22 Dec 2012

'It shocks me' - Arsenal hero blasts Rodgers over 'bad management' at LFC. Fair...?

Arsenal legend Paul Merson has launched a scathing attack on Brendan Rodgers, claiming that the Liverpool manager is out of his depth at Anfield.

In his column for the Daily Star today, Merson argued that Rodgers' 'naivete and 'inexperience' were responsible for Liverpool getting 'smashed' by Aston Villa last weekend, and then accused the Reds boss of 'bad management' over his handling of Andy Carroll's loan departure to West Ham. He barked:

"Andy should go back to Newcastle next summer and prove Brendan Rodgers wrong.

"I doubt he’ll return to Liverpool because the manager doesn’t want him – and for me that’s a mistake. The thing that shocks me is that Rodgers made his mind up before he even got to Liverpool. He won’t change his mind now. He’s too stubborn.

"You can’t be telling a £35m player he’s got no future. It’s bad management. Liverpool have no Plan B and when Luis Suarez doesn’t score, they don’t have a lot else".


Prove Rodgers wrong? In the Twilight Zone, perhaps. Carroll is a '£35m player' in name only; in the cold light of day, he's more like a £10m player, if that. Carroll had the chance to prove his doubters wrong with his move to West Ham - a team that plays a style of football that is (allegedly) perfectly suited to his game. - but what happened? He wracked up ONE measly goal in thirteen hours of football (!)

Clearly, Rodgers decision to dump Carroll has been resoundingly vindicated. Indeed, recognising an irreparably weak link in the team and fixing the problem so quickly is an example of good management, not bad. An Anfield recall for Kenny Dalglish's biggest transfer flop would be a giant step backwards for Liverpool, and thankfully, there is practically zero chance of it happening.

Merson is, however, right about Liverpool lacking a plan B, but when the club finally gets Plan A to work on a regular basis, that won't be an issue. A plan B for Liverpool should be having (in the squad) another 3-4 attacking players capable of changing a game, and after next summer's transfer window, I'm sure that will become a reality.

Barcelona don't have a plan B; they don't need to have a lumbering, technically inept striker in reserve just in case their A game fails. The same applies with Liverpool, and when Rodgers gets the players he needs to implement his vision *properly*, things will look a lot different, and Carroll will be a long-forgotten memory.

Jaimie Kanwar


76 comments:

  1. carroll is a class above other players such as ameobi and macheda but below pthers like suarez and bendtner

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  2. Yep right, BR was way to narrow minded. Bad management indeed.

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  3. Why was it bad management? What has Carroll done at West Ham that proves he's been missed at LFC?

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  4. To be honest I think Barcelona have suffered from not having a plan B!!

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  5. I can't believe I'm saying this, but fair dues Jamie, you've got this one absolutely spot on. First time for everything I guess :-)

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  6. You say Carroll was a weak link in the team and BR identified that and 'fixed' the problem but I don't think he has 'fixed' anything yet. We let Carroll go with no replacement brought in.

    BR does have plan B's in the squad but chooses not to use them. Sterling is burnt out, Gerrard's form is at a career low, Allen probably needs a rest too.

    Plan B is throw Downing and Assaidi into the team and use Suso and Henderson.

    Instead Downing is at left back, Henderson has been used at right back and right wing, Suso is stuck on the bench and Assaidi is in no man's land. Furthermore BR has picked Joe Cole ahead of Assaidi and Suso, an ageing player on massive wages and everyone argues he has no future at the club. It doesn't make sense.

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  7. If that's called suffering, I hope Liverpool suffers the same.

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  8. Jamie, I think this is the second time I've agreed with you, spot on.

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  9. I bet you weren't saying that when he scored against west ham the guy has been doing well and showing glimpses of form he also scored in consecutive matches whats the point if you just leave him out of the squad

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  10. Rodgers will only be vindicated when he brings in a forward that scores goals and not until!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  11. Gerrard is a legend but stop worshipping him like he is a God or something and put the team first. Fair play he scored last game but a month or so ago he should of been dropped. Don't argue that Gerrard cannot be dropped or subbed. He also needs to be managed well just like Agger to avoid injuries and to ensure that when he does play he is the typical Gerrard we know and love

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  12. The manager who signed him used to tell the '35 million player' he had all the future and ability. Did it make any difference?

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  13. is right, with big andy in the team it makes certain players like gerrard, shelvey and agger play hollywood style long balls up to his big pony tailed barnet. Rodgers is trying to instill a short passing game, the plan b needs to be switching formation which he has done to success on a few occasions so far and also pushing the midfield further up the field. Having Lucas and Allen on the pitch is pointless as they both go sideways.

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  14. The only bad management is not getting a replacement (when Carroll was loaned out). Let's face it Carroll isn't going to get much time on the field and he will rot on the bench. His value isn't going to soar anytime as well. At least in West Ham he gets to play and make himself useful.

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  15. neilneilorangepeel12:30 pm, December 22, 2012

    Can't disagree with anything you have written there JK.

