Liverpool FC Forum

[red till i die!!]

Hold Roy's record and experience up against BRs. I'm not saying Hodgsons good. I'm saying BR is (in my opinion) the worst manager we've had.

Wasn't the biggest fan of the hodge myself but I absolutely detest Rodgers. Mostly its because of his mouth and the insufferable garbage he has been spouting since he walked through the door.

[RedAnt]

Hold Roy's record and experience up against BRs. I'm not saying Hodgsons good. I'm saying BR is (in my opinion) the worst manager we've had.

Wasn't the biggest fan of the hodge myself but I absolutely detest Rodgers. Mostly its because of his mouth and the insufferable garbage he has been spouting since he walked through the door.

Yep. We've always had a tradition of honesty and doing things the correct way. BR is currently trampling all over that. Add to that the fact that Rodgers ('Rodger? What's his last name?') can't seem to attract anyone we've heard of and I'm seriously worried about what another season under him will do to the club.

[stmichael]

The worrying thing is that even with FSG's model, we should be doing a lot better in terms of player recruitment. There is no way on earth that within FSG's restricted model that Balotelli was the best striker we could've got last summer. That is far more worrying than any model or system, we have bad people in important roles at the club.

There's no point sacking Rodgers unless all the other issues around management and recruitment are fixed. Rodgers has to take the blame for the woeful season but he is not the only one. If he goes, so should the entire committee. A shambles. How Ayre is still at the club is beyond me.

[mart]

The failing of the transfer committee to buy a proven high quality striker that could perform at Premiership level was totally unforgiveable and has resulted in the team failing to achieve a top four position.

How many world-class strikers were available last summer and how many of them wanted to come to Liverpool? We had an unproven manager and just sold our only real world-class player. Our main attraction was an aging Gerrard that everyone could see had his best years behind him. Finding a top quality striker wasnt exactly an easy job for the transfer comittee.

I'm not saying Lambert and Balotelli were the best strikers we could have got, and they certainly didnt fit the system, but both of them have done much better in previous clubs. The main problem is that we havent managed to get the best from our players. Most of the time we havent even played with a real striker. Balotelli have just started in 10 league games, while Sterling have started in almost every game. The problem goes beyond the strikers. We should have managed to get much more out of players like Markovic and lallana as well. It doesnt look like Rodgers knows how to get the most from the squad he has, or what type of player he needs to buy to fit his plan. Instead he keeps on playing everyone out of position and look surprised when they dont play great. If we had managed to buy Sanchez last summer he probably would have ended up playing wingback.

[maguskwt]

[quote="RedAnt » Tue May 19, 2015 9:50 am"Right now I'd rather have Woy back than carry on under Rodgers.

Are you trolling? You must be trolling...

What the fook is it with people like you that post to other posters to call them trolls whilst having nothing to say on the theme of the thread? Look up the definition of troll. Look at hypocrite while you have the dictionary out.

Brendan Rodgers - 51.95%
Kenny Dalglish - 48.65%
Roy Hodgson - 41.94%
Rafa Benitez - 56.00%

I give you one more chance to take back what you said...  ... btw that's not the percentage probability that those managers can have diabetes, that is the winning percentage of each manager while he was managing Liverpool.

And here I'm thinking Rodgers doesn't help himself with the ever growing Whinging Committee with those performances against Crystal Palace, I'd have nothing much to say to defend him after that game.

[RedAnt]

Mags, I didn't mean their Liverpool records/experience. Even if you didn't understand my post, listing those guys against BR probably isn't a good idea. BR hasn't won anything has he? Except some matches.

[Santa]

Lies, damned lies and statistics...some people are born just expecting to be below average, but all thanks to them they make successful people possible

[RED BEERGOGGLES]

Rodgers addressed the gathered throng in the Echo Arena and told them the reason for this season being so disappointing was due to the distractions ,although he
stopped short of naming Sterling....

