20 Apr 2015

Dump Him: Legend tells Liverpool to replace Rodgers with 'world-class' title-winning boss

After Liverpool's ignominious exit from the FA Cup, Brendan Rodgers's position at Anfield will inevitably come under renewed scrutiny, and with outgoing Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp one of the early favourites to take over this summer, the pressure will be well and truly on over the next six league games. Is push comes to shove, though, is Klopp the right man to replace Rodgers?

Like revered ex-manager Rafa Benitez, Klopp - hailed by Ilkay Gundogan as a 'world-class' manager - has a track record of breaking a dominant club's stranglehold on the league, and according to Leeds legend John Giles, the German is the perfect replacement for Rodgers.

Speaking on Newstalk's 'Off The Ball', Giles explained:

"Liverpool would be a club he'd be well-suited for. They are only able to spend a certain amount [and] that's what he had at Dortmund. They won the league and were very successful. He did that under the conditions that might be there at Liverpool"

Things are not looking good for Rodgers at the moment:

* Three years in the job and no trophies.
* Abject capitulation at the most crucial moment in all four cup competitions.
* Qualification for the Champions League looking increasingly slim.
* Atrocious first half of the season, which basically sealed the club's fate.

* Tens of millions wasted (again) on under-performing players.
* Failure to adequately replace Luis Suarez and provide good cover for Sturridge.
* Inflating Sterling's ego to the extent he's now holding the club to ransom.
* Allowing Man Utd to overtake LFC despite finishing 20 points ahead last season.

Winning a trophy wasn't enough to save Dalglish - one of the club's most enduring legends - from the chop, so I doubt FSG will think twice about scrapping Rodgers, who has no historical link to Liverpool.

Rodgers possibly has six games to save his job, and even then, finishing in the top four may not be enough. Liverpool qualified for the Champions League in 2004 after a poor season, but Gerard Houllier - a manager who won five trophies in one year - still got the bullet.

Rodgers (arguably) deserves one more season (or, until Christmas), but he did himself no favours against Villa today. It was a tactical catastrophe from start to finish, and he just made it worse with each ill-advised change.

Rodgers blew it in the transfer market last year, and this summer's window is absolutely crucial. The key question is this: can Rodgers be trusted to spend another big wedge of cash wisely?

The answer to that question may determine whether he gets another year at Anfield.

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149 comments:

  1. Theycallmemrburt12:56 am, April 20, 2015

    commenting on Gerrard Rodgers said. “He did everything he possibly could to help the team. I
    thought he was excellent* today. Collectively we didn’t perform well
    enough.”



    so based on this I believe that Rodgers ALSO 'did everything he possibly could to help the team. I thought HE was excellent* today.'


    I'd give him another season in which he has to generate any funds through selling players. Other than that he shouldn't be given a penny.



    *please note excellent in this context gives the meaning of complete shite.

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  2. I'm not sure Klopp is the answer but one thing is for certain the policy of buying young raw talent who are then being managed by a young raw manager has so far proven to be a massive failure. If FSG wish to continue with spending millions on players with potential and keeping a low wage structure they need to have the very best of managers to make it work. I like Rodgers but he has so much to learn, he should be learning at a lesser club, maybe he left Swansea far too soon. Liverpool have Rodgers, Pascoe and Marsh, unfortunately that is not a trio with enough pedigree and experience to challenge the elite of the Premiership, never mind the elite of Europe. We have gone backwards this season, if we continue with the same policies and management structure next season we will inevitably fall further back.

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  3. I Was against his appointment in the first place, we need and deserve a world class manager!! At least we can have a chance to attract some decent players, who wants to play for Brenda? No one knows him outside of the UK, why would they? Has not achieved anything. His only successful season was due to Suarez, even then we lost out in winning the league due to his tactical incompetence.

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  4. Ill start by stated that i am a supporter of BR, i think his philosophy is good and he has developed a number of out players to a new level. But if FSG have not at least put a lunch date together with Klopp i would be very disappointed.
    I don't believe all of BR signing's are bad, but i believe he is struggling to accommodate for them, He brought in a bunch of attackers only to switch to a back 3 and use them at WB's, while i do believe this change helped our season it also stopped all creativity in the team. If Coutinho or Sterling doesnt perform some terrific solo effort it feels like we dont attack.
    I think a new manager will do the necessary clear out and possibly utilise players in a better way.

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  5. Will be an interesting next 12 weeks before I see my Liverpool team in the `flesh`...pre season in Brisbane,Australia...will be interesting....who will still be there in terms of current players,who wont??Will our current manager be in Aussie with the team ???...I have supported LFC from New Zealand and now Australia for 40 years...I love LFC...but will I see an EPL title in my lifetime??...unless huge changes are made this summer,I fear not...but I`ll be proud as punch to see the lads in Brisbane come 17 July..YNWA !!

