It has almost been a week since the final whistle was blown
at Wembley. And a lot has been said about the future of Liverpool FC and
Brendan Rodgers. In the midst of dramatic overreactions, I decided to let things
calm down and form an opinion with substance. Some couldn’t wait as long as I and
have been demanding change, mainly without explanation or reasoning. Rodgers
needs to go, now. He is not going anywhere. Jurgen Klopp was name checked more
times than I can care to recall yet for all his charisma and his CV, it’s not
one name I have been uttering in search of clarity regarding the future of
Liverpool FC.
What exactly is wrong with Liverpool right now? Is it the manager, the players, the owners? And to what extent are things so wrong with Liverpool that you have fans questioning these things? Precisely this time one year ago, no Liverpool fan would dare question the direction the club was going and the people behind that. And while the situation one year on is a marked contrast, it’s funny to see opinions change so drastically. Football is like that however. Even Rodgers himself said in jest that “Three months ago I was a tactical genius, performing to a good level. We lost some important games and now I’m not so good. That’s football, people will speculate”.
There is one reason why the top clubs in Europe, those with established success, stay successful over time. With the right direction on and off the field, a marquee club in Europe can overcome any rocky period in its history. For example, Juventus are on the verge of reaching their first European final in 12 years, nine years after being demoted to the second tier in Italian football for their in a match fixing scandal. They are the most dominant club in Italy with no signs of their success abating any time soon. Juventus have the right people on both sides and have been building towards their return to the pinnacle of European football for some time now. I’m not here to point out where Liverpool have gone wrong over the last 25 years in that regard. I wouldn’t have time! Yet I think one question the fans have to ask themselves is what good will changing of management and even the players will bring to the club? How many rebuilding programmes do you want to experience before you settle for one you like? None of them tend to be pretty at their worst and require one thing I rarely see in a Liverpool fan, patience. Questions do need to be asked, mostly of this season alone but taking into everything that has gone on I do not believe terminating Rodgers contract will be of any of short or long term benefit to the club.
Who was at fault on Sunday? I think blame comes in equal proportions. Rodgers may have selected the players, but it doesn’t explain some of the really inept performances given by some of them. I’m looking at Gerrard, Henderson, and Markovic in this regard but it’s hard to argue that any player really played well. People will point to the numerous formation switches Rodgers made in the game (which I will get to in a moment) and while that didn’t help the players, the players didn’t help themselves. I saw no passion, no urgency, and no desire to get on the ball or show for it last Sunday. It was as insipid a performance you can see in a semi-final. And whose fault is that exactly? The players can’t hide behind the manager when they don’t perform. One explanation offered after full-time is that these players aren’t experienced enough to grasp the big occasion. And that is something I think is bullshit. Jack Grealish, 19 years old, starting only his fifth game for Aston Villa was absolutely fearless on the ball. From an Irish perspective, it was great to see a prodigious talent step up and perform on a stage like that.
Tactically however, they did not benefit from a number of changes during the game. It’s forgotten now that Liverpool actually took the lead, albeit against the run of play. The two areas where Liverpool went wrong consistently the last day was maintaining possession and giving options off the ball. Very few times did they release an effective counter-attack. No one even thought of supporting Mario Balotelli when he got the ball in the final third, which left him to be surrounded by Villa defenders up close and in the space in their box. And none of Rodgers’ changes in shape made a difference to that. The urgency and control of the game was lost by switching to a back four. It was the key tactical mistake Rodgers made. Emre Can has been excellent in an unorthodox back three, but moving to right back was one move too many. It nullified his presence in the team in bringing the ball out from defence. His surging runs were not as effective on the flank. Phillip Lahm’s switch to the defensive midfield for Bayern Munich in 2013-14 revolutionised their season according to Pep Guardiola. The relevance that has to Emre Can is that it is an example of keeping technically efficient players in the middle, where they can help distribute the ball better. He was left isolated in the flanks and the rest of the team suffered.
The substitutions also raised eyebrows. Introducing Balotelli made sense as Liverpool had no presence in the final third. Where it went wrong was the type of service he got or support backing him up. That, and the fact he went offside numerous times long direct balls were played to him. Aside from that, I looked at the Liverpool bench at around the 65th minute. I didn’t think either Lambert or Borini would come on unless things were desperate. The only move I could see was a straight swap in Moreno for Johnson. I have little time for Moreno and think he is no better than Johnson. Johnson however, would at least bring plenty of running and options going forward. Yet the decision to take Allen off instead was ludicrous. Gerrard was lost, having no impact on the game, and his set pieces were ineffective. Allen might not have been having a great game but he was a damn sight more involved than Gerrard was. Not only that but it necessitated another formation change. Lambert, the final change, would indeed come on again for another 60 second cameo in injury time. At that stage, formations didn’t really matter.
