Rodgers opens up on Leicester City transfer struggles but 'won't go to war' with club

[Mark_w]

Just now, coolhandfox said:

Or you could see it as a kick up the arse for some squad players!

You could. I'd be surprised if telling squad players, who aren't going to get nearly as many opportunities now we're out of Europe, that they aren't good enough is going to do anything other than create a miserable atmosphere. Hope I'm wrong.

[smudger63]

3 hours ago, davieG said:

It's the same squad as last year less Lookman and no Europe games so there's no reason why we can't match 8th or better especially if we have less injuries. 

Although other clubs will have  in theory at least, improved their squads  and may now be at our last season level or better.  It was good to at least hear Rodgers saying it as it is for a change.  Of course, most of those we want to ship out and are struggling to move on  were actually brought in since he was  the manager, and last summers transfer window certainly hasn't helped either, with arguably only Daka being someone worth persevering with.

[TrentFox]

I think there has to be a reset amongst supporters, too. Nothing in that interview can really surprise anyone? We can all see a bloated squad with mediocrity in depth. It was always going to be hard to shift that. So we need to be realistic about who is likely to  come in. Looking at performances this calendar year, maybe realign our aspirations, too. I honestly think mid-table will be a very, very good achievement this season.   

[Gazza M]

I really can't imagine what he will bring to the new season that is any different tactically. 

[kingfox]

19 minutes ago, gw_leics772 said:

Not got time to read whole thread but initial reaction was immediate from me, and I'm not (normally) a Rodgers basher.

 

So he opened his stupid fat mouth mid season without talking to the hierarchy about what was possible. (And it was pretty obvious from the start that we would not be spending loads with a squad already too big for the 25 limit!) Didn't buy it in advance but certainly smacks of getting his excuses in early

He has his faults but on this occasion I think he was right with what he said.

 

A rebuild has to come at some point, all you need to do is look at our contract situations to realise that. There was perfect reasoning behind what he said, he knows full well a rebuild is needed at some point, we as fans know that too.

 

Maybe he thought the club could move players on far easier than what we’ve seen, that being absolutely nothing so far.

 

Whether he himself is still here or not by next summer, you’re likely to see vast changes in the squad because numerous players would be leaving on a free.

 

It seems we won’t get the rebuild he and fans hoped, but part of it has to start this summer, whether that means 3-4 in, instead of 6-7, then I for one would be perfectly content with that.

[Pliskin]

7 minutes ago, Gazza M said:

I really can't imagine what he will bring to the new season that is any different tactically. 

Play more aggressive football. In theory with no Europe there will be no need to play in a conservative manner. We need to go back to how we were when he first got here. 
 

I still think we will do well, this club thrives under pressure, the lads will step up and hopefully we send those red ****ers down too.

[Guest Mickyblueeyes]

Just want to add, the last time a lot of us were this deflated and worried during a pre-season was the Championship winning season. I think we signed Zoumana Bagayoko and Taylor Fletcher that summer ? 

Edited 17 July 2022 by Mickyblueeyes

[Babylon]

36 minutes ago, splinterdream said:

Because the rest of the sides strengthen 

I’ll say it again, no they’ve just signed players. Proof is in the pudding. 

[honeybradger]

22 minutes ago, TrentFox said:

I think there has to be a reset amongst supporters, too. Nothing in that interview can really surprise anyone? We can all see a bloated squad with mediocrity in depth. It was always going to be hard to shift that. So we need to be realistic about who is likely to  come in. Looking at performances this calendar year, maybe realign our aspirations, too. I honestly think mid-table will be a very, very good achievement this season.   

Christ, what teams do you think should finish above us outside of the big 6? The likes of Newcastle and Aston Villa that have been hyped up on here have hardly ventured past lower mid table in recent years, our squad is proven to be capable of challenging for europe and we havent lost anyone of note yet. Outside of a collapse in morale and another injury crisis we will be far ahead of 10th place, i mean we finished 8th last season despite having both those things happen.

