His first year at Liverpool was easily forgettable, as Liverpool were in a year of transition as Rodgers tried to implement a new identity, a new style of play for the Reds. His second season however absolutely caught the league by storm. Despite missing Luis Suarez for the beginning of the season due to suspension, Liverpool won their first 3 games of the season, winning Rodgers a Premier League Manager of the Month award in the process. Liverpool enjoyed an 11 match winning streak, leaving them 5 points clear on top of the table with only 3 matches left. We all remember their infamous collapse, ultimately resulting in City winning the title, but the fact that Rodgers managed to go on such a dominant run, scoring 101 league goals in the process with this squad is certainly noteworthy. Mignolet in goal, an average defense consisting of Aly Cissokho, Mamadou Sakho, slightly above average Martin ล?krtle, injury prone Daniel Agger, Glen Johnson, Jon Flanagan, and an aging Kolo Toure. This average back line was protected by 33 year old Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, playing as a deep distributor, who clearly was past his prime. Goals leaking defensively was inevitable, but was certainly made up for with Liverpoolโ€™s world class attack consisting of a young Raheem Sterling, Coutinho, and a front line led by a fruitful partnership consisting of Daniel Sturridge, and of course Luis Suarez. Liverpool had an imbalanced squad, but their potent attack dared them to dream, and they nearly won the Premier League, but came up short following Gerrardโ€™s infamous slip, an unforgettable collapse.

He did not, and literally could not replace Luis Suarez.

We have seen many managers find success, or at least consistency after losing a star player. Sir Alex Ferguson maintained success after losing Cristiano Ronaldo, Jรผrgen Klopp this very season after losing Coutinho, and of course, weโ€™ve seen Arsene Wenger countlessly manage to secure a top four finish despite losing the likes of Thierry Henry, Robin van Persie, Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri, Ashley Cole, Emmanuel Adebayor, and so on. Brendan Rodgers faced that test, and ultimately failed, losing Luis Suarez to Barcelona. This would be the beginning of Rodgersโ€™ downfall, and where his players began to lose faith in him, as well as Liverpool supporters. However, this was not entirely his fault. Following Suarezโ€™s transfer, Liverpool signed Mario Balotelli, and Rickie Lambert, and brought back Fabio Borini after a loan spell at Sunderland. It was obvious from from the start that there was no way these players would be able to replicate Suarezโ€™s impact on the pitch, not to mention Daniel Sturridge had suffered many injury problems throughout the 2014/2015 campaign as well. Lambert was obviously going to be a squad player, but Balotelli was supposed to be Suarezโ€™s replacement. This was not Rodgersโ€™ choice. Brendan Rodgers did not have a final say in transfers, and his preferred replacement for Suarez was Alexis Sanchez, who ultimately made a move to Arsenal, and he missed out on signing Dele Alli as well, who was signed by Spurs. Liverpoolโ€™s heavily criticized transfer committee decided to sign Balotelli, and this was not the player who can fit Rodgersโ€™ system, and succeed Suarez. While Balotelli is certainly talented, he was the furthest thing from a sure fit in Rodgersโ€™ system which required defensive work and pressing from his strikers. With this lack of attacking talent, Liverpool ultimately finished the season in 6th, and didnโ€™t make it past the group stage in the Champions League that season either. Their leading goal scorer in all competitions was Steven Gerrard, with 13 goals. Rodgers needed more control with transfer decisions, but his lack of control made it immensely difficult for him to work with the squad he had. The 2015/2016 campaign would be Rodgersโ€™ last with the club. He seemed to have lost the faith in his players, on top of losing long time Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, as well as young star Raheem Sterling. Despite making solid signings such as James Milner and Nathaniel Clyne, as well as the likes of Roberto Firmino, and Christian Benteke, Rodgers could not find a real identity within the team, found it lacking real width, which led to a slow start, and his eventual sacking in October of 2015. Firmino is certainly talented, but he is not a goal scorer, and was not surrounded by players who would complement his style like he is today. Benteke was a proven goal scorer at his previous club, Aston Villa, however he found it difficult to find the back of the net at Liverpool, and is finding difficulty scoring at the same rate as he did at Aston Villa to this very day. It is immensely difficult to find success when your players you are working with are not the ones you wanted. While Rodgers did successfully sign some players he himself wanted, the discord between Liverpoolโ€™s transfer committee and Brendan Rodgers did nothing but hurt the club. I have no doubt that Arsenal would find success scoring under the leadership of Brendan Rodgers with their current squad, and Rodgers can take Arsenal to the next level if he is given freedom in the transfer market.

