Liverpool FC

Why Dalglish is the right choice opposed to Hodgson

2011-01-09T09:47:00.000-08:00

Roy Hodgson is a good manager. His relative success at certain clubs and his durability over 35 years proves that. However, he was never the right man for Liverpool Football Club.

If that seemed obvious to many of the club’s followers in the summer, it became unavoidable with his comments and tactics, both of which smacked of low expectations and mid-table mediocrity. If he remains a good manager, he proved that he is not a particularly adaptable one. And therefore, allied to his low win percentage in his three biggest jobs and lack of trophies at any of them, he’s not a great manager. Far from it, in fact.

This is a man who said in 2002 that he doesn’t believe in innovation (although perhaps he meant change for change’s sake), and who has proudly stuck to roughly the same methods for 35 years. Those methods – including a very British 4-4-2 formation – work well at clubs full of journeymen who need to be organised into a fighting unit and snatch the occasional victory, but as shown at Blackburn and Liverpool (and also Inter Milan), rather than see his results prosper, he seems to win the exact same percentage of games even when he steps up a level or two.

Maybe he would have adapted with time, but it’s unlikely. It’s baffling how someone with so much experience could make so many ‘rookie errors’ in every area of his performance; and at 63, and not a popular appointment to start with, how much time did he have? He managed to insult the fans, popular former managers and alienate supporters (with his words and his football) to the point where 10,000 empty seats for a New Year’s Day fixture told its own story.

Scott Murray sums up Hodgson beautifully in The Guardian, and Dion Fanning once again hits the nail squarely on the head here. It almost doesn’t need me to add to either of those pieces, but as ever, there are some small details to focus on.

Upon his appointment, Hodgson claimed that he’d get more than his predecessor out of this group of players. Indeed, that was his line in the job interview. Unfortunately, those interviewing him – as non-football men – didn’t know what they were doing.

Hodgson immediately offloaded some skilful ball-players and brought in some mediocre plodders and has-beens. He left out talented individuals like Agger (at the start of the season when everyone was fit) and played his only good signing on the right of midfield, where he performed like a fish out of water. Even after ending Meireles’ torrid time out there, and seeing the Portuguese find his feet – and the team its balance – in the centre, he was inexplicably stuck out there again at home to Wolves, when the last vestiges of hope died in a quite dire display. With the players at his disposal (including five he brought in), he made a right mess.

In returning to the dugout, Kenny Dalglish doesn’t have to prove himself a tactical master; these things are more vital when all is going well, and you need to eke out something extra. Right now, so long as he is sufficiently positive in his approach, and surrounded by the right lieutenants, the key is lifting a black cloud.

Hodgson was our Eyjafjallajökull, smothering us and stopping us getting off the ground.

Reality, Not Romanticism
While it may seem to fans of other clubs that we are living in the past, this is not about romanticism. It’s about uniting the club behind one man. It’s about finding a manager that the players – for 18 months a split group – will get behind.

Last season, Benítez lost the support of some key personnel from as early as the first week of the campaign, while Hodgson never really had the support of others – and almost certainly lost the faith of some of those who were open minded until they encountered his methods. But it’s hard to see anyone objecting to Dalglish.

It’s also about exciting the Kop to produce its full motivational power, rather than finding increasing gaps around the stadium where fans (who had always turned up, even when losing) started to refuse to spend their time and money watching Liverpool play without style or ambition. You can excuse bad games and defeats – you get them in any season – but it was uninspiring, overly cautious stuff from the moment Hodgson arrived.

Let’s not feel sorry for the departed boss. He dug himself into a hole too deep to get out of. Nothing was going to work, because all faith had been lost.
It got to the point where even acknowledging and amending the error of his ways was not going to win over a public who’d seen and heard too much. Even Phil Thompson admitted that he’d not seen the team play particularly well at all this season. Last season was horribly inconsistent, and that ‘did’ for Rafa Benítez, but at least Liverpool won some games with style and something to spare, including victories against Everton and Manchester United. The team were scoring a lot more goals than now, even though it was generally a poor season. That tells you how bad this has been.

As expected, managers are queuing up to say what a travesty the removal of Roy is, with Gérard Houllier saying that it’s now “brutal” and that managers are in the firing line after “losing a couple of games”. The trouble is, in the league, Hodgson lost nine and won only seven, as well as overseeing the worst domestic cup defeat since before Shankly’s time.

Hodgson was appointed under previous owners, by a since-deposed chief executive who began to think himself a football guru. Hodgson made the mistake of trusting that chief executive with regard to player assessments, and between them they messed up the summer’s transfer business. Hodgson seemed to side with Purslow rather than the fans.

Some of the criticism of Hodgson was daft, such as the outrage when he smiled when passing Alex Ferguson on his way to a seat at the JJB last weekend. And some of it got far too personal, as did the attacks on the owners from a few lunatics for not yet having sacked him. Ludicrous stuff.
But when Hodgson should have been putting Liverpool FC before his friendship with Ferguson back in the autumn – when Torres was first called a cheat by the United manager, and then linked with a move to United – he failed to do so. Sometimes diplomacy ends up upsetting someone regardless, because sitting on the fence can imply acceptance of a situation that needs to be spoken out against. (If you refuse to say that your wife is pretty when someone asks, you’ve just insulted her.)

Arsene Wenger said that Hodgson is a ‘great manager’, but how many Arsenal fans would have wanted him to replace the Frenchman this summer if the Gunners had performed badly last season? Seriously, can anyone see that as a sensible approach?

And before people get too snotty and say Arsenal were/are light years ahead of Liverpool, remember that Benítez won a trophy more recently than Wenger, finished in the top two far more recently, reached a Champions League Final more recently, and did so at a club far less stable behind the scenes.
And that’s coming from a huge fan of Wenger, too … Which is precisely the reason why I couldn’t see Arsenal ever appointing someone like Hodgson, or wanting to change from their sensible continental approach ‘for the sake of it’. The knee-jerking at Liverpool was in the summer, in terms of the direction of the club, rather than from the fans or NESV. The knee-jerking was in thinking that because things had gone stale under Benítez, everything about him (or Spanish football) was wrong. Instead of choosing Manuel Pellegrini, the board consciously and deliberately went ‘English’. English manager, more English players. I said in the summer that this was a daft way to go about things.

