16 Apr 2013

Suarez vs. Rodgers: If one of them is to leave LFC, who should it be...?

Speculation over the futures of both Luis Suarez and Brendan Rodgers is sure to intensify over the next couple of months, and if Liverpool finish the season badly - as the team is currently threatening to do - Rodgers' seemingly secure position at Anfield could conceivably come under threat. The key question is this: does Rodgers have the juice to persuade Luis Suarez to stay at Liverpool and reject the inevitable advances of Bayern Munich and Juventus? If not, will FSG be forced into bringing in a renowned manager in a bid to keep the Uruguayan at the club?

I personally believe that one of either Rodgers or Suarez will leave Liverpool this summer, and right now, it's likely to be Suarez. After another disappointing season - and yet another year without Champions League football on the horizon - where is the motivation for Suarez to stay at Anfield?

Suarez knows that the cream of Europe will be in for him in the summer, and he also knows that if he leaves, Liverpool fans will understand, and will not blame him for seeking a new challenge. It's a win-win situation for the Uruguayan, but I imagine most fans would be distraught at the mere thought of losing such a fantastic player.

Rodgers is a promising young manager, but when it comes to the crunch, he just doesn't have the track record or personal charisma to attract or retain the world's top players. If, for example, Louis Van Gaal was in charge of LFC right now, I'd be more confident that Suarez would stay, but at this point, I think inevitable he will leave in the summer.

Unless, of course, FSG decide to get rid of Rodgers and bring in an experienced, world class manager with whom the world's best players want to work. And that's the possible dilemma: what should FSG do? Stick with Rodgers and face losing Suarez, or replace Rodgers in a bid to convince the Uruguayan to stay?

French newspaper Le Parisien reported recently that Liverpool approached Carlo Ancelotti over the possibility of replacing Rodgers in the summer, and you'd have to believe that a manager of his experience and success would be enough to persuade Suarez to stay at the club.

So, my question is this: If Liverpool are to lose either Rodgers or Suarez this summer, who should it be, and what would be best for the club overall?

For me, I'd rather the club let Suarez leave and kept Rodgers, for the following reasons:

* No player is bigger than the club, and if Suarez wants to leave - despite repeatedly professing his love for the club - then let him go.

* Stability is key for Liverpool right now; the managerial merry-go round has to stop at some point, and unless Pepe Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp want the Liverpool job, I don't see any sense in disrupting things any further.

* The £40m+ Liverpool would receive from the Suarez sale would provide ample funds for major squad-building.

* There are enough positives from this season to suggest that Liverpool are on the right track under Rodgers, and replacing him after only a year would be massively harsh.

Having said that, FSG didn't hesitate to sack Kenny Dalglish, a club legend loved and revered by the fanbase, so if they can get mercilessly dump him, then Rodgers - who has no prior connection to LFC - is fair game.



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62 comments:

  1. no contest rodgers would have to go and jaimie why should rodgers stay hes not bigger than the club either imo this one is pretty straight cut only the rodgers love brigade will disagree and even they would admit it will be hard call for them

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  2. jaimie on another subject the new discuss site is absolute pants the notifications are terrible

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  3. The good times are back6:46 pm, April 16, 2013

    Both Rodgers and Suarez will stay. If Suarez really wanted to go he would have left at the start of the season. Rodgers made it public that many teams were in for him. Nothing has changed. We have a player that any big team will pay big money for. The rumours will keep on coming but will all be put to bed at the start of next season.

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  4. get rid of Rodgers, even if Suarez did go, the 40m will not be spent on a like for like replacement. Currently a Liverpool team without Suarez is a Liverpool team that would finish about 10th next year. the question should not be who should go Rodgers or Suarez, but should of been if Suarez goes do you think Rodgers will finish lower next year?


    I do believe Rodgers upset a lot of players early on in the season and you will no doubt find out how persuasive he is if carra stays for 1 more season, Fergie managed to pull scholes from his bed, how will BR do? Carra has a robust no nonsense character has he had enough of him already?? No doubt we will see, but i am a firm believer that if Suarez goes BR will fail even more next year as he will get in a lesser type of player. loo forward to borini and sturridge up front next year!!!!

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  5. Rodgers out no doubt no player/manager is bigger than club we sell our best player to fund for other players who have no ambition for CL or else what would be there motivation or let me put it this way am a good player would i rather play under Rodgers or play along Suarez?? we all know what Messi, Xabi and other great players would prefer

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  6. Both would be a loss to liverpool I agree to lose one or the other would be a disatrous for liverpool but in my opinion am not bumming up Rodgers here but simply the last thing this club needs again is another managerial change and another year of transition! Give him a crack of the whip for next year and at least till January!

