17 Jul 2015

Reckless LFC: Why FSG must slap-down Rodgers after another irresponsible display of sycophantic bootlicking

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is at it again. Only days after after prematurely fawning over Milner, Clyne, and Origi (on the basis of just 45 minutes of football) Liverpool's manager continues to fan the flames of unrealistic expectation with his grossly irresponsible bootlicking, and this time it's 18-year old Joe Gomez who's the subject of his pointlessly sycophantic ravings.

After Liverpool's 2-1 victory over Brisbane Roar, Rodgers once again dropped the veneer of a professional football manager and proceeded to rhapsodize like an over-emotional schoolgirl:

"He [Gomez]...looked an outstanding athlete and a really good footballer. I've seen him at centre-half and at right-back, but I wanted to see him at left-back - and I thought he was outstanding."

Gomez is 18, and he's already 'outstanding'? Great! He's clearly the finished article already!

No need for the teenager to bust a gut to *become* an outstanding player as he's already achieved that after just 105 minutes of (barely competitive) football. Bravo!

These ridiculously irresponsible comments - and the inevitable barrage to come over the next few weeks - will only serve to heap intolerable pressure on Gomez, who will be expected to live up to the 'outstanding' tag whenever he plays a competitive game, and when he fails to do that, fans (and the media) will be on his back.

Indeed, a cursory glance over comments on several Liverpool message boards reveals that fans are already following Rodgers' lead and overhyping Gomez, labelling him as 'the real deal', and someone who can 'make an immediate impact for Liverpool'.

Rodgers just doesn't get it. His continued overpraise of players shows that he hasn't learned anything from last season (or the Raheem Sterling fiasco), and he clearly isn't going to learn.

How can anyone justify repeatedly calling a teenager 'outstanding' after he's played just 105 minutes of non-competitive football for the club? It's ludicrous, and the fact that Rodgers can't see this is a major problem.

This situation is beyond a joke now - why can't Rodgers refrain from endlessly inflating his players' egos? That strategy totally failed last season (and contributed to the Sterling debacle), so why is it suddenly going to be successful now?

I've said it once and I'll say it again: FSG seriously need to get a grip and reign Rodgers in; the group needs to institute an internal policy that specifically prohibits pointless gross overpraise, especially of teenagers.

Rodgers needs to be stopped - his servile sycophancy is out of control, and if he is allowed to continue with his obsequious brown-nosing, it will have a negative impact on Liverpool's season. Again.

A team cannot achieve the highest standards if the players are constantly being mollycoddled and deified, which is Rodgers' approach. He is dulling competitive edge/hunger, and creating subconscious complacency, both of which conspired (IMO) to derail the club last season.

Seriously - two games into pre-season (against inferior teams) and the players are already 'outstanding', 'excellent', 'first-class', and 'top-class'?

And yes, I am going to highlight this issue every time it arises, so you better get used to it, or visit a different site.

Author: Jaimie K


93 comments:

  1. Touché. Outstanding article. ;-)

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  2. I was waiting for this Jaimie! Brilliant article mate!

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  3. FSG need to reign you in too. And Chirag ;-)

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  4. I here a bottle of whiskey and a handful of valium are agood way to wipe the misery from your mind.... You make me feel like taking a dose or two myself..... Any chance to whinge, and you take it...... whine whine whine.

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  5. We really need to make this a drinking game...

    Every time Rodgers says the word "outstanding', we have to chug a beer.



    It'll at least make it more enjoyable as opposed to yet another eye-rolling incidnet

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  6. I'm Muslim so Orange Juice will have to suffice ;-)

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  7. Something that got lost in this hoopla...

    Rodgers stated that Gomez is not going out on loan, which is encouraging.


    Perhaps its just funny timing because we haven't heard from him all summer, but I wish would have been stated earlier as opposed to after a game where he supposedly played well. I say "supposedly" because it's based purely on the game reports I've read and Rodgers own comments.


    Easier to show faith in a player after an outstanding performance than before it

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  8. To be honest I don't even think that FSG are even aware of Rodgers' over praise and I don't think they even care. At this point even the players dismiss Rodgers' comments that contain any superlatives because very rarely to they take any notice of it and Sterling is probably the only one (But that has no direct link with the over praise form Rodgers). I know that most of the LFC fans just give an eye roll and move on and nobody really takes much notice.

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  9. You don't drink alcohol is the right way to put it IMO.

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  10. It's the way he is, so YOU get used to it Jamie your getting boring. Who cares what he says. I would rather he said that then said everyone is shit and we are way of from the start of the season

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  11. What is this "right way"

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  12. I mean I got muslim friends who drink a lot. Just saying. ..