A lot of mocking supporters of rival clubs seem to think that Liverpool have become the new Newcastle by appointing Kenny Dalglish, after the enmity shown towards Roy Hodgson from the Kop.

The problem was, Liverpool became the new Newcastle in the summer, by doing the classic ‘baby out with the bath water’ 180º u-turn. Undoing that was never going to be straightforward. Hodgson’s position became untenable – the atmosphere surrounding the club was getting unbearable – and in order to buy some time ahead of a permanent summer appointment, there needed to be the best possible kind of release of the building pressure.

Dalglish oversaw arguably the finest football Liverpool (or any other British team) have ever produced, winning the title three times in his five and a half years; and then, by spending money in line with (but not in excess of) Manchester United – see Pay As You Play for evidence – took the title to Blackburn in 1995. It was a long time ago, but it involved some absolutely fantastic signings, and a winning mentality. Even his short-lived time at Newcastle left them with Didi Hamann (sold for a big profit to Liverpool, whom he served with distinction), Shay Given, Gary Speed and Nolberto Solano. (Jon Dahl Tomasson, just a kid at the time, went on to prove what a great player he is over the next decade; it was just too early for him.)

Speaking on LFC TV, The Times’ Tony Barrett mentioned how Fernando Torres was nervous to simply kick a ball in the street with Kenny (following some promotional interviews the legends were doing), such is the awe in which he is held. If Kenny has the right people around him, then that respect, allied to the deep understanding of the game he possesses, can overcome any possibly issues of rustiness.

Modern Thinking
Two years spent at the Academy working with the ex-Barcelona FC gurus Borrell and Segura – where the tactics are far more modern than any Hodgson was implementing – will have brought Dalglish up to date, as will his conversations with Rafa Benítez, of whom Dalglish was a fan.

Indeed, anyone who has been following the youth team since Rafa overhauled the Academy in 2009 will know how much talent there is below the first team squad, and how progressive the approach is. On Saturday, the Reds tore apart a talented Crystal Palace side (top of their Southern league group, I believe, and victors over Arsenal 3-0) in the most one-sided game I’ve seen all season. It ended 3-1 to the Reds, but could have been a cricket score.

It was a beautiful exhibition of football – 4-2-3-1, passing and movement not so different from that of Barcelona – which revolved around the Spaniard wunderkind Suso (the side’s Messi), drifting in from wide areas. (Not saying Suso – who, thanks to Benítez chose Liverpool over Real Madrid – is, or ever will be, as good as Messi, just that, at this level, against boys up to 18 months older, he was on a different planet. Also, see this video clip from last year when, aged just 16, he was showing his talent against senior sides in pre-season friendlies.)

While Hodgson was happy to play some kids in his ‘B’ team, he rarely even picked the likes of Kelly and Pacheco for the bench in the Premier League, even though they are a year older than when they made their debuts last season. Dalglish is very much in touch with the up-and-coming talent on the books, and can link each section of the club. The comparisons with Keegan’s return at Newcastle are especially daft because while Keegan – an inferior manager – was noted for not even following football during his time out of the game, Dalglish has been following it closely.

And while Liverpool lost to Manchester United in Dalglish’s return, it was courtesy of a Howard Webb gift (Agger stuck out a leg but quickly withdrew it) and a moment of madness from Gerrard that left the Reds with ten men. (However committed Gerrard is in big games, he has to learn to stop diving in like that.)

The pleasing thing was that, as I’d expected, Dalglish set up in a modern 4-2-3-1, as opposed to Hodgson’s rigid 4-4-2. The Reds pressed higher up the pitch, even with just ten men, and showed greater movement. The side looked balanced, and everyone was looking to pass the ball. Agger strode confidently out from the back, and although Reina was the busier keeper, Liverpool came out of the game with their pride intact.

So, if Dalglish is a case of ‘going back to the past’, then it was mostly reminiscent of the Liverpool of 2008/09 that won 25 of its 38 league games and lost only two (as opposed to Hodgson’s antiquated, inhibited approach).
Above all else, Dalglish knows what Liverpool fans expect to see. When the Reds were 2-0 down at Manchester City earlier in the season, Hodgson didn’t make a change until the 80th minute, and in other games he left his substitutions very late (because he has never really had a Plan B). At Old Trafford, Kenny made two positive substitutions on 60 minutes.

Will it last beyond the summer? Quite possibly not. But if it goes better than expected, and the right people are brought in around him (Steve Clarke?) – as well as getting on well with Damien Comolli – then the Reds could do worse. After all, and much to our great pain, we’ve just spent the past six months witnessing just that.

Finally Hodgson has left, but stil a lot of work to do.

2011-01-08T06:25:00.000-08:00

First of all, Liverpool has to get back on track. To be fair, Liverpool should be aiming for a top 6 position, champions league simply isent in the cards this season, Tottenham and Chelsea are 11 and 10 point ahead, and even with a game in hand, is just to far away now.

For the rest of the season there must be 6 goals, that liverpool FC must work hard on to achive:

Liverpool must finish in at top 6
Liverpool must formulate a styles and strategi of how they want to play the game.
Liverpool must identify a new manager, who are capable of implementing the new style of play. Also a manager that the players will respect due to the achivements that he allready has on the CV
Liverpool must invest in the squad, thereby sending a signal both the the squad and to the competitors, that Liverpool are once again a force to be reckoned with
Liverpool must go all out in the efforts to win the UEFA League.
Liverpool must turn the negative spiral. In the recent years there has been to much negativity concerning Liverpool.We all have to unite, and support the club. The fans on the stands, the players on the field, the management on and of the field, and the owners. Liverpool is a special club. There are no other club like Liverpool, it is time to show why.

In regards to finishing in top 6, Liverpool "only" has to win the 2 games in hand, and Liverpool will actuallybe number 6, dependent on the goaldifference.

The style of play, and this is my opinion, we have to go back to the style of play that made us great. I have always identified Liverpool with a shortpassing style of play, which is fairly direct, strong technical players, who likes possesion, and who can create chances themselves.That is why I love players like Xabi Alonso, Agger, Torres, Xavi, Eden Hazard and so on.