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  6. We can talk about 'philosophies' and 'projects' all day long. It gets tiring. We've had 26 years of it now. The philosophy of the club was supposed to be about winning. Plain and simple. It's the philosophy of sport. First is first, second is nowhere. That DNA inscribed in the club over so many decades is being eroded to the extent that the former majesty of its standing is now a pale shadow of what it truly should be, and all essentially by a criminal acceptance on behalf of a Liverpool manager and ownership to accept second best. Brendan Rodgers is a decent coach. Lot of waffle, but a decent coach. Decent coaches and winners though are two completely separate entities. The club desperately needs someone who is a winner first. And quick.

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  7. I'll be over from Perth for the game in Brissy mate. Did you catch them at the MCG when they came over? That was epic, the sheer amount of red in the streets of Melbourne in the days leading up was just immense.
    On the topic of a title, you just gotta keep supporting, keep the faith and the team will repay you. May not be this season or even the next few years, but we'll be back up there soon.
    Peace, YNWA

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  8. Yeah I think I'm in the same boat. I think an alternative to BR may be a good thing, not because I think BR should go, moreso because I think the club needs a change, a bit of a shake up, if you know what I mean.
    I don't think Klopp is the answer, I know he did really well for a couple of seasons, built the team up with young players, but isnt that what BR has been doing? When Klopp got a few injuries, his team was a shambles and now they find themselves midtable.
    I dunno, I'm torn on this one, the Villa result (and actual game) has bummed me out a bit, but I dont know if it would do us any good to dump BR now and restart, whether it be with Klopp or whoever else we are linked with.
    One thing I am pretty sure of is that this transfer window will be very interesting...

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  9. I'd explore the possibility of Klopp right now based on the following reasons:



    I don't trust Rodgers with the club's money


    I abhor the way he hangs select players out to dry while coddling others.


    His tactical selections are being outmanouevred with greater regularity.


    His excuses are growing more frequent, as are his boasts (most recently about Man City being 2 decades behind LFC)


    ---


    The only two pro-Rodgers reasons I can unearth are that the transfer policy itself hurts us, at a time when rivals are stockpiling established talent.


    Yet more upheaval. A new manager next season would likely mean another season of transition.


    ---


    Klopp has a better pedigree, is hungry to prove himself in England, and is a marquee manager. We may not get him if City enter the fray but Rodgers needs a fire lit under him.
    We're a sacking club now, just like everyone else.

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  10. I say keep Rodgers above all else the club needs stability a director of football though is a must and disbanding the powers of the transfer committee it has been dire.
    I very much doubt the likes of Klopp would want to work under the constraints of a committee controlling his transfers anyway.
    Unfortunately the team will likely finish 5th or 6th which is about where the squad is at the moment.

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  11. Not going to Adelaide Benj?
    That is the one i am going to.

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  12. Please now is the time to buy world class players and also world class manager. We fans deserve it.

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  13. Rafa or no one

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  14. I'm going to both. Cant wait.

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  15. I was at the MCG, was so good.

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  16. I think the biggest actors in our Eason has been the loss of 15 or more goals from a main striker. Sturridge's injuries have been ridiculously regular and Ballotelli has been a gamble too far. Neither of the other two were going to provide that many and they tried their hardest to get rid of Borini anyway.


    If you look at the table that's about how many goals we are short of the top 4 teams this season. Whilst we might not have expected 21 goal Sturridge to only score a few, to turn down Remy only to take a bigger gamble on Balo was something few of us would have done

    Not convinced that Klopp would have done much better, as soon as things got rough for him at Dortmund, what did he do?

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  17. Where you from Peter?

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  18. No one then. Rafa had his shot. We ended up a cup team for a few years then nowhere.

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  19. Live in Brissy now, but have lived in Adelaide for a while as well

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  20. I agree, Rafa loves and knows the club the city and the supporters, Maybe he is stubborn but still wants the best for us and can also attract a better class of player.

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  21. We got closer to the title than BR, Won the CL, Won the FA Cup. i reckon he'd do the job second time round.

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  22. Yes I recon he would know now that the league is more important.

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  23. oh I'm Adelaide

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  24. He was there quite a while longer, and didn't win a bean for the last 3-4 years .

    And he DIDN'T get closer in 2008/9 mate. check again.

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  25. Yeah you're right about that one thing, still got bloody close. Also got CL final.


    I'd take him over BR and no amount of arguing on your behalf will change that.


    TBH, im happy to stick with BR for another season, AS LONG as he starts to learn from his mistakes.

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  26. So how come
    Napoli are 20 points off the leaders in Serie A then?

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  27. I think having players is not enough .It is what u do with them .Do u remember Dalglish came close to the end of the season .and with the same players we started bagging goals ...During Dalglish period we scored Chelsea almost every time we met save for the finals ...For me Rodgers has been really wasteful with money and I would trust him with another cent.i prefer rafa to klopp though.

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  28. Are you seriously saying that if BR had Xabi and Masch anchoring our midfield plus Sami and Carra at the back That we would not have won the league last year or been top 4 this?

