Brendan Rodgers (Liverpool -> Celtic -> Leicester)

Well, i've got another heads up from my brothers mate who works at Anfield. Jürgen Klopp has been approached  by advisers from Liverpool . FSG want him and are actively moving to tie him up, unofficially , as they are aware another English club are prepared to offer him a job.

Expect the press to get wind of this, possibly , this weekend  or next week.

Well, i've got another heads up from my brothers mate who works at Anfield. Jürgen Klopp has been approached  by advisers from Liverpool . FSG want him and are actively moving to tie him up, unofficially , as they are aware another English club are prepared to offer him a job.

Expect the press to get wind of this, possibly , this weekend  or next week.

Wait and see mate, honestly you and your brothers mate............What The.....

BTW I hope its true 

Well, i've got another heads up from my brothers mate who works at Anfield. Jürgen Klopp has been approached  by advisers from Liverpool . FSG want him and are actively moving to tie him up, unofficially , as they are aware another English club are prepared to offer him a job.

Expect the press to get wind of this, possibly , this weekend  or next week.

I fully expect this to hit the back pages tommorow then .

For those still in denial about the correlation between wages and league position, read the following:

Chelsea showing good value in performance and wage stakes

Chelsea are one of the top Premier League teams in terms of performance compared with wages paid to players, figures show.

Jose Mourinho's team are 10 points clear at the top of the table but are only the third-highest payers with a wage bill of £192.7million behind Manchester United (£215.8m) and Manchester City (£205m).

The biggest under-achievers are QPR whose salary bill was almost twice what the club earned in total last season.

A £75.3m wage bill - even from a season when they were in the Championship - makes them the eighth-highest payers yet they are struggling in 19th place and facing the drop to the second tier again.

The wages costs and profits or losses of all top-flight clubs for 2013/14 have been revealed via annual accounts posted at Companies House and overall there is a close correlation between total salary bill and league position, with the current top four in the Premier League also the four biggest payers.

The combined accounts of the 20 clubs shows over overall turnover rose to £3.07billion from £2.3bn in 2012/13 with wages increasing too but at a slower rate and totalling £1.84bn compared with £1.59bn.

The latest figure shows salaries account for 59.9 per cent of turnover compared with 71.7 per cent for the same 20 clubs a year before.

The increase in income is mainly down to the Premier League's lucrative TV deal that came into effect for the first time last season. The cash injection has led to six clubs who were in the red in 2012/13 now reporting a surplus.

Apart from those clubs who were promoted from the Championship last season, only Manchester City, Aston Villa and Sunderland ended the 2013/14 season having made a financial loss.

Premier League director of communications Dan Johnson said the clubs' decision in 2013 to introduce spending controls had also contributed to a positive financial outlook.

Johnson said: "There are two reasons for this. The first is increasing revenues and the second is the financial criteria the clubs have voted in two seasons ago which put financial sustainability at the heart of how they want to go forward."

The measures introduced by the clubs capped the amount they could use TV money to pay for player costs. It also put a long-term limit on a club's overall losses.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Premier League clubs' financial figures for 2013/14 (2012/13 in brackets), in order of wage bills (£):

1. Man Utd (currently 3rd): wages 215.8m (180.5m); turnover 433.2m (363.1m); wages to turnover ratio 50% (50%); profit after tax 23.8m (146.4m)

2. Man City (4th): wages 205m (233.1m); turnover 346.5m (271m); wages to turnover ratio 59% (86%); loss after tax -22.9m (-51.6m loss)

3. Chelsea (1st): wages 192.7m (172.6m); turnover 319.8m (255.8 ); wages to turnover ratio 60% (67%); profit after tax 18.4m (-49.4m loss)

4. Arsenal (2nd): wages 166.4m (154.5m); turnover 298.7m (242.8m); wages to turnover ratio 56% (64%); profit after tax 7.3m (5.8m)

5. Liverpool (5th): wages 144m (131m); turnover 256m (206m); wages to turnover ratio 56% (63%); profit after tax 0.4m (-49.9m loss)

