Brendan Rodgers

[Babylon]

58 minutes ago, Nod.E said:

You're either being very stupid or very stubborn. I don't know you so I can't call it. 

It’s quite simple, you are delusional.

 

You said “Get into the Champions League this year and there's no reason we can't regularly compete for top 4 and achieve it maybe every other season. Okay so our budgets aren't quite the same as our competitors, but so what? We'vedemonstrated over the last 2 seasons that we can sit in the top 4 all season regardless.”

 

We look like failing to get in the top 4 two seasons running. Which would mean other than us in 15/16 nobody has broken the the top 4 in the “big six era”. 
 

You have to go back to Everton 15 years ago for the last time, prior to Man City money and prior to the cash carve up that’s allowed Spurs a seat at the table.

 

Before that it was Newcastle early 00’s, prior to Chelsea and Man City, when it was more like a “big three”.

 

Us achieving top four every other season would take a miracle beyond a 5000-1 title winning season. Money has dictated this league for all but one season in the last 20 years and it just gets harder all the time. 
 

The new champions league deal probably allowing Spurs and Arsenal champions league football and money for failing is another nail in the coffin.

 

At a club like ours we are one bad transfer window, one bad decisions away from midtable or worse. Their money allows them to course correct any **** ups quickly, our restricted budgets means it take far longer to recover.

 

That’s not defeatist, it’s realism. Sure keep aiming as high as you can, but don’t be shocked when 7th is as high as you can get half the time. 
 

One seasons worth of champions league cash isn’t going to change that. Especially now it’s loaded so yeah we might get £30m, but the others get £60m, just because! And oh yeah Arsenal in 9th will get that as well because we’re letting them in for no apparent reason.

 

Of course the money would help, perhaps pay for some part of a stadium expansion or cover some debts. But in reality it’s a drop in the Ocean compared to their cash. It would be far more beneficial in terms of keeping ahead of West Ham and Everton than it would competing with the four massive clubs ahead of us.

 

Yeah, money is no guarantee and aberrations happen. But it’s as rare as rocking horse shit, their consistent levels of money play out in the end.
 

That’s why gradual long term growth, expansion and investment on and off the pitch is our only chance of making it more permanent.

[Nod.E]

49 minutes ago, Babylon said:

It’s quite simple, you are delusional.

 

You said “Get into the Champions League this year and there's no reason we can't regularly compete for top 4 and achieve it maybe every other season. Okay so our budgets aren't quite the same as our competitors, but so what? We'vedemonstrated over the last 2 seasons that we can sit in the top 4 all season regardless.”

 

We look like failing to get in the top 4 two seasons running. Which would mean other than us in 15/16 nobody has broken the the top 4 in the “big six era”. 
 

You have to go back to Everton 15 years ago for the last time, prior to Man City money and prior to the cash carve up that’s allowed Spurs a seat at the table.

 

Before that it was Newcastle early 00’s, prior to Chelsea and Man City, when it was more like a “big three”.

 

Us achieving top four every other season would take a miracle beyond a 5000-1 title winning season. Money has dictated this league for all but one season in the last 20 years and it just gets harder all the time. 
 

The new champions league deal probably allowing Spurs and Arsenal champions league football and money for failing is another nail in the coffin.

 

At a club like ours we are one bad transfer window, one bad decisions away from midtable or worse. Their money allows them to course correct any **** ups quickly, our restricted budgets means it take far longer to recover.

 

That’s not defeatist, it’s realism. Sure keep aiming as high as you can, but don’t be shocked when 7th is as high as you can get half the time. 
 

One seasons worth of champions league cash isn’t going to change that. Especially now it’s loaded so yeah we might get £30m, but the others get £60m, just because! And oh yeah Arsenal in 9th will get that as well because we’re letting them in for no apparent reason.

 

Of course the money would help, perhaps pay for some part of a stadium expansion or cover some debts. But in reality it’s a drop in the Ocean compared to their cash. It would be far more beneficial in terms of keeping ahead of West Ham and Everton than it would competing with the four massive clubs ahead of us.