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  7. Suarez is the only player why some of the 'new' LFC fans still follow the club. We already lack big names and performers. Suarez is class, BR has done nothing in his short career really. Suarez - no brainer.

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  8. liverpool4life5656:57 pm, April 16, 2013

    If I'm being honest I really do think both will stay. FSG are not stupid, they paid 7 million also told him he will have time CL wasn't this season, but they wanted improvement in the league they've got that with Suarez he will give us another season but we have to improve.

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  9. I agree with you that in all probability the both will be there next year but, i have this horrible feeling that pepe, man city Chelsea and even Madrid may want to make a big key signing to send a message and turn their fortune around and there is not a bigger more signable person than Suarez at the moment. A world class player, top of the prem scoring charts and playing at a failing club, to be honest these teams can offer more money and success and development for Suarez. If he does stay it will no doubt be for only one reason, the fans, as i could not think of any other reason for him to stay. for footballing reasons and money he is better allround with them clubs.

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  10. liverpool4life5656:59 pm, April 16, 2013

    Both will stay... Also 40 million il tell any club who afforded that, 50-60 million,

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  11. Both will stay. Rodgers is still using players that weren't his. When the team is mostly his Liverpool will murder teams. Suarez is the best player in the BPL and loves Liverpool.

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  12. If Rodgers was brought in to build the club up by promoting and playing youngsters, it is only a simple logic that he needs to retain the position irrespective of the current results. So I would definitely stick with him for now. My attitude towards Suarez has been clear from my comments and I will just reiterate that the club will benefit in several ways from letting him leave.

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  13. Neither are leaving JK, FSG are 100% behind BR. There is no chance of him leaving as he has barely got started yet, another 12 months will be the time to judge him. As for Suarez unless he asks to move i don't see any chance of it happening at all.

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  14. This Kop manager is making money for his old club through buying some scraps who have no use in current team..I think he has plan to move to his old team after FSG sacking and build a good ordinary team with the money he got thru transfers...

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  15. I can't see either leaving to be honest.
    I don't really see why it is a case of one or the other, since I think the chances of either of them leaving is, at this time, the minority percentage wise.

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  16. Cant see where this is coming from,i think it's obvious both are staying.The speculating press will fill their column inches with more creative nonsense,then it will be August and all will settle. I note Aldridge (todays Echo) was also talking about the progress under Rodgers, not the first to notice,nor will he be the last! There are none so blind as those who will not see : )

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  17. I would prefer Suarez stayed and Rodgers moving on but If Suarez goes I think Rodgers should also follow him out as I would not trust him to effectively work the market for a replacement.


    Rodgers has already been given almost £50million to spend so far but Coutinho seems to be the worthy buy at the moment and he cost only £8.8million while Sturridge had a good first 6 games but has now gone massively backwards.


    It is no coincidence that because Suarez had to make way as the focal point of attack, his goal scoring has also stagnated. Sturridge make a touch too many when in possession and usually releases back-pasess that are not looking for his strike partner but in time his form may return.


    My worry with Rodgers is that while he promised Barca type of football and sometimes the team passes around well, he seems to have been outwitted by most premier league managers when you consider that Liverpool has completed the double over Norwich and Wigan only with 33 games played.
    This clearly means every manager so far has a measure of Rodgers given they know how to deny him victory.


    I have seen many comments here that say we are progressing but can someone please state what this progress in a clearly defined way so we can debate point by point..
    This will help us compare with previous managers' results in this debate

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  18. The good times are back7:52 pm, April 16, 2013

    Go support Chelsea.

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  19. Liverpool will be a much wiser team next season, managed by a much wiser BR. We have been great to watch but naive at the back, across the squad we have real talent and pace. We are not far away from a real quality team, just a bit more experience in the summer will do for me........................personally i have totally enjoyed the football, the PL position isn't good enough but the stats show that Liverpool are defo on the right track!!!

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  20. it wouldn't surprise me if they both went...but nothing surprises me anymore at anfield

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  21. 1) Liverpool have more points than last season
    2) Liverpool have the most clean sheets in the PL
    3) Liverpool are amongst the top scorers in the PL
    4) Liverpool have a younger squad than last season
    5) Liverpool have a way of playing across all age groups
    6) Liverpool have real pace in the squad
    7) Liverpool have SG fully fit unlike years gone by
    8) Liverpool supporters have backed BR at Anfield 100%
    9) FSG back BR 100%
    10) DO YOU DISAGREE WITH ANY OF MY POINTS?????