[Babylon]

14 minutes ago, Mickyblueeyes said:

Just want to add, the last a lot of us were this deflated and worried during a pre-season was the Championship winning season. I think we signed Zoumana Bagayoko and Taylor Fletcher that summer ? 

We finished 8th with basically the same squad, have far less injuries, not got loads of players also coming from from injuries and don’t have to worry about midweek games so much. I think people are going well OTT.

[lgfualol]

15 minutes ago, Mickyblueeyes said:

Just want to add, the last a lot of us were this deflated and worried during a pre-season was the Championship winning season. I think we signed Zoumana Bagayoko and Taylor Fletcher that summer ? 

Wasyl and Kevin Phillips too

[TrentFox]

1 minute ago, honeybradger said:

Christ, what teams do you think should finish above us outside of the big 6? The likes of Newcastle and Aston Villa that have been hyped up on here have hardly ventured past lower mid table in recent years, our squad is proven to be capable of challenging for europe and we havent lost anyone of note yet. Outside of a collapse in morale and another injury crisis we will be far ahead of 10th place, i mean we finished 8th last season despite having both those things happen.

It’s all opinions. In mine, I do indeed think Geordies and WHU will be between us and the obvious six. That makes 9th already. 😂

[splinterdream]

12 minutes ago, Babylon said:

I’ll say it again, no they’ve just signed players. Proof is in the pudding. 

You are right, signings can ruin a side, and if we sign no one, will be interesting how that works out, it's equally a gamble, more so imo

[honeybradger]

7 minutes ago, TrentFox said:

It’s all opinions. In mine, I do indeed think Geordies and WHU will be between us and the obvious six. That makes 9th already. 😂

Fair enough that it's your opinion but i can t see how we wont be better than we were last year with our starting XI in play. There tends to be a cycle in football where the third season of a side is usually an off one so hopefully that is the case here.

[Mike Oxlong]

Without incomings I think we are more likely to spend this season interested in looking at what is happening towards the bottom of the table than the top. 

[Kasey Keller]

Forest to comfortably finish above us

[dmayne7]

4 hours ago, Cardiff_Fox said:

Probably one of his most honest interviews at LCFC. His final quote is telling as the club have being changing things such as medical staff 

Is it? Still comes across as him making excuses. As others have mentioned, most of the players he wants rid are his or given massive contracts under his watch.

 

Sympathise with him to an extent but if he was to 'go to war' with the club, that would be pathetic and you can't be outright saying the squad is weaker than you need (when it's your squad) whilst trying to lower expectations.

[Clever Fox]

Who know this early before squads are fully formed.  Though I suspect Spurs will mount a serious challenge this season and the other surprise team will be Crystal Palace.

It's going to be hard to motivate players this season plus Clubs already know how to play against us. For those reasons I think we'll be in the 8 to 12 league positions.

Though I do think we'll make a good run in the Cups as that' our most realisric chance for Silverware.

 

As for our problems, We need to revert back to how Pearson ran things and I hope we've learned our lesson for the future.

[ian__marshall]

Firstly to be fair to Brendan I think contextually the 'At War' comment is being misconstrued by some. It's a headline grabber in the eyes of the media, but I think it's just poor choice of words on Brendan's part more than anything. 

 

Having said the above I really don't see what purpose this expression of disappointment serves. It's not something I feel needs to be shared in the public domain unless there is indeed a subtle agenda. 

 

Regardless of your view points on certain players we have what we have in terms of the playing personnel. It may not have delivered the success that we were hoping for but even our worst fringe players are mid table PL player's. OK some of the group may not be world beaters but it doesn't bode well when you are effectively saying that the players who achieved an 8th place finish last season are likely to struggle to replicate that unless changes occur. I'm sure from the players perspective it's not very inspiring going into the new season knowing that the gaffer doesn't quite believe you have what it takes to replicate what you've just achieved (which some might argue was actually below expectation anyway). 