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  29. I understand. Its just that Rafa had his shot too, and came up short. Even a CL win only buys you so.much time. I dont want us to be a cup team again

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  30. No, last year we were out of every Cup by Dec - players had 1 match per week & being WC year, there was not many grueling qualifiers either (obviously friendly jokes were there), which allowed us to have a run. With that 4 players, we would have been in Europe, in domestic Cups till March/April - we had about 45 points out of 50 in last 16/17 matches I guess; would have struggled to get more than 35.


    BR is tactically poor - can't compete in big derbies; couldn't stop Jose beating us at home with a depleted side when we just needed a draw (Palace 3-3 didn't take place yet). He is not yet a top 6 Manager - should go back to Swansea or Championship for few years - eventually by 45/46 he 'll be a good Manager; may come back to LFC after 50; but now he is not a Manager, rather very good trainer.

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  31. No striker, no goals.

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  32. will keep the faith indeed....but 20 odd years ..... and counting...and now another potential team re-build...all takes time ... but 20 years has been too long ...roll on Brissy !!!

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  33. Oh the Rafa dilemma. I wouldn't be devastated if he came back, but I wouldnt go as far as backing him to come back and change things up. Gerrard won that CL final, not Rafa. Gerrard won the FA Cup Final, not Rafa. But Rafa brings in decent talent and knows La Liga, plus he has made good contacts around the place.

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  34. No doubt Kloop is better than BR but i would prefer proven manager like Rafa or Frank de boer on choices and hopefully we CAN and stop the "here we go again " with BR. NO Kloop no Floop

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  35. If a manager can't see and buy good talents he's not doing any good for the club, spends 40 mils plus on injuries prone Lallana and Markovic and sell Suso plus all those loan out tramsfer, i sincerely hope the club will justify manager for manager.

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  36. NOT INTERESTED if BR, Allen, Henderson, Lovren, Lambert, Markovic, Moreno still with the club, hate to admit cause it's killing me.

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  37. The loan moves didnt bother me too much except for alberto. Suso to me wasnt good enough. The players BR has bought atent bad players but they arent doing well. BR has let the fire at LFC go out from last season and he hasnt made tge right decisions when they need to be made. My heart says give him anotger season but my brain says tgat in todays game that just wont happen

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  38. I was at tge MCG, (im from melbourne) it was a great experience to see all that red getting round

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  39. Wait, De Boer is more proven than Klopp? Deary me...

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  40. We never had the squad to fully focus on EPL and UCL at the same time. Rafa knew that we had a better chance of making a great UCL run than winning the EPL

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  41. Yeah it was mental! I'm from Perth, where all we have is the Perth Glory (lot of good they have been this season) and a couple of rubbish footy teams, so getting over to the big smoke to see everyone out in their colours was awesome. The atmosphere was like Anfield on match day, just with over double the amount of people and so much noise. I might have to check on flights and see if I can get tix to Adelaide aswell. The more I think about it, the more it's gonna happen.

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  42. At the beginning of the season, I said turning down £10mill Remy would haunt us, just for the sheer value for money. Especially when we were desperate together with Bony, the two were both I a better position to replace Saurez's goals. We ended up with never been prolific Balotelli, not lfc standard Lambert & should've left Melwood ages ago Borini. Throw Markovic in there and Brendan's position is indefensible.

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  43. Yesterday's result has to be the lowest point of the season and should not be acceptable in any shape or form whether it be to the fans, FSG or anyone else involved with the club how this season has gone after all the money that has been spent over the last three seasons.


    Keeping Rodgers another season simply is not an option. If Rodgers had to stay on then nothing will change. FSG would be daft if they have not approached Klopp yet. Bring him to Anfield!

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  44. Balotelli, Borini, Aspas, Lambert. Aspas on loan and obviously not good enough. Balotelli was the biggest mistake of the season. Lambert simply is not good enough for a club as big as LFC

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  45. I say keep BR! Look at Alex ferguson, when he came in he was nobody, didn't win anything for years, the rest is history. We should give BR more time! About players, ferguson have shit players too yet he manage to dominate the league, we should give BR the time and he'll turn out the same.

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  46. Stick with B R -he deserves one more year - the hurt will make hum and us stronger - BUT must be lightning quich in transfer market this time around with more sales than buys - so many good buys going cheap if he chooses well BUT Menphis Depay will not be one - going to PSG.

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  47. De Boer or Klopp would work. Please, NO RAFA!

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  48. We need to HEAR FROM JOHN HENRY - Come on Big John - lets hear something - BACK HIM OR SACK HIM -Hopefully the former

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  49. You've echoed my thoughts perfectly.


    And I'm hoping it's a dinner date.

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  50. Nicolas Chamberlain8:06 am, April 20, 2015

    No de Boer. People here have really no idea about this guy.
    Believe me, he is definitely not the solution.
    We should go for Ancelotti, and if thats not possible stick with Rodgers.

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  51. Purely off topic but supposedly Suso had a good game yesterday for Milan in the derby.

