*Official* English Football Season 2011-12

[BoyBrumby]

Didn't Ispwich go through a period in the mid-late 90s of repeatedly choking automatic promotion followed by jibbing the play-offs?

Pretty much.

They were more or less single handedly responsible for the "team who finishes third never goes up" cliche.

 

[Eds]

BBC Sport - Brendan Rodgers agrees deal to become new Liverpool manager

Rodgers confirmed as new Liverpool manager. Three year deal.

 

[sledger]

Interesting that they, seemingly, preferred him to Martinez. Bit of a blow for Swansea though.

 

[GIMH]

Interesting appointment. Could kill his career if it goes wrong.

 

[fredfertang]

Interesting appointment. Could kill his career if it goes wrong.

.... which it will

 

[sledger]

But it's Liverpool's year this year.

 

[GIMH]

Depends whether the owners have patience. They are a few users behind the top 4 and Chelsea, I'd say.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Don't see it working well at all. Fans will be calling for Benitez within months for no real reason.

 

[GIMH]

Not sure on that. Seems to be a more favourable appointment than Martinez who they didn't want. But it's a poisoned chalice at the minute so we'll see.

 

[Ikki]

Fans won't be calling for anyone unless things go horrifically bad a la Hodgson or Kenny towards the end. It depends what expectations the owners have for him. I think a 6th place would leave him vulnerable, and anything lower is plank-walk time.

From what I've been reading of him and watching his interviews he is a very smart guy with the right approach IMO. It is no fluke he got Swansea to play that way. It is a big risk bringing him though. If it goes wrong the fans will be at the Yank's throats for not going for Benitez and basically gambling when they didn't have to.

 

[Furball]

Fans won't be calling for anyone unless things go horrifically bad a la Hodgson or Kenny towards the end. It depends what expectations the owners have for him. I think a 6th place would leave him vulnerable, and anything lower is plank-walk time.

From what I've been reading of him and watching his interviews he is a very smart guy with the right approach IMO. It is no fluke he got Swansea to play that way. It is a big risk bringing him though. If it goes wrong the fans will be at the Yank's throats for not going for Benitez and basically gambling when they didn't have to.

Ridiculous.

 

[Ikki]

The owners have stated since the beginning that a top 4 place is what they are aiming for above all else. Ayre basically implied that even had Dalglish done the cup double it wouldn't have changed things.

I think 7th and he is gone. 5th and he's locked the job. 6th...depends on the kind of season we and others have, really. If it is a competitive season and we play well a 6th place will look far better in terms of progression. If we play crap, the competition are just tripping over themselves, and we get 6th, it will leave him in limbo somewhat.

 

[vic_orthdox]

It's going to be really interesting, the way that he had his team playing really did have a mantra of team first, and of swallowing ones ego for the best of the team. I don't know how it will go as he walks into a bigger club in English football; they aren't traits that are synonymous with the upper echelons of English football.

The players were prepared at Swansea to put their trust in him because he'd done so much with them, if players aren't prepared to trust him and put the team first, then it could end up being a disaster.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I'll give it to the transfer window.

All a bit "Moneyball", this appointment. One can see how the cogs have turned that way, but playing successful & pretty football on a limited budget isn't enough for a team that still is one of the biggest in the country.

 

[Ikki]

I like a lot of what he is saying, and he just sounds like a job at Liverpool wouldn't be above him. I know it's nothing to start hyping up but I appreciate the way he approaches things. Some clips/articles showing why the Yanks probably ended up wanting him.

PlayBall Street Striker Brendan Rodgers Interview - YouTube
New Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers' philosophy of possession - YouTube
Brendan Rodgers: Spain have been a great model for me over many years | Stuart James | Football | The Guardian

Him working under Mourinho and generally the consensus by people who have worked him on his skills and professionalism fills me with more optimism. Hopefully the start of something special.

 

[grecian]

I think it's the right appointment, he's an impressive young man (I can say that because he's younger than me, FFS) If Liverpool are ever going to become good again, they need someone with new ideas, who may grow into a great manager, not just another old-stager. Rodgers may not be the man, but it's worth a shot.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Interesting appointment. Could kill his career if it goes wrong.

But financially set up for life whether it works or not so a no brainer and will always get a club in Championship with clout after job at Swansea.

I can see him being sacked after a year having not really improved them, failing at Liverpool didn't do Hodgson any harm.

 

[TT Boy]

I'll give it to the transfer window.

All a bit "Moneyball", this appointment. One can see how the cogs have turned that way, but playing successful & pretty football on a limited budget isn't enough for a team that still is one of the biggest in the country.

Multi million pound compensation package though. Get Louis van Gaal in, won every competition going in for nothing. Really surprised they went with Rodgers over Martinez; it was Martinez who first got Swansea to play and installed that culture which was continued by Paulo Sousa. It wasn’t like Rodgers reinvented the wheel, he just took them that one step that Sousa couldn’t but may have done if he didn’t bail for Leicester.

Has it been confirmed that Sigurdsson will join Rodgers at Liverpool and not sign for Swansea?

He would be a cracking signing, top player.

 

[Eds]

Has it been confirmed that Sigurdsson will join Rodgers at Liverpool and not sign for Swansea?

He would be a cracking signing, top player.

Fairly sure that's just rumours at this stage. But I'd happily be proven wrong.

 

[Furball]

The owners have stated since the beginning that a top 4 place is what they are aiming for above all else. Ayre basically implied that even had Dalglish done the cup double it wouldn't have changed things.

I think 7th and he is gone. 5th and he's locked the job. 6th...depends on the kind of season we and others have, really. If it is a competitive season and we play well a 6th place will look far better in terms of progression. If we play crap, the competition are just tripping over themselves, and we get 6th, it will leave him in limbo somewhat.

There's no shame in a 6th position finish considering that there's 5 teams in the Premier League who are clearly better than Liverpool.