BY now you know the stats. The facts and figures. You’ve seen the league table and you know the form. It’s been an underwhelming start to the season. In seven games in all competitions, Liverpool have managed only five goals. The manager is the favourite to ‘win’ the Premier League sack race and the Reds sit 13th in the table.
It’s grim. No fun. The slice of life devoted to all this isn’t in any way enjoyable right now.
So we go again on Brendan Rodgers. The tedious, draining arguments that are regurgitated week in, week out and will be until the day he is told to pack his bags are trotted out again. Let’s recap. He should have been sacked in the summer. He wasn’t. Instead, he was backed with cash. He was backed with a new coaching set up, a move in itself that saw him tumble further in the popularity stakes as it was perceived as a self-serving move to save skin.
The club also did its bit to make the blame figure clear in all this. At a time when the policy on communication so often seems to be to not communicate, Ian Ayre went out of his way to make it clear that all the summer targets were in the bag. We’ve done our bit, over to you, Brendan, was the message.
Now here we are. It’s not going to plan. The excuses, the context, the mitigating factors — call them what you will — they’re wearing thin. Different formations, different personnel — same results. Teams that should never be leaving Anfield with points are doing just that. With alarming regularity. And now the Reds are closer to the bottom than the top. It feels like another season of mediocrity beckons.
So what are we waiting for? What are we pinning hopes and dreams to? However you weigh it up, there’s not a lot left. A fitter Daniel Sturridge will score goals. A partnership with Christian Benteke might blossom. Roberto Firmino is likely to get better. Jordan Henderson will improve the side when he returns.
Definitely? Maybe. But patience to watch it play out is in short supply. Rodgers has had more than a fair crack at the job and into his fourth year as Liverpool manager he needs to get results regardless of ins and outs, regardless of injuries and regardless of what any other team in the league is doing.
Yesterday, was an improved performance. Shaking off the baggage of the managerial situation for a second, there were positives to take from the performance if not the result. Unlike recent weeks, the set up seemed to suit the majority of our players. Alberto Moreno put in a performance you can get behind. Mamadou Sakho had The Kop singing his name. Danny Ings put in everything you want to see from a Liverpool player and topped his performance with a well-taken goal.
But it wasn’t enough. Liverpool dropped points to a team they needed to beat at Anfield. Again. Even Graeme Souness managed to mastermind a decent Anfield record in his rightly-maligned spell in charge.
So the calls come again. The manager should go. How much longer? Don’t let a Hodgson situation develop.
Liverpool should be better than this. Clearly. But do we really expect FSG to ditch their man after seven games? I don’t. The owners of the club made their decision in the summer and until results become untenable by their set of criteria, which clearly runs beyond won two, drawn two, lost two in the Premier League, Rodgers will remain.
Carlisle on Wednesday you would expect will result in a Liverpool win no matter what the side fielded. But it will appease no-one. Lose to Aston Villa and the polite knock at FSG’s door will become a battering ram. The undercurrent of unrest among supporters was palpable at Anfield yesterday and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to envisage what sweeps that away.
The owners will want to wait though. They will want to give Rodgers every opportunity to turn things around.
Because when they pull the plug — and it seems very much a when rather than an if — it’s another admission to the wider world that they got it wrong. Like when they fired Damien Comolli. Or when they sacked Kenny Dalglish. Like when they wanted a Director of Football but set up a transfer committee instead.
Rodgers exceeded all expectations by taking Liverpool to the brink of the title and he deserves every credit for that. But that can’t hide the concerns that existed when he was appointed. It was FSG’s vision, their strategy, their plan, to hire a young, up and coming coach who would be swimming in fresh waters managerially speaking. They closed the market with their own criteria. Like so often with many of the signings since John Henry and his team of investors came to town, it was their decision to shun the proven for the potential.
So when the Rodgers plan is finally torn up, what comes next? More of the same or a boss that would command respect based on his CV?
Jurgen Klopp is a name never far away from lips when it comes to Rodgers’ successor yet a report from Simon Hughes in The Independent at the weekend says the German is unlikely to be favoured as Fenway have been warned off him.
And while Carlo Ancelotti would be the kind of balls out appointment many a Red would advocate, what offers confidence that FSG think the same?
For one, you’d imagine an established, world-renowned winner like Ancelotti would want his own men in and around him. Would he be interested in working with a transfer committee? Would he welcome attempts to influence his thinking from Michael Gordon, the interview-shy FSG shareholder with no track record in football who is the most senior member of that committee?
Brendan Rodgers is clearly walking a tightrope now as regards his future and many regard his fall to the floor as the answer to all Liverpool’s ills. Yet his sacking, as warranted as it may be, will likely just spark another set of questions. Perhaps even bigger questions.
The current regime backed itself to find a shortcut to glory. It doesn’t exist. So what now?
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Pics: David Rawcliffe-Propaganda-Photo
Other than Rafa, would a successful manager even want to come to the club? There are plenty of high paying positions at clubs around Europe, with more money to spend and probably don’t have the wages/transfer constraints FSG impose.
Even if his health allowed it, Ancelotti wouldn’t touch us. His last 16 years record shows he goes to the wealthiest in the land.