He has new, unique tactics

If we look at managers today, there are plenty who are hailed as football revolutionaries, and their tactics are praised and analyzed by many pundits, and students of the game, myself included. Pep Guardiola has taken the league by storm after implementing his possession style of play, complemented by unique and often unpredictable lineups, which have absolutely dominated the Premier League, winning City the title. We also have Jurgen Klopp, whoโ€™s gegenpressing system has found success domestically, as well as in Europe as they are in the Champions League semi-finals. We look at Mauricio Pochettino, whoโ€™s attractive, dynamic, and high pressing style of football has seen Spurs finish above Arsenal what is likely to be 2 seasons in a row now. Thomas Tuchelโ€™s tactics have also been praised, with his own gegenpressing system, as well as his ability to adapt to his oppositions strengths and weaknesses, and now it seems he will make a move to PSG. Brendan Rodgers is no different. With Celtic, he generally sets out a 4-2-3-1, but his system is a bit different, as generally with a 4-2-3-1, fullbacks tend to push up and wide forwards tend to tuck in as inside forwards. Rodgersโ€™ Celtic on the other hand have a more asymmetrical approach, with left back Kieran Tierney pushing forward, and his right back tending to tuck in almost creating a back 3, allowing their attacking midfielder, generally Callum McGregor, to find a lot of space behind the striker. At Liverpool during the 2013/2014 campaign, he often deployed a lineup that was much different than what his opponents generally set out, and he was able to change his teamsheet due to squad injuries and rotations, and still find success. I cannot avoid mentioning his absolute tactical masterclass which resulted in a 5-1 rout of Arsenal at Anfield in 2014. I would much rather see Arsenal move forward with unique, exciting, and modern tactics than simply take the safe route and appoint more experienced managers such as Carlo Ancelotti, which I fear may lead to Arsenal being accused of playing with ancient tactics, and perhaps not adapting to the ever changing game of football today. Brendan Rodgers consistently adapts. Jose Mourinho, who is hailed as one of the greatest managers in football has been criticized for his โ€œboringโ€ and defensive approach, which came back to haunt Manchester United as they were knocked out in the round of 16 by Sevilla, and did not make a real challenge for the Premier League title. I personally find Manchester Unitedโ€™s appointment of Mourinho safe, however not revolutionary and able to take the league and Europe by storm today.

What comes up, must come down

Brendan Rodgersโ€™ managerial reign with Liverpool is often remembered as a failure, as he could not replicate his success from the 2013/2014 campaign, eventually leading to his sacking. Do not let this cloud up your judgment, as plenty of managers have been sacked, yet are still considered top class managers. Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Jurgen Klopp, and Massimo Allegri have all been sacked before. Even Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger faced the sack earlier in their careers, and Arsene Wengerโ€™s last few years at Arsenal have been well below his normal standards. It is unfair to label Brendan Rodgers as a bad manager, as Liverpoolโ€™s highly criticized transfer committee ultimately led to a period of failure for Liverpool, with Rodgers receiving most of the blame by critics. Given real power at a club regarding their decisions moving forward, Rodgers will find success.

Heโ€™s an Invincible

One Invincible replaced by another. It is written in the stars.

TL;DR

Brendan Rodgersโ€™ contention as next Arsenal manager has been a prospect a majority of Arsenal fans have shown disapproval of. He is an experienced, unique top class manager who is viewed by many critics unfairly, and I can see finding success at Arsenal if he is given the right resources and able to have a say in decisions. His failures at Liverpool were not entirely his fault, and he should not be someone Arsenal fans disapprove so strongly of. He is genuinely at the top of my list, and for good reason.

Please feel free to discuss, agree, or disagree.

EDIT: Grammar, Formatting