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  52. Nicolas Chamberlain8:07 am, April 20, 2015

    He is going to Utd for 30M. One of the most reliable sources in the Netherlands already confirmed that.

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  53. Nicolas Chamberlain8:09 am, April 20, 2015

    I what way is Frank de Boer proven?
    He won the Dutch league which is the same as the Belgian league.
    People don't even know this guy.

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  54. Nicolas Chamberlain8:10 am, April 20, 2015

    Not closer, that is just ridicilous. We had the title in the palm of our hands last season. In 2009 we were always trailing.

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  55. Really well made point and in total agreement.

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  56. it hurts so much right now... when are we ever gonna get it right? how many times have we come so close... with liverpool its always next season, next season , Man U were crap last year but look how they responded this season...

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  57. Ditto, I too was opposed to his appointment.

    At the time with Rafa/Hodgson/Kenny being expended in a relatively short period of time, his appointment felt like FSG were after a "yes" man who could work with a small budget and develop young players.

    I think now after 3 years, FSG probably realise they need more from their manager, and quite frankly, BR is way out of his depth.

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  58. 1st Start for Milan, Played very well for such a big game !

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  59. Well said.

    I would never begrudge a person the chance to do a job s/he thinks they can do. However, it is their managers job (eg FSG) to assess and appraise whether Rodgers, Pasco, Marsh have met performance targets.

    If appropriate performance targets were set at the beginning of the year, there is NO way FSG can come to any other conclusion that the trio have come up short.

    And going forward a change is now required.

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  60. Just conducted a phone interview for a new job (senior IT role) and all I was grilled on was my management style, how I built teams, talent aquisition and how I would be judged after one year on the team's performance. Not a damn thing about my IT knowledge or my past 20+ years experience.

    This got me thinking about BR and his performance after 3 years.

    On all the above measures BR has failed, and were he a manager in another discipline (other than football) he would have been sacked a long time ago.

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  61. Obviously it's all Sterlings fault

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  62. wouldn't take him for 30m to be honest.

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  63. The hurt goes deep and runs long my friend.

    The song "What I Did For Love" by David Guetta ft Emeli Sandé has the tag line "I can't believe what I did for love" - which says it all.

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  64. 1. Sort out the manager
    2. Understand what system to play
    3. Identify gaps
    4. Buy players to fill gap

    Buying random players without understanding where they will fit (no matter how good) is pointless.

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  65. I corrected that comment below. Who cares the sentiment of statement remains the same

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  66. Nope, clearly Johnson's.

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  67. I worry for next season when/if Johnson and Sterling leave- who will be left to blame?

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  68. Not making money available is the surest way of guaranteeing we don't progress next year. You've either got to back the manager or sack him.
    Personally I think he should get one more year based on last years achievements.

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  69. Gerrard has been so poor that fans should only miss him for the memories, and absolutely nothing else.

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  70. Rodgers lost it in the semi as 4-3-3 would have been the way to go. Balotelli did nothing wrong after coming on, not his fault he's been thrown under the bus. Too many players have been by Rodgers. Having said that, Can and Moreno among others were abysmal throughout the match, not much Rodgers can do there. I'm 50/50 on the issue, it's painful starting again. Here we go with more 'transition'.

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  71. Been thinking about the 25 years since 1990 and Kenny leaving when LFC were #1 in the old Division 1, and some of the key things that went wrong along the way.

    1. Should have sent Kenny on a sabbatical, given him time to re-charge his batteries and come back fresh for the new season - after all he managed this at Blackburn.

    2. Souness changed things too quickly and unfortunately did not heed his mentor's (Paisley) advise to tinker rather than overhaul.

    3. Roy Evans produced a great team, but we had no discipline (as vouched for by the captain John Barnes) leading to the Spice Boys tag.

    4. Houlier - great 2001, but complete failure when building on that success (remember Cheyrou the next Zidane, Diouf and Salif Diao). Never recovered from that point and very turgid football there after.

    5. Rafa - really good tactical manager (won CL with what has to be probably the worst side ever to win the CL) but losing Alonso and the Fergy rant low points. Real story was keeping LFC competitive under H&G regime. Great 5 years with excellent win/loss record - poor 6th season.

    6. Hodgson appointment - all talk and no output, man completely out of his depth.

    7. Kenny provided some stability, probably not given enough time. To FSG's credit, we weren't exactly playing fluid attacking football at the end of that year, and possibly Kenny may have been perceived as a dinosaur with his methods.

    8. BR - a yes man with huge potential and ideas (the dossier than got him the job!) but ultimately another manager out of his depth against the other top clubs.

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  72. Wouldn't bet against Klopp succeeding in the Premier League. However, the ironic thing is that he has failed this season in the exact same circumstance as Rodgers, to a worse degree.

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  73. The trick is to move clubs before you fail - a skill mastered by Mourinho and probably one Guardiola will also soon learn.

    However some managers (Rafa, Klopp etc) who become a part of the soul of the club, stay on too long because they lead with the heart as opposed to the mind.