How can anyone state that FSG impose constraints in the transfer market? BR and Co. have been given millions after millions. Granted there has been much change that has negatively impacted our club, i.e. LS and RS leaving and SG moving to pastures new. BR has been backed financially and morally by FSG who have also spent big on the new stand. FSG are not the problem – Henry appar wanted to sack BR last season. This is all down to one man, possibly 2 with Ayre in the mix (2 men who get on as if their personalities are as big if not bigger than LFC); Ayre is also BRs biggest supporter.
We are shite; players don’t know what they are doing. Players that cost £££ms go out on loan and play like demons. Enough is Enough.
Rodgers is full of excuses, he has spent so much money and unfortunately most of it on players we never needed. He appears to have lost all direction now and it concerns me how bad things have to get before Fenway pull the plug on Rodgers. He is a total liability and has wasted millions on a team that are like headless chickens. We are rock bottom on confidence and the team is in disarray. Please Brendan just walk away and let us flourish once again, we deserve so much better.
Yes but who’s gonna come in is basically what this article is asking?
You obviously didn’t read the article at all kevin
I was unaware of Simon’s piece until you mentioned it. On reading it, it’s an obvious WTF? Assuming Simon’s sources are reliable, the oversight in summer 2014 regarding the Gerrard chain of succession model is bizarre. And while I’m no expert on the Bundesliga, my impressions of Klopp were that his players would happily run through a brick wall for him? What are the alleged misgivings? Can anyone fill me in?
Shit. Having read this piece I can only assume this story’s going to run and run. It has all the makings of a full-blow turf war. I can only assume by the language used (shadowing) that Simon’s been briefed by someone close to Gerrard’s team and someone within the club to flesh out Gerrard’s lament following criticisms of his book. I don’t doubt the veracity of the piece but it sounds like a very messy business indeed. How could anyone forget to tell Gerrard?
Fsg is a big problem similar situation is happening at Boston Red Sox they want him out. Liverpool is sinking fast people say Chelsea and Mancity bought they trophies but if u look at the owners they are at every big game which shows they committed and support they team.fsg comes to liverpools only twice a year maybe,they bort Liverpool to invest they not passionate about football and they don’t care. For them they brand is doing good they at a profit if they sell so there is no worry for them.hope the value of the club falls down quick pushing them to sell, fans that is keeping fate in fsg are gonna be shocked because they only good for 6th every year
Ancelotti will probably go back to Milan. Whilst he said he likes Liverpool and has a sense of the Bob Paisley about him, I don’t believe he’ll go to Liverpool with FSG in charge. The man only manages teams that has are among the favourites to win big trophies every season. Under FSG, that’s not us.
Klopp is probably the only big name manager who would take it. He’s a bit quirky and would relish the challenge. Winnng the title would still be a huge ask, given these owners. With time to build though, he might. He just might.
Our club is becoming a laughing stock. Still at least no-one’s put their cock in a dead pig’s mouth*
*as far as I know.
Class comment.
Hahaha!
Almost peed myself laughing at that comment
Imagine it’s 4 years ago and Brendan Rodgers arrives with all the attendant anticipation and hope. Now ask yourself this question – where would you have expected Liverpool F.C. to be now? Is the answer 13th in the Premiership with nothing won in the intervening period?
Softlad. That is the perfect question and the only question that needs to be asked.
Agreed about Ancelotti. Milan, Chelsea, PSG, Madrid. How many of those sides had a wage structure resembling ours? Would Ancelotti be willing to watch Ian Ayre haggle over fees for Mo Salah? Would he be willing to draw up a list of Sanchez, Martinez, and Bony and accept instead a choice between Balotelli and Eto’o?
Klopp is a different story, but it took him two years to succeed at Dortmund with only one mega-club to compete against. Would he be afforded such patience with our social media mob such as it is?
And he left them in 7th. Before that, he oversaw the relegation of Mainz and never brought them back to the top tier. Hardly a guarantee of success from someone who didn’t even oversee transfers.
We’re 4 points off a CL spot with 32 games to go. We lacked a clinical finish, but our overall play suggested big things to come. Allowed just two goals on target, and only conceded on a GK flap.
Rodgers needs to get to Man City within touching distance of the CL spots. Even the current 4 points away would suffice, particularly if we are playing with renewed verve. I know there are many who would prefer to see us bomb out just to rid ourselves of Rodgers, but I can’t come up with many polite ways of expressing what I think of that type of supporter.
YNWA
fully agreed w walter. at the moment, there is no other guaranteed option available in the market. and as Carra mentioned yesterday in the press, BR should be given till at least Christmas to stamp his mark with this group of players.
Klopp wont guarantee immediate result, and Carlo won’t come anyway.
i disagree with some of us blamimg the FSG owners for the performance on the field. they have supported 100%· they have kept their words. they have written cheques every transfer window to try to improve the team. what more can we ask for? the investment that have gone in deserves at least champion league spot every year, the least.
Yes lad!
If we are going to offer up names to replace Rodgers, can we get the facts right please?
Klopp played for Mainz his entire career. They only became professional in 1988. Upon retirement in 2001 he became their manager. When he took over they were 14th in bundesliga 2, one place above relegation to the third tier.
