I think Liverpool fans, as ever, need to undergo a mass-realisation. There are hundreds of examples where this could be applicable for the fan base, but in this case it’s for the manager.
As most Liverpool fans will know, any black and white analysis of this season, anything denoted as pure fact, is near impossible. For every two gentle steps forward, a crushing one back. For every balanced analysis from Kristian Walsh, there’s a scathing character assassination from Dion Fanning. And the thing is, most articles I’ve read about Liverpool and/or Rodgers, both good and bad, have been, kind of, correct.
Much of the negativity spouted towards Rodgers this season was already deep-rooted in the minds of the detractors the day Dalglish was sacked. No matter if the contentious Being: Liverpool had occurred or not, he was not Kenny Dalglish and for many that simply wasn’t good enough.
When Dalglish arrived, any such divisions created in the tumultuous years of Hicks and Gillett, the detractors or Benitez or any other major matter the fan base notably disagreed over, were seemingly ceased into oblivion. Dalglish had arrived and there was only one way – and that was up. Or so it seemed.
Whether Dalglish first full-season is deemed failure or success is another matter and, frankly, one been done to death. But the real issue here is why so many never gave Rodgers a chance – especially after such a Jekyll and Hyde type season. For some he had failed before he had begun; before even analysing his strengths and weaknesses.
There were many pre-conceptions made of Rodgers when he arrived, both of the positive and negative variety. Many believed he would immediately sort out the midfield, replicating Swansea’s style of pressing and possession football. We all hoped for immediate ‘Death by football’. There were others believed he was excruciatingly rigid in a tactical sense, ‘‘4-3-3 or go home’’, believing Rodgers thought pragmatism was simply the work of the dark arts.
When Rodgers arrived he immediately made sounds that Andy Carroll was not for him, which only fueled the fire to those who believed he was insular, rigid and overall a charlatan. Arguments made against his decision to loan out Carroll are based on two things; he left it too late – which there’s no denying is true – and those who simply wanted to keep Carroll, as they saw the potential in him which many didn’t. Why wouldn’t Rodgers want a striker who had scored 6 goals in his previous 42 Premier League games? The mind boggles…
The treatment of Henderson also proves a major qualm for many. After trying to sell him to Fulham, it seemed Rodgers simply didn’t see a player in Henderson. Henderson had been relatively poor last season and in isolation, at the time at least, the decision didn’t scream insanity.
There are lots of instances where, given the allowance of retrospect, Rodgers made some mistakes early on. There’s no denying that. But what I’m driving at here, is slowly but surely, he’s eradicating those mistakes. He’s learning on the job – and it’s a joy to behold.
There are other deep-rooted views that he cares little for defence, despite one of his key tenets of style being ‘control’ – something which goes hand in hand with defensive solidity. There’s no denying that the defence has been a lot more porous this season – generally looking clueless.
Liverpool have conceded two or more goals in 13 of their 25 league games this season, while 10 individual errors have led to goals. With 13 league games left, Liverpool have conceded 32 goals – in the 09/10 season a paltry 35 goals were conceded, while last season a respectable figure of only 40 goals were conceded (in a season which was our worst of the Premier League era).
So that’s one problem Rodgers has seemingly developed within the team, but is he as tactically rigid as believed?
While last year Henderson was played into the ground and kept on the pitch even when he really needed to be dropped for his own good, he’s been forced to fight for a place this season. The upsurge in Henderson this season is a well versed one and although the majority of the praise for the improved form should go to the man himself, I dare not to praise Rodgers who, despite seemingly making a mistake on Henderson early on, changed his mind and now Henderson is in the form of his life.
Perhaps Rodgers did indeed lack a sense of pragmatism in the beginning, and probably still does to an extent, but from examining his every move since his arrival, I’ve seen some subtle changes. Tactics are changing. We’re becoming slightly more direct, more pacy, and notably more clinical.
Henderson’s inclusion on a consistent basis has sparked life into our pressing game. While the lack of experience throughout the side was pointed out as a major factor to our inconsistent form for the first half of the season, we’ve tried to rectify that, with the Manchester City game we fielded our oldest team of the season – 28-years-old on average.
Tactically, Rodgers been more fluid than I expected in the summer. We began playing a flat 4-3-3 throughout the majority of the first half of the season, when most of the time, frankly, we didn’t look good enough to play it.
There were exceptions though, and ones that Rodgers’ detractors will most likely fail to give him praise for. Cast your minds back to the game away at Goodison, where Liverpool were drawing 2-2 at half-time, rocked by a ferocious come back by Everton. Everything pointed to a loss for the Reds. At half-time, Rodgers showed the Liverpool support his first sign of pragmatism. A switch to 3-5-2 ensured a stronger, more controlled display of counter-attacking football in which only a despicably poor officiating decision held Liverpool from a very late Luis Suarez winner.
Or how about at Stamford Bridge, where Rodgers this time began with a 3-5-2 meaning we lost the central midfield battle and were very lucky to go in at half-time only 1-0 down. During the second half, Rodgers once again reacted to what he saw, went 4-3-3 with – unusually at the time – Enrique in a left-wing berth in which he surprised many and played his best Liverpool game to date, helping Liverpool secure an encouraging point at Chelsea.
Although against vastly inferior opposition, against Wigan, Rodgers once again showed his ability and bottle in reacting to mistakes he had made. After 30 minutes Liverpool looked relatively lacklustre, and with that, the youngster Suso was subbed for the athletic Jordan Henderson who ensured a more direct, pacy game which suited the Reds. As the game ended 3-0, Suarez was rightly handed the plaudits for another mesmerizing display but what caught my eye on the day was Rodgers’ reactionary tactics – another glimpse that there’s a pragmatist in there.
Overall I think it’s hard to make any great conclusions on Liverpool or Rodgers himself right now. As I said previously, for every two steps forward there’s been one step back. Such inconsistency will always keep the doubters alive while it’ll leave those of great positivity’s arguments lacking a little substance.
Is Rodgers developing a pragmatic ‘do-anything-for-a-win’ mentality? While that remains to be seen, there’s certainly been enough to suggest that the young manager from County Antrim is making great strides forward.
Comments.
Loading comments…