How long does Rodgers last?

[PorkChop]

Liverpool have had an appalling start to the season, with Rodgers spending most of the Suarez money on disappointing players - Lallana, Lovren, Markovic and Balotelli have left a lot to be desired (especially in the case of Balotelli - he's proven to be a horrible signing). They've gone from title challengers to being 18 points off the league leaders already, and are in the midst of their worst season for over 20 years.

Calls for Rodgers to be sacked are certainly premature, but if things continue the way they are, do you see him lasting the season?

[Tom]

It's hard to know. On one hand, he did exceptionally well with Liverpool last season. He brought them to their best premier league finish and installed confidence in a team that many people didn't have hopes for last season.

On the other hand, he really has struggled this season. His signings have been abysmal and confidence at the club seems to be an extreme low. He struggled to look at the work Suarez did not to just score goals but also create space and drag opposition defences forward to mark him. By doing this, he brought in a player to replace him who is the complete opposite (Balotelli). I know they missed out on Sanchez, who would have been an incredible asset to them and a great man for man replacement for Suarez but that still doesn't justify the Balotelli signing. Last season Liverpool were lucky in the sense that when they conceded two or three they had the ability to score four or five. This season they clearly don't have that.

From talking to Liverpool fans, I think a lot of them still respect Rodgers. That goes in his favour but at the same time, the fans also respected Kenny Dalglish and it didn't stop their owners getting rid of him. It would be good to give Rodgers till the end of the season to see if he can turn things around once Sturridge comes back but I don't think most Premier League clubs operate like that. Behind Paul Lambert, Mauricio Pochettino and maybe Harry Redknapp, I would probably have him as the favourite at the moment to be the next premier league manager sacked!

[Kyle]

He should be on a short leash. At the same time though, losing Suarez was always going to set them back a bit.

[Romo]

I'd say he has 8 or 9 more years in him, obviously he needs a strengthened offensive line to give more protection but I have no doubts barring major injury he could last until he's near 40 for sure.



BR will be given to the end of the season I think and aslong as they finish top half he may get till christmas time next season, one thing he has in his corner is that they signed him long term after a great season so now most likely firing him will cost the liverpool owners a shed load of money so i don't seem being sacked any time soon!

[AkydefGoldberg]

Even BR seems deflated. Journalists saying he was down during the post-match press conference and said he doesn't expect to have a job through anything or something along those lines.

Until Sturridge comes back, it could get worse. Don't think he'll be sacked mid season though. Might eek it out until the end of the season.

Carragher spot on, said same when they drew to CP last season. Issues not addressed. Gerrard struggling immensely but won't get dropped. Probably get a new deal though.

[prophet]

He should be on a short leash.

Why should he be on a short leash? He's deserved as much time as he needs IMO.

Rodgers has worked wonders at Liverpool. He arrived with them on what seemed like a never ending fall from grace and took them back into the promised land of Europe not to mention the closest we've ever come to winning the league and the best football Anfield has seen in decades. He's had to cope with strenuous times mainly surrounding Suarez and coped perfectly but his departure hit the club harder than anyone would ever have predicted.

His decision making in the transfer window has been terrible, that's the main problem I have with him. I can't actually think of one good signing he's made (aside from Lallana who I'm still happy with) and whilst signing young blood with the future in mind (Moreno, Can, Origi) is great if you don't get the results in the meantime you're not going to be around to see those with potential actually get there. He's backed himself into a corner with his transfers because he's spent so fucking much on these players that it's become damn near impossible to not play them. (I'm not even going to talk about the lack of reinforcement in defense despite that being the main problem last season)

Gerrard has been awful this season and his legend status is for the first time beginning to hurt the club. His form has been tragic yet he's never been dropped and I can't understand why - take the Palace game for instance and putting aside how bad the team played, they got a hell of a lot worse when Joe Allen went off. Palace's equalizer came when Allen was off the pitch changing his shirt and I thought he worked his socks off tbh and did Gerrard's running for him so why on earth did he keep Gerrard on the pitch and drag Allen off? I can't fathom it. Literally the only reason I can think of is Gerrard's status at the club.

I think it's completely unfair that his job is being put under scrutiny though that's the game isn't it so I understand it but like I say to me at least he's deserved until the end of the season at the very least. Plus who would they replace him with? The shortlist for the Liverpool job would likely consist of Koeman, Monk and other overachieving managers of average sides. I think I'd only be willing to accept a Rodgers firing if they could get Klopp on-board.

[PorkChop]

Gerrard has been awful this season and his legend status is for the first time beginning to hurt the club. His form has been tragic yet he's never been dropped and I can't understand why - take the Palace game for instance and putting aside how bad the team played, they got a hell of a lot worse when Joe Allen went off. Palace's equalizer came when Allen was off the pitch changing his shirt and I thought he worked his socks off tbh and did Gerrard's running for him so why on earth did he keep Gerrard on the pitch and drag Allen off? I can't fathom it. Literally the only reason I can think of is Gerrard's status at the club.

I've said for a few seasons now that Gerrard has been deteriorating horribly, and this season is really shows. His legs have gone and the game really seems to have passed him by. It'll be a sad day when Gerrard retires as he's a legend for both Liverpool and England but this really should be his last season. He's not going to get any better from this point.

[SKS]

Gerrard has been awful this season and his legend status is for the first time beginning to hurt the club. His form has been tragic yet he's never been dropped and I can't understand why - take the Palace game for instance and putting aside how bad the team played, they got a hell of a lot worse when Joe Allen went off. Palace's equalizer came when Allen was off the pitch changing his shirt and I thought he worked his socks off tbh and did Gerrard's running for him so why on earth did he keep Gerrard on the pitch and drag Allen off? I can't fathom it. Literally the only reason I can think of is Gerrard's status at the club.