In his first season he came 4th, one place and one point from promotion. In season 2 he again finished 4th, beat to promotion by 1 goal on goal difference. In season 3 he got them promoted, finishing 3rd. In season 4 they finished 11th in the top flight and due to winning the fair play award they qualified for the UEFA Cup. In season 5 they came 11th again and were beaten in the UEFA Cup by the eventual winners Sevilla. In season 6 they came 16th, relegated by one place. Klopp had offers to go elsewhere but said he wanted one more year to get Mainz back to the bundesliga. In season 7 he again finished 4th, one place and 2 points off promotion. Given were they were when he took over them this 7 years is seen as a resounding success, especially considering Klopp was just 34 when appointed. He laid the foundations for them to have further success. They got promoted the following year and have remained in the bundesliga ever since.
He took over Dortmund in 2008 after they’d finished 13th, 3 places above relegation. They were on their knees financially. Munich lent them €2m to survive. In his first year they improved to 6th. In season 2 they cane 5th. In season 3 he won the title. In season 4 he won the double. His best players were soon being sold with every passing year. Sahin, Barrios, Kagawa, Gotze, Lewandowski would all leave 5 summer’s running. In season 5 he came 2nd and reached the champions league final. In season 6 he came 2nd again and got to the quarter final of the champions league, beaten by Real Madrid, the eventual winners. Munich were simply too big a financial juggernaut to overcome at home, especially when he had to sell them his best players. In season 7 he came 7th. In the first half of the season, with a paper thin squad exhausted, absent their sold stars and their remaining best players injured were in the relegation zone. To come 7th was a remarkable turnaround. He also reached the Cup final but lost.
You say he only had one mega club to compete with. True Munich are the only mega club, but when Klopp took over, Dortmund were behind the likes of Schalke and Stuttgart when it came to players choices and money. Those clubs had just reached the semis and quarters if the champions league respectively. Anyone who says he had one team to beat is wrong. It is a myth.
Klopp not only has the CV to be our boss, he has the personality. There was a puece on here last week about LFC managers having a cult of personality following. That’s Klopp. He’d fight for us the way Rafa did, the way Kenny did. He’d be adored. He is principled, both on and off the field. He wants his teams to entertain as well, which is never a bad thing. He is still young and hungry and feels he has more to prove. He prefers working under a director of football and is used to working under tight financial restrictions – perfect for FSG. He wants to manage in England. He loves Liverpool Football Club.
It kills me we haven’t and likely won’t appoint him.
I never realised he had that history with Mainz and it only adds to his aura doesn’t it!
He seems a perfect fit if Brendan hasn’t got the show back on the road by Christmas, which I personally think he deserves.
Klopp also did it in Europe. We need to stop fixating on the league and how many clubs have more money.
We are shambolic in Europe under Rodgers. Even if we can’t push for the league title, I’d be very happy to have decent runs in either the CL/EL over both domestic cups.
There is absolutely no point in pushing for top 4 if we’re going to be shite and humiliated when we play far less wealthy sides from other lands.
All respect sincerely to Gareth — I agree with everything he writes. I have still not seen a single person offer a truly viable suggestion or solution for what troubles our club. Fans believe what they want to believe. Reality is a bit different. Klopp has said more than once that his career goal is to manage Bayern Munich. We know that FSG takes a long-term view. Why would they be interested in hiring a manager mid-season who will always have one eye on what his odds are if/when Guardiola departs Bayern? And how would it benefit Liverpool to overturn the apple cart for possibly only one season when everyone knows (if they’re even remotely honest with themselves) that it would take at least one full season for Klopp to install his own coaching staff, adapt to the Liverpool culture, evaluate the squad and set in motion the ins and outs he would certainly want.
As said above, Ancellotti won’t take a step down in his career to come to Liverpool. When he does come back, he’ll be looking to step up or at least stay level in his career aspirations in Europe, and that means REGULAR Champions League competition that can get beyond the group stages.
Any currently working manager would have to breach his existing contract to leave a club to come to Liverpool. The currently out-of-work managers are all sacked rejects from other clubs that also failed. Why would our fans who think SO highly of themselves and their club want to settle for some other league’s or club’s reject? (And that said, the truth has yet to emerge about the REAL reason Klopp left Dortmund. I don’t think he made the decision entirely of his own volition.)
The bottom line seems to be that our fans are desperate to alleviate the pain and disappointment and damaged pride they feel, but there’s only venting with no truly reasonable solutions being offered up. FSG has the unenviable job of standing outside that fray and attempting to make decisions for the longer-term benefit of the club. Hopefully they will find the solution. If not, they could simply decide to cash in on their investment — take the money and run from a club whose fans abuse the Owner’s wife and the manager’s daughter mercilessly on social media. In that case they’ll certainly sell to the highest bidder, with no thought of the potential impact to Liverpool’s club values, its culture, its legacy. Be careful, be very careful what you wish for.
Sorry but that is utter bollocks. Klopp himself has come out and said it doesn’t necessarily need to be a top team but a team with a project that needs help. They are not the words of a manager looking at a short term project. You sound just like all the other Rodgers apologists. If this guy was at any other club he would have been sacked a long time ago . He’s had his chance blown huge amounts of money yet the team looks lost , clueless , toothless no fight. Continuously plays players out of position , makes bizzare substitutions and for all his so called attacking football philosophy we are a bore to the eye and rarely ever look like scoring. I for one have had enough of his media propaganda he just talks the talk but fails to back up his comments where it matters on the field.
