I didn't really know where else to put this, but I want to comment after watching the 2005 review DVD. I'm only going to examine the period before New Year's, since the early months will be the most critical in examining how well Rodgers is doing compared to Rafa's first year. In Benitez's first half-season in charge, there were these "lowlights".... 0-1 Loss to Graz @ Anfield (CL Qualy) 0-1 Loss to Bolton @ Reebok (League) 4 points from 3 games and 11th place after August (League) 1-2 Loss to Man Utd @ Old Trafford (League) 0-1 Loss to Olynpiakos @ Olympiakos (CL Group) 10 points from 7 games and 7th place after September (League) 0-1 Loss to Chelsea @ Stamford Bridge (League) 0-0 Draw to Deportivo la Coruna @ Anfield (CL Group) 17 points from 10 games and 6th place after October (League) 0-1 Loss to Birmingham @ Anfield (League) 0-2 Loss to Middlesbrough @ Riverside (League) 0-1 Loss to Monaco @ Monaco (CL Group) 23 points from 14 games and 7th place after November (League) 1-1 Draw to Aston Villa @ Villa Park (League) 0-1 Loss to Everton @ Goodison (League) 34 points from 20 games and 6th place (League) 15 points behind leaders Chelsea. 6 points behind 4th place Everton (League) Of course, there were these highlights... 2-1 Win over Arsenal @ Anfield (League) 1-1 PK Win over Tottenham @ Anfield (League Cup) 3-1 Win over Olympiakos @ Anfield (CL Group) CL Knockout Qualification (CL) Key Players:Gerrard, Cisse, Finnan, Garcia, Alonso, Baros Key Injuries: Gerrard, Cisse (1-year), Garcia (1-month) Young Surprises: Neil Mellor, Florent Sinama-Pongolle Overachievers: Igor Biscan, Djimi Traore Sometimes, it is easy to focus on the negatives - especially when the negatives always outweigh the positives in most circumstances. I remember this half-season being a fairly positive and optimistic one for most of us.
We also lost 0-1 to Chelsea @ Anfield on New Year's Day to go 18 points behind the leaders. Also, Alonso was injured by Lampard and lost for 3 months. We loaned Salif Diao to Birmingham. We bought Mauricio Pellegrino and Fernando Morientes. Scott Carson stepped up to the first team. The lowest point for the whole year was probably a 0-1 loss @ Burnley in the FA Cup 3rd round on January 18th.
Is that the season Lampard broke Gerrard's ankle as well? I'm feeling pretty positive, maybe over pos at times. Liverpool have always "Tried" to be the pass and move team, ask Shanks, that was his motto. We have turned into a "Kick the fooking thing outta here" in recent seasons so it is nice to see it coming back. Today's effort was "for me" a good one. Gutted we had to draw because for the most part, once we settled, I felt we were doing a good job against the League Champions and prolly the richest team in the EPL. A team that has played together for a while. I can still see that we'll have more trouble with the West Broms in the league. They will press "Frantically" forcing mistakes. Teams like Citeh and such, will play "better" football. Still got to sort....: The Final Third!
That was 'Arry's year- before they crocked him. He played well at the start of that season. He's still available on a free if, well, you know....
This will be an interesting comparison, although I think the groundwork that Benitrez needed to do then was more than Rodgers needs to do now. If'n Rodgers can shift Cole, Downing and Adam, he's already got the making sof a good side.
I am more optimistic as I see signs of life with this "new" style. It is gonna have bumps in the road along the way and fans and players are gonna have to be patient. One good performance doesn't mean "we are there". It is a continual development, but the new players being brought in have been done so because they can play this way and some of the existing players suit the system well. I also think it can work as BR seems to have the balls to play the likes of Sterling instead of Downing -- that was a brave decision. More brave decisions will have to come to get rid of some of the dross and also have some of the iconic players move aside for the youngsters. It is gonna take more time and heady expectations were already surfacing after the City match. We have a long long way to go -- but optimistic, yeah. Very.
We're gonna win the league, the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Europa League--all by next week... What's your problem man?
If'n he can shift those three, Id charter him a flight to the US so as he can fix Social Security, and solve healthcare.
I'm worried that we're looking like we might have to burn out the best prospect we've had in ages in 17yr old Raheem Sterling because we have no option. Which is really why I'm hoping Assaidi can get fit and into the squad ASAP.
It might be good for him. Rooney was playing at this age. Fabregas was playing at a similar age. If he is good enough, he should play. He will learn immensely from this season.
May need a separate Sterling thread -- he does seem to be more effective when he cuts in towards the box rather going wide around his man. This might change over time. When he cuts in towards the box the defenders are more worried about fouling him and he seems to be able to cause a bit more havoc and more potential for penalties. Out wide opposition seem to be able to handle hm a bit better as his crossing still needs some work and they can box him in a bit better. I think we will see the best of him in away matches when we can counter attack with more speed. The more opportunities the better ...
Agree. If he's hungry and wants to play he should. Talents like him shouldn't be treated like porcelain.
I agree - but I'd like to see him not play 45+ games this season. More in the 35 range. Add in the stupid international duties - he's in for a long season.
Someone tweeted that if they didn't know better they'd have thought Bill Shankly was doing an impression of an Ulsterman
Direct link http://www.theanfieldwrap.com/2012/09/interview-brendan-rodgers-talks-to-taw/ Brilliant. Could listen to him discuss tactics all day.
I'd like to see Rodgers return with this lineup ReinaJohnson Skrtel Agger EnriqueShelvey/Sahin AllenSahin/ShelveyGerrard Suarez Borini
There is no way you can watch this interview and not being thoroughly impressed. He talks about football very intelligently and everything he does is very well thought out. I kept imagining Roy Hodgson giving a similar talk, and how that would turn out. Rodgers has a clear vision for the club, and I can't wait to watch the progress throughout the season. Hopefully by the end of the season our opponents are suffering "death by football."
If anyone wants the video, Redmen has it on youtube. Part one and part two. Fucking hell, this guy is good. I was enamored with him before, but he just impresses you more and more every time you see him. The best part for me is that he seems so genuine, so honest and real. You never get the sense that he's playing games or tiptoeing around anything, he just speaks so openly. And his enthusiasm is just unreal. FFS, he's just gone through a week where the club has come under immense criticism and pressure as a result of the transfer window and the Arsenal match, and here he's speaking as if it's the day after he's got the job and he's just thrilled to get to work. During part two there is a point where he stands up and gets really animated and excited in making his point, and it's easy to forget that he's standing in front of a room of journalists and media members rather than his squad and staff. I mean, each journalist thanked him after their question, and BR thanked them individually in return, and he got a fucking round of applause after the whole thing. Unbelievable. More than anything, you can tell that this guy loves his job as a manager, and as our manager. When talking tactics he said he loved it and he could sit there and talk all day with them - and you really got the sense that he meant it. I was thinking to myself "Just give the guy a freaking whiteboard already and let him go at it!" I also loved the part when he described his first few days at the club and bringing every single person in the club together for a meeting. The effect that has to have on morale around the place after the last few years... If it's possible, I'm looking forward the Being: Liverpool series even more now. The guy is a good manager, but regardless of whether he's successful here or not he's a top, top man. That's someone you can rally around.
What we have is a manager that is pure class, that represents the club we all love as best as possible. The tactics discussion was great (I only listened but I would love to see the video, which I know is floating around) but what really gave me goosebumps was the last couple of minutes, where he talks about the club being one, from the first name on the team sheet to the assistant manager to the groundskeepers. He demands greatness from everyone - particularly himself - and I'm confident that he'll get it. Walk on, Buck. We're all behind you.