Rodgers is still the right man

[Southbank Old Boy]

I am certainly not a fingers in ears type, I can just see the improvements that are slowly being made and I understand the significant constraints Rodgers is working under

I think a bottm half finish is all we should expect this season. I thougt that over the summer, and I cant see why we should expect any more

I think Rodgers can deliver that

What is positive about sacking a block with a real desire to be at the club who is, for the last few weeks, seeing more positive results on the pitch??

[Dorset-Knob]

I am certainly not a fingers in ears type, I can just see the improvements that are slowly being made and I understand the significant constraints Rodgers is working under

I think a bottm half finish is all we should expect this season. I thougt that over the summer, and I cant see why we should expect any more

I think Rodgers can deliver that

What is positive about sacking a block with a real desire to be at the club who is, for the last few weeks, seeing more positive results on the pitch??

Improving on the expectation of a bottom half finish!

[Southbank Old Boy]

I am certainly not a fingers in ears type, I can just see the improvements that are slowly being made and I understand the significant constraints Rodgers is working under

I think a bottm half finish is all we should expect this season. I thougt that over the summer, and I cant see why we should expect any more

I think Rodgers can deliver that

What is positive about sacking a block with a real desire to be at the club who is, for the last few weeks, seeing more positive results on the pitch??

Improving on the expectation of a bottom half finish!

But Rodgers is looking set to deliver on it IF his improvement continues and we turn a few more of our performances into wins

We are only 4 points from 15th? We arent cut adrift at the bottom

[Dorset-Knob]

Interesting that you capitalised 'IF'

Like Henry Ford said, "If you think you can or if you think you can't you will be right either way"

I suspect that low expectation will be overwhelmingly fulfilled!

[Royalee]

What would you have done in the summer and up until now if you were manager then Ideal? I really am interested in what team you'd play and where Rodgers has supposedly gone catastrophically wrong.

[Dorset-Knob]

What would you have done in the summer and up until now if you were manager then Ideal? I really am interested in what team you'd play and where Rodgers has supposedly gone catastrophically wrong.

Not addressed to me I know but for what it's worth I think coming in "Talking the talk, but being unable to walk the walk" as is defined by league position and every unequivical yardstick you could reasonably apply, his report card would read,

"Tried hard, did his best, but not good enough"

The catastrophe would be being relegated and that doesn't look unavoidable does it?

[ankeny]

How many relegations have you lot been through?I have been through at least five and this season is worse then any of them at this stage,we are going down,Rodgers or no Rodgers

[facaldaqui]

Catastrophe is certainly not unavoidable. We've only had four wins so far, and December's here tomorrow. It was cheering to beat Blackpool, because they're a good side; but Barnsley and Coventry were in poor shape when we beat them. The only other victory was against Preston; a great result, but they did hit the woodwork a couple of times. It's going to be touch and go. Losing to Derby shows that our improvement can't be relied upon.

We could sit back and say that there are ten other teams no better than us; but we said that in our last relegation season, and then sides like Bolton and, horrifically, Fulham put a run together. Of the sides in the lower part of the division, several should potentially find a way out of it--particularly Derby and Ipswich. We might like to think of ourselves as in the same bracket, but they have more money to play with at Christmas than we seem to.

[facaldaqui]

Ankeny, I agree that the situation was never as bad as this so early in those other relegation seasons, but for me that has a good aspect. Relegation usually sneaks up on Reading, but this time at least we can see the danger from a mile off and have time to do something about it.

[ROKERITE]

All I'd take issue with is the word "still" in the title of this thread. He's only been Reading Manager since the Summer. He's barely had time to begin the massive rebuilding job that is needed. Although there are some fans who've made their minds up before the task is near half-finished (every club has them), fortunately, Sir John appears to be made of sterner stuff, and will back the man he head-hunted for the position. I think his loyalty will be rewarded.

[Big McC]

In reality, Rogers is probably still the only man right now, and that's presumably how SJM will want to keep if for as long as possible. How many well-known, experienced managers (who most assume could do better) would have taken the job knowing the financial constraints he would have to work under and all that that meant for the team. Moreover, if Rogers weren't here who with the right experience would now come and take the team on. Can't see SJM changing is mind any time soon.
Yes, as has been discussed endlessly, Rogers is inexperienced and probably naive, and he has had a shaky start, but if he can keep us up that will be job done (despite the SJM/club rhetoric of finishing higher).

[facaldaqui]

As things are at the moment, Rodgers is rightly safe. But if the team go on a losing run (lets hope not)--which is entirely possible--that could change. I mean, I don't see why we shouldn't beat Sheffield Wednesday, who are in as bad a state as Coventry were when we played them. But what if we lose? Added to the Derby result, it could damage the team''s confidence. Once again, lets hope not.

[Big McC]

At what point would SJM and the board panic? How bad would it need to get?

[ROKERITE]

As things are at the moment, Rodgers is rightly safe. But if the team go on a losing run (lets hope not)--which is entirely possible--that could change. I mean, I don't see why we shouldn't beat Sheffield Wednesday, who are in as bad a state as Coventry were when we played them. But what if we lose? Added to the Derby result, it could damage the team''s confidence. Once again, lets hope not.

I just hope Laws, who is on very thin ice, isn't sacked before the weekend. A draw at Hillsborough would be a perfectly respectable result.

[facaldaqui]

Agreed.

[Southbank Old Boy]

At what point would SJM and the board panic? How bad would it need to get?

They never sacked Coppell during at least three spells that were worse that Rodgers current spell so I thnk he has a fair amount of time left

The board and SJM know and appreciate the situation Rodgers is in

[Southbank Old Boy]

What would you have done in the summer and up until now if you were manager then Ideal? I really am interested in what team you'd play and where Rodgers has supposedly gone catastrophically wrong.

Not addressed to me I know but for what it's worth I think coming in "Talking the talk, but being unable to walk the walk" as is defined by league position and every unequivical yardstick you could reasonably apply, his report card would read,

"Tried hard, did his best, but not good enough"

The catastrophe would be being relegated and that doesn't look unavoidable does it?

So you havent answered the question at all then?

[Southbank Old Boy]

Royalees question = What would you have done in the summer and up until now if you were manager then

Dorsets answer = for what it's worth I think coming in "Talking the talk, but being unable to walk the walk" as is defined by league position and every unequivical yardstick you could reasonably apply, his report card would read

where does that answer the question??????

[Royalee]

All yourself and Dorset Knob have done is repeat your half-ar$ed criticisms of Rodgers, Ideal. I was asking you what you would actually have done, not what you wouldn't have done or what Rodgers has done wrong.

So go on then, surprise me...

[Royalee]

Who would your settled 11 have included then Ideal?

I'll tell you why your last post was completely flawed once you've given me even more ammunition to add to the warehouse full I currently have based on what you've just written.