Liverpool FC manager Brendan Rodgers’ job is not the safest right now considering the stuttering form Liverpool FC are in. With voices at Anfield becoming more and more discontent with the manager, we look at what exactly is keeping him in office.
Rodgers took over as the manager of Liverpool FC in 2012-13 following the end of the reign of Kenny Dalglish. Having initially declined the job after FSG, the owners of Liverpool FC, wanted to put a Director of Football in place, Rodgers accepted the job when the owners scrapped the plan.
Three full seasons into his reign, consisting of the highs of the 2013-14 season and the lows of 2014-15, the club have not really made the progress that was expected when the talented Swansea manager was given the job.
The stuttering start to the 2015-16 season means his job is under significant threat. There has been rising discontent among the fan base at Anfield, with fans divided over the debate on whether Rodgers is to continue in his position or not.
Transfer policies at Liverpool FC over the last three seasons is the major reason for the poor performances of Liverpool FC as per experts, pundits and fans alike.
Lack of accountability for failed transfer is the major reason for Rodgers being able to keep his job. And it is all down to the owners for choosing such a flawed system in the first place.
It is fine to give a group of people the responsibility to execute a task, but what causes problems is when the no specific person can be held accountable for the job.
When Rodgers rejected FSG due to the office of the Director of Football that they wanted to put in place, the owners of Liverpool FC decided to change the model and authorised group of people to bring players in the club.
The Liverpool Echo described the committee’s role as:
The six-strong committee identify transfer targets, consider their merits and value, decide which players to pursue and carry out negotiations.
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The committee consisted of FSG President Mike Gordon, Liverpool FC chief executive Ian Ayre, manager Brendan Rodgers, Director of Scouting Dave Fallows and Chief Scout Barry Hunter and Director of Performance Michael Edwards.
Now, the problem is that there is not one single person that can be held accountable for the failure of the committee to bring in the players.
No wonder FSG must have thought in their end-of-the-season review in the year 20 14-15 that they cannot sack the manager when the blame lies with the recruitment team and Rodgers alone cannot be expected to take the brunt of their failures. The allegations regarding Rodgers’s inability as a coach was not proven due to the failure in the transfer policy, leaving the room for doubt and that has earned the manager some time now this season. Rodgers has been given more control and gets more of a say in the signature of the players following the disastrous window of 2013-14 and 2014-15. He will now live and die by his signings. And now that the responsibility rests with him, Rodgers is to be given appropriate time to build the team.
Another issue has been that Rodgers and the management agreed in their end of the season review to upgrade the level of coaching at Anfield. Rodgers bought new staff members and they too have to be given time to get in sync with his systems and philosophies.
Also, FSG have, just months ago, trusted him to spend money on players as well as backroom staff and it’s evident that the owners are reluctant to sack him so early.
That being said, October will go a long way in determining Rodgers’ future, given the tough run of games in the month. If he can ride the storm, that will instill belief in the fans and management over the abilities of the Northern Irishman to remain as the manager of Liverpool FC.