At this point in time, I only see two potential managers, who has the name, can implement the style of play the fans wants to see, and who understands a massive club. The names are, Frank Rijkaard and Manuel Pellegrini.
Many has forget that Barcelona was actually in a crisis when Frank Rijkaard took over. They havent won the league or in europe in a number of years. Frank Rijkaard started this golden period for Barcelona (Guardiola has since perfected it). Frank Rijkaard understands the pressure of a big club, understands the politics. His style of play, is a short passing technical game and he has the name that every player in Liverpool knows and respects.
Manual Pellegrini was manager for Villareal in a number of years, taking them from a unknown club, to a wellrespected club. Qualified for europe each year and created a very good team for small investments. Was put in charge of Real Madrid, and took them to the higest point tally ever, but failed the win the championship (finishing 2 after Barcelona) and also failed in the champions league.

The new owners has said, that there are money to invest in the squad, if they right players are availble. I agree, there is no need to buy players, just to buy players. So instead I will concentrate on the positions where I think we need to stregten the squad.

Defence: We need a new left back, and a central defender. First of all, lets bring back Insua. I know he had his short comings, but he is still young and will learn. Still we would have to buy a new left back. I also think that we need a new central defender. Carragher is not getting younger, and I am not sure that Skrtel is good enough. Danny Wilson is very young and would properly benefit from going on loan.

Midfield. I think we need a holding midfielder and a left midfielder. I dont see Gerard as a central midfielder. I see him as a attacking midfielder/supporting striker. Lucas and Christian Poulsen arent bad players, they are just noy good enough to start the games. Therefor a holding midfielder, who can create the games from behind, along with Mereilles who is a box to box midfielder, and Gerrard behind Torres. A left midfielder is also needed. One who can challenge on the left, and create the chances from the left. (Would love if it was Eden Hazard).

Attack: We need a new striker, but it is important, that he can cover as a supporting striker as well. I dont see Liverpool playing with two strikers, due to Steven Gerrard. And if we want a good striker, he would also want to play on a regular basis. Therefor, it is important that it is a player, who can play both the supporting striker and on top. That will also leave cover for injuries for Torres and Gerrard.

To win the UEFA league, is not something that you just do, but if we all unite and stand together. The team is good enough to win it.

Phil Thomson calls for change in management

2011-01-07T01:04:00.000-08:00

LIVERPOOL legend Phil Thompson today said that a parting of the ways between Liverpool and Roy Hodgson is the only way forward.

Former Assistant Manager Thompson said he hoped the Reds could a strike a deal with Hodgson which allowed him to leave the club with dignity after trying his best in the face of an array of problems. Said Thompson: “I hate knee jerk reactions – this is not that – and I take no pleasure in saying this. “But these are unprecedented times – we are wallowing in mediocrity.”

This is an awful time for Liverpool Football Club and everyone involved with it.I well remember how it was for those few weeks before Gerard Houllier and I left in 2004 - and at times it was really unbearable.

Of course I can’t speak for Gerard but I took the criticism of him at that time quite personally and I felt a lot of his uncertainty too.

So much flak over the team’s performances and results were aimed at Gerard - but I felt we were all in it together.

You could not help but be affected by what was going on and the mood was very difficult during those final days.

From the gate man at Melwood to the people at reception, to the technical staff and the players - it hung over all of us.

So right now I am pretty certain it will be similar behind the scenes at Melwood and Anfield - but in truth probably far worse.

We had had success before those days and had known good times.
But Roy Hodgson has been at the club for barely six months and it has seemingly come to this. So this is different. Very different indeed.

We are witnessing unprecedented things in unprecedented times at Anfield.
We have never before known such overwhelming calls for the manager to go from so many supporters and with such volume.

I don’t like it because at Liverpool we like to think we handle these things differently and we don’t go around calling for the manager’s head like this. But these as I say are unparallelled times for the club.

The fans are emotional and angry and you have to understand that and take it into account.

Over recent years these supporters have been through some terribly worrying times with the ownership issues and the debts.

Finally, they have seen an end to the Hicks and Gillett era and the debts wiped away - but instead there are now big problems on the pitch.
This is a proud and successful club with the best supporters in the world - and they are understandably hurting.

I have to be honest and admit that the only way I see for us to get out of here now is for a dignified parting of the ways.

Roy Hodgson has done his very best but he has had a lot of problems to deal with and sometimes you just have to admit that the club and the issues are just too big for you to handle. And that something has to happen.

If Roy and the club can strike a deal that lets him go with his head up and allows Liverpool FC to move on, then sad as I am to say it, I believe that would be in the best interests of everybody concerned.

Roy did come in under the previous owners and he did inherit a depleted squad lacking talent and commitment.

He hasn’t had a Chief Executive Officer to work with in recent months and at times it cannot have been easy for him. Early on he had to deal with the Mascherano situation, trying to keep a player who wanted to go and who eventually forced his way and got his wish.

But that said Roy has got some things fundamentally wrong with tactics and personnel, particularly away from home. The truth is we have not seen one fantastic performance from Liverpool all season. And we have seen some abject ones.

We are wallowing in mediocrity and the owners, who to their credit have taken their time and listened to lots of people to try and grow to understand the club, must surely know this is not what Liverpool FC is all about. Quite the opposite.

They’ll be talking to the right people about how to handle things I hope - and for me two of the best people they could listen to are Commercial Director Ian Ayre and Kenny Dalglish.

I hate knee jerk reactions - this isn’t that - and take no pleasure saying so.
But it is time for a parting of the ways between Roy Hodgson and Liverpool. One that happens with a degree of dignity for everyone’s sake.

Read More http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2011/01/07/phil-thompson-time-to-end-roy-hodgson-s-liverpool-fc-reign-now-100252-27944794/3/#ixzz1AL2t8000

The Hodgson situation

2011-01-06T14:17:00.001-08:00

Over the past few weeks, I’ve read many misguided comments about Liverpool fans’ with regard to the ‘Hodgson Situation.’ Some members of the press have even gone as far as implying that the fans, some of whom have wanted Hodgson out for a few months now, are stupid and do not know what they are talking about.

Aside from the unacceptable results and performances, Hodgson’s off the pitch performances have arguably been worse than those on the field.

