After the recent 4-1 defeat to Arsenal, Brendan Rodgers committed the cardinal sin of publicly giving-up on the Reds' league season, and in a confounding display of cloying capitulation, Liverpool's alleged leader basically handed the Champions League initiative to Manchester United, Spurs, and Man City. Well, Anfield legend Ian Rush doesn't agree with Rodgers' fatalistic take on things, and he he's contradicted the manager's weak contention that LFC are incapable of finishing in the top four.
In his post-match press conference, Rodgers betrayed a stunning lack of ambition when he told reporters:
"We haven't performed and it has cost us. I very much doubt we'll be in the top four now come the end of the season, there's too much ground to make up. Now we must really focus on the FA Cup and that's going to be very, very important for us".
When asked today about Rodgers' belief that the top four is out of reach, Rush countered:
"Why can't we [Liverpool] still finish in the top four? We have to believe we can do it"
Rush is absolutely spot on, and he displays the kind of 'never say die' attitude that Rodgers should be pushing at Anfield. The legendary striker's view is hardly surprising, though; he's clearly still subscribes to Bill Shankly LFC philosophy, a cornerstone of which is the following aphorism:
"You must believe you are the best and then make sure that you are"
If Rodgers doesn't believe Liverpool are capable of making the Champions League, then why should the players believe it?
Even if Rodgers privately believes that the team has no chance of making the top four, he shouldn't declare such a thing in public. What kind of message does it send when a manager of Liverpool FC surrenders so easily?
There are still 21 points to play for, and given the topsy-turvy nature of this season, anything is possible; you only need to look at Crystal Palace's weekend victory over Man City to see that.
Liverpool still have every chance of qualifying for the Champions League:
* Only seven points off fourth place.
* Man City are in freefall at the moment.
* The top four still have to play each other several times.
* This will inevitably lead to dropped points.
Liverpool just have to be there to pick up the pieces, and capitalise on any slip-ups, and results go the right way, the Reds have a great chance of sneaking into the top four.
It 'aint over till it's over, and in the words of Randall. P. McMurphy: 'I tried, goddamnit. At least I did that'.
Words to live by.
Author: Jaimie K
In his post-match press conference, Rodgers betrayed a stunning lack of ambition when he told reporters:
"We haven't performed and it has cost us. I very much doubt we'll be in the top four now come the end of the season, there's too much ground to make up. Now we must really focus on the FA Cup and that's going to be very, very important for us".
When asked today about Rodgers' belief that the top four is out of reach, Rush countered:
"Why can't we [Liverpool] still finish in the top four? We have to believe we can do it"
Rush is absolutely spot on, and he displays the kind of 'never say die' attitude that Rodgers should be pushing at Anfield. The legendary striker's view is hardly surprising, though; he's clearly still subscribes to Bill Shankly LFC philosophy, a cornerstone of which is the following aphorism:
"You must believe you are the best and then make sure that you are"
If Rodgers doesn't believe Liverpool are capable of making the Champions League, then why should the players believe it?
Even if Rodgers privately believes that the team has no chance of making the top four, he shouldn't declare such a thing in public. What kind of message does it send when a manager of Liverpool FC surrenders so easily?
There are still 21 points to play for, and given the topsy-turvy nature of this season, anything is possible; you only need to look at Crystal Palace's weekend victory over Man City to see that.
Liverpool still have every chance of qualifying for the Champions League:
* Only seven points off fourth place.
* Man City are in freefall at the moment.
* The top four still have to play each other several times.
* This will inevitably lead to dropped points.
Liverpool just have to be there to pick up the pieces, and capitalise on any slip-ups, and results go the right way, the Reds have a great chance of sneaking into the top four.
It 'aint over till it's over, and in the words of Randall. P. McMurphy: 'I tried, goddamnit. At least I did that'.
Words to live by.
Author: Jaimie K
Only happy with letting him go if we get a lucrative return for it
ReplyDeleteHis time at Real Madrid is actually not going so smoothly. Such a stupid decision to sign for them, IMO. They're not exactly renowned for developing their own first team players.
ReplyDeleteI've heard very similar statements from Ferguson and Mourinho.
