We are going to see more of this. Having a "plan" is fairly sensible from FSG, every club should have a plan, what their mistake is is broadcasting it so publically. They have almost fetishized the idea of recruitment and the "plan" has taken on an almost spiritual level amongst the Cult. It fits hand to glove really. They ask each other "do you still believe in the plan" almost daring each other to reject it and be outed. You could easily replace plan with "god" and it wouldn't sound out of place.
That is an amusing side issue though and not the central problem for them. The problem they really have is the emergence of this "plan" is it gives a perfect excuse for underperforming managers. Salesmen love promising things that will happen in 5-10 years time. it's perfect for them. It guarantees them a job for that length of time and by the end of said period comes people have forgotten what was promised anyway.
I do think we will see more criticism of FSG though. Sooner or later they are going to have to say no. While the kopites have many characteristics of a Cult what they do lack is a blind obedience if they feel they are not getting exactly what they want. It's not going to be long before people reject en masse the plan as it will be synonymous with crap managers like Rodgers. They will demand huge investment in line with Chelsea/City all while bemoaning modern greed and football.
Don't ever be fooled that they have changed their spots. That they have moved from the spoilt me me me child, to a connoisseur of statistics and numbers. They have blind faith in said plan and have liked the idea that they are better than everyone else. When it fails though they will revert to type, cry arsing for a rich owner to come and buy them trophies again.
I think 'the plan' of FSG's and the Kopites expectations and tolerance levels converge, but only as long as that means CL football - season-in, season-out.
FSG know that winning PL titles are not part of the demands on them at Anfield, and it doesn't significantly seem to impact on Liverpool's commercial pull domestically or abroad if they dont win the title. So the motive to step it up from that simple task of top four placings isn't really there.
They have the ultimate plan of reconfiguring that stadium and have LFC playing regularly in the CL. That becomes a very attractive entity to sell for a massive return on the £300M they paid for it. For that reason Rodgers is under pressure now and may not be able to survive the summer if/when they fail to grab 4th place.
The problem, it seems to me, with FSG's plan is that though managers are getting backed with transfer war chests, the wage 'restraint' they have in place is causing problems to the successful acquisition of top end players that can make the difference. So there's a contradiction at play there and maybe that makes Rodgers even more vulnerable in that FSG wont ditch the wage structure, they'll seek a manager who can bring in expensive 'second tier' players and make it a success in terms of CL qualification.