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  13. whining snivelling little cockroach. I will remove myself from this depressing sh1te site. scum

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  14. This site is absolute trash

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  15. You spelt "outstanding" wrong

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  16. Give it a rest JK

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  17. 1. Team has character = team played badly
    2. 'outstanding', 'excellent', 'first-class', and 'top-class' = ok not too shabby


    No words for actually playing well since we never did that last season. So let's see what Rodgers will come out with in his vocab.

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  18. JK , which is worst, BR using outstanding for young players or your negativity towards BR .

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  19. He's not saying he's an outstanding player and that he's got nothing more to learn he's saying that he though he had an outstanding game there's a big difference

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  20. I thought he stood out. Ergo he was outstanding.

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  21. Do not disagree with or question jk you will be blocked for eternity

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  22. Negativity? What nonsense. I've praised/defended Rodgers countless times since he joined the club, and long-time visitors will confirm that. In fact, when everyone was on his back last season, I continued to defend him, so please get your facts right.

    It's not specifically to do with Rodgers; if Klopp was in charge and he did the same thing, I'd be on his case too.

    If you don't like articles like this, you don't have to read them. If you disagree, then post a counter-argument. Don't post pointless one-liners that achieve nothing.

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  23. What is the matter with you? Rodgers simply said Gomez was outstanding in today's game and he was. It wasn't sycophantic or "ridiculously irresponsible" just an appraisal of his performance today. It has probably helped the young lad's confidence and that's it. What a ridiculously over-the-top article. Do you write for The Daily Star in your spare time?

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  24. I agree. Jay supports Rodgers, he just has a total fit about him being nice to people.

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  25. Rodgers could've said: 'Joe had a good game, and I was impressed with his composure on the ball, and his passing range. We're not getting carried away, though, as it's only pre-season. Like all young players, Joe has a long way to go, and he's in the best place to try and achieve his potential'

    *specific* praise for specific aspects of Gomez's performance, but done so in a moderate, understated fashion.

    What is so wrong with that?

    But no, Rodgers has to gush like teenager at a One Direction concert.

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  26. Omwenga TheReds Hezron4:31 pm, July 17, 2015

    Will you ever write anything COMPLETELY positive about Liverpool???????? I wonder why I even bother reading your articles

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  27. Man i dont like to label folk but. You are arrogant.

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  28. I've figured it out!


    The comparisons of Brendan Rodgers to David Brent are farcical.


    The real comparison is Rodgers use of the word "Outstanding" to Charles Poole's use of the word "Indubitably".


    For those that don't get the reference, watch "7 Days in Hell" on HBO. It's brilliant... or dare I say... "Outstanding"

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  29. Kind of like Kenny was a teenager at the boyzone concert with Andy Carroll? :)

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  30. haha! I take your point you miserable sod.

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  31. Couldnt agree more, and when gomes suffers from an inevitable lack of form at some point due to his age that fool will be calling out the fans to get off his back that hes only a kid and needs time..Hes just a hypocrite Jamie and always will be, its who and what he is so to expect anything different is madness.. in 3 years when gomes wants to leave for chelsea or arsenal he can say "how proud he was to have developed him into a top player but were very much about the group and we move on" ye a top player for someone else to enjoy like he basically did with raheem.. builds players up to stupid levels then when they start believing it and want to leave him and the club for what they feel to be what they deserve he trys to bring them back to earth by talking them and their talents down.. ridiculous

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  32. I thought he was outstanding today. Good luck yo the lad

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  33. I personally don't really see all the fuss with this supposed Rodgers overpraise. If you listen to most managers they will say similar things about new signings and young players. I agree at times he could probably reign it in a bit but IMO it's not really a massive issue. It's also worth noting he never actually said he was an 'outstanding' player already just simply stated he is an 'outstanding' athlete, which I agree with, and that he had an 'outstanding' game, which again I would agree with considering he is an 18 year old playing in a position he has never played before. Give the guy a break jeeeeeez.

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  34. I for one am starting to hope that BR turns the over-praise all the way up to 11 this season.


    Though I might send the guy a thesaurus in the post.

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  35. I would prefer he start making up his own words at this point... and then we have to actually figure out what they mean.


    Would be infinitely more entertaining.

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  36. Seriously, you should do the press conferences JK. that was, (dare I say it) an outstanding summary, excellently put. a first class oratory :)

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  37. My first comment, which was not offensive at all, has been removed so I will try a more diplomatic approach.

