please log in to view this image Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has hailed the club's hierarchy for giving him the 'freedom' to do his job. Rodgers has turned Liverpool around since taking charge in 2012 and he has put them firmly in title contention this season. And the former Swansea boss is quick to hail the people around him at Anfield. "I feel a huge privilege to be here and be given the freedom to work. We are trying to make something that is sustainable here," said Rodgers. "It is fantastic that the supporters now have hope. I quite enjoy it, really. It is why I worked hard in my life, and since I was a young boy, travelling around Europe to find out about some of the top teams. This is why I became a manager. "We have been allowed to develop at our own pace. We have never got carried away when we have won or too disappointed when we have lost, but we are building something for years to come." And Rodgers is full of praise for his players as they have adapted to his style of play. "If you ask players to play as we do, you have to give them the confidence. That is what you want - the courage to play," Rodgers explained. "We work to deal with pressure, to get on the ball. The players know 100 per cent that if they make a mistake, I will take the blame. "I have said all along I feel that when there are pressure situations, the players can cope... they can operate at this level without any fear. You see the confidence, there is no anxiety, no pressure. "We have a wonderful mix: World-class players, young talents from Europe and South America and a load of young British talent here who show that, technically, they can play without fear." With just six games of the season left, Rodgers admits that things are getting simpler to work out when it comes to the title run-in. "There are only 18 points to play for, but you can only take three at a time. Upton Park [where Liverpool face West Ham on Sunday] will be a tough game for us but our confidence and belief is at a good level," he said. "It is very difficult, lots of people are dreaming about Liverpool winning the title. "But for me it is installing in the players that there's a process, it's not just about the end result. "It's been about simple hard work, focus and concentration." http://www1.skysports.com/football/...rendan-rodgers-happy-to-get-freedom-to-do-job -------------------- I've a good feeling about old Brendan #nojinx Lets see some cash in the Summer FSG (im sure we will)
WHERE IS THE STADIUM!!!!!! #FSGOUT A lot of the same things he has been saying tbh, but the fact he has got the players on board makes those words hold more weight. Sounds like we have a combination of a guy who is about his football and tactics like a pep, mourinho, rafa but a guy who can cuddle the players when necessary like a Harry.
Yeah some players like an arm around them dont they? Gerrard certainly speaks very highly of him What did it take? 6 months wasnt it from Summer 2012 to Jan 2013 for it all to start clicking. He has changed styles though to suit us more
I think that date helped start that though. Once we got Sturridge and COutinho in, you could see more options, more quality, more hunger, along with BR willing to change it up a bit to better suit the team. I think the players appreciated that too, willing to make tough calls or change shape to help the team. A manager who is wishy washy will never work, players will see through that and you will get players running the team through that.
They made a huge difference, great buys. Looking forward to the future with Rodgers regardless of what this season brings or doesn't bring.
I think that is it too. Look at the buys from the summer...... everyone, maybe even players and owners thought " uh oh, what have we here?" Buying Studge and Coutinho probably gave many that belief of spotting talent and making those new players work within the confines of the team.
Do you trust Rodgers with a big wad to spend? I know we have to as we havent a choice but so far we have seen him working to a budget. Getting in CL should see that budget rise
Success can owe a great deal to luck, or rather things all falling into place at the right time. With hindsight, the arrivals of Coutinho and (especially) Sturridge can be seen to be the crucial final pieces in the jigsaw that gave the team the right balance to succeed. I also think those three hard-fought 1-0 wins at the start were vital in giving everyone confidence. I know we had some momentum from the second half of the previous season, but those first games could so easily have gone the other way, and things could have been very different. So now we have something approaching a winning formula, we have to build on it and make it sustainable. Even if we keep Suarez for now, we still have to make something that can continue to be competitive beyond him, with a smooth transition between players over the years. This is what we did in the golden age of the 70's and 80's, and it's what Utd have done in the PL era. I don't think we should go mad and buy too many new first-team players in the summer (I don't expect us to anyway). There are some areas that need strengthening, and we need to add depth and quality to the squad to deal with Europe, but once you have a successful formula, you need to keep that and not upset the balance of it too much.