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  22. Any manager would do less well if he lost Suarez so nullifies your argument re Rodgers doing less well,Carra has had nothing but good to say about Rodgers,if he decides to retire it's his decision not Rodgers,no comparison with Scholes,who are the "lot he upset"?

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  23. i prefer to keep any liverpool player over rodgers

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  24. all will settle unless we fans raise our voice once again , the way we drove away the previous owners, who are actually responsible for our DOWNFALL AND current fate - having BRENDAN RODGERS AS COACH . A COACH WITH NO MAJOR TROPHIES TRYING TO INCULCATE NEW TYPE OF FOOTBALL TO A TEAM WHICH HAS BEEN 5 TIMES EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS AND WHICH HAS JUST WON A TROPHY IN THE PRECEDING LEAGUE.

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  25. For that FSG NEED to back Rodgers heavily in the summer,Hopefully that will happen but Im not holding my breath

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  26. liverpool4life5659:58 pm, April 16, 2013

    I agree with you 100% on your points!:)

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  27. I am rather surprised you do not know that Juventus cannot afford Suarez, unless Liverpool are prepared to let him go at about 12,000,000. Even for a team as utterly inept in the transfer market as Liverpool, that seems unlikely. As a Juve fan, I would like to see him in Turin, but it surely won't happen. More likely some big spending outfit will take him. Rodgers should definitely get chopped, but probably won't until he's failed again next season ( which he most definitely will ).

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  28. Liverpool 0 West Ham 0. Reading 0 Liverpool 0. Scintillating stuff. Don't expect a bagful of goals this weekend either. Some progress! Sadly, absolutely ANYTHING is good enough for LFC fans.

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  29. Every coach in the game at one time had "NO MAJOR TROPHIES" Jim, everyone at some point had to break their duck.Maybe you're advocating we become a club who only hire coaches who have already won major trophies, now think-Shankly,Paisley,Fagan,Dalglish mmm- all coaches who arrived with "NO MAJOR TROPHIES" and made us what we are.Be careful what you wish for Jim! The previous owners by the way were crooks,FSG are maybe not going to throw 100's of millions at trying to buy a team (chelsea,city) but i believe they are honestand have a strategy that invoves .... PATIENCE !

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  30. Very valid points you have raised I will go through

    1) Liverpool have more points than last season..

    -statistically we are only 4 points better off since last year after same number of games we on 46 so yeah a bit of progress

    2) Liverpool have the most clean sheets in the PL...

    -This seems like an anomaly because we all seem to be more worried about our defensive record hence the talk about buying defenders even though the clean sheets record is impressive

    3) Liverpool are amongst the top scorers in the PL

    -Very impressive 19 more goals scored so here I also see progress

    4) Liverpool have a younger squad than last season

    -This is certainly a good development but Rodgers himself is talking about senior heads to help the youngsters and is actively persuading the oldest player to defer retirement.
    5) Liverpool have a way of playing across all age groups

    - I have watched our under 21 and under 18 teams play and they all seem to have the defensive weaknesses of the first team. Next Gen matches against Sporting Lisbon in consecutive years has seen us beaten convincingly.

    6) Liverpool have real pace in the squad..

    -I agree with this point but that pace may need more end product but it is a positive sign.

    7) Liverpool have SG fully fit unlike years gone by..

    - This true

    8) Liverpool supporters have backed BR at Anfield 100%..

    -I would say the manager who received less than 100% at Anfield was Hodgson only.

    9) FSG back BR 100%..

    - FSG have indeed backed Rodgers but the questiuon here is has Rodgers spent wisely?

    10) DO YOU DISAGREE WITH ANY OF MY POINTS?????

    My worry hear is has spending £50million on players, £8million on KD severance and £7million on Swansea compensation for Rodgers for a grand total of approximately £65million to only replace Newcastle in the top 7 while marginally bettering our points tally last season does not give me much confidence in the same way many see encouraging progress.

    We are improving relative to our own underperfoming standards of the last 4 years but looking at the bigger picture we are falling away from our top 4 ambitions let alone winning the title and cementing mid table status.

    All teams currently ahead of us finished ahead last season and have improved at a much better rate on their on performances and relative to ours save for City who are still substantially ahead of us but have fallen short of retaining the title.

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  31. 11) LIVERPOOL have won nothing and wont qualify for europe is the most imprtant point

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  32. Rodgers will not be dumped this quickly, we have scored a lot of goals and have suffered a little at the back, hopefully we can tighten up this summer.