The end result was 2-1. Liverpool’s goal a deflected effort from Coutinho, the one bright light in their 2014-15 season. And almost immediately the post mortem into the season began. Understandably no one is going to see if Liverpool overhaul a four point deficit to catch Man City in fourth over their final seven games before casting judgment. It was negative, fatalistic and quite hilarious to be honest. Naturally the defeat left a sour taste in the mouth but the need for heads to roll over the defeat is extremely over the top. Even if I’m amongst a rarity where I don’t let football effect my emotions for longer than a few minutes after a game, it still beggared belief that those fans still lack foresight or understanding of their demands. I was quite happy not to cast an opinion, for fear any disappointment would result in brash assertions.
I’ve always been of the opinion that Liverpool overachieved last season. The level of performance from a number of players that year was simply unsustainable. I certainly felt Liverpool wouldn’t hit the ground running this season and that came to pass. Unfortunately many other problems came to the fore that before we knew it, Liverpool were chasing the top four instead of the title. And from that point on, Rodgers has been under pressure. Once again, the club has failed to build on the previous seasons efforts and are now lagging behind their rivals. Where exactly has it gone wrong for Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers? And what needs to change for them to reach the promised land?
On looking at Liverpools signings last summer, they were a mix of finished articles and potential. It’s a straight 50-50 between the two. And that was a mistake. Liverpool needed more finished articles, especially to replace the talent of Luis Suarez. Why wait for more potential to be realised the year after you finish 2nd? You should be wanting to push on or at least consolidate your position. And while you can give some benefit of doubt to the younger signings, the ready-made players brought in simply haven’t done it. Personally, I thought it was simply pathetic that Liverpool spent close 60 million on players from Southampton, a team that finished 8th in 2013-14 season. Liverpool needed to step up another level, not downgrade. Neither of Lallana, Lovren or Lambert can be termed as good signings. And none of them can be termed as young signings that need time. They were purchased to make an immediate impact on the first team or from the bench. The younger signings, Markovic, Moreno and Can, need time to develop. Although I have great reservations about Moreno’s potential, Markovic has shown signs of talent. And Emre Can has undoubtedly been the best signing of the summer.
What exactly is wrong with Liverpool right now? Is it the manager, the players, the owners? And to what extent are things so wrong with Liverpool that you have fans questioning these things? Precisely this time one year ago, no Liverpool fan would dare question the direction the club was going and the people behind that. And while the situation one year on is a marked contrast, it’s funny to see opinions change so drastically. Football is like that however. Even Rodgers himself said in jest that “Three months ago I was a tactical genius, performing to a good level. We lost some important games and now I’m not so good. That’s football, people will speculate”.
There is one reason why the top clubs in Europe, those with established success, stay successful over time. With the right direction on and off the field, a marquee club in Europe can overcome any rocky period in its history. For example, Juventus are on the verge of reaching their first European final in 12 years, nine years after being demoted to the second tier in Italian football for their in a match fixing scandal. They are the most dominant club in Italy with no signs of their success abating any time soon. Juventus have the right people on both sides and have been building towards their return to the pinnacle of European football for some time now. I’m not here to point out where Liverpool have gone wrong over the last 25 years in that regard. I wouldn’t have time! Yet I think one question the fans have to ask themselves is what good will changing of management and even the players will bring to the club? How many rebuilding programmes do you want to experience before you settle for one you like? None of them tend to be pretty at their worst and require one thing I rarely see in a Liverpool fan, patience. Questions do need to be asked, mostly of this season alone but taking into everything that has gone on I do not believe terminating Rodgers contract will be of any of short or long term benefit to the club.
Who was at fault on Sunday? I think blame comes in equal proportions. Rodgers may have selected the players, but it doesn’t explain some of the really inept performances given by some of them. I’m looking at Gerrard, Henderson, and Markovic in this regard but it’s hard to argue that any player really played well. People will point to the numerous formation switches Rodgers made in the game (which I will get to in a moment) and while that didn’t help the players, the players didn’t help themselves. I saw no passion, no urgency, and no desire to get on the ball or show for it last Sunday. It was as insipid a performance you can see in a semi-final. And whose fault is that exactly? The players can’t hide behind the manager when they don’t perform. One explanation offered after full-time is that these players aren’t experienced enough to grasp the big occasion. And that is something I think is bullshit. Jack Grealish, 19 years old, starting only his fifth game for Aston Villa was absolutely fearless on the ball. From an Irish perspective, it was great to see a prodigious talent step up and perform on a stage like that.
