Roy Hodgson – Dead man walking?

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‘If you are first you are first. If you are second you are nothing.’ – Bill Shankly

Truer words have never been spoken. At Liverpool Football Club, there is a steep tradition and history of winning. Add to that a fantastic and warm atmosphere of the Kop and its fans, and nothing ever gets bigger than this.

Fact: We are currently the most successful football club in British history – ever. But truth to be told, that pride is under severe threat.

We have a manager nowhere near the calibre to coach a ‘big-name’ club, let alone the most decorated club in the history of British football. We have a manager who has a measly 8 wins in 56 away games. We have a manager who has only a single away success in his previous 27 attempts.

Step forward Roy Hodgson.

He is the man appointed during the darkest of times in the illustrious history of this association, dating back a 118 years. He cannot be faulted. I praise him for his long and dedicated involvement in the exponential development of football around the globe – but clearly, he is out of his depth as a Liverpool Manager. As long as he stays, his reputation tainted, he represents the icon of Liverpool’s drastic decline to mid-table mediocrity.

We just can’t afford that. Manchester United are on our heels!

When he was appointed as Manager in July 2010, I welcomed him to the Club with cautious optimism and hope for the future. I gave faith to the man, support to the man because he wore the Liverbird upon his chest. He was the figurehead of Liverpool Football Club. I showered him with utmost respect, and treated him on equal terms like how every Liverpool Manager should be treated.

But – weeks and months on, Liverpool turned into a laughing stock among rivals’ fans. After our derby defeat to Everton at Goodison, Hodgson claimed: “In my opinion it’s arguably the best game we’ve played since I’ve become the manager of the club.”

Is it? In that game, Liverpool was dire and insipid. That, for Liverpool, is not good enough, Sir.

And till now, 5 months into his wretched regime, each of his actions look more and more desperate. His quotes in the media makes a mockery out of Liverpool FC, which prides in itself its tradition, history and continued success.

When asked whether Torres was better up front alone or whether he was better off with a strike partner, Hodgson replied with a shocking three words. “I don’t know”, he muttered.

Unacceptable. To not even have a general idea of what’s best for the Club is just demoralising and heart-wrenching.

His outbursts on Glen Johnson, Rafa Benitez, don’t aid to his cause either. Criticising a player’s form in public is a definite no-go. It breaks squad harmony. After 35 years in football, 35 years of experience which stood him in good stead and also Winner of the “LMA Manager of the Year” does he not understand that?

Moreover, to lambast Rafa Benitez, who is held in the highest regard by fans, is just another one of those insults to the fans’ faces.

Liverpool is just not the place to wash your dirty linen in public!

His press conferences make me cringe, and hope for the best he suddenly knows how to act ‘The Liverpool Way’.

Never mind the disastrous performances on the pitch, his conduct off it is wide off the mark. It is no wonder that during Villa’s visit to Anfield, the fans embraced the return of Gerard Houllier by chanting his name, and unfurling a banner. Hodgson has never been afforded that luxury.

We are nowhere near where Liverpool ought to be. As we approach the mid-way mark of the season, 22 points doesn’t breed confidence. A solidarity away win in 9 attempts doesn’t breed confidence.

Today, clearly most Liverpool fans don’t welcome him here. For as long as he stays, I doubt he’s going to bring Liverpool success at the highest level. To put it bluntly – I don’t think he is the right man for Liverpool Football Club.

And to end off with a Hodgson quote showing his defeatist mentality and mid-table mindset, it goes….

“For a team that wants to be in the top half (only?) of the table, our away form is not good enough.”

Mr Hodgson, we are a team that wants to win the title – not just finish in the top half. Fact!

28 Comments

  1. Mr Hodgson…if you have any respect for Liverpool fans, please resign.

    Liverpool arent in the situation we in because the club didnt invest in players…Blackpool and Newcastle both beat us with cheaper squads. You say you need time for your squad to gel…Rafa won the Champs League in his first year.

    Your classic face rub against Newcastle shows that you are clueless on what to do. I havent seen a psyco action on the touchline before…not even from Wenger.

    Please leave

  2. Personally don’t care about United overhauling us. It might even be the kick up the arse the club needs, but of course, you’re right about Hodgson. He was flavour of the month at just the wrong time for Liverpool. Outstanding job at Fulham, not good enough for us.

  3. From what you say a Liverpool manager is not a man who runs a football team but a leader of a club. This includes the supporters, a mentality, the history of the club and representative

  4. You need to improve your spelling (I still enjoyed your comments)……

    aquilani

    skrtel

    Also it’s “and” and not “an”.

