THE sports pages of today’s newspapers don’t make for a great read for Brendan Rodgers.
From tactical criticisms to the make-up of a squad that is of the manager’s making, from a defence that isn’t stopping goals and an attack that isn’t scoring them, the common theme is that a current reign of three years, three months and 13 days at Liverpool may not last much longer if results don’t dramatically improve immediately.
Similar messages are more vehemently disseminated online, where one alleged Liverpool fan (beware the ‘bantz’) is seeking attention by setting up a page to crowd fund Rodgers’ sacking while others circulated the old “emergency meeting at Anfield” line earlier today.
Many other fans that wouldn’t dream of participating in something so cringeworthy also want him replaced. Significant numbers wanted him gone in the summer. Yet more want him gone now and many consider possible mitigating factors including new players bedding in, injuries and suspensions as mere side issues. They may well be.
Ex Liverpool players too are expressing their doubts about Rodgers — and advocating alternatives — as the media storm builds, while the Reds boss is again back to favourite in the sack race betting market. Punters are piling in to take the odds.
The walls are closing. Rodgers will know all this and one of the many questions around his Liverpool side right now is whether the noise around his future is influencing his thinking.
If it is, there may well no way back. It feels like a vicious circle that will end up with Rodgers spinning down the Anfield plughole. The more he is criticised, the less he plays the football he really wants to.
From being a manager with a clear vision, it now seems Rodgers is struggling for answers as his team struggles for identity.
Liverpool at their best under Rodgers kept possession, relentlessly pressed and scored goals. The idea was clear, and when it worked it was fantastic to watch.
Last season, the run that lifted spirits and raised hopes aside, was not fantastic to watch. Change was needed. Change needed to be demonstrated.
In the summer, discussing the latest influx of Liverpool signings, Rodgers said: “It was just clear we needed to score more goals. But I wouldn’t want that to be taken as that the other side isn’t important. I believe that our defensive organisation is critical to allow our talents to flourish.”
The current incarnation of Rodgers’ Liverpool is showing little evidence of either defensive organisation or scoring more goals after shipping three goals in successive matches while managing just one in return, and that was a world-class finish from Christian Benteke rather than the result of any convincing attacking pattern of play.
Before a ball was kicked in the Premier League this season, the club was quick to announce the business it wanted to do had been wrapped up. Targets achieved. Coupled with the changes in coaching staff, it appeared to represent a plan — the change from the football that had resulted in Liverpool ending the season as a laughing stock.
Yet the supposed clear thinking and decisive approach has quickly descended into confusion under FSG and Rodgers.
In the summer, it was clear Lucas Leiva was leaving the club. Now he is staying put. Rodgers was also supposedly happy with the transfers in yet already is executing tactical plans that don’t suit the new arrivals. If there was a plan it appears to have changed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z25eFfvdgLg
Which brings us to Thursday’s Europa League game at Bordeaux.
Rodgers said in the summer that he was looking at the idea of alternative starting elevens for the Europa League and Premier League. It’s easy to understand why, with the drop off in top flight performances and points associated with competing in the continental competition well documented.
The manager said in July: “Yes, I think we could [have a team specifically for the Europa League] and it wouldn’t have any real detrimental effect because of the quality of the players I have.”
Sounds like a plan, and one that could leave Liverpool’s nailed-on starters fresher in the Premier League. But will that plan now be ripped up with the heat on Rodgers? Will the idea be shelved with self-preservation in mind? Arguably, with Liverpool’s schedule in mind, it shouldn’t be, realistically it probably will be with Rodgers desperate to ride the latest wave of crisis club talk washing around Anfield.
Thursday marks the start of a run of four ‘easy’ games in nine days — with home matches against Norwich on Sunday, Carlisle the following Wednesday and Aston Villa the Saturday after following the trip to France.
