Our 'implosion'...

[LeTallecWiz]

What? You preferred Hodgson?
Or did you prefer Dalglish?
The sure bet was Rafa and he still is.

Yes, I preferred Hodgson ...

I thought Daglish should have been given a bit more time, because I understood why FSG moved the way they did.

Raf was the 'sure bet'? You forget our last season - where the squad was going etc ... It's easier to rewrite history, I get it.

 

[Dreambeliever]

Modo serious question. Would you swap Rodgers for Rafa now if given the choice?

 

[mark1975]

Modo serious question. Would you swap Rodgers for Rafa now if given the choice?

Course he would, he just said as much. "The sure bet was Rafa and he still is"

 

[Modo]

Modo serious question. Would you swap Rodgers for Rafa now if given the choice?

It's like asking Mark or LTW, if they'd give Kenny another year now?
Of course I wouldn't but when Hodgson got sacked Rafa was the safe choice, when Kenny was sacked Rafa was still the safe choice and if you'd asked me after Kenny dismal season if I wanted Rafa or Rodgers, I would have said Brendan who?

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

I don't think anyone would swap, but I would rather we kept Rafa than hired Hodgson or Dalglish. Some people though it was a case of anyone would be better than Rafa at the end, and they couldn't have been more wrong.

But if getting those two in, meant ending up with Rodgers, we can't really complain.

I still think next season could be the defining one for Rodgers, if he doesn't manage to have a great season, it could all go pear shaped quite quickly.

 

[gkmacca]

The important decision will be on the pitch. Is the way forward with a captain in his mid-thirties, not really suited to a new position even though he's being told he's as good as Pirlo doing it?

 

[mom]

As well as liking your post I just want to say that I like it.

Haha, cheers dude.

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

The important decision will be on the pitch. Is the way forward with a captain in his mid-thirties, not really suited to a new position even though he's being told he's as good as Pirlo doing it?

Is Gerrard really that much older than other club captains? Terry, Vidic are about that age, and Varmaelen and Kompany are just a few years younger.

 

[mark1975]

The important decision will be on the pitch. Is the way forward with a captain in his mid-thirties, not really suited to a new position even though he's being told he's as good as Pirlo doing it?

That's just one aspect of what we've done this season. We've trusted Flanagan, Coutinho and Sterling to be massive contributors to a title challenge, and it worked. We've gone all out for goals and ultimately it got us into this position - we can argue the toss over Palace, that's what we need to learn from. By and large though we've got a young team, Johnson needs to go and the defenders and midfielders need re-evaluating, but the basis is there. The only veteran is Gerrard and it's the structure around him as much as the occasional lapse that has raised questions about that role and how suited he is to it. There have been alot more games where it's worked than it hasn't. And I'm as skeptical as you probably are, as to whether it's worth playing him there in the long run.

Going into the CL it's going to force, or for want of a better word, give us the 'excuse' to be more protective of Gerrard. Hopefully adding Lallana and another midfielder will allay the fears about over reliance on Gerrard. Personally I wouldn't be surprised to see a restructure at the heart of midfield.

 

[Richey]

Course he would, he just said as much. "The sure bet was Rafa and he still is"

A sure bet to have publicly fallen out with our (then) new owners, yes.

 

[mom]

I can see why some would question Stevie being captain, although I don't subscribe to that point of view myself, but who else would fill the role?
None of the back five for me. Lucas or Allen? Nope. Henderson in years to come maybe, sure, but not at the moment. Luis, with his passion, work rate and overall ethic is a candidate, but not quite the calm head that Gerrard is. I'd leave Stevie as captain until Henderson is ready to take the band from him. I don't quite get the criticism of Gerrard in his new role. Take him out of the team for next season and see what happens.

 

[gkmacca]

Is Gerrard really that much older than other club captains? Terry, Vidic are about that age, and Varmaelen and Kompany are just a few years younger.

Is Terry going to sway Mourinho when he thinks of how best to go forward? No, he'll be ruthless. I'm not sure what players 'a few years younger' have to do with it. It's not that long a shelf life for footballers. If you're a few years younger, you're out of this kind of equation. If Gerrard was a few years younger than he is I wouldn't be concerned.

 

[Hansern]

So Gerrard isnt really suited to his new position? Havent we lost 1 game after that change? Taking 37 from 42 points. I'm not to sure what else we could have done.
Gerrard will be captain until he hangs up his boots.