    We all know your opinion on Rodger's continuous overpraise and I am not dismissing it as wrong. You are entitled to that opinion and you are completely entitled to voice that opinion as many times as you want (especially as it's your site). However in the interest of everybody else's opinion of being fed up with it being raised constantly can we draw a line under this issue now........please?

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  38. If his sycophancy going to effect their performance I'm looking forward to that, it means his gonna get sack lol

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  39. I agree but it seems others do share the same view. Personally I don't really care about it and think you will find most other managers doing the same anyway.

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  40. Jammie, the reason I write one -liners is that I hate people that woffel .
    I was really hoping you would write a positive report on how good Janes Milner was ,scoring in his first start and that you are chuffed that he is at Liverpool .

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  41. .....Napoleon Hill once authored an astounding book, he was commissioned to do so by the equivalent at the time (around 1900) of Bill gates...the tycoon's name was Andrew Carnegie; a steel magnate billionaire, a man with amazing judgement and foresight.


    ...anyhow, Napoleon Hill wrote this book and it sold in the millions, it still does today. He also had a son who was born without ears and without any internal apparatus for the possibility of any type of hearing at all in the future...
    ...to all intents and purposes he should and would have been written off, especially given the fact it was the early twentieth century...
    ..but no, Napoleon Hill knew something, he had researched this book and understood what made champions and what made things in the universe turn in your favour, he understood what it takes to be outside of ordinary and not to only operate within the realms of the norm....


    .....Napoleon Hill made it his mission to help his son, from when his son was a mere toddler to near adulthood he started whispering to him in his sleep telling him he would hear and that his son was extra-ordinary, that he would change the world...in a nutshell encouragement, encouragement, encouragement...and guess what...when his son was older he did something...he started hearing - albeit through vibration - but he could make out sound, baffling the concept that he would never hear; he also went on and invented headphones to help anyone who couldn't hear...


    ..the impossible became possible, just from the power of encouragement and praise......there is not only one rule that works...


    ....I've seen people fight like banshees in the ring just to get away from the fear of what was behind them and their own inbred insecurities that they must get better and improve...I've also seen people fight like the devil while they have been given only encouragement in their own abilities and have only the fact that they are reaching/pursuing their full potential as their one and only driver...both became champions...there is not one rule...

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  42. ..if I could double triple vote up
    this comment of yours I would.....

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  43. https://www.youtube.com/embed/JOduFsI-rkU?rel=0&start=232&end=233&autoplay=0%22%20frameborder=%220%22%20allowfullscreen

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  44. Trellificious idea.

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  45. Gomez was outstanding, hence why br said he was outstanding in that game, quite how that means he thinks he's the finished article?? I don't know what's got into the poster of this article, clearly the Hatrid towards the Liverpool manager has taken over thinking clearly. footballers thrive on confidence don't they? Which Liverpool were short of most of last season

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  46. Whether people are 'fed up' is irrelevant to me. Those who are fed up are perfectly entitled to leave here and visit another site. I repeatedly raise this issue for a reason. There are lots of fans who feel the same way, and I want fans to feel enraged whenever Rodgers engages in the damaging practice of overpraising players.

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  47. Well at least in the interest of variety then :)

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  48. Your misreading the quote jamie and using it to mislead your readers, BR was clearly talking about Gomez's game at left back today saying " I've seen him at centre-half and at right-back, but I wanted to see him at left-back" and used the words "and I thought he was outstanding". thats not talking him up but merely reflecting on how he played against the Roar.

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  49. Your triple 'up vote' above was removed, here's a thumbs up back pal

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  50. Give me a break. Milner has played two meaningless pre-season games for Liverpool. Milnber is an experienced, highly-trained, highly paid footballer with every fitness, nutrition, medical advantage at his beck and call.

    He *should* be excelling against inferior opposition; he doesn't deserve praise for doing so.

    The time for praise is when he's doing what he's paid obscenely well to do: consistently perform (to a game-changing level) against teams in the Premier League.

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  51. In my opinion, I think the biggest issue that really counts against Rodgers is a level of expectation.


    Liverpool's expectation going into this season is at best 4th, at worst probably 6th.


    We are held up against the likes of teams that are simply more talented than us (Arsenal, Chelsea, City, ManU).


    It's not to absolve Rodgers of anything, but I feel that the perception is that Liverpool are better than we actually have been, talentwise.


    So when Rodgers goes out and labels performances with hyperbolic praise, it wears thin on people when we're finishing 6th in the league.

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  52. ...thanks mate.. :)

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  53. I have to admit BR seemed very restrain after his end of season meeting with FSG but he has reverted back to type.