According to Dave Kidd of the UK based Sunday newspaper, The People, Liverpool FC fans have created the ‘Hodgson Situation’ by expecting too much and that we all ‘want success yesterday.’ In my eyes this is a massive insult to us as a group of supporters. As Dave Kidd, and plenty of other ‘experts’ know very well, we’ve had plenty of success ‘yesterday.’
Last season we finished 7th and subsequently a change of management was made. Whether the decision to dismiss Rafael Benitez was right or wrong is an issue that is still debated strongly to this day, but what we do know is a lot of the fans felt undoubtedly underwhelmed by the choice of replacement. Yet, despite Hodgson claiming otherwise, once it was officially announced everyone fell in line with ‘The Liverpool Way’ and let him make his own first impressions rather than acting on our own preconceptions without giving the new man a chance.
And to be absolutely fair, I feel Hodgson’s reign started well. Being kind, other than a couple of choice signings and some unpopular decisions regarding outgoing players, we had started positively in Europe and gave Arsenal a good game on the opening day of the Premier League season. Yet Hodgson’s suitability for the Liverpool job came under question as dire and negative performances, combined with a woeful away record, saw the reds record their worst start to a league campaign for around half a decade.
Aside from the unacceptable results and performances, Hodgson’s off the pitch performances have arguably been worse than those on the field.
His early interviews when taking up the post were encouraging. He seemed to be embracing the idea that he was privileged to be our manager. Yet his public comments became increasingly frustrating, including needlessly talking up the opposition before matches, and also our dire performances after embarrassing defeats, as well as ignoring fierce attacks on the character of one of our best players, and shortly afterwards agreeing that selling him to his attacker is not far from impossible.
In contrary to the belief from a large section of the media, we didn’t expect Hodgson to have us challenging for the league straight away. Nor did we think a return to the top four was ours for the taking. In reality, it was very much the the opposite. Upon the announcement he was to be our new manager, there was plenty of talk of him ‘steadying the ship,’ which was as much a welcome idea as the season before was an unwelcome surprise. However, what we ended up with was a manager who I feel, more often than not, set out to ‘not lose’ games and in the process has all but alienated some of our more attacking players with ancient tactics or, better yet, bluntly refused to use them in their true roles. Along this rocky path he has blamed everyone, including the fans, the players, the previous manager and even the freak weather for our misfortunes, leaving himself out of the equation.
At this point last season, Benitez’ record had certain sections of the media calling for his head. Yet the same journalists this time around, despite the situation being arguably worse, feel that Liverpool fans are being rash in their wishes. The previous manager was dismissed for finishing 7th, bearing in mind he had shown us what he was capable of in the seasons before. On the flip side, Hodgson’s record up to now has us finishing much worse off than last season, with only a mid table finish and a Europa League final appearance with his previous club to back up his recent credentials.
I know a lot of our fans, myself included, have felt abnormal wanting a Liverpool manager to be sacked so early in to the season. The feeling is something that we have never really experienced before, at the very least as a majority. You see fans of other football clubs baying for blood midway through the season after a run of unsavoury results, yet while we have had managers who had arguably ran their course and became unsuitable for our club, there has never been this level of public discontent before. Yet we are portrayed as impatient and demanding as the usual suspects seen calling for a manager’s head when things aren’t going right.
So to those journalists and experts who feel Hodgson is bearing the brunt of a new found impatience amongst Liverpool fans, bear in mind that we have experienced success ‘yesterday,’ and we know full well that it doesn’t come without intense preparation and forward thinking. And we also know, as Roy Hodgson has stated himself after periods of sustained pressure, that there isn’t a magic wand that will instantly make things happen. Preparation like this can take a long time to establish amongst a group of players. Yet we know that such inspiration doesn’t come from men who feel it is ‘naive’ to think they can beat every team they come up against. If you don’t feel you can win any given match, surely managing a club as big as Liverpool Football Club is not for you.

The above article was published on http://www.anfield-online.co.uk/opinion/2011/the-hodgson-situation/

Finally - Liverpool owners slam results - but...

2011-01-06T04:15:00.000-08:00

Sky Sports claims the club’s owners have yet to decide on Hodgson’s future but have admitted ‘results have been very discouraging’

Unfortunately the owners have yet not decided to sack Roy Hodgson.

The only reason why they havent sacked him yet, must be that they havent decided on appointing a caretaker manager or trying to appoint a long term solution.

I am not sure how many more proves the owners want.

Out of the League cup
Manager who blames the fans
Manager who takes no action to change the result. He just passive waits, and thinks that the result will change as long as he dont
All ready lost 9 games in the league
1 away win
Declining numbers of spectators
changing top players to below average players
And much more

No matter what, things can hardly get worse, so sack him, and sack him today.

Liverpool still have two tournaments that they could win, the uefa league and the FA cup. sacking Roy Hodgson at least gives Liverpool a chance to beat United come sunday.

Is Agger out of order?

2011-01-05T05:25:00.000-08:00

Agger said: "If I'm not playing in the Liverpool team on a regular basis then I am ready to move on."
“I have only just returned from three months out injured so I am in no position at the moment to say I must be in the side for every game.

“But once I have made a few appearances and regained full fitness, I would expect to be starting games. If I'm not playing, I can't see a reason for staying.”

The defender made his first appearance since recovering from a calf inujry against Bolton recently but he expectes to be in Liverpool’s starting eleven more often than not.

I dont think Agger is out off order. First of all, Hodgson has done nothing to ensure that he wants to keep Agger, with reports that he has been offered to other clubs. And I think that Aggers claim for a regular place in the first team is solid, and he is aware that he needs to get his fitness sorted.

Yesterday Joe Cole showed his support to Roy Hodgson, but Hodgson doesent return the favour.

Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole's injury-time winner at the weekend may have eased the pressure on Roy Hodgson but the manager has told the England international he still has plenty to prove.
The 29-year-old came off the bench with eight minutes to go against Bolton on Saturday and tapped home in added time to snatch a 2-1 victory. It was Cole's first Barclays Premier League goal for the club having made 10 appearances since joining in the summer.
Injury saw the former Chelsea player lose his place in the side in November and he has yet to win it back. And although his goal earned Hodgson, whose position has come under increased scrutiny in recent weeks, some breathing space, Cole has been urged to start delivering on a more regular basis.

Once again Roy Hodgson shows his lack of support to Joe Cole. We can all agree that Joe hasent brougth his A-game, but Hodgson should, as he does with Torres, Carragher and Gerrard, show his support for Joe, because he is a class player.

