Not the case for the defence of Brendan Rodgers or the case for the defence of the players.
BUT the case for the defence that all this hysteria from Liverpool supporters world-wide - not just on this forum - that we'll end up in a lower mid table or relegation strugglers next season. Etc.
No my case for the defence is that all this hysteria is just that hysteria.
I accept the following:-
1. Brendan Rodgers must go.
2. Certain players must go.
3. The transfer committee in its current format needs re-organising.
4. Lack of leadership on and off the pitch.
However let me give the following statements:-
1. We scored only 52 goals.
[iYET WE FINISHED 6TH[/i]
2. Our strikers scored a combined 8 league goals.
YET WE FINISHED 6TH
3. We conceded almost as many goals this season as we did last.
YET WE FINISHED 6TH
4. Daniel Sturridge missed 90% of the season.
YET WE FINISHED 6TH
5. We had an unconfident goalkeeper for 6 months of the season - in the 2nd most important position on the pitch.
YET WE FINISHED 6TH
6. Out of the new signings none of them apart from Can and Lallana in parts made a real impression on the team.
YET WE FINISHED 6TH
7. We had to deal in the first six months with a tired and emotional wreck Steven Gerrard and from January in dealing with his impending departure.
YET WE FINISHED 6TH
So what does all of this information tell me?
Well it tells me the following information:-
With no goalscorers in the team (except Sturridge) and with 3 inept strikers - including Balotelli - who with his shots ratio inside the 18 yard area should have at least 9 league goals - we somehow managed to formulate a system allowing us to somehow get onto that 13 streak winning run which got the best out of the attacking midfielders which got us victories.
It also provides evidence that the defence is just as badly managed as it was 3 years ago, however in that 13 streak run whilst it got the best out of the attacking midfielders, it also got the best out of the defence. As this looked the most balanced it had been in 3 years with Can-Skrtel-Sakho and Lucas in front of them. However either side of that run it shows me that Brendan cannot formulate his strategies onto the team without the defence being as shaky as it is.
It also suggests to me that we never got over 13/14 and Gerrard in particular never got over that plus coupled with the world cup, those first six months of the season was tough. Then came his announcement of his departure and thus started our 13 run streak.
It also suggests that our transfer committee and Brendan got it majorly wrong in the market. Lovren was a failure, Lambert a failure, Balotelli a failure, Moreno undecided, Lallana undecided but edging towards success and Can our most successful signing. We failed to sign goalscorers. Note goalscorers do not mean strikers. Although strikers should be getting 15 league goals for us.
So what does this all mean?
It means that for me a new manager is a must. I have various opinions on the different managers out there however that is for a different thread. But also FSG need to implement or re-organise the transfer committee. Be it by appointment a DoF or stream lining the TC.
It also means that above all else in the transfer market we need to sign goalscorers. At least 2 added to what we have. No Suarez and no Sturridge yet we only finished 8 points off of 4th place. Had Sturridge been injury free you can be as sure as anything it would have been 2 or 3 points, or hell us even in 4th. Goalscorers just add that extra dimension to a team.
So, NO! We won't be in any relegation Dog fights next season or be in mid-table. Because the evidence suggests otherwise. We finished 6th with all of those obstacles - yes most of them self-inflicted - but still with those obstacles we finished 6th and 8 points off of 4th. Am I suggesting this is good enough for this season or its a par season? NO I AM NOT.
Should Brendan pay with his job? YES.
But please this hysteria is just that. Hysteria.
Now if nothing were to change and Brendan was still in charge AND nothing changes with the TC then it is time to panic. If only one of those changes did occur, then whilst not ideal, we'd at least have further clarity on the position of what has the final say in what and would have that transparency and accountability that I have asked for time and again.