It’s a schedule that should warrant much rotation, particularly with Bordeaux 12th in the French League with one win in five, and Carlisle ninth in League Two with three wins from seven. Even the Premier League games are matches most Reds would describe as home bankers. Certainly once upon a time not so long ago.
The problem is whether Rodgers can remain focused on what is best for Liverpool, or whether his own circumstances cloud his judgment.
The Reds are already eight points off the Premier League pace and with criticism at every turn, the temptation might be to field a stronger team than he planned for in the summer in order to get a result and relieve some of the pressure. But like every decision he is asked to make that comes with risk and potential consequence, both amplified by the start to this season and the hangover from last.
I wrote after the Stoke 6-1: “I think that’s it for the manager. I think he’s done. I don’t see how you recover from that embarrassment. The players will point the finger at him for that. And he will point the finger at them for that. Ditto for how the season has panned out full stop. How do you make that unhealthy situation healthy again?
“There’s been a lot of talk about Liverpool’s identity as a club. Well Liverpool’s identity right now is a club that has finished sixth in the league and lost 6-1 at Stoke City. A club that’s lost home and away to Crystal Palace, couldn’t beat Hull, was humiliated at Wembley and crashed out of Europe twice.
“The team has sleepwalked its way through the past two months and three wins in 10 tells its own story.”
Now, a first loss at Anfield to West Ham in a lifetime and a disjointed, defensive and defeatist performance at Manchester United have been bolted on to what came before. The summer changes might have represented a ‘year zero’ approach for Michael Gordon and co. but that was never going to be the case for the fans or the media.
Rodgers now faces four games when four wins will be expected. Anything less will result in further fury. Win them, and the victories will be met with little more than a shrug by many. That seems harsh, but if Rodgers was in credit last season after 2013-4’s league form it’s clear he’s over his overdraft limit now and the bailiffs are cracking their knuckles in readiness to get stuck in for some change.
It’s why many called for change in the summer and why many continue to do so now: Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers is starting to feel like a relationship that has turned sour.
The owners said one more go in the summer but, right now, Rodgers is showing little sign of rekindling the good old days when his name was sung and flags were waved.
The performances at Stoke and Arsenal at least hinted at some collective spirit, some element of fight in the side. But even that appears to have disappeared, certainly on the evidence of the last two games.
The start of the season has more in common with everything that was wrong with last season rather than the run when Rodgers got it right and briefly raised hopes of a comeback to secure a Champions League spot and maybe even an FA Cup win.
It means again, not for the first time in his time at the club, Rodgers is facing many questions about how he intends to take Liverpool forward.
More clues about how he intends to answer them — and whether plans have been revised since the summer — will come at The Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux on Thursday.
FREE PODCAST: Dismaland – analysing Manchester United v Liverpool
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He’s got to go. I have been a supporter of BR and have defending him, hoping he’d fulfill some promise of being the best young coach in the country – he needs to go for his own sake, if he takes this further down then he’ll possibly break his future career beyond repair.
I watched Everton v Chelsea at the weekend, how I wished that the media photo of John W and Martinez was more than flirtatious. I wished it was a marriage.
I don’t mind losing to Man Utd, I don’t even mind losing to West Ham, what I can’t stand and what I am embarrassed by is the complete lack of identity and balls.
45 mins at the Emrites aside, when was the last time you saw us play and smiled, and then chuckled ‘that was bloody good”. I can’t remember.
And the memories of 13/14 of Suarez, Sterling, Studge & Couthino are quickly being replaced by memories of boring, spineless, technically inept, lost and unadventurous play.
Brendan mate, your gonna get sacked sooner or later, there are no jobs for life anymore, ask yourself “how do you want to be remembered?” The adventurous, front foot, attacking, get at them, possession, flair manager… Or what we see now, cause that’s what you’ll be sacked for and that’s what you’ll be remembered for.
If your gonna go, which you are, then go having shown everyone the size of your balls, and if a few teams and managers have got prettier ones than yours then that’s ok, just make sure you’re are big and are always out!
