Judge me after 10 games

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By Jamie Scott
“Judge me after 10 games” Roy Hodgson September 2010. 7 games into the league season and we find ourselves 3rd from bottom and after the events of Blackpool ,with fans calling for “Dalglish, Dalglish” im left judging him now and wondering where it is all going wrong for Roy in the league.

On July 1st 2010 Liverpool football club appointed Rafael Benitez’s successor Roy Hodgson. The 62-year-old former Fulham, Inter Milan and Switzerland manager had agreed terms with the club on a three-year contract and became the 18th manager in Liverpoo’ls history. Hodgson had been appointed ahead of Fan favourite Kenny Dalglish to take over at the helm and his appointment was greeted with optimism and a belief that he may be able to re build, what was believed to be a stale and frustrated squad. “In Roy we trust” fans openly stated, although many had reservations about a man who, at the age of 62 and with over 30 years managerial experience had never been manager of a top premier league club, this is the question that left us all wondering why he had been appointed. Players and pundits praised his appointment as promising but some of us still had reservations that we probably kept to ourselves, however in true Liverpool style fans got behind the man and gave him the support he would need.

Pre Season for the new gaffer proved to be a frustrating one on the pitch, with players futures in doubt, a friendly called off in July for a waterlogged pitch, players arriving a different times due to the world cup and of course the ongoing saga of running the club. Off the pitch I think Roy proved his worth at the time. He was able to secure the signing of Joe Cole, which was regarded as the coup of the summer, he managed to secure the commitment of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres. However a certain Javier Mascherano delivered the first chink in Roys armour when he refused to return his calls, which Roy openly admitted, and subsequently handed in his transfer request. The fact that a senior player would not talk to a new manager and the desperation in Roy’s voice when he explained he had tried to contact one of our best players and he was not interested showed that perhaps Roy may have been perceived as a push over by some and did not demand the respect as a manager should.On the pitch pre-season was dull and frustrating as we failed to score a single goal in any friendly matches, although we advanced in Europe I began to wonder if this was a manager simply adapting to life at a new club and the players adapting to his style or was he already out of his depth?

Once our opening game came around our performance against Arsenal was OK it was nothing special though, although the players appetite seemed to have returned and the commitment was 100% especially when we were down to 10 men we seemed to lack a killer instinct and were too negative at times. Perhaps that was due to having 10 men. We were unfortunate to only get a draw and despite the fact our performance was not dazzling we were given reason to believe in Roy.

The week leading up to the Manchester City game we were hit with the headlines that Masch had refused to play for us again. This was the 2nd big chink in Roys armour. If the rumours are correct and I suggest they are judging by other players comments, Roy showed that he could be pushed around. He simply could have let him rot in the reserves and sent a clear message to the other players. Instead he left him out of the city game and allowed him to leave on the cheap. A player who a season ago had been the subject of a 30 million plus offer from Barcelona. Poor business. By allowing this to go on Roy sent a message to the players that they could basically do what they wanted and they would go unpunished, some much for contracts. Against City we simply did not turn up whether this was to do with the Masch situation is open to debate, I believe that tactically we were devoid of ideas and had no desire to perform. In short Roy had gone for a bore draw and it had backfired.

We then laboured to a victory over West Brom, where we looked nothing like the home team. We were sloppy and fortunate, Martin Skrtel was lucky not to conceded 2 penalties. However a win is a win and again we looked on with renewed optimism. That optimism was then turned into frustration again when we went to Birmingham and scraped a draw, for Roy to say we played well. Actually Roy Pepe played well and got us that point. If that was playing well I would hate to see what playing badly was. Roy was quickly and easily looking more out of his depth, tactically again we were devoid of ideas and were only looking for a draw. The trip to Old Trafford was up next, a game that should have had everyone up for it. Again we looked devoid of attacking ideas and despite getting back into the game, only Gerrard should take the plaudits for this, we looked happy to take the point and sit back only for united to take full advantage. In truth we sat back at 2-2 and Roy again would have settled for a draw. 7 days later and at home we were fortunate again to come away with a point. Away we looked worse than we have ever done and at home we had lost the invincibility we had created and this was echoed in the subdued atmospheres at Anfield on match days.

