10 Mar 2015

Anfield Surprise? Whopping 81% of fans reject LFC legend's 'return to Liverpool' (Site Poll)

During Liverpool's poor early-season form, Rafa Benitez emerged as a 5-1 favourite to replace Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers, and at the time, a lot of Reds fans were in favour of the change. Rodgers has turned things around since then, and with LFC now on the verge of making the top four, is Benitez - who remains revered amongst the club's fans - still wanted at Anfield?

In November, I conducted a poll on the site asking whether Benitez is a good choice to replace Rodgers:

* 81% of participating fans voted YES for a Benitez return.

Since that poll, FIFA agent Jose Alberti has claimed that Benitez 'will return to Liverpool' in three months, but do Reds fans still want him to take over? I conducted another poll last week asking fans the same question:

* 81% of participating fans voted NO for a Benitez return.

 photo Screen Shot 2015-03-10 at 05.08.18_zpsqh0rms0h.png

The fickle symmetry here is amusing: 81% for and against in both polls, and if things go pear-shaped for Liverpool over the next two months, then I'm sure fan-support will swing back in Benitez's favour.

Rodgers is doing well right now, but things change very quickly, and a few bad results is all it takes for the knives to come out. Just look at the first half of the season - fans were calling for Rodgers' head left, right, and centre, and if LFC start next season in a similar fashion, the same thing will inevitably happen again.

I can't see things going wrong for the Reds, though. European ignominy notwithstanding, Rodgers has pulled the season out of the fire, and irrespective of how this year ends, he deserves (IMO) to keep his job.

Author:


78 comments:

  1. We've got a good young manager he's still learning his trade and doing a fine job with it there will no doubt be bumps and glitches but we should stick by him because we will struggle to find a better up and coming manager

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  2. Rodgers is doing an impressive job. If we can add a couple of world class players then who knows what this young squad can achieve

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  3. Rafa, managed to build and then dismantle one of the best side we've had in recent years. We were right to move forward when he left, and we'd do well to not look back now! Those who voted for a return at the start of the season aren't knowledgeable football fans, or are maybe a bit young. Would our season have been different if Rodger's desire to sign Bony and not Balotelli been adhered to..? We won't know, but with club and manager finding their feet together, these have been some the most exciting few seasons in my 32 years of being a Liverpool fan. In Brendan I trust - YNWA

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  4. I don't remember which way I voted in either of them although I think it was against Benitez coming back. Not because I wouldn't want him back, but because Rodgers deserved more time back in November, and now that's starting to show.
    He is doing a good job now, and CL is becoming a real possibility.

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  5. Zvawada Unozviwana1:11 pm, March 10, 2015

    For the first time in 7 years the club recorded a profit and things are looking up and why should we drag the past back? Benitez played his role which is well appreciated but its time to look ahead and to the future where a younger more tactically flexible BR can take us.

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  6. BR will come good. we just really need to stop buying players who dont have good statistics and get the ones who do. at the end of the day if your a winger playing further up the pitch you should be required to score a bare minimum of 10-15 goals and 10 assists. sadly at benfica, Markovic only got 5 goals/4 assists in 47 games which is quite poor for the league and for the price. hes a good player marko but we cant afford to waste our time on these players for the sums were paying. for me personally the club should target 4 players in the summer.


    Luciano Vietto - 21 year old deadly striker, and basically one of the best forwards in the world right now on current form considering hes scoring match winners in big games against Atletico, Barcelona and Real Madrid. Vietto has 18 goals/ 8 assists in 36 games. astonishing. at Liverpool he will get 30. he is our striker for next season, a team player who assists teammates and doesnt hog ball and scores when hes meant to, unlike Sturridge. £18M


    Memphis Depay - 21 year old world class 'young' winger. proven despite young age at World Cups, European competition and his Domestic League and if he came to Liverpool we will be great. 22 goals/4 assists in 32 games. brilliant. following up from his great form at the world cup where despite only coming on as a substitute, determined to make his name grabbing 2 goals/2 assists. hes both footed, has good movement, skills, thunderous shot and a set-piece taker like Eriksen. we already missed out on Eriksen, lets not miss out on this kid. £18M


    Moussa Sissokho - 25 year old marvelous Premier League player. hes a match made in heaven with the way LFC play. just imagine Liverpool on the counter with the skillful machine Sissokho. hes the perfect balance between defense and attack and we should pay Newcastle £15M to bring him to Anfield.