ReplyDeleteNeither of which were branded as having lack of ambition or fatalistic.
In fact, people were lauding them for taking the pressure off their players. If anybody thinks that Rodgers is saying that to his players privately or as a group, then I believe they are very much mistaken
People still pay attention to what comes out of Rodgers mouth ? Really ?
ReplyDeleteThe man never met a microphone or a camera he didn't want to be absorbed in. The walking contradiction 3 Seasons now at the club. Best to only pay attention to him during games not between them.
Thanks for pointing this out.
ReplyDeleteIf City lose to Utd, we're only 4 pts off, right? Still easily within reach.
ReplyDeleteRefocusing and perhaps a team meeting was needed, but top four is still very much possible.
No matter what the result is this weekend in Manchester as long as LFC win we make up ground. It is far from over but I think Rodgers is trying to take pressure off the team to see if it will get them to relax and enjoy playing. There is a thing if over playing. I think arsenal was a good example players over committing all over the place lack of self control bad touches. Arsenal came at a bad time when players felt desperate to make up for the United game.
ReplyDeleteAren't there reports of attitude probs? Like, he is refusing to train at Madrid B, and likes to hang out with Ronaldo 24/7?
ReplyDeleteWhy not throw in Glen Johnson, Borini and Lambert for an extra 100m + Ronaldo? They would also have to come to an agreement with FCB for Messi, and if they don't buy it we can give them a free replacement with Balo?
ReplyDeleteJaimie ,
ReplyDeleteSturridge gets 150p/w and sits and watch's games ?
A least Sterling is on the field .
I'm sure I'm not the only one who wanted the nurse to pay the ultimate price in that movie.
ReplyDeleteSpot on Mike.People pay far too much attention to what a manager says in the media without thinking what's being said behind closed doors.Rodgers is simply taking the pressure off.Which is a good move after two big PL defeats.We as fans and people in the media should be wise to that tactic.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I heard...I could be mistaken but he supposedly reckons that his contract stipulates he trains with the first team x number of times a week, and that's not being fulfilled.
ReplyDeleteI think this whole Sterling contract thing has got to BR.
ReplyDeleteAgreed ,It is getting sooooooooooo boring !
ReplyDeleteI just hope we can remain unbeaten from now on, which is a big ask. Facing Cissoko on Monday won't be easy, can we tap this guy up?
ReplyDeleteand with Sir red nose face Taggat utd actually won the league a year he said it
ReplyDeleteLiverpool have had two difficult fixtures back-to-back in consecutive seasons.Last season we had a very tricky December schedule.Playing away matches at Man City on the 26th and Chelsea 28th.Both games were lost and that disrupted momentum.This season that's happened to us with Man Utd at home and Arsenal away.
ReplyDeleteHowever if we won either of the first games, it would've given Liverpool a confidence boost going into the next match.Tough consecutive PL matches happen to other teams, so i shouldn't moan.But i prefer when difficult games are spread out and broken up by other matches.Hopefully next seasons schedule is kind to us.
"Season still early" !!!! hahahaa
ReplyDeleteThink you hit the nail on the head, although stats don't tell the whole story, Sterling's (at best average) performance has looked good in comparison to the dross that has been served up by his fellow forwards, Sturridge included.
ReplyDeleteVery true.
ReplyDeleteI have a recurring dream in which we qualify for the CL on the last day of the season. Brendan is interviewed and freely and humbly admits that the turnaround was all down to the players he could take no credit for any of it.
Despite that Logan calls for Brendan to be given additional transfer funds, a contract for Life, and an honourary knighthood.
Ibe comes on and scores the winning goal in the FA cup final at Wembley after a stunning displays from Joe Allen, Kolo Toure and Glen Johnson.
Code asks where is Wembley?
JK admits that he can find nothing at all to criticise the payers or Brendan for in the run in to the season's end. that they should each get a £1m bonus and be firmly shaken by the hand in a manly fashion.
Sterling admits he still has room for some improvement , sacks his agent and signs a new 5 year contract on the same terms as his old one. 50+ wipes away a tear and calls for him to be inducted in the Liverpool hall of fame.
Finally, I make a mildly amusing, football related, post that does not mention anything doggy and is not even remotely smug, sarky or annoying.