 

[gkmacca]

Take him out of the team for next season and see what happens.

Well I'm not sure of the stats but it didn't seem to be what people expected in the recent past. I'd like a new player, preferably one who possessed an icy temperament, and who couldn't give a toss about the past but was desperate to win, who'd be calm when it was needed and fierce when it was needed, rather than the opposite, drive the team into a new era. The past is the past. Like second, it means nothing. (And as for people claiming Gerrard's great in his new position because results went well until the last few - well, go back and look at all the criticism he got before the hype descended over the heads like hallucinogenic bubbles.)

 

[Hansern]

Suarez to be made vice captain would be a good move imho

 

[mom]

Well I'm not sure of the stats but it didn't seem to be what people expected in the recent past. I'd like a new player, preferably one who possessed an icy temperament, and who couldn't give a toss about the past but was desperate to win, who'd be calm when it was needed and fierce when it was needed, rather than the opposite, drive the team into a new era. The past is the past. Like second, it means nothing. (And as for people claiming Gerrard's great in his new position because results went well until the last few - well, go back and look at all the criticism he got before the hype descended over the heads like hallucinogenic bubbles.)

We're going to need that new player fairly soon because of his age, but he's not going to be easy to replace. He's carried the team for years and still puts in solid performances on a regular basis and so commands a lot of respect from the team. I'm sure he offers much more to the team than just his stats. Don't get me wrong, of course he's not the long term solution for the next five years or so, but I don't think it makes sense to take the arm band from him just yet and I still think he easily deserves his place in the first eleven.
Ultimately, I'd love to see Lucas gone and replaced with a top notch Gerrardish player. Rotate the midfield with that lot. Or maybe keep Lucas as emergency back up. Eventually, the new guy will fill Gerrard''s boots if Jordan can't.

 

[Richey]

Gerrard will be captain until he hangs up his boots.

He will, yes. Though I suspect he will remain club captain, with his appearances gradually reducing, and someone else (no idea who. Suarez perhaps?) actually captaining the side on match days. A bit like when Bryan Robson was getting old and not playing very much.

 

[Spaghetti Legs]

I can see why some would question Stevie being captain, although I don't subscribe to that point of view myself, but who else would fill the role?
None of the back five for me. Lucas or Allen? Nope. Henderson in years to come maybe, sure, but not at the moment. Luis, with his passion, work rate and overall ethic is a candidate, but not quite the calm head that Gerrard is. I'd leave Stevie as captain until Henderson is ready to take the band from him. I don't quite get the criticism of Gerrard in his new role. Take him out of the team for next season and see what happens.

Suarez would be a brillaint choice for captain, in a way he already is our captain.

 

[cloggypop]

Suarez would be a brillaint choice for captain, in a way he already is our captain.

He was captain at Ajax when he bit Otman Bakkal.

 

[Spaghetti Legs]

He was captain at Ajax when he bit Otman Bakkal.

Dont see what that would have to do with anything, we all know hes got a screw loose.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

It's like asking Mark or LTW, if they'd give Kenny another year now?
Of course I wouldn't but when Hodgson got sacked Rafa was the safe choice, when Kenny was sacked Rafa was still the safe choice and if you'd asked me after Kenny dismal season if I wanted Rafa or Rodgers, I would have said Brendan who?

It really isn't - Rafa was given how many years? He just couldn't do it despite one very good (great?) run where a twat named Macheda did us in. Kenny was given 18 months. 6 great months (Suarez-Meirless-Kuyt driven) and 12 poor months (& a cup). Going back to Rafa would have been going back to the man who had begun alienating his top players ... He was let go at the right time - we just fucked with the two big moves afterward (I forgot his name already and Woy).

Rafa is a good manager, and has done good things, but he was as 'safe' as an infant handling a sharp blade. We needed a change, and some luck after Kenny. We got both it seems (I'm sold on Rodgers but you never know ... footy is all about what have you done for me lately).

 

[Modo]

It really isn't - Rafa was given how many years? He just couldn't do it despite one very good (great?) run where a twat named Macheda did us in. Kenny was given 18 months. 6 great months (Suarez-Meirless-Kuyt driven) and 12 poor months (& a cup). Going back to Rafa would have been going back to the man who had begun alienating his top players ... He was let go at the right time - we just fucked with the two big moves afterward (I forgot his name already and Woy).

