Author Topic: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)  (Read 167870 times)

Offline Ste08

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1280 on: August 8, 2015, 12:36:01 pm »
See no reason right now why we cant finish 4th.

Last season all i heard on here was strikers, strikers. Rodgers has bought in 4 if you include Firmino. So thats, that chalked off. If we can get Benteke firing and Sturridge plays 25 games (yeah i know) we should be in good health.

Defensively we will never be great i think we have all accepted that but i hope we can get a more settled back 4 with players played in position. Im a little concerned if Lovren plays because to me thats an ego decision but Rodgers neck is on the line so if thats his guy we will see how it goes.

I love the Milner signing and we get more of Phil in midfield and i expect Hendo to take up more responisbility. I feel we need a proper DM.

I hope we go all out in the Europa League come the knock stages, par has us as the overwhelming favourites so no excuses.

Offline BobOnATank

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1281 on: August 8, 2015, 01:32:16 pm »
I would say that the outcome of the season pretty much depends on whether Rodgers has learned from the mistakes of last year, especially when it comes to man managment, squad management/rotation and to some extend tactical flexibility.

I have my doubts but hope he proves me wrong.

I agree with this, last year was a litany of managerial/coaching mistakes that by a long way failed to get the maximum out of the players available although that is not to absolve some players of blame. After Bale spurs made the mistake of changing too many things in one window and paid the price, the next season we did it with the Suarez money and we have not only repeated that but also changed the coaching staff as well!! Two examples of failure does not mean a 3rd scenario is a foregone conclusion of course but it is a major risk which is being offset hopefully by on paper at least a few first team players.

The squad: IMO the squad is bloated, none of last years intake have a set place in the first team (Emre was a makeshift CB, Adam somewhat through injury couldn't displace Sterling or Couts and now firmino has been brought into his position(sorry but thats a bit strange!?)). So if you remove potential ability i.e. how they will perform here and now we, have a lot of nearly men which do not make up a balanced team for a title charge. The temptation for Brendan to tinker between and during matches is a worry for me.

GK: another backup brought in, Migs is still a good 'keeper' but dreadful with the ball at his feet which is an invitation to press us. Put Lovren in the team and the issue is magnified which ends up in the next nearest player getting the ball from a 5 yard pass with a opposition player bearing down on them.

Defence: the issues are well documented, good upgrade at RB but Moreno needs to really step up and the CB options nosedive in ability after Skrtel and Sakho are mentioned.

Midfield: Lots of good to very good players, Couts the only excellent but compare it to say Stevie, Xabi, Masch & Momo most would be competing with Momo for a position. Not good enough for a title run.

Attack: Much improved, youthful hunger in Ibe, Ings and Origi mixed with Studge and Bene, ability finishing, pace and power. Firmino looks likely to compliment that. I think the word to describe it overall would be "effective", a good all round balance of flair, ability and hard work.


Expectations for this year:
1. The manager (and coaches) to have a plan for effective football and for it to be executed on the pitch. Players might fail but that doesn't mean the whole team should as witnessed last year. The coaches got the 'blame' for this last year, if it happens again then Brendan's future is in real doubt.

2. Top 4 in the league, with the repeated investment there should be no more excuses.

3. Strong Europa campaign, absolutely no repeat of last years two capitulations, RM away being particularly disgusting.

4. Cups runs a bonus

5. The use of the word 'par' to be banned from LFC. Hearing that word being used to describe were my club should be is like being stabbed repeatedly in the ears with a hot knife, f**king unacceptable :)

As Brendan has recently said a really strong start is required, he needs the team to really believe in him and gain early confidence plus he needs to  stem the (at the end of last season) growing disquiet amongst the fans, the start of season/new signings optimism can very quickly disappear! I hope he does.