    Felipe Anderson - 21 year old real livewire. ive been watching Serie A quite alot lately and despite the fact that league is useless this kid is the real deal. hes like a mix between Costa with his sheer determination and aggresiveness and gareth bale with his dribbling strength and pace. hes a animal. we should consider him.


    but the club need to invest £60M on bringing Vietto, Depay and Sissokho to the club.


    --------------------------------------Mingolet
    -----------Emre Can-----------------Skrtel----------------Sakho
    Ibe------------------Sissokho-----------------Henderson---------Moreno
    ---------------Depay----------------------------------Coutinho
    ----------------------------------------Vietto

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  7. There are still a lot of question marks over the transfers and decisions made at the beginning of the season. I believe he wasn't solely responsible for all transfer activities. He couldn't have been otherwise he wouldn't still be in the job. Out of two European cup competitions, one domestic cup struggling at home to Blackburn and not in the top four yet is nothing to crow about. Even so, he is the manager and I like his football ethos thus far. Next season will be the one he's measured by and always should have considering the whole sale changes made this.

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  8. we need players who are performing now. Depay has 44 goals/27 assists in 116 games for PSV. that is impressive. Vietto has 19 goals/8 assists in 38 games for Villareal. also impressive. Sissokho is a proven Premier League performer and his statistics dont have to prove his presence. but even so 3 goals/2 asissts in 30 games is still good for a struggling Newcastle side who have players like Reveiree who just waste chances(the ones against united were just ridiculous). at LFC Sissokho will be top class alongside Henderson. hes proved his abiltit at the World Cup and that he can gel with the best. hes proven in our league and hes also very young. these 3 players are crucial to whether or not LFC lift the title next year.

    2 formations

    --------------------------------------Mingolet
    -----------Emre Can-----------------Skrtel----------------Sakho
    Ibe------------Sissokho-----------------Henderson---------Moreno
    -------Depay/Sterling---------------------Coutinho/Lallana
    ----------------------Vietto/Sturridge/Sterling



    or


    ---------------------------------Mingolet
    Flannagan----------Emre Can---------Skrtel---------------Moreno
    -------------------Sissokho-------------Henderson
    ----------Ibe----------------Coutinho----------Depay/Sterling
    -----------------------------------Vietto

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  9. Frankie Fletcher1:44 pm, March 10, 2015

    B.R is on his way to becoming one of the top managers in the game. The supporters (and I use the term loosely) who were calling for him to be sacked were downright disgusting. No respect for a manager who has turned this club around. fair enough he has made mistakes and i'm sure he will make more but he is learning from his mistakes and improving the team, squad and club as a whole all the time.

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  10. We all have different opinions rodgers has no excuses for the way we preformed at the start of the season and in europe this season, we should've got out of the group stages easily (imo). Rafa didn't get players in that he wanted in and didn't get the sort of money that rodgers has had. The fact is rodgers wasted the money he was given in the summer. Yes Rodgers has turned it round and i'll give him credit for that but (imo) rafa is and always will be a better manager. He got us to two european cup finals that rodgers will only ever dream of doing, its about winning things not playing fancy football with no end result of any silverware.

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  11. BR is a young manager and I am glad he is doing well. But there should come a time (This season, next season, etc) where we as a club should drop the excuse of "young manager learning" and expect results on the pitch.
    I feel that we as fans use the term "Young players", and "Young managers" as an excuse to justify failures on the pitch and that has to stop.

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  12. Will you still be saying the same thing at the end of the season, if we don't qualify for the champions league and have no silverware. I doubt you will cause (imo) it just isn't good enough when you've spent the money brendan rodgers has.

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  13. Whilst in the first half of the season I thought that BR should be sacked - primarily for his persistence with slow possession bases football which clearly wasn't working - I would be happy for him to remain in charge at the end of the season providing that he finishes in the top 4, as it will prove to some extent at least that he has learnt from his mistakes, and that he is a (semi)capable manager. However, I personally feel we need to install a Director of Football above him who has primary control over transfer dealings, and who commits BR to looking to the academy first and foremost, to use as squad players. Also, Rodgers must commit to playing the high-pressure, fast, attacking football we are currently playing and were succesful with last season, rather than reverting again to his ''Death-by-football''. Oh and he also needs to ''tow the party-line'' when in press interviews, as he makes a tit of himself far to often.

