What is success this season?

It took a little while but I managed to stop convincing myself every year (around this time usually) that this year will be the year we finally crack it and win the league again.

It's been a while since this has been even vaguely realistic.. certainly not since Benitez left, and we only really came close the one season under him.

Our own financial car crash situation and ownership implosion did not help matters, but the boat may have stopped rocking so much - it's stopped sinking would be more accurate - and we might actually gain a bit more control this season.

Brendan Rodgers seems to be a man with a plan, and with a bit of luck it won't cost the earth to see it through. We certainly can't afford to throw around the money we have been doing for the past couple of seasons.

A lot has been made of his 'new philosophy' which some people seem to have interpreted as we will start playing like Barcelona overnight. This clearly will not happen. Things like that take years to drum into players. But he talks well and I think we will start to move in that direction.

One of the things he said that struck me after the win against Gomel on Thursday was that he liked how we had regained possession quickly. Now this is obviously easier against the likes of Gomel, but if we can start to get that mentally then that will be a massive step.

The Scouse Iniesta

That is the main reason that Barca have been so good over the past few seasons.. (obviously having most of the best players in the world on the same side helps) but one of the main pillars that supports this is their refusal to let the other side have the ball.

If you can win the ball back quickly, preferably when the other side is not in your half yet, then it's game on. And following on from this there are 2 main points as I see it.

1 - It's way easier to defend if you've got the ball.

2 - If you've got the ball, the opposition tires doing the chasing.

Football is a painfully simply game really.

So where does this leave us this season. We have a manager who is familiar with managing in the Premier League and also seems to prefer possession football. He shouldn't need too much time to find his feet and it didn't take him too long with Swansea to figure out the league.

A couple of new players in. Borini got off to a good start. Frankly if he just stands where he did for his goal on Thursday, tidying up any Suarez by-line chaos he'll get at least a dozen goals this season. Probably more if he runs about a bit. You can seen them linking up well.

Also Joe Allen from Swansea - another player Rodgers obviously knows well, so this again should help.

A top 4 finish is possible.. not easy, but doable. I think that on it's own seems to be success these days. It did make me sick when we got to 2 cup finals, winning 1, and all the press could say was, well they're not in the top 4 though.

I remember when football used to be about winning shiny trophies.. not who had the biggest bank balance. That just means whose managed to squeeze their fans out of the most money.

Frankly I'd take that again this season. A Cup.. well The Cup and 5th place, the League Cup is OK but it's not the proper one is it.

The Champions League would be a bonus, it's been a while. But look at Man City and United last season. All the Champions League got them last season (apart from a few quid) was humiliation.

Top 4. yes, but not the be all and end all. Top 5 and a trophy (FA Cup) - also OK. UEFA Cup - I'd take that as well. I know they changed it, but change is bad (see League Cup). If we did progress in that competition, I can see our league form suffering - based on the current squad anyway.

One thing to bear in mind Mr Rodgers. Kenny Dalglish took us to 2 cup finals and that wasn't enough to save his job. You've got a bit of time, but success is expected sooner or later.