Managers seem to have been blessed down the years with goalscorers at Liverpool, yet still we lack a title. Souness had Rush, Evans had Fowler (and Collymore), Houllier had Owen, Rafa had Torres....Rodgers had Suarez - for a time. The issues are more deep rooted than just go and buy a striker in the summer that has x ratio of chances to goals. Also, it hints that the real effect of Suarez on our team was greater than Maradona at Napoli.
I think the only metric that is key is 'are the players still playing for the manager?'. In Rafa's last season, performances from Torres in particular were absolutely disgusting, but the rest of the team just looked devoid of any passion or motivation. At the moment, I still see the players trying out there. But the setup of the team and style of play is just a mess. There's no silver bullet to our problems and putting all your hopes and dreams on us acquiring a forward to carry the brunt of the team, raise the play of those around them and also dictate the pace of the game will end in tears. Suarez was special, that's why he doesn't play here any more. But we don't need a direct replacement. The bottom line is that with attacking talent including Coutinho, Lallana, Markovic, Balotelli, Sterling, Ibe, Sturridge (unavailability noted*) a coach/manager building his reputation on expansive, attacking football should be doing better.
Tonight, I saw two players that looked like they didn't belong in this team. Their game was so ahead of every one elses in terms of quality that it was like seeing someone like Le Tissier at Southampton. Those players were Can and Coutinho. They just ooze quality and technique. We're playing decent players out of position at the cost of them actually being influential in the key areas they should be in.
Add to this the summer money - well I don't fucking trust this club with any money at all. We either splurge on dross, buy round pegs for square holes or drag things on so long we miss out or panic buy. I don't trust this rumoured transfer comitee with any money in the summer, I don't trust Brendan Rodgers with money this summer. We made a massive investment last summer and it needs to be reflected better than what it is now. Who bought the players isn't nearly as important as getting the best out of them. I don't care if that means Brendan can't play his perfect system, or it means he needs to adjust his style of play. That's what good managers do - right now Brendan is reminding me a bit of Mark Hughes, just under a larger spotlight at a club with better players.
Time will tell with the larger issues, time I believe Brendan should be given by the way, but these last few games are more important now than ever. Not so much for the results or qualification for Europa League but to prove he can still manage a team, get performances from the large contingent of players who will be here next season and show us what we're working towards.