6. Tottenham (6th): wages 100.4m (96.1m); turnover 180.5m (147.4m); wages to turnover ratio 56% (65%); profit after tax 65.3m (1.5m)

7. Newcastle (14th): wages 78.3m (61.7m); turnover 129.7m (66.5m); wages to turnover ratio 62% (91%); profit after tax 18.7m (9.9m)

8. QPR (19th): wages 75.3m (78m); turnover 38.7m (60.6m); wages to turnover ratio 195% (129%); loss after tax -9.7m (operating loss 65.3m but £60m debt write off as one-off income injection) (-65.4m loss)

9. Sunderland (16th): wages 69.5m (57.9m); turnover 104.4m (75.5m); wages to turnover ratio 67% (77%); loss after tax -17.1m (-13m)

10. Everton (12th): wages 69.3m (63m); turnover 120.5m (86.4m); wages to turnover ratio 58% (73%); profit after tax 28.2m (1.6m)

11. Aston Villa (15th): wages 69.3m (71.9m); turnover 116.9m (83.7.m); wages to turnover ratio 59% (86%); loss after tax -3.9m (-51.8m).

12.  West Brom (13th): wages 65.4m (not available); turnover 86.8m (69.7m); wages to turnover ratio 75% (not available); profit after tax 9m (8,000)

13. West Ham (10th): wages 63.9m (56.2m); turnover 114.9m (89.8 ) ; wages to turnover ratio 56% (63%); profit after tax 10.3m (-3.5m loss)

14. Swansea (8th): wages 62.3m (48.1m); turnover 98.7 (67.1); wages to turnover ratio 64% (72%) profit after tax 1.7m (15.3m)

15. Stoke (9th): wages 60.6m (60.3m); turnover 98.3m (75.5m); wages to turnover ratio 67% (77%); profit after tax 3.8m (-31.1m loss)

16. Southampton (7th): wages 55.2m (41.4m); turnover 106m (71.8m); wages to turnover ratio 59.3% (65.5%); profit after tax 33.4m (-7.1m loss)

17. Crystal Palace (11th): wages 45.7m (18.7m); turnover 90.4m (14.5m); wages to turnover ratio 50.5% (124%) profit after tax 17.2m (3.6m)

18. Hull (17th): wages 43.3m (25.9m); turnover 84.5m (11.1m); wages to turnover ratio 64% (72%); profit after tax 9.4m (-25.6m loss)

19. Leicester (18th): wages 36.3m (26.8m); turnover 31.2m (19.6m); wages to turnover ratio 116% (136%); loss after tax -20.8m (-34m)

20. Burnley (20th): wages 21.5m (15.3m); turnover 19.6m (15.2m); wages to turnover ratio 110% (100.6%); loss after tax -4.2m (-7.8m)

The bolded bit is the most interesting. Companies house has nothing to do with Football so can be considered completely neutral in the matter.

The BBC are reporting that the hierarchy have no plans to sack Brendan.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32401226

It's just a feeling I'm working with HTH, I don't think he should go but somethings tickling my spidey sense.

If they sack BR and appoint Klopp the only assumption can be that JWH & Co are prepared to back him adequately, not penny-pinch and hide behind FFP as they did a puppet job on the manager to ease their tenure through, conduct which some plants/planks assure us is the only option.
Klopp would have to be guaranteed 100% unaffected support with complete power on all
player/disciplinary/transfer and team selection issues with no distractions from committees, DOF's or any other disruptive body.

In short Ian JWH would have to completely rethink his business strategy with regard to LFC and disassemble the tiers of unnecessary administration set up as a buffer between his company and the club, I would imagine Klopp requires direct contact with the main man; his style suggests he would not take too kindly to unqualified disruption of his methods.

None of the above comes within light years of JWH's modus operandi and the near five years of setting up his preferred model ensures it is not adaptable.
The only feasible adjustment is a change of personal, the same rules but a new face.