Positive signings: Coutinho (8.5), Sturridge (12), Mignolet (9), Sakho (15) Toure has been an OK signing. Not so great: Aspas(7.5) , Moses (loan), Cissokho (loan), Sahin (loan), and Allen (will probably get a lot of hate for this but he has not been what was promised. Still time to come good but not done enough for me yet). For the future: Borini (11), Alberto (7), Ilori (7), Yesil (1). You could argue that Alberto is a flop but I think he could come good with playing time. Overall he's been hit and miss in the window but luckily he didn't pay 35m for any of them. Allen was 12 (or 16) and Aspas was 7.5, which is a 20m outlay that could have been used elsewhere. However since he has spent 35m on positive signings and that has been justified. 26 million has been spent on "potential to come good" signings - ultimately this is where I'd judge him so far. If those players kick on and play well like Borini has for example, I would consider Rodgers astute in the market. If they don't do well, it tips towards the other side. We should be able to see in the summer.
Well he has been able to pull the likes of Sakho, who could be the next French CB pairing with Varane or Mangala if he stays healthy, so I think that type of signing shows he can do it.
"Hopefully if we achieve our Euro dream, then we will need bigger depth. We are talking daily with Brendan about this and others who deal with player recruitment. "The owners are pleased with our progress. They will be over this weekend for the game away to West Ham on Sunday. "It's great testament to them. We've had some tough days but the owners continued to invest in the club. Great credit to them for achieving what we are achieving." http://www1.skysports.com/football/...ian-ayre-in-no-rush-over-brendan-rodgers-deal ----- Ayre speaking about Rodgers new contract
Never post anything involving braveheart again DR. Biggest load of racist nonsense known to cinema. **** Mel Gibson.
I agree with him that confidence in yourself and those around you helps to relieve pressure. It also helps Rodgers in his own decision making. He will not know exactly what he has done or have a take on it that is probably slightly skewed. But he sees that it is working. He has also seen when it has not. So perhaps the biggest plaudit is that he appears to have learnt from his mistakes. As fans we have to follow his example. There is no point, as some have done above in following the money and evaluating quality/contribution against that. The players that he has brought to the club he considered as value buys to help him meet the developing needs of the squad. Some have proved to be successful. On others the jury is still out or the axe has already fallen (Sahin). But whatever he spent, that amount should be viewed against the results that the team has achieved. The fact that Aspas is here meant that he could give Borini another chance out on loan whilst he always had forward cover at Anfield. OK so Aspas has not set the world alight and may well move on in the Summer. Toure came on a free and did a sterling job at the start of the season. This gave time and space to Sokho to settle and cover for Aggers injury. Whilst he has often been a direct route to a tram smash Cissokho has always tried (and a manager can ask for nothing more) and has been available to cover Enrique's long term injury. Alberto has been available to him all season. So the expenditure on these players has not been wasted in the slightest as they have contributed on the pitch or the training ground to what has been achieved this season This season Rodgers has done a lot. He's taken risks - the exposed back 4, experimented with a back 3. diamonds, 433, 442 and he has enjoyed wonderful forward success. He's built a successful and confident squad but perhaps his greatest challenge is still to come. Top 4 is all but assured so his target is reached. Now he has to give those players the support (psychological and tactical) and confidence to get over the line to achieve what they and us fans so desperately want. As we stand now, the costs of those players who we think may not be good enough, is completely amortised by where we are in the league and what we may achieve.
Good post Dave I wasnt sure on BR at first but have a good feeling about him now. He can change things when it isnt working and he certainly has the players behind hiim Sure he is going to make more mistakes, he's a young manager but I feel he learns from then quickly. Who'd have thought we'd be where we're now at this stage of the season
