As Watford supporters we are all well aware of Mr Rodgers words not matching his actions. He certainly does talk the talk. I for one was very surprised he was appointed by Liverpool, a club I have always respected etc., particularly with a relatively short timeline of success as a manager. Liverpool are really struggling this season, both in terms of players signed, and som very questionable team selections and tactics. He likes to talk.... But..... Is he up for this job really?? Is this a case of the emperor's new clothes and is his rhetoric now being realised as just fine words ?? What do you think?
He did very well last season. i think he might well be on a downturn now though, so long as he has his integrity, I'll respect him!
It all seems to be based on extremes for him nowadays doesn't it? Last season more or less eevrything came off for him - mainly the fact that he had 4 or 5 players performing to their absolute peak for 5 or 6 months. You don't often see that. This year he is desperately missing Sturridge, the signings simply haven't delivered yet and having plundered Southampton's supposed best players he sees that they're second in the league. Out of his depth? Quite possibly. Does he deserve to have people calling for his head at Anfield on Saturday? No i don't think so as it's still early days in the season.
Everything slotted in to place for him didn't it... I wonder if it was because of the players rather than him.... A big ask though for him now this season
For me he was lucky. Lucky to have Malky as No2, lucky to walk into the work Martinez had done with the Swans. Found out at Reading, for which he has no alibi. Lucky at Liverpool with certain players peaking at fortunate time. Is he being found out again? I think so, but he must've learned a thing or two in the last few years, surely? Martinez is the real McCoy IMHO, why did he not become Reds manager? He went to talk with them but then decided he wanted to stay with Wigan. Shortly afterwards went to the Toffees. What did he see that he didn't like? I believe that Liverpool would've won the league last year if they'd appointed Martinez and not Rodgers.
And why does no one make mention of his time at Reading..? BR to UK media: "Look into my eyes, look into my eyes... You will forget that I ever fâ¬cked it all up at Reading... And three, two, one, you're back in the room..."
I think some Watford fans have very selective memories. He made ONE stupid comment when constantly being asked about whether he would apply for the Reading job and said he did not like people questioning his integrity. Stupid - yes but for goodness sake guys let that one comment go and move on. The wonderful Malky - who seems to have shown a few more negatives at Cardiff - actually signed a new contract and reneged on it in a month or two - far far worse if you don't think managers should move as freely as players. Rodgers was his own man at Watford and played a style not remotely like Malky. He may have inherited a good squad from Martinez - but he improved it and got results. He arrested Liverpool's decline into obscurity last year and got them straight into the Champions League - oh dear - he had good players - then he must be an awful manager. Losing Suarez and Sturridge are immensely important this year. Liverpool are also finding what Spurs and Everton found in the recent past - getting into the Champions League takes a massive toll on you clubs resources and unless you have the squad and experience of Europe you struggle once you are there. Man City took a while to adjust -(if they have properly yet) but Arsenal, Man U and Chelsea have years of experience which counts for everything. Reading sacked him before Christmas - I bet they wish they had him now - their own error in expecting results too quickly Rodgers is an excellent manager and I would bet he will win the Championship before too long. I would have him back here tomorrow if that were possible.
I think we'll have to agree to disagree on this, Leo. I think Malky behaved exactly as most would and enabled us to have compensation. Yes, he has made questionable and, IMHO, worse comments than BR's comment, which is a great shame as I did like him. I'm not pillorying either of them because of long distant words spoken. I believe BR is largely a case of Emperors New Clothes, that is all. His comments I remember now only as making him look a bit silly. They have no bearing on how I assess him as a manager. The main reason for Swansea's success was down to Martinez. Rodgers stayed on the horse, yes. And it is strange how the Reading thing is never spoken of by the media. Ever. It really is like it never happened. Royals fans don't think highly of him and that's not because of comments made at Watford.
...... ............. Eloquently put So you mean he will step down a Div? Seriously though.... whenever I hear he speak he smacks of a wordsmith... and I remember seeing some tv of a pre season, I think, training meeting with him at Liverpool when he started ... and I must say I really cringed at the mentality.....
