There is doom and gloom at the moment, but I'm always the optimist. The signs for the long term future are fantastic, I believe that we've got a number of gems in our squad and they are all very very young and once they mature, they are going to be fantastic. Most of the work with regards to this was done by Rafa Benitez. He had the vision and the know-how to rejuvenate and revitalise our at the time non existent youth set-up. Up until 2009, Liverpool had produced the same number of home-grown players as Arsenal in 10 years. That is a measly two in that period. Since then we've produced 5 home grown players. Thats Kelly, Flanagan, Morgan, Robinson and Wisdom. We've also developed players that were signed for nominal fees in Suso,Shelvey and Sterling. If Arsenal fans want to include Fabregas and Clichy, then the aforementioned players that Liverpool developed are home-grown too. Our squad is relatively young, and you can see the progress our youth set-up is making in that Jordan Ibe aged 16 is making wonderful strides in the under 21s. He didn't look at all out of place when playing in the senior side. Steven Gerrard also takes it as a compliment that he's no longer required to put in super-human performances. We've also got a run of games that are winnable, and should we take maximum points from those, we will get the confidence to climb the table. Those writing our obituaries are in for a rude awakening. Keep the faith people.
Agree with all of that,I'm still very optimistic for the future. Hell,I'm still optimistic for this season. Despite the Doom mongers
The performances are definately there with exception to WBA and Arsenal. We played Sunderland away, Man City and Man Utd and we deserved 9 points from those 3 games. It shows that the players are getting used to the new system. It won't click overnight but there are signs of progress. We're playing good football and that's with a 'limited' squad - I'm sure we'll be spending in January.
In five league games, we have played well in three and poor in the other two. If we had played poor against WBA and Sunderland rather than WBA and Arsenal I would be concerned that were raising our game against the better sides but that is not the case, it is simply inconsistency. There is no doubt in my mind that we will soon pick up some points considering the run we now have, but we will also have some more "WBA" days too!
Whilst I admire the optimism it is completely misplaced. A threadbare squad that we are having to plug holes in at a desperate rate with young players. 2 points from 15, a crumbling defence and a mis-firing strikeforce, owners who are focused on other things, a young inexperienced manager and a system most of the senior players know nothing about. I realise the excitement fans feel about seeing the next generation of players coming through but this unfortunately is completely the wrong way to be introducing them. It's a shame it has come to this so soon into the season but we now have to hope they can "man up" more than some of our older heads.
"I still believe that if we get the left back and the left winger we need,we're a shoe in for fourth.Our second half of the season form was bettered only by Chelsea.It was better than Man Uniteds and Arsenals.I also reckon we're going to cause a serious amount of havoc.I'm not suggesting we're good enough to win the league...but its going to be a hell of a lot tighter than it previously was.Liverpool are more competitive than they have been since 2007 in the tramsfer market. My predicition still stands,Kenny will have Liverpool crowned champions within 3 seasons." http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/63604-Next-Season/page2 KPR... How'd that work out for ya?
The reason we're using the youngsters is because the senior players are not stepping up to the plate. Kenny brought in a lot of players who aren't good enough and overspent in the process. We're now cleaning up that mess and rebuilding.
...Nice one But seriously, although I never want to see us lose, I couldn't give a monkeys if we have a "WBA" day on Wednesday
Although I agree in parts, i also feel the need to point out that Rodgers is choosing to use Sterling and Suso ahead of the likes of Downing
Haha - Carling Cup is quite low on my list of priorities too but a win is a win. WBA at home is no easy task as we saw on the opening day. Winning breeds confidence so any win would be gracefully accepted...