"Expectancy from last season was going to be high. Things that have happened, the distractions, you can't plan for them. It has been a difficult, trying season but the players will all be better for it next year.

"The players need a rest, but the club will continue to work hard to improve the squad and next year provides another great opportunity for us like last season."


  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/11616982/Liverpool-news-Brendan-Rodgers-faces-Anfield-inquest.html

Liverpool news: Brendan Rodgers faces Anfield inquiry


Liverpool FC manager to hold pivotal talks with Fenway Sports Group after season of disappointment

Brendan Rodgers will face a pivotal end-of-season review as Liverpool look to correct the errors that have led to such a disappointing campaign.
There is no suggestion Rodgers is under any immediate threat of losing his job. However, his planned annual meeting with Mike Gordon, the Fenway Sports Group president, will be fundamental to how the club repair the damage of the past 12 months. The pair will meet after Sunday’s final Premier League fixture with Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium.
The alarming slump in results and performances since Liverpool finished second a year ago has ensured all aspects of the club’s operation will be under scrutiny, from the recruitment and scouting, through to player and coaching performance.
FSG, the company that owns the club, expects a forensic examination of why standards have slipped so much.

There is some sympathy for many of the reasons Rodgers has stated publicly as a cause of his team’s failure to qualify for the Champions League, not least the loss of Luis Suárez and injuries to Daniel Sturridge. The lack of goalscoring threat has upset the balance of the team and led to numerous changes of formation.
There is also an acceptance that the multiple signings of last summer needed time to adjust. Some have shown promise but the majority made minimal contribution despite an investment of £110 million in the squad a year ago.
However, while this is seen as partially responsible for the team being in fifth position – defeat to Stoke this weekend may mean they finish even lower – there is also a recognition that the overall standards of performance should have been better.
Liverpool failed in high-profile games this season against Chelsea, Arsenal and – most significantly for their top-four hopes – Manchester United. It was a similar story in the Champions League, Liverpool’s brief return ending in humiliation after chastening defeats by Real Madrid and Basel. The FA Cup semi-final defeat by Aston Villa was another major setback, ending the last chance of winning a trophy.

Since the loss at Wembley there have been abject displays against Hull City and Crystal Palace – when the side were outplayed and deservedly beaten. The loss to relegation-threatened Hull on April 28 was especially disturbing as a top-four place was still at stake at that stage. Instead United were able to claim the last Champions League spot without any serious pressure.

It is these latter performances that Rodgers may find most difficult to explain.
Rodgers has stated publicly that he believes his squad lack quality and experience, but Liverpool have always insisted they take a collective approach to identifying and recruiting targets. The manager is as ­influential as other members of the much-publicised transfer committee, even if he does not have sole control of transfers. Despite that, there have been accountability issues regarding transfer activity since Rodgers’ first weeks in charge, with several players arriving who were either sidelined or not used because the manager was evidently not impressed.

While numerous issues need to be resolved, Liverpool’s plans ahead of next season are based on the premise of Rodgers continuing to execute the long-term plan. He has been integral to the pursuit of Danny Ings and James Milner, who are expected to sign from Burnley and Manchester City respectively, and his face-to-face meeting with Lille’s Divock Origi last summer that convinced the Belgian striker to choose Liverpool ahead of Tottenham Hotspur in a £10 million deal.

Rodgers has also tried to intervene personally in efforts to convince Raheem Sterling to commit his future to Liverpool, albeit unsuccessfully given recent developments. There is still some hope Rodgers’ relationship with the player will douse the controversy in the event of the winger ­staying at the club next season.
Liverpool’s erratic campaign is further evidence of how rapidly fortunes change in football as last year’s end-of-season review was held in much more optimistic circumstances.

In a joint statement 12 months ago, FSG expressed their admiration for Rodgers’ work and handed him a new contract, with the club having narrowly missed out on the Premier League.
“We are very fortunate to have a hugely talented individual leading our football performance and in whom we place our trust to deliver the vision we share for Liverpool,” they said. “Brendan is at the heart of what we, as an ownership group, are trying to achieve on the pitch.
“Players and supporters have made it clear how important Brendan is to our success and so to have him commit to us for the long term is a great boost for everyone going forward.”