FSG/JWH/NESV obviously think we're F***ing stupid and will have it all day.   

It may just come down to a financial decision and whether they want to give BR another £100m to spend in the summer and if they think it'll be spent wisely. I still don't get the whole committee bollocks, if the committee have the final say on signings then some committee heads should be rolling and not Brendans.

Well, i've got another heads up from my brothers mate who works at Anfield. Jürgen Klopp has been approached  by advisers from Liverpool . FSG want him and are actively moving to tie him up, unofficially , as they are aware another English club are prepared to offer him a job.

Expect the press to get wind of this, possibly , this weekend  or next week.

Jesus F***ing Christ.

What I miss most about our winning momentum is how it kept the likes of Georgered quite. They all basically admitted they got it wrong when BR turned it around AGAIN. But as soon as we slip up, BOOM Talking sh*te again.

What I miss most about our winning momentum is how it kept the likes of Georgered quite. They all basically admitted they got it wrong when BR turned it around AGAIN. But as soon as we slip up, BOOM Talking sh*te again.

In reality mate we didn't really play any one decent apart from a truly out of form City, we could and should have lost to Southampton and Swansea.
Struggled to get past Bolton and Blackburn and obviously the wheels came off proper after the United game.

Jesus f**king Christ.

That's his source? As sources go Jesus Christ would be one I'd be inclined to believe

For those still in denial about the correlation between wages and league position, read the following:

Chelsea showing good value in performance and wage stakes

Chelsea are one of the top Premier League teams in terms of performance compared with wages paid to players, figures show.

Jose Mourinho's team are 10 points clear at the top of the table but are only the third-highest payers with a wage bill of £192.7million behind Manchester United (£215.8m) and Manchester City (£205m).

The biggest under-achievers are QPR whose salary bill was almost twice what the club earned in total last season.

A £75.3m wage bill - even from a season when they were in the Championship - makes them the eighth-highest payers yet they are struggling in 19th place and facing the drop to the second tier again.

The wages costs and profits or losses of all top-flight clubs for 2013/14 have been revealed via annual accounts posted at Companies House and overall there is a close correlation between total salary bill and league position, with the current top four in the Premier League also the four biggest payers.

The combined accounts of the 20 clubs shows over overall turnover rose to £3.07billion from £2.3bn in 2012/13 with wages increasing too but at a slower rate and totalling £1.84bn compared with £1.59bn.

The latest figure shows salaries account for 59.9 per cent of turnover compared with 71.7 per cent for the same 20 clubs a year before.

The increase in income is mainly down to the Premier League's lucrative TV deal that came into effect for the first time last season. The cash injection has led to six clubs who were in the red in 2012/13 now reporting a surplus.

Apart from those clubs who were promoted from the Championship last season, only Manchester City, Aston Villa and Sunderland ended the 2013/14 season having made a financial loss.

Premier League director of communications Dan Johnson said the clubs' decision in 2013 to introduce spending controls had also contributed to a positive financial outlook.

Johnson said: "There are two reasons for this. The first is increasing revenues and the second is the financial criteria the clubs have voted in two seasons ago which put financial sustainability at the heart of how they want to go forward."

The measures introduced by the clubs capped the amount they could use TV money to pay for player costs. It also put a long-term limit on a club's overall losses.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Premier League clubs' financial figures for 2013/14 (2012/13 in brackets), in order of wage bills (£):

1. Man Utd (currently 3rd): wages 215.8m (180.5m); turnover 433.2m (363.1m); wages to turnover ratio 50% (50%); profit after tax 23.8m (146.4m)

2. Man City (4th): wages 205m (233.1m); turnover 346.5m (271m); wages to turnover ratio 59% (86%); loss after tax -22.9m (-51.6m loss)

3. Chelsea (1st): wages 192.7m (172.6m); turnover 319.8m (255.8 ); wages to turnover ratio 60% (67%); profit after tax 18.4m (-49.4m loss)