Tactically however, they did not benefit from a number of changes during the game. It’s forgotten now that Liverpool actually took the lead, albeit against the run of play. The two areas where Liverpool went wrong consistently the last day was maintaining possession and giving options off the ball. Very few times did they release an effective counter-attack. No one even thought of supporting Mario Balotelli when he got the ball in the final third, which left him to be surrounded by Villa defenders up close and in the space in their box. And none of Rodgers’ changes in shape made a difference to that. The urgency and control of the game was lost by switching to a back four. It was the key tactical mistake Rodgers made. Emre Can has been excellent in an unorthodox back three, but moving to right back was one move too many. It nullified his presence in the team in bringing the ball out from defence. His surging runs were not as effective on the flank. Phillip Lahm’s switch to the defensive midfield for Bayern Munich in 2013-14 revolutionised their season according to Pep Guardiola. The relevance that has to Emre Can is that it is an example of keeping technically efficient players in the middle, where they can help distribute the ball better. He was left isolated in the flanks and the rest of the team suffered.
The substitutions also raised eyebrows. Introducing Balotelli made sense as Liverpool had no presence in the final third. Where it went wrong was the type of service he got or support backing him up. That, and the fact he went offside numerous times long direct balls were played to him. Aside from that, I looked at the Liverpool bench at around the 65th minute. I didn’t think either Lambert or Borini would come on unless things were desperate. The only move I could see was a straight swap in Moreno for Johnson. I have little time for Moreno and think he is no better than Johnson. Johnson however, would at least bring plenty of running and options going forward. Yet the decision to take Allen off instead was ludicrous. Gerrard was lost, having no impact on the game, and his set pieces were ineffective. Allen might not have been having a great game but he was a damn sight more involved than Gerrard was. Not only that but it necessitated another formation change. Lambert, the final change, would indeed come on again for another 60 second cameo in injury time. At that stage, formations didn’t really matter.
The end result was 2-1. Liverpool’s goal a deflected effort from Coutinho, the one bright light in their 2014-15 season. And almost immediately the post mortem into the season began. Understandably no one is going to see if Liverpool overhaul a four point deficit to catch Man City in fourth over their final seven games before casting judgment. It was negative, fatalistic and quite hilarious to be honest. Naturally the defeat left a sour taste in the mouth but the need for heads to roll over the defeat is extremely over the top. Even if I’m amongst a rarity where I don’t let football effect my emotions for longer than a few minutes after a game, it still beggared belief that those fans still lack foresight or understanding of their demands. I was quite happy not to cast an opinion, for fear any disappointment would result in brash assertions.
I’ve always been of the opinion that Liverpool overachieved last season. The level of performance from a number of players that year was simply unsustainable. I certainly felt Liverpool wouldn’t hit the ground running this season and that came to pass. Unfortunately many other problems came to the fore that before we knew it, Liverpool were chasing the top four instead of the title. And from that point on, Rodgers has been under pressure. Once again, the club has failed to build on the previous seasons efforts and are now lagging behind their rivals. Where exactly has it gone wrong for Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers? And what needs to change for them to reach the promised land?
On looking at Liverpools signings last summer, they were a mix of finished articles and potential. It’s a straight 50-50 between the two. And that was a mistake. Liverpool needed more finished articles, especially to replace the talent of Luis Suarez. Why wait for more potential to be realised the year after you finish 2nd? You should be wanting to push on or at least consolidate your position. And while you can give some benefit of doubt to the younger signings, the ready-made players brought in simply haven’t done it. Personally, I thought it was simply pathetic that Liverpool spent close 60 million on players from Southampton, a team that finished 8th in 2013-14 season. Liverpool needed to step up another level, not downgrade. Neither of Lallana, Lovren or Lambert can be termed as good signings. And none of them can be termed as young signings that need time. They were purchased to make an immediate impact on the first team or from the bench. The younger signings, Markovic, Moreno and Can, need time to develop. Although I have great reservations about Moreno’s potential, Markovic has shown signs of talent. And Emre Can has undoubtedly been the best signing of the summer.
Yet it was the signing of Mario Balotelli that has caused the most discussion about Liverpool’s transfer policy and raises several questions about the club right now. Balotelli is an immensely talented player, anyone who denies that is just narrow minded. However, Mario needs to be the focal point of a team built around his strengths. Mario’s playing style vastly differs from that of Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge, and Fabio Borini. He does not fit into a high pressured attacking game. And the time spent trying to integrate him into that style set Liverpool back early on this season. Rodgers could easily identify that Balotelli would not fit into the team. Yet, I strongly believe that the Transfer Committee overruled any reservations the manager had, for the need of a marquee signing and the hope of the player becoming a success. That might work on occasion in Football Manager. It seldom translates into reality.
If both the Transfer Committee and Rodgers have differing opinions on players and the playing philosophy how can the club ever expect to progress? Having five people decide on who to sign is madness. Those in charge of the business side of the club have commitments to raising and saving money for the club. The manager and coaches have commitments to building a top four side. These commitments will inevitably clash. And who gets the deciding vote? It’s football by numbers. And if the numbers are adding up on one side with sponsorship deals and the New Balance shirt deal, then they certainly aren’t adding up on the pitch.
