1. The Anfield Wrap
“These are my memories. If you were doing 13-14 right, you’ll have your own, your own photographs, your own stories, your own moments. (If you weren’t doing 13-14 right, you’ll probably be wondering when I’m going to mention defending). You’ll know immediately the ones I mean and you’ll be able to substitute in your own. You’ll have everything and you’ll know that those days couldn’t have happened without Brendan Rodgers.”
Neil Atkinson focuses on the good times in a reflective piece on Rodgers’ reign.
2. The Guardian
“It is, of course, never a sign of good health for a club to be sacking a manager, especially when the leaves on the autumn trees are barely yellow at the edges, and Fenway Sports Group’s early dispatch of Brendan Rodgers from Liverpool denotes a club beset by a strange muddle of contradictions. These go right through the great grumbling club, from the uncertain transfer activity, the abrupt change of heart over Rodgers’ tenure, even in that huge roof truss erected with such ceremony in the summer, and up to the remote regime of FSG itself.”
David Conn looks behind the scenes at Anfield.
3. The Telegraph
“Rodgers familiarised, thrived and then wilted. He departs a club which must ask itself if changing the manager really solves their problems or does little more than present them to someone else.
“We should head back to July 2012 and Rodgers’ first day in office and identify the signs the ‘perfect fit’ was never what it seemed.”
Chris Bascombe suggests Liverpool’s problems may not all be down to Brendan Rodgers.
4. The Daily Mail
“I always thought of sacking someone so early in the season as something clubs like Newcastle or Tottenham do — so I don’t like that — but there was a sense of inevitability about it in the end.
“Rodgers had four very winnable home games recently — newly promoted Norwich, League Two Carlisle, relegation battlers Aston Villa and Swiss side Sion — and he only won one. There were boos after three of them and the decision was probably taken because of that poor run.”
Writing for The Daily Mail, Jamie Carragher sees the logic behind sacking Brendan Rodgers.
5. The Mirror
“So Liverpool’s mysterious transfer committee has finally suffered its first casualty.
“Although it says it all about FSG’s strategy that one of the six members has only gone because they have sacked Brendan Rodgers.
“The committee was responsible for turning FSG’s misguided ‘Moneyball’ theory into practice in the transfer market.”
The Mirror’s David Anderson suggests that the transfer committee in general, and not just Brendan Rodgers, are to blame for Liverpool’s current woes.
6. The Liverpool Echo
“He wasn’t sacked in the morning. It was closer to afternoon tea-time when Goodison Park had long since emptied.
“But while it was heaving to the rafters not once did the atmospheric old stadium reverberate to the strains of that doom laden anthem.
“And when fans of your fiercest rivals don’t even suggest you may be sacked in the morning, you know a managerial axeing has come as a shock.”
Dave Prentice of The Liverpool Echo questions the timing of Rodgers’ sacking.
I always thought he was one of the outstanding players at Connacht…was surprised to hear that his contract wasn’t being renewed. Good he’s found his form with Munster!
@Con Cussed: very popular with Connacht fans, but we understood with age (32 this month), and recent injury profile it means he was a cost Connacht couldn’t take a risk on. Anyway, with Aki, Forde, Hawkshaw, O’Connor as options, and young Hugh Gavin to come through (sooner rather than later by the way he’s performing every time he steps up a level). Plus, we’ve a bunch of back three lads who’ve played centre as well and can do a job (Jennings, Ralston, and Bolton)…
@Con Cussed: he is an excellent player, but his injury profile probably didn’t help his cause. Getting rid of Daly and Farrell probably freed the funds for POC, who is younger and has a better injury profile. Between Aki, Forde, Hugh Gavin and POC, center is strong for us, not to mention others who can deputise there too like Hawkshaw and Bolton. Farrell is a great signing for Munster – there was a lot of furore from their supporters when Frisch left and Farrell was mooted as a replacement, but in reality I think Farrell is an upgrade on Frisch, who I thought had a poor 2023/24 season (he was excellent in 2022/23). I’ll miss seeing Aki/Farrell in midfield, but glad Farrell got a second opportunity.
@Ronan Byrne: I should have refreshed the page before I commented! You hit the nail straight on the head.
@Con Cussed: of interest too is how in the 2016/17 season, both Connacht and Munster had injuries that needed short term cover – for Munster, NIE Saili was injured and so they signed NIE Taute, while Connacht had its own injury crisis, and being barred from signing NIQ players (as indicated by the Lam situation), signed Farrell on short term from the championship team Bedford Blues. In the end, both Taute and Farrell were exceptional signings and were given long term contracts, but now Munster are in a position to benefit from Connacht developing an IQ player, while the short term fix of Taute had no real long term benefit for Irish Rugby.
Great signing for Munster. Loads to offer on and off pitch.
People on here were quick to jump to the conclusion that Munster were poaching players from Connacht when he signed.
From what I have seen of him so far he looks quite good. I can see him and Nankivell striking up a good partnership. Munster badly needs a settled midfield after constant changing of personnel.
Could turn out to be another Paul Warwick
Fantastic signing. Seems to be getting a run without injury too which does help
He’s an absolutely quality rugby player. Serious skillset. Ireland chance has probably passed now but he’ll get plenty of big days with Munster. Has had some very unfortunately timed injuries in his career.