Last night, the side looked like it had for the first part of the season again.
We went through a stage where we went 13 or so games unbeaten and completely rejuvinated - same(ish) players but certainly the same manager. We finished second in the league last season. We only lost one player from that side albeit one of the Worlds best players in Suarez, but ostensibly we have the same players we had then.
My issue here is that when we played a certain way, we blow sides away. Old addage is: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Since we've gone from the high tempo game that wipes sides off the face of the Earth, to this turgid, languid, aimless and compeltely ineffectual 'play from the back' (incidentally my lads U8' side are told to play this way and it's frighteningly awful to watch - and they get the bonus of having the opposing side retreat into their own half on goal kicks!) where we get closed down so fucking easily and surrender possession, we look absolutely dogshit.
My issue with this is thus: Brendan Rodgers has more than enough nous and capability to get this side playing great, effective football. He's also shown in the past that he can change things around and still be effective, BUT this is by playing swift, passing, precise football. Therefore, what the FLYING FUCK are we STILL doing playing a brand of football that U8's and every man-jack can easily and effectively counter?? Posession is all well and good, but not if it's all only in your own half!
The real problem for me though is that although I am an advocate of Brendan, my support of him is in serious doubt after the past five or so games - we've played awfully, and yet we still maintain this 'structure'. the issue is plain to see, but his seemingly steadfast refusal to move away from the 'build from the back' style is now massively damaging him. I made a point earlier in the season where I called into question his backroom staff - what role(s) do they play? If we're talking about Rafa, it's no co-incidence than when Aysteran left, the team suffered.
Rodgers has looked like a rabbit in headlights for a while now and that more than anything else, has shaken my confidence in him. We hear and see nothing from Pascoe who seems a lovely bloke but I question his temprament and credentials as a top flight assistant manager as someone needs to offer an alternative opinion.
We're at a stick or twist stage again. IF we get rid, we're effectively going to go through another two year rebuilding stage where the new manager gets who he wants in and inposes himself on the squad. IF we stick, we're gambling another year in the hope that no European football (which looks likely) will allow us to do what we done last year, BUT the downside is that we need massive investment in the squad again (made easier by the influx of cash from the Sky deal) and a LOT of players removed at the same time
Key question is of course, this: Does the club have the faith and trust in Rodgers and his backroom staff to get us back where we want to be? I'm not seeing any signs either way, but looking at it from a playing perspective, it don't look good, even given last years achievements.
I have a feeling that because of the disaster that this season has been, even though everyone else has looked utter shit, everyone's faith in Brendan and the management team is being lost/lost completely. If that's the case, he's gone, but for some reason I think FSG will back him for another year, but failure next season will ultimately see the end. Whatever the case, we really can't have any more of the sort of performances seen last night and over the past 4-5 games, as it's been singlularly atrocious and is eating away at an alarming rate the good faith built up last season. Problem is: I really can't see it changing, but getting worse as we look bereft of any getup and go/ideas.
Hope the fuck not though...