools revenue from 2013-2014 season! It was £256million. With no European football and knocked out of both domestic cups early, this season ( if we are let off with FFP breach) with the champions league income for qualifying and group stage matches(TV and match day income), getting to carling cup semi finals( TV and match day income) and also possibly getting as far as maybe fa cup semi final or final, also Europa league revenue aswell(TV and match day income) plus the warrior money doubles this season for qualifying for the champions league from £25m to £50m? The total revenue for this season will be well in to £300plus??
Thanks
The point is I have no interest in getting in to detail of the accounts - people really don't seem to understand. For this season the revenue will be higher, as you suggest, but right now the club has the Champions League money being withheld pending the completion of the investigation. The club will be releasing the accounts for the 2013/14 season/FY next week. I will answer some questions then.}
24 Feb 2015 14:35:54
Revenue is very nice - but it's the gross and finally net profit that counts.
24 Feb 2015 15:13:25
Thanks ed2! Love you
Thanks
{Ed002's Note - You are very sweet.}
24 Feb 2015 10:24:24
Right away from Rogers bashing for a while !
Jordan Ibe what a young player he is
The raw talent and power from this kid is sensational he also glides by players and playing wingback will help him for the future cannot wait until we see him high up the pitch see how good he really is but I honestly wasnt as excited seen sterling coming true this lad has really impressed me
24 Feb 2015 10:51:24
IMO, He would go and become one better than Sterling on and off the pitch. Ibe is regular starter for me and Credit to BR in giving the lad every possible opportunity.
24 Feb 2015 13:43:23
Ibe seems more down to earth than Sterling and that is why i think he will be at LFC for the long term, someone who appreciates the opportunity given to him and keeps his head down and does is job without much fuss. Sterling will be gone in a couple of years when Real or Chelsea come calling imo. Does not seem like a player who will stay at one particular club for too long but that's just my opinion.
24 Feb 2015 14:20:12
Leave sterling alone
What great fans slating our own players
We have fantastic young players
Enjoy them
We need them if we are going to be successful
A dm in the mould of schnierderlin is a must
24 Feb 2015 16:24:30
I like sterling, and I think once he signs his new contract fans will get off his back a bit.
But sterling played right wing back a few years back for quite a few games and looked lost. Ibe has played 4/5 games got motm twice and been close to motm in the other 2/3. That says a lot to me. Ibe is going to be a very special player. Sterling might but seems to get affected by contracts (went off form last time he signed a new contract) which hints to me he might not have the drive to make it to the very top.
24 Feb 2015 16:26:49
I've said it before and I'll say it again. I hope I'm wrong but sterling is another Wright-Philips, Walcott, Defoe, Lennon type player. Tipped to be world class and let it go to their head.
Personally I'd cash in now if real have shown an interest.
Them watch him sign for QPR in a few years
25 Feb 2015 08:14:51
Attribute wise then Ibe has been blessed with more raw talent than Raheem but both players are outstanding prospects.
I want both at Liverpool for the next 10 years.
These players will bring us trophies if we keep them.
24 Feb 2015 10:20:22
Ed2 I was just looking at liver pools revenue ...........
{Ed002's Note - I have no interest in discussing the money.}
24 Feb 2015 08:12:13
Have all the super fans on here suddenly appearing for people to stop handing out criticisms of BR actually considered just letting the topic die? The only criticisms I regularly see of him at the moment are in answer to the million posts asserting that he's either perfect, the best we'll have or claiming that his flaws should be overlooked. Most of the people who don't believe he's the long term future have made their position clear and have no particular wish to keep repeating themselves (or as the Eds team puts it, RTFP), so just stop talking about it and it'll stop being mentioned as a run of the mill comment
24 Feb 2015 09:36:24
Sadly, this isn't where topics go to die.
People have a hard time letting things go and coming up with original insight - i'm aware how frustrating it can be. Nobody wants to see some aggregated statements passed off as original thought but please just skip over those posts like I do if they're going to make you bald. You want to live a long and happy life so be good to your heart because the stress from matches are taxing enough.
24 Feb 2015 09:44:54
Hi Eds, Great Day ahead guys.
He is not perfect nor messiah and is an average manager at best. He is guilty of numerous things with in the club and Ed's are bang on with their views.
But I disagree with a lot of other posters who are popping up after 24 years of sleep, Now they want title, As we were fighting for the title from past 20 years.