    Not only like Jamie has already pointed out his praise but also when he has talked about Sterling.


    He sounds like a jilted lover...

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  54. Sorry but no. Wenger, Fergie, Mourhino, Rafa etc do not praise players anything like BR does.

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  55. This is IMO an absolute nonsense. I've said it before and I'm just going to keep repeating it every time you do: If Brendan uses the word outstanding in place of say 'good' then after a while people who know him, including players, including the media, including us, including, Joe the real deal Gomez, will just treat it as if he'd just said, good, pretty simple stuff really.
    .... rested, drops microphone.

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  56. Elvis the koppite5:34 pm, July 17, 2015

    I am totally against the wonder kid label...Iago Aspas was once a wonder kid! However a performance can be described as outstanding whoever it's from...in my opinion bearing in mind he's 18 and played out of position and has just joined the club....Joe Gomez WAS outstanding today...literally his performance stood out.....

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  57. ...please expand ....pray tell how do they drink theirs.....?

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  58. But if they already feel that way then surely they don't need you to continually stoke their fires of enragement.
    That's just like reminding someone all the time about how sh8tty something is when they already know or am I missing the point?

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  59. I'm sure the players care as much about Brendan's use of the word 'outstanding' in a post-match interview as much as I do. In other words, it provides a little bit of amusement, but ultimately I couldn't give a shit.

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  60. Nope, Gomez will never be the same now, totally ruined by a BR verbal assault and who ever decided that sticks and stones malarkey should of know what a great weapon 'outstanding' was, completely ruins a man.

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  61. ...bang-tidy....


    ....ok its been used but really it would be so much more entertaining to have it said constantly on air....


    or what about...he was bang-bang....


    or one or two from his homeland..
    ....'thar barr'...


    ..or...'ar fheabhas'....


    .... or even.....'iontach'....

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  62. Jaime k seems jealous he never made it to be a professional footballer...
    Well reading this article he didnt make it as a sports writer as well

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  63. ...Ash, are you the 'chosen one'...?


    ...how did you get sh1t past the tr0ll... 8-)

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  64. ...you're not missing the point Case... but rmrmber it's site hits and there are plenty comments already building up on this one thread.....emotions bro...like strings, they vibrate when you pull 'em......

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  65. Agree and I would very much favour Brendan developing a rebellious streak in the face of the verbal critiquing he constantly receives and turning it right up, as you suggested above/below.
    Also I'm wondering exactly the same as DinMan, however you did it though, it's an outstanding achievement.

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  66. ...you're not missing the point Case... but rmrmber it's s1te hits and there are plenty comments already building up on this one thread.....emotions bro...like strings, they vibrate when you pull 'em......

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  67. ...you're not missing the point Case... but rmrmber it's w3b51te hits and there are plenty c*mments already building up on this one thread.....emotions bro...like strings, they vibrate when you pull 'em......

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  68. ..ok 3 comments eaten by jaimie...not allowed to tell the truth behind......oh well such is life.....

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  69. ..its trellificious.....

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  70. Did anyone notice the way Arsene Wenger talked about Chuba Akpom following his hat trick the other day?


    ''Let's not forget it's a friendly. He's a good talent, but he has to work and show that in [the big] games."


    This is the sort of comment that Rodgers should be making about our young players. Subtle praise and encouragement without over inflating their egos, and keeping them down to earth, whilst also challenging them to improve.


    I fully agree with you Jaimie, but I think that the owners should take it a step further, and basically prevent him from taking part in any press conferences post game, and rather put in Sean O'Driscoll (I have no idea how he handles the press, but it cannot be worse than Rodgers). Every time he opens his mouth it makes me cringe, and frankly I think that it embarrasses the football club.

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  71. Resplendiferous gets my vote.

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  72. In what world was Iago Aspas ever a wonder kid?

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  73. Fair enough.. but then he has to balance it out with objective criticism.


    There is nothing worse then having a manager saying how fantastic everybody was when everybody can see we were shite.


    Too many times last season we were terrible yet BR would say we were great.


    It just makes us a laughing stock.

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  74. ...no bro...what made us a laughing stock was roy h*dgson's take on the magnificent games we had when we lost and drew....


    ...now that was traumatic..not some on ewho instills confidence in people so we can sell 'em for about a 500 million percent profit....

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  75. Animesh Chaudhary6:08 pm, July 17, 2015

    YUPP I'm going to have to visit a different site. Another pointless article. It's illogical to even think that this praise , which was justified ( he's played only 105 minutes but he's played them well . What's the issue if Rodgers praises him) is going to affect him .