[red till i die!!]

What distractions is he talking about ? Having to play every week ?

Oh yeah i forgot, Sterling that he won't drop, gerrard leaving, suarez leaving, carra leaving, flanagan's injury, sturridge being a crock and the biggest one is that we had to play in the CL.
They ain't distractions brendan just poor lame excuses and finger pointing.

[supersub]

article from blind religion

However there’s a massively more shocking story coming out of Liverpool today and the revelations will blow Liverpool’s fans minds. Two very sources have alleged the following.

- Brendan Rodgers was sacked last November. He will face the same indignity as Kenny Dalglish having to fly to the U.S and receive his p45 Wednesday 3rd June 2015

- FSG had a crisis meeting last year and blamed themselves for not having a contingency plan for this season going so badly

- With so many new signings having loyalty to Rodgers and senior players like Gerrard, Toure and Johnson having excellent relationships it was decided the sacking couldn’t take place until they had left

- Gerrard’s influence in the dressing room became a big worry for FSG and his position amongst supporters and it was decided he would have to leave

- FSG have been sounding out replacements for Rodgers since last year

- From November on there has been a transfer ban which led to no January activity and pulling out of the race to sign Depay late on

- FSG have been using the press to leak stories about reported interest in Rodgers transfer targets with no intention of signing them to keep Rodgers in the dark

- Liverpool are already identifying a different set of targets that Rodgers has not approved and is unaware are even being discussed

- Klopp has refused to speak with FSG until the season is over and said he will not allow his team to be distracted with a Cup Final approaching

- However his agent has been in discussion with LFC for months and has already provided a list of targets

- Feeling inside Anfield recent slump is because the players and the staff know the writing is on the wall for Rodgers

- FSG deliberately sabotaged the Sterling deal. The offer was nothing like £100,000 per week and even with potential bonus incentives did not reach that figure.

- FSG are aware changing manager is expensive and agreed last November to sell Sterling to find the new managers spending spree though they hadn’t identified manager at that time

- Rodgers recently had a furious exchange with a staff member when in front of the players his methods were questioned

- FSG did not attend Steven Gerrard’s last game out of a lack of respect for Gerrard but simply because Rodgers has made it clear he is looking to speak to them face to face as he is aware there are two agendas being pushed at Anfield.

Now we don’t even know where to start with this? There’s almost too much to go on and it sounds like an episode of Dynasty or Dallas back in the 1980’s. The source we have is rock solid but we have to be careful and put this is what they are alleging and not the opinions of Blind Religion.

The United States laws are far more aggressive over stories like this and to be honest we were due to run this story yesterday but have been up debating all night if we should for our own safety.

However the news is too huge. We were told that all through Liverpool’s resurgence of form after a dreadful start there was absolutely no chance FSG were going to turn it around bar Champions League qualification. Even then after Liverpool’s performance in the competition Tom Werner is the one who flatly refused to accept LFC can allow that to happen again.

Since then it has been one long rollercoaster of FSG engineering Rodgers sacking. The decision to encourage Gerrard to move on we’re told wasn’t financial or football related but his relationship with Rodgers had become so close they were concerned about sacking Rodgers with Gerrard still there.

Players like Johnson and Toure have had support from Rodgers despite poor form and they too have influence in the dressing room. We were told that Rodgers and Toure did have an exchange but that exchange was because they’re actually quite close and felt they could. It was club officials that leaked the story to drive a wedge between Toure and Rodgers and further lessen Rodgers hold over the dressing room.

FSG are refusing to negotiate with Skrtel until the new manager arrives. However they will pursue targets such as Milner and Ings simply on the basis of value. Now if all of this sounds dramatic the fact Liverpool are the ones who at the start of the season sabotaged the Sterling deal puts the whole thing in a new light.