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  14. I have not voted in either poll, but every manager deserves time to turn form around within a season. Not a fan of changing manager midway through a season anyway, apart from when a club is in a relegation battle. Think end of season is best time to review and see more importantly whether there is clear direction/style of playing for the long term,


    Regardless of position we finish, I too think Rodgers has shown enough to warrant sticking with. Just needs a bit more experience dealing with the european games, even he would admit that. Lets hope he gets that next season in champs league again.

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  15. Frankie Fletcher2:26 pm, March 10, 2015

    I will still be saying the same thing, I stuck by him during the lows of the end of last year, as any fan should. Its about showing support to your team, players and manager through the highs and lows.

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  16. I Sure hope your last sentence turns out to be true.

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  17. Sniping: to make a sly or petty verbal attack.
    Nothing sly or petty about it, Jaimie.
    Yes it's Orme...

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  18. Ok, I obviously back BR and think our future is with him. I love the idea of having a long term manager and breaking the fickle trend in football nowadays of firing a coach after a year or two. However, do you think BR can build a CL winning side? It's an honest question because I see us running riot in the league (and this is after it took BR a while to tinker with the formation and tactics to figure out what worked) but looking like a second rate team in the CL.
    I mean, our group was the easiest one we've had since I can last remember and we never really looked capable of qualifying. Besitkas never looked like causing us too much trouble but we looked like a worse team in both legs...is that a reason for concern or do we just chalk it down to a learning experience for BR and expect him to figure it out as he goes?
    What I'm basically asking is are we okay doing an Arsenal and hoping our manager figures it out in Europe or is there a time limit before we need to bring in a tried cup winner like Benitez before we find ourselves in a position where we can't even attract a man who's publically professed his love for the club? (not trying to be a downer just genuinly intersted in people's thoughts on this)

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  19. Can always back the fickle nature of the young demand it all now fanbase to call it as they see it....

    Rafa will probably end up with the City job..

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  20. I think Brendan Rodgers has done a fantastic job getting our train back on track.Liverpool were conceding too many goals and looked toothless in attack.We lost ground to our average rivals in the race for top four.
    Everyone looked at Rodgers to see if he could come up with the right answers and pass this big management test.He did with flying colours.
    The formation switch was key.The defence looks solid.Our creatives have found form and Liverpool are getting title contending results.
    When you look back at other managers with top level experience, they've hit the same brick wall, but struggled to turn things around.
    Luiz Felipe Scolari sent Chelsea backwards.Ironically it was Benitez who experienced the same thing at Inter Milan that managed to steady Chelsea's ship and get them a trophy.
    There have been countless other high profile managers who've come up with the wrong answers at difficult times.
    FSG deserve credit too.It would've been very easy to sack him after giving him £120m to spend last summer.
    Fairytale managerial returns hardly ever prove to be the right move.
    One of the things Brendan Rodgers has done is raise our footballing acceptability level.The Blackburn performance was very poor by Rodgers' attacking and creative standards.
    Under Rafa Benitez that level of football would be considered decent.
    In Europe the cautious overly tactical approach Benitez takes is a stronger formula for success.However, I like watching Liverpool play entertaining, attacking football.
    Emotional attachment and managerial appointments are a bad mix.

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  21. I have every faith in Brendans ability to take us places, He turned the club round, he's turned this season round, he's built a decent squad, and with some shrewd world class first teamers signed in the summer, he'll have everything he needs to start winning trophies.. If, then, he fails to get us in the winning way, maybe then we can look else where, but for now, I have every faith in his ability.

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  22. If only the season started in 2015, we'd be top and 3pts clear now....

