I made a deal with myself that I would not make my decision on Brendan Rodgers’ fate until the end of the season. I have been very much on the fence for a good couple of months.
At times I felt Rodgers was the man to take us forward, but then there have been times when I started to have second thoughts.
The reason I have been on the fence for so long is purely because of what he achieved last season. The man took us from seventh in the league to almost overcoming all odds to win it.
We all seemed adamant that he was the man to lead the club for the next five or so years, right?
Here we are a year down the track from finishing runners up in the league to now finishing sixth and copping a 6-1 defeat to Stoke City on the final day.
What a difference a year makes in the footballing world and in particular, Brendan Rodgers’ footballing world.
For me, this season has given every single Liverpool fan the opportunity to see why Brendan Rodgers is not the man for the long term.
As a fan base we have seen how Rodgers spent £100 million and how he coped without Luis Suarez.
Brendan Rodgers is a young and promising manager, but that remains the problem. Liverpool shouldn’t have a manager learning on the job. Look at all the top clubs around the world, they all have proven and ready managers to take them to trophies.
With Rodgers being a manager still learning his trade, the top players around Europe don’t want to play for an unknown quantity.
Alexis Sanchez is a fantastic example. If Arsene Wegner and Brendan Rodgers came calling, you would pick Wegner due to the success he’s had in his time as a manager. Winning a Championship play-off final isn’t enough to attract the likes of Alexis Sanchez.
We had as much to offer as Arsenal did that summer transfer window, but the lack of a big name manager cost us.
Brendan Rodgers has signed some very average players in his time at the club. Some of the signings are nothing more than mid-table players.
Liverpool should have some of the biggest names in world football. Rodgers has gone after some big names during his time such as Alexis Sanchez and Diego Costa but missed out because he doesn’t have the reputation like a Wenger or Mourinho.
Also, the ability to realise something is not working is a key issue for Rodgers. We have seen Emre Can played at right-back for weeks now and the amount of times he has looked out of position, well I’ve lost count.
The question I’m asking is, why does Rodgers take so long to change something that isn’t working?
He has spent over £200 million during his tenure at Liverpool. You really have to start asking yourself, have we really improved that much in the three years he has had in charge?
Yes we had blistering 2013/14 season but that’s gone.
Rodgers continuously uses the excuse of no Luis Suarez for this season, but when Ronaldo left Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson still had them finishing in the top four.
When Arsenal lost Robin Van Persie, Arsene Wegner still found a way to get them back in the top four.
Daniel Sturridge was injured yes, but surely everyone in the club knew he was injury prone so therefore buy a striker with the same strengths.
Excuses simply aren’t acceptable and it will only get someone so far.
I think it’s fair to say that Brendan Rodgers has ruined his good work in the space of a single year. At this moment in time, we aren’t any better off than what we were at the end of Rodgers’ first season.
What next for the club?
I would of liked to have seen Rafa Benitez make a return to Anfield, but with the strong links to Real Madrid that is nothing more than dreamland now.
For what is available as of this moment, it has to be Jurgen Klopp.
The man is what a Liverpool manager should be. When you watch him at Borussia Dortmund, you see a man full of drive and determination and I love that.
When you see him celebrating with the Dortmund fans you can see a man who cares. This isn’t suggesting Rodgers doesn’t care, it’s just that if we were to replace Rodgers I would want someone who cares and wants to win trophies.
Klopp’s record speaks for itself. The man has led a club that is very similar to Liverpool to two Bundesliga titles and has managed to get them to a Champions League final. I haven’t even mentioned the other trophies and honours he has next to his CV.
He’s the type of manager that will be able to attract the big name players. Footballers love Klopp and I think we would see serious progress from the likes of Jordon Ibe, Lazar Markovic, Emre Can and Divock Origi under him.
Don’t forget we would have access to a lot of Borussia Dortmund players as well. The players love him and want to follow him.
As seen with Borussia Dortmund, Klopp had a project and I can see him having a vision and a project under us.
He would get us back into Europe and becoming a force again. Dortmund may of had a poor season in the Bundesliga, but in Europe they were fantastic.
He has the experience and reputation, that’s what we desperately need.
Brendan Rodgers is a good guy who has tried his absolute best and we should respect him for that. I honestly believe he will be a fantastic manager in the years to come, but right now Liverpool have to hire Jurgen Klopp due to the fact he can sign big names, have the mentality to be first and isn’t learning on the job.