The semi-final against Aston Villa was the latest in a string of big games that Rodgers and Liverpool have failed to deliver. Strangely enough, these big games always start off with the infamous Chelsea game last season. There is no mention of the many crucial wins that preceded and gave expectation and scrutiny to that Chelsea game. And while I felt Rodgers should have adapted a more conservative approach that day against Chelsea, it’s not like it was the deciding factor. Liverpool dominated that game and Chelsea were happy to disrupt that any way they can, content that they would not be broken. Their two goals that day came from a mistake from Gerrard and an injury time counter attack. Rodgers can’t legislate for his captain making a mistake like that. Against Palace, they were coasting for 78 minutes, what followed was a collapse of epic proportions but one that did not cost them the title. Liverpool lost the title initiative in the Chelsea game, this result just ended it. I would hardly count those games as ones Rodgers lost through tactical mishandling of the same extent as Villa last Sunday.
I admire Rodgers passion, his study of the game, his philosophy. What I don’t like is some of the shite he spouts in press conferences before and after the game. At times in this season he has heaped unnecessary pressure on both himself and the players. He has done it with Sterling with his contract. The expectation placed on Sturridge and the impact he would make when he’d return from injury could have easily forced a relapse in his recovery. The pressure on Sturridge to shoulder the burden for Liverpools faltering form when he returned was massive. After defeating Man City in March, he said Liverpool could overhaul them to 2nd place. Now he is trying to cast assertions over them in chasing fourth place. That sums it up really. I know Liverpool have a special place for quick witted and charismatic managers but Rodgers needs to deliver and back his words up. Right now, Rodgers is the only manager in Liverpools illustrious history to not win a trophy in his first 3 seasons. That is a record that does not endear him to the fans who thrive upon silverware.
Across his 3 seasons at the club, 3 different formations have become the way forward for Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers. In 2012-13, it was a 4-3-3. The next season the midfield diamond was the masterstroke that almost delivered a league title. This year, Liverpool found stability and form under a 3-4-3 line up, with slight alterations between 3-4-2-1 depending on personnel. From day one, Rodgers strived for possession based football, supremacy in controlling the ball. Somewhere along the way, that changed. The many changing formations and personnel at his disposal raises the question of what Rodgers wants to achieve with Liverpool going forward. It's hard to maintain a consistent system when the personnel keeps changing, Rodgers needs to settle this once and for all in the summer.
Rodgers cannot hide behind the Transfer Committee. But people cannot lay all the blame at his feet for everything gone wrong this season. I think expectations for 2014-15 were vastly raised after the exploits of last season. Yes, it is a setback that the club may ultimately miss out on Champions League football. However that is compounded by the fact they almost won the league last year, that they played fascinating football in doing so. This has only served to increase the growing discontent towards Rodgers. While he does need to address some issues, it is still over the top to consider removing him as manager. He doesn’t lack self-confidence and believes he is the right man to bring Liverpool forward.
I also believe Rodgers deserve another season in the job. You just cannot forget what he achieved in almost winning the title last season and take into account the changes that have occurred since. I believe he deserves a chance to rectify the mistakes of this campaign. Losing Suarez and losing Sturridge for long periods to injury has had a devastating impact. It has propelled Raheem Sterling to the fore and he has had to shoulder the burden of their absence. He is their top scorer this season, but people focus on the chances he misses, the mistakes he makes. The contract issue is hardly helping either. However, I have never seen Sterling give up or stop running in trying to make things happen. His immense quality has been diluted by excessive effort. He needs support and he hasn’t got it this season.
I strongly believe that if Rodgers is to lead Liverpool into the 2015-16 season, he has to be given a proper chance to do this. He cannot be stifled by any transfer committee in identifying talent. If he wants to work with one person behind the scenes then grand, but let that person have a vested interest in tactical and technical aspects of the game, not the financial and economical aspects. People may question some of the players Rodgers has bought but he cannot be judged fairly until he works with the players he wants. Liverpool made a mistake opting for potential last season. One season on, Rodgers needs to identify which players are going to make an impact, and which players can fill the voids left by those who won’t and/or will be leaving. Gerrard will be gone this summer. And while he has been extremely average this season, his departure will leave a big void on and off the field. No 20 year old wonderkid can fill that immediately.
There is absolutely no guarantee that Jurgen Klopp or anyone else will do a better job at the club if they come in. Liverpool will ultimately find themselves at square one should they decide want a new manager. There will be another excessive overhaul of players and the need to accept another year of transition. I have seen too many years of transition at Liverpool. I’d much rather gamble on year 4, a make or break year for Brendan Rodgers. He has shown enough in his 3 seasons to show he is the right man to bring Liverpool forward. He needs a chance to deliver that.
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