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  23. This Stalinist approach to Brendan and his flaws is somewhat worrying.. The expectation that LFC should be winning every single game we play is unrealistic to say the least. And had Brendan had the extremely unlikely scenario of a fully fit and firing on all cylinders squad from the get go, we'd still have those expecting some unrealstic aim, and complaining if we didn't lead the league by 21pts... Fact is, this sport we love, is unpredictable, and thank christ, highly competitive... That's what makes it so damned exciting... There is no other manager out there that could have done any better than Brendan, and anyone who mentions the likes of Guardiola or Mourinho, should ask themselves, who couldn't win everything at the richest and best stocked clubs... Lets see what either can do managing Fulham or Stoke.... Realistic expectations are a must if you really want to follow football, and especially if you want to be taken seriously when commenting on it.

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  24. You say he has spent the money but yet all the teams currently above Liverpool have a bigger net spend since the end of last seasion barring Chelsea who already had a expensive squad and managed to sell players for crazy amounts. Man City (60m), Chelsea(11m), Man United (104m), Arsenal (65m), Liverpool (38.5m).


    So by your logic of money must equal success then Liverpool shouldn't qualify for the Champions League.


    I supported Rodgers even at the start of this season when things were going badly based on what he showed the year before. Having a large turn over of players was always going to result in some bad results (albeit we had much more than i initially expected).


    This year he has shown he knows how to change things when they do work and that is a good quality to have in a manager.

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  25. I think the problem BR has and will have for the foreseeable
    future is that of a lack of credentials in his CV/Career. Having very limited experience in the game makes supporters doubt his decisions, specially when it backfires (formations, transfers etc…)

    When the team does poorly is all BR’s fault and he does not have
    the necessary experience to manage a team like Liverpool. When he does well it’s because of luck.

    Like the introduction of players like Sterling, Flanagan, Ibe, Skrtel, Henderson, Mignolet and Sakho who once upon a time were close to
    leaving the club or were just not performing well; many fans won’t credit BR with developing them, claiming he was forced to use this players due to lack of options or injuries. But they are missing the bigger picture here.

    That’s how football works. One player gets injured or does not perform and someone else take his place.

    So give BR credit where credit is due, this is his 3rd season only. Of course he can improve on his transfer dealings and tactics at times and he will. Meanwhile he was proved he can learn from his mistakes and is taking the club forward at a good pace.

    RE Benitez, I love the man but we have moved on.

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  26. thexcuriousxwanderer3:57 pm, March 10, 2015

    I don't think it was a fact that he wasted the money in summer. In fact most of his signings are looking better with each match. There was no way he was going to spend everything on a few given that he needed to build depth, so there were no surprises when we brought in youth talent. Given the injury status of the squad at the beginning of the season, I would say he did a fine job, and he will get better.

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  27. BR is a great young manager and the right man for the job. His approach to LFC's plight in achieving top status is different from much of those that proceeded him. Different in a good and refreshing way for me. For years previously LFC hardly used players from their academy which always disapponited me and never had a defined way of playing. But now I can see clear defined style such as what Arsenal and Manure had. Last season was one my most enjoyable in watching the quality of football we displayed and BR has to take credit for that.

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  28. What if he had wasted the money on Di Maria and Falco ?

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  29. Felipe Anderson - good shout! A livewire, indeed.

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  30. Playing devils advocate I wonder whether we've actually progressed as a team? Kenny was given one year and we won a trophy while in three years the only trophy I think most fans will say we felt 100% of winning was the league last year. And it's safe to say, from what we saw in the first half of the season, we've significantly digressed. We're on a great run, but our failings at the start of the season might jeoprodise our top four chances.
    Under BR we've never looked like a threat in Europe and, having arguably wasted millions on deadwood, top players look like they'd rather sit at the bench at chelsea and city than start for us. Again, I'm on the side that is all for giving BR time moreso because it's the Liverpool way (I say that because his stuborness in the first half of the season is a lot more of a reason for a sacking than most managers in the past have been let go for) - but do you actually see him winning the CL or the Europa cup for us?
    You mentioned that if he fails we'll let him go but how long should that be? 2 years from now? 6 years? You also mention shrewd world class players in our team but how many would start for Barca, Madrid or even Chelsea? Again, I'm not trying to hammer you just want a more specifics in what you see in this team that makes you believe we can win a major trophy soon (and I mean European or the league) because Jamie is right: it's ridiculous that 80% would support Benitez coming back 4 months ago but suddenly the same pool of people has changed their minds because of this run

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  31. If we had got those two players in at summer we'd still be in the champions league and challenging chelsea for the league (imo).