 

Yeah, money is no guarantee and aberrations happen. But it’s as rare as rocking horse shit, their consistent levels of money play out in the end.
 

That’s why gradual long term growth, expansion and investment on and off the pitch is our only chance of making it more permanent.

We monumentally bottled it last season having already done all the hard work. That has nothing to do with money.

 

We've been there literally the whole of this season, too. If we don't make it, it's so unfortunate. Injuries to our best players, goalkeepers scoring headers, inexplicable performances against 10 men...

 

To dismiss the achievements of the past two years on the basis we didn't quite make it (if we don't), is to take a blinkered and overly negative view. It's removal of context and nuance. 

 

I'm under no illusions how difficult it is to achieve what we're gunning for, but the last two years is enough to show that with a good set up, recruitment and management, it can be done.

 

If you don't believe that then what is the point?

[Sly]

9 minutes ago, Nod.E said:

We monumentally bottled it last season having already done all the hard work. That has nothing to do with money.

 

We've been there literally the whole of this season, too. If we don't make it, it's so unfortunate. Injuries to our best players, goalkeepers scoring headers, inexplicable performances against 10 men...

 

To dismiss the achievements of the past two years on the basis we didn't quite make it (if we don't), is to take a blinkered and overly negative view. It's removal of context and nuance. 

 

I'm under no illusions how difficult it is to achieve what we're gunning for, but the last two years is enough to show that with a good set up, recruitment and management, it can be done.

 

If you don't believe that then what is the point?

This season feels different to last year. 
 

We had a major drop off in form and looked like we had the mentally capacity to get us over the line. We sacrificed a major lead. 
 

This year has been a lot tighter and we’ve just kept ourselves edging in front of those around us. Ultimately, we’re just missing one or two cogs in the machine, to push us over the line.

 

Everyone says it every year, such and such won’t be so bad. It happens every year. We’re an established top half Premier League club. Brendan has one of the best paid contracts in the league, with one of the best training facilities in the country. 

Some people don’t want the London life. Some people have a preference about living in a Quorn, Woodhouse Eaves etc, oppose to a London, etc

 

Brendan has done a great job of putting the pieces together than Puel couldn’t. What we need to do now, is continue to add to this squad and keep moving forwards. 
 

Rome wasn’t built in a day. 
 

 

 

[fuchsntf]

44 minutes ago, Babylon said:

It’s quite simple, you are delusional.

 

You said “Get into the Champions League this year and there's no reason we can't regularly compete for top 4 and achieve it maybe every other season. Okay so our budgets aren't quite the same as our competitors, but so what? We'vedemonstrated over the last 2 seasons that we can sit in the top 4 all season regardless.”

 

We look like failing to get in the top 4 two seasons running. Which would mean other than us in 15/16 nobody has broken the the top 4 in the “big six era”. 
 

You have to go back to Everton 15 years ago for the last time, prior to Man City money and prior to the cash carve up that’s allowed Spurs a seat at the table.

 

Before that it was Newcastle early 00’s, prior to Chelsea and Man City, when it was more like a “big three”.

 

Us achieving top four every other season would take a miracle beyond a 5000-1 title winning season. Money has dictated this league for all but one season in the last 20 years and it just gets harder all the time. 
 

The new champions league deal probably allowing Spurs and Arsenal champions league football and money for failing is another nail in the coffin.

 

At a club like ours we are one bad transfer window, one bad decisions away from midtable or worse. Their money allows them to course correct any **** ups quickly, our restricted budgets means it take far longer to recover.

 

That’s not defeatist, it’s realism. Sure keep aiming as high as you can, but don’t be shocked when 7th is as high as you can get half the time. 
 

One seasons worth of champions league cash isn’t going to change that. Especially now it’s loaded so yeah we might get £30m, but the others get £60m, just because! And oh yeah Arsenal in 9th will get that as well because we’re letting them in for no apparent reason.