 

Secondly, it does feel like he's rightly or wrongly trying to shift the blame. Now the question is who is it directed at; players, board, or Chairman? Reading between the lines his comments suggest it's the board but let's be honest he's on a road to nowhere if he thinks he has enough influence to effect change at that level, so again his comments seem somewhat misplaced. 

 

Whether factually accurate in his portrayal of the situation or not, what concerns me more than any of the above is the tone of the interview. From experience both playing and supporting, pre-season is usually a period of optimism where you able to park what has gone before and look ahead with excitement about the challenge ahead before any miscalculations are actually brought into focus. Sadly reading such comments from the manager before a ball has even been kicked is alarming and makes you wonder what the mood might be like and where it'll lead us to if after a few weeks into the new season we get off to a slow start. 

 

 

Edited 16 July 2022 by ian__marshall

[Guest Col city fan]

16 minutes ago, Mike Oxlong said:

Without incomings I think we are more likely to spend this season interested in looking at what is happening towards the bottom of the table than the top. 

I think it’s literally all about injuries. Without any incomings if we again get injuries to key players, especially to defenders, I agree with you.

Keeping the best players fit is crucial this season 

Edited 16 July 2022 by Col city fan

[Guest Chocolate Teapot]

Hes got a point that we've not improved the starting 11 since he's been here.

 

But then we're also sat with a load of players that he bought.

 

Bar a right winger there's nothing wrong with a fully fit squad.

[Freeman's Wharfer]

If he wants players out then taking 30 away to Evian isn’t exactly going to expedite that.

 

Tell the ones you want gone who they are, leave them at home, and have them on the phone to their agents saying “get me out of here ASAP”.

 

Choudhury, Vestergaard and Perez could have all been sent a very clear message by remaining at Seagrave for some running and gym work.

[sacreblueits442]

2 hours ago, Kopfkino said:

Won’t go to war with them cos he won’t win. But yet it’s really weird how they don’t cop any flak. 

 

Who actually appoints Congerton? Sure Brendan might have a say but who actually gives it the green light? Who are the people that keep Brendan in a job when so many wanted him gone. Who actually negotiates the deals? Having players on stupid wages that we can’t shift predates Brendan. Did we really need to spend so much on a training ground or was it a vanity project that cost twice what it needed to?

Seems plenty are keen for responsibility to go up chains of command when that suits the Brendan bashing but no higher.

... the club has moved away from the process, this was because they brought a manager in to implement an overhaul process, that was needed to take us to a place the owners envisaged!!!

  Rodgers was I  would think believed to be the man to put the plan in place where he had to overhaul the academy all the way up to the first team.

   Managers come to clubs and bring their own people, it would seem like one hand tied behind their backs if the people they trust are not beside them.

  I am sure the running of the club under Top is not how Khun Vichai would look to progress us, but he is doing what he sees as the best.   

  We have lost some brazen attitudes to competing in this game and we have become weak, in how we handle our dealings, in and out.

  I think there is far too much trust being given to the people in prominent positions, where there is no one to effectively answer to.

[MPH]

I do question the wisdom of this interview a little bit. That will automatically knock £5m of the asking price of most players as people are now going to think we are desperate to get rid. And they’d be right to  to think that.  We are. That will be the part the owners will be a bit unhappy about  be even more difficult to get a decent price for the players .. not that he has ‘ spoken out’, but that he’s just lowered everyone’s price.

[moore_94]

1 minute ago, MPH said:

I do question the wisdom of this interview a little bit. That will automatically knock £5m of the asking price of most players as people are now going to think we are desperate to get rid. And they’d be right to  to think that.  We are. That will be the part the owners will be a bit unhappy about  be even more difficult to get a decent price for the players .. not that he has ‘ spoken out’, but that he’s just lowered everyone’s price.

I don't think it would make that much difference to be honest

 

This far into the window other clubs will already know the situation with the players we are wanting rid of