Former Liverpool player, John Barnes was confident that the Reds will finish ‘better than eighth’ this coming season, under the management of Brendan Rodgers. However, he admitted that they need to set realistic goals and should finish in between
fourth and sixth in the league standings.
The Merseyside club went through one of their worst league campaigns in almost 54 years during the 2011/12 season. Their meagre 52 points tally only managed to earn them the eighth spot in the table- an unacceptable position for the 18 times title winners,
who were hence forced into making numerous changes.
Even though the 48-year old admitted the Reds shortcomings in the previous term, he maintained that their remarkable performance in the domestic cup competitions showed their true stature, and there were a lot of positives to be picked up going into the
next season.
Liverpool hoisted the Carling Cup trophy in February, and finished runner-ups to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 in the FA Cup.
Barnes told the reporters in an interview, “Improvement - we will finish better than eighth... Getting to the cup finals and the desire and resolve they showed on the field - I think there will be a natural progression of them improving, which would have
happened either way.”
With Rodgers replacing the Kop legend, Kenny Dalglish at the managerial hot seat earlier in June, the Englishman asked the club’s supporters and fans to stand behind the Northern Irishman, as he looks to implement his modern day managing philosophy at Anfield.
However, he called upon the fans to exercise patience during his prefatory days, as the Reds were currently going through a transition period, and the results will not pour in right from the start.
He continued, “We have to be realistic and we have to trust the manager - know his philosophy and know he will bring in the players to suit that philosophy.”
He also said that http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809 should set more realistic targets ahead of them going into the new season, and believed that their prime objective should be to secure a place in the Champions League.
“We should be looking to finish between fourth and sixth, and if we could get into fourth spot, that would be a great achievement,” he added.
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