So confident football. Nice attacking when we looking better than the opposition and at full strength, pragmatic football when we are under par or weakened side? I'd settle for that. Practical.
And that's what needs to change over the season. Go out with confidence at the start of the match and if it results in a goal..keep going! Don't withdraw and hope we cling on. But; if we are off the boil and being overwhelmed..be confident in changing to defence and counter. ..no shame in it. We need to be more adaptable mentally as a team. Not look lost because it isn't turning out like the graphics on the tablets...
It seems an obvious thing to say, but if the first Hammers goal hadn't gone in when it did we'd have seen a very different performance. Like you say, we seem to lack any sort of character to come back when things aren't going to plan. Although I won't join the Stone Rodgers For Everything Club, I do think that getting their mentality right is a major part of his job, and one he doesn't seem to have got the hang of at all so far.
I'm curious if wage bill went up or down though. I suspect since we got more in then out- we're paying more throughout the year. Transfer fees arn't everything- plus with every transaction some money is "lost" to agents, lawyers etc.If you sell a player for 20m the club may only recoup 15m of that amount. That net 10m (not very much) might mean 20m in extra costs for us this year (which still isn't very much in the grand scheme of things).
Honestly- money is power and translates into performances in this game. Man C1ty, Chel$ea, Arsenal, and Man 2nited are the 4 teams who should expect Champions League. They currently have the money and the power. We're the club chasing and certainly should strive for Champions League- but for us it is an achievement rather than something to expect. We should certainly expect 5th. Anything less is a very poor show. We should aim for CL and even 1st, but can't expect it anymore. Now what will FSG tolerate? Well, I think as long as we make money they don't care. Sure, the higher we finish the more we'll likely make- but I don't think they're out to sack a manager who finishes 6th... UNLESS... UNLESS the fans get disenfranchised. I think that's what ultimately what got Roy the sack. It wasn't that he was a useless manager- it's that the fans wanted his head and when fans are disenfrachised they buy less and go to fewer games which makes the club less money. FSG will hold on to Rodgers until they think the fans will be ready to revolt. Changing managers costs money- there's payouts and cost for new contracts, etc... it's an expensive business. When financially it makes sense (the cost to switch is less than the cost of lost sales from disenfranchised fans) - that's when Rodgers will get the sack. If everyone turned on Rodgers now and started boycotting the club (don't do that) Rodgers would be gone in a fortnight.
wages probably aren't too dissimilar. Gerrard and Johnson out probably cover Milner Clyne and ings wages. Origi, we were probably paying his wages last year anyway. Leaves benteke and firmino wages as extra so depending on them two and what we aren't paying for borini balotelli ilori probably a small fraction up on last year.
We have spent so much money. We have to be the biggest waster of money in Premier League history and one of the biggest in football and sport full stop. He's had a while now has Brendan and what we're left with is the most bang average team I can remember. We are falling further and further behind and look less likely to win the title as the years pass. We won't get forth. He may keep his job if we get fifth but we'll do well to get that.
Ok... So wages even out but I think I'm real terms we've spent more than 10mill. Almost certainly the "free transfers" still cost us millions in taxes, fees, agents, sign on bonuses. Every time a transaction is made money leaves the sport. Still, maybe it's been a relatively cheap summer but every players brought in would have cost us a few million on top of the transfer fee (there's also loyalty bonuses for those we sold). Every time a player comes or goes... Even on a free it costs us money. As many players as we've signed it's going to add up.
Good post. I agree with the first half- it doesn't matter how much you can spend if those above you can outbid you whenever they want. I'm not sure it's correct to say FSG don't care as long as they are making money, though they won't panic while they are. Leaving aside the correlation between money and success, everyone wants to be successful, and most want to be seen to be. Businessmen usually see conspicuous success as a matter of professional pride, so while they may not have the same reflexive reaction as the fans, I think they'll still be looking for ways to improve. They've been patient with Rodgers after last season's overall disappointment- I can't see them continuing to be so forever.
For me its fourth or bust. The way our pedigree players keep getting poached is beyond what should be expected. The buys he's made are more misses than hits. I back him and his style of play but there comes a time when FSG will lose the faith. He's towed the line by getting rid of his backroom staff but I feel that won't be enough. Benteke needs 20 goals, Sturridge the same, Firmino needs assists, Coutinho needs 10 goals. Anything shoddy and he is gone.
You make a good point that we've discussed before, but not on this thread, I don't think. If we don't get CL then we're going to find it very difficult to hang on to the quality players we have - let alone attract new ones. Then we go back to square one trying to bring on promising youngsters and it continues to be a difficult uphill climb.
We've loads a money but it will take a real big name at the helm after this season. It's always been going only one way under Rodgers. My signature will be a year saying that in November.
FSG will build up the club to the point it can get to profitably. That means if 54k turn up and we have another 100 waiting the Anfield road end will be donew. And so on until we get to the point where there is no more growth to be done. If chelsea and arsenal and city are bigger then they are bigger. Same as westham in the white elephant if they can get 60-70k in they will be bigger but not charging a tenner in.
He may very well be - but he has PROVEN success, works under a committee model, promotes youth and works within a budget. He fits the criteria. Players want to play for him. Did you see the players and the fans when he left Dortmund - they were devastated. And even during the first half of a miserable season, EVERYONE backed him - why? Because they believed in him and knew he could turn it around because he's done it before. His name alone will attract players that Brendan can only dream about. And most importantly - I, along with most of the fanbase will believe in him. We will be united once more. As you say - nothing is guaranteed in football but it's about mitigating that risk by getting the best people in at this club.
And I don't agree with the money argument because a) teams with much cheaper squads and wage bills have achieved more than we have and b) we have spent a lot ourselves for no success. All we need is a manager who can get the most out of our resources. A lot of people think that a manager is all about bringing players in and making it work. They also have a responsibility to develop them and get the most out of them.
And not only this - Rodgers is a sentimental manager. A lot of decisions were driven by key influences at the club namely Carra and Gerrard. We practically had Lucas on the plane but one performance against Arsenal and we change our minds and keep him? Give me a cold hearted b*stard like Rafa any day of the week.
I can't see what role sentiment played in that decision. They changed their minds for footballing reasons, whether we agree with them or not.
Maybe sentiment is the wrong word, but no footballing reason can be made off the back of just 1 game. If Rodgers was such a fan of Lucas before, then why allow for negotiations with Besiktas in the first place? As we have seen with his tactics, formations etc - he;s a very kneejerk reaction kind of guy.
Lol...a fan Base only believes in a manager when he's winning and winning pretty. The fan Base became divided with every recent manager that started losing. Klopp or any other manager will be no different. Klopp got patience at first in the last season based on previous success. Then ran away. Wonder if they'd havery been as understanding and united with a second medicore season. Grass greener and all that jazz.
