Brendan Rodgers - The Future

Brendan Rodgers represents not only the new face of Liverpool football club, but the ever changing face of football. As a young manager he has experience with the best, Jose Mourinho, and has a philosophy that is admirable by his peers. 


‎"The philosophy is very much based on the attacking side of the game. People ask me that question and I always say it's about being offensive and creative, but also with tactical discipline. If you look at the Swansea team in the last couple of years they've been lauded for their offensive approach but defensively we've kept many clean sheets and we're up there with the top defensive records. That's the principles of this club. This is a club that's based on fast, attacking, offensive football. But I'll repeat - it's very important to have tactical discipline within that. Your philosophy and your principles will always be governed by the players. There is a fantastic squad here, some terrific players, but there is no doubt I'll need to make maybe two, three or four additions to try and get that flow - and it will take time to put that in place."


It is clear that the ideals that Rodgers hopes to impose upon the Liverpool team have real intent to move forward. With around £30m available to spend, adding on any outgoing transfers, it will be about finding the right play to fit the mold of the team, not making signings just because they are good players. Liverpool is a historic club and expect Champions League football every season. Realistically that is a high target, although not necessarily unachievable . More likely is a good, solid season in which a gap of 17 points does not arise between the coveted 4th spot in the Premier League and 8th, where Liverpool finished in the season just passed. Targeting top 6 and being in the running for 4th is imperative in LFC's strides forward. Rodgers high pressing, possession football is a formula that is bred for success. With the right, quality signings made to boost the squad he will be delighted with this opportunity he has been given. Some say the Liverpool job is one steeped in doom with high expectations and money that can't match the likes of Man City or Chelsea making success increasingly hard.


So what does Rodgers have to work with. Well the stats are there to be seen. Liverpool have often played teams completely off the park and still not won. Finishing has been a clear problem throughout the season with Luis Suarez becoming top scorer with only 11 goals. Liverpool had to lowest chance conversion percentage in the whole league and that is where their problems lay. There is clear talent in the Liverpool ranks, Suarez, Gerrard, Skrtel, Enrique, Lucas, Johnson...these are players that are some of the best in their position and will certainly play a major part in Rodgers transition into the LFC team. Time is obviously an essential element of a managers career, but also an increasingly 'old' trait in football. Modern football has seen many clubs chop and change manager as often as they like, paying vast sums to sign them and then vast sums to sack them. Ferguson got time, got trophies. Wenger got time, built a successful club that gets top 4 every year. There must be a line, however, when the reality becomes too bad for time. Sorry Kenny Dalglish but that was the end of this season. Finishing 8th, behind Everton, with only the Carling Cup to our name is simply not acceptable for LFC and it could not be ignored. 


Signings: Liverpool are a club that are always strife with transfer rumours and this window will be no different. With a new man at the helm it is inevitable that players will come in and some players will go. Chelsea have already made major moves by signing Hulk, Marin and Hazard for a combined fee costing barely more than Andy Carroll and Henderson. However in net spend Liverpool received £50m from Chelsea for Torres to allow those signings, which isn't a defense, just a sign of the financial difference between the two clubs. Chelsea's players are clearly more household names but as Newcastle proved this season, with the right signing massive money does not have to be spent. Find the right player who fits with the squad and that is all that matters. I believe Arsenal are a prime example of how not to do this. Most people identity Arsenal's weakness as their defense and yet Wenger still fails to rectify the problem, signing attacking players year after year....Gervinho, Benayoun etc before, Podolski now. You don't have to always buy the best players, sometimes you have to buy what you need and I hope Rodgers realizes this.

While LFC are not in the Champions League currently they are still a club full of history, passion and a philosophy. From the likes of Paisley and Shankley, and then of course King Kenny, trophies were ingrained in the club, signified when Rafa Benitez lifted LFC's 5th Champions League trophy in 2005. While the club have taken knocks backwards and some people questioning the clubs status it is ridiculous to say that they are not a big club. Not only are LFC one of the biggest in the country, but they are also a worldwide club. The fact that LFC are STILL in the Forbes Richest Clubs top 10 with only a 45,000 seat stadium and no Champions League football in a few seasons says it all. It was clear a change was needed and that is what LFC have now got, wether or not it will be a success will remain to be seen but with the style of football Rodgers plans to implement I believe that LFC will soon be making vast strides towards where they want to be, although time to build their project is essential.