How long must we wait. Sack Roy Hodgson now

2011-01-04T04:46:00.001-08:00

“I’m hoping that one day I will get a chance to stamp a little bit more of my authority and philosophy on the team by choosing some more of the players,” he said.
“Although it’s not often mentioned I’ve not been that active in the transfer market since I’ve been here.
“The players here have done exceptionally well for me in accepting a new manager, but they are the ones you have watched for the past few years.” Quote Roy Hodgson

I can only agree that a manager needs time to really put his personal stamp on the team. So yes teams can suffer when appointing a new manager. But one thing is to loose matches you really shouldent have lost, another thing is to create a philosophy and style of play, that clearly does not work.

Let me remind you that in Rafa´s first season, he largely played with a team inheriated by Gerard Houllier.

Roy Hodgson often claims, (done it again today) that it is not his Liverpool team. That he inheriated the team from former manager Rafa Benitez, and that the team is not good enough. To some extend his is right. But the team consist of 9 new player, compared to last season. Fair enough, some of the players made the agreement with the former management, but Roy Hodgson could have vetoed every one of them. And the two players who have performed the worst, are Christian Poulsen and Poul Konchesky, which are your signings, in a total cost of 8 mio £ (almost what Tottenham paid for Rafael van der Vart).

Of the new players, only Raul Meirelles have been performing on a high level, (when RH allowes him to play central), while everyone could have expected more from Joe Cole, Christian Poulsen and Milan Jovanovic. I wont critizise Poul Konchesky, because he has performed precisely as expected. His level of performance just arent higher. Brad Jones, well no one really belived that he would knock of Reina? In Jonjo Shelvey and danny Wilson, I firmly believe that Liverpool have bought a pair of gems, but they are still young and needs time.

But how come that Joe Cole (England international), Christian Poulsen (Denmark international and Captain) or Milan Jovanovic (Serbia international) havent performed. Well actually no one has really performed this season, maybe except of Pepe Reina. When it comes down to it, the finger is pointed at Roy Hodgson.

No one believed at the start of the season, that we would be champions. But most believed that the team was, and are, good enough to at least come close to finishing in top 4.

So Roy your time is up.

To little to late for Roy Hodgson, as Kenny Dalglish is waiting in the shadows

2011-01-03T02:49:00.001-08:00

Before Saturdays game against Bolton, most medias claimed, that Roy Hodgson had to win, or face the sack.

Fortunately the decision has allready been made, with Kenny Dalglish ready to take over. It is understood that Kenny Dalglish has offered to take the role as caretaker manager.

The owners however are uncertain, and may want to wait until this coming summer before replacing the manager. They are keen to make the right decision concerning a new manager, and are discussing if they should replace Roy Hodgson with Kenny Dalglish in a role as a caretaker manager. The main concern being, which role Kenny Dalglish should have after the spell as caretaker manager. They are concerned that a new manager, will be in the shadow of Kenny Dalglish due to his status at Liverpool.

New rumour claim that german coach Ralf Rangnick is a possible solution. Rangnich has been in charge of german outfit Hoffenheim, taken them from the lower divisions, to the german Bundesliga. Ralf Rangnick is free on the market, after seperating with Hoffenheim, after a fall out after Hoffemheim decided to sell midfield star Luiz Gustavo.

There is no doubt that Herr Rangnick is interesting, but his results are largely based on a heavy transfer budget, being able to buy a good team, and not so much developing a good team.

Roy Hodgson could learn fom Joe Cole

2011-01-03T02:46:00.001-08:00

Some weeks ago, Roy Hodgson went public critisizing Joe Cole, and claiming that in fact it was Christian Purslow who signed Joe Cole, and that he (RH) probably wouldent have signed Joe Cole, if it was down to him.

Today, Joe Cole is claiming that the players are behind Roy Hodgson. Seems to me, that Joe Cole in his 6 months at Liverpool have learned the Liverpool way, while Roy Hodgson hasent.

Joe Cole maintains that the dressing room is united in the support of Hodgson and that the solidarity will help Liverpool to prosper in 2011.

“We are all in this together,” said the England international. “We are all responsible – win, lose or draw. So it’s on all of us and we are all there fighting for this club, for the manager, the owners, the fans.

It is nice to see Joe Cole stepping up, taking responsibility. It would be nice if Roy Hodgson did the same.

Kenny Dalglish is ready to take over

2011-01-02T02:42:00.000-08:00

Kenny Dalglish called for unity before the Bolton game. But he also called fore a discussion concerning Roy Hodgson´s future in Liverpool.

It is believed that Kenny Dalglish has once again offered to take the position as caretaker manager at Anfield, in talks with the owners after the Bolton game. The idea is that Kenny Dalglish will bring back the unity and support to a struggeling Liverpool team. This will ease the pressure for action from the Liverpool owners, and give the owners time to find the right manager, because despite rumours of the opposite, the owners have no new manager up their sleeves.

Despite Saturday’s last-gasp win against Bolton, Hodgson’s persistent failure to elicit consistent results and performances from his team, as well as the breakdown of his relationship with the club’s fans, has convinced Fenway Sports Group to bring forward their initial plan to review his position in the summer.

Liverpool FC: Kenny Dalglish admits, Roy is wrong for Liverpool,...

2011-01-01T03:56:00.000-08:00

Liverpool FC: Kenny Dalglish admits, Roy is wrong for Liverpool,...: "Kenny Dalglish urges everyone to stand togehter today, in order to get the 3 point against Bolton. Kenny Dalglish argues that: 'Let's just..."

Kenny Dalglish admits, Roy is wrong for Liverpool, but.

2011-01-01T03:55:00.000-08:00

Kenny Dalglish urges everyone to stand togehter today, in order to get the 3 point against Bolton.

Kenny Dalglish argues that:

"Let's just press the pause button and throw all our efforts and energies into one basket," Dalglish told the Liverpool Echo.

"Everyone – whether players, supporters, staff or whatever – has to throw everything towards the one aim and that is to get us three badly needed points from the game against Bolton today.

"Because if everyone sticks together we'll have a better chance of getting those three points.

"Then if we want to have a discussion after that, we can."