Get a grip guys, If BR promised owners of title, Then He is a bigger fool than what I thought ( Apologies )
Is Wenger no good? No title in 10 years. Same pass and move philosophy and arrogance at its peak of not buying players until 2 years back.
We should have been fighting with City for the second spot, No excuse for BR, But no ways title. we are light years behind Chelsea and probably even more next year.
Thanks Readers and Eds.
24 Feb 2015 11:54:03
Anyone been watching the cricket?
24 Feb 2015 11:54:38
I am not saying Rodgers is a great manager, but Harry you proved again that you are a donkey by saying "average manager at best" He almost won the league for us, and our squad was not mouthwatering either.
24 Feb 2015 12:28:57
Watched the first England game, Lavers. Deeply depressing
24 Feb 2015 13:42:48
If you're from England you better not.
Good time for us Indians though :-) ;-)
24 Feb 2015 15:43:39
Saying "average manager at best" is beyond foolish. He's top class at some aspects; I think he knows his football and the staff around him have done a brilliant job adjusting the team to fit the good players in it after an absolutely tragic run of games. BR just leaves a lot to be desired in interviews and dealing with some of our players. Not just the obvious two, Balotelli and Suarez, but also some young ones like Suso, Alberto, even Aspas. If he could cut out a lot of the transfer errors and, more importantly, speaking too early about incoming transfers (ala Mkhitaryan and Salah) then BR could truly be World Class.
IMO, just like the young players he is coaching to success, he has to grow with each passing year and prove himself the 'new Shankly or Paisley' everyone was calling him this time last year.
24 Feb 2015 07:55:54
There is an article in BBC sport about how Suarez has changed in Barcelona and he is less selfish and score less goals but gives many more assists which is ridicoulus of course, as he was an amazing assists provider last year with 13 in the league second in all the PL only to. our own Gerrard.
This is one department where we are doing much worse this season. As someone wrote here we are quite a non assists friendly team. Gerrard assists are non existant partly because he is playing deep, maybe he lot it a bit. Henderson is trying and provided few, the others mainly try to do it all alone. We need to improve this because I don't think we can count on wonder goals from Coutinho every game.
24 Feb 2015 10:13:56
When I read the article I didn't get the impression it was really about Suarez getting goals and assists, more a dig at barca fans who had booed Suarez and expressed frustration at his lack of goals. Then when he was defended by professionals and his manager, that he offers so much more than goals, in terms of movement creating space etc, that booing stopped and the cheering began. As if the writer was having a go at fans that simply are there to support Messi, and have little understanding of the game.
That was the impression I got anyway. It felt he was having a dig at the original boo boys.
24 Feb 2015 10:14:45
Gerard's assist tally is different because Skrtel scored so many headers from his corners last season.
24 Feb 2015 16:35:14
Someone assists pretty much ever goal so I don't know what u mean by non assist friendly team. I don't even think that's a statement that belongs in the English dictionary.
And Hebdo has produced more than a few assists. In the premier league alone he has produced 6. that's double 'a few'
24 Feb 2015 18:46:00
As interesting as it was about Suarez, I found the death of tika taka more interesting to note. Get it and play it forward as fast as they can to a dynamic front three. BR take note, we are doing very similar and Barca are doing it. Do not revert back to boring possesion for possesion sake
24 Feb 2015 04:50:38
Hey guys! Please help out if you can by sharing the below link. I've set up a crowd funding page on indiegogo to get my step daughter to Anfield to make a little girls dreams come true. Please donate if possible. thanks
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24 Feb 2015 00:42:02
I'm surprised by all the negativity among fans despite our current form. Yes we were terrible in the first 6 months, and Rodgers was stubborn not to change his formations quick. But he's a young manager and this is a young team, they're all learning. If anyone was expecting a title challenge this season I call you naive. Without Suarez we would never be able to mount a challenge this season. Even Rafa, despite his experience, was stubborn at times, and so are a lot of other managers. You'd be happy to have LVG like most mancs, but is he better than Rodgers? LVG spent excessively on so called world class, proven talents. yet, even without added pressure of CL and with such a squad united aren't paying well, let alone challenge for the title. Would you rather have us play like Chelsea? yes they're top of the league, but I know that most Liverpool fans would want to be top of the league by playing good football rather than theirs. And city spent heavily but it took years for their squad to gel.
