A side note – if you look at what Fensway Sports Group did with the Boston Red Sox in their short ownership history you might be a little less negative and a little more positive about the future of LFC. I believe we are in good hands but its seriously irritating to read ill-informed comments that spread negativity.

I think that most players know the score but they tow the line in the hope of getting a move.

When not injured Cole could be a useful player from the bench, so it made sense to give him playing time. Visibility helps when you’re trying to offload a player too. It doesn’t need to be an either/or scenario. Sell if a decent offer comes in, try to get the best out of the player if it doesn’t.

I also don’t think that Liverpool are in the free transfer market. There’s not really any value there at the moment, and as he stated in his latest press conference, he’ll look to youth players until January.

As to the performances, like I said it is harsh to judge him on early performances and I do not intend to do so. He has suffered a bad start and needs to learn from his mistakes to make a success of himself in the future.

His contradictory transfer remarks about his own players is not playing the transfer market. Not well anyway. From a players point of view, if Rodgers comes out and states that he sees X as part of his plans, how can X believe this?

Everybody knew Joe Cole was injury prone since the beginning of the season and if Rodgers did not want him he should have said so from the start. The fact he included Cole in his team suggests he genuinely was serious about his inclusion, and not playing the transfer market for value.

As for Allen, yes he is a quality player. BUT a striker should have been a priority. Having two senior strikers is unforgivable.

I’ll remind you that Cole did get a chance throughout pre-season but he’s now injured again (having lasted a grand total of 34 mins in two games) , and apparently taking up in the region of 80-100K a week in wages. That’s not a value player. Spartak apparently came in with a good offer for a 30-year old, injury-prone player on comparatively high wages. No brainer to accept that.

As for Allen, he can defend, control the ball in tight space and keep up the accurate passing rate. Exactly what we need in that midfield. He also only 22. That’s not bad value for a player who has easily been a stand out so far.

Martinez? Why do I care what Martinez has to say? Even if he was first choice, he’s not the manager and has no impact on Rodgers.

The Downing role makes some sense. He operates best when he’s had a bit of time to build up into a run and then drive at the opposition. He’s struggled to do that because he’s often receiving the ball at a stand still. Left back gives him that chance. Will he cut it defensively? Maybe. He’s not bad but only time will tell. Ashley Cole wasn’t always one of the greatest fullbacks in his generation.

Sorry but he is a nutcase. His media interviews while at Reading were very similar. Totally contradictory with Rodgers totally unaware most were screaming for the men in white coats.
in August…
- he was building a world class team for promotion to the premierleague
- making youth player Alex Pearce team captain comparing to John Terry on the BBC.
-Speaking lots about signing Tommy Smith from Watford.
-Signing Ryan Bertrand, Jobi McAnuff, Gregorz Rasiak, Brian Howard, Matt Mills and Shaun Cummings as they could play his way.

And of course as the season went on and Reading stuck to the relegation zone, Tommy Smith went elsewhere on deadline day as Watford were angry with comments from Rodgers, Pearce was nervy and dropped, most of his signings were dropped or playing badly, the whole team was confused about passing it around the back leading to constant goalkeeping errors, the team missed all its chances, so Rodgers blamed the board for not backing him, didn’t have the players to play his way, and insisted it was a long term project that might involve rebuilding in League 1.

When Rodgers demanded more money in december he was sacked with his team 23rd after 20 odd games. They went on to finish 8th and make the fa cup quarter finals.

Rodgers spent 23m on Borini and Allen! Nutcase!

However he has made some huge errors already off the pitch. I’m sure once he gets to grips with the job he’ll be ok.

This is not another one of those “Rodgers Out” blogs. It’s just an acknowledgement that he hasn’t got off to the best of starts.