Bye bye Bren. Be BALLS OUT BREN, not BALLESS BREN
god I couldn’t agree more. Let’s go out there and if he goes down he goes down swinging. Watching spurs sunderland was like a revelation advocaat is on the hot seat and his team played spurs on the front foot and were really unfortunate to not get the win. Why can’t liverpool play a more aggressive style? if it works out, awesome, if not then you went down doing the thing you know how best to do
I think the west ham result has undone any plans to field a part 2nd tier team for the EL . Losing at UTD isn’t the be all and end all but it stunk of the malaise from West Ham which was a mirror of the malaise from the end of last season.
I don’t think we should, expect anything less from a manager other than one who can set up a team twice a week, that’s the whole point of the job isn’t it?
I think he’s just got to go for it if he’s to clever for his own good he’ll come undone
Ps, Cords with Clarks original Desert Boot
You stalking me, Brian? :-)
its a solid dad mod look, apposed to Neil’s blackadder cape he keeps banging on about
“Football is a simple game, complicated by idiots” as someone once said…
it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
I am a Liverpool supporter for the last 35 years and I have never seen anything like this.. Nothing will change under BR he has to go before we live another defat like Stoke, it looks it could happen anytime with him.
For the love of God have mercy on us and bring in Kloop
Can’t see fsg sacking him anytime soon after backing him in the summer. Can’t see how he’s going to turn it around, Saturday reminded me of when we went to old Trafford under the hodge only possibly worse. So we’ll drift on watching another season pass us by and the worst thing about it all is that if the club had any leadership they would have seen this coming at the end of last season, a couple of bad results and Brendan would be under pressure this season. I want him to do well, if the Reds win and all that, but just can’t see how that’s going to happen…
Let’s be really clear.. It’s time… Way beyond time… Ta ra Brendan. You have been found out!
Brendan Rodgers is probably the luckiest man in the world!!.. He blagged his way into the greatest job in the world and Kenny left him Luis Suarez… Simple as that.
He has a mediocre record as a manager both now and before he joined us… He had a lucky season based on Luis Suarez, his arrogance is beyond all measure as he has rid the club of our great players, who should have been escorted upstairs or onto the training ground… He talks in riddles which the USA group love but if you listen carefully, it’s absolute nonsense..
He has spent £290m.. Just say that a few times..I wouldn’t trust him with £290. Coutinho and Sicknote apart, his dealings are horrendous.. Too many mediocre buys.. Mediocre manager… It all adds up.. He is out of his depth but continues to use his boundless reserves of arrogance to bullshit his way through…. I don’t know how he sleeps at night.. It’s daylight robbery!
Management is about leadership… He has been found wanting at every turn and he bags £80k a week into the bargain… It’s repulsive.
I am not new onto the ‘Brendan out’ bandwagon, I have had massive reservations since day one and have, very sadly, been proved right.. I would have been delighted to have been shown to be a clueless fan….
He didn’t get much right at Watford and Reading.. How was he the right man to manage LFC..?
We are a laughing stock… utd dealt with Moyes very quickly.. We continue to embarrass ourselves… It’s time now, it really is time!!
this is hardly the best job in the world. It might be the worst job in england.
you have a team that spends 5th in prems and fans that live in the past and expct those days to be resumed anytime now.
The amount of undue pressure for a manager here is unfathomable. We demand trophies and league titles and european supremacy, all the while you’re given not enough to spend to keep pace with the other top 4 clubs. If you don’t succeed you are awful and lack ambition.
Who in their right mind wants that shit?
Rodgers gets as much money as any of the rest of them.
The fact that he spends 30-40m on 2/3 up and coming “talents” with “wonderful Technique and great character” instead of buying ready made players that will go straight in and improve the side is up to him. It hasnt worked, 3 years in a row. In fact it hasnt worked for years now, going back to when benitez started the same thing.
Fergie splashed out on RVP who had 2 more years left in him, he won them the league the first year. Chelsea bought Costa and Fabregas last year and they won them the league.
