KopTalk.com Forums Football Liverpool FC Forum Is Rodgers in control?

Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that Pepe Reina in on the brink of joining Napoli on a season-long loan with Liverpool FC keen to get the Spaniard's £5.5million annual salary off their wage bill.

The Reds boss says the club couldn't justify paying Reina £110,000 per week in order to sit on the bench following the £9million signing of Simon Mignolet.



His temporary move to the Serie A outfit, which will see him reunited with former Kop boss Rafa Benitez, is expected to go through in the next 24 hours.

“Financially it is something we needed to look at,” Rodgers said.

“That would be the reason because obviously you wouldn’t move on a top goalkeeper.

“It reared its head over the last few months and I had to prepare for it by bringing in a new goalkeeper.

“Pepe is a good guy. I’ve a lot of time for him, and he understands what I want to do totally.

“He’s got a big season ahead because it’s a World Cup year and one where, if he wasn’t going to be playing, could severely harm his chances of going.”

Does this mean that brendon is being told by a third party that he must get rid of certain players because of their wage level?

I understand the need to replace over paid players that do not perform to the level expected, but surly the final decision on all team matters should be Brendon's.

And what's the point in telling everyone that we purchased SM to provide competition for PR

£5.5 million a year OMG thats totally obscene that .

I'd say he's in charge as long as he sticks within certain boundaries - no more, no less than any other manager.
I did think the same thing when I first read the article myself, but that probably has to do with the constant anti FSG agenda on here that's subliminally brain washing everyone.. I dismissed it.

Which ever way you side, one thing you can't dispute is..

"The Reds boss says the club couldn't justify paying Reina £110,000 per week in order to sit on the bench"

Indeed. A whole lot of money. I think it's the right call. Also, with it being the loan deal, if he recovers his form and becomes world class again, we get to keep him. Also, with him being 32 after this month, he may be more content to take a bit part role afterwards, especially after the WC.

What would you have said?

i know players get very well paid but this sort of deal for reina whoever sort that out need serious questions asked about £5.5 million a year for a keeper , maybe a top striker maybe even a steven gerrard in his pomp even that would be questionable , but not a goalie yes he has been a top keeper but not £5.5 million top keeper .

In no way am I anti FSG but the following paragraph did concern me

“It reared its head over the last few months and I had to prepare for it by bringing in a new goalkeeper.

That tells me he was told to get rid of Reina, I don't disagree with Reina being sold because of his wage. The thing that does worry me is has brendon got any real control over his squad? What happens when he gets told next season to get rid of a player he feels he needs, will he be forced to sell or can he over rule?

This year, rather.

I will never understand why we signed Mignolet in preference to Begovic. And as for letting Pepe go out on loan... bizarre trading practices, that's all I can say.