 

Of course the money would help, perhaps pay for some part of a stadium expansion or cover some debts. But in reality it’s a drop in the Ocean compared to their cash. It would be far more beneficial in terms of keeping ahead of West Ham and Everton than it would competing with the four massive clubs ahead of us.

 

Yeah, money is no guarantee and aberrations happen. But it’s as rare as rocking horse shit, their consistent levels of money play out in the end.
 

That’s why gradual long term growth, expansion and investment on and off the pitch is our only chance of making it more permanent.

Best post over for the last 10 years..

 

Exactly how I see it & in principal why my posts tend to defend against the delusional...We should be proud that we have even been 'competing'  for a top 4 position and high level...

And not take the audacity that somehow it's continual failure & 'angry' frustration...of course there comes disapointment, but fans must understand the context within what & against we are competing..

That's why I can't see not quite holding top 4 has failure or amusingly called underachieving...We are punching above our weight,and I love that we are an irritating factor that won't go away.

Failure...noway..!! Let outside pundits chose that word,but in no sense should we the/own fans be bemoaning & blind to what we are actually achieving..

 

@Aus Fox mentioned a couple of times,if fixtures in both past seasons,had fallen differently we would be happy & proud we are chasing those top 4 covetted positions,not moaning how poor itis that we are not capable of holding onto them...plus again with a

decimated,quality resources ripped out squad...Even now Klopp is bemoaning their luck of missing out because of injuries..That said with a massive squad in depth of top quality fringe players...that can't be compared with ours seen over the season(s)

We are COMPETING & that is our success..!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[fuchsntf]

22 minutes ago, Nod.E said:

We monumentally bottled it last season having already done all the hard work. That has nothing to do with money.

 

We've been there literally the whole of this season, too. If we don't make it, it's so unfortunate. Injuries to our best players, goalkeepers scoring headers, inexplicable performances against 10 men...

 

To dismiss the achievements of the past two years on the basis we didn't quite make it (if we don't), is to take a blinkered and overly negative view. It's removal of context and nuance. 

 

I'm under no illusions how difficult it is to achieve what we're gunning for, but the last two years is enough to show that with a good set up, recruitment and management, it can be done.

 

If you don't believe that then what is the point?

Still...But we ain't there yet & the missing out actually proves we are well behind the skill,team-ethic,mental-discipline, and quality needed..

The same for the team's chasing and behind where we are..The level financially,and what " any bigger club"

can or cannot afford to lose on the pitch...Ndidi,Madison,Evans,Vardy type of positions ,Chelsea & co can be carry & balance such losses..Thats why these last 2 seasons, each time

 " caught up with us"

 

 

[Claudio Fannieri]

Worst case this season we will finish 5th and have won the FA Cup therefore qualifying for Europe both through our league and cup performance, that is an unbelievable achievement for a team outside of the big 6. This will be the second season running we have finished best of the rest whilst finishing above both Spurs and Arsenal for a second successive season, again another excellent accomplishment.

 

We are continuing to improve season on season, this year we will be at least 4 points better off and secured our first ever FA Cup on top of moving into one of the best training facilities in Europe, we have an exciting team with a lot of talented hungry players and the opportunity to further strengthen our squad in the summer which will give us even more opportunity to challenge across all domestic competition and if we can avoid the horrendous injuries we have experienced over the past couple of seasons, we could also have a good crack in the European competition, whichever that may be. 
 

Of course it will be disappointing if we don’t  make champions league for a second successive year after being so close on both occasions, but rather than focus on the negatives, we should be positive that our football club, is punching well above its weight and dishing out broken noses and black eyes all over the place. We are a warrior of a club and we have to enjoy this ride, for Leicester fans who can remember the Pleat days, the Peter Taylor years and the Mandaric era, this is absolute dreamland and I love it, even if at the end of the season there is more than a little disappointment we didn’t quite manage the final knockout blow. 

[Babylon]

57 minutes ago, Nod.E said:

We monumentally bottled it last season having already done all the hard work. That has nothing to do with money.