Rodgers spent 300 odd million on 27 players I think it was. (correct me if I’m wrong) Average wage on those players brought in 70,000 a week roughly. Divide that 27 players by 3 and multiply the average wage by 3 and we’ve got 9 players on 200,000+ a week. You’re telling me we cant sign 9 top name players if we’re paying 200,000 a week?
Theres an old saying in life, “you pay peanuts, you get monkeys”, thats exactly what liverpool have on the books right now and it could all be so different if we showed some ambition.
Have you not read any extracts from SG’s Auto? Read them and then revise your comment
Like with Rafa, I was open to sacking the manager if the right man came in. Obviously the club had no idea what it was doing when it sacked Rafa, and I’m not confident that the club have the nous to make the right appointment if Brendan goes this time.
(I have no idea what the right appointment is either)
As Big Ron used to like to point out -if a team’s not functioning take a look at the midfield.
Perhaps we see now why Lucas was up for sale in the window .And how we miss Jordy boy and Coutinho when they are absent.
Finding a way to utilise Can’s strengths while not exposing his weaknesses is a conundrum that appears harder than the ones on Countdown
RODGERSOUT !!!
I am so sure that after we reached this low stage there is no way back with Rodgers in the house. We must get rid of him the soonest or it will seriously hard to get back to Liverpool old stature.
An alarming sign is that he does not know what his/the team assets are! He cannot deploy the right tactic or use the players in their natural/competitive positions!
He is arrogant, stubborn and does not care about the club or the team..only his point means everything for him.
He must leave the soonest possible.
i am a fan of Liverpool FC, and quite honestly i dont really care whether BR continues or not. BUT, i just want to see the performance and result improve drastically.
players~everyone of them~ need to take responsibility. this bunch have no balls, no guts, the meekest bunch, should be ashame of their contribution and commitment.
since they are the EPL/Liverpool quality, no doubt they do have some minimum standard (quality wise, i assume). but what is shockingly lacking is the BALL (and the will to ‘die’ for Liverpool FC).
Forget abt psychologist sessions, forget about more technical and tactical sessions, forget about positional and set piece trainings for the next four matches preparation.
Just compile video clips of how REAL Liverpoool players play against MU (or any match, really) ~ the crunching tackles, the red cards, the connection between fans and players because of that BALL and COMMITMENT.
(note: i am just a fan, not footballer, but i was really ashame of these pro footballers reoresenting Liverpool for past 2 matches. put me or any other fans in their place, and at least we will give our 100% and show the whole world that how proud we are to represent Liverpool, not shy away or hide)
thank you
In the end, we are 3 points off 3rd place with 33 league games to go. The personnel is there for a really strong side (once they’re all fit).
—Benteke—–Sturridge—
———–Firmino————-
–Coutinho——–Milner—
———–Henderson——–
Moreno-Sakho-Skrtel-Clyne
There can be tweaks, but that is a strong, positive side. Particularly with Sakho starting our attacks from deep.
Lord knows why this formation hasn’t been in Rodgers’ thoughts from go. Ings playing for Sturridge until he is fully fit, Milner and Henderson swapping places during the game to catch breathers between full tilt runs.
Rodgers needs to keep us in touching distance of the CL spots by the time we leave the Etihad. I’ll give him patience until then, but he’s got to start turning things around.
fully agreed. some away matches, Lucas maybe used at the base of diamond, move Hendo alongside Milner, and move Cortinuo to the top of diamond.
based on few matches, Firmino may need to ease into the matches via Europa league or league cup matches.
For me it’s not just the fact that his team played into ManU’s hands for 45 minutes, which everyone in the world could see. It’s that he put them right back out there for the second half to do it again. He was “reasonably” pleased with “the shape” after 45 minutes of such futility, that the commentators were rubbing their eyes in disbelief.
He is just not good enough. Swansea yes; Liverpool no.