    After 3 years, I do not believe BR has achieved any way near the status of the likes of Roy Evans, Houllier or Rafa - mainly due to zero success after 3 years.



    This is the ultimate damning conclusion that BR has left no legacy - other than the memory of a kamikaze run last year.

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  74. How about blaming the Anfield pitch - BR has mentioned it a few times this year!

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  75. Like it - gonna save that one for an opportune moment

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  76. I feel the same mate, I'm normally a staunch Rodgers supporter but yesterday's game brought me down a bit, it was shambolic.
    I fear our team spirit has been damaged this season. The last of the old guard know they're away at the end of the season, our best striker and defender can't stay fit and this Sterling contract saga has got totally out of control and has clearly had an affect on his performances.
    If however Klopp expresses an interest in the job FSG may decide it's too good an opportunity to pass up. It will be an interesting summer indeed

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  77. The bright side to this new possible transition is that it is under a renowned, proven manager.

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  78. I cant argue with much of what Jaimie has said and I think that FSG will find themselves at a cross roads at the end of this season.
    The Game yesterday was not really that significant, however it did reflect our season.
    4 different formations, persistence with Allen & Gerrard, Sturridge constantly injured (check his injury record at City/Chelsea).

    The problem as I see it started at the beginning of the new season when we were linked with multiple players at the top end of the market and failed to attract any of them.
    I believe this is down to two things as many of you have heard me say over the entire season:

    1)The transfer committee
    2)Managers lack of ability to attract TOP PLAYERS
    3)Penny pinching by FSG (if you want the best you have to pay)
    4) Young Manager who is NOT the finished article

    I said many times BR is learning on the job and frankly speaking I think this job came too soon for him.
    He should have spent a couple more years at a Mid Table club rather than turn Liverpool into one.

    That having been said I don't think that Klopp is the answer nor Rafa.
    Klopp is leaving his job at a time when he's not exactly leaving them wanting more.
    Rafa has hardly been a success at Napoli.

    I have no idea who would want to come.
    I don't think FSG will sack BR because for them it's about money.
    We as LFC fans are in serious trouble as is the club I don't see how this can change until things get much worse.

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  79. Simeone or Rafa, they have achieved more against worse odds. Klopp did it when Bayern were in a transition period, he has not been good this season.

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  80. BRs goin no where mate sure he has made mistakes his line up was awful v Villa but he has bought an exciting brand of football to the club.
    Hopefully we can iron out our striker dilemma and long may it last.

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  81. The guy has to go. No tactical acumen, misuse of money received from Suarez sale - Lovren, Allen,Marcovic, Balotelli etc what a waste ? compare treatment given by british journalist with that given hen Rafa was in charge ?

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  82. During the 'transition period', Bayern reached a CL final and still had Robben,Schweini and co. Not bad for a team in transition.

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  83. I have almost no doubt that FSG are approaching Klopp. The plan was to see some progress after 3 years, yet it's looking more and more likely that none will have been made. No trophies, no UCL qualification. Coming second last season has been cancelled out by this bog ordinary campaign that will most likely see us end up between 5th and 7th. Considering that Kenny won a League cup and achieved an FA cup final in his first and only full season under FSG, Rodgers has been getting it relatively easy from the owners.

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  84. Can't be so sure. How many times does the guy shoot himself in the foot? Without a doubt he's pissed off the FSG money men as well.

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  85. Transfer committee is going to share the blame for the obviously P#SS poor signings.
    As far as shooting yourself in the foot well they all do it Rafa couldn't stop fiddling to his own detriment quite often.

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  86. Klopp helped build BVB from nothing, won 2 straight Bundesligas, made the UCL final, yet you're going to let one ordinary season taint all of that?

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  87. Rodgers has to go but Klopp is not the answer. It needs skill and toughness. Rodgers isn't tough enough. Also, that transfer committee needs kicking into touch; there are kids on Stanley Park with more guts and ability than Balotelli. Lastly, if there is seriously anybody out there who wants to pay good money for Sterling, bit their hand off! He spent more time diving on the floor on Saturday than Heskey

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  88. achievements !!!!!
    I just laughed my lungs out

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  89. At the end of the day though, fans prioritise results ahead of an exciting style.

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  90. Balotelli started a run then got benched or 'Rodgered' as some on here have coined it. Or chosen ahead of Sterling who scores 1/50 shots.


    Borini scored vs Villa then he wasn't in the match squad for a whole month.


    Why is Lambert on the bench? BR did him a personal favour of bringing him to the club.


    Gerrard was fantastic this morning apparently. More like he should be dropped to the reserves, I don't care how much time he has left.


    BR is the perfect manager in so many instances, but has again, shot himself in the foot way too many times. We could be top of the league, minimum 2nd IMO.

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  91. getting a CL place is an achievement these days

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  92. BR is still an amateur.
    He can be a good coach, but he is certainly a below par manager !

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  93. All i can say there Nick is you may as well enjoy something about it because we sure as hell don't have the players to mix it with the top 4.