In between these games Roy has had time to bring in his own players. Paul Konchesky and Christian Poulsen have arrived and have shown nothing to prove that they will ever deliver for this team, Lucas Leiva has been bombed to the bench  and could do a better job than Poulsen. Martin Kelly would be a better fit at left back. Roy could have saved some money on players that I doubt would be wanted anywhere else.  Brad Jones has been brought in and the question to that is why?? Raul Meireless looks like he will be a player but needs to play in the centre, but Roy wants to play him out wide. Danny Wilson has been brought in but his chances have been limited to one league cup appearance at left back, he is a centre back Roy. What about a striker Roy. We were clambering around on transfer deadline day to buy a striker. Instead of wasting efforts on Konchesky, Jones and Poulsen, another striker should have been a priority. Hodgson had 3 months to bring in a striker, the money was clearly there we just wasted it on players that were not needed and good enough. Carlton Cole is not the answer in January either, we need quality and I do not think Roy will deliver. Roy’s blunders in the market have not ended with the incomings, Alberto Aquilani has been allowed to leave reducing our midfield options and you have to feel sorry for him he was never given a chance, Albert Riera, whatever you may think of him, was a wide left player had ability and could do a job, Emiliano Insua has gone too, id rather see him play instead of Konchesky, and a host of promising youngsters have gone too. Roy also said everyone would get a chance, we have had perfect opportunities to play the likes of Pacheco, Wilson, Babel even Jack Robinson but haven’t. Roy doesn’t seem to have faith in them but has faith in Poulsen etc.

That brings us to the debacle that was yesterday. You have to give credit to Blackpool and wish them well, they were very efficient as we were inefficient. We did not deserve to win, first half again we had no attacking idea, and were made to pay. To use losing Torres to injury is a disgrace on Roy’s part for even suggesting it had an impact. We simply were not good enough and tactically we were a shambles and the manager should take full responsibility for this. If only Roy and some of the team displayed the passion and heart as Soto did yesterday we may not be in this mess. Soto doesn’t have the ability as most but makes up for it with his heart and commitment. Roy should learn from this and drum this into the likes of Poulsen who already look like passengers in the team.

No longer can we use the club ownership as an excuse for our problems on the pitch. Although I like everyone else wants rid of the cowboys. We are devoid of initiative, tactics, motivation and belief. All of that is down to the manager. He and the players have called for patience but that is something we cannot have. We have had patience and now find ourselves in a relegation dog fight, with only 7 games gone and our next 4 games are not easy. Maybe im jumping the gun but we have to be realistic. Our league form is imperative modern day football dictates we need champions league football to compete, but first we need to get their with our league form. If I’m being honest Roy Hodgson is not up to the job of managing this great club, he does not seem to have the tactical ability, inspiration, transfer market knowledge and more importantly I don’t believe the players believe in him. Last time we were at the bottom of the league a certain Bill Shankly was in charge, sadly Roy is not Shanks. At Liverpool we say You’ll Never Walk Alone, I think Roy should do the honourable thing and walk away and admit hes not up to the job. If he doesn’t I fear like Greame Souness he will leave the club walking alone leaving the next manager to pick up the pieces.

20 Comments

  1. i’m a critic of roy’s efforts up to now and yes he did say judge me after ten games but we must give him the chance to turn it around – or do we like hypocrites let him walk alone ?

  2. Excellent article, some supporters of other teams are saying to me don’t panic but this is Liverpool FC we’re talking about. It’s the manager who picks the team and decides the tactics and it simply has not been good enough. The sceptics have attempted to give him the benefit of the doubt even though results or style of play haven’t exactly been stunning but Blackpool is simply not acceptable on any level.