    Who can realistically afford Suarez??

    Chelsea, Citeh, Bayern, Real, Barca are only viable clubs. Graham Hunter has poo-pooed the notion of either of Real and Barca, there has not been anything about Chelsea or City - they seem more interested in Falcao and Cavani respectively. Juventus have no chance of signing him. Bayern are only viable option, but do they need him? Stroll their league, and in perennial high achievers in CL. Any fee would surely have to at least match the Torres fee

    So I think they will be at the club after the summer but if I had to pick one to go, it would have to be BR

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  33. Here we go again, Jaimie having a go at Luis Suarez. And he wont be happy till he's gone. Now he's after Rodgers blood. Why?

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  34. I agree, BR needs another year. You can see what he is trying to do with the style of play and this year has been about getting us playing his style so I can forgive some of the poor results. I dont think there can be nay excuses next year though. he needs to put in a challenge for, at least, the CL.

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  35. hasn't suarez been saying crap about barca and bayern ever since he even transferred here?

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  36. No brainer Rodgers to go

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  37. Rodgers, please ;-). OK, had to say it because I'm really not convinced about BR. Not sure he's anything but an average manager. True, he's only a year in and managing a team not of his choosing. But his team selection is often enough wrong, as are his tactics within games. And several of his players, Allen and Borini come to mind, have been mediocre, at least so far. Further, there's an intangible the great managers seem to have - great man management, or the ability to build confidence, belief and a battling mentality into a side, no matter who is on the pitch. Rodgers appears not to have it, and tbh he underwhelms. He should get more time. He might surprise, and he may grow, but I'm unconvinced. Suarez should stay as long as he wants. He's brilliant and deserves trophies and better players around him. Imagine the lad with real players around him.

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  38. LS can go anytime, as long buyer pays 40 mil pounds upwards. I really can't see how LFC can be a top 4 team anytime foreseeable given present direction of the club, players being managed and results on the pitch, so why not take this chance to do a good rebuilding and youth development? Instead on looking elsewhere, so how about youth attacking players like Suso and Samed Yesil that is current dumped on the bench, or not even making the bench? Based on potential, are they very far away from LS? If no, try playing them more often, else dump them?

    I seriously don't know why LFC always look like they have a bench full of good youth players, apparently, but still constantly looking at those one-season wonderkids, 15-25 mil pounds 'steals' from South American/African or mid-bottom club players of the year. Apparently youth players like Coates and Assaidi are certainly to be out of the team as soon as we know, cheap gambles, failed and dumped? Maybe not failed, but dumped before any chance to put up good show. I'm really curious how many of these players will be the next 'Tom Ince', Raheem Sterling, Suso, Samed Yesil, Jonjo Shelvey and Andre Wisdom.This 'Tom Ince' phenomenal is not a show of high-handedness of the richness of a top club, but it's simply a show of pure stupidity of the management in terms of youth player scouting, handling and development. Even Stewart Downing, previously player of the year for Aston Villa and bought 20 mil pounds, took himself one full year before putting up creditable performances for the club, mind one, keyword here is creditable, not incredible. So maybe LFC's club owners, manager, ex-managers, youth team coaches and scouts of LFC possess that out-of-the-world foresight in terms of judging, training and handling of youth players. It's unreal and unbelievable, at least to me.

    For the past few seasons, LFC has performed spectacular acts in the transfer market not even traditional top teams like Man Utd and Arsenal will dream about doing it, not even the filthy rich Mansour City and Chelski will. It's a uniquely LFC tradition by now, just my guess. Take away the club's rich heritage, It maybe hard for one to regard LFC as a 'top club' in the EPL now, strictly based on their position in the league table, of course spending and player handling will more likely suggest otherwise. I see LFC as a club doing the Leed's Utd and Portsmouth approach rather than the Arsenal and Everton approach. Let's pray that I'm wrong.

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  39. I don't know how the likes of Borini, Assaidi, Allen and Sturridge can make us win never mind murder teams.

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  40. Never mind Suarez and Rodgers. Bring back Hodgson and Poulsen, then you'll see us murder teams.

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  41. This is getting old...grow up Bill.

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  42. IMO no player is bigger then the club, specially at Liverpool. Rodger's has not really "impressed" much this season. I have, of course, seen the improvements in our play and blooding of the youngsters which is positive.

    But it would be wrong to sack the manager. What we need is stability and continuity. The progress is there clearly although we have also made a few steps backwards. I have no doubt next season we will improve. It took us a few good months to get used to BR's tactics. The adjustment time this year costs a few good points earlier.