I’m ashamed and embarrassed to be a Liverpool fan right now.
It was horrifying to watch the Manchester United fans and the media strip away every shred of humanity from David Moyes in 2013-14, humiliating him and his family and raining down hatred on him as if he wasn’t even human. I thought Liverpool fans wouldn’t sink to that level. I thought the awful mocking treatment of Hodgson in the past was coloured by bitterness connected to H&G. I hoped that if Brendan Rodgers does have to go — this manager who has never had anything but praise for the fans — the fans would handle it in a respectful and mature way. I was so wrong.
At Liverpool FC we have sunk into the muddy abyss of hate and venom where the Mancs of 2013-14 resided. We have become them; we have become what we mocked and said we despised. If the squad does manage to pull off those 4 wins coming up, our position in the league will likely improve, but we have exposed ourselves for the viciousness that is in our hearts, exposed ourselves for what we really are. We can never escape that, even if the season does recover. We have destroyed our own reputation, and reputation is everything. It goes hand in hand with the legacy of history.
I am embarrassed and ashamed for us.
I am embarrassed and ashamed at some of our fans who have defended Rodgers at every turn and taken his small club mentality as their own, thereby allowing him to manage expectations and them to accept mediocrity.
That is not what we have been about as a club. Roy Keane used to talk about a one game losing streak at Utd being a crisis that would lead to nasty tackles and fights in training the next day. That used to be us with great managers of the past. Not with this manager, who has stripped the squad of any anger and personality.
You continue to support Rodgerspool Ellie. We’ll support Liverpool.
PS: I adore how you can’t bare to discuss performances and results during these times as it will inevitably mean discussing Rodgers’ shortcummings – instead you talk about the fans who are furious with the mediocrity Rodgers is delivering. But when we win you’re more than happy to talk about the game. Win-win eh?
Are we Rodgerspool when we lose and Liverpool when we win?
Was we Liverpool in 13/14 or was we Suarezpool?
Would you like to support Kloppool or Anchilottipool next?
If someone is supporting Rodgers despite it clearly not being in the best interests of LFC for him to remain as manager, they are not supporting Liverpool.
If someone is supporting Klopp as manager of LFC, things are going well and therefore it is in the best interests of Liverpool, they are supporting Liverpool.
If someone is still supporting Klopp as manager if LFC as things are going badly and therefore it is in LFC’s best interest to get rid, they’d be supporting Kloppool, not Liverpool.
Pretty simple to understand.
Through the wind and the rain and all that.
Interesting definition of support, I look forward to hearing
“We are Liverpool, as long as it’s going good”
Michael, you miss my point entirely and make assumptions that are not true. To people who can’t think critically everything is ‘For’ or ‘Against’, ‘Pro’ or ‘Con’. No nuance, no gradations of deeper thought and analysis.
I support Liverpool Football Club. I don’t idolize or despise any manager or player. People who do that transfer their own identity onto something or someone that will ultimately fail. And in doing that they inevitably end up disillusioned, disappointed, distraught, and deluded.
Our fans are burning in a hell of bitterness and anger right now. They transfer that fury onto one man, the easy target. They think nothing of trying to destroy a person’s reputation. I won’t participate in that because I’ve lived long enough and have enough experience to realize fully that what you give out in life you alway get back. I AM ashamed and embarrassed — by fans like you who have such a narrow view of the world and who are filled with hate and darkness.
You say that the angry fans are destroying Brendan’s reputation. I can see your point, though it’s hardly objective at all. Assuming Brendan leaves the club in a similar or worse situation to this one, yes, the opinions of him from the fanbase of the only big club he’s ever managed will undoubtedly make it harder for him to secure a managerial position in a club of similar stature. But don’t you think that the poor results that he’s achieved during his tenure at LFC and the style of football that his big budget team has played over it will have an equal, if not a bigger impact on that reputation of his?