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  32. Time will tell on the CL front with Rodgers, but you have to give that time. Liverpool weren't Rafa's first European team... Rafa initially had the kind of money Rodgers spent last season, but then personal issues between the owners, between him and the owners, and him and key players made transfers a precarious period under Rafa, Hicks and Gillette. I haven't forgotten what Rafa gave us, but I also remember his ability to ostracise players. The current standard of the league is also a harder environment to compete in than the one Rafa experienced.


    I think Rodgers had reasons, not excuses. Suarez leaving, Sturridge injury, and the task of bedding a hoard of new players. Some of which started very well in pre-season, but dropped form in the league, or picked up integration stifling injuries. Mignolet. I'm not blind to his mistakes, some of his substitutions have been poor, and he has been naive with his tactics on occasions - but he's a quick learner, and I would argue not stubborn.


    It's an unfortunate comparison, but I sincerely believe BR will become our Fergie. He already appears senile with some match evaluations.. ;)

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  33. I voted no the first time as I felt BR deserved more time and that the fans criticising him were just being completely fickle. But this time I voted yes as I'm a bit bored of him now

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  34. Hands up if you voted the same each time ✋.

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  35. I think it is unfair to bame it on the young.

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  36. Youth is wasted on the young.

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  37. I have never been a fan of the idea of Benitez coming back, and I'm sure if you were to trawl through old articles you could find me saying as much as far back as the first mentions of his name...I am however appreciative of the good times we had with Rafa, but I'm also aware that their we're many reasons to pull your hair out with him aswell... Torres being substitued for no good reason when we needed a goal desperately being one of the many questionable decisions he was known for... Napoli and Inter fans may have something to say on whether Rafa is the next coming aswell I'm sure, but thats for them to say...

    You need to remember, when Rafa was at LFC, they were throwing money away on rubbish players on a far regular basis than they do today, and they paid them obscene wages aswell to boot... But the LFC Rafa managed, and the LFC Brendan manages are two very different clubs, with two very different approaches... I say without any bias, I prefer Brendans brand of football, and I truly believe that Brendan will bring the glory back to Anfield. Be it a League or Euro trophy, Brendan can do it... We have a squad now that can be rotated and relied upon, now we just need the game changers, and this summer is hopefully going to be the window that sees that crop of players arrive, and or mature from the group that we already have....

    There's no argument that some of the signings have been extremely questionable.. I think though alot of that has to do with this fabled committee, that and the policy of young potential. That signing philosophy does seem to be evolving though, or atleast potentially, with apparent interest in Turan and Pedro, and the attempts to sign Alexi Sanchez last summer... Some of the signings should never have been bought, Aspas, Alberto and Borini for sure, but the othrs still have time to prove they can make it into the first team... This seasons signings have been something of a turning point though with Moreno, Marko, Can and Lallana looking like they have a great future at the club..

    You can ask pointless questions, about whether or not he'll win anything, or whether LFC can get players that could walk into the Barca or Bayern squads (Suarez Barca, Torres Chelsea, Xabi Bayern and Real) or how long do we give him, or you could just show abit of faith, and take it on faith, that he will give it his best shot.

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  38. No, you are right, I have seen enough older supposedly better informed fans do the same.. So my apologies...

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  39. Even if we win nothing and finish outside of the top 4 it would be madness and extremely shortsighted to sack Rodgers

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  40. I'm still hoping RB will make an Anfield return for his unfinished business instead of BR.

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  41. I really like your response but my notion about our players getting into the top team is based off your assertion that some of our current crop are world class; while I don't believe any of them are, I do believe that collectively they can become a world class team because this system works with the tools BR has to work with.
    However, I do think it's worth asking these questions of our manager because all of them center around the same question, "Do you trust your manager for the right reasons?" Sounds like a silly question but I believe it's the difference between Van Gaal and BR. I believe most fans trust BR based, to your point, on the style of football we are now playing added to how he's seamlessly embraced the "Liverpool way" in almost everything he does. Because of that, we have FAITH that his brand of football will take us back to glory. Look at ManU where they solely looked at the reputation of the coach vs. considering how his philosophy, man management, etc would compliment the club and players...the fans have turned on him and it will be interesting to see what UTD do especially if they don't make top 4.
    Similar to Arsenal, we consider whether our manager's ethos represents who we are and where we want to be. Imo, that's where the real faith comes from and the ability to back your manager even through the difficult times.
    Just wanted to play devils advocate and appreciate your response because it sounds like you're part of the group that are willing to ride through thick and thin. In all honesty, I believe once BR figures it all out (considering he doesn't become a stubborn arse again with his tactics), we'll be in for one heck of an awesome ride