    If he has any dignity, any class then he will hold his hand up say the job is too big for him and let us appoint someone who can fashion 11 internationals into a team before it’s too late.

  3. Hard to disagree with this. I agree with just about everything and the worst thing is his mates in the edia are defending him and Jan Molby’s comments that Rafa was to blame sums up both the media infactuation with this guy (who’s won little) and why Big Fat Jan failed as a manager. You can’t blame Rafa for Konchesky or Poulsen, it’s time to assess where we are and if God forbid the takeover isn’t evident in the next few weeks then it’s time for Kenny to take over for a short time until ew owners arrive. Let’s face it he’d get respect from the team and fans which Roy doesn’t seem to have.

  4. I’ve been a supporter for 45 years. Sunday’s first half was the worst I have ever witnessd from a Liverpool team. How Hodgson can use excuse after excuse is beyond me. The team reflects the manager. This colection of players does not go from underachieveing to absolute garbage for a reason. Hodgson and his attrocious management is the reason.

  5. Many good points raised there.
    Like others I ask myself if Im judging too early however
    Roy is not doing anything to install confidence.

    1.No striker purchased in the transfer window was a shocker ( Im not sure who is responsible but Roy has to shoulder some of that )
    2. Letting a natural wide player leave, riera was not great but he was a functional squad player that gave the team balance.Much needed when the right side of play had no natural wide player, such as Kuyt.

    3. Substitutions have been strange and have never made sense to me. I struggle to recall them all but the Man City game was one that raised my concern.
    Agger had spent most part of the game struggling against Johnson with no real productive support from Jovanovic.
    It needed to be addressed but Roys first substitution was at 78 minutes Babel for Torres.
    The score at that point was 3-0. Too late.
    In that game we went there 4-4-2 against an alomst 4-6 because YaYa Toure and Tevez were operating deep too. ( as you would expect )
    We never had the ball and so couldnt do anything with it.
    Infact City hardly had a shot either but tactically it was poor.

    The blackpool game substitution although not obvious and could be subjective was not needed.
    After a shocker of a first half we began to build some momentum so why make a substitution? Taking Poulson off for
    Jovanoic may seem more attacking minded but I think it ruined our over all balance, built cohesion and command of the game.
    It meant Gerrard had to play deeper.
    Having said that it was the only time Ive ever missed Poulson who I still dont understand as a player.

    He is not an Alonso ball playing tempo maker or a opposition play destroyer/race back and retriever like masch or a box to box dyanamo so what his is purpose?
    He looks average to the point where Ive thought that Lucas would be better served.
    Highlights a reduction in standards!

  6. You lot are pathetic!

    In case you hadnt noticed…this is probably the darkest days for LFC since Shankly took over (and I include the Souness era)…

    The manager asked us to be patient…give him 10 games grace…what do you do?

    judge him…I would love it if we win the next 3 games…absolutely love it!

  7. two thumbs up..totally agree with this article..just spot on..just like what im thinking on..can add no-more..

  8. I would never bet against the Reds, but having seen the way we have been playing recently I very nearly popped in to Ladbrokes to put some money on Blackpool.

    I don’t get to Anfield much these days – kids, money and I now live 200 miles away – but against Sunderland I sat high up in the main stand. I was able to watch the play and see what you don’t see on the TV – the way we are set up – the defensive line – the positioning of the players. It was a disgrace.

    We are defending 10-20 yards further back. This means that the defence is sitting too far from the midfield and for the first time i can remember, teams (even Northampton & Blackpool) are able to play football against us getting men in between the midfield and defence.

    The midfield is all over the place. With no natural width the wide players are cutting into the centre and when we have posession there is nowhere to go with the ball – movement is shocking from the players and we haven’t stretched the play once this season. It seems as though we are playing with 10 men all the time.

    We look vulnerable at set pieces. The move away from the zonal marking system has not worked – although i appreciate it can take time to adapt.

