Reading Between the Lines…….

Brendan Rodgers was the man Liverpool’s American owners wanted all along. It transpires that Wigan’s manager Roberto Martinez was merely a smokescreen aided and abetted by his verbose Chairman Dave Whelan who was claiming this time last week that Martinez was Liverpool’s new manager subject to crossing the “T’s” and dotting the “I’s”.

The one obstacle I believed may have prevented Rodgers from accepting the job was quietly removed during the last forty eight hours. They were keen to appoint Luis Van Gaal as Director of Football with responsibilities for signing players and monitoring transfers. Rodgers insisted on total control and The American owners happily agreed.

The national press has irritated me to distraction by concentrating on what Rodgers has to do to return Liverpool to former glories and completely ignoring the predicament that faces Swans Chairman Huw Jenkins. Jenkins has revealed great skill in plucking managers from obscurity only to experience the exit door slammed in his face as they leave for greater reward in pastures new. Ironically Roberto Martinez walked out in 2009 to take the reins at Wigan having previously pledged his loyalty to the club who gave him his first opportunity in management.

Souza succeeded him for one season before leaving for a king’s ransom at Leicester City which proved to be his poisoned chalice. In 2010, Brendan Rodgers was unemployed having been unceremoniously sacked by Reading. Jenkins gave him a second chance which he gratefully and successfully accepted. But one wonders if Swansea is used as a nursery for developing young managers who believe the grass is always greener on the other side. It was only in February that Rodgers signed a 31/2 year contract, but a five million pound compensation clause was included if he chose to walk  to help compensate the blow of his potential departure to another club.

It is only a couple of months since Rodgers was the bookies’ favorite to succeed Harry Redknapp at Spurs when everyone except the FA assumed that Del Boy Harry would replace Fabio Capello as England manager. Swansea fans breathed a sigh of relief when Roy Hodgson was appointed, but Rodgers was also in the frame for the vacant Chelsea hot seat.

Rodgers is taking his backroom staff with him to help implant his intricate passing style on some very cynical and egotistical Liverpool professionals. One wonders how Steve Gerrard will react to a more technical approach which may negate his customary free role. Can Andy Carroll’s old fashioned center forward style be adapted to Rodgers’s requirements?  Will expensive misfits Charlie Adam, Stuart Downing and Jordan Henderson fit the Rodgers mantra? Quite frankly I don’t care a jot on whether Rodgers is the second coming since Shankly.

My thoughts and concerns are with Swansea City. Quality managers suitable for the premiership are not easy to find, and one can only hope that Huw Jenkins and his board can pluck another rabbit from the hat. I’m also worried that Rodgers may poach a few of his former players. The Swans have just agreed a club record fee for the Iceman, but it will surprise nobody if he follows Rodgers to Liverpool.

In mitigation, Rodgers behaved impeccably during the negotiations with Liverpool which is more than can be said for Norwich manager Paul Lambert who walked out on his club to pursue the vacancy at Aston Villa. I don’t quite know what to believe with Roberto Martinez. According to reports he was the favorite for the Aston Villa and Liverpool jobs, but supposedly is returning to Wigan looking like a hapless loser.

Rodgers’ motto at Swansea was “Per Ardua Ad Astra,” a Latin phrase which means “through adversity to the stars.” The only thing shining in Rodgers eyes right now are dollar signs proffered by Liverpool’s American owners.

 The new season will be the club’s centenary and Swansea have dealt with more adversity than most during their checkered past. Let’s hope they can rise again from this latest setback.

 

 

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