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  94. Maybe if he brings Hummels and Gundogan with him :)

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  95. Pete we didnt have even 1 decent striker for most of the season and with our side well they just don't have enough talent to cover it.

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  96. Or, just his beard. It's like Brad Jones with his hair.

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  97. We actually do, Rodgers' tactics in the first half of the season just f***ed us up.

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  98. No we dont not one world class player in the squad.

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  99. I want to see Rodgers joining a club i.e. Dortmund who were struggling in the Bundesliga and win it twice in a row.


    And another thing, he spent far less than Rodgers and bought far better players. And another thing, LFC lost Suarez, Dortmund have lost more key player than that. There simply is no comparison here.

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  100. You don't necessarily need a world class player. What world class player did Arsenal have between RVP and Sanchez? If we didn't drop so many points before Christmas, we'd be top 4. We'd at least have been expected to beat Palace, beat Leicester at home, draw at Newcastle. That's already 6 points made up to be ahead of United.

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  101. Brendan Rodgers has spent over 200m+ in 3 seasons and most of it has been on garbage.When do FSG pull the plug? I don't know how John Henry could feel comfortable giving Rodgers more money this summer.Liverpool have a recruitment committee in place but Rodgers has the final say.No excuses.BR has to be held accountable for the wasted money.
    I actually like Rodgers.He's a decent coach.Our football standards have improved during his time in charge.Give BR a ready made top squad with megastars to manage and he'll most likely do a very good job.However giving Brendan Rodgers the responsibility to construct a strong squad that can consistently compete is where i think he falls short.
    I think BR is a victim of lacking experience and star pulling ability.He clearly wanted to bring in a better standard of player but many things have counted against us signing top players.Including his standing in the game.Liverpool's name is no longer strong enough alone to help a young manager with no proven track record, attract the best.
    Liverpool are at a crossroads.Trying to take the emotion of FA cup semi final defeat and a poor season in general out of the equation.I just don't trust Brendan Rodgers in the transfer market to fix our problems.

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  102. What did Arsenal win during that period mate?

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  103. This is a discussion about top 4 qualification, not trophies, however hard Wenger tries to convince us that top 4 is a trophy

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  104. A lot of them players came through the juniors and were already there but he was lucky enough with some he did recruit wanted to stay in Germany.
    Lets face it their local talent is way above what England have on offer.
    Klopps recent forays in the market have been poor.

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  105. "Excellent" comment from you - as always

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  106. Just those minor throw away memories then eh- nothing else?

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  107. Surely it was Suarez and not BR efforts that got us Cl this year ?

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  108. Far from serious trouble. Serious trouble was when we were on the brink of administration after finishing 7th.

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  109. I agree, FSG are really at a crossroad with no clear direction,
    It will be interesting to see which way they go .

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  110. I want to see Rodgers joining a club i.e. Dortmund who were struggling in the Bundesliga and win it twice in a row.


    Please deal with this.

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  111. Well said NeutralRed, I could write a thesis on BR but it would probably be banned, when talking about him my swearing increases, my irritation levels rise dramatically and I have an overwhelming urge to damage or burn something ......I have an appointment with my Psychologist at 15:00 ...he keeps asking who this Rodgers guy is and thats when I want to hurt my Psychologist....things are bad!!!!

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  112. So you are a big fan of Rodgers good.

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  113. I'm not tainting him at all he's excellent but is also very outspoken and his own man.
    This doesn't fit with the FSG mentality and there is no way he'll work with a transfer committee and neither would Rafa.
    My point is that we are al looking the wrong are for the problems.
    The rot starts at the top in my view the transfer committee is a failure and they are not going to change that even with a new manager.
    As I said things have to get to the point where these faceless people are exposed.
    At that point we may get change but for now it's not going to

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  114. It might actually be changed. FSG are reviewing the football operations of the club. I wouldn't rule out a DoF.

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  115. I also find it incredibly concerning that Rodgers suggested his team were overawed by playing Villa at Wembley. That's a much bigger indictment of Brendan than the players

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  116. Kenny had Suarez too

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  117. If Coutinho or Sterling doesnt perform some terrific solo effort it feels like we dont attack.

    That sums it up, too often..

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  118. Fully agreed, exactly my thoughts

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  119. I think we have to be brutally honest with the players who start for us. Allen is not a Top 4 or CL level midfielder. He will not get into the team of any of the top 4 or even Spurs and Southampton. So, why should he be on our team. Because BR spent 15 mil on him? The same with Johnson and so many others in the team. We have too many players being carried in the team that are never going to be top level and with that considered, we are punching above our weight in truth. We have many mid table players that and we are performing above that level.

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  120. Hmmm well that isnt winning in my book.

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  121. for us it would be massive. that is why last season was great, but how we played the CL and most of our season..

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  122. Mignolet and Balotelli.