 

Really, nothing to do with money. The money that buys those teams stronger squads to deal with injuries that can compete for a whole season and not just half of it, or ready made international players and not a large bunch of 21 / 22 year olds with little or no experience of dealing with pressure situations. Money has a lot to do with it. 

 

57 minutes ago, Nod.E said:

We've been there literally the whole of this season, too. If we don't make it, it's so unfortunate. Injuries to our best players, goalkeepers scoring headers, inexplicable performances against 10 men...

 

To dismiss the achievements of the past two years on the basis we didn't quite make it (if we don't), is to take a blinkered and overly negative view. It's removal of context and nuance. 

Who on earth is dismissing what we've achieved, it's utterly outstanding and more than I ever imagined. But we have to reach peak levels across the whole club and not just on the pitch to even stand a chance of getting in the top 6, and some luck in other underperforming if we were to get top 4. The point is, it's very hard to perform at those peak levels constantly, something will throw a spanner in the works. Whether it's Liverpool buying Tielemans, or Arsenal getting Rodger, or a bad summer window, or poor boar room decisions. 

 

Being realistic doesn't mean you can't also aim for the stars.

 

[John12345]

Next season will be very interesting. I expect rodgers will further improve the squad , we will have less injuries, and he and the players will have more experience. Obviously the other bigger clubs will improve too. But let's see if we can get over the line next time, as we have missed it by so few points it would seem twice. We will need lady luck too or a randomised factor causing underperformance in several of the big 6 clubs as we have seen recently. We should try to get deeper into the European tournament as isn't this a qualifier for champs league anyway and may well be a better opportunity than top 4.

[st albans fox]

Rodgers said yesterday that getting 69 points and missing CL would be v unlucky 

 

you cannot disagree with him 

 

Would 66 or 67 points be v unlucky ???  

[Dorkingfox]

1 hour ago, Claudio Fannieri said:

Worst case this season we will finish 5th and have won the FA Cup therefore qualifying for Europe both through our league and cup performance, that is an unbelievable achievement for a team outside of the big 6. This will be the second season running we have finished best of the rest whilst finishing above both Spurs and Arsenal for a second successive season, again another excellent accomplishment.

 

We are continuing to improve season on season, this year we will be at least 4 points better off and secured our first ever FA Cup on top of moving into one of the best training facilities in Europe, we have an exciting team with a lot of talented hungry players and the opportunity to further strengthen our squad in the summer which will give us even more opportunity to challenge across all domestic competition and if we can avoid the horrendous injuries we have experienced over the past couple of seasons, we could also have a good crack in the European competition, whichever that may be. 
 

Of course it will be disappointing if we don’t  make champions league for a second successive year after being so close on both occasions, but rather than focus on the negatives, we should be positive that our football club, is punching well above its weight and dishing out broken noses and black eyes all over the place. We are a warrior of a club and we have to enjoy this ride, for Leicester fans who can remember the Pleat days, the Peter Taylor years and the Mandaric era, this is absolute dreamland and I love it, even if at the end of the season there is more than a little disappointment we didn’t quite manage the final knockout blow. 

I totally agree, it is so difficult to compete with the four wealthiest clubs as they have a squad of two teams and pay huge wages, to compete in the top four with our limited funds is amazing, even if we could compete with having more money it would still take a while to get consistency of results and there would still be no guarantee we would finish any higher. Having been through the last nearly 60 years of ups and downs we are in an incredible era. 

[Happy Fox]

21 minutes ago, st albans fox said:

Rodgers said yesterday that getting 69 points and missing CL would be v unlucky 

 

you cannot disagree with him 

 

Would 66 or 67 points be v unlucky ???  

I think deep down there will be a sense of disappointment if we miss out on champions league football but not the end of the world.

 

We may have to readjust our transfer targets or sell a player to increase our transfer kitty.