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  42. Firstly, it would be a complete and utter failure if we miss out on the top 4, no matter how small the margins. After finishing second in the league and spending roughly £120m, the very least you would expect is a very serious title challenge and a decent run in the Champions League. And we certainly are not in a stable positions financially. The 2013/14 accounts showed that total debt was approximately £130m. Not that great if you ask me.

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  43. Spot on Beast, credit where credit is due, BR has done a good job turning things around. We now need to add experience to the youthful effervescence. Benitez is the master tactician & for me the antidote to Mourinho. The only manager to really get under his skin. Wenger does but he never beats Mourinho. My main concern about Benitez is his man management. I think he'd clash with Sturridge & Sterling, probably stifle Coutinho's creativity.
    If BR brings a trophy home & top 4 finish, that would be more than satisfactory.

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  44. If you could've kept the same team as your previous title challenge and spend 120 mil on a couple of players to take you to the next level then you might expect that, but to lose all your goals from the previous season added to the fact that the squad was far too thin for the coming season, leading to the integration of 8 new players to the first team, we're approximately where I expected us to be

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  45. Your not apologising to me unfortunately.

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  46. It's horrible to know that to be true.

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  47. The reason we did poorly at the start of the season were Rodgers' tactics. We had great success with the high press counter-attacking football last season, sold 1 player, and signed many who played high-press football last season as well, before Rodgers decided he didn't have the necessary players to play the same style, so resulted to slow-possession based football which ultimately led to our failure. Had he invested the £120m more effectively, on a better replacement for Suarez than Balotelli (who has been greatly misused might I add), and players who actually were required such as Moreno rather than the likes of Lallana and Markovic that were not necessary, then we would be in a much stronger position than we are now. The buck stops with the manager I am afraid, and he is the reason we are not currently sitting in the top 4.

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  48. Bang on Funkdoc.If Jose Mourinho is faster than a speeding bullet and has a S on his chest.Benitez definitely has a piece of Kryptonite.

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  49. One who's been a fan for 50+ years!

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  50. All the hard work getting back into ECL & Europa Cup & LFC goes out in the first rounds/group stage...

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  51. Rafa is not good enough to take the club forward - BR is the man to do it. Rafa's tenure was my most painful time in football. I fell out of love with the game when he was in charge. He made me sick with his decisions. Stay away forever!

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  52. Rich ⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆ Keeys2:34 am, March 11, 2015

    The sad thing is brendon rodgers will be the next england manager after hodgson fails and that is a fact that it will happen after such a good job he is doing

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  53. I really do believe you are right !.
    The problem is the players would rather go to MU and be failures than winners at Liverpool !

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  54. how a team plays doesn't allways mean it's all about tactics, it's not a computer game, what we saw at the start of the season was a team low on confidence, which meant lower tempo, as players play cautiously by default. I think the manager has done a brilliant job and should be praised by fans not critisized

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  55. Chris Rossington10:28 am, March 11, 2015

    This fickleness you speak of is demonstrated in most of your posts to be fair, I don't understand why you as a lfc fan seperate yourself from the rest of us

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  56. I seem to be a lone voice swimming against the sea of BR love-in at the moment. Despite the great run that LFC are on, which BR needs lots of credit for, I would like to remind folks that ultimately it was his fault we were in a mess for the first 3 months of the season, that ultimately led to the CL exit - something we had fought to get back into for 5 years.

    And again, the exit from the Europa Cup (which winning would have offered a CL place next year) was also disappointing, especially as everyone was crying out for a change in the second half.

    The most optimistic outcome for this year is a potential 4th placed finish and possible FA Cup win. However, this is not necessary a great return on a £100m+ investment in the summer.

    My view is that we need to be competing for the top spot every year, not throwing in the towel by October. Most fans will be having a feel-good factor for BR currently. But cold-hard analysis will suggest BR does very badly at the start of his 3 seasons, and recovers in the 2nd half of the each season.