    I'm sorry but how does praising a player lead to drop in performance levels. I read many articles everyday and in the past two years , I've never come across this kind of criticism anywhere else .

    Only Jamie seems to have a problem with anan issue as meaningless as this.

    Haha ! Critical ' realism '

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  76. ...no bro...what made us a laughing stock was r*y h*dgs*n's take on the magnificent games we had when we lost and drew....

    ...now that was traumatic..not some one who instills confidence in people so we can sell 'em for about a 500 million percent profit....

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  77. Want to shut Bodgers up at press conferences?


    Have someone ask him about his wife / ex-wife / partner / sidechick/ whatever.


    Watch blood drain from his tangoed face.


    Job done.

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  78. ...no bro...what made us a laughing stock was when current england manger was ours; his take on the magnificent games we had when we lost and drew....

    ...now that was traumatic..not some one who instills confidence in people so we can sell 'em for about a 500 million percent profit....

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  79. ..Jaimie what in the h3ll is going on....? every comment rejected for absolutely no reason...really man this is a p1ss take...

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  80. I hate when it happens to me.. its like no matter what I post gets moderated.


    So frustrating

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  81. Agree really, although to a point I'd kind of rather he went with the outstanding stance to the press and then gave his real appraisal behind closed doors.
    I'd always air on the side of the Black knight - after to the Stoke game for example - 'we didn't lose, those goals were just a flesh wound... All right then we'll give you the first leg, now come back here you yellow bast&rds :)

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  82. You're making way too much sense here, please calm down.

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  83. Bravo for being an enabler. Despite the fact that constant gross overpraise creates unnecessary hype/media headlines, and unrealistic expectation, you're happy for Rodgers to continue with his pointless, damaging hyperbole.

    People like you who turn a blind eye are the problem.

    Rodgers constantly overhypes players, which raises expectations (and media pressure) to ridiculous levels, and puts intolerable pressure on certain players to live up the constantly-spewed 'outstanding' tag.

    He should be taking the pressure *off*, not constantly creating it.

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  84. Well BR made a similar comment on Joao Texeira after his very good game against Thai All Stars, but Jaimie didn't like that either... Poor Rodgers can't win.

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  85. Thanks, you're right. There's a word filter in place, and my posts get held back too. It's a necessary evil, unfortunately.

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  86. Fair enough, I did expect to perhaps come under the aim of both barrels :)
    It's just an agree to disagree situation, I simply do not share *any* of the views you've just listed.

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  87. Dropped? Is there anything like being dropped for a preseason friendly? The purpose of these games is to build up match fitness. He'll play in the next one, don't worry.

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  88. In my opinion, Rodgers doesn't "create" more pressure.


    I think the expectations are already high to begin with (and I'd argue the expectations are TOO high).


    I don't think Rodgers help the situation in the slightest though. He definitely does not alleviate any pressure.


    But by and large, what bothers me more is the annoyance and the insulting nature of the words he uses to describe the players. Don't pee on my leg and tell me it's raining.

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  89. Lallana scored in the last match and he started, as did lots of other players who featured in the last game.

    Teixeira has barely played football for months. He needs fitness more than anyone, especially after a broken leg. He did his job and grabbed two assists, so why leave him out?

    How is that good man-management?

    If any of Rodgers' signings had grabbed two assists, they'd definitely start the next game. Teixeira misses out, though. Why?

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  90. NOTE: D*mn JK i just typed out a banging response to a post that was removed just as i finished typing! I am going to post it in this comment anyway to make me feel better :D
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    I don't think the issue is as much that it leads to a drop in performance levels, it's more the fact that it does nothing to encourage any improvement in them.

    It is this kind of ridiculous adulation that has created the monster that is Raheem Sterling. Other things such as the 'European Goldenboy' or whatever it is called are certainly not helpful either, and should in my opinion be stopped.

    Another annoyance, luckily Rodgers to my knowledge does not do this but it is all linked together, is when people compare young kids to world class players, heralding them as the 'next Pele' or 'next Zidane' or whatever, as happened with our very own Bruno Cheyrou, who never came close to living up tot he hype. An extreme example that has been in the news recently is Freddy Adu. Promoted as the 'next Pele' at the age of 14, he has now played for 13 different clubs in the following 12 years and to my knowledge has not found a shred of success at any of them. Overpraise is damaging to the mindset of young players and should be stopped from fans, pundits, managers and other players immediately.

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  91. You know what I am starting to believe that BR used these words very lightly and in a meaningless way. I can imagine him in a restaurant eating his meal when the waiter asks hims "How is everything?". His response would be "Outstanding" :). That being said, they still have negative effect.

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