This Is the Time for Rodgers

Liverpool FC kicked off season 2013/14 with a win at home turf and I’d say it’s a very good start. The score could have been more but Stoke’s keeper did make some very good saves.

It is important for LFC to start with a win as this will be a trigger for a better performance in the next game. I’m aware that LFC is in a ‘rebuilding’ process under Rodgers but we can’t wait too long to see some desired results that we as fans have been dreaming to see.

It has been 3 or 4 seasons now since we last finished within the top 4 bracket and that is long enough.  I am not saying that we need to win the league this year but I just want to see LFC to be more consistent and maybe qualify for the Champions League by the end of the season.

We have fallen far behind against teams like Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea. We even struggled against teams like Spurs, Everton, Villa or Swansea. These are mid-table teams and for the time being we belonged there.

We finished quite well last season and I see that Brendan Rodgers is trying to get the players back to the same level before they had their summer holidays. Based on the pre-season and yesterday’s game, I’d say Rodgers and the team are doing the right thing.

The new players seemed to blend in pretty well. Mignolet, Toure and Aspas had their Anfield league debut and we still have Alberto that’s yet to make his league debut. Aside from Toure, a Barclays Premier League veteran, the other three are still young. They can still be developed and molded to be a Liverpool player. With the likes of Sterling, Lucas, Agger, Henderson and a few more, we sure can be a force to be reckon with.

Rodgers is trying to build a team with a Champions mentality. They need to know how to win or how not to lose or how to play ugly when necessary. And what a good way when they learn this early, exposed to this kind of mentality at a young age so that this will be they ‘way of life’.

Teams like Chelsea, United or Arsenal have this winning mentality. Even when they are not playing well, they always managed to grind their way through and get a win in every game. This is what Rodgers is trying to build at Liverpool FC.

Another interesting thing that I find is how Rodgers has managed to get rid of the fringe players with high salaries. This will somehow create a new competitive environment within the squad as now there will be no more unhappy rich players on the bench. The players will have to show to the gaffer their capability if they want to be selected week-in week-out. If they are consistent throughout the season I’m sure they will be rewarded with a new contract (meaning a better pay) if the manager feels it’s necessary.

Now we’ve got the first win and a clean sheet too! Next will be Villa away and it will be another test to the players. Can they grow better? And Villa will be no pushover. They beat Arsenal handsomely and if we can beat them it will be a good tonic before we face the champions United on the 1^st.