If Klopp was in demand — either in his own country or elsewhere — he would not need to use the media as he has been doing to get such messages across. He would be getting courted privately and would quietly handle his business with dignity behind closed doors like all elite managers do. You don’t see Ancellotti using the media in this way, or Rafa or Pep Guardiola, whose contract is nearing an end.
People who are blinded by Kloppmania see and hear what they want to, not what is actually happening. They also resort to insulting epithets like calling fans who don’t support their mania ‘Rodgers apologists’, as you have done. Brendan Rodgers’ name isn’t mentioned once in my comment above. You have read things into my words that are not there. In fact, you know absolutely nothing about what I think about Brendan Rodgers with regard to the situation at Liberpool right now.
I do know that a very reliable source — Simon Hughes — who other well-trusted sources have strongly vouched for — stated publicly that FSG has been warned against hiring Klopp. Simon would not risk his reputation and his contacts at the Club by publishing a back-channel statement like that if there was no truth in it. In a contest between what you think, Stan, and what Simon Hughes, Gareth Roberts, and the editor of TAW Andy Heaton have said, it’s really a no-brainer that I’ll accept their opinion far and away ahead of yours. And I’m not ‘sorry’ to say that.
“Klopp has said more than once that his career goal is to manage Bayern Munich”
Just so everyone is clear, this is quite simply a brazen lie from Ellie. At no stage, not once, never mind more than once, has Klopp ever said it was his career goal to manage Munich. He was asked once could he imagine managing Munich and his response was “Sure, why shouldn’t I be able to imagine that? I am a coach. And I want to continue working for a while, but right now that’s difficult, but they also know that in Munich.” I’ll provide a link to prove what I write is the truth, and not make up lies without any evidence, as Ellie has done, which in all honesty is a disgrace: http://www.espnfc.co.uk/german-bundesliga/story/2465778/jurgen-klopp-could-imagine-managing-bayern-munich-one-day
“And that said, the truth has yet to emerge about the REAL reason Klopp left Dortmund. I don’t think he made the decision entirely of his own volition.”
Dortmund’s CEO said this in January when the club was in the relegation zone: “we will never sack Jurgen. There are zero doubts. We are totally convinced of him.”
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2900929/Borussia-Dortmund-NEVER-sack-Jurgen-Klopp-confirms-CEO-Hans-Joachim-Watzke.html
Watke then said: “For every top club Jurgen is a candidate. He and Munich would go well together, 100 per cent. Our friendship would not suffer as a result.”
http://www.90min.com/posts/2427079-jurgen-klopp-100-suited-for-bayern-munich-job-borussia-dortmund-ceo
Any suggestion that Klopp did not leave Dortmund of his own volition has absolutely zero basis in reality. It is agenda driven nonsense from someone who has backed Rodgers no end and has attacked Klopp on this website at every given opportunity.
Unfortunately it seems that Klopp wanted the Liverpool job but FSG decided to stick with Rodgers. Klopp’s agent said this earlier this year: “The premier league is very exciting and by that we mean not only the top four, there are still other great clubs. It’s always about the task.”
http://metro.co.uk/2015/06/09/jurgen-klopps-agent-drops-hint-he-wants-liverpool-managers-job-5237401/
Since then the rumour is Guardiola will leave Munich at the end of his contract next summer and become boss at Man City, joining up with his friend and their DOF Txiki Bergiristain, while Klopp will replace Pep at Munich. All because FSG decided to stick with Rodgers.
“If Klopp was in demand — either in his own country or elsewhere — he would not need to use the media as he has been doing.”
This is hilarious on three counts. One, that Ellie hammers a man for using the media given her constant defence of a certain Brendan Rodgers. Two, that Klopp has given no interviews since the end of last season and his agent has only spoke to confirm that despite Monchengladbach’s interest, Klopp will not becone their head coach. Three, that he is not in demand after his immense achievements at Mainz and Dortmund. I’ve just given the name of a champions league club who wanted him.
“People who are blinded by Kloppmania.”
Yes, blinded by the reflection from his medals. Two league titles, Cup successes and a runners up medal from the greatest competition in the world. Maybe Ellie coukd tell us what Rodgers’ medal collection is like? Or perhaps his record in Europe? How about the circumstances those successes were achieved? With a DOF? Yes. Without much money to spend? Yes. Immediate first year impact? Yes. Against all the odds? Yes. Having his best players sold most years? Yes. Hmm…sounds like a good fit for LFC under FSG, logically speaking.
“In fact, you know absolutely nothing about what I think about Brendan Rodgers with regard to the situation at Liberpool right now.”
We know from your previous posts attacking people who have criticised the manager that you are an ardent supporter of his. We know that you only post on review threads (http://www.theanfieldwrap.com/2015/08/match-review-liverpool-1-bournemouth-0/) when we have won but not when we lose (http://www.theanfieldwrap.com/2015/09/match-review-manchester-united-3-liverpool-1/). We know you refuse to engage in any conversation in which the manager’s limitations are discussed, instead focusing on the fans “ruining Rodgers reputation” – http://www.theanfieldwrap.com/2015/09/brendan-rodgers-sacked-rumours-the-europa-league-dilemma/ – and not the results and performances ruining his reputation. From all this it is quite easy to ascertain your thoughts on Rodgers.