Rafa is a good manager, and has done good things, but he was as 'safe' as an infant handling a sharp blade. We needed a change, and some luck after Kenny. We got both it seems (I'm sold on Rodgers but you never know ... footy is all about what have you done for me lately).

How did he do at Chelsea? Trophy + CL in half a season, right?

How did he do at Napoli? Trophy + CL in his first season?

Safe choice.

 

[Hansern]

There is no way of knowing that. He was all over the place here when he got sacked. Hiring him again would have been a step backwards.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

How did he do at Chelsea? Trophy + CL in half a season, right?

How did he do at Napoli? Trophy + CL in his first season?

Safe choice.

Remind me how much Chelsea's squad was worth? Where they were in the league? How many points per game he achieved vs Di Matteo? Is this the same club Avram Grant had taken to 2nd place and the CL final? "Safe choice" too I guess.

Napoli ... How much money have they spent to be further behind Juve this year than they were last year? I bet you could have done it too ... heck, maybe even me! 😉

Why didn't you mention Inter Milan? or how come you convinently ignored his last few months at Liverpool, and the issues there were with him - as a manager (did he leave us in the CL? 'safe'?) and with various players?

I don't believe Rafa was the safe choice with us anymore ... Maybe post Roy for a 6 month hire like the Chelsea job to steady the ship, but definitely not post-Kenny where the Owners wanted to build something with a young, ambitious manager.

 

[Modo]

Remind me how much Chelsea's squad was worth? Where they were in the league? How many points per game he achieved vs Di Matteo? Is this the same club Avram Grant had taken to 2nd place and the CL final? "Safe choice" too I guess.

Napoli ... How much money have they spent to be further behind Juve this year than they were last year? I bet you could have done it too ... heck, maybe even me! 😉

Why didn't you mention Inter Milan? or how come you convinently ignored his last few months at Liverpool, and the issues there were with him - as a manager (did he leave us in the CL? 'safe'?) and with various players?

I don't believe Rafa was the safe choice with us anymore ... Maybe post Roy for a 6 month hire like the Chelsea job to steady the ship, but definitely not post-Kenny where the Owners wanted to build something with a young, ambitious manager.

Inter? Because he didn't complete the season with Inter, did he?

And who's talking about his entire career?

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Inter? Because he didn't complete the season with Inter, did he?

And who's talking about his entire career?

So 1/2 a season with Chelsea counts - but 1/2 a season with Inter doesn't ... Ok.

 

[Modo]

So 1/2 a season with Chelsea counts - but 1/2 a season with Inter doesn't ... Ok.

Exactly cause we didn't get to see how it all would end.

After crap seasons without CL (Hodgson and Dalglish), of course Rafa would be the safe bet. He got us CL football during his entire time here except the last season.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Exactly cause we didn't get to see how it all would end.

After crap seasons without CL (Hodgson and Dalglish), of course Rafa would be the safe bet. He got us CL football during his entire time here except the last season.

So a 1/2 season where he'd struggled to do anything with a club that just won the league, cup and CL we'd have to 'wait to see where he'd finished' ... ok.

How come you always ignore the crap season (& purchases) that led to Hodge Podge (who was a terrible hire) being in the Europa League? Who was the manager there? Since we 'saw where it finished' with us once, why go back to that 'safe'?

 

[Modo]

So a 1/2 season where he'd struggled to do anything with a club that just won the league, cup and CL we'd have to 'wait to see where he'd finished' ... ok.

How come you always ignore the crap season (& purchases) that led to Hodge Podge (who was a terrible hire) being in the Europa League? Who was the manager there? Since we 'saw where it finished' with us once, why go back to that 'safe'?

One blip, he had one blip! The manager that got us a CL win from nothing. You know about the ownership situation Rafa had to go through as well.

You were ready to give another year to the person who spent like £120 million on transfers and got us 7th and one of the worst seasons in the history of the club.

Don't you feel a bit ashamed when you're on me about Rafa being the safe choice?

I remember that people like judge, spion, count, Mark, etc called me, Ryan and other posters cunts for wanting Kenny out. Like it was blasphemy or something.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

He wasn't manager, isn't the manager and never will be the manager. Get over it.