KopTalk.com Forums Football Liverpool FC Forum Rodgers - How much longer should he get?

They spent money with Ranieri before Jose "The Special One" Mourinho showed that he can turn any team into league and European Champions. Jose might have had the special touch, but lots of the squad was Ranieri's... Kenny's signings were all but terrible (in terms of contribution to success I must say, not down to individual quality as I feel they have all underperformed, rather than sunk to their actual level), which means the first season of spending could be seen as BR's first season...

Jose improved over Ranieri and BR didn't. BR has had a net spend of about 50m since he arrived and still using most of KDs signings even when Alen his most expensive purchase and Borini his first purchase were not injured so no BS please. You can wait for 10 seasons to see BR's first season if you wish.

Not sure I was BS'ing anyone or in any way. Makelele, Lampard, Duff, Gallas, Gudjohnson and Terry were all members of Ranieri's squad. Each played a minimum of half of the Premier League games that Jose was in charge. Johnson, Cole, Smertin, Bridge each started 10 to 20 or so games each too in the league. Only Cech, Carvalho, Ferreira and Tiago managed as many starts as the first bunch. Drogba and Robben managed similar amounts to the latter. Go look up the stats!

Just because someone gets bad players, doesn't mean that they can get them to be brilliant in a season... or EVER. Some of our squad were vastly overpaid for the contribution to the team, and who would want to take those players off our hands. Carroll, Henderson, Downing and Cole are/were on contracts over £60k a week each. For mostly "squad players" who scored at most 15 goals between them, that is vast amounts of money on players that barely met the level of the socks they put on, never mind the crest on their chest! Kenny got the best out of them for 3/4 of a season, and then lost them for the other 3/4 of a season he was in charge! How can you say that there is no improvement? Our pts tally is higher. The margin to the top four is lower. The league has to be the priority, because thats proof of consistency. Not down to luck, and being able to play well for just 90 mins.

You are entitled to think that BR has not improved upon Kenny. I think if you compare our squad now to what we had before (including those that will return from loans) then it is obvious it is stronger than when he took over. We have 4 strikers (with AC), plus nearly two players in every position of minimum "decent" premier league standard apart from defensive midfield and left back. If you look at our play now, compared to when he took over, it has improved on the eye, and provides lots more of opportunities to score, and fewer in defence. We have scored more this season than last. Our home record has vastly improved. The record speaks for itself. As does Kenny's last 8 months. Which were summed up by playing well for 360 mins in each cup. OH YEAH... Thats it. Playing badly and winning is one thing, playing well and avoiding defeat is another. One is a platform for a cup team, the latter is for a top team, and something our stats are edging towards... Consistently picking up points should always be the aim, not winning on a whim.

I love the sarcasm. But back up your points. Judging players 1 season in when they have both had recurring injuries isn't something I'd choose to do, nor is it fair on them. Too much can be expected of players when they come to a club like Liverpool. When you are not used to that pressure, playing them every week can take its toll. Allen is fairly inexperienced at this level. Just because we signed him for 15m, doesn't mean he's not worth it because he doesn't contribute to his best all the time. Gerrard and Suarez don't score every week. Judge them in the same vein and we suddenly have a terrible team. It just doesn't make any sense to me to do that.

Have we improved over las season, overall no, we will probably end up one position better but out of all competions in Feb-March. Do we have a better squad, of course, BR has spent close to 50m, thus we should have done better than last year. Now to say that we should not consider this season as BR's first season makes no sense to me.

then the burden of proof has slipped very low at liverpool.

he has had a disaster of a season. complete write off. when u come in and do worse than the previous manger its hardly inspiring stuff. odd signings , leaky defence, no real cup runs , and unable to beat good teams. this is LFC. this kinda season should be unthinkable.

next season could be even worse. we need experienced players yet have a phobia about signing anyone over 23. i still reckon suarez has to leave and will once he thinks over his future , probably after the copa america.

I think that the harsh reality is that our "sqwad" as Rafa would put it, has been weaker for a long while now. Especially in comparison to Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs who we were hoping to compete with this season. I think fans generally over-estimate likely success. The most I hoped for was 3rd or 4th as I felt the top teams were becoming more similar in quality. Realistically, 5th or 6th would have shown great progress (if you include fair time to adjust to the new managers ideas). Ultimately, 7th, is fair to good, and for that reason he deserves time to show the progress in the next 6 months. I, would give him a year as stated elsewhere, because the football is lot better to watch, it is entertaining, and when we hit form, we look brilliant (if not often enough for all our liking).



Disaster? No. Disappointment? Maybe/Probably.
Worse than KD? In terms of Cups? Yes. In terms of league position? No. In terms of football style? No. In terms of signings? No. In terms of goals (the object of the game)? No.
Odd signings? Highly touted Welsh centre midfielder, Italian international Euros squad player at 21, full Moroccan international, England international and highly touted Brazilian winger... On paper, they are far from odd... Add a hugely talented free scoring young German for our reserve team to boot too.
Leaky Defence? Fair point, but generally free-scoring in attack has been positive. And there is a lot more responsibility on the defence now, so that was always expected?
No real Cup runs? True, but we all wanted to be better in the league first and foremost...
Unable to beat good teams? We didn't beat a top team for a while, but had played well and deserved more from all but a couple of those games... So its true, but it veils over the standard of football we generally did play in these games.



Next season could be worse. Just as likely with or without BR. A new manager doesn't guarantee anything, in fact less than sticking, because there has been genuine, stats proven progress. The owners have chosen to implement a "under 25 or so" policy, for any high fee, to guarantee long-term value. We need a bit of experience, or we give time to good young players to gain it. The Suarez situation won't define the club's season, only mean that there will be pressure on BR to replace him. I think you are thoroughly devaluing measurable and genuine progress in the club. We have fallen back on some other teams (before BR took over), and there should be an acceptance of that right now, and some faith in a guy that has done a decent job.