Football 2015/16

[eFestivals]

A Liverpool fan I know reckons Rodgers is clueless and says that is a common opinion amongst the fans that he knows.

Extremely small sample, I know, but suggests some fans are on his back.

 

yep, he's so clueless that he found a way to make best use of Suarez - that King Kenny couldn't - and he got a bunch of players that are considered 'shit' by the likes of Man Utd fans to play the best footie of the season from any team last season (tho not enough of it, obviously).

 

He might not be the world's best manager but he's far from clueless. He's able to stick at it and find something that works well.

[pink_triangle]

 - and he got a bunch of players that are considered 'shit' by the likes of Man Utd fans to play the best footie of the season from any team last season (tho not enough of it, obviously).

 

 

I think thats a bit of a stretch

[eFestivals]

I think thats a bit of a stretch

 

They were the best-points-scoring team over that 3-months(ish) period, and were playing the most attractive football of any team last season in that time too. It wasn't just a fluke, it was the result of him tinkering until he found what worked.

 

(and he managed to do that without the two most important players of the previous season, too).

 

It all turned to shit of course, but how much of that was down to him can't be accurately stated. It all went to shit when Sterling and Hendo threw a strop over contracts.

 

Perhaps other managers might have got the team ticking sooner, but I'd be happy to guarantee that others wouldn't have done at all. Rodgers might not be god, but he's not the devil either.

Edited September 29, 2015 by eFestivals

[pink_triangle]

They were the best-points-scoring team over that 3-months(ish) period, and were playing the most attractive football of any team last season in that time too. It wasn't just a fluke, it was the result of him tinkering until he

 

They may have had a purple patch and may have playued some decent football, thats very different to playing the best football of any team over the whole season. To me that was city who while inconsisten when on form were (and still are) a different level in my view.

[eFestivals]

They may have had a purple patch and may have playued some decent football, thats very different to playing the best football of any team over the whole season. To me that was city who while inconsisten when on form were (and still are) a different level in my view.

 

well, I'd guess that's a subjective decision on what is the most attractive football.

 

To me, it's pass and move and always has been.

[5co77ie]

Disappointing result tonight, Everton look a good side but at 2-0, gotta see them out at home.. TP doing alright on the whole, big job to sort out the mess he inherited

great result you mean, at 2-0 Everton looked buried - Barkely had missed the sitter it looked like it was a done - then Everton pulled off an amazing comeback the Argentine looks good. Lukaku looked off form and still was the lynchpin in the turn around. Galloway, Browning and Gibson looked good at the back, alongside Jagielka I thought we would be missing Baines - Barry still worries me with his passing. Naismith is turning into a queen, but Kone looks terrific as a super sub. Deulofeu's long ball game is terrific.

 

I'm more confident about the next three games now - Liverpool, Man U, Arsenal

[mrtourette]

They were the best-points-scoring team over that 3-months(ish) period, and were playing the most attractive football of any team last season in that time too. It wasn't just a fluke, it was the result of him tinkering until he found what worked.

 

Nah, it was fluke. When he can repeat it and show he understands how it happened I'll give him more credit.

And even if he did mean it, the credit has been long cancelled out by the poor decisions since. 

Edited September 29, 2015 by mrtourette

[mjsell]

Was not expecting last night to have been as good a game as it was.

 

It helped that I had a lot riding on it in terms of my head to head draft league (needed to gain 8 points - I had Lukaku and Delofeu and mate had Jagielka - I won)

 

Everton look okay, but wasn't impressed with the Barry/McCarthy CM combination. I've never been a fan of Barry but thought last night he was especially bad. I think they were fortunate that West Brom don't have any creative midfield players (which is 100% their biggest weakness). Pulis will get the job done at the Hawthorns but it wont be pretty, and it will rely heavily on Berahino and Rondon winning games on their own.

[eFestivals]

Nah, it was fluke. When he can repeat it and show he understands how it happened I'll give him more credit.