Online JackWard33

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1282 on: August 8, 2015, 01:36:26 pm »


2. Top 4 in the league, with the repeated investment there should be no more excuses.



This type of thing keeps being posted and I genuinely don't understand what it means

This summer we'll have invested about £15 million. Unsure on the wage bill it may have inched up a bit we'll have to see it certainly hasn't changed dramatically
But regardless of that we still have the 5th biggest wage bill and we're still putting the 5th most valuable first eleven on the pitch

So I have no clue why anyone would cite our financial situation or 'investment' as a reason why we should finish in the top 4 let alone a reason why failing to do so is unacceptable

Offline ShayGuevara

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1283 on: August 8, 2015, 01:49:11 pm »
This type of thing keeps being posted and I genuinely don't understand what it means

This summer we'll have invested about £15 million. Unsure on the wage bill it may have inched up a bit we'll have to see it certainly hasn't changed dramatically
But regardless of that we still have the 5th biggest wage bill and we're still putting the 5th most valuable first eleven on the pitch

So I have no clue why anyone would cite our financial situation or 'investment' as a reason why we should finish in the top 4 let alone a reason why failing to do so is unacceptable

No but there has to come a time where Rogders starts exceeding expectations. FSG or the fans for that matter won't accept "par" every season, it should be the minimum expectation.

Of course he's exceeded it once, should he not this season then FSG have a decision to make.

Judging by what Rogders and Werner have been saying this week FSG go along with the 5th highest wage bill = 5th place being par arguement but I'm sure they aren't at the club to reach par, rather exceed it.
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Online JackWard33

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1284 on: August 8, 2015, 02:07:24 pm »
No but there has to come a time where Rogders starts exceeding expectations. FSG or the fans for that matter won't accept "par" every season, it should be the minimum expectation.

Of course he's exceeded it once, should he not this season then FSG have a decision to make.

Judging by what Rogders and Werner have been saying this week FSG go along with the 5th highest wage bill = 5th place being par arguement but I'm sure they aren't at the club to reach par, rather exceed it.

The reason that's not a strategy is that there's almost no evidence of a manager being able to do it regularly
(for example the premier league has never been won by a team with a wage bill outside the top 4)

The problem is that even if Rodgers 'gets the most' out of his squad there are 4 squads he has to compete with that are stronger

It's just not a strategy to have a less strong squad and go to the manager 'you do it... you over achieve'






Offline SerbianScouser

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1285 on: August 8, 2015, 02:09:25 pm »
It's just not a strategy to have a less strong squad and go to the manager 'you do it... you over achieve'
There`s no other alternative to that strategy until we get richer owners.

Offline BobOnATank

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1286 on: August 8, 2015, 02:44:01 pm »
This type of thing keeps being posted and I genuinely don't understand what it means

This summer we'll have invested about £15 million. Unsure on the wage bill it may have inched up a bit we'll have to see it certainly hasn't changed dramatically
But regardless of that we still have the 5th biggest wage bill and we're still putting the 5th most valuable first eleven on the pitch

So I have no clue why anyone would cite our financial situation or 'investment' as a reason why we should finish in the top 4 let alone a reason why failing to do so is unacceptable

Replacing Suarez one for one was impossible but it was very possible to strengthen the team which we failed to do. This year we sold sterling for an inflated fee but the big difference is that the current sterling is much easier to replace so to improve the team is an even easier task. The overall outlay on players has been huge this year with the first choice players being brought in, this is what Brendan says will allow him to succeed  to being in the top 4 so there should be no excuses.

Also regardless of whether its a player, coach or manager if they don't begin to achieve excellence in key positions then maybe they don't belong at LFC.

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1287 on: August 8, 2015, 02:59:09 pm »
I wouldn't be surprised, looking at Rodgers' mindset and his drive to attack, that he fancies Lovren more in the opposition box, than Sakho.

I much prefer Sakho, but I don't think there's a huge amount of differences between both players when you look at their abilities. Loren *was* a good defender, I hope we haven't shot his confidence to pieces, to the point he can't recovers.

Maybe Rodgers thinks that if there isn't much between them, over the course of a season Lovren might pop up with more goals than Sakho.