I know we've overpaid for some of the players we bought, but none of them are actual flops, even though they haven't justified their price tag completely. This is a young squad who are performing well, instead of encouraging them we find minor reasons to berate them. We call chelsea fans plastics, but we are behaving worse than them. Our behaviour will surely influence the owners in making their decision about BR. At this time, I really hope we don't go through another change in management. That will only make matters worse. Insulting your own team, or crying campaign against the refs ain't going to help the team.
24 Feb 2015 07:17:40
Why would changing managers make matters worse? Strange assumption with no basis really.
24 Feb 2015 08:21:25
It's not a one off though. He did exactly the same last season.
24 Feb 2015 09:06:58
If Rodgers starts next season playing the way we are now, then I see no problem with him staying.
If Rodgers wants to start next season playing the way we have started for the past 2 seasons (his favoured way) then he's got to go.
24 Feb 2015 09:40:50
Just going out on a limb here - and this is by no means putting any blame on Gerrard - I think most Liverpool supporters and probably also the players would have been more than happy to play like Chelsea and win a title had we known in September this would be Gerrard's last session in red.
24 Feb 2015 12:59:20
The negativity is only being brought to the fore because of all the superfans on here who just spout mindless drivel about supporting the club and how they've always loved rodgers and how the whole team is world class and absolutely nothing is wrong - without actually using their brains and in several instances actually having a go at people for having anything other than 110% optimism. So yes many of us who try to have thought out, balanced arguments are inclined to post some negativity to counteract the childish antics of some posters. We rather we wouldn't have to but still.
25 Feb 2015 01:44:25
You post some sense there, Wooly! A balanced approach has to be used in order to have an honest debate about BR`s future and people willfuly ignoring his blunders in the name of "positivity" is just dishonest and prevents this debate from happening.
23 Feb 2015 23:47:51
Can I ask every one calling for Rodgers head say what they would have done differently.
We lost suarez, sturridge injured, lambert wasn't bought as a starting striker, most people on here have been skating Lucas for years, skating Henderson infact slating most of the team.
I'm not for one minute saying Rodgers is perfect, if I had my way I'd have had a dof ages ago, but Rodgers is one of the best coaches we've had for a long time, I don't blame FSG fo being pissed at Rodgers he was an idiot to promise what he did, he is an idiot in front of cameras.
He needs to be made to handle the head coach role and that's it. If he won't then his loss, I like his style on the field a lot, but I want to see a title at anfield, I think he is the coach to bring it but need to accept help.
Last season was too early for our team and we lost our best chance to win the title.
In my opinion we are a couple of seasons away from a true title chance, but we should be in and around top 4 all season.
This season was always going to be hard but I'm glad we are only a few points off of 3rd place,
Seriously with out using what you know now what would u have done differently at the beginning of the season?
We lost Suarez sturridge injured so what could we have done differently?
As far as balo who truly knows who's choice he was ?
Interested to here from all those who want Rodgers out what they would have done and if Rodgers goes who to come in? Ain't may out there available?
24 Feb 2015 07:15:58
For a start- in our first 12 PL games, Lucas didn't make the team for 5 games and was an unused sub for 4 of them. Aside from being a bad idea in my opinion, also led to him looking around for other places to play, which is also bad.
For a good chunk of the first half of the season, we also reverted to boring possession for possession sake football, which was also a terrible idea.
Going back further than that, I'm still not impressed with the summer window and think we pretty well failed to fill the gaps that were actually needed instead spending money on a lot of depth we didn't necessarily need.
24 Feb 2015 08:05:43
1. Keep my mouth shut on a far more regular basis
2. Not revert every season to slow possession football which after the first 6 months he should have realised wasn't working, never mind the first 3 years.
3. Not scorn the very concept of additional help and hire them on merit. Accept a wider management structure, don't try and control everything.
4. Pay closer attention to the youth team and ability that we have their instead of buying young foreign players we have absolutely no need for i.e. Alberto
Who to come in instead of him? Someone who has a track record of using the sort of management structure a bigger team should have well, who bases their decisions on what works not what they want to do and who respects the growth of young players as a solid sustainable resource.
24 Feb 2015 08:40:30
Buy a good striker to replace Suarez for starters . Use guys like texeira and ilori instead of spending 45 million pounds on Lallana and Lovren use all that to get a good striker
24 Feb 2015 10:21:44
What striker? I agree we should have out more into a proven striker but not sure who we could afford as to tempt them would have taken serious wages we haven't got.