And even if he did mean it, the credit has been long cancelled out by the poor decisions since. 

 

If you're crediting him properly, you should be admitting he's already done it twice. He gpot Suarez and much of the same players as Kenny had playing far better than Kenny managed, and then last season too.

 

It might have been fluke, but he's already repeated it.

 

As for "the poor decisions since", what are you meaning? He doesn't control who is bought, if they're what you're thinking.

[eFestivals]

PS: if he gets them ticking again this season, will yoiu credit him for that or will you find another reason to call it all a fluke?

 

I reckon those who criticise him the most would find a reason to keep criticising him in most cases. They're mostly the same people who said he wouldn't get them top-4 in the year they finished 2nd. Even at xmas that year the majority of his detractors were saying they wouldn't keep it up (you can look back on the threads here and see that for yourself);

[mjsell]

I'm pro Rodgers.

 

Think he is a solid manager. Liverpool need an extended period of stability with a manager who can coach players to play certain systems/styles that get them playing above their level so that the team can compete above the level that their expenditure puts them.

 

For me Rodgers and Klopp are the best fit for that need. And I would imagine Klopp would like to try his hand at a club with slightly more resources. I could see him doing well at Arsenal, I think he suits us pretty well - and is probably one of the only managers I would accept a displacement of Wenger for.

[DomDom1984]

I actually like Rodgers' last season more than the season before. The way he got the team back playing good stuff and winning games after the way it was going took a hell of a bit of work and he surely deserves credit for that, and deserves credit if he does the same job this year.

[TheSilence]

Being from Liverpool, i can categorically tell you there is a lot more Liverpool fans that want B-Rod out than those who want him to stay. He's not a good manager. Suarez made him look good.

Great result for us last night. Some fella won 45K on an acca. Scenes.

[eFestivals]

He's not a good manager.

 

that may be true, but it's also certainly true that he's not a bad manager either. He gets very harsh and unfair treatment from some directions.

 

Be careful what you wish for. The replacement is not guaranteed to be any better, even if they have a trophy history as long as their arm.

 

Some of where any 'bad' might be is hard to tell, too. We know there's a transfer committee, but what we don't know is whether they're buying outside what Rodgers is asking for. For example, I think Beneteke was who Rodgers wanted (tho there's no solid proof), but Balotelli wasn't.

 

He's spending less (net) money as an average than most of the teams above him, and starting with a weaker squad. Anyone who thinks that should propel Liverpool into the top four is a bigger problem that Rodgers is.

 

Despite what i'm saying I'm still not really convinced by Rodgers, but I think his record to-date is good enough to make it daft to sack him right now. It took him till December last season to get them ticking, so xmas would be the time to review it.

[mjsell]

Its crazy to be talking of sackings already. it's not even October yet.

[The Nal]

Its crazy to be talking of sackings already. it's not even October yet.

 

Indeed but it happens. Di Canio was sacked in September in 2013. Holloway in October. Di Matteo and Hughes the season before.

 

Last year broke some record with no managers being sacked before Christmas. But this year with Ancelotti and Klopp knocking about......

 

Actually, Spurs love a good early season sack. Ardiles, Perryman, Francis, Gross, Pleat, Hughton, Hoddle, Santini, Jol, Allen and Ramos all Premiership managers sacked before the end of November. Most of them in October.

Edited September 29, 2015 by The Nal

[eFestivals]

Its crazy to be talking of sackings already. it's not even October yet.

 

I dunno about crazy in all circumstances. If Liverpool were near the bottom then it would certainly have more justification than it would where they are currently.

[pink_triangle]

that may be true, but it's also certainly true that he's not a bad manager either. He gets very harsh and unfair treatment from some directions.

 

Be careful what you wish for. The replacement is not guaranteed to be any better, even if they have a trophy history as long as their arm.