Well it could happen.....though there is this nagging doubt which i can't quite put my finger on. Something to do with Ibe and the FA cup.....
Whatever your nightcap consists of I want some intravenously
ReplyDelete'Where Freddie Mercury plays :)'
ReplyDelete-'Oh, brilliant! When's he playing there again?'
We're just counting on City to capitulate into having a disastrous season. Sure they have too many quality players to finish 5th...
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely agree with Jaimie. Sterling is the most overrated english player of the last few years. His end product is bettered by half the wingers in the pl, they just arent as flashy.
ReplyDeleteHe wont be found out at a bigger club though, because he wont get near the starting 11, and his development will stop because he wont get regular games. And then he'll drop out of the england side.
If he wants champions league so much, he should score more goals and get some assists. A big CL club will not carry a player who does not contribute a consistent end product, and he will find this out when his idiotic agent finally gets him a move to City , Real, etc.
I feel sorry for the lad being talked into a move that will derail his development completely, but on the other hand I actually want him out of the club and have done for 18 months- we need wingers players who score at least 10-15 league goals and who and win games, and he does not do that often enough.
I feel like I'm the only one who looks at his end product and thinks that it is simply not good enough, whilst everyone else just seems to rave about him.
What rate of improvement. He's gone backwards this season. With suarez gone and sturridge injured this was sterling's chance to become top man at Liverpool but he's failed miserably. Since basel away he's flopped he can't finish his first touch and decision making are poor just another over rated young English player. I really hope he gets sold but i think man City will be the only team in for him. To get the money he wants sturridge had to bang in the goals for 18 months what exactly has sterling done to deserve 1 penny more than continuo.
ReplyDeleteIt is too painful a thought for most of the fanbase to admit.
ReplyDeleteI think he's cup tied mate. Nice post
ReplyDeleteStats show he is top man. But that's exactly my point, he's still a rookie, wet behind the ears and he's our go to man. Only at lfc. The other top clubs he'd likely be on the bench. Wit the responsibility you want him to carry he should be on 250k per week.
ReplyDeleteIf we win on Monday we'll be 4 or 5 points off the 4th. And then manu has to play chelski and Everton. Nowhere near finished. Wenger's statement re title hopes were not as pessimistic as Brendan's re top 4 and he has to fight chelski.. He probably counts on us to slow down chelski, ironically..
ReplyDeleteA privilege and an obligation to believe gaffa, till the fat lady starts singing..
I am counting on them to win actually..
ReplyDeleteHope so, didn't seem like it to me though..
ReplyDeleteExactly, it's only a saga because the media keep banging on about it. Nothing happening til the summer, it's been exactly the same for weeks and will continue to be exactly the same until the summer. Personally I'm bored to death of it and am done discussing it
ReplyDeleteAnd by the way, this is the same situation as last season- we have to win all games till the end- last season 36th round cost us, it is time for revenge, on their ground..
ReplyDeleteI'm done with this Sterling saga as well .
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe how the press twist story's to make them more juicy as well .
And you could have said, those two would have been lauded for their incredible "mind games". I've always felt that the press decide what's a mind game, depending on which manager they're getting the most milage from.
ReplyDeleteThis funnily brings me a few months back, when JK completely tore down Rodgers for saying he thought Liverpool could win at Chelsea. He called him overly hubristic.
ReplyDeletezidane talks people listen...its his job to soften up targets and flatter odd ego,and lets be honest your head would grow if zidane was complimenting you ...im a big fan of sterling and hendo but if we set a mark we should stick to it .....but to enforce it we need to get rid of all the deadwood who are on big wages like borini and co ....hang on a minute who gave borini that contract it was rogers ,talk about making a rod for your own back
ReplyDeletemr glass has been poor since his comeback ..theres no i in team
ReplyDeletei think he will go in fact im certain of it
ReplyDeleteExactly! If City beat United, then Chelsea do the same...and we can pick up max points against Newcastle and Hull...then sitting 2 points behind United with 5 games to go!