As for your final paragraph in your second post, this is just more strawman nonsense. Stan never said he was a reliable source for anything, nor did he say you should trust him over Simon or any of the TAW contributors when it comes to knowing if FSG were warned off Klopp, did he? You just went on a childish little rant which was completely irrelevant to his comment.
I look forward to your response and explanations for these many inconsistencies.
Wow! The very definition of an agenda! Well done, Mr Pearson. You’ll never get back the time of your life that you spent on that. And it won’t bait me into doing the same to try to discredit your OPINION, which is all it is and you have a right to it. Go ahead and believe the Metro and the Daily Fail — sources that manipulate the uneducated and unthinking public for advert revenues — and align yourself with people who can only regurgitate what others say instead of thinking for themselves. As I already said above I prefer to listen to and believe people who actually have long-held back-channel connections at the Club.
Isn’t it odd that former players and previous managers — who actually have the experience and qualifications to speak on the subject — are saying one thing, while rabid fans who have no qualifications at all except the BELIEF that they have some special knowledge are saying something else.
FACT: I have NO special attachment to Brendan Rodgers or to any individual player or person at Liverpool Football Club. I am not a teeny bopper who turns footballers or anyone else into idols who inevitably fall off their pedestals. I respect Brendan Rodgers as a decent man who has only ever praised the fans and NEVER said one negative thing about them, despite intense, scathing and downright vicious abuse received in return from the low life in our fan base. The word ‘fan’ originates from ‘fanatic’ — like little girls who scream and swoon and faint in response to the changing behaviour of their celebrity of the minute. Please be my guest — lose your mind in Kloppmania. He will not save you from yourself.
With regard to not commenting when we lose — I was raised by my Dad to be glass half full, loyal in good times and bad times. I discuss the team’s performance privately with my close friends, as I would do in a pub before social media ever existed. I don’t want or need your or anyone else’s agreement to know and be true to what I stand for.
Well said Michael. Every post from Ellie denigrates our fans e,g,;Why would our fans who think SO highly of themselves’. Yet not even the threat of a ban. I can only assumes its because she doesnt swear or personalise but, surely slagging off the whole fanbase at every opportunity is just as bad. How can you have a reasoned discussion with someone who has no interest in your opinion cos they or the people they choose to believe are always right?
Brendan has lost his way and we need fresh ideas. Look how loyal EFC club/fans were to Moyes but it was time wasted, standing still.
Unfortunately, because of the CL you cannot afford 4 (5, 6, 7) years building.
Ellie, I’m not interested in your ad hominem attacks on me. I asked you to explain your previous comments which were full of lies, hypocracies and inconsistencies.
You explictly stated that Klopp has said on more than one occassion that his career goal is to manage Bayern Munich. I have provided evidence that is not the case and asked you to back up that accusation. A simple google search and cut and paste of the link would have taken you 10 seconds. You refused.
We know why you refused – because Klopp did not say that and you are a liar. I’ve just exposed you for that and thankfully everyone will know what to do when you comment again. Now the question that needs to be asked is why anyone would make something like that up, just to denigrate a football manager? Perhaps it’s because Klopp is easily a superior and more successful manager than Rodgers and you can’t stand that? That’s my best guess. Either way it’s shameful behaviour.
I don’t mind people having different opinions to mine – I find life is more interesting that way and there is a greater opportunity to learn – as long as they don’t lie. If they lie I will expose them, as I have just done you.
It will also by noted by anyone reading this exchange that you could not answer the simplest of questions regarding Rodgers’ medal haul or European results in comparison to Klopp’s. We all know why you refused to answer these questions. Just like we know why you refuse to comment after losses. Your explanation of “glass half full” is quite sad because you can be glass half full after a loss. Many would say that’s the best time to be of that persuasion.
All in all I’m happy we had this exchange. I stuck to the facts, the evidence, the truth. You lied and resorted to ad hominem attacks. This tells everyone all they need to know.
Oh god wat is this Walters guy talking about out of the last 19 games Liverpool played 14 of those games Liverpool only scored just one goal, wake up and smell the air that stats is relegation form.
We need a world class manager with a history of over-achieving who would be willing to come to us. There is only one man who fits that description: Rafa Benitez.
Yes, he’s currently at Real, but even if they win the CL and/or title he’ll probably get the bullet at the end of the season, so there is a very good chance he’ll be available next summer. Considering the absolute dearth of options at the moment (Monk?!! Koeman?!!!) I reckon it’s worth giving Rodgers till the summer, then moving for Rafa. Or, if the form remains as bad, get Kenny in on a strictly temporary basis till the summer (he deserves a chance to end his Liverpool career in better circumstances than 2012)
I’m unconvinced by Klopp. That high intensity pressure game has been figured out by other managers and he’s completely untested outside Germany.
A good strategy, Paul, to wait out till end of season for BR to deliver or see if Rafa is available again.
just an additional comment~ FSG hired BR in 2012 with a view to carry the club forward withan attractive play, and a moxed of established stars and exciting youth. FSG cant be blamed for the lack of effort though. justlook at the summar signings ~ clyne, benteke, milner, and Firmino are to be the first teamers who are to improve the performance right away. Manager is to blen them in with last season’s bunch.
