The weekend’s loss at Manchester United was punctuated by calls by many fans for the manager to be sacked with many taking to social media to express their views using the #RodgersOut hashtag, however unrealistic they were.
The bookmakers obviously saw a vision too, significantly slashing the odds on Rodgers to be the next to get the sack. But, I’d like to disagree with those who appear to share the mass view that it is time for Brendan to go.
Firstly, whilst we haven’t exactly made an electric start to the season – obtaining seven points from five games – we still sit in a decent position in the table with only Manchester City looking insurmountable.
Okay, you might say, “Well yes but we’ve only scored two times and two were worldies and the other was offside,” but just consider something for a second; if we were in December and had won two games 1-0 we’d all be saying, “It’s a mark of a good team when they can grind out results,” so why should now prove any different? We might not have been at our best but we’ve picked up points here and there.
Personnel has been a major issue for the manager too. With Daniel Sturridge having seemingly developed the ‘injury prone’ trait, Lallana succumbing to another knock, the captain being out in America for treatment and Coutinho being suspended, he has been without four guaranteed starters at times during a difficult period.
Maybe this represents poor strength in depth and bad choice of signings but this would almost certainly be jumping to conclusions. Whilst our choice of formation on Saturday was shocking whatever way you look at it, we had three players in attacking roles that are still finding their feet in the famous Red.
Christian Benteke scored a lovely goal and Ings and Firmino both put in a good shift as they bid to find full fitness. I’d urge all Liverpool fans to measure the barometer of success once we can finally field our strongest side.
Brendan brought us so near to a first Premier League title just two seasons ago and at that stage we as the club’s fanbase were labelling him as the best thing since sliced bread. It’s funny how the tables turn when we’re not doing so well, isn’t it?
As Chairmen of all clubs would say, the manager deserves time to prove himself before he walks out of the door and I’m sure John W Henry and co. are saying the same sort of things behind the scenes at the present moment.
If we get to November and things haven’t improved drastically, I think that’s the time the board should begin to put the feelers out for a replacement, but who? Is it really realistic to band around the names of Klopp and Ancelotti on Twitter? We probably won’t know unless we require a new manager soon but one hopes such names would be drawn to our club which is held in such esteem worldwide.
You are all entitled to your free speech at the end of the day, but none of you have the power to affect change – that lies across the Atlantic.
For this reason, I urge you to get behind us on Thursday and for every game after that. The banners will return to the Kop and let’s make Anfield a feared destination for away sides again.