    Torres looks lacklustre. We are creating no chances and he is playing with his back to goal – not on the shoulder of the last defender looking for his trademark runs.

    Poulsen is too old – too slow and not fit to lace Mascherano’s boots. The way we are set up with the gap between midfield and defence means he is too exposed. He is ineffective and the worst foreign player i’ve seen at Anfield since Istvan Kozma (give me Bruno Cheyrou any day of the week). By the way, given that he only lasted 60 mins against Sunderland and Blackpool – Hodgson can see this – if he plays him in the Derby then this will mean that Hodgson really does not know what he is doing.

    The point of all this rambling is this. It is Hodgson’s fault. He picks the team. He bought Poulsen. He sets them up and tells them how to play. He has told the back 4 to sit deeper and it is not working. What bothers me most is the lack of passion, desire and fight shown by our players. Again i see this as a result of Hodgson’s ‘disciplined’ approach which is stifling the players. We have created less chances so far this season than i can ever remember – even in the dark Souness days. It is not good enough and we are playing poor football for the first time i can remember in 30 years of going to Anfield.

    Hodgson was only moderately successful at Fulham. They finished 12th last year and won once away from home. Well i can see us finishing 12th this year and it is simply not good enough. Another manager could get more out of this team and that is why i want him to go and go quickly. The rot has got to stop.

    Kenny would get another 20% out of this team and set them up to play football. He might not be able to turn water into wine or turn Babel into Barnes – but he will get them playing football the right way and scoring goals. I would rather we struggled playing the right way, creating chances, than the Hodgson way.

    I don’t buy the argument that the ownership situation is affecting the team. A good manager would sit down with the players and explain the situation to them. It could even act as a galvanising affect – creating more harmony and a feeling that the players are in this together. In short it is poor management.

    I have never been more disillusioned with Liverpool and it isn’t going to get better quickly. I’ve never called for a managers head before but he should go now. It is embarassing and he will go down in history as our worst manager ever. Do it now before we really do get ourselves in to a relegation fight.

    Shanklyman – YNWA

  9. this squad seems to be promising on the pre-season,as we through to europa league and get a draw against arsenal.but as it goes everthing just went wrong,i don’t know what really happens but i think roy just not good enougha.the defeat from blackpool is really embarassing,and i think roy just can’t motivate our player to done better.and what bothers me is that he’s not good enough on the transfer window,purchasing players that i believe doesn’t good enough (except meireles).let’s be honest,poulsen and konchesky is not a kind of player who can raise the game.they are not kind of players who other big club manager would look up to.and i believe roy made mistake by keep playing them

  10. Hiya, Not my place here to have a pop at you lot so I will resist the temptation (only ‘cos we are crap as well at the minute). It’s not clever to kick a man when he is down but I have to say that as I look across the park and I am staggered by the magnitude of your fall from grace, and even though I obviously hope it continues into the Goodison Derby I don’t really want to see another Leeds with you lot because half of my family are retarded and support the RS …so just for them I hope you only get relegated for 1 season and then come back so we can beat you twice a year in the derbies…(Sorry can’t resist having just a little pop at you).
    Seriously though you are too close to the situation…you need to stand back a little to see that relegation isn’t a realistic factor. Chill out and accept that this is a turgid start in what is looking like a crap season. Woy the boy will not be the answer for you …even he must secretly admit that. But what manager can succeed if most of the team are under-performing or not performing at all? …there is your problem. You have good players who just aren’t doing their jobs at the minute. Bet you lot stink the place out next week and scrawp a draw against us…. who wants to have a bet?

  11. I think sacking or talking about it so early in season will make us laughing stock of the country and that is one of the reason the London Media now have turned agaisnt Roy. Dont get me wrong i am not a defender of Roy as a matter of fact i think he has made many mistakes but we got to put into consideration that team was not actually flying before he came here and financial situation of the club has made it very difficult for any manager to do well in this club. Rafa was ans is a world class manager and he did struggle in the end as squad were full of mediocre players.
    I just hope he drops Poulson and puts mierles in middle with Gerrard and also either drop Johnson or put in the right midfield. most of our problems comes from Johnson not being able ot defend and Poulson being so slow in the middle.