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  123. Unike many people, I wasn't surprised either by the utterly spineless performance or the result. I am never surprised when Liverpool lose because I simply don't rate them. I think virtually all the players fall into the poor to mediocre category. Sterling is better than most but nothing like as good as he is supposed to be or he thinks he is. Nothing like good enough for Barcelona or Madrid except as a benchwarmer. Sturridge is a good striker but what is the use of a player who is always injured? He might as well hang his boots up. As I knew would happen, Rodgers' signings have been diabolically bad - I saw Markavic playing for Benfica and saw full well he was a total nomark, which is what he is. Lallana is just ordinary and Louvren isn't even that.As for joe Allen! Is there a less influential player in the country than Allen? For another manager Borini or Lambert could have scored a few goals this season, but Rodgers is clueless. Obviously Klopp would be a major improvement because, unlike Rodgers, he knows what he is doing and knows what a good footballer looks like. But to be honest Liverpool's problems are beyond even Bill Shankly's ability to solve and sooner or later - probably in about another five seasons - the fans will just have to realise what all other fans realised ages ago - the club is a thing of the past. Like Everton, in fact. As for Stevie - his excuse is that he's 35. What are the excuses for the rest of them?

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  124. The achievements being that he won nothing? Fact is, he's never won anything, has he? Fact is, he never will. Managers who bring Johnson on when they desperately need a goal and introduce a sub in the 90th minute don't win things. Was he expecting a couple of late goals from Lame Bert?

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  125. OUT: BR, his only son (Allen ), Johnson, Gerrard, borini, meritelli, Lambert, lovren, Lucas, Jones, Enrique, sterling(anyone with stupid offer? Bit them off ), and toure. Loans should make it parmanent apart from academies : IN : lacazette, depay, fabian shar (skrtel is not trusted ), illaramendi, Ter Stegen (might be possible as he's not getting any minute ) and kloooopp!

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  126. There is a clear comparison. I watch the Bundesliga every match week.

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  127. The players should be utilised far better. For instance, Allen and Hendo worked really well together driving forward, making runs into the box because the team were playing 4-3-3 and Lucas anchored extremely well. Rodgers played this set up recently for two games in a row. I'm no Allen fan and call him average-Joe all the time, but you can't criticise his performances, nor Coutinho/Sterling/Hendo etc when they are played to their strengths. In the semi final both Allen and Henderson, the two most energetic, were stuck in front of the back three watching Gerrard in his wheelchair labour around the pitch. It didn't make much sense. Same goes for Henderson again when he is shoved out at wing back, when he is the most influential player in the team through the middle.


    So, I disagree. The squad is pretty capable IMO

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  128. It is capable but so is the squad of Spurs and Southampton. We need to have the best and some players do not fit the bill. If we are to have genuine CL aspirations, we need upgrades over lot of players. We have a good core with Coutinho/Sturridge/Sterling at the front and Skrtel,Sakho,Can and Lucas at the back. But, we need to have the best everywhere. We cannot have Sterling or Markovic playing RB and the reason why these players are not played to their strength is to compensate for the overall poor strength of the squad. Sterling is not a striker but because we have such a poor squad, he has to play there.

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  129. I see your point. But, Sterling doesn't really have to play there, just like Can doesn't have to play at centre back or right back. You could give Borini a chance, he constantly makes runs and you could have Coutinho and Henderson passing into space, and Borini's movement would bring Sterling into the game to exploit gaps in defence. The only thing stopping that is Rodger's ego.


    Likewise Balotelli, why not play the diamond with two up top again? If Lucas was fit, Gerrard would not even make my bench.


    Consider Flanagan last season, he didn't do that much wrong after he settled, certainly didn't lose the league because of him. Average or just squad players can make a difference. Unlike last season though, Rodgers hasn't utilised them well enough or made a definite transfer mistake eg Manquillo, Lovren

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  130. Slumdog Mignolet1:07 pm, April 20, 2015

    In all openess this is not my comment but I completely agree with it.

    1Liverpoolforever1 • 13 hours ago

    Open letter to Brendan Rodgers, FSG, and everyone who will read this

    Lets call it how it is : this season is a failure. After an impressive run in 2014, BR needed to confirm that he had the head and shoulders to lead LFC back to titles and glory. I think the answers are there for everybody to see, now. LFC will end this season with no title again, and will likely miss out on the lucrative CL. Everything is not BR's fault, but now it seems clear that he isnt the man.

    I think FSG will let him end the season, but in the same time they will make it clear that he has no future at LFC anymore. Time is for a confirmed manager who has won trophies to step in and build on the strong base of young players that have gone through the ranks.

    I am thankful for BR for helping players such as Sterling, Coutinho, Can or Sakho become huge talents and establish themselves in the team as a spine, and I have no doubt that he will eventually win trophies. But LFC cant afford to wait another 10 years for him to gather enough experience. I think now LFC has to aim higher RIGHT NOW. And if we want to aim higher, we need a manager who knows how to win trophies, how to win the important games and how to attract the best players in Europe.