We’ve been told in no uncertain terms it was absolutely clear FSG as soon as they decided to oust Rodgers and set about making that job as easy as possible also decided to manage the situation with the fans and how to finance it. There has been a consistent media campaign against Sterling. Ex players talking about his agent leaking stories when in fact we’ve heard it was FSG leaking stories about Sterling’s agent leaking stories.

Its mind blowing stuff and soap opera-esque. However FSG knew the fans loved Sterling and they also knew that Sterling would be the best way to finance a huge spending spree for the new manager. They decided that the fans would accept Rodgers departure, Sterling’s departure and Gerrard’s departure if they could drive a wedge between the fans and Sterling and after all three have departed embark on a huge spending spree.

That’s absolutely the plan we’ve been told will happen. Rodgers will be gone, Sterling will be gone and this was all decided last year. Liverpool have forced Sterling’s hand and he will ask for the move as his wages remain low and his contract runs down. FSG will make a statement saying due to his contract situation they had no choice but to try and get the best price they can.

Some fans won’t be sad to see Rodgers gone and some will. All fans will be sad to see Gerrard leave. Some fans earlier in the season would have raged at Sterling leaving and said more evidence LFC are a selling club but the situation has been so expertly managed by FSG that Liverpool fans will come out of this with full support behind FSG.

We have no idea if that’s right but we’ve been told FSG have absolutely no worries that they will get rid of Rodgers, get rid of the remaining influences in the dressing room, cash in on Sterling and use that money and the extra TV revenue to spend another 100m this summer.

The feeling in the United States is that they won’t have to spend a penny this summer but will be heralded as the best owners in the Premier League as they put extra TV money and players sales to a pot of 100m. What set of fans are going to moan about a 100m spending spree? Unless it turns out like the last 100m Liverpool spent.

[Reg]

Brilliant that SS, Bascombe has been blown into the long grass with that! Didn't come from that fat fella on Koptalk did it?!

[Homebooby]

Sounds v. cloak and dagger...how credible is Blind Religion? This is the first time I personally hear of them

@Reg, what's the issue with Dunc @koptalk?

[red till i die!!]

article from blind religion



- Brendan Rodgers was sacked last November. He will face the same indignity as Kenny Dalglish having to fly to the U.S and receive his p45 Wednesday 3rd June 2015

- FSG had a crisis meeting last year and blamed themselves for not having a contingency plan for this season going so badly

- With so many new signings having loyalty to Rodgers and senior players like Gerrard, Toure and Johnson having excellent relationships it was decided the sacking couldn’t take place until they had left

- Gerrard’s influence in the dressing room became a big worry for FSG and his position amongst supporters and it was decided he would have to leave

- FSG have been sounding out replacements for Rodgers since last year

- From November on there has been a transfer ban which led to no January activity and pulling out of the race to sign Depay late on

- FSG have been using the press to leak stories about reported interest in Rodgers transfer targets with no intention of signing them to keep Rodgers in the dark

- Liverpool are already identifying a different set of targets that Rodgers has not approved and is unaware are even being discussed

- Klopp has refused to speak with FSG until the season is over and said he will not allow his team to be distracted with a Cup Final approaching

- However his agent has been in discussion with LFC for months and has already provided a list of targets

- Feeling inside Anfield recent slump is because the players and the staff know the writing is on the wall for Rodgers

- FSG deliberately sabotaged the Sterling deal. The offer was nothing like £100,000 per week and even with potential bonus incentives did not reach that figure.

- FSG are aware changing manager is expensive and agreed last November to sell Sterling to find the new managers spending spree though they hadn’t identified manager at that time

- Rodgers recently had a furious exchange with a staff member when in front of the players his methods were questioned

- FSG did not attend Steven Gerrard’s last game out of a lack of respect for Gerrard but simply because Rodgers has made it clear he is looking to speak to them face to face as he is aware there are two agendas being pushed at Anfield.