And also, who would you say is to blame for the destroying of the club’s reputation? Because, whether we want to admit it or not, we are a bit of a joke now. We haven’t had a significant result in Europe for over half a decade. Teams like Bournemouth, Stoke and West Ham come into their games against us fancying their chances. And we hardly seem able to attract international talent on a regular basis (and I’m being kind here, because of my opinions on players like Firmino and Markovic).
Don’t think of this as me presenting a case against Brendan Rodgers. As far as I can tell, you’re not presenting a case for him either. You’re criticizing the supporters and in my mind your arguments for it couldn’t be any thinner and one-sided. So I would very much like to hear what a supporter such as yourself and so full of respect towards our dear club and its employees would have to say in answer to the two paragraphs above.
Velimir, I’ve seen your comments on here before and I respect you. I am merely expressing my dismay about an *attitude* I see as prevalent amongst our fan base at present, an attitude that is tearing apart and dividing our club at a time when *uniting behind the manager and the squad* is what is needed and what could help to turn things around.
I’m not going to respond again to Mr Pearson because he clearly believes he’s got the only answer, his opinion is the only correct one, and everyone else is ‘stupid’ and ‘melodramatic’. People like that are best ignored and left to stew in their own rancid juice.
So because I want a multimillionaire to be sacked (resulting in said multimillionaire picking up a pay off of circa £9m) because he is performing dismally at his job means I’m filled with hate and bitterness? That is your claim?
I bet you don’t realise how utterly absurd that is, not to mention egregiously stupid and melodramatic. Not only are you embarrassing yourself with your continuing defence of Rodgers and wish never to even discuss the things he’s getting wrong, but are embarrassing yourself with comments like this which puts on display immeasurable arrogance and a misplaced belief that you can tell someone has major mental health issues simply by reading an opinion they hold (which is now majority opinion I hasten to add) on football.
Catch a grip of yourself.
You are a fan of Rodgerspool so don’t worry about any shame attached to fans of the club.
Agree completely. Cheers for the exceedingly rare sensible comment.
Folks need to tone it down and get it together. No idea what all the hysterics accomplish.
Sack him before it’s too late for this legendary club.D’ont wait to be sunk to call for Klopp.
Buck Rogers out NOW. i never liked the guy. he only had 1 year experience, and where Swansea. all the players he bought r Flops. even my 5 year old son has stopped supporting Liverpool. who can blame him?Stoke 6 Liverpool 1 Liverpool 0 West Ham 3. he has broken 50 years record. he must be working 4 Man Utd. Get Carlos Ancelotti or Kloop NOW. Sack Buck Rogers NOW
The job is too big for him!
This is the world renowned LFC not some Championship side.
He should go!
How can anyone trust or have any confidence in Rodgers, he has had money to spend and has wasted most of it on players who were never suitable for us. We need a manager who can attract the best players, Klopp is the man without doubt we need and we need him quickly because Rodgers will keep telling us a load of crap just like we are playing. The players have no idea like the manager its the blind leading the blind. I have supported the reds for 50 years and have never been so fed up and disgusted with the team. It is so appalling that he has spent around 270million and we are going nowhere.
I’m afraid we’ve now got to look beyond the Manager. It was clear to most of us at the end of last season (and before) that Rodgers needed to be replaced with an eminent mamager with style, personality and the ability to attract top line players who could put Liverpool back at the top of the league again but Mr Henry and Co chose to ignore what their eyes told them.
What they did was akin to appointing a man with a drink problem as Manager of the ‘Off Licence’! Why? They could not accept that their original choice was wrong or understand that the triumvarite of Suarez, Sturridge and Gerrard nearly won the league themselves without any input from Rodgers to stop a leaky defence.
Well it is now clear ‘to most’ that the only man capable of reviving The Reds is Jurgen Klopp but those responsible for hiring and firing still dither. Who will they give us to replace Rodgers – Klopp? No never!
They will go after a very successful manager who is emburdened with the most sad and miserable dial!