The last line tells the whole story. Kenny Dalglish admits that it is´ ent working but want to make sure that Liverpool gets the tree point. It is not a test for Roy Hodgson. If Liverpool wins he stays, if they loose he goes. Roy Hodgson must leaves regardless of the the result. But Kenny also argues, in the true Liverpool spirit, that no man is above the club. So focus is not on one person, but on getting the result today.

Roy Hodgson is sacked within 48 hours

2010-12-30T07:59:00.000-08:00

It is probely a headline that most Liverpool fans is happy with.

RH has critizised overone else than himself, but after critisizing the fans last night, Roy is on his way out of Anfield.

After losing to Wolves, who hasent won at Anfield sice 1984, RH critizised the fans for not backing up the players, and actually blamed the fans for making the players insecure.

The fans have every right to critizise the team, in a season were Liverpool have lost all tree games the promoted team. (2 at home). Against Wolves there was 90 minutes without a shot on goal, no pressure, and no excitement for the fans. That is primarely down to RH and the players.

There is no doubt, even if RH denies it, that he has last the dressing room. Torres is but a shadow, Johnson and Cole has been publicly critizised, RH has left doubt about Agger and the players seems confused. Al teams have bad days, but every top team has a plan B, meaning if everything else goes bad, this is the gameplay.

Let be honest, if it wasent for the Gillet and Hicks and the turmoil Liverpool was in, Roy Hodgson was never going to be a contender for the position.

Liverpool FC: Why Roy Hodgson wont be buying players in january

2010-12-29T05:52:00.000-08:00

Liverpool FC: Why Roy Hodgson wont be buying players in january: "There have been a lot of rumours linking players to Liverpool. Just today I read in the daily mail, that Damien Commoli had instructed Roy H..."

Liverpool is closing in on Gervinho

2010-12-28T07:27:00.000-08:00

In a deal around 11 million £, Liverppol is trying to bolster their attack with Ivory Coast forward Gervinho. Gervinho joined Lille in the season 2009/10 and has been outstanding this season scoring 7 goals so far this season.

Gervinho can also play on the right flank giving Roy Hodgson the option of playing both 4-4-2 or 4-3-3,

There is no doubt that Gervinho is a exciting player, but he is by no means the finished product. But with a strong technical skills, upper strengt body and high speed, he has what it takes to make it in the premiership.

Learn more about Gervinho here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txFP1Siow94&feature=related

And now that we are spending time at Lille, why not buy Eden Hazard. There is no doubt that this player is going to be massive in a couple of seasons. Hazard has been regonised as the next Zidane. I dont agree, because they are very different in their style of plays. Zinane was a Playmaker, while Hazard is more of a winger. But the technical level possesed by Hazard is very similar to Zidane. Hazard is much faster and i would say he is the next Ronaldo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSjQgWDrbEo&feature=related

Why Roy Hodgson wont be buying players in january

2010-12-28T06:54:00.000-08:00

There have been a lot of rumours linking players to Liverpool. Just today I read in the daily mail, that Damien Commoli had instructed Roy Hodgson the buy the stars of tommorow, and recommended Manchester City´s ´Michael Johnson.

Let me explain which role Damien Commoli has at Liverpool. He is deirector of football strategy. The idea is, that managers comes and goes, and a director of football strategy will makes sure, that the club stays on the right path.

So let me strees, Roy Hodgson will not be buying players, that is the job of Damien Commoli. Steven Gerrard wont be buying player, neither does Maxi, so no, Cisse and Aguero wont be joining Liverpool.

Liverpool can still qualify for champions league

2010-12-27T04:51:00.000-08:00

“We are in a position to strike for the top four but we are a good few points off,” says Hodgson.

Yes Liverpool are 9 points off top 4, and only 6 teams are in front of Liverpool, regarding finishing as number 4. But where does Roy Hodgson get his optimism from?

“I have seen so many times in the past teams who have been doomed to relegation not get relegated and teams like Leeds United many years ago who were so obviously going to win the first division and didn’t do so".

It is nice to see that Roy Haodgson have a masterplan for making the effort of finishing in the top 4!

Well I have also been looking thrue the storybooks, and I must sadly admit, that i have never happend, that a team place at nr 10 at christmas have finished in the top 4. Maybe it has something to do with the fact, that top 4 teams, really dont lose that many games, are at least decent away and have a masterplan of the style of play and tactics they use.

i am not surprised that team battling against relegation sometimes arent relegated. It is because taht the other teams around them, tend to loose as many matches as themselves. You might remember this from last season, or even this season.

But of course Roy Hodgson also wants to stregthen the Liverpool squad,

"We must stregthen our squad. One of the things we have realised since coming here is, that the squad is not as strong as believed, and not a top 4 squad. We have good players here, but it is going to be hard work. "

I agree, it is not a top 4 squad, but it is surdenly a top 6 squad. It is basicly the same players, who were number 1 same time two seasons ago, and ended up as an overall number 2. Since then Liverpool have only lost two players who were considered to be in the starting 11, Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascerano.

It saddens me to hear a liverpool FC manager, spending so much time asking for more time, blaming everone else, critisizing players in public, and claiming that no one could do the job better than him.

I would ask Roy Hodgson to do want he tells his players to do, and lead by example. Shut up, and let the results do the talking.

Finally - Liverpool linked with top player

2010-12-26T11:59:00.000-08:00

In the recent month Liverpool have been linked with a host of players. Sadly most of them, arent really what the Liverpool fans could expect,

In recent day Edin Dzeko has been linked with Liverpool.

Some might say that it is an unrealistic rumour, but the fact is, that there is some truth in the rumour. Liverpool are going to offer cash and Daniel Agger and Ryan Babel. Wolfsburg manager Mclaren is a long time admirer of both players, and he needs to stregthen his defence.

Edin Dzeko is keen to leave Wolfsburg, and Liverpool could be interesting. From the players point of view, the only but is, that he wishes to play for a team that plays champions league every year, and are contenders for the national title, and lets be honest, Liverpool are miles away right now.

But what is also important is, that Liverpool goes for the big names, show the fans and surroundings that Liverpool means business.

The main rival for Edin Dzeko´s signature is Manchester City, while italian juventus ís considered outsiders.

We will beat Liverpool

2010-12-25T03:19:00.000-08:00

Blackpool manager insist that Blackpool can once again beat Liverpool.

