Hornet in peace. With my team kicking off at tea-time, I thought I'd spend the early afternoon looking at one of our managers past. I want to make clear that despite what I'm about to say, Brendan Rodgers is a genuinely talented manager, and I'm not in any way suggesting that you have employed a dud. He took Watford from Aidy Boothroyd hoofball to Swansea style passing in the space of four months, and a lack of integrity aside I think most people wanted him to stay here. Still, there does seem to be a bit of a pattern emerging: Brendan Rodgers leaves Watford, infuriating the fans in the manner of his departure. Malky Mackay brings back the feel-good factor that had been lacking under Boothroyd and Rodgers in 2008/09. Rodgers' marquee signings (Don Cowie and Danny Graham) play a big part in Mackay's success. Brendan Rodgers leaves Reading at risk of relegation to League One. Brian McDermott almost takes them up immediately, and later leads them back to the Premier League. Rodgers' highest profile signing (Jobi McAnuff) goes on to captain the team to the Championship title. Brendan Rodgers leaves Swansea, annoying the fans by breaking the non-transfer agreement under which the chairman allowed him to leave. It should be stressed that he did an outstanding job to establish that club in the Premier League, yet under Michael Laudrup they are looking better than ever. Too early to fairly judge how big a part Rodgers' signings are playing, but Danny Graham and Michel Vorm are both in Laudrup's plans. While I doubt many of you will agree with everything I've written, I hope that you don't see this thread as being solely mischievous. The negatives are all there, and I leave you in little doubt about my personal view of the man. But I think I've been fair to him in recognising that he has left a significant legacy at all of his clubs, even Reading, and that at Watford and Swansea he did some things that the fans were extremely happy with. So why bother writing all this? Partly because I'm not used to sitting in front of a computer at 3pm on a home matchday. But mainly because I was wondering how long Liverpool fans think he and his signings will be given to do the job, and what the future will hold if the answer is "not much".
It might come as a shock to you lad but we the fans haven't got a say in how long he stays, that would be down to our owners.
While searching for a new manager our owners said they want a new manager who can last a minimum of four years. Recently they have also said that they knows things changed for us last season and that are targets are different this season as a result. They also stated that they know Rodgers will need time to work his plans and that he has their full support. I know some people see us as a sacking club at the moment, but I kind of believe that Dalglish, and maybe Camolli, were just there to fill the gap until they had finalized there structure plan for the club. Hodgson was just not working out.
Possibly, but not after game 1 of 38. And tbf Brendan wouldn't have been the vast majority of our supporters 1st choice, but we will all back him.
Seems like a fair, if a touch negative, summary. It's usually hard for any manager, especially if he's liked, to leave with the fans on his side. Hating is the usual coping mechanism of wronged supporters. Fair do's. I think he'll be given, because of his age (compared with KK), a minimum of 2 years by the owners in which to prove himself. LFC mostly tend to support their managers, luckily. I'd give him longer that that to be fair. We're in the midst of another squad overhaul and it's a long term situation in which the fans require patience and forbearance above all. Hope that helps and good luck with your season, Mr. Watfordian.
I agree with all of that. I heard recently that Kenny Dalglish had an agreement with the owners that if they found a young, hungry manager, he would step aside and allow x to assume control. Kenny was regarded by the owners as a stop-gap to take Liverpool off the life-support machine and get the club breathing for itself. As for Hodgson, he wasn't wanted because the current regime didn't appoint him. He was everything they didn't want in a manager, whereas he was everything Hicks and Gillett wanted. Hodgson was everything Rafa wasn't, Rafa gave them an unmerciful head-ache, Hodgson lay down in front of them. As for Brendan Rodgers, I believe he will be given the time to implement his ideas. He's done everything that has been asked of him. He's cut down the wage bill by off-loading fringe players that in the long term offer no value. He's signed young players that are on the combined wages of one of the departed players i.e. Allen, Assaidi, Borini earn less combined than what Aquilani did. The only ''white elephant'' remaining at the club is Joe Cole, and they are willing to accept that for the moment. He too should and will depart. On paper, Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool are long-tierm a match made in heaven, however if this is productive on the pitch remains to be seen. Brendan Rodgers will be deemed by many as a calculated risk. The Liverpool owners will have to live and die by their decision.