    At the end of this year there will be an option to stick to twist. 3 years is enough to assess the pros/cons of a manager. And my view would be to twist.

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  57. I actually do give BR credit for the points you've made above. However, my major issue with BR is around two points:

    * his recruitment

    * his tactics when Plan A does not work

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  58. Yeah - a voice of reason :-)

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  59. 100% agree - well said.

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  60. If it is not tactics, what else is it? Barca play a certain way which is down to tactics. Pullis going to any team in the relegation zone and turning it around it all down to tactics.

    Sure you wont win every game, but tactics are at the heart of how a team is set-up and plays (attractive in style of Barca or turgid is style of Pullis).

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  61. Outside the big 6 teams, there are a whole host of teams that have a zero chance of winning the EPL - which is all down to a lack of money spent on the team. A sad fact of affairs - but money talks.



    Of the top 6 teams, you need to make a choice, either your happy making up the numbers or really go out whole hog to win. Rafa lost the net spend argument, so why re-start it again.


    The investment in the summer, although substantial, does not seem to have delivered success - so could be deemed a failure. For that BR is on the hook.

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  62. I never wanted BR to go, said it all along that his results improve in the 2nd half of the season and he needs to find the right system

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  63. Enrique was decent in Brendan's first couple of season before his long term injury, there was no need to buy another left back when Johnson could cover.

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  64. It was not fans it was journalist and the media calling for Rogers to get the chop.

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  65. we can win fa and league cup with this team (IMO)

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  66. Haha, just like Roberto Martinez. at everton, he continued telling the media "we have a very young squad " to cover their loss

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  67. they can achieve alot pal, just wait and see, patience is the key word.....

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  68. Gotta hand it to you guys.

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  69. I'm too young to know that I shouldn't disagree.

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  70. If you don't ask the questions, we may never find the answers...

    The whole reaction to Wenger puzzles me some, Arsenal fans can surely see that they have had numerous uncontrollable issues that has detracted from the clubs ambitions, most being the huge amount of money they had tied up in building a new stadium, which unlike LFC, they had to find from the playing squad and transer kitty.. That coupled with a large number of injuries to crucial players made Arsenals finishing in the top 4, something of an achievement... But fans these days are fickle, and to a large extent, deliberately ignorant of the facts, and would rather crucify the one man that has made Arsenal one of the biggest clubs in the world... Wenger has been the creator of the Arsenal way, and I think he should be applauded for doing as much as he has... He could easily have left for the Real Madrid job when offered....

    And then we look at Utd and Van Gaal.... I think it was a great signing from our standpoint as Liverpool fans. Van Gaal is all about Van Gaal. Atleast thats the impression I have got of him... I think the bigest killer in football management, is Ego, and I have the sense Van Gaals ego is as bigger than many... I remember in his initial statement as Utd manager, he made the claim that at Barca, Bayern and Ajax, he won something in his first season, so why not at Utd... What he failed to notice was that Bayern, Ajax and Barca(along with Real) are the biggest richest clubs in their leagues, leagues that are for the most part, a two horse race... I reckon even I would struggle not to win something with any of those.... Utd however are in trouble, and in a league with 6/7 teams that can challenge for everything, and quality lower down that can and do cause major upset, he was always going to struggle... The state Ferguson left that team in is the biggest reason the club are going to struggle for the foreseeable future... I think Utd's biggest problem aswell, is that the owners/executives have as big a delusion as their fans, and think money is going to save them... I expect to see a new manager at Utd next season, most probably Giggs.

    So whatever problems Brendan has had to overcome, I think he has a better chance of doing something great in comparison... The reason he has blown City's interest off, is that he can see it too...

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  71. You don't put yourself in the same bracket? old or young, I've no recollection of reading nonsense from you...

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  72. Why thank you good sir. 31. Young to some, old to others. In footy terms my best days are behind me.

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  73. Running around like a headless chicken maybe, but I reckon you still have plenty left in the tank.... I hope so anyway, I'm only 5 years your senior...

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  74. Rafa'll probably go to City if Pellegrini leaves

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  75. perhaps it would have been a different result had you thought to ask 3 months ago. you should have asked if Brendon left ? a whopping distortion.

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