Regardless of the defence, I'm typically optimistic for pre-season.

I want to see us push and be in amongst the top 4. I want a cup too. Been too long without silverware.

Offline MolbyLovesGravlax

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1288 on: August 8, 2015, 03:00:31 pm »
It's all about the start. If we can win the games we should be winning and get at least some points from our tougher games and be within 6 points or so of top 4 by the halfway stage I think we can build up a head of steam and get 4th - think anything else is a step too far.
But, if we say lose against Stoke and let Bournemouth get a point we'll already be in all sorts of pressure.
I think I'll have a better idea of how confident I am for the season after Stoke. If the players are 'getting' how Rodgers wants them to play, even if it isn't pretty, I have hopes. If they look as lost as they did last season when Rodgers tried to implement this 4-3-3 (or 4-2-3-1 as I appeared most often to actually be) then we don't have the fixture list to buy him time.
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Offline Loo Pan

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1289 on: August 8, 2015, 04:17:48 pm »
Most years we do not need to over achieve to finish in the top 4.

Utd finished in 4th with 70 pts last year. Would it really be an over achievement to get more than that? Obviously not.

It's rare that a mid 70 point finish won't get you top 4. So that should be the expectation on Rodgers and the team.

If we get that and still don't make top 4, then we can start talking about how we only have the 5th most expensive wage bill etc.

Obviously a title challenge would be an over achievement, but then I don't think anybody expects Rodgers to regularly produce that from our current situation.

Offline Gegenpresser

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1290 on: August 9, 2015, 01:33:58 pm »
Hard to predict really. I'm not convinced that what looks like our initial set-up will give enough protection to the defence, but I think we have enough tools in the squad to find a working formula quickly if that ends up being the case. I think we can have a good run at fourth, though I'd personally love to see us make a serious go at the Europa League.

Offline ShayGuevara

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1291 on: August 9, 2015, 02:41:37 pm »
The reason that's not a strategy is that there's almost no evidence of a manager being able to do it regularly
(for example the premier league has never been won by a team with a wage bill outside the top 4)

The problem is that even if Rodgers 'gets the most' out of his squad there are 4 squads he has to compete with that are stronger

It's just not a strategy to have a less strong squad and go to the manager 'you do it... you over achieve'

I don't agree.

FSG can't just accept 5th year in year out. They have to believe that they're methods and the managers will lift them above par regualrly. Not necessarily 1st, that's very ambitious but certainly back in the CL more often than not.

It's not like any of the top 4 are realistically getting their money's worth from their respective wage bills either, even Chelsea.

Do you believe if Rogders finishes 5th this season and next he'll still be in a job or do I misundestand your reply?
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Offline Stussy

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1292 on: August 9, 2015, 07:19:38 pm »
last time we beat Stoke first day of the season we almost won the league
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Offline Fiasco

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1293 on: August 9, 2015, 07:21:07 pm »
I think given the result today we should be looking to win everything, including the World Cup. Why not? It's either that or relegation.

Offline Penfold78

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1294 on: August 10, 2015, 04:33:22 pm »
Taking Suarez out of the equation for a moment, change doesn’t happen quickly at this club.  I would expect a difference of only two league places at most in either direction compared to last season, and if you pushed me I’d say the change will be positive not negative. 

Our summer signings will at best deliver incremental improvements rather than a seismic shift up or down the league table.  We will spend another season discussing the tensions that are created when the club owners prefer an opportunistic transfer strategy yet employ a coach who is clearly more comfortable seeking a specific philosophy that would profit more through ruthless pursuit of specific players.  And we will spend many a rainy autumn evening discussing why some of this summer’s additions don’t really fit either model.

The early part of the season:

No real trend or run of form will emerge. Our tough away fixtures will inevitably lead to a loss of points that will see us hovering at or around mid table.  We will feverishly check RAWK’s alternative premier league graph to validate our belief that we will start climbing the table some time soon. We will ask ourselves at least six times a day when Sturridge is due to return and whether Ings should start ahead of Benteke.  Ballotelli will do something ludicrously good/bad.  If it’s the former it will be a one-off. If the latter, his marching orders will be given and he’ll be training on his own. Astonishingly a tabloid will give him his own column.