It is my opinion they will appoint: SAD FACED ANCELLOTTI.
He will really give us all a much needed boost NEVER!
Thanks for taking the time to write the article Gareth.
When Kenny was elbowed and replaced by BR one of my concerns was that the board had gone after someone who would be grateful for the position and easier to control. I wonder if the focus on the manager is hiding a bigger problem – the ambition of the owners.
Since Brendan’s been here Carra, Suarez, Gerrard, Sterling have left the club. On top of that we’ve also sold Reina, Johnson & Agger – presumably to get the wage bill down. That’s a hell of a lot of talent/experience/Liverpool history to take out of a side in three years (I’m aware that not all of it is down to the club).
I know you’ve talked about them before but I’d be interested in a piece/podcast analysing the positives & negatives of the ownership if anyone’s got the time.
Cheers
What happened to BRs philosophy of passing football which he was renowned for at Swansea? Looks like that’s all gone out the window with this Liverpool side which can’t even retain possession let alone pass the ball. Possession stats seem to be lower than the opposition teams now. This team just doesn’t know how they’re supposed to play. Losing every game against MU under BR is just not acceptable.
It may just be time for Brendan to go. I’ve been a big supporter of his but it just looks like he doesn’t really know what he’s doing now. He has got a lot of credit for being tactically very clever in the past but I’m not sure I actually see it. He talks and talks about changing shapes and formations. But what does that actually achieve? Too often the team looks disorganised and the players confused about their positions. Surely, the best approach is subtle tactical changes and a well drilled team and not this incessant changing of formations with auxiliary left backs (Danny Ings anyone?) and the like. We set up against Utd with a clear plan – Defend deep and hit them on the break. That’s fine. But, the defense looked a mess. And if defense is the game-plan, then that for me, is inexcusable.
And, surely finding a new GK upgrade should be a priority? Mignolet is bang average and too often puts his own defense under pressure with stupid passes etc. I mean surely we’ve at least got to be on the look out for a better keeper?
The best man for liverpool is semoen or kloop Rodger must be sack immediately Liverpool are loosening fans
Swansea beat Man United playing a diamond. Gary Monk started with a 4-3-3 and realised it wasn’t working. They changed the shape and took advantage of Shaw galloping forward and leaving acres behind him. Both Swansea goals came down Utd’s left. Now if I can spot that, Gary Monk spotted it why on earth did Brendan go 4-3-3 with those players on Saturday?! I’d love him to explain the thinking behind it but it made no sense at all. If he could just realise his own mistakes and hold his hands up once in a while he’d be better for it.
I can’t believe how many people are so up in arms over Rogers situation this season. The fact is he has been given an essentially new squad for the second time in two years while losing major players each season. Give the man some time before creating a negative atmosphere around the club because that is not going to help in any way.
If you compare this seasons results to last seasons we are 3 points better of and have a +6 gd (using the first demoted/promoted home fixture) Improvement over last year is what was needed and even with some bad results he is delivering.
If the results aren’t there at the end of the season he needs to go. Till then don’t make Brendan walk alone. If our support of him and the players can improve their results by a handful of points over the season that can mean the difference in where LFC finish.
Seriously though start Sakho…
That points accumulated in comparison to last season’s fixtures argument is such rubbish. Always has been.
If your idea of improvement is the fact that we’ve beaten Stoke 1:0, instead of losing 6:1, then I really don’t what to tell you. You obviously haven’t been paying any attention to the games we’ve played this season and the football on display in them.
I don’t disagree that the football hasn’t been amazing to watch. When you have massive turnover in the squad you can expect not to be a free flowing smooth attacking side. As for showing progress year to year I think comparing the same fixtures to previous seasons is a good indicator. We are 3 points off third and can expect to improve when we add the best striker in the EPL into our squad shortly. I would rather them look more solid at the back and figure things out at the attacking end through the course of the season then try and do it the other way.
Can the owners please fire BR enough is enough and bring in Kloppool