We can beat Liverpool

Statements likes these, from a newly promoted team, with a very small budget, and a squad, were no one can claim a place in the Liverpool squad, was never heard of just last season.

As I wrote just the other day, Roy Hodgson, who openly critizise his players, claiming that it is not his team, and denies taking responsibility, is deirectly resonsible for the believe at the other teams, that they can beat Liverpool.

Slamming Joe Cole is fuel for the other teams

In the case of Fernando Torres, it is a another matter. Sadly Torres have had a poor season so far. Justrecently he could have changed the outcome of the games at Tottenham and even Newcastle, if he had put away thoose great chances he got.

The funny thing about Torres is, that while RH has no issues with slamming Joe Cole and Glen Johnson in public, he has stood by Torres all season. I am not one to critisize RH for that. I just have a hard time understanding his methods.

Speaking ahead of Liverpool's trip to Blackpool on Sunday, Hodgson insists Torres is not struggling.

The important thing is your players keep getting in the right positions and if we can keep getting Fernando into areas where he can score goals he will score goals.

Roy Hodgson, Liverpool manager

I am sorry, but Torres have just scored 5 goals this season, and he is not getting in to the right positions enough. Torres is struggeling. I dont think that he is unhappy in Liverpool, I just think that his is disappointed, and not really fit, because he havent had the time to probely build up his fitness.

Roy Hodgson slams Joe Cole

2010-12-23T02:38:00.000-08:00

Roy Hodgson has again opted to openly critizise one of his players in the press.

Glen Johnson was critizised a month ago, leaving a tence relationsship between the manager and the player. (the rumour is, taht Glen Johnson will leave Liverpool in january). And this time it is Joe Cole.

Roy hodgson has openly told Joe Cole, that he should stop complaining about not playing central, and prove a point with his feet.

But RH does not stop there. Now he also claims that Joe Cole is not his signing (a bit strange cause he did take the credit for it when he started Liverpool FC), and that he might not have signed Joe Cole if he was more settled in the club.

First of all. this is again typically RH, not to take responsibility. Everytime something goes wrong, it´s not his fault.

Second of all. I think that everybody would agree that Joe Cole have not had the best of starts in Liverpool. I, for one, expected him to be much more a key player than he is.

But, when a player is no doing well, and his selfconfidence is a little shattered, it doesent help to openly critizise him like that. If I was Joe Cole, I would think that the manager doesent really want me here.

What is going thrue RH´s mind, when he makes statements like that? What is he trying to achieve?

Instead of openly critizising Joe, he should have keept it indoors. Al he is doing now, is demotivating one of his players, making the rest of the squad uncertain, and send the signal to the other teams in the premiership, that there is still big problems in Liverpool, making teams like Blackpool, Newcastle and other teams think, that they can beat Liverpool, and ecspecially at home, to give their own supporter a entertaining night.

Roy Hodgson, you ask Joe Cole to stop complaining, maybe it is time for you to take our own medicin.

Roy Hodgson Still claiming that it is not his team

2010-12-21T05:38:00.000-08:00

When a new manager takes over a team, it has almost become a classic, that the manager claims that the team is not fit, that the quality of the players are bad and that the team arent the managers yet.

RH now claim, that he has only brought 4 players with him, mentioning Joe Cole, Raul Meirelles, Christian Poulsen and Poul Konchesky. I think I will raise a flag here, only 4??

What about Brad Jones, Fabio Aurelio, and you could also have vetoed Milan Jovanović, Danny Wilson and Jonjo Shelvey.

When Roy Hodgson claims that this Liverpool team is not his, but in fact Rafa Benitez, he only has one agenda. He knows that the pressure is on, he knows he hasént perfomed, and his is only trying to buy time.

That facht is, that RH havent got a clue of what to do. Almost half a season is gone, and he still havent presented a project, he still havent formulated what his ideas are, and have he will improve Liverpool.

RH only talks in headlines, like: "Give me time, and I will make Liverpool great again". Well ok, but how?

By playing long balls from the back four directly to the strikers? By not being able get Torres to play well? by constantly underachiving and blame everybody else?

This is your team, theese are your players, take responsibility, dont use the press to critisize your own players, and get in front of the team and formulate the strategy, that you want your players to play by.

Maybe I should ask Jose Mourinho if his thinks the Real Madrid side in fact is Manuel Pellegrini´s?

Response to three candidates to replace Roy Hodgson

2010-12-21T05:08:00.000-08:00

When reading your headline, I was interested in reading which persons that you would put in charge of Liverpool FC.

In my mind, a Liverpool manager is not only a talented trainer, he also have to be talented regarding the press and the politics, that will always be in a major club like Liverpool.

It seems that we are in agreement that Roy Hodgson in not the right manager, but the fact that you are ready to trow away the whole season in order to start fresh from the next, that idea I do not share. The problem is, that if we do not a least qualify for europe, show progress and in the transfer window show that we mean business, our current quality players would most likely leave. Its hard enough to find a new Torres and Reina, and if the big stars are leaving, it would be even harder to get new quality players to the club.

That why Liverpool needs to act now, and replace Hodgson. Insert Kenny Dalglish as a caretaker manager. This will signal to the world that the club is working actively to get back to the top. The players will know, that we are moving the right direction, and the owners are willing to take action to get us there. If KD doesent deliver, it wouldent be to bad, cause he is only the caretaking manager, while we wait for the right choice. But everyone can be surden, that every Liverpool fan would support him.

In regard of the tree managers you mentioned in your article:

Owen Coyle, first of all, I am impressed by what he have achived in the last couple of seasons, Promoted Burnley and left them in the middle of the premiership, saved Bolton from relegation, and now in top 10. It seams like he is a good motivater, and understands his players. But it is a huge step from being with these small clubs, where he makes most of the decisions, no real press covering the club, on not to much pressure, to managing Liverpool. sam Allerdyce was also very good at Bolton, but in charge of a bigger club (Newcastle) he failed.

Quique Sanches Flores manages a top team in Spain, Atletico Madrid, so he understands the pressure, and also handles big players. I will not criticize him for not having won the championship, but with the players available to him, I amnot impressed by his results. Last season he only managed to get the club away from the bottom in the last games, and ok he won the euro league, but the only big team they meet on the way to the finale was Liverpool. This season, they have allready lost 6 in 16 games, so I do not think he is the right person either.