there are kernals of truth is what most people are saying on this thread... but the tbale won't lie and honestly rodgers is in very big danger of looking like hodgson mark ii. There's some very big deicsions to be made and changes needed to get us socring goals and he needs to make them immediately. with what looks like 4 of his first choice out with injury... kelly, agger, lucas, borini.. and shevley suspended for 3 games (likely) there's a couple of choices he can make to improve or make the thing worse... first the are about who plays and seocnd how the team will play. Rodgers needs to put enrique and coates in and get something out of them... enrique looks as pissed as carroll and not interested so thats an oh oh... if he puts in carra and flanangan and keeps jonhson lb we're in big trouble. He needs to bring in sahin and push gerrard to no 9 and squarez wide. Reina Johnson skertl coates enrique (do not push skertl LCB) Allen Sahin Henderson Sterling Gerrard Suarez sure assaidi, wisdowm, suso or a couple others might do something but the fact is nobody is getting i nthe box, the width is not true width as they are so far back that its 4-5-1 really... if we are playing 4-3-3 we must close down more up the field.
Winning does indeed breed confidence but like with the game against young Boys, what confidence does it breed if the first teamers aren't involved? There was only four players that took part in both games and none of them played the full 120 minutes - Shelvey, Sterling, Suso and Borini
True but WBA are a decent PL club - one that beat us convincingly. I think we can take more from this game if we won as opposed to Young Boys.
Rodgers will never be a Hodgson mark ii. The biggest issue most had with Hodgson was the style of play and the things he said. The only similarity (at this time) are the results which, considering the fixtures, is a little harsh IMO. Enrique is struggling and he should play against WBA tomorrow to prove him self ready. Otherwise, I'd leave Johnson at LB, bring in Coates alongside Skrtel but play Wisdom at RB. Failing that, leave Johnson at RB and play Downing (god forbid) at LB. I'd love to see us try Gerrard as the focal point but fear he would be like Suarez, Rooney, Tevez etc in dropping deep to get the ball etc, that is not what we need at the minute.
Only if some of the first team play, I don't think many will. The likes of Carragher, Downing, etc maybe
We aren't rebuilding. We are plugging holes. If buying Borini to replace Kuyt and Carroll is rebuilding we're in serious ****. You can use Downing as an excuse for everything bad about Kenny and keep insisting he left us in a total mess but let's not forget he had to drag us from a position just above the relegation zone. We finished 8th after a "shocking" run of results and got to two finals with Kennys "mess". Well if it was such a mess why did we get rid of the one player who actually looked like he was starting to play well and keep Downing and Cole? Could we have done with AC these past few games and certainly now Borini is injured (and not really looking like a player to "excite").The reason we are using the youngsters is PARTLY because the senior players aren't playing well enough but also because we ditched good players like Kuyt, Maxi and Mandy and didn't replace them. What some people have to realise is that young players develop at different rates and throwing them into action too early and into an underperforming team can do irreparable damage to their development and confidence. Ours is one of the toughest, fastest leagues in the world and just presuming each and every youth player can step in and fill a shirt for long periods is crazy. If only it was that simple.
Would rather see Coates play. Give him more game time to help him grow into the role during Agger's absence. I agree with you that Enrique should start - he needs to shake off this poor form. Finally - let Assaidi and Sahin play. Again, they need more match time.
Kenny did a fantastic job in his first 6 months when he rescued this club. But if you think a Carling Cup win compsensates for an abysmal league performance then we're singing off the wrong hymn sheet. We are a laughing stock because of our attrocious dealings, the way we handled the Suarez affair, failure to win at home. And yes - we are rebuilding. By getting rid of the older players such as Bellamy, Maxi and Kuyt - who all wanted to leave. So before Rodgers even steps into the hot seat, he's losing 3 player top players. We have since brought in young and hungry players and we're introducing the youth. Then he has the task of getting rid of others to reduce the astronomical wage bill which has built up over the years. Joe Cole was injured so it was hard to shift him. Plus he's on ridiculous wages so even harder to find a club silly enough to pay him. Rodgers has had to do all of this because of the past regimes. It will take time and don't expect instant results but I can see signs of progress both on and off the pitch. I'd like to think that the owners will definately spend in January after the poor summer transfer window.
Enrique, Assaidi and Sahin are nailed on certs to play. Not sure about Coates as it seems Rodgers likes to keep is weekend team out of the picture