 

Some of where any 'bad' might be is hard to tell, too. We know there's a transfer committee, but what we don't know is whether they're buying outside what Rodgers is asking for. For example, I think Beneteke was who Rodgers wanted (tho there's no solid proof), but Balotelli wasn't.

 

He's spending less (net) money as an average than most of the teams above him, and starting with a weaker squad. Anyone who thinks that should propel Liverpool into the top four is a bigger problem that Rodgers is.

 

Despite what i'm saying I'm still not really convinced by Rodgers, but I think his record to-date is good enough to make it daft to sack him right now. It took him till December last season to get them ticking, so xmas would be the time to review it.

 

Although in contrast there have been crap players who were rumoured to be his signings and good ones (eg Coutinhio) who were not, so it works both ways.  I doubt anyone (outside the inner circle) really knows how much influence anyone has and there are lots of guessing games going on.

 

I would normally say leave until the end of the season.  The Klopp factor is a bit of a variable.  Liverpool (if they want him) may feel he is more attainable mid season, then next summer when many clubs are looking for replcements.

[The Nal]

I dunno about crazy in all circumstances. If Liverpool were near the bottom then it would certainly have more justification than it would where they are currently.

 

Give it a few weeks!

 

Their current position is artificial, much like Utds. It'll be the end of October before anything becomes clear.

Edited September 29, 2015 by The Nal

[eFestivals]

Although in contrast there have been crap players who were rumoured to be his signings and good ones (eg Coutinhio) who were not, so it works both ways.  I doubt anyone (outside the inner circle) really knows how much influence anyone has and there are lots of guessing games going on.

 

I would normally say leave until the end of the season.  The Klopp factor is a bit of a variable.  Liverpool (if they want him) may feel he is more attainable mid season, then next summer when many clubs are looking for replcements.

 

I normally go with the 'end of the season' idea, for for where Rodgers is right now I'm not sure that's right. He's already in last-chance saloon by not having won anything in his time so far, and if things haven't perked up by xmas then at best this season is going to pan out much like last, so you might as well bite the bullet and move straight on.

 

Sooner than early december would be too soon tho, at it took him till then last season.

[eFestivals]

Give it a few weeks!

 

Their current position is artificial, much like Utds. It'll be the end of October before anything becomes clear.

 

yup, tho the current points spread suggests it'll be the teams in the middle and towards the top that'll collect the most extra points in the coming weeks. I'm not sure Liverpool will quite keep up with that expected average cos they've got some tougher games, but I think it'll be unlikely they'd be lower than 10th at that point,with top 4 still within easy possible reach (not that I think they'll reach it, just to be clear).

[mjsell]

There is literally no point talking about where a team is in the table currently (unless you have got 0 points and are being left behind) in relation to how the team is performing. For example if West Brom would held on to their two goal advantage last night they virtually would have switched with Everton in the current table.

 

Its far more important to be analysing whether the team in question is improving or worsening in their performance levels since the start of the season.

[Gucci Piggy]

Paul Dickov got sacked on the 8th September.

[thetime]

yup, tho the current points spread suggests it'll be the teams in the middle and towards the top that'll collect the most extra points in the coming weeks. I'm not sure Liverpool will quite keep up with that expected average cos they've got some tougher games, but I think it'll be unlikely they'd be lower than 10th at that point,with top 4 still within easy possible reach (not that I think they'll reach it, just to be clear).

If you really believe Liverpool wont be lower than 10th by end of October, you're deluded more than Brendan.

More likely to be in the bottom 6 than anything.

[eFestivals]

If you really believe Liverpool wont be lower than 10th by end of October, you're deluded more than Brendan.

More likely to be in the bottom 6 than anything.

 

Yep.

 

And Moyes won't be sacked, Liverpool wouldn't be in the top 4 at xmas 2 seasons ago, and definitely not in the top four at the end of that season.

 

I'm making no great claims for Liverpool, nowhere near the ridiculous you're at.