I know what you mean Yorkshire. It was very cringy. It's like he has about 10 cue cards with football manager speak on them, he shuffles them and reads it out. The words are unmistakeable as those of a football manager but there is something shallow about it. It's a bit like Manish when he started the FLS. In fact I remember him on Football Focus very early on. He used to overuse certain expressions e.g. "How was the skipper, Motty?" That was all a bit cringy too. In Manish's defence I think he is greatly improved and just about pulls it off these days. BR is not as convincing as Manish. But BR is someone else's problem these days as far as I am concerned. I did leap to BR's defence this morning when I heard that cocky Mr Lineker was saying he had thrown the towel in last night. Butt out, Lineker! You are a television presenter. Why on earth the BBC continue to publish 'stories' based upon his Twit(ter) posts is extraordinary to me. That's not 'news'. a And, again in BR's defence, his response was very professional when faced with something like that.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29912111 I think he made a wrong call in team selection last night.... looking at the coming fixtures.... He has a week off after Chelsea... which he couldn't expect to win in any case..... so why do it???
Agreed - it is all just personal opinion. My argument though is that Rogers has been subject of criticism on this board ever since he left. He was a good manager for us and I don't think anyone wanted him to leave. So why the criticism - it all comes down to his one statement and I find it laughable that our fans hold that against him. He went to his "home" club. He was right to deny any intention of leaving until he actually left - any manager who says "I might leave soon" becomes a lame duck - so he did the right thing but used the wrong language and has never been forgiven. Malky may have enabled us to increase the compensation slightly - not that the amount has been disclosed. But by signing a contract in March he made sure we did not look for a replacement until he resigned in mid June giving us little over a month to appoint a new manager for the next season. Luckily it turned out OK as Sean Dyche did well - but that was no thanks to Malky. He dumped on us and subsequent revelations about him show he was not the "nice" person everybody thought he was. Rogers took over from Sousa - not Martinez - how long do you credit a team to a departed manager. Sinclair signed by Rogers was instrumental in their good season and his hat-trick at Wembley took them into the Premiership. I am sorry but you have to give Rogers credit for that promotion - lots of managers inherit good squads and do not succeed. At Liverpool judge Rogers by how he has taken an underachieving Liverpool into Europe. He may not meet your requirements for his soundbites but if you look at his track record it is impressive. Liverpool record: 113 games 60 wins - win percentage 53%. As I say we all have personal opinions but the statistics say Rogers is a very good manager.
Fair enough, Leo. There is something to what you say, particularly about Malky, but my argument about BR is not to do with his departing us. That's water under the bridge, something that happened a long time ago, in footballing terms anyway. The Swans success I don't lay at Sousa's door, definitely not. It was Martinez who established the flowing football there, I believe. Sousa tried to continue that, BR did too. Neither made the mark Martinez did. And Sinclair was one of his 'let's buy someone I know' purchases, of which there have been many, not due to astute scouting and assessment, he had a fear of unknown players. He must be better than he was, purely from experience, I would hope. But I agree with yorkshire (hopefully I'm not misinterpreting) that there is a hollow sound to his speak.
A television presenter? Really? I switch off whenever I hear his stilted, monochrome tones. He is to sports presenting what Keanu Reeves and Kevin Costner are to acting. Truly dreadful and talentless. Again, as it was too early to pronounce upon BR last season, so I suggest it is too early this season. Liverpool could still finish in the top 4 and questions on his ability would cease. His problem is, he talks too much.
How about a different angle to that comment? Martinez played that way at Swansea because that was how they played when he was a player, so maybe that is what Huw Jenkins has stated to his managers about the general style of football the team should play, and then the managers put their own stamp around it. This would mean that appointing Gary Monk was less of a risk than it initially seemed.
Their defence was a bit ropey last season but the attacking power of Suarez and Sturridge masked such issues. Lorven isn't a 20 million defender and people like Lallana need time. Trouble is we all know how fickle football it - what happens if Liverpool miss out on Champions league football to Man U for example?
Interesting, Barry. I always thought it was Martinez who established this as a manager, the majority of his playing time at the Swans being under the great Kenny Jackett, who was very successful there, but not the originator of 'tika-taka' as I understood. Huw Jenkins clearly deserves an enormous amount of praise but I am unsure if the style came from him. As for Gary Monk, he has impressed me, on the whole. And a solid appointment, absolutely.