I'd suggest you google Lucas Leiva's early years. Or Kuyt's. Or Skrtel's. All were savaged by the same fans who now lecture about patience. As an older fan, with more water under the bridge and a longer perspective on patience, it really pisses in my custard. I also feel betrayed by FSG. The time for them to let Kenny go with a thanks for the salvage job was at the end of 10/11, not after one year of his three-year contract, not when Kenny thought there was still work to do. Anybody who thinks one season is showing patience has Frank Oz's arm up their butt. This wasn't just a manager passing through, this was *the* club legend and the promise, the dream, of Kenny guiding us to success was worth so much more than a Jonny-cum-lately, whatever style he brings. It was worth waiting for; it was worth a three year contract; it was worth patience. But Kenny doesn't mean as much to those who've only read about it on the official website and seen the old MotD footage. Never mind the patience, where was the loyalty deserving of a man of his stature? He gave and gave to this club and what did the impatient fans give back? A Chicken Licken squawk, which even silverware couldn't quieten. That disgusts me. But it's representative of the modern game. The media's "Haven't won a trophy in X years" becomes, "Didn't win both the trophies they were up for" becomes, "Didn't qualify for Champions League." Their need for a headline becomes our need for a new manager and the 24/7 rolling SSN news means everything has to change 24/7. The monster must be fed. I remember Tom Werner's words as he enjoyed the rare privilege of sipping Champagne from the Carling Cup in the Wembley dressing room. That cup win will be remembered long after a CL qualification. Do you think any Utd fan will be bragging about their CL last season? **** right off. So the irony is the older fans, for whom Dalglish represents much more than just trophies or pass and move, but the very soul of this club, will be the ones with the most patience. I'm trying not to resent BR because Kenny's sacking wasn't his fault but I don't believe FSG will give him time once the media crank it up. I think they've already shown that. It doesn't seem like they can afford to wait four years to get the CL qualification wonga. And patience doesn't pay the bills. I think there are questions to be asked of BR. There seems to be an acceptance that Barca's style of football can actually succeed in the PL but Rafa's style of football was able to beat Barca's style, both in La Liga (twice) and with us in the CL. The unrelenting media will begin asking questions, though. BR knows this. As he said himself, "Every manager wants patience but you don't get it." Yeah, Bren, we knew that already.
I agree with most of what you've written, however I believe Liverpool have found themselves another Rafa Benitez. Brendan Rodgers style is similar to Rafa's, albeit a little bit less rigid and not based on percentages. Its all about three things..distribution and ball retention and defending high up the pitch( Its not a defensive high-line like AVB deploys, its having the defenders squeeze the midfielders when on the back foot and the extra midfielder becomes a centre-back). Attackers become defenders...defenders become attackers. If it were me, I would have loved to see Rafa return under these owners. However as I've said, I believe we've got the next best thing. Lets give Brendan time to implement his vision. It won't kick off until we're back in the CL, and he can spend CL revenue on CL players. Quite the opposite to Alex Ferguson who last season spent CL money on mid table to bottom 3 players.
So says a fan who has less experience when it comes to watching Liverpool. Whilst that is not your fault, neither is it a sound basis for admonishing somebody who does have such a wealth of experience.
You don't know how much experience i have or don't have I agree with much of what he said but claiming that being older makes you more patient/knowledgeable is just plain stupid and is used by older fans and people in general as a way of lazily backing up their opinion. There's no correlation what so ever between age and football knowledge, there are impatient and patient people both young and old.
You ain't so sprightly yourself! If it's appropriate for me to compare a member of the present squad with a player of yesteryear then I'm going to do that. Attack me for getting fakhts wrong or if the argument that I'm forwarding doesn't stack-up, I'll accept that. But I'm proud of my longevity.
