Brendan Rodgers is to remain as Liverpool manager after holding ‘positive’ talks during an end-of-season review with Mike Gordon and Tom Werner yesterday.
The 42-year-old has been reassured that his job is safe despite a disappointing campaign in both the Premier League and in European competitions.
Talks have been described as ‘progressive’ with all parties determined to move forward in to the new season together.
However, improvements will have to be made in order for Reds fans to be satisfied with the decision to stick with Rodgers.
Here are five reasons why Liverpool has made the right decision.
Development of young players
Brendan Rodgers is renowned as a brilliant man manager and he has shown his credentials in this area during his three-year spell at Anfield. When he was first installed, Fenway Sports Group (FSG) outlined a philosophy that was aimed at signing young players and developing them in to world-class talent. The arrival of Phillippe Coutinho in January 2013 is a perfect of example of how the transfer committee can get it right. The ‘little magician’ recently claimed a quartet of awards at Liverpool’s end-of-season awards ceremony, proving he is now a key part of the squad. Academy graduates Jon Flanagan, Jordan Ibe and Raheem Sterling have also blossomed as a result of the faith put in them by Rodgers. Regular first team football has developed all three in to key members at Anfield and has even led to senior international call-ups.
Style of play
Liverpool has always been a team that plays attractive, attacking football. Going to back to the 70s and 80s when the Reds experienced unparalleled success, the memories that remain are those deadly strike partnerships. We have been blessed with the likes of Roger Hunt and Ian St John, John Toshack and Kevin Keegan, Peter Beardsley and John Aldridge, and most recently ‘SAS’… Suarez and Sturridge. During the 2013-14 season, the Reds scored an impressive 101 goals in the Barclays Premier League at an average of 2.79 a game. The Anfield side could only manage 52 goals this time around but given the right ammunition, Rodgers is capable of building a team that will strike fear in to any defence.
Win ratio
Rodgers has come under heavy criticism after his side suffered a dismal end to the campaign that culminated in an embarrassing 6-1 loss against Stoke in the Premier League, Liverpool’s worst defeat in 52 years. However, the Northern Irishman can boast a better win ratio (52.6%) as Reds boss than Bill Shankly (51.98) and Gerard Houllier (52.12). This is not suggesting the 42-year-old is a better manager than these Kop legends, but rather a suggestion that he knows how to win games, especially at home. It can confidently be said, on behalf of all Liverpool fans, that last season was not good enough but Rodgers has shown enough to warrant the belief that he can turn things around.
Life without Gerrard
The Reds are lacking leaders, lacking big characters and lacking Steven Gerrard. Each season Rodgers has been in charge, he has lost a key player. First it was Jamie Carragher, then it was Luis Suarez and now it is Mr. Liverpool. He is almost fighting a losing battle. However, this summer could signal a significant turning point in the future of the club. It is a fresh start, a clean slate. Rodgers now has the chance to build a dynasty from scratch. He could be the leader of a new Liverpool team to play in a new 60,000 capacity Anfield stadium and create history at one of the biggest football clubs in the world. If that does not inspire him, nothing will.
Rectify past mistakes
Many Reds fans still have more questions than answers as to why Rodgers remains in charge. The 42-year-old has spent more than £200m in three years but is yet to win any silverware. Accountability has to be held in the much maligned transfer committee as preferred transfer targets Alexis Sanchez and Loic Remy moved to other clubs and left the manager with Mario Balotelli, a player that he clearly did not want. FSG executive Gordon has given Rodgers one last chance to rectify his mistakes. However, there are still more big decisions to be made before Liverpool competes on all fronts again.
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The only people who wanted to get rid of Rodgers where the young who’ve been brought up getting instant gratification from the dotting parents who would go into debt to give young Jonny anything he wanted. Older supporters are used to having to wait and save before you got what you wanted and usually realising in the end they didn’t really want it anyway, and they have patience.