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  16. A team with Messi Iniesta Xavi etc should not go through the season without winning anything should they?

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  17. You do know that if you agree with me for a third time, the world explodes, right?

    As you can see by the fact we're all still breathing, it never happens ;-)

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  18. I really wish people would stop using Barcelona as an example its meaningless...when you have messi and co you can play any system...can any one remember argentinas system when maradonna won the world cup single handed for them ..i do it was just give him the ball as much as we can....as for what has carroll done at west ham about the same that rogers has done for Liverpool...football is a result and points orientated industry and the table doesn't lie...if we beat (which we should) fulham today come on and slate me ( i hope you do )if we don't things need to changed before we go into freefall

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  19. I think what Merson meant with the "you cant tell a £35 million player he has no future" comment, is that due to the fee involved you should really give him every chance to prove himself before resigning him to the scrap heap. I personally don't think Merson has said much wrong myself

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  20. thats without a doubt the most funniest thing ive ever heard since when has barcelona suffered lmao

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  21. If anything was a ballsy decision to ship Andy on, with previous management and club investing so much on him. Andy was never good enough to spearhead liverpool. we can shift him to arsenal with 35, wonder if wenger shares mersons valuation.

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  22. And what was the year they didn't win anything?

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  23. I can't believe he's on 90k a week! For achieving what? Great epic swindle comes to mind!

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  24. I think BR did the right thing, even if we were left short of players. I had noticed how last season, every single interview with Kenny, was about Carroll, regardless of if we had won the game or lost it. I think (no fault of anyones) that Carroll was a distraction, due to the price paid, that the media would hound out. I think BR may have seen that, and felt it better to ship out, and be able to focus on the football again.

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  25. we've got Gerrard and Suarez to back up Carroll. he shouldn't have sent him away. we hardly lose when Carroll,Suarez and Gerrard play together, go check out.

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  26. If we get the reported £17 million for Carroll at the end of the season from West Ham then that would for me show brilliant managerial judgement. I just hope we can get someone in this January but it won't be the end of the world if we don't. This season is about instilling his style on the team and the summer will be about making any major aquisitions.

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  27. And Henderson is an A class passenger lost in EPL. How was he even considered .....

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  28. did you not watch them against chelsea last season or in any of the seven draws last season against inferior opposition?

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  29. Blame goes to FSG. No more American owners please ....

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  30. you cant win evrything all the time

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  31. Oh my. Paul Merson alone would lack any credibility. Add to that the Daily Star. Thought people only visit their website for the boobs.

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  32. Was about to reply 2012, but they've won the Copa del Rey.

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  33. Sometimes its good to see what isnt working, and change it, for the better of the team. Look at Chelsea and how many seasons they have stuck with Torres, maybe if they hadn`t they might have won the league last two years??? The only error was not signing another forward on deadline day.

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  34. jaimie you have clearly been on the pop early ,to mention us and barca in the same sentence,proves one of two things your clutching at any straw to convince yourself rodgers is the right man or you have lost the plot merry christmas;-)

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  35. John Barnes must of written this article. JK you have asked the question and also answered it perfectly leaving me no room for response. ;)

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  36. its what football can do to you,thats why we all love it

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  37. Was it bad management or inexperience, or are they the same thing? We shipped a player out and failed to have a replacement. More over Rodgers didn't even give Carrol a chance, every player deserved a chance to show Rodgers what he could do, in shipping him out it again showed bad management.

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  38. Sorry, but I don't agree with this. Andy carroll is a beast of a player and should be recalled to bring fire to the Liverpool attack. Without AC, Liverpool are going nowhere.

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  39. All this stuff about Plan A & not needing a plan B is nonsense. You do whatever is necessary to win, Barcelona have, when the occasion demands it, been going longer this season. As Bob Paisley said "Its not about the long ball or the short ball, its about the right ball." In my opinion, Carroll should have stayed, he was in great form toward the end of last season, injuries haven't really allowed him to get in to any sort of form at West Ham.

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  40. best article I have read for a long time, ha ha loserpool

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  41. best article I have read in a long time, ha ha loserpool

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  42. This is basically a written version of my own opinion. I cannot add anything, nor can I subtract. You are spot on Jaimie. 100% correct in my opinion.

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  43. Jaimie i read something today regarding a lost bet and a claim that you said you would donate £500 to the Hillsborough fund is this true?

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  44. is true snop dogie dogie perhaps u should try watching all our games AC is the only beast who gets knocked down by 4ft 4 players ..Beast in deed.

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  45. partly right from merson. id take carroll over borini all day long.
    il state the obvious, if we only paid 15 mill for carroll there wouldn't be so much of an issue and less pressure all around him.

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  46. Andy Caroll was a knee jerk mistake. He could be a great player, just not at Liverpool. I sometimes agree with Merson, but the Fullham game just made a tit out of him.

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  47. he was in great form at the end of the season, but he still plays now doesn't he? especially with a team that suits his style of play perfectly ....and how many goals has he scored? one?