    I admit however that Suarez has played well this season, keeping in mind we don't have amazing creative players to feed him (apart for SG and maybe PC)

    It's inevitable Suarez will leave at the end of this season or the next. After an excellent season we can bully teams into playing top dollar for him. £50M+ would be hard to reject and I am sure BR won't make the same mistake as KD.

    As such I would rather lose Suarez than BR. With the large amount we would receive from Suarez I am sure we could find a more than adequate replacement. Heck, we always have done.

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  43. hence kennys league failings last season

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  44. agree m8 its time the rose tinted glasses were removed

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  45. brain on another thread you state that if lfc lose suarez rodgers will do less next season and its understandable well kenny missed him last season so whos to say kenny would not have done better last season ,and infact ended up with silver wear ,european football and more leage points than rodgers

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  46. So much for your support of BR, your as fickle as Jason Carr

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  47. I AM CERTAINLY NOT QUESTIONING THE LEGITIMACY OF THE GOOD INTENTIONS OF THE CURRENT OWNERS; I THINK THEY ARE HERE TO MAKE US PROGRESS FURTHER AND THEY ARE INVESTING POSITIVELY IN THE CLUB.
    I AM JUST QUESTIONING THE ABILITY OF THE PRESENT COACH TO TAKE US BACK AT LEAST TO THE TOP FOUR AND TO GET US BACK OUR PLACE IN CL

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  48. Norwich 1 Man Utd 0,Man Utd 0 Cluj 1,West Ham 2 Man Utd 2. Scintillating stuff. And they won the league at a canter. Progress is not only about goals scored (although it would help the blind see) better football,dominating games,creating chances. Trust me, LFC are moving forward,a bit like Juventus,slowly but steadily..... PATIENCE!

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  49. I'm a massive fan of KD and always will be (love the man) and yes if he'd had Suarez all season things may have been different,whose to say it wouldn't. I think what signed Kennys final demise was the fact he paid £50 million quid to play with Suarez and it didn't work,now think Coutinho for £8.5 million (which appears to be working) and thats why Rodgers will be kept. As i said, any boss would miss Suarez !

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  50. Add to that Man Utd 2 West Ham 2...... even the BIG teams can draw with the hammers :)

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  51. Patience. Ah yes. That's what LFC fans have been showing since 1989 - 90, isn't it? Juventus are eleven points clear at the top - last time I checked the league, Liverpool were not. So I don't quite understand the comparison.

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  52. Be careful. LFC fans with a grasp of reality are not welcome. You clearly do have some grasp of reality.

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  53. Im actually quite shocked that so many fan's are confident that both Rodgers and Suarez will stay....


    Absolutely no chance whatsoever, JK makes a very valid point, Suarez will not want to play another season if Rodgers stays, he's not going to come out and say it.....but a player of that quality, with the pick of probably the worlds best Clubs at his disposal will certainly be dreaming of better things......


    Either we sack Rodgers or kiss goodbye to Luis Suarez & we might as well say adios to Reina as well & probably 1 or 2 other quality players....

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  54. on principle alone LS should go over BR purely as no player can ever be bigger than the manager imo. However as neither has done any wrong I pick the option of both staying.

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  55. Suarez has almost single handedly kept Rodgers in a job so I hope it's Rodgers that leaves and we finally get someone in who can improve our dreadful win percentage - Rodgers career stats suggest it won't be him (40% overall!!!).


    I keep hearing people say we have improved this season but I say where have we improved. We have scored more goals against poorer teams but we have still only won 45% of our games. To improve on last season we need to win four out of the last five. Rodgers needs to learn that winning is more important than possession or praise of the players.


    I fear Suarez will go but I a top class manager would attract better players than the Swansea players we are continually linked with and even persuade Suarez to stay. Make it happen FSG.

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  56. We have only improved in terms of scoring more goals against lesser opposition (But still lost to some of them), our win percentage is still less than last season. Plus we bombed out of the FA to Oldham. If you are happy with that improvement I commend you sir.

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  57. coutinho aside rodgers signings have been worse than kennys

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  58. i,am not fickle m8 i say what i mean from the outset and stick to it unless i,am proven wrong then i will hold my hands up and admit my mistakes alas rodgers has not proven me wrong

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  59. "Our place in CL" ????????
    WHY YOUR PLACE ??????
    I don't think you are one of the top four clubs anymore are you ? Not even top 6 clubs ?
    WE WERE, WE WERE, WE WERE !! GET OVER IT DELUDE !!!!!!!!!

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