4. Arsenal (2nd): wages 166.4m (154.5m); turnover 298.7m (242.8m); wages to turnover ratio 56% (64%); profit after tax 7.3m (5.8m)

5. Liverpool (5th): wages 144m (131m); turnover 256m (206m); wages to turnover ratio 56% (63%); profit after tax 0.4m (-49.9m loss)

6. Tottenham (6th): wages 100.4m (96.1m); turnover 180.5m (147.4m); wages to turnover ratio 56% (65%); profit after tax 65.3m (1.5m)

7. Newcastle (14th): wages 78.3m (61.7m); turnover 129.7m (66.5m); wages to turnover ratio 62% (91%); profit after tax 18.7m (9.9m)

8. QPR (19th): wages 75.3m (78m); turnover 38.7m (60.6m); wages to turnover ratio 195% (129%); loss after tax -9.7m (operating loss 65.3m but £60m debt write off as one-off income injection) (-65.4m loss)

9. Sunderland (16th): wages 69.5m (57.9m); turnover 104.4m (75.5m); wages to turnover ratio 67% (77%); loss after tax -17.1m (-13m)

10. Everton (12th): wages 69.3m (63m); turnover 120.5m (86.4m); wages to turnover ratio 58% (73%); profit after tax 28.2m (1.6m)

11. Aston Villa (15th): wages 69.3m (71.9m); turnover 116.9m (83.7.m); wages to turnover ratio 59% (86%); loss after tax -3.9m (-51.8m).

12.  West Brom (13th): wages 65.4m (not available); turnover 86.8m (69.7m); wages to turnover ratio 75% (not available); profit after tax 9m (8,000)

13. West Ham (10th): wages 63.9m (56.2m); turnover 114.9m (89.8 ) ; wages to turnover ratio 56% (63%); profit after tax 10.3m (-3.5m loss)

14. Swansea (8th): wages 62.3m (48.1m); turnover 98.7 (67.1); wages to turnover ratio 64% (72%) profit after tax 1.7m (15.3m)

15. Stoke (9th): wages 60.6m (60.3m); turnover 98.3m (75.5m); wages to turnover ratio 67% (77%); profit after tax 3.8m (-31.1m loss)

16. Southampton (7th): wages 55.2m (41.4m); turnover 106m (71.8m); wages to turnover ratio 59.3% (65.5%); profit after tax 33.4m (-7.1m loss)

17. Crystal Palace (11th): wages 45.7m (18.7m); turnover 90.4m (14.5m); wages to turnover ratio 50.5% (124%) profit after tax 17.2m (3.6m)

18. Hull (17th): wages 43.3m (25.9m); turnover 84.5m (11.1m); wages to turnover ratio 64% (72%); profit after tax 9.4m (-25.6m loss)

19. Leicester (18th): wages 36.3m (26.8m); turnover 31.2m (19.6m); wages to turnover ratio 116% (136%); loss after tax -20.8m (-34m)

20. Burnley (20th): wages 21.5m (15.3m); turnover 19.6m (15.2m); wages to turnover ratio 110% (100.6%); loss after tax -4.2m (-7.8m)

The bolded bit is the most interesting. Companies house has nothing to do with Football so can be considered completely neutral in the matter.

We are exactlty where we should be in terms of wages then, but 4 years ago, where we the top wages, but only 7th in league? Are we now in a position to go and get top stars, and will FSG do that?

Most think the answer is NO, but we all live in hope.

Because there are some people here that blame anything that goes wrong at the club on FSG, so when their favourite man at the club gets backed by them, it's hard for those people to praise FSG for doing so (given the fact that they are branded evil by some people here), isn't not ?

Again... What? 

Most people, if you care to read what's being written, are suggesting that FSG's transfer policy is inhibiting Brendan and therefore the team. They are asking FSG to set their 'model' aside (for a while, at least), to spend the same amount of money to target, buy and pay the wages of some proven quality. Nothing more, nothing less.

