Liverpool FC Forum

red till i die!! » Mon Jul 29, 2013 5:57 pm wrote:from the independent

There was a moment of sadness in Pepe Reina’s goodbye letter to Liverpool fans, a point of clear criticism directed at the club management.

Reina, after eight seasons at Liverpool, in which he barely missed a game, felt that he deserved to leave on his own terms. He would have preferred to go to a team of his choice, at a time of his choosing, after a discussion with the club.

Instead, he has been shipped off to Napoli on loan with as little consultation as they might give a youngster whom they had decided would never make it.

“I thought that I deserved better than that,” wrote Reina, the disappointment obvious, “even though I understand that difficult decisions have to be taken in football.”

Of course, football is a heartless place and clubs cannot afford to treat their big players with too much deference. When Simon Mignolet signed from Sunderland the only question was under which circumstances Reina would leave this summer. As it happens, those circumstances were not to his taste, and this is a more efficient outcome than his collecting his salary while sitting on the bench for the next season.

But everyone knows about ‘the Liverpool way’, and this is not it. This is meant to be a club where individuals were respected, especially those who had earned it on the pitch. Honest conversation was always meant to be the solution, and difficult divorces managed in a calm and dignified way, but Reina found himself surprised and rather put out when Liverpool decided to move him to Italy.

It raises questions, not for the first time, about the man-management at Anfield these days. It may well grow out of the American owners, coming from a sporting culture where players are traded at the whim of the owners without much of a say for themselves.

Or perhaps it comes from elsewhere at the club. Brendan Rodgers has his own ways of motivating players but it is not clear that they all respond well to him. Early last season Stewart Downing was publicly criticised by the new manager and was not delighted by it.

“I was obviously upset. I always try to give my best," said Downing last October when Rodgers had questioned his commitment. "You’ll have to ask the manager what he meant by his quotes. I would have preferred it obviously if it was private.”

Nuri Sahin, the Turkish midfielder signed on loan from Real Madrid but who never fully settled in his six months at Anfield, doubted the communication skills of Rodgers, and blamed them for his failure to settle.

“I did not fail at Liverpool,” Sahin insisted. “Brendan Rodgers wanted me to play as a number 10. But I do not play behind the strikers. I talked to him and asked him why he was playing me there. It is not my real position. The coach could not answer me. Thank God I have left Brendan Rodgers.”

Reina has left too, with his own distaste at the new regime.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/foot ... 37142.html

john craig » Mon Jul 29, 2013 6:06 pm wrote:I don't see much evidence that Rodgers' man-management skills are a concern, contrary to that article.

Of the 3 players mentioned, Downing's form dramatically improved after some public criticism, so how can Rodgers really be questioned after he managed to get some decent form out of a player who had been an embarrassment up until then?

Sahin, despite his comments, was not always deployed in the 'number 10' role.  It became apparent very early that physically he was found wanting in the Premiership and couldn't cut it being one of a central midfield pair, so Rodgers pushed him upfield so he didn't have to worry about him defensively, but it didn't work.  To me Sahin never really looked like he wanted to be here and his nut-less performance at Goodison summed him up.  Rodgers had the sense to get him off the wage bill sooner, should he be criticised for that?

As for Reina I would reiterate my comments above.  I back Rodgers in this decision too.

john craig » Mon Jul 29, 2013 7:06 pm wrote:I don't see much evidence that Rodgers' man-management skills are a concern, contrary to that article.

Of the 3 players mentioned, Downing's form dramatically improved after some public criticism, so how can Rodgers really be questioned after he managed to get some decent form out of a player who had been an embarrassment up until then?

Sahin, despite his comments, was not always deployed in the 'number 10' role.  It became apparent very early that physically he was found wanting in the Premiership and couldn't cut it being one of a central midfield pair, so Rodgers pushed him upfield so he didn't have to worry about him defensively, but it didn't work.  To me Sahin never really looked like he wanted to be here and his nut-less performance at Goodison summed him up.  Rodgers had the sense to get him off the wage bill sooner, should he be criticised for that?

