Rave About the Rodgers

Firstly let me welcome Brendan and his back room staff to the club. An initial 3 year deal which we hope will be a start of a long a fruitful association with the club.

I believe Fenway Sports and Messers Henry and Werner in particular have made a brave, bold decision in choosing a young up and coming Manager to take the club forward. I do not subscribe to the rumblings on many message boards etc, that again like with Hodgson, there is unhappiness about who the owners have chosen. This myth that we are 'Big' club and require a 'BIG' name manager is nonsense.

Look at the candidates being touted in the media.
AVB - Failure within 6 months at Chelski other than that he won the Portugese League  with Porto who have all the money in a 2 horse race. I could win that league.
Martinez, actually interviewed, but really Wigan boss???
Other names mentioned de Boer,Rijkaard, Klinsman.

So where are the big names in that list? No Van Gaal, Mourinho,Huydink or Guardiola?

The truth is that there are not a lot  top managers not in work, as clubs try too rationise their finances and realise that time is needed to build something workwhile. We have generally done this and only the last 2 seasons have seem a Chelski like approach to managers.

Also are we really an attractive prospect for a 'Top' Manager? We have finished worse and worse with less and less points over the last 3 seasons. Last season we named the smallest Premiership squad with just 18 players registered. Even Everton had 23 players! The only 'top' names you are likely to attract is someone who has been out of work or someone looking to rebuild their reputation. Thats not really what we needed.

All the teams who finished above us have far better quality and strength in depth. Seriously compare the starting 11's and bench of the seven teams above us and you would be lucky to get anyone other than Suarez into the other teams.

Most of the teams above us have larger stadiums. Yes we are bigger global brand than everyone above us except Manc Inc. But managers are not their to sel brands they exist to take teams forward and win things.

I am reminded of a coversation Tom Sawyer (Liverpool Director not he of Twain fame) had with David Moores back in 60's. Liverpool had yet again missed out on promotion despite Shankly's best efforts. He was growing frustrated with lack of funds to improve squad o take Liverpool back into the top flight. In Sawyer he found an ally. Shanks wanted to sign Ian St John and Ron Yeats both were slightly out of Liverpool's usual price league. Sawyer said to Moores, there is no point having a nice shop if there is none of the right goods in it. This struck a chord with Moores and funds were provided.

I think that is roughly where we are at the moment. The infrastructure is there but the quality isn't  we are led to believe there is £50mill in the pot plus whatever Rodgers can generate from moving on those he deems surplus.

Rodgers has proven he can get more out of the parts to make greater sum. Remember this man was head-hunted by Jose Mourinho, that should tell you all you need to know. I hark back to Shankly himself. A modest managerial career by any standards until he came to Anfield. Carlisle,Grimsby,Workingham and Huddersfield. No promotions won. But it was his passion, inner steel and his vision of how the game should be played that got him the job.Liverpool became the vehicle for his vision lets hope we can provide the same platform for Rodgers.

I see similar things in Brendan Rodgers after watching his press conference. He spoke with clarity, passion and determination.Qualities needed is this modern man-management football era. If he can instill even some of that in the lacklustre clowns currently wearing and shaming our Red then that will be a job well done.

He has 3 years and I would expect a clearing of the decks this summer and addiions of the type of layers Rodgers likes and can work with. We may be surpised by some of the players he signs and lets go (Dirk has already gone) but I am sure they will produce.

There is a lot fo deadwood and I am sure he will sort that out. He also needs to decide what to do with Pacheco,Cole and Aquilani.If we could keep Aquilani that would be great. I am sure West Ham would take Cole off our hands.

As for expectations I think we have to be realistic and challenge ofr the top 4 - not necesarily achieve it. A lot will depend on Spurs and Newcastle. Can Spurs keep their best players now they are not in the Champions League. Also will Mike Ashley choose to cash in on Tiote,Ba,Cisse etc rather than allowing Pardew to build. Should these 2 clubs have a fire sale we have chance not only through them weakening themselves but also by picking up a few if their offcasts if possible.

Chelski are in transition as they move on and replace the last of the old guard with Marin and Hazard already on the way in .They too might be vulnerable. Arsenal may finally be forced to spend some of the vast sums Wenger has squirelled away over the years and will be out of our reach I think. If we finished 5th I wouldn't be disappointed in the 1st season under Rodgers. That would mean a 15 to 20 point improvment on this season.

We have to be realistic and get behind the new Gaffer. No more negativity.

Our Pre-season tour is in North America this year taking in a Game against Toronto, Roma in Fenway Stadium and Spurs at the end of July. Lets hope our vast over commitment of players to the Euros doesn't hamper our preparation too much.

I am looking forward to an exciting positive season.

Lets all Rave about The Rodgers!

YNWA