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  48. Jaimmie is correct like a broken clock

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  49. What is a long forgotten memory?

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  50. Yea totally agreee no more Americano owner plssssssss. Football is not thier passion but money is. LIVERPOOL is not about money its about history and pride.

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  51. The fact that they don't win everything makes them a better team and hungrier to win things in the future. If they won everything all the time, they would become complacent.

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  52. Not only that, but didn't play him. Now THAT is bad man management. BR came in with a style of play he wanted to play and identified AC as unable to adapt to that style of play. That is not to say he isn't a good player, but why perservere with a player that isn't suited to the style of play you want to, just because he cost the previous management 35m. Does that mean that because Stewart Downing cost 20m, we shouldn't let him go either?

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  53. they are signing sturridge.. why?

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  54. hey.. jamie.. what about sturridge? is he really in liverpool for the medical? hope not !

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  55. Paul Merson writes for the daily star.....enough said ;-)

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  56. Rubbish! Great win though mate

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  57. Paul Merson is a cunt!!!!!!!

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  58. 100% agree with this article. I think Merse is back on the wagon

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  59. stop moaning and get behind the manager could be worse me could have david moyes no trophys 17 years ynwa justice 96 scouser john

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  60. I hate Merson; talks absolute garbage. But you know what I hate more? That recently I have agreed with everything Jaimie Kanwar has said. Makes my skin crawl a bit! ;-)

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  61. The one thing Carroll has proved IMO is he is NOT suitable in a Liverpool shirt!

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  62. Does Del Bosque use Llorente? NO! Cause Thats not how he wants to paly! Simple

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  63. merson can shut the fook up what does he know? apart from where to get a cheap line of coke and then cry about it on tv! merson ur a cun*.

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  64. I was out one night in Birmingham with Merson and he was on the coke all night..... 100% true he was outs his head . He is a bell end talking pure shit Rodgers is at the forefront of the future of football and we are lucky to have him at lfc let me tell you ...... Jamie you shouldn't even give any of your time to that degenerate gambling piss head

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  65. Who cares what Paul Merson thinks about Liverpool? Dont jump on the bandwagon!!

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  66. As for Merson some people will write anything for 5 quid.

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  67. Oh dear! Did you really mention in your article about Barcelona having no plan B? The reason they have no plan B is because Messi has scored 91 goals this calendar year! I sometimes agree with what you say and other times I dont. On this occasion i dont.

    Andy Carroll is a class player and deserves to play alongside Luis Suarez at Liverpool.

    I agree with Merse, Rodgers is well out of his depth at Liverpool. I havent been won over by him at all. Hopefully he can prove me wrong and I will eat my words, but he hasnt done anything to make me think yes this guy can do the business.

    Why would you spend £10m on Borini and then £15m on Allen when for the first time this season our midfield actually looked pretty good (without Allen in the side), So he is good at wasting money, which according to 90% of fans Dalglish also did when we signed Carroll, Henderson and Downing.

    The style of football is another thing. Liverpool through the ages have always played passing football at a high tempo. Where has our high tempo gone? we look so flat!

    Merry Christmas to all Kopites! YNWA.

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  68. Idiotic handling of Carroll, devaluing your own assets by not even pretending he had a future and doing similar with Downing is unthinkingly amature.

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  69. Paul Merson couldn't manage his way out of a pub without falling over so he really shouldn't comment on anyone else management skills

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  70. haha worshipping him theres a difference of his form now than months ago you still think that he should be dropped yeah thought not another fan that jumps on the bandowagon

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  71. Okay Mr Reply 20 Days Later, Gerrard's form wasn't so great in previous months, but recently he has upped his game and has admitted himself that he feels his form is coming back. If you believe Gerrard is untouchable then go work under Rodgers and co who think the same thing.

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  72. if you read the original reply
    "I bet you weren't saying that when he scored against west ham the guy
    has been doing well and showing glimpses of form he also scored in
    consecutive matches whats the point if you just leave him out of the
    squad"


    i think you will see that i was refering not to stevie g but joe cole who scored against west ham and at the time in 2 consecutive games, but he has left so that argument is put to bed secondly i am all for players playing on merit and not on the past so i agree he but you are to extreme okay he wasn't performing but the only reason that he is right now is because of the reason that rodgers stuck with him at the time when he wasn't and now is being repayed so no 1 is worshipping him and pull your finger out of your arse and try to see sense

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  73. Ah sorry I thought it was about Gerrard, fair point and my mistake mate. However when I replied regarding Gerrard so did you. I doubt Gerrard's form now is because BR stuck with him, he doesn't have the guts to drop him. BR should be sticking with Gerrard + Lucas + Henderson, who are doing well and deserve places instead of playing his favourites of Gerrard, Allen and Shelvey. Before Henderson was shrugged aside and Gerrard was in the team simply because he is Gerrard. I agree and I see sense in backing your players, of course, but no one should be untouchable.

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