Autumn into winter:

We will go on a brief run of form, inspired by Coutinho, Firmino and Benteke. Sturridge will be nudged back in to the team and we’ll be getting giddy at the thought of a league-winning run. But somewhere around Tottenham away Mignolet will suffer a huge dip in form, Sturridge will limp back to the USA for a few weeks R&R and Coutinho’s busy summer will catch up with him. A run of defeats will inspire tabloid headlines for Gerrard to return as caretaker player-manager. RAWK will instantly be split into two diametrically opposed camps.  The media, never ones for a lazy story, will relentlessly link Coutinho to Barcelona, Chelsea, PSG, Man City and any other club that takes their fancy.  We will worry about the winter transfer window.  We will go out of the FA Cup to another Premiership team in the 3rd round.  Balotelli will busy himself declaring how many goals he’d be scoring if only he was picked.  If you thought Brendan looked unwell at the end of last season's Stoke defeat you wait until you see him at this point.

Winter into Easter:

The transfer window will come and go with no excitement, other than Ballotelli’s departure to whoever Harry Redknapp is managing at the time. Gerrard will remain in the USA but will be spotted watching the Merseyside derby in a corporate box. Eager to prove a point, Carragher will be watching from the stands rather than commentate.  Our form will slowly build. Things will be looking up. Even Markovic will win over his critics, helping us to a League Cup final. We will do some harm to Chelsea’s title campaign by beating them at home, but this will only succeed in pushing  the title a bit further in the direction of Man Utd.

Easter to May:

Having won the League Cup some of the excessive pressure that has been building since the Suarez season starts to lift and consequently our form goes up a level. Milner is voted the club’s player of the season.  Benteke finishes on 15 goals, Sturridge 12, but goals from elsewhere in the team, and a tighter defence help us to snatch 4th spot from Man City in the last week of the season.  Whether Rogers can hold on is anyone’s guess. 

All of this

…is without looking at the changes to the other Top 6 clubs and who can say whether our improvements will allow us to overtake or simply prevent us from falling behind. I have no idea who Chelsea or Man City have purchased as I’ve taken a few great weeks off from following football, other than the occasional dip into RAWK. It is amazing how a bit of distance can put it all in perspective. Football becomes so monotonous, greedy and bland after a while doesn’t it? I only hope next season restores some of my faith in the game.
« Last Edit: August 10, 2015, 04:45:26 pm by Penfold78 »

Offline soxfan

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1295 on: August 10, 2015, 04:42:44 pm »
I think given the result today we should be looking to win everything, including the World Cup. Why not? It's either that or relegation.
I think World Cup rules dictate that any English club would have to be managed by Roy Hodgson. So I don't fancy Liverpool's chances there. :rant
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Offline soxfan

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1296 on: August 10, 2015, 04:59:50 pm »
1. Chelsea - best manager gets them the nod (which sickens me, as I hate that idiot)
2. Arsenal - Wenger will come within a whisker
3. City - lots of talent but will suffer a dip in form that will cost them the title
4. Liverpool - we've invested wisely this season, and Can, Lovren, Ibe, Moreno will improve as well
5. United - the media fanboys are hyping them, but they're merely good not great, especially if their savior de Gea leaves
6. Tottenham - not enough firepower to crack top 5
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Offline TheSoundLady

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1297 on: August 10, 2015, 05:49:04 pm »
Haven't seen anything that changed my mind yet.

1. Chelsea by a distance
2. United by a hair over
3. The best club in the world by a distance over
4. Spurs
5. City missing out by a hair
6. Arsenal missing out by a fair few points

But I'll re-evaluate this as the season goes on. I think I already posted this prediction a few weeks back.