  5. got to say if i was under this much pressure at my job would i be able to make a clear decision or answer any questions the way i would want to lets be honest here we havent given roy a chance and i do agree with him about the rafa benitez comments look at the team that was lft to rafa compared to the team left for roy and as regards to his signings joe cole and moreilles were class signings and poulsen will get better just needs to settle and that was with no money at all now you talk of the liverpool way isnt that to get behind the team and manager and support thrm to the hilt not bombard every radio station phone in and internet chat room slating them lets be honest this season was always going to be a struggle we just have to grit our teeth and keep supporting the ream cos we only going to get better

  6. From what you say a Liverpool manager is not a man who runs a football team but a leader of a club. This includes the supporters, a mentality, the history of the club and representative of part of the city. All previous managers understood that Woy does not and can not do this as he has never learnt what a top Flight club works. This could also be the problem for the new owners. We need a leader to fight our cause with those players who represent us. Guardiola at Barca knows this, The Special one understands this, even the rednose Manc knows what it takes. Woy you

  7. From what you say a Liverpool manager is not a man who runs a football team but a leader of a club. This includes the supporters, a mentality, the history of the club and representative of part of the city. All previous managers understood that Woy does not and can not do this as he has never learnt what a top Flight club works. This could also be the problem for the new owners. We need a leader to fight our cause with those players who represent us. Guardiola at Barca knows this, The Special one understands this, even the rednose Manc knows what it takes. Woy you have not learnt this yet after years in the job

  8. I fully agree with you but there’s one man who needs to agree with this and at the moment he will not sack Roy and of course Roy being a class act will not leave with his head held high. so folks we continue to support the team and hope that Roy leaves soon.

  9. There must be another way to get the message across to Roy , as he wouldn’t be reading any web sites at the moment , because he has got his blinkers on and trying to think that he is a top class manager if he ignores all the bad press about him. We need banners at anfield telling him to get out !!! And we need the kop booing him directly ! Other wise he will continue to run us to the ground . I’m sure he is laughing at us behind our backs with his best mate Alex ferguson !

  10. In fact im going to go to the fulham game with ,a banner telling go
    To resign HODGSON OUT !!! if any one else is going to the game then please do the same as this is the only way to get the message across .

  11. Before: “Famous Win”
    Now: “Top Half”
    what’s next?

    I could believe those words come out from Liverpool manager. The top class job that every managers dream of. Now we got one with very poor narrow vision.

    I try to be optimistic but I would say this gonna be the very worst season of the century for us the support, but gonna be a fine season of such manager who enjoy the “Top Half”.

    Will I walk alone?

  12. Blackburn are only a point behind us in the league and they sack Fat Sam.

    I really hope this doesn’t accurately reflect the ambitions of our new owners compared to theirs.

  13. Taking banners to Anfield to ask for the manager to be sacked????? this is hardly the liverpool way.

    Did you all REALLY think we were ever going to challenge for the title this season.

    Usual fickle bunch who expect instant success, get real. Benitez left us in a complete mess, he should shoulder some of the blame for this.

  14. Shaun – ur exactly right! Worth posting twice!

    Andy – Firstly I don’t buy the lack of quality arguement – lack of depth perhaps. But frankly even if he sincerely thought that, saying it to the press is hardly the way to win the fans or the players over.

    Pls hv a read of Shaun’s post. .
    – if he acted like the leader we need I think we would be backing him despite his failings. He has to earn that backing as any manager has to and as any good leader does.

    As far as his talking to the press – I think he’s saying exactly what he wants to be saying (Roy himself pointed out his long experience including top clubs like Inter). He’s trying to come off fair minded and neutral… because he’s playing to the media more than the fans (hence his criticism of the team he inherited)… and then struggles when he finds he has to defend himself.
    That’s not leadership – you can’t advocate on behalf of the club or the fans by being neutral, criticising his players or being defensive.

    When Roy first joined everyone was open minded and had good will for him. But he lost it because he has no feeling for the club or the fans – the way any of our managers since Shankly would talk and feel about the club. He has the mentality of a hired hand who’s thinking about his next job.

    Roy fights for himself and not the club. He has no spirit or sense of duty to the history and dignity of the club and when he’s put on the defensive he turns into a peddler of bombast.

    Hodgson for England!!

  15. @Ian brown, you show me a post on here were someone said we should be winning the league????! And for your information fella we Liverpool fans have been showing banners for the last 30-40 years !!! So what are you talking about by saying to me that it’s not the Liverpool way, what games have you been watching ????  You are Definetley part of the Roy hodgson fickle bunch!!! We are all saying we should be a least in the top 5 by now , and with a manager used to dealing with top stars we would certainly be in the top 5 now . Hodgson out !!! Just like John Henry said tonight the results need to get better !!! Read between the lines here as he won’t come out and say yes Roy is crap and were going to sack him soon!  But if the results don’t get better then he WILL be out of a job !!! If your quick and resign now Roy then you may get the Blackburn job !!!

  16. Michael Roberts, ive been a season ticket holder for twenty six years now, block 106 row 8 seat 64, i know weve been showing banners for 30-40 years but you show me one that has ever asked for the manager to be sacked. Especially after FOUR months in the job.
    You dont have to be a rocket scientist to say what Henry said ie results need to improve but christ the bloke deserves a bit of time.
    maybe you should start pointing the finger at Torres, hes missed THREE giult edged chances now in the past two away games that would have probably given us 6 points instead of 0, then we would be in the top five as you expect.