A statement of support, from FSG at this point, does not and can not change what has already happened. However, if that statement of support is then followed by positive action, FSG will have given Brendan what he has been asking for. That happens and [from that point] there can be no criticism. It's really that simple George.

Now... on the subject of hypocrisy - you blame Brendan; yes? So how do you feel about FSG now that they have supported your least favourite man at the club; not forgetting they recruited him in the first instance? Do you feel hypocritical for not blaming FSG?

Seriously kid - think before you post. 

All to blame, FSG, BR & Players.

But all stems from the top.

It was asked on another thread, where should we expect to be? I'll answer in here because it pertains to the boss we currently have.

Realistically, given our transfer model, NET spend, wages paid, where we were when Brendan arrived etc, we are about where it is reasonable to expect us to be. where is that? Well, poor performances in Europe, two cup semi finals (with defeats) and fifth in the league, scrapping it out with Spurs etc. Just a quick one here for the mouth foamers- I'M NOT SAYING WE ARE DOING BRILLIANTLY, I'M NOT ABSOLVING BRENDAN FROM ANY BLAME FOR SUNDAYS DEBACLE, I'M NOT PUTTING ALL THE BLAME ON FSG, OR ANY OF THAT OLD SH!TE. What I am doing is merely appraising where we are and where we can expect to be in the current football world.

You could even argue (I don't but you could) that we are doing about as well as could be expected, certainly in the league. Teams such as Swansea for example cannot win the league, but sitting in and around 8th you could argue that in their "mini league" they are about top. It's worth considering whether or not under the FSG model we are about at the top of our mini league too, particularly now that Gerrard has drifted away, Carragher, Suarez been sold off.

The point of my post is this, what could we seriously expect to change if we changed the manager? People talk about Klopp (who I personally think is a brilliant manager) competing well above his station at Dortmund and it's true. It's worth considering though that in Germany there is one absolutely HUGE  club then all the rest, whereas in England he'd be against four teams who outspend and outbid us. Which one of the current top four could we realistically expect him to get above next season, with Klopp, under the FSG model? Man City will go out and invest hugely in the Summer, Chelsea will, obviously the Mancs will, while Arsenal won't be left behind either. For us, there is the likelihood the manager will be given 30 million quid or so plus player sales (the Sterling money in other words). With that 80 million quid kitty, under the current FSG model we won't be buying anybody who earns in excess of say 80K per week, so therefore anybody who is coveted by other biggish clubs (anybody coveted by genuine big clubs wouldn't even get out of bed for what we offer). The chances are under the FSG model we'll be buying more Moreno's and Markovic's, keeping our fingers crossed that they become Emre Can's.

So next season, REGARDLESS OF WHO IS THE MANAGER, my guess is that breaking into that top four is going to be difficult bordering on impossible. That is unless we keep our best player (Sterling), AND re-invest heavily in proven talent. There is always the chance I suppose that Markovic and Moreno suddenly develop out of all recognition and become Ronaldo and Bale play-alikes and throw out my calculations, but call me a pessimist etc etc.

The other manager oft' talked about is Benitez, and I did notice one of his congregation saying he'd "have this squad challenging in no time". The reality is of course he wouldn't and couldn't, but it's not beyond the realms of possibility that we might improve under him, in terms of results I'm talking here. My guess under Benitez is that we would significantly improve our chances in next seasons Europa league for example, but would probably fall away a little in the league as we "rested" players to play in competitions we actually had a chance of winning. In the cups? Well it's entirely possible that Benitez would improve on two semi final defeats in the same season, but there was little to suggest he took the competitions over seriously or was overly successful in them during his previous six year stint (one FA Cup win), I suppose it is possible though so it ought to be considered.

So my feeling is that changing the manager could possibly improve things a little there's no question about that (it's by no means certain to happen, but it's possible). Realistically though, regardless of who we were to bring in it is almost inconceivable IMHO that they could match Brendans effort from last season, unless like him they had the benefit of at least one truly World class player in the team. You don't get those in the short to medium term by scatter-gunning transfers and low balling on wages. So WHOEVER is in charge, please FSG give them a fighting chance is the conclusion.