As for Reina I would reiterate my comments above.  I back Rodgers in this decision too.

Kenny Kan » Mon Jul 29, 2013 6:02 pm wrote:Good post ConnO'var, good to see you posting as well.

ConnO'var » Mon Jul 29, 2013 6:18 pm wrote:

Kenny Kan » Mon Jul 29, 2013 6:02 pm wrote:Good post ConnO'var, good to see you posting as well.

Cheers mate... the barra biting?

Kenny Kan » Mon Jul 29, 2013 6:12 pm wrote:

john craig » Mon Jul 29, 2013 6:06 pm wrote:I don't see much evidence that Rodgers' man-management skills are a concern, contrary to that article.

Of the 3 players mentioned, Downing's form dramatically improved after some public criticism, so how can Rodgers really be questioned after he managed to get some decent form out of a player who had been an embarrassment up until then?

Sahin, despite his comments, was not always deployed in the 'number 10' role.  It became apparent very early that physically he was found wanting in the Premiership and couldn't cut it being one of a central midfield pair, so Rodgers pushed him upfield so he didn't have to worry about him defensively, but it didn't work.  To me Sahin never really looked like he wanted to be here and his nut-less performance at Goodison summed him up.  Rodgers had the sense to get him off the wage bill sooner, should he be criticised for that?

As for Reina I would reiterate my comments above.  I back Rodgers in this decision too.

More sense, good post John. Most would acknowledge Downing's upturn in form although personally it's not enough for me - wrong buy at the wrong price, yet the author fails to even acknowledge this.

Agree about Sahin and I agree with your last post on Reina, which seems to be what the majority of reasoned posters have said.

Benny The Noon » Mon Jul 29, 2013 5:28 pm wrote:So if Madrid came in for Suarez you think he would turn them down after going on about them all summer ? He would be away in an instant

john craig » Mon Jul 29, 2013 6:26 pm wrote:

Kenny Kan » Mon Jul 29, 2013 6:12 pm wrote:

john craig » Mon Jul 29, 2013 6:06 pm wrote:I don't see much evidence that Rodgers' man-management skills are a concern, contrary to that article.

Of the 3 players mentioned, Downing's form dramatically improved after some public criticism, so how can Rodgers really be questioned after he managed to get some decent form out of a player who had been an embarrassment up until then?

Sahin, despite his comments, was not always deployed in the 'number 10' role.  It became apparent very early that physically he was found wanting in the Premiership and couldn't cut it being one of a central midfield pair, so Rodgers pushed him upfield so he didn't have to worry about him defensively, but it didn't work.  To me Sahin never really looked like he wanted to be here and his nut-less performance at Goodison summed him up.  Rodgers had the sense to get him off the wage bill sooner, should he be criticised for that?

As for Reina I would reiterate my comments above.  I back Rodgers in this decision too.

More sense, good post John. Most would acknowledge Downing's upturn in form although personally it's not enough for me - wrong buy at the wrong price, yet the author fails to even acknowledge this.

Agree about Sahin and I agree with your last post on Reina, which seems to be what the majority of reasoned posters have said.

Yeah Downing still needs to be shipped imo too.  But at least he has a bit of re-sale value now, albeit still less than half of what we were stupid enough to pay.

I think if you look at how positive Gerrard and Carra have been when speaking about Rodgers it speaks volumes too.  They've seen more LFC managers come and go than most.  I'm not saying Rodgers is perfect, but I would say man-management and his media-handling are particular strengths from where I'm sitting.  I have also been impressed by his tactical flexibility and especially adapting his tiki-taka midway through last season to allow us to play some longer balls to get the best out of our current players (ie Gerrard who hits a great long ball and Suarez/Sturridge who are great at working the channels and getting on the end of them).

Greavesie » Mon Jul 29, 2013 7:41 pm wrote:

Benny The Noon » Mon Jul 29, 2013 5:28 pm wrote:So if Madrid came in for Suarez you think he would turn them down after going on about them all summer ? He would be away in an instant

He hasn't publicly stated as bluntly as Reina. You answer questions with more questions and fail to acknowledge genuine points