  17. Ian Brown – I do agree with you that we should not have banners calling for our manager to be sacked – during the games we need to get behind the team.
    To be fair to RH his tactics have changed markedly since he first started. Much more attacking. It’s been a near 180 degree change.
    We all started with a neutral view of RH, willing to give him a chance. But he lost any good will not just because of the results on the pitch but because of his performance off it. He doesn’t demonstrate any fight on behalf of the Liverpool FC. His only concern is defending himself. It’s a job not a career for him.
    To me he doesn’t deserve loyalty from fans as he’s done nothing to deserve it. Loyalty doesn’t just create itself from nothing just because he has the managers job. It’s not like health and dental insurance…comes with the salary package.

    He’s always been a manager that moves from club to club after a short time. He’s not a manager that bonds or identifies with a club.

    We’re nearly half way through the season, but he has some games coming up which should ease the pressure on him.
    But the fact is his career stats show that he’s not up to the job. Our away record this season matches his career away record in percentage terms. So why does anyone expect him to be able to improve it?
    He’s got to do something he’s never done before. If he was a young hungry manager starting out that would be one thing – but he’s not. He shows no hunger. He speaks as if he’s a neutral. Unless he has to defend himself. Then he blames the players. Thats not the way to get the best out of them.

    Any bad run will include the odd chance that got away. That’s no excuse. His tactics away from home are based on creating one of two genuine chances a game and hoping to put one away every so often. No wonder his away record is so poor. It’s exactly as we’re doing now.

    So whilst his tactics have improved, he needs to do a lot more improving. More positive, more control of the game. Stop accepting our position in the league as if there’s nothing we can do about it. Show more relish for the fight. Show some aspiration. Trust his players more. They’re better than he gives them credit for. And even if he doesnt think so (unless they’ve really done something bad) still give them public backing! It’s always been this way – why are the rules suddenly diff for RH?

    He could still win the fans over (it seems the majority don’t like him) But I’m not holding my breath because he’ll have to change not just his tactical style, but his personality!

    But my worst fear with him is that I suspect he only took this job to try and land the England job. The problem with giving him time, is the potential damage he could be doing in terms of player morale and development, and making Liverpool an attractive proposition for potential transfer targets. On the other hand sacking him could be more destabalising. I think the owners are taking a sensible approach… but i don’t see rh as the manager in the long term.

  18. @Ian brown , I have tried to support the bloke. But have given up on him just like we all gave up on souness. You have to admit that hodgson is not the future. I admit we don’t fly banners stating to sack a manager, but I think this should be the exception. Feelings are running very high ATM and I myself know that after 32 years of supporting Liverpool since I was 10 have seen enough to know that he is not the man to take us forward and definitely not the man to stabilise us short term. As for Torres I believe that his body language is down to hodgdons tactics (clueless) .

  19. There were more reasons than just results for the demise of Souness, the main one was doing an exclusive interview with the ‘The Scum’ newspaper on the anniversary of Hillsboro…………and even he got two and a half years in the job.

    Regarding Torres his body language has been like this for twelve months now, well before Hodgson took the reigns. A new manager coming in may well have kept Torres here because i’m pretty sure if Benitez had stayed then Torres would have gone.

  20. Well in fairness when Roy was appointed I thougghgreat a safe pair of hands, and he will get the club playing attackiing football like he did at Fulham.
    fast forward 6 months
    no width
    no attacking when away, see http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=265741.1280 for tactics for Newcastle match
    Roys away record in Egand is shameful http://sixcrazyminutes.com/forums/index.php?topic=42765.0
    and he has the tallent there, ok he inherited a bit of a mess from Rafa, but there is no denying at home we arretaking teamapart, Arsenal, Chelsea, West Ham. then contrast that with our away performances…… I dont loke to see any manager get he sack, but it is clear it isnt working under Roy, and as it stands now next August we will have lost Nando, Maxi, possibly Pepe and Stevie. Yhey willl ant Cl football thats not going to happen at the moment, possibly not even the Europa League,
    In My oppinion we need 3 things
    1) Width Maxi / Jovanovicg / Babel / Dirk need to stay wide and get to the byline, look at the sucsessful clubs Man U took us apart with 2 wingers
    2) We need to go back to the old style of pass and move, its the way we play they are static at the moment and not working for one another.
    3) We need to attack away from home and play like we do at Anfield, ok against the top prem teams we have to be careful, but the likes of Stoke, Wigan etc we should be beating, when we played Wigan they had conceded 10 goals against Chelsea and Arsenal, what did we do!
    Simply not acceptable, Maybe we can give the reserves a go David Amoo is quick and beats people in the reserves and stays wide, maybe he should get a go and show the others up.

    Also Why is Rooy resting Nando, strikers need confidence they get this from goals, play him in europe, egt him scoreing we need the goals in the prem.
    however if Roy does go 1 question who do we get in to replace him, King Kenny has had his time and would be a backward step in my oppinion.
    Martin O’neil, Chris Houghton, any other offers?

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