In reality mate we didn't really play any one decent apart from a truly out of form City, we could and should have lost to Southampton and Swansea.
Struggled to get past Bolton and Blackburn and obviously the wheels came off proper after the United game.

Doesn't matter mate. I've lost count of the number of games United won when they were very clearly a walking steamign pile of turd a dog produced on the pitch before the game. Chelsea have got away wwith a few. Truth is, we got luck in a few games, but we also showed resilience, ruthlessness when we got the very few opportunities and the defence stod firm more then they usually do. We also won without a striker mostly. I take nothing away from the team.

A new manager will probably want to overhaul teh squad as well, so another 2-3 years of re-building, unless its maureen, he seems to only need 1 year, but he always gets money to do it.

It was asked on another thread, where should we expect to be? I'll answer in here because it pertains to the boss we currently have.

Realistically, given our transfer model, NET spend, wages paid, where we were when Brendan arrived etc, we are about where it is reasonable to expect us to be. where is that? Well, poor performances in Europe, two cup semi finals (with defeats) and fifth in the league, scrapping it out with Spurs etc. Just a quick one here for the mouth foamers- I'M NOT SAYING WE ARE DOING BRILLIANTLY, I'M NOT ABSOLVING BRENDAN FROM ANY BLAME FOR SUNDAYS DEBACLE, I'M NOT PUTTING ALL THE BLAME ON FSG, OR ANY OF THAT OLD SH!TE. What I am doing is merely appraising where we are and where we can expect to be in the current football world.

You could even argue (I don't but you could) that we are doing about as well as could be expected, certainly in the league. Teams such as Swansea for example cannot win the league, but sitting in and around 8th you could argue that in their "mini league" they are about top. It's worth considering whether or not under the FSG model we are about at the top of our mini league too, particularly now that Gerrard has drifted away, Carragher, Suarez been sold off.

The point of my post is this, what could we seriously expect to change if we changed the manager? People talk about Klopp (who I personally think is a brilliant manager) competing well above his station at Dortmund and it's true. It's worth considering though that in Germany there is one absolutely HUGE  club then all the rest, whereas in England he'd be against four teams who outspend and outbid us. Which one of the current top four could we realistically expect him to get above next season, with Klopp, under the FSG model? Man City will go out and invest hugely in the Summer, Chelsea will, obviously the Mancs will, while Arsenal won't be left behind either. For us, there is the likelihood the manager will be given 30 million quid or so plus player sales (the Sterling money in other words). With that 80 million quid kitty, under the current FSG model we won't be buying anybody who earns in excess of say 80K per week, so therefore anybody who is coveted by other biggish clubs (anybody coveted by genuine big clubs wouldn't even get out of bed for what we offer). The chances are under the FSG model we'll be buying more Moreno's and Markovic's, keeping our fingers crossed that they become Emre Can's.

So next season, REGARDLESS OF WHO IS THE MANAGER, my guess is that breaking into that top four is going to be difficult bordering on impossible. That is unless we keep our best player (Sterling), AND re-invest heavily in proven talent. There is always the chance I suppose that Markovic and Moreno suddenly develop out of all recognition and become Ronaldo and Bale play-alikes and throw out my calculations, but call me a pessimist etc etc.

The other manager oft' talked about is Benitez, and I did notice one of his congregation saying he'd "have this squad challenging in no time". The reality is of course he wouldn't and couldn't, but it's not beyond the realms of possibility that we might improve under him, in terms of results I'm talking here. My guess under Benitez is that we would significantly improve our chances in next seasons Europa league for example, but would probably fall away a little in the league as we "rested" players to play in competitions we actually had a chance of winning. In the cups? Well it's entirely possible that Benitez would improve on two semi final defeats in the same season, but there was little to suggest he took the competitions over seriously or was overly successful in them during his previous six year stint (one FA Cup win), I suppose it is possible though so it ought to be considered.