24 Feb 2015 10:53:29
World class so called striker isn't coming to Liverpool to play scond fiddle to Sturridge. BR is not going to play 2 at the top.
ED01 quoted true on Ings arrival.
{Ed001's Note - quoted?}
24 Feb 2015 12:02:37
ED01 qoute ". Out of all the possible reasons, Y would the lad come to us to play second fiddle to Sturridge. "
Spot on Mate, Y would he come to us when we would never play 2 at the top.
{Ed001's Note - ok cheers. I thought you meant you were quoting me in the first place.}
24 Feb 2015 13:47:59
LLR
Martinez Lacazatte Bony El shaarawy (more ofa second striker) Bendtner ( The exams tension seems to be getting to me ;-) ) Are some examples who are better than balotelli and who would have been attainable though I am sure there might have been other factors at play. I am sure others could name several other guys
{Ed002's Note - You want the fantasy football page.}
24 Feb 2015 15:50:57
1)"Keeps his mouth shut" Yeah because that truly hurt the way we play. Mourinho should have relegated all the teams he managed, the way he talks to the press. If that's a reason to critisize a manager.
2) Agree, probably his only mistake in the 3 seasons he was our manager. Taking out his first, he only made this mistake this year as the second was a learning point.
3) Nothing guarantees a "help" will solve our problems. His teams so far played the best football I've seen from Liverpool the last 20 years or so. His transfer dealings are not that bad. He took us in his 2nd year from 7th to 2nd, serious title challengers, when we didn't have any chance of even considering 2nd place. We lost Suarez and if it weren't for his mistep in the first 6 months we would have been challenging also this year, with a team that is a 3rd position challenger at best.
4)You don't rush youth players when you challenge. You try them slowly slowly. Moreno is young but more ready than any of our youth in his position to play week in week out in the first team. We doubt Rodgers ability to handle youth players? Like Sterling and Ibe? Rossiter, Wisdom and others to follow most probably? The only player we didn't need this year was Manquillo.
25 Feb 2015 02:01:29
1) Mou and BR are not in the same class hence, comparing them is pointless and stupid
2) Excuses that are not supported by the facts. that system has been proven to be a failure YET he used 26 games (in all comps)to force it down our throats and not until his job was on the line that he changed (per Ed01`s info. That is not a mistake. It is a stubborn manager trying to prove us all wrong and in the end, outsmarted himself. Only an insane human being will do the same thing expecting diff results
3)He knew Suarez would go and was given all the money to cover his departure and he did not. If the help won`t help him, why are the owners and fans recommending that he gets it? Baseless suppositions as usual
4) Would that be the sae Ibe that he floged off on loan before he was ordered to bring him back by the owners (per Ed01) if he wanted a new player? Or the same Wisdom and Kelly he flogged off on loan or sold in place of Manquillo who we have found out is not good enuff? Again, naseless rhetoric not supported by the facts.
Dude, you really need to have BR pay you for irresponsibly defending him because damn, you are working too hard on his behalf.
23 Feb 2015 22:59:49
IMO I think it's time that BR gets a bit of a break from the bashing he gets here. I've done it, made comments about his broken promises, lack of youth focus, talking too much and poor start to the season.
BUT. Credit where it's due, our season is still massively alive and exciting, semi final in one cup, quarter final in the FA cup and the race for 3rd. We're also in a great position of progressing in the Europa league.
We were woeful in defence, we now have the best run of clean sheets since 1985.
Rodgers and his staff have turned things around. There was a time before his appointment when Martinez was an option or Villa-Boas. Neither of them turned there terrible seasons around. Rodgers is young and inexperienced, just what the owners wanted. I'm not seeing hugely experienced LVG doing better. I know which style of play I'd prefer, which squad I'd prefer.
Lucas, Henderson, Sakho and Skrtel were written off by plenty due to poor performances but once they turned things around quickly got full support, why dosent the manager get the same?
24 Feb 2015 07:08:32
inside your heart i/you fear that rodgers may revert to his ways and start playing johnson, allen, gerrard(whenever available) in midfield, we fear he may play revert back his possesion game again . every lfc fan fears it . reason enough to not give him support . the moment he is praised or pressure is lifted he will revert back to being a mess and take the team with him.
do you really believe the team just became awesome overnight? ( well they actually did) they were playing a game they did not enjoy . pass from the back, hold the ball, possession game. and that is entirely the managers fault. we could have done what we are doing now from the start of the season and yes he won't get support like the players because of the simple fact that players are rated on game performance basis but managers are rated on promises they keep and rank on the table, we are currently 6th and there is nothing worth praising in that.might give him a good chant when we are 4th.
