When Swansea City appeared in the Premier League for the first time during the 2011/12 season, I was very impressed with the possession based football played by Brendan Rodgers's side, on the occasions in which I tuned in to watch BBC's Match of the Day.
I was not personally convinced that Anfield legend Kenny Dalglish was the right man for the long run, as Liverpool finished the 2011/12 campaign in 8th place. I did even wonder if Rodgers could be a long term good fit for Liverpool.
That said, having got to two cup finals that year, I felt it would be sensible for stability to give Kenny another year. I also would have preferred to see how Rodgers and Paul Lambert (another Manager new to the Premier League) would have fared in a second Premier League season.
Since winning our last league title in 1990, the Reds have finished runners-up in the league on four occasions. The second placed finish under Rodgers in 2013/14 was the closest we have come to winning the title. The exploits of Suarez, Sturridge, and Sterling were a delight which I am sure will live long in the memory.
Except for a mid-season unbeaten run which ran between the two defeats to Manchester United, last season did not deliver. The absences of Suarez and Sturridge for differing reasons was crucial. The style of play was getting hard to work out at times.
With that close attempt at the title, I felt Fenway Sports Group (FSG) were correct to stick by Rodgers at the start of the campaign. However, had they decided close season to make the change, I would have understood the decision to sack him a bit more.
As we stand today, we are only eight games into the season, having brought in another group of new players during the close season. We have also lost twice in the league, just as the current top three have.
Whoever succeeds Rodgers will probably have to work with some kind of strange FSG structure, just as Dalglish had to work with Damien Comolli, and Rodgers had to work with a Transfer Committee. I wish the new man all the best, and think he will need it.
As for Brendan Rodgers, I will stick with what I have said in various debate with fellow reds. I am sure he will go on to do ok, wherever he goes next. Providing he is not successful at Liverpool's expense, or managing one of our main rivals, then I do genuinely hope he does well.
I was not personally convinced that Anfield legend Kenny Dalglish was the right man for the long run, as Liverpool finished the 2011/12 campaign in 8th place. I did even wonder if Rodgers could be a long term good fit for Liverpool.
That said, having got to two cup finals that year, I felt it would be sensible for stability to give Kenny another year. I also would have preferred to see how Rodgers and Paul Lambert (another Manager new to the Premier League) would have fared in a second Premier League season.
Since winning our last league title in 1990, the Reds have finished runners-up in the league on four occasions. The second placed finish under Rodgers in 2013/14 was the closest we have come to winning the title. The exploits of Suarez, Sturridge, and Sterling were a delight which I am sure will live long in the memory.
Except for a mid-season unbeaten run which ran between the two defeats to Manchester United, last season did not deliver. The absences of Suarez and Sturridge for differing reasons was crucial. The style of play was getting hard to work out at times.
With that close attempt at the title, I felt Fenway Sports Group (FSG) were correct to stick by Rodgers at the start of the campaign. However, had they decided close season to make the change, I would have understood the decision to sack him a bit more.
As we stand today, we are only eight games into the season, having brought in another group of new players during the close season. We have also lost twice in the league, just as the current top three have.
Whoever succeeds Rodgers will probably have to work with some kind of strange FSG structure, just as Dalglish had to work with Damien Comolli, and Rodgers had to work with a Transfer Committee. I wish the new man all the best, and think he will need it.
As for Brendan Rodgers, I will stick with what I have said in various debate with fellow reds. I am sure he will go on to do ok, wherever he goes next. Providing he is not successful at Liverpool's expense, or managing one of our main rivals, then I do genuinely hope he does well.