In regards to Dechamps, he his made some impressive results, champions last season, (even though Lyon was allready knocked of the top by Bordeaux) qulified Monaco to the Champions league final, and having been manager in Juventus, he understands the big players mentality, and the big clubs. So yes, he would also be a contender in my mind.

But to be honest, if I could choose, it would be Manuel Pellegrini. Very impressive result with Villareal, earned him the job at Real Madrid, were he, under much pressure, transformed Real into a team who looked as being able to knock of Barca. He never complained in public, the lack of support from the officials in the club, Real Madrid played very attractive football, and he managed to keep all the big stars fairly happy.

Are they future Liverpool players?

2010-12-18T10:23:00.000-08:00

Many players are linked with liverpool these days. Some of them have interesting names, and others you have so research, in order to know what they are about.

But I am a little bit concerned these days, due to some of the players that keeps appearing.

Roy Hodgson wants to ad creativity to the squad in form of a winger.

Ashley Young was linked with Liverpool but it seems that a pricetag of 20 million is putting him out of Liverpools reach. Instead it seems like that Manchester United and Spurs are favourites to sign Young.

Instead liverpool is now looking at 9 mio. rated Charles N´Zogbia! I think that N´Zogbia has potential, but he is no Ashley Young.

Also they are linked with Spurs mitsfit David Bentley and Villereals Santi Cazorla.

What I think is most interesting is, taht these 3 players are all right sided wingers. I believe that we need a left winger, and being linked with right wingers, could only mean that Kuyt could be leaving.

Liverpool is also linked with Ryad Boudebouz. He is a 20 year old attacking midfielder, he has flair and can pass the ball well, btu he is by no means ready to command a place in the strongest first 11 in the current squad. valued at 4 mio pounds, he is not to exspensive. He could be an interesting player for the future.

I would rather that we bought one player (Ashley Young, Eden Hazzard, Edin Dzeko) in stead of buying 3 or 4 medium players.

What we need now is top players, and if Spurs can afford them, (first season in Champions league, and a smaller club than Liverpool) so can we.

Liverpool owners have no faith in Roy Hodgson

2010-12-17T13:40:00.000-08:00

Everyone awaits a possible exciting january transfer window. Roy Hodgson awaits the chance to bring fresh faces to Anfield, to streghten the team.

Only problem is, that Roy Hodgson still does not know what amount of money he would be allowed to spend.

Now, if the owners had faith in RH, they would already know now excactly which players they would want to target, and which players they would wanr to leave. The fact that RH is using the press to comunicate just goes to show, that he has no influence on which players that could be arriving.

RH has been with the club for 5 months, and by now he should know which areas of the team that needs improvement. Then again, it must be hard given that he doesent really know how he wants to play. In fact, I am more axcited right now, about which formation he will play once Steven Gerrard is back. Raul Meirelles have been really good the last month (while Gerrad has been out injured) Now, if RH keeps the 4-4-2 formation, Gerrard will be one of the central midfielders, but who will be the other?

One might say Raul off course, but what will that do to the balance of the team. But thats a whole other discussion, and we might just see a possible answer this saturday.

But as I was saying, there should be no doubt, in either DC og RH mind of which type of players Liverpool need, but sadly many of the rumours concerning Liverpool arent really players that would strengthen Liverpool. The only really exciting player that is linked with Liverpool right now, is belgian sensation Eden Hazard.

At this point in time, I would like to help RH. Liverpool needs 3 players. A left back, a left midfielder, and a striker.

The left back could be Taye Taiwo, the nigerian international has proven that he has what it takes to be a formidable left back in England, high speed and strong upper body strength. Killer deliveries with his left foot, and not afraid of getting foreward, while still being mindfuld of his defensive

Left midfielder, Eden Hazard, he is only 19 in would proberly have to get used to the pace of the premiership. But his is very talented, and given time, he would be a real gem for us.

Striker, as strikers go, there are 3 possibilities. Edin Dzeko, have proven his class in the Bundesliga, but would proberly be to exspansive. Another could be Luis Suarez, the frontman from Ajax is ready for the next step, and Ajax would definately be in need of the money. The striker, is fast and strong, and is a clinical finisher in front of the goal. The last player i would mention is Belgian sensation Romelu Lukaku, only 17 years old, already free scoring for Anderlect, and dubbed the new Drogba. Is he ready for the Premiership only time will tell, but he is surely build like a footballer, that can make it in the premiership.

But what I actually think is most important is, to get the team to live up to its potentiel. The team is not strong enough to be competing for the title, but surely it is strong enough to compete for a champions leauge place, and not be surrounded by the likes og WBA, Newcastle, Sunderland and Bolton.

Roy Hodgson has no fears for his job, but shouldent he?

2010-12-15T01:00:00.000-08:00

Roy Hodgson has been out stressing, that he has no fears over losing his job. He even believes that no one could do his job better than him stating:

“Because basically speaking unless there is a major inflow of cash into the club and the team is going to be changed from one moment to the next then whoever takes my place will be doing a similar job with similar players"

Basicly what Roy Hodgson is stating is, that the team is not good enough. Beeing in at number 9 in the premiership, one could argue that he is right. But in that sense, on could also arhue that the like of Sunderland, Bolton and Newcastle are better teams than Liverpool and even West Bromwich (22 points but game in hand).

That is just rubish. I dont se many players from the above mentioned clubs, who can step straight in the the Liverpool team.

Another point Roy Hodgson tries to use as an excuse is, They being the owners:

“They realise we can’t turn things around overnight and they also realise that the team I am working with is not the team I put together. You don’t turn things around overnight and they are aware of the magnitude of the task.”

Let me see, new players in this season: Brad Jones, Poul Konchesky, Raul Meireles, Joe Cole, Milan Jovanović, Danny Wilson, Christian Poulsen, jonjo Shelvey and he brought back Fabio Aurelio

That 8 new players ( 9 with Fabio Aurelio) out of a squad of 27 players. That means that 1/3 of the team is Roy Hodgson. And i dont think that RH i to bothered about having the likes of Reina, Carragher, Gerrard, Kyut and Torres in the squad.

I gues that what I am trying to say is, that I am tired of listening to bad excuses, and instead admit:

Yes you are affraid of losing your job, because the results nor the style of play have been good enough, considering the material available to you.