    Everything isnt to throw in the garbage and I hope the fans wont hold a grudge against him, because he has shown good things, in particular his will of promoting the beautiful game. Unlike awful Woy who was satisfied in mediocrity, I think BR always tried his best, but he simply couldnt do better.

    So long and thanks for all the memories. I'm still a young fan and I wasnt here to witness the glorious days back then, but I certainly wont forget the sound of Anfield singing and believing in a story that could have ended better, but still a beautiful story. A poetry in motion.

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  131. Well and truly spoken. This BR guy needs to be sacked. Don't have Big Club mentality, and if we persist with him, we will remain mediocre next season as well.

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  132. What did we achieve last year?

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  133. Wow... Really?? You're going to turn your back on SG? He has rescued Liverpool FC for 13 years... It's time someone else did that! Sterling? Coutinho? Henderson? Can? Lucas? Balotelli? Maybe some of these players should take their heads out of their own asses and actually realise what it means to play for Liverpool FC. I'd build next years team around Coutinho, but that means buying world class wingers and a striker who can stay fit all season. I'd also tell Rodgers and Pascoe to get the hell out of our club. Frauds the pair of them. Take Money grabbing Sterling with them too!

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  134. FSG hired an amateur because they are amateurs when it comes to the Premier League. They got sold by a 600 page dossier which was probably filled with hot air and a Sports Direct catalogue for shorts. Time for Rdogers and Pascoe to leave and bring in a real coach who knows how to win big titles. Whether that be Klopp, Rafa or Pellegrini.

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  135. nobody outside of Wales had heard of Brendan Rodgers! I'm still surprised FSG got him in! and then that Being Liverpool programme and that massive portrait of himself in his house??? What the hell!!! His son is a rapist and he cheated on his wife with a 30 year old secretary - what a great man he is!!

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  136. What philosophy is really good by the way?? pass pass pass and lose the game? Sorry I don't buy it. Liverpool in the 70s, 80s and early 90s and we have flittered in a few seasons has been free flowing attacking football. Teams were scared of coming to Anfield. Now teams know that our defence is creaky, our goalkeeper is a bit of a liability, our midfield don't really score that many goals and we have an injury prone striker, an Italian who has gone missing and a 34 year old Scouser up front who we're supposed to love. We also have no replacement currently at Liverpool for Steven Gerrard.
    So please HazeyMatt, tell me what philosophy do you think is good? And what players have raised their games since he has been at the club?

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  137. Who's fault is it though that BR doesn't have a strong defence? He has spent money on Mignolet, Moreno and Lovren - a lot of money!! Who's fault is it that he doesnt have a world class midfield - wait a sec - he spent £20m on Lallana, Markovic and £15m on Allen.


    Doesn't have a Torres but he did have Suarez...


    Face it - Rodgers is a FRAUD.

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  138. All for a new chapter at Liverpool next season. There are some pretty attractive coaching options coming up this summer with the likes of Klopp and De Boer coming into the mix. One thing Rodgers has done is take LFC from being top 4 quality to at best top 6... That simply is not the quality of manager I want at the helm. As Jaimie mentioned in the article, Rodgers has ineffectively spent the clubs transfer sums over the past years with little to show from it, and then expects to get in excess of 100m the following window to spend on mediocre players. The man seems to bask in the fact that he made it be the clubs manager and then completely lost the plot when asked to do his job. Time to give him the boot. YNWA!

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  139. Our goal for the last 5 years has been to get back in the champions league. We *achieved* that goal last year

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  140. At the time, FSG probably wanted to go the "progressive young gun" route. Now, obviously that hasn't gone completely according to plan, but it's hard to argue that the club is better off than when they took over.


    BR's time is probably coming to the end, and while it might've been a bit underwhelming, it isn't without positives.


    For all the inconsistency and chaos about his tactics, team selections, formations, etc, he did establish the strengths and weaknesses of pretty much all our players. Even as fans that aren't involved in closed doors training, we know exactly what the players can and can't do. That might not be a good thing for BR, but it's certainly a positive looking ahead for a possible new manager and areas of the squad we'll need to fill, styles of play that fit our personnel, etc.

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  141. The team were top four quality when he took over? I must have missed something.

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  142. File --> Menu--> Save Game And Quit

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  143. oh right so now our achievement is to get back into the CL once every 5 years? Wow, we really are setting the bench marks high at Liverpool these days. Settling for some mediocrity. You do know, we are Liverpool. Famous quotes first is first and second is nowhere.. Or are you happy with a 7th place finish, and a semi final cup run?

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  144. He confirmed Utd had made a bid. Not that deal was done.


    Not saying it wont happen just saying it hasn't as of yet.

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  145. Rodgers wanted Sanchez and Remy and wound up with Balotelli. He wanted Salah, Shaquiri and Konoplyanka and wound up with Markovic. That's not Rodgers fault. He's made mistakes no doubt but transfer are a collective responsibility at Liverpool so you can't lay the blame solely at Rodgers feet when he's getting fourth choice targets

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  146. 'Time to give him the boot. YNWA'...??

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