Fairer To Judge Rodgers This Season Than Last

Basically, in my opinion, it will be fairer to judge Brendan Rodgers as Liverpool's manager and the progress Liverpool have made under his guidance, this year rather than last.

Firstly, I think it's always difficult to judge any manager on a single season. That's simply because a new manager will often come in with his own ideas (or philosophies as seems to be the modern word for it) and players. It's usually a difficult turnaround when you swap too much too soon. Now, I don't think last year Rodgers' style of play was too different from Kenny's. If anything, we played some better football under Kenny than we ever did under Brendan. But there was a subtle change and one that took some time getting used to at the early stages of the season - most notably that pissing about with the ball at the back. Something that I think we knocked on the head eventually and results finally picked up because of it.

Secondly, Brendan has had a full year here now to understand what is expected of this club. It's all very well everybody saying they know what this club expects beforehand but until you actually experience it first hand you don't quite understand the full meaning of our expectations. I think now though, Rodgers has grasped what we, as fans, expect from our club. Others at the club might not of but I think Rodgers has. This will ultimately help him in the long run.

Thirdly, and maybe most importantly, this squad is now his. The majority of the squad (or group) are players he's brought into the club, or at the very least the first team. I think on the opening day against Stoke, more than half of the players picked will be Rodgers' signings and another one or two on the bench. So now he has no excuse (not that he's really used it in the past) for poor performances. It's his team now. It's not a hangover of Dalglish/Hodgson/Benitez but Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool side. That's some achievement in just over 12 months. He's already got his stamp on the team. For the majority of last year he didn't have his players on the pitch.

So while a lot of people were, justifiably, critical of Rodgers last year, I do think it'll be fairer to judge him this time next year.

Great opening post and very rational thought process in coming to your idea.

Fully agree Billy.

I was one who did criticise Brendan last season when I felt necessary but also praised him when I thoguht he got things correct. I was of the opinion that even despite the ending to the summer window and the fact it was his first season at the club I thought he could have done better and was far too quick use the long term excuse.

Having said that I was pleased with how we ended the season and enjoyed watching many of the games and how his team played and was looking forward to seeing the progression this season. I expected a bit more backing as far as players go this summer but as you say most of the squad come 17th August will be his own and we can presume anyone still here from previous managers are one's he wants to keep so it will be fairer to judge him this season as opposed to last.

Only handicap being the situation Suarez has now put him in. Will Brendan get suitable replacements or will he have to once again scrape together a strike force?

With you there billy.

Especially with his background it's tough to come in to a club this size but can't doubt he has the balls for the job.

Top post Billy, and very hard to disagree, I honestly believe he had done remarkably well all things considered, he got fu**ed over last summer leaving us short up front + he had to adjust to new surroundings, integrate himself to the inner sanctions of a world famous institution, add to that introduce a new regime, philosophy and style of play,

Some posters are quick to point out his mistakes or what he says in interviews but to be fair he is the meat in the sandwich and will burden alot of pressure from supported to owners, occupational hazard some might say but he still had to handle it and some,

This is a pivotal season for the boss, one which will determine whether or not his plans are working, only time will tell of course, but even if we don't achieve what we set to I will still support him unless a major factor arises and changes things,

I am however concerned about the lack of back up from FSG, we are 9 days from kick off but yet we have yet to Complete our search for players, this far from acceptable IMO, all business should be done by now, additions should be training and adjusting to Brendan's style and building relationships with new teammates, not scraping around trying to get the right players in for the cheapest price possible,

Like another poster mentioned, FSG should put their dollars where their fat gobs are and back their manager fully, not f***in half arsed like it seems to be,

I think Brendan is doing fine and by the end of this coming campaign I think we will fair much better than last season, I just hope that we reach CL maybe then FSG will be proper owners and untie Brendan's hands from behind his back, no breath will be held tho, that would be suicide !

YNWA

In full agreement with you Billy,I did mention that at the end of this season we will have a good idea of progress and where we are heading.

Of course it's fairer.

A bit of a no-brainer really and sad that we even need to discuss it. The notion that a club, which is supposedly trying to (re)build a dynasty, should sack a manager, after one poor season, is ridiculous and would put the club back two seasons... not one.

Yeah, as fans, we can look at that season and discuss where it went wrong but... we can't just cherry-pick the 'bad', individual, mistakes without looking at any and all mitigating circumstances. A manager should always be given the chance to make good (unless he breaks the bond with fans/players).

Good managers learn from their mistakes and don't repeat them. They build on the good and learn from the bad. Bad managers will repeat the mistakes.

We will be in a better position know where Brendan and (maybe just as importantly) those who employ him sit, at the end of this season.

but judge him how?. if we take away 30 goals from his side and a very experienced defender will he be able to put out a stronger side than last year.
It all depends on what squad he starts the league with. In principal judging a manager with just one full season behind them is crazy and by the end of his second season with the backing of the board he should have made big improvements in the teams results.

In my opinion I feel Rodgers deep down is wounded with how last season panned out and the affair of a certain player distracting our build up,I feel this season he won't hold back and will go on the attack in the league from the off.

If pre season is anything o go by we are in good shape even though the opposition we faced was slightly light.

I see Rodgers picking up his first trophy for LFC this season & proving 1 or 2 of his critics/doubters wrong & that includes me.

Of course it'll fairer, with more data at hand, but that doesn't preclude you from reaching an opinion  now and letting future actions and results help inform that opinion.

I moaned at a lot of the things he done in games and had a good grumble after games in which we looked sh*te or mediocre. I also liked a lot of what I seen last season and said so at those times.

It's an emotions thing I suppose and I'll be exactly the same this season.

On reflection as a whole though the OP is spot on and I'm totally with it - the jury is out though. We'll learn a lot more this season as to whether the manager is the man.

I'm undecided as to whether he is but I'm willing to allow him the time for me to find out. I just hope he gets the tools that he wants to carry out the job.