So my feeling is that changing the manager could possibly improve things a little there's no question about that (it's by no means certain to happen, but it's possible). Realistically though, regardless of who we were to bring in it is almost inconceivable IMHO that they could match Brendans effort from last season, unless like him they had the benefit of at least one truly World class player in the team. You don't get those in the short to medium term by scatter-gunning transfers and low balling on wages. So WHOEVER is in charge, please FSG give them a fighting chance is the conclusion.

Pretty much sums up my feelings mate. With our current squad and the framework BR works under, I can't see any manager having a prolonged success. Rafa is an interesting one because he is such an astute strategist and a tactical genius, he would be able to win some silverware, but challenging for the title or top 4 regularly? I just can't see it.

The frustrating thing is, we're really not far off (2 or 3 quality players at most) and it won't take that much effort from FSG to fix the situation (flexibility towards wage/age structure). If that's done, I still think we have the best man for the job right now. If not, then a regular 5/6 finish with occasional cup run beckons.

Doesn't matter mate. I've lost count of the number of games United won when they were very clearly a walking steamign pile of turd a dog produced on the pitch before the game. Chelsea have got away wwith a few. Truth is, we got luck in a few games, but we also showed resilience, ruthlessness when we got the very few opportunities and the defence stod firm more then they usually do. We also won without a striker mostly. I take nothing away from the team.

Difference being Man Utd have gone on in strength whereas we we have gone back to being as turgid as at the start of the season ie no progression.

Difference being Man Utd have gone on in strength whereas we we have gone back to being as turgid as at the start of the season ie no progression.

That's a fair point mate. I'd add however that their most expensive outlets (Falcao, Di Maria, Shaw) haven't been worth their penny, but Mata, Herrera, Blind certainly have.

That's a fair point mate. I'd add however that their most expensive outlets (Falcao, Di Maria, Shaw) haven't been worth their penny, but Mata, Herrera, Blind certainly have.

Yeah its a funny one where there lesser players have really stepped up but the so called stars have been dissapointing. Point being again with so many of the crowd on here shouting about we needing superstars, yes it can help but you can make do with a fantastic team ethic.

Lets hope they keep spunking millions on duds 

Been musing over this for a few days now, the Gaffer is good enough, just properly back him, and sort out the transfers.

Footy we played last season was F***ing awesome and that's down to the manager not one player.

More evidence that given the right transfers Rodgers will take the title.

So next season, REGARDLESS OF WHO IS THE MANAGER, my guess is that breaking into that top four is going to be difficult bordering on impossible.

Good post Mick, but I don't think it will be impossible at all to break top 4 next year.

What is imperative is to buy at least one, maybe two top class proven goalscorers above all else. Even if we don't sign anyone else except those top class goalscorers. Then we'll have to ignore the other competitions and just play reserves in them.

Focus entirely on the league next year like we did last year and we should almost certainly get top 4, under either Rodgers, Klopp, Benitez etc..  But it means we'll win nothing next year and 3rd/4th will be our trophy.

Gerrard said BR was a great manager and thought if hed came to LFC sooner, we would have won the league. dunno if he is just being nice o really means that, but it is high praise, and most other ex pros and folk he has worked with say the same (apart from reading :-) .. )

Good post Mick, but I don't think it will be impossible at all to break top 4 next year.

What is imperative is to buy at least one, maybe two top class proven goalscorers above all else. Even if we don't sign anyone else except those top class goalscorers. Then we'll have to ignore the other competitions and just play reserves in them.

Focus entirely on the league next year like we did last year and we should almost certainly get top 4, under either Rodgers, Klopp, Benitez etc..  But it means we'll win nothing next year and 3rd/4th will be our trophy.

That's how I see it.

I think it's dangerous to buy into this theory on you are where you are due to wages spent.

It may well be true on the whole but clubs have shown you can buck the trend by being smarter in the market or better on the training pitch.