 

But whatever will be will be , I am hoping Aston Villa will get a draw against Chelsea they have already done it this season, just once more please 🤞

[st albans fox]

Imo, the most impressive stat is that we finished fifth last season (semi final league cup and quarter finals fa cup) and look likely to do the same this season with an fa cup win and last 32 Europa league). 
 

finishing in the top six with a schedule like Everton’s or West Ham would be good but consider how the number of games we’ve played has interfered with our prem prep time and stretched our squad 

[Jimbo]

13 hours ago, filthyfox said:

So... this is the post about where we lost the season when we failed to play our strongest team against West Ham because we were "punishing" naughty boys?

 

THAT is where I see it all went wrong.

If we miss out on top 4 it's because of the performances against Fulham, West Ham, Arsenal, Newcastle, Villa, Everton and Leeds all at home, not because of West Ham away

[gerrytaggart]

Villa will take points from Chelsea. So it's up to us to beat Spurs.

[Duquesne Whistle]

If we miss out on top 4, it's because Allardyce didn't put anyone on the back post for a 95th minute corner against Liverpool. I blame him, our players and manager are saints, it isn't their fault.

[Gazza3]

All the top 4 teams have dropped points against sides they were expected to beat. Get over it , it won't change . Don't beat yourself up about it .

[RobHawk]

Can't wait till we smash spurs and one of Liverpool or Chelsea drop points so we finish top 4 anyway. 

 

In fact they both will and we will finish 3rd! 

 

Keep the faith ya filthy animals 

[Unabomber]

39 minutes ago, st albans fox said:

Imo, the most impressive stat is that we finished fifth last season (semi final league cup and quarter finals fa cup) and look likely to do the same this season with an fa cup win and last 32 Europa league). 
 

finishing in the top six with a schedule like Everton’s or West Ham would be good but consider how the number of games we’ve played has interfered with our prem prep time and stretched our squad 

Good point 

[StanSP]

41 minutes ago, st albans fox said:

Imo, the most impressive stat is that we finished fifth last season (semi final league cup and quarter finals fa cup) and look likely to do the same this season with an fa cup win and last 32 Europa league). 
 

finishing in the top six with a schedule like Everton’s or West Ham would be good but consider how the number of games we’ve played has interfered with our prem prep time and stretched our squad 

You get looked down on for having perspective. But I agree with everything you say. 

We progress season upon season. Something to show for it in terms of silverware, too. For a club that doesn't win trophies regularly, it's something that should never be looked down on. 

[Finn Claw II]

We needed to bring in an attacking player in Jan.  A combination of out of form players, injuries and inability to beat teams we should looks likely to have cost us top-4 twice.

 

That said an FA Cup makes this the second best season in our history so al good.

[filthyfox]

15 hours ago, Duquesne Whistle said:

Who do you hold responsible for that? The players, for letting down the entire club, or the manager for firmly putting them in their place when they did so?

Should have been a 1 week fine if we won, 2 weeks if we drew, or 3 weeks if we lost it.

Simple.  THAT would have been a punishment, not stopping him from doing what he is paid to do.

[Ric Flair]

If we get top 4 tomorrow then he surely goes down as our best manager ever?

[Deeg67]

16 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

If we get top 4 tomorrow then he surely goes down as our best manager ever?

Certainly the manager who most needs to go out and buy some lottery tickets ASAP.

[Duquesne Whistle]

1 hour ago, filthyfox said:

Should have been a 1 week fine if we won, 2 weeks if we drew, or 3 weeks if we lost it.

Simple.  THAT would have been a punishment, not stopping him from doing what he is paid to do.

Ok.

Maybe we should install you as manager.

 

Maddison was treated no better or worse than most employees, from a road sweeper to a general manager. He royally fvcked up and was punished by effectively being given gardening leave for one game. Any employee who is 'suspended' is being 'stopped from what he is being paid to do', why should Maddison be any different?

By the way, if you think we would be sitting in 3rd today if Maddison had played the one game he missed, you're living in dream land.

[DANGEROUS TIGER]

I understand Spurs are still sniffing around. If we don't get in the Champions League they will be after him.