I've said for a few seasons now that Gerrard has been deteriorating horribly, and this season is really shows. His legs have gone and the game really seems to have passed him by. It'll be a sad day when Gerrard retires as he's a legend for both Liverpool and England but this really should be his last season. He's not going to get any better from this point.

I'm sure he's got one more slip left in him.

[PorkChop]

I'm sure he's got one more slip left in him.

[AkydefGoldberg]

He should be on a short leash.

Why should he be on a short leash? He's deserved as much time as he needs IMO.

Rodgers has worked wonders at Liverpool. He arrived with them on what seemed like a never ending fall from grace and took them back into the promised land of Europe not to mention the closest we've ever come to winning the league and the best football Anfield has seen in decades. He's had to cope with strenuous times mainly surrounding Suarez and coped perfectly but his departure hit the club harder than anyone would ever have predicted.

Has he really worked wonders besides one season? Suarez was IMO, the only reason why Liverpool got so close to the title last season. He scored 31 goals and besides that, he was the key figurehead in the team. Despite not liking him at all on a personal level, he really was an annoying shit when he played with such intensity and drive. But take him out of that team, Liverpool might have just made fourth if Sturridge was continously fit.

Take last season aside and if you're judging him on his first, and this season so far, there aren't many positives you can roll off. Sure he's developed Sterling, varied formations (mainly last season) to great success, captured the Liverpool fans' respect but I think if he conjures up a fourth place from here, it'll be his greatest managerial feat than winning the league IMO.

Hindsight's a wonderful thing, but maybe Martinez might have been a better option.

[PorkChop]

"More like it. Wonderful character tonight. We really needed a team that was together and we got that. The characterisation of the team was really on show. Great effort tonight from the players. We were outstanding.

We spoke before the game about this being the night to change our season. We showed wonderful resilience, kept our focus in the game and scored two good goals.

I picked players who I know what they're capable of. In time the new players will adapt to how we work but we've set a standard here - and we were very good tonight.

Overall the performance was very, very pleasing."

Brendan Rodgers after drawing 2-2 with Ludogorets.

[AkydefGoldberg]

^The old deflecting strategy. When you've got a wealth of trophies under your belt like Fergie did, no-one really pays that much attention but when you're a 40-year-old manager of Liverpool, comes across a tad phony. He'd be more respected if he was a tad more honest.

[prophet]

^The old deflecting strategy. When you've got a wealth of trophies under your belt like Fergie did, no-one really pays that much attention but when you're a 40-year-old manager of Liverpool, comes across a tad phony. He'd be more respected if he was a tad more honest.

How unfair of you to compare Rodgers with someone like Ferguson

He's right in a few ways. The team did show terrific character to get right back in the game after the hammer-blow that was conceding so early and the fact they went in ahead at half time despite the run they're on is a testament to their character. That isn't the problem though, nobody is doubting that the team has character; they're doubting his team selection/formation and tactics in general.

I didn't like that he said the performance was a very pleasing because it wasn't. You've drawn 2-2 against Ludogorets - a game you absolutely should be winning so you can't be pleased with the performance regardless of whether there was an improvement. Allen played well again (I'd start him and Henderson over Gerrard at this point, but that won't happen) and I'm enjoying Lambert putting the ball in the net and humiliating Balotelli further.

He's still getting it wrong though. It's like he's that focused on keeping everyone happy and rotating to make sure everyone has game time he's losing track of what's important and that's worrying. I don't think it's fair to pick on him deflecting negativity from his team because that's his job. He's an excellent man-manager and when things are going good he's brilliant to have in charge. This is his first real test going through hard times and he needs to rise to the challenge.

[AkydefGoldberg]

^The old deflecting strategy. When you've got a wealth of trophies under your belt like Fergie did, no-one really pays that much attention but when you're a 40-year-old manager of Liverpool, comes across a tad phony. He'd be more respected if he was a tad more honest.

How unfair of you to compare Rodgers with someone like Ferguson

He's right in a few ways. The team did show terrific character to get right back in the game after the hammer-blow that was conceding so early and the fact they went in ahead at half time despite the run they're on is a testament to their character. That isn't the problem though, nobody is doubting that the team has character; they're doubting his team selection/formation and tactics in general.

I didn't like that he said the performance was a very pleasing because it wasn't. You've drawn 2-2 against Ludogorets - a game you absolutely should be winning so you can't be pleased with the performance regardless of whether there was an improvement. Allen played well again (I'd start him and Henderson over Gerrard at this point, but that won't happen) and I'm enjoying Lambert putting the ball in the net and humiliating Balotelli further.

He's still getting it wrong though. It's like he's that focused on keeping everyone happy and rotating to make sure everyone has game time he's losing track of what's important and that's worrying. I don't think it's fair to pick on him deflecting negativity from his team because that's his job. He's an excellent man-manager and when things are going good he's brilliant to have in charge. This is his first real test going through hard times and he needs to rise to the challenge.

It's difficult to know if BR does have the equivalent of the Fergie hairdryer (another comparison I know!)

If he's letting one rip in the dressing room privately then the public comments he can get away with but if he's not then, I'd say a few more succinct and firmer comments might kick the players up the arse abit.

He is an excellent man-manager when things are going good but as a manager, that's easier to do when you're winning. He's not atm and you could say, his decision making is what's failing atm. Make stronger decisions, get good results then the man management comes a tad easier I'd say because you've got results on your side*

*speaking from my FM experience