Who are Blind religion ? Never heard or read anything previously from them.

I do find a lot of that hard to believe, Like they had being sounding out replacements since last year but yet gave him a new deal. Sabotaging sterlings contract and using the media to leak stories and also wanting gerrard out because of his influence with the fan's.

If it is true then its a very dangerous game to be playing. I do hope they can Rodgers but they should seriously consider selling up as well before they are made do it.

[Thommo's perm]

Ask him what the numbers are to this fridays lottery?

[red till i die!!]

Tony Barrett, May 19 2015


Not since buying Liverpool in October 2010 has Fenway Sports Group (FSG) endured such a chastening 72 hours. On Saturday, supporters at Anfield reacted with derision to the suggestion that the club are heading in the right direction. Then yesterday there was a vicious double whammy as Michel Platini confirmed that the Financial Fair Play rules which attracted John W. Henry to purchase the club are to be relaxed and Raheem Sterling’s camp made it known that the winger wishes to leave.

Liverpool are vulnerable right now. They are mediocre and everyone knows it. The reality is that those at the top end of the football industry have known it for some time, hence senior scouts from Manchester City and Chelsea becoming Anfield regulars this season in the knowledge that Liverpool’s best players are there for the taking in a way that they haven’t been for half a century.

For all the opprobrium – some of it just, some of it not – that will inevitably be showered on Sterling and his representative, Aidy Ward, following yesterday’s events, the reality is that it is Liverpool’s weakness that allows players and agents to act in the way that they are. One of the club’s first and most important responsibilities is to make it a place that players find difficult to leave and it would be absurd to claim that is the case.

With no Champions League football to offer, only one trophy (the League Cup) won in the past nine seasons, just three title challenges since 1991, a transfer policy that prioritises the future over the present and an inability to compete for top players, Liverpool are failing to keep their end of the bargain in terms of how a big club are supposed to behave. Expectations have been lowered, almost dumbed down, and if the supporters can recognise that so too can the players.

Thus far, the strongest argument that Liverpool have been able to muster in their attempts to convince Sterling to remain at the club is that it is the best place for his development at this stage of his career; not that if he remains at Anfield he can fulfil his ambitions, that success is around the corner or that they will pay him as much as others are willing to. It is an argument rooted in weakness and lacking in conviction.

It could also be argued that it is flawed given that Sterling, a creative player, has spent the past 12 months playing in a team without a forward. It is all well and good playing regular first-team football but doing so in a dysfunctional team that stymies your best qualities is hardly developmental.

The reality is that Liverpool’s problems – their failure to finish in the top four, their struggle to hold on to their best players, the lack of supporters’ faith in the club’s direction and the pressure that is building on the Anfield hierarchy – are symptoms of the same cause: a flawed transfer strategy that it is causing untold damage. Signing potential rather than proven talent is undermining everything that Liverpool are supposed to stand for. It has reached the stage where one of their better young players is not prepared to hang around to see if their inferior young players will improve.

For all the accusations that Sterling is going the wrong way about forcing a move (and many of these are wholly legitimate), Liverpool are at the mercy of the ambition of others because they are either unwilling or unable to match their rivals’ ambition. That situation is only likely to become more severe now that FFP is about to be watered down. As Henry himself conceded recently, without FFP it becomes “very difficult” for Liverpool to compete. The established football food chain, ordered according to owners’ wealth, leaves them exposed. Rival clubs, avaricious agents and even their own supporters know this only too well.

FSG’s model is failing. Whether that is because it is fundamentally flawed or poorly executed is a moot point but what is not in question is that Liverpool’s entire football operation is in need of urgent evaluation. Until the things that are going wrong are put right, then Raheem Sterling won’t be the last to believe the grass is greener elsewhere, he’ll just be one of a number in an ever lengthening line who view Liverpool Football Club as a stepping stone rather than a final destination.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/...cle4444751.ece