When Arsene Wenger joined Arsenal, he was not a world class yet, he was picked up from Japan league. Sir Alex became workd class after years with MU. Pep was moved into famous Barca role fr B team, and so on.
call me mediocre if u want, but compared to Roberto Martinez, Monk, Koeman, Klinsman, and few others, BR would still be my choice to lead the team through this tough time.
No thanks . He’s been found out to be what he really is a fraud
I would love Rafa back but he has got a gig at his home town club and some world class players to boot. What is unfortunate about FSG is that they seem to be an arrogant bunch and don’t seem to learn from mistakes or admit them. Only Rafa got us into the CL on a regular basis and Kenny was sacked after winning a trophy and to some extent both Kenny and Rodgers have been thrown under the bus by FSG when it suited them. If they do this with Kenny and Rodgers (their own yes man) what manager with an ounce of credibility would want to work for those type of owners and us as a fan group?
If Rafa won the CL and the league with Madrid FSG would still not want him because he would want to make the sort of changes that FSG have been desperate to remove from Liverpools DNA from day 1, FSG want a yes man for a manager not a Rafa or a Kenny or a Bill type, FSG want to be in control.
What sort of manager is going to accept that? If I was advising Garry Monk or a young manager like him I would stay as far away from Liverpool as possible because as a young manager he has not won anything and our fans will not accept this again and he will not be given the money to win things but he will have a big black fail on his CV,
Any big name will want funds and the control to get us into the CL and FSG do not want this so for the moment Rodgers is unfortunatly as good as it gets,
The Rafa Benitez ship has sailed. He’s managing the ‘Royal’ club in his own city and country of birth, where both his and his wife’s family roots are, where his children (and grandchildren) probably live. It could be argued that his goal all along was to get there. And he’ll fight to stay there. He may have loved Merseyside, but the taste of fish and chips or a bowl of Scouse is never the same after one has feasted on gourmet tapas and caviar at one’s own family table.
Meant to add — it always strikes me when fans say out of one side of their mouth that FSG “knows nothing about football,” then out out of the other side of their mouth “FSG wants to be in total control.” And likewise, “FSG doesn’t want to invest the needed funds” but 5 minutes later “FSG has wasted millions!!!!!” There are fundamental contradictions in these pairs of statements.
It may seem I’m an apologist for FSG — I AM NOT. I have merely tried to understand them unemotionally. They actually have a reputation for demonstrating a hands-off management style with regard to all their assets and properties. They do manage and engage from a corporate perspective, but they allow their sports clubs, Roush Racing, and the Boston Globe to manage their own internal affairs, run by professionals who understand the local culture and local business and legal practices. Despite the relatively recent past, Liverpool is a club that has done quite well by itself for over 100 years. Daddy and Mommy from FSG hardly need to sit in the Owner’s box every weekend for the Club to know what we need and want to accomplish.
Is it not possible for FSG to know nothing about football AND want total control????
The lack of experience throughout the club is amazing.
He still lives on the Wirral… its there home.. they love it and yes he told me that. Sat with him on a flight for seven hours into Manchester. Loves the club for sure.
Is there a bigger legend than Gareth Roberts? Why can’t these FSG ass clowns spend an hour with him rather than pandering to Paul Tomkins?
“Love Rafa back” – what he has proved with several different clubs since leaving Valencia is that he can’t win the league – he is a cup manager – we want the league. He massively divided the fans, no way should he come back.
Yep – people who realised he was doing a great job under tough circumstances on one side, idiots on the other.
I don’t think they’ll appoint any manager of proven top pedigree even if they sack Bren, it’ll be someone unproven again that won’t rock the boat and able to act the yes man bit
I agree Dora, FSG have no respect and treat fans like idiots
Who cares!? It’s not our job to hire and fire. Our job is to support. Watching football and supporting Liverpool is a choice! I was sick when Kenny left but I am always aware I have a choice in all of this. To walk away, but I never will. I’ll moan the odd time, mostly about our own supporters lately, but I’ll never stop supporting this great club!
We choose to watch, to pay, to follow Liverpool play football! When Liverpool play, our job is to support. When we sign a player we support them. When they leave we say cheers, see ya later, hopefully thanks for the memories and we move on. Whoever our manager is (even Hodgson Neil) we should support until the day inevitably comes when they leave or are shown the door. We shouldn’t be spending every waking day baying for their blood in the mere hope that whoever is next will be the shining light who finally wins us the league.
It’s heart breaking to get psyched up every week and under perform lately, but to coin a phrase from the greatest season I’ve ever experienced, we dust ourselves off and we go again!
Cheer when things are going well and cheer when things are going bad or shut up.
YNWA!!
I’m finding it difficult to support mediocrity.
We support the club, not the manager. We’ll support the players if they are giving their all when they play. The manager will only get backing when he either wins regardless of the performances, or stops playing favourites and using random formations because he’s lost the plot. Rodgers got the benefit of 13/14, despite the turgid drivel he served up last season.
He’s losing more of the fans with each passing game. Unlike him, we’ll still be here supporting the club regardless of what happens.