ReplyDeleteIF and its a very big if...we can still make the top 4, it will be United we target and not City
Well, no matter who wins the Man derby, we'll either be 4 pts out or 5 pts out. With 6 matches left, and considering City's form, I like our chances. At the very least, it's not all doom and gloom that everyone makes it out to be.
ReplyDeletecant agree any more
ReplyDeletelets start a rumour that barca is looking at sterling as wellThen we can add another 20-30 k
ReplyDeleteJamie you call sterling a money grabbing mersanary'but that's the way football is now, they couldn't give a monkeys about who the play for just as long as they fill their boots while they can. A footballer can have a very short career so I'm not going slag him off but wish him well wherever he decides to go, we will get a good fee for him just hope the money is well spent and not wasted, a deal with benzema wouldn't be a bad idea
ReplyDeleteThey have Arsenal in their penultimate match, we have to be 2 points off them at that moment as I think Wenger is finally gonna make an impression. We have Chelski by then, and they have City, chelski and Everton. I will go as far as saying we are in pole position if they lose tomorrow..
ReplyDeleteThere's a significant difference between having hope and being overconfident.
ReplyDeleteRodgers took a 1-0 loss and turned it around how we outplayed them and that if we play the same way we'd beat them. Yet we still lost.
And in that next game when we needed to score in order to advance and we were locked in a 0-0 stalemate Rodgers waited until Ivanovic scored before he put any offensive urgency together.
Here, I'm not expecting Rodgers to go out and say that we're going to make top 4 come hell or high water. But there's a difference between saying, "We've made it difficult for ourselves to make top 4 but we have to do our part from here on out to give ourselves a chance", versus, "we're not going top 4 even though there are 7 games to play"
This whole thing is silly... Everyone knows Wembley is off the coast of Africa... right next to Jamaica.
ReplyDeleteIts not those type of games that they need to worry about (although I fancy Arsenal to get something) last 6 games of the season you don't want to be playing the bottom 6.Southampton result done us a favour as Hull fixtures from hell until end of season and looks like they will need to beat United to stay up. They also have to go away to Palace and play West Brom...lots of points still to be dropped!
ReplyDeleteTeams I mentioned are better than them, they will worry and lose points.
ReplyDeleteIts all about the next tow games for me...if United win either then I fear as good as over...if we can get to within 2-3 points of United then I seriously think we will do it...and I disagree that we will need to win all games and stick by my earlier prediction that 71-73 points will get top 4 place.
ReplyDeleteMan City. Chelsea, Arsenal, C Palace, West Brom....all games could easily drop points...even Everton...as not the place you want to go if just lost two on the trot.
I agree its about mentality and bottle....if United are only 2 points above us they will no doubt panic and crumble...IF we can get within 2 points. Im confident they wont beat Chelsea, so for me it all hangs on the City game
Exactly... the two games gained significance not only because of the opponents, but because we were already on thin ice because it took us 4 months to get any real form.
ReplyDeleteThe press in this country are a disgrace
ReplyDeleteAlways with the click bait, pls just stop writing nonsense. Handing the initiative to man u, man city, and spurs. As for Southampton ? They r 2 points above tottenham with a +22 goal difference as opposed to tottenham's +4. I keep clicking these dam articles on the news now site without paying attention to the link...liverpool-kop, such bullshit. Dredging up ridiculous stories from months and months ago espoecially with you're...Liverpool linked to "outstanding" striker...nonsense that turns out to be from last season without a credible source. U regurgitate the bullshit stories from metro and fashion a fancy name to drive traffick to ur site. I suppose I can't blame u, everyone else seems to b doing the same. Just tosh and nonsense. I will try as hard as I can to not click on another liverpool-kop link for as long as I can remember. Tired of reading this rubbish
ReplyDeleteAs long as we can keep getting positive results we have a chance.
ReplyDeleteEspecially considering earlier in the season, halfway through in fact, people were saying we would be lucky to finish in the top half of the table, we would finish 11th and all this other crap.
ReplyDeleteFar too much obsession with CL. What's the point of being in it if you don't stand a chance? They were in it last year and attracted...who? That's right, nobody of importance. The cup should be priority - at least they have a vague chance of beating Arsenal if they get to Wembley. In Europe they are just hopelessly out of their depth.
ReplyDelete