One thing though: there is no position we can not finish if others have a bad season. The key is that we have to be consistently brilliant. I don't think we will be but you never know.

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1298 on: August 10, 2015, 05:50:46 pm »
what do we get if we win another 37 league games?

Offline TheSoundLady

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1299 on: August 10, 2015, 05:51:02 pm »

Easter to May:

Having won the League Cup

I think this is a really bad idea.

I've heard that our owners will sack a manager for doing this. I like Brendan. I don't want him sacked.

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1300 on: August 10, 2015, 05:51:52 pm »
what do we get if we win another 37 league games?

An executive position on the FIFA World Cup Hosting Rights Decision Committee (complete with Manila Envelope and FBI Escort).

Offline Penfold78

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1301 on: August 10, 2015, 06:34:45 pm »
 :)  ;D

I think this is a really bad idea.

I've heard that our owners will sack a manager for doing this. I like Brendan. I don't want him sacked.

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1302 on: August 10, 2015, 06:39:08 pm »
Top four or a real good run at it.
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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1303 on: August 21, 2015, 07:05:07 pm »
Wanted to write my piece before a ball was kicked, but I overdid it in the Benteke thread and… well… Let’s just say I missed this place!

Here goes anyways.

First of all, I find it absolutely shocking that having wasted the money we did last year the transfer committee has survived. How the coaching staff took the blame for our utter ineptness in the transfer market, I have no clue. I said at the end of last season that if the committee wasn't changed, then we'll have a similar or worse season than last year. And I stand by that now- even though, as I write this, we have 6 points out of 6.

For What makes us stand out? Absolutely nothing. What position of our team can you say is “very strong”? Not one. We don’t have “the best midfield in the world”of the Rafa years, the miserly defence of Houllier peak or the Mouth watering goal threat of the 18 months of peak Brendan Rodgers. We don’t have the world class individual players that won us trophies or pushed us to top 4 in the past.

I can always remember thinking under Evans “We’need to fix the defence and we’ll win everything”. Under Houllier and Rafa it was “We need more creativity”. Now? We need the defence fixing, the creativity improved and the attack strengthened. Every single part of the team has issues.

For me, this is the worst side we’ve had for 23 years.

I look around the side and think to myself: how many world class players do we have? None. How many great players do we have?

At an absolute push, we have 2 of them. Sturridge, when fit (which is basically very rarely) and Coutinho (who remains very inconsistent). That’s it.

We have a bunch of good players (Clyne, Milner, Henderson, Benteke) and lot of Ok ones (Moreno, Skrtel, Mignolet, Sakho, Lallana, Allen, Lucas) and a shitload of potential (Gomez, Ibe, Can, Markovic, Origi). We also have loads of average players (Toure, Enrique, Lovren, Ings, Borini, Balotelli etc…).

Everything is much of a muchness. I can’t recall a time when it’s been like this. At our worst under Hodgson, we still had Torres and Gerrard. What do we have now?

I just do not understand how this is possible after spending so much on players. We have 5 players in our squad who cost 20m or more. The manager has had 7 transfer windows and 3 years working for this club under his belt.

I just cannot fathom how he wants to play this year. I was at Anfield Monday to see long balls pumped to Benteke who was knocking it down to no-one or to Coutinho to run after. What an absolute waste of Coutinho’s talent that is. If that’s how Rodgers wants to play this year, he should have gone and found the next Jermain Defoe and Stewart Downing.

He’s had 3 years with this team coaching them to play a certain style. Why, if his plan to fix the team was to buy Benteke and go more direct, did we not spend last season getting the players used to playing that way? We had 2 target men strikers in the squad. He never used them- on the contrary, he preferred playing a midfielder in attack in order to keep our “style of play”consistent with what he had coached before. And now everything has been thrown out of the window.

Basically, last season was an absolute waste from start to finish. It didn’t get us used to playing a certain style. It didn’t get us used to a new formation. It was just an absolute waste. The young players that got game time (Can, Markovic, Ibe) got the minutes playing in positions they won't be playing in this season. Just a waste.