Rodgers has the club well and truly stuck in relegation form. 18 points from the last 45. Most other clubs would have fired him already. He is cementing the club into mid-table shit. He is failing at his job despite the enormous amounts of money he’s spent. Had he have us playing fantastic football, but lacking the points, many would not be on his back. Unfortunately for us, his football is shit too.
You know he’s crap when the opposition fans and LFC hating media want you to keep him. Enough said!
I love the way people try to deride Klopp’s record as though it doesn’t compare favourably with Brendan’s. I expect the same arguments were made about Rafa when he was lined up to replace Houllier.
If Rafa..or Klopp not interested then I am available..I do it free !! Not sure why everybody is surprised regarding Brendan.its not his fault that he has been given the LFC job when clearly not qualified for such a club.
The TAW are extremely Pro-Rodgers ..It must be as a result of the Fanzine interview at the begining of Brendans 3 year death by football plan..where the man tried to imitate Shankly by voice.. but unfortunately not by humility…or talent ! I dont blame Brendan..its FSG fault for giving him the gig.
Who are the TAW? A lot of people write for the site and a lot of people contribute to the shows. They don’t all have the same opinion – about the manager, about players, about anything. And why would an interview years ago have any bearing?
The Anfield Wrap is the best and only site run by and contributed to by LFC supporters who have actual credibility and no strong bias or agenda. The diverse contributors express their personal opinions intelligently, knowledgably, often with wit and good humour. The editorial standard is high. It’s a credible source of LFC commentary outside mainstream commercial journalism.
Zak, if you’re going to hurl ad hominem accusations, please at least try to back it up with some evidence. But… Do you even know what ad hominem means?
It’s not the job of fans to be happy with mediocrity on the contrary it is their job to challenge it or it will always be mediocrity
Theres a lot of innuendo and suppositions here about Klopp and that wouldn’t be a problem if it wasn’t coming from people who just a few days ago posted something along the lines of “people shouldn’t comment if they don’t know the facts”.
This thing of taking swings at Klopp is very similar to when people say “Suarez made Rodgers look good”. Don’t take other peoples accomplishments away from them just to push your agenda. Yes, even a pro Rodgers “agenda” is an “agenda”.
Fact is, he is a superior manager to Rodgers. Rodgers hasn’t achieved anything close to what he has achieved. A pretty big upgrade. Thats just what it is.
By the way, what does “warned off” mean? Is there a specific reason?
I’m burnt out ….
There are positives to take from yesterday’s performance – Ings, Moreno, Sakho. The return of two up front is important. I believe with patience and keeping the faith the team will improve and results will get significantly better. I don’t want to see us keep changing our manager every two, three years or four years and starting again. We’ve a good manager who will keep on developing along with players who will too.
I saw Simon Hughes piece and it got me thinking. It sounds like he has access to the club and for me, I’ll always place more weight on people like that than people who get all their info from assumptions. It doesn’t make it right but it’s almost certain someone at the club has said that. Let’s also presume Ancelotti’s wife also had some inside info when she said he was going to recharge his batteries and then show her around Spain. Or that he was telling the truth when he said he was going to take a year out to have, and rehabilitate from, surgery. Who then?
If they sack Rodgers tomorrow then who comes in? O’Driscoll? I’m happy to see Rodgers move on but it’s a funny time of the season to find a replacement. For me, it’s simple. Get Klopp and if it’s a definite no no then stick with Rodgers and hope for the best. Our results will definitely improve over the next few weeks. There’s no reason why we can’t be in a good position by Christmas. The bottom line is, if those two were definitely out of the running then I’m yet to hear a credible candidate. I want a change but not just for the sake of it. It has to be to install someone good. FSG may well have the same dilemma. A caretaker manager would achieve nothing. But, I don’t feel like a change is even remotely near at this present time but then a 5th season is even more remote. My gut feeling (based on how people operate etc) is a disaster would possibly lead to an early meeting in late November but whilst top 4 is still a real possibility I think he’ll be in charge, whether that be till May.
This is probably the most reasoned viewpoint expressed yet, if possible the club upgrades the manager if not there is no option other than to ride it out and hope things improve and we are in a better position by Christmas. But we most certainly need to be in a good position come Christmas because as much has been made of our difficult opening away fixtures, the reverse happens in the new year, Arsenal, Man U,Everton, Man City and Chelsea are five of the first six home games.
Simeone!
This is why I err on the side of caution. Simeone is in one of the best cities in Europe (not a huge fan myself but it is). It’s hot there. People sit outside cafes in beautiful squares. He speaks the language. He’s at a club whom he has an affinity with from his playing days. He’s absolutely loving it there winning the Europa in his first year, the Copa Del Rey in his second and the league in his third year, last season. He’s currently 1 point behind Real and 3 behind the leaders Barca.
Hi Diego, Liverpool have been in touch. They’re looking for a new manager again. Yeah, fans have all turned on him. Nice plaza’s? No, but Formby’s nice. No, no sun but sledging’s a right laugh. Last 8 years? Yeah defo, they’ve won the league cup. Well, no, CL is unlikely for a while and I know it’s your dream but they’ve got the Fa Cup over there. Haha, don’t worry about that, even if you were fluent in English you still wouldn’t understand those cunts. What do you mean who plays for them? They’ve got Coutinho, Who else? erm. Mate, up until 25 years ago they were fuckin brilliant. Come on, you’ll be a god if you win them the league. Obviously, they’ll try and kill you if you don’t but…..what do you think?