24 Feb 2015 09:23:36
Do you honestly think Rogers reads posts on websites.I would think he wouldn't give a monkeys what a tiny minority of people think. At Anfield I have never heard them singing Rogers out or seen any banners to that effect.Those are the fans that he would take notice of
24 Feb 2015 09:49:25
Rodgers has said he anticipates peak fitness in December, which is coincidentally the same month we typically turn some proverbial corner time and again.
I'm going to guess that the possession play is his method of choice prior to the squad meeting some internal qualification for fitness required to press and break.
24 Feb 2015 10:37:19
So what's pre- season for? Why does it take our team 6 months to get fit? Many teams played a pressing game from day 1.
24 Feb 2015 18:41:54
There was a World Cup as well as 9 new players and a whole system change after one of the best players in the world left. Just saying it's not one thing to minister and correct its at least three
24 Feb 2015 23:29:14
Things have improved significantly since Gerrard announced he was leaving. It seems to have lifted a monkey off Rogers' back. He is now able to leave Gerrard out without creating a mega storm. That has been the difference to my mind. Steve in the defensive midfielder role was a disaster. Exposed Lovren and Skertl, and ruined Minulet's confidence. Lucas comes in and it all changes.
Adding Can to the defence to improve the retention of possession and Sturidge's return have also made a big difference. Ibe's arrival has been a real bonus.
25 Feb 2015 02:06:29
The diff is that BR `s job was on the line hence, he had to switch back to the high press system and made hard choices. I cannot give him credit for that because he could have played that system from the off and did not. You don`t get credit for fixing what you willfully broke. Also per the Eds, he was ordered by the owners to bring Ibe back from loan because he would not get money for signings in Jan so how is that to his credi when he is following a direct order? He should get credi for things BUT not for fixing what he willfully broke and following orders from his bosses. Just saying!
23 Feb 2015 21:41:21
i can't believe some of the negative comments about rodgers, i think we have the best young manager and coach in england, the consistency we are showing is fantastic and the football we play is great too, let's not start talking about new managers until we give this one time, i mean we are competing with teams who have been consistently better than us and have more money and bigger squads than us, but under rodgers i see us moving closer and closer, give him time reds he will deliver ynwa
24 Feb 2015 07:20:35
How much time do we give him if three years and a quarter billion pounds spent isn't enough? 5 years and half a billion? It's a results business and Rodgers, like all managers, will be judged on results. As it stands, 6th and bombed out of the CL is simply not good enough.
24 Feb 2015 08:08:03
Sorry but the consistency we are showing is fantastic? We play like a relegation candidate for 6 months and like champions for 6 months every season for three years. I guess that is consistent but not the consistency we want!
24 Feb 2015 08:40:04
The man is still learning.
24 Feb 2015 09:29:22
The Last 3 seasons have been a massive improvement on what we had for a long time The money spent is peanuts compared to what was needed because before Rogers our first team was poor and the squad as a whole was mediocre to say the least
24 Feb 2015 10:46:20
Didn't dalgleish finish same position at rodgers in his first full season? 2 cup finals as well? Since then he has spent around 200 million! Peanuts??? That's more than any other team bar man utd in 3 years. That was on top of the 100 million spent by Kenny. He's hardly had to scrape by, he could have almost bought a first 11 at 20 million each with that cash.
25 Feb 2015 02:13:11
200m plus is peanuts, the man is still learning (after 3 yrs in charge riddled with recurrent blunders), and consistency at being inconsistent. Sorry but all I read there are excuses, excuses and even more pathetic excuses. The fact that people are ready to absorb BR of any blame is fundamentally dishonest and saying that doesn`t make me and those like me haters. It makes me and many like me balanced thinkers who is ready to weigh the pros and cons of letting go or keeping him.
23 Feb 2015 21:34:18
Say, BR is sacked come the end of season, who do you think will be interested in him, Eds?
And what effect would it have on the players?
{Ed001's Note - no idea.}
24 Feb 2015 10:45:46
Cetic.
24 Feb 2015 16:55:28
Spurs, man utd, west ham, Everton. Outside of our own fans we haven't been favourites for top 4 in any of the 3 seasons Rodgers has been in charge. He's rightly so got a reputation for being an excellent coach, he will have no shortage of job offers.