Impossible to not be impressed with the Rodgers since he has come in a couple of seasons ago. A lot has been written on here and by journos about all of the excellent work that he has done, and will continue to do undoubtedly for as long as he is in charge of us. How many years will that be? Such an interesting question that because its hard to see where this road ends. Of course nobody knows what will happen tomorrow (except for me.... Same shit different day) but the relentlessly positive atmosphere that surrounds LFC at the moment; From the owners, manager, 1st team squad, the academy and the fans, the old saying of everyone pulling together trying to accomplish one aim has never felt more appropriate.
The most pleasing aspect of our current set up for me is the fact that the whole club still feels in its infancy of its growth, and the potential of the club, team and academy is massive. I mean, the owners are new to 'soccer', and although there has been hiccups along the way (Comolli), they have shown that they want to run the club the 'right' way- within our means, have made positive noises around the stadium and have backed the manager in player recruitment in a prudent way.
Player recruitment is just one of the many things that people have spoken extensively about recently but for me it is the most pleasing and important aspect of what Rodgers has brought to the club. At the end of the day, a team is still a collective of individuals and having a 'committee' and a manager that can identify the quality of player, with the correct temperament at the right age and right price is key to the future success of the club. The summer window was when it honed on me just how astute Brendan can be. The signing of Sakho and the young boy Ilori for decent money combined when other areas of the squad might have been seen 'more' in need of extra competition, only stands to show how Rodgers will sign a player for any position if the right quality of player is available. At the time of the signings he spoke about how signing these two players was about safeguarding the future, Rafa spoke similarly when signing Suso and Sterling and revamping youth recruitment, Rafa's future is Rodgers present in that respect. The signings of Sturridge and Coutinho speak for themselves, but even the lads that havent quite hit the heights for us yet that Rodgers has signed, mainly Joe Allen (who I rate highly and cannot wait to see his peak), Alberto, Aspas, Borini, have all shown that they possess the flashes of the quality that is required to hold a place down in our squad. Even signings such as Cissokho, Sahin and Moses, although not successful (on the whole) shows his willingness to give players a chance to play for us who might possibly add something to the squad. If it hasn't worked out, he has shown a ruthlessness to give someone else a chance.
I read an interview on here that someone posted up a few days ago, where Rodgers was speaking about getting the CORE:
“I always say to players and in particular to young players that at Liverpool we work on what we call the ‘core’. We get the ‘commitment’. Once we have do that we will ‘organise’ a plan for them to get into the first team. When that happens it is their ‘responsibility’ and hopefully after that we can deliver ‘excellence’ in their performance level that keeps them there. If they don’t they will fall by the wayside.”
The other most impressive part of his reign for me is this. His ability to seemingly coach/man-manage/literally drag players up to the required standard and their best form is possibly the mans most natural trait as a manager. That coupled with his willingness to try any player who shows they are good enough is a dangerous combination. Is it far-fetched to suggest that even more young players already at the club can now progress to become top class Premiership players? Following this CORE blueprint, any player that shows the aptitude can succeed and follow on from the inroads Sterling, Flanagan, Kelly, Wisdom, Suso, Ibe have already. In many ways, even the academy feels in its formative years, which seems silly to suggest after all the work Borrell and everyone at the academy has done over the years, its almost like the chick we grew has just laid is first eggs, and they are all hatching now. That list of players seems like the first 'batch' to come through, Rodgers forward thinking could allow many more to follow. Disciples of the ressies and u18s will know what I mean, there are many talented players at all levels of the club, with a clear blueprint to follow maybe more will make the transition.
Juan Loco posted a belter in the Arsenal Round the Table thread where he spoke of Rodgers tactical flexibility and his relaxing of some of his footballing philosophies, which was spot on in its analysis. What really amazes me is the fact that Rodgers himself is hardly an old head in the game. Still young for a manager and new to managing a club of our stature, he is showing that he is learning and adapting all the time. He looks like he enjoys his job, looks comfortable within it too, nothing worse than seeing an Villas-Boas-type looking sullen even after a win, almost haunted by their job. That isn't to say that he has got it right every time, or even that he will get it right in the future. As good as this season has been thus far, there are still question marks over how we are set up tactically away from home, 23 conceded on the road is only better than about 4 teams in the league. I am not sure that he has the tactical answers yet against good teams away from home. Not only against the Man City's and Chelsea's of the world, two examples of where I think Rodgers has been slightly naive this season, maybe in seasons to come we will set up differently away from home against the 'top 4'. But also against the likes of West Brom, West Ham, Southampton, Swansea. For me, these teams usually hold the key to the season at the top end, if I was a a manger and had a team good enough to beat those four teams away from home every season, I'd be pretty confident of winning the title. I'm not suggesting that that list of teams is particularly great, but that they are tough fixtures in reality, tough grounds to win at. I saw an interview with Rodgers where he spoke about "the best managers being the best thieves" (nicked from Capello ((who probably nicked it from someone else)) and couldn't help but wish Rodgers would nick a bit that tactical steel, pragmatism, in grinding out results away from home. I was schooled during the Houiller years and the one thing that stands out for me with Gedda was his ability to shut games down and win them, cup competitions and in Europe, on the road we were tight and tough to score against. Rafa was the same (even more so) and the more experienced top class managers all have a coherent tactical setup away from home in the biggest games. I am sure it is something that will come with experience but it is clearly an area that Rodgers and the team need to work on to improve. Especially with Champions League back next season, finding the right balance between defence and attack, when to be compact, when and where to make the final third entries, use of subs, etc in tough away games is for me the final piece in the jigsaw. If Rodgers can add that to his tactics book, the skys the limit. It truly is. There's more signings to come, more options, more talent. A young squad, a young manager, screams out potential from every corner. It been a pleasure watching us this season. Onwards and upwards I reckon.