I’m not sure he’d come to be honest. What do you reckon?
Class.
So, a manager who gets some level of ‘success’ against the odds and under difficult regime who will do as he’s told but who us also quite cheap (relatively) and can wheel and deal
I wander what the odds would be in bloody Sam Allerdice!
Finally we are at least touching on the proper question which is surely not “Should BR be sacked” but “is there someone available that is a better option”. This for me is why the “but what would it say about keeping him on in summer” type argument that frequents the podcasts misses the point. I, though sadly not it seems the owners, would replace BR with Klopp today if he was available. I would have done it over summer also. So, all that firing BR would mean is that he hadn’t convinced me to change my mind.
But if neither Klopp or Ancelotti was available just now, then who is there? What would be the point be of sacking Rodgers, just to appease the fans, many of whom, including certain posters above, who have become so rabid in their views, that they apparently haven’t even noticed that he may have just pulled off the first truly decent summer transfer window we have had for a long long time.
There’s no ‘Reply’ link at the bottom of Mr Pearson’s last comment in which he called me a ‘liar’, so I have to respond outside the thread to merely say that intelligent people can make up their own minds about the calibre of a person who feels the need to resort to name calling and accusations. Clearly Mr Pearson thinks he has ALL the answers and the ONLY answers to what troubles our Club. I’m sure I’ve lived a lot longer and I have adequate life experience to have learned that there’s no point in continuing a conversation with such an individual beyond that point. There’s never any value in trying to talk to a wall. Please do have the last word, Mr P. We’ll see all in good time if any of what you bang on about ever comes to pass in reality — versus fantasy and misguided desire. Whatever the outcome is, we all want the best for Liverpool Football Club.
I’m bored with this now, but it occurred to me that since Mr Pearson added some hyperlinks to his comment I might be able to do as well, even though I had a problem the last time I tried to embed links. In a contest between a German-speaking manager choosing Bayern Munich vs Liverpool, the choice is a no-brainer.
Jurgen Klopp Reportedly Wants Bayern Munich Job Amid Liverpool Talk
http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/2567606-jurgen-klopp-reportedly-wants-bayern-munich-job-amid-liverpool-talk
Jurgen Klopp: I could imagine coaching Bayern Munich in the future
http://www.espnfc.us/german-bundesliga/story/2465778/jurgen-klopp-could-imagine-managing-bayern-munich-one-day
Jurgen Klopp perfect for Bayern Munich – Borussia Dortmund’s Watzke
http://www.espnfc.us/german-bundesliga/story/2547804/jurgen-klopp-perfect-for-bayern-munich-dortmund-ceo
Bayern Munich legend Franz Beckenbauer tips Jurgen Klopp to succeed Pep Guardiola
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3057398/Bayern-Munich-legend-Franz-Beckenbauer-tips-Jurgen-Klopp-succeed-Pep-Guardiola.html
1. You said, and this is the second time I’ll repeat this, that Klopp said his career goal was to manage Bayern Munich. In not one of those links does Klopp say that. You have clearly searched for it and have come up short – precisely because you lied. He did not say that and you said he did. This makes you a liar. It doesn’t get any more clear cut than that.
2. Two of those links I already posted. They helped prove my point, not yours. Unfortunately you don’t seem to understand this and have continued to dig yourself into a hokle.
3. The bleacher report link is merely speculation that Klopp will take over in Munich after Guardiola. If you read my comment above I said the exact same thing. This does not prove it Klopp ever said it his career goal, not when his agent was throwing out “come and get us” hints to premier league clubs “not just in the top 4.”
4. The final link you’ve posted is simply Beckenbauer’s opinion – again, it proves nobe of what you have said.
5. You said above: “Go ahead and believe the Metro and the Daily Fail — sources that manipulate the uneducated and unthinking public for advert revenues — and align yourself with people who can only regurgitate what others say instead of thinking for themselves.”
You insult me for using a Daily Mail link…..then you yourself a Daily Mail link yourself? Does your hypocrisy have any end? Also, bonus points for calling it the “daily fail.” You obviously possess such remarkable maturity.
6. It’s clear you have something against Klopp – why else make up lies about him? – which is slightly worrying given he’s a foriegn football manager who has done nothing to you and only had great things to say about Liverpool. Again this is hypocritical, given that on this website you’ve accused fans of being filled with “bitterness and hate” (see link above in previous post) – are you annoyed that this time next year Klopp will be in charge of a major club and Rodgers, if he is in a job at all, will be at a mid table team? It certainly feels as if that is annoying you.
7. All in all this is a desperate attempt at a defence. You still haven’t answred any of my questions on Rodgers’ achievements vs Klopp’s and you only confirmed for everyone that you are a liar by not being able to come up with any evidence to the contrary. When you realised this you resorted to attacks on my person and not my arguments, therefore unwittingly admitting you cannot counter the points I’ve made. As I said above, I’m delighted we had this exchange & I exposed your comments for what they were.
Any chance this can end now? You both must have better things to do. I know I do.