The change of style for me is extremely worrying and sums up where Rodgers is at. He has basically completely compromised his principles- which for me is the number 1 sign that a manager is under pressure. If this style persists (and with Benteke in the side it will be folly not to go more direct) then the work he's put in in his 3 years at the club means nothing anymore. It is quite staggering to say that this is basically year Zero of a new project.

The midfield is too similar. Rodgers was quoted once as saying that we lost the league because Jordan Henderson was suspended and we had no one to replace him. Well, you look at our midfield now and all there are are Jordan Hendersons.

Milner, Can, Henderson, Allen… Exactly the same player. Run around a lot, put a shift in, tackles here and there, press and that’s your lot. You can play 2 out of any of those 4 and you'll get basically the same thing.

Where’s the creativity? Where’s the goal threat? Where’s the variety? They all do the same job and we are desperately lacking creativity, penetrative passing and goal threat from there.

My feelings on Benteke are well documented and got me a ban. I’ll pass on that. To resume it, we’ve signed someone who demands a shift in philosophy in our team. It’s been the plague of Liverpool for 2 decades and we’ve seen already how that style is changing.

The attacking midfield revolves around Coutinho. I have completely lost all hope in Lallana, who neither has the physicality or pace to make that much difference. Ibe and Markovic both have talent- and are both very young. We can’t depend on them.  We are greatly lacking in pace in midfield. The fact that Moreno ran very quickly in a straight line was the highlight of Monday says absolutely everything.

Firmino is the big unknown- but all reports on him is that he’s more German than Brazilian- i.e. good tactically, disciplined and works hard. Creativity and pace doesn’t seem to be his forte. I will happily admit that he is an unknown quantity but we really need him to be as good as people hope and his price suggests because if he isn’t we are at the mercy of Coutinho’s fitness and form for our creativity all season.
 
The defence is what it is. There are problems within it and they are not helped by the fact there is no defensive midfielder ahead of them. Hyypia and Henchoz had Hamann, Agger and Carragher had Mascherano. These poor fuckers have no-one- and they’re not the best defenders in the world to begin with. Clyne looks good though.

Mignolet is Mignolet. We know he ain’t the best around.

All in all, there’s absolutely nothing there for me to suggest we’ll have a good season. We’ve won 6 points out of 6 so far but could have had no complaints if we’d had just 2 points or even none. We’ve played 2 of the most boring games of football since the Roy Hodgson era.

For me, this is a Gerard Houllier side without a defensive midfielder and Michael Owen- just Emile Heskey up front. I will be extremely surprised if we come back from behind to win a game once all season. This team has struggled to create chances for a full year now and there are no signs pointing to that changing. The moment we go a goal behind I think that’s all she wrote.

There is one thing that can make us have a good season (And by good I mean sneaking top 4 and winning a cup)- that’s Sturridge coming back and hitting peak form straight away (a la Suarez 2 years ago) and Firmino making the impact of a Sanchez last year. That’s what I’m clinging to.
 
Otherwise, this season could very wellbe the end of Brendan Rodgers.

Personally, I see us finishing between 6th and 8th. Out of the cups early too. Benteke won’t hit 12 league goals from open play, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Rodgers gone before the season ends.

Obviously completely conscious of the fact I'll be called a miserable and negative twat. But that's how I see it.
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Offline Penfold78

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1304 on: August 21, 2015, 08:30:05 pm »
[quote author=Brentieke link=topic=321617.msg14066018#msg14066018 date=

Obviously completely conscious of the fact I'll be called a miserable and negative twat. But that's how I see it.
[/quote]

Miserable yes, negative maybe but being able to cut through all the bullshit and see the reality is nothing to be criticised for.  I can't see that Rogers is the main reason for this gloomy outlook though. If the owner's investment strategy is to shy away from buying peak-talent and opt for younger or tarnished goods then we will always have to compromise something. And putting all your eggs in this speculation game without substantially upgrading your scouting resource is just plain daft. As a result of poor transfer selection even something as fundamental as playing philosophy has to give.  Which is a constraint that must be crazy to work with, which is why Rogers still has my support.

