To be fair, Can looks a good buy for the future. The rest isn't great. You could make an argument that Moreno will step up in time but Lovren, Ballo and disappointingly Lallana (I always rated him but thought he was just expensive) have been massive misses. In terms of players, the best thing that BR has done this year is bring Ibe back from his loan spell and play him......not a great statement when you consider the money spent!
Would I say he is a fraud......After three years and over £200m spent he looks like that He is lauded as a talented and progressive coach, yet has still to win anything. How he rushed out to buy Borini then discard him shows he was never ready for a high profile job and he lacks man management skills, see the Mingolet farce earlier in the season. Gerrard said "I wish I was 24, I wish I’d met Brendan when I was 24 because I think I’d be sitting here talking about a lot of titles that we’d won together. The reality is, Brendan came into this club when I was 32 years of age and it's a shame that relationship didn’t start 10 years ago." The reallity is that Gerrard would have won more, at Chelsea or United.....not under Rodgers
In a way, I don't blame him because you want a squad that follows your every word, and believes in everything you say. But you need characters in your team, and you can't just have a bunch of sheep who will blindly follow you. I think the same applies to his backroom staff as well - apart from the scouts, people like Pascoe come across as a bunch of yes men.
Reina had shown poor form for a long time by then Kuyt was done, Agger was never really a Liverpool player, he signed for Physio table FC
There's been rumours that the players were questioning Martinez before Christmas and cliques had popped up, lead by Eto'o and Distin. Both of whom are now nowhere to be seen. So maybe not too dis-similar.
I did think we had no chance on matching our performance from last season, much like Liverpool.....everything went our way. It shows that at the level we are aiming for - EL and the level Liverpool are aiming for - CL - the squads are just not up to qualifying again after the strain the additional games put on the players both physically and mentally Both of our clubs best chance of qualifying was winning the EL and that was never going to happen based on the clubs who are still in it and the quality
I think you want a squad that contributes to your vision and brings everyone along with them. Mourinho is a master at this. Rodgers doesn't seem to have picked on any of this when he worked with him. What the hell has he done with Borini ffs? That lad still thinks he has a chance!!
It is funny how one was shipped out and the other vanished, not sure if this is true but i am sure Jags backed the boss. But also our return to form drops in as we exit the EL
Agree - what is Rodgers's vision? Possession football? Fast, counter attacking football? Or just simply just picking something that works?
Not surprised about Eto'o - always been troublesome wherever he's been. It's why Barca were happy to sign Zlatan for 40m plus Eto'o (which many thought was a crazy deal!)
Never thought he had that in him....maybe he was the ultimate smiling assasin But once he moved, then stories of trouble at Sampdoria soon surfaced
I've been told it is true mate. Distin did one back to France for a couple of weeks at one point, after openly questioning Martinez tactics. Eto'o was taking the piss behind the scenes, and starting to disrupt the camp.
you lads might well be right.... you need senior pros who know what they are paid for and deliver it in their responsibility and work... LFC has a HUGE gap in that. Skertl yesterday should have followed Benteke and told Can to move into the central slot.... rodgers could not cope with it on the line and skertl just wanted to stick where he was. Mr Allen in CM was trying his own zone only and ditto henderson. Can was the one talking and under severe pressure. He made error for thier goal going to far up.
I was surprised to hear it as well, as I always had Distin down as a model pro. Shame his time with us has ended on such a sour note. Eto'o was also disappointing, as for me he's a genuine World class talent, and even in the twilight of his career could have added plenty on and off the ptich. Needed more game time for me though, and maybe that the crux of his issue with Martinez.
I have no idea about everton... but you know sometimes a senior pro near the end doesn't fancy the bench Theres no need to say he's bottled it or anything is there..... and of course then theres distin too.
This is why I cannot take Skrtel seriously because he takes no responsibility, and he's just a poor defender. It's these errors which don't get picked up often enough which is why some fans think he's better than what he is. Agree with you on Can. The guy is a natural leader - he's raw but certainly talented and is playing in an unfamiliar position. I would certainly give him VC next season - shows more bottle than Henderson.
well i dunno about that.... I'd like to see him tried at DCM in next 6 games.... **** this RB or RCB ****e now. the thing is long gone cos we don;t have the players hell stick in manquillo at RB if we are in anyway serious about him. play 4 at the back and a diamond putting henderson box to box and coutinho in the no 10 role... play stelring up front and make his ego explode and get a good fee for the asshole. Its really not that hard.