RODGERS UNDER THE MICROSCOPE... When Brendan Rodgers signed a three-year contract as Liverpool boss in the summer of 2012, he might have hoped that judgement be reserved until the end of that term. Upon his unveiling there was talk of plans, of strategies, of the future – patience, support and vision the buzz words for the manager and his American employers. Well, the summer of 2015 is just six months away. What progress has been made? Rodgers – who has since signed a new deal until 2018 - inherited a Europa League side with a suspect defence but boasting a feared frontman. Today, they are a Europa League side with a suspect defence. Yes, there was the title challenge that slipped away in the final weeks of last season, but that spike in fortune is looking increasingly like the work of one man – and he was born in South America, not Northern Ireland. Luis Suarez, it was said, bandaged the wounds of an otherwise exposed team. With every game that passes this season, the Uruguayan is looking more like Florence Nightingale. Out of the Champions League and off the pace in the Premier League, it has left Rodgers under the microscope. SIGNINGS The bulk of their ills, you have to say, can be linked to recruitment. When Tottenham Hotspur sold Gareth Bale to Real Madrid for £86million and subsequently spent more than £100m on seven new signings, former White Hart Lane favourite Garth Crooks quipped: ‘We have sold Elvis and signed the Beatles’. Rodgers and Liverpool, upon pocketing the £75m from the exit of Suarez to Barcelona, adopted a similar policy of replacement – only it looks like they sold Elvis and signed the Bootleg Beatles. The six outfield substitutes on the bench during Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Basle were all Rodgers’ buys, totalling £90m. Two of them – Adam Lallana (£25m) and Emre Can (£10m) – remained seated next to the manager throughout, despite having arrived just this summer. Lazar Markovic (£20m) did make it on to the field, but he lasted just 16 minutes before getting himself sent off, albeit with the aid of some farcical play-acting. He had replaced Rickie Lambert at half-time, another one of the Bootleg boys who looks out of tune at Anfield. In fact, if you scan through the 20-plus players Rodgers has brought to the club, you would argue just two – Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho – can be deemed a success. Even then, Coutinho was one of those benched on Tuesday, while Sturridge continues to be plagued by injury – he is no use to Rodgers in the treatment room. But, then again, many of those actually on the pitch are proving little use to the manager right now. (NO) CASE FOR THE DEFENCE Dejan Lovren. You’re minded simply to leave it at that and move on. In Liverpool’s final home game before Rodgers took charge – a 4-1 victory over Chelsea – their back four and goalkeeper read; Pepe Reina, Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger, Martin Skrtel and Glen Johnson. Against Basle, Reina, Carragher and Agger had been replaced by Simon Mignolet, Jose Enrique and Lovren. Nearly three years and £250m later, does that represent improvement? Where is the commanding centre back? It certainly isn’t Lovren. Where are the full backs to drive their side forward? The careers of Johnson and Jose Enrique are in reverse. Mignolet, meanwhile, is being found out whenever the ball comes his way – to think there was talk of him keeping goal for Belgium ahead of Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois. Liverpool, of course, nearly won the league last year despite conceding a staggering 50 goals – their most in a 38-game Premier League season. Suarez, it seems, was plastering a gaping wound. TABLES TURNED They say the table doesn’t lie. At this stage last season, Liverpool were second having collected 30 points from 15 games. Now, they reside in ninth, nine points worse off and trailing leaders Chelsea by 15. Regression, not progression, you have to admit. MARIO BALOTELLI… While the likes of Lallana and Can watched from the bench against Basle, the £16m striker signed to replace Suarez was stood next to the tunnel, sidelined with a groin injury. He is yet to score in the Premier League and Rodgers’ faith is looking more and more misguided with every strain and tweet which passes. Jose Mourinho said Balotelli was ‘unmanageable’. Perhaps that judgement is why Mourinho and Chelsea are top of the league and Liverpool are not. FANS FALTERING Supporters, it seems, are split over Rodgers’ future. A recent interview with fans on BBC 5 Live descended into farce when one anti-Rodgers campaigner shouted down two supporters who dared to oppose his views. There is, then, strength to the feelings of those who feel it is time for a change. The mood at Anfield in recent matches has been muted – not ones to actively chase a manager, perhaps the silence speaks volumes. BUT THERE IS REASON FOR HOPE… Amid all of this, there is reason to think Rodgers could still turn Liverpool’s season – and his own fortunes – around. Raheem Sterling is edging closer to the form which made him the country’s best young player last term, while the return of Sturridge is sure to mean goals. There is also the January transfer window on the horizon. But is Rodgers the man to be trusted with a new year kitty and Liverpool’s future?
Posted on: Wed, 10 Dec 2014 15:21:18 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015