 I am clinging to the hope that the lump it to Benteke approach is a short term early season plan to get us through the tricky set of  away fixtures and to see us though until Sturridge is once again fully operational.

 And then I think of Aire and Henry sending letters to each other like a pair of doddery WW1 generals congratulations each other on how well the campaign is going and how we'll be home by Christmas. And I get sad again.

Offline Penfold78

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1305 on: September 12, 2015, 07:40:25 pm »
Going to script so far then. More or less.  ???

Offline Michel

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1306 on: September 13, 2015, 10:42:42 am »
We will finish somewhere between 5th and 7th place.
We won't win a cup of course.

Offline Adeemo

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1307 on: September 13, 2015, 10:43:54 am »
Beat Norwich and Villa and everything will be fine, honestly...
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Offline Sudden Death Draft Loser

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1308 on: September 13, 2015, 10:45:44 am »
We will finish somewhere between 5th and 7th place.
We won't win a cup of course.

Nice to see a bit of optimism, however misplaced.
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Offline Ycuzz

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1309 on: September 13, 2015, 12:20:23 pm »
Brentie! The lottery numbers if ye'd be so kind..

@Yvanicuzz

Offline benn25

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1310 on: September 20, 2015, 06:26:18 pm »
After the improved performance today, though we are starting from a very low base, the next month is critical. Lose against Villa and it could be curtains. Villa, Everton, Spurs, Sothampton, Chelsea in October. I cant see anymore than 2 points based on our current inability to score. Nov sees us play a much improved Crystal Palace side who are our current nemesis. Then its City and then Swansea. If BR is still around by the time we play City we must be still sniffing around 4th place. Albeit mid table but still close enough.
We just leave them be for a while, take a breather, let them settle, then bang!  All over them like a tramp on chips.

Offline farawayred

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1311 on: September 20, 2015, 09:32:18 pm »
Are we going to hear predictions until April?
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Offline killer-heels

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1312 on: September 20, 2015, 10:04:15 pm »
I have no expectations of this season left. Just going with whatever we do. Probably wont surprise me if we finish 7th or 8th.

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1313 on: September 20, 2015, 10:07:31 pm »
I have no expectations of this season left. Just going with whatever we do. Probably wont surprise me if we finish 7th or 8th.

It'll surprise me if we finish that high.
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Offline muyuu

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1314 on: September 21, 2015, 12:46:38 am »
I doubt BR would be sacked for being 6th by xmas.

Other than that my expectations are about the same.

If things improve significantly we will do the "sixth place, no trophies" I expected at the beginning of the season.
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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1315 on: September 21, 2015, 01:38:04 am »
We'll finish 8th or 9th
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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1316 on: September 21, 2015, 02:28:35 am »
Not sure where to put this, but I think it sums up the quality of our squad.

Then in the midddle out pops a smiling glen johnson pulling up his jersey to reveal a t-shirt of suarez with a text saying. "OUR SUAREZ IS A FRIEND TO ALL COLOURS!"

Offline Chakan

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1317 on: September 21, 2015, 02:34:16 am »
Wow that's depressing.

Offline farawayred

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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1318 on: September 21, 2015, 07:51:00 am »
Not sure where to put this, but I think it sums up the quality of our squad.


Daft logic.

I'm in Paris, the most beautiful city in the world. I booked the most beautiful hotel in Paris. I'm staying alone, but I'm the most beautiful person in the room. So, I'm the most beautiful person in the most beautiful room in the most beautiful hotel in the most beautiful city in the world. Therefore, I'm the most beautiful person in the world.
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Re: Expectations For 2015/16 Season (Brenties Crystal-Ball Thread Mk. II)
« Reply #1319 on: September 21, 2015, 08:18:06 am »
Are we going to hear predictions until April?

No, we won't.