Think on his feet and you give the example last week of Johnson who was ill at the last moment. Well seeing as we were away in London and could only bring 18 players he had two choices in reality. Play Toure or Skrtel at right back or play Flanagan at right back.
Now I watched that game and for me Flanagan acquit himself quite well in that game.
You say the press love a man who is from that part of the world who messes about with formations and instead of keeping it simple. Well what do you constitute as messing about? because if you remember a certain player was banned for 6 games so we had to play a certain formation to take that into account. Then when he comes back we change the formation from a four to a three at the back. So he's changed the formation twice then.........so that's messing about in your mind.
Well in my mind have different formations for different opponents is a good thing and I am glad to see Brendan has the confidence to change formations when he sees fit - whether I agree with them or not is a different matter - however results suggest that he is coping fine with his changes to formation.
I've never seen the word brave been bandied about us during Rodgers tenure. Please provide a link. Oh and Rodgers getting a free ride? a big LOL didn't you see the criticism of him when he was wanting to sign Sturridge saying Sturridge is overrated and what not. Didn't you see criticism he got for bringing in that old has been Kolo Toure. Didn't you see the stick he got when in 2012 we started off poorly. However since January 2013 there hasn't been much to criticise because, you know, we are performing and winning games.
"with a player like Suarez in the mix, we don't need much tactics at home against lower opposition."
Lol so under the King and under Rafa when we drew almost as many games as we won at Anfield against lesser opposition we didn't need much tactics because we have Gerrard/Torres and Kenny had Suarez?
Of course you need tactics against them you fool. You need to decide if you want to press high up the pitch, or be compact. Whether to play it into the wide areas more often. Whether its better to pack the midfield in because the opposition will most probably only play one up front. No we just let the players get on with it because we don't need much tactics.........
You I haven't been impressed with us away from home, at all, this season. That makes two of us then because neither have I. I happen to believe its mainly down to playing 3 at the back which exposes our midfield. Swansea game was the debut for Sakho so a little leeway is needed for that. But after a good 1st half performance the players didn't press like that did second half.
Yes last season in europe was full of quirky decisions but then again did we have the squad to cope with that and compete for a top 4 place in the league? Rodgers also was new to this and I happen to think will have learned a great deal from it - I say this because he has shown an aptitude for learning from his mistakes already so I see no reason he won't if we are in europe again next year. Had Sturridge and Coutinho been available from the start of that campaign things may have been different.
"His dithering over defence and loyalty to Gerrard are other areas where he appears to lack the confidence to make decisions."
Firstly the defence. As I stated in this post he made change in tactics from a 4 to a 3 to see if it makes the SAS a better partnership, which it clearly did. However I was and am not a big fan of 3 at the back but results suggest that this change didn't have a bad affect on results. In terms of personnel well until today he's stuck with Toure. Sakho has been an ever present since he came in and Agger to until he got injured and Skrtel too his place. Skrtel to his credit has taken his chance and done well so Agger, quite rightly, has had to wait for his opportunity back into the team. That is of course unless you want to say that you don't care about form and what not just select what you perceive as the best players. Form doesn't count in your book. Nor probably does fatigue I guess....
Loyalty to Gerrard? I agree with you. Which may surprise you but I agree with you. He is being too loyal to Gerrard. However here is where I branch off from your stance. I see it from the point of view that Brendan knows the day he drops Gerrard he'll get it full throttle from the media and the supporters - in some quarters who can't see that Gerrard's legs have gone. Brendan is playing a coy game. He knows that he has to be careful in this situation. We've seen a better manager being sacked in Benitez because Gerrard wanted him gone. So he's being coy. Anyway I still think Gerrard can do for us what Pirlo does for Juventus. Gerrard's legs have gone but still possess's that killer pass and game intelligence to have a role. But as the saying goes until Gerrard himself realises his legs have gone then he still see himself as this box to box player. So I think Brendan is playing the smart game with Gerrard actually. But I agree he is being too loyal. But like an addict the first and hardest step is to admit that you are one. Until Gerrard admits to himself that he isn't the player he used to be and that his legs have gone, Brendan will have to play the smart game with him.
Brendan's talent can take us to the Premier league and CL. I no zero doubts about that. So you see Sami, a guy with lesser experience than Brendan as being a top guy? Hey I love Sami and he IS a top guy but he isn't a top manager either - and Brendan hasn't proven he is either before you bark at me. But Brendan has proved that he learns from his mistakes and he has proved he can instill an philosophy into the squad.
What the hell is a career manager?! Don't all managers want a long a prosperous career in management. Or you do you mean a career manager is one who changes jobs every couple of years ala Mourinho and Ancelotti. Well firstly all managers are career managers and secondly I believe Brendan ultimate aim is to manage England have them playing to a philosophy that we are seeing at Liverpool and saw at Swansea. He wants more english players learning to play that way. So for sure I believe that is his ultimate aim.
Am I bothered by that? no because if he is in a position for that it must mean he is doing something right for us and I also don't see him going until we have established ourselves in the CL and won a few trophies and not least the premier league. I genuinely think Brendan will win us the league in the next 3-4 years.
He doesn't have x factor? Well if who has the x factor? In my mind currently only two men have that Guardiola and Mourinho and no way in hell do I want Mourinho here. Does Moyes have the x factor? does Wenger? does Ancelotti? Ask Real Madrid supporters if you think Ancelotti has the x factor and they'll laugh at you. He's played FIVE formations already in madrid so God knows what you'd say if he was here and did that!
Of course its about players and resources!! Or is it just coincidence that the best resourced teams wins the majority of trophies!!!!!
There are four key components to win trophies. Manager. Players. Resources and Time. IMO we have 2 1/2 out of the four. We have the manager and FSG will give him time. A quarter each to resources and players. Once the stadium refurbishment is done we'll be able to compete fully with others in england.