  12. Poulsen is a disgrace. Roy plays him as a defensive midfielder to protect the defense, break up opposition attacks and distribute the ball to begin attacks. Instead he gets hopelessly out of position, doesn’t track back during opposition attacks, and loses the ball on more than 50% of his passes.
    Watch Poulsen for BOTH goals yesterday – he casually ambles toward the threat, no commitment, no clue.
    And Roy plays this muppet in CM instead of Meirelles, Gerrard or even Lucas and Agger, both far superioir to Passenger Poulsen.
    Roy’s out of his league. Time for the return of the King.

  13. Agree with you mate. You have hit it on the head. But i still think we need to give Roy a chance to redeem himself. At the start of the season I actually thought that the new manager and the tough round of matches will spur the team on.
    Its hard for me to see that we play with just 2 players. Pepe and Gerra. The rest just make up the numbers with no one being particularly effective inc Torres.

    Coming to his transfer pickings, I remember Roy saying that he wants to give Babel a chance to prove his worth (In defense of not buying a new striker). How will he do that warming the bench? Ngog is getting better but he need more time to be Kwality. No matter what people say I think Lucas is a good player. If allowed to play. What happened to the young boys? Arsenal have used young boys as a defense for not winning the league, but they have constantly finished in the top 4. Give the young Lads a chance. Pacheco has in him to be an other Nando. And yes I would have more Soto’s in the squad who play with heart and passion than a passenger like poulson.

    Get your act together Roy. THIS IS ANFIELD.

  14. We are all Liverpool supporters. Don’t forget that! It’s easy to blame the manager BUT I firmly believe that he should be given more time. We’re not Chelsea, City or Real Madrid. We, the supporters want stability at his position and you can’t judge him YET. We’re different that those clubs for many a reason. Give him until the end of the year and then scream for his head if things haven’t improved. Your analysis on players is shallow and a bit ignorant. I’ve never liked Poulsen as a player, but you can’t judge the new signings yet. Maybe after the end of the season or middle of next one. New club, new atmosphere, new manager, new traditions, new expectations, new tactics, new teammates, new type of game. There are numerous examples of players who were absolute rubbish in their first couple of seasons in PL but went on to become greats.

  15. Kuyt – Winger – Played upfront
    Meireles – Central Midfielder – Played as winger
    Cole – Central Attacking midfielder – Played as winger
    Poulsen – Useless – Played

    We almost stumbled on the right tactics for 20 minutes after half time on Sunday, but Roy soon put that right putting Jokejanovic on.

    A new manager needs time for the team to adjust. But players need to play in their correct roles. The only surprise at the weekend was that Torres didn’t come out with a pair of goalies gloves on and a blue top (that keepers top is far too blue for me – but that’s another rant).

  16. 1.I still fail to understand why a 20 million quality midfield player like Aquilani has to be sent out on loan when we have bloody average players like lucas and poulsen sitting here!!!!The lad showed so much of promise towards the end of last season!!!!
    2.Riera was the only natural winger in the team and he’s also allowed to leave!!!I dont even remember the last time when we scored from a cross from the left wing…infact i cant even remember a decent chance created from the left flank!!!!!
    3.Playing cole/babel on the left or kuyt/maxi on the right is a total waste!!!For god sake they’re not wingers!!!Johnson’s always the one who tries to make up for this on the right side!it’s like here at liverpool,we dont even know about something like wingers!!!!!There’s always so much of pressure on stevie to create something!!!Well it’s not a one man show!!!
    4.Toress’ form- Well again,the lack of chances are to be blamed here!!!he’ll be back!

    I just hope,we get some points from the next few games and break into the top half atleast!!!!Top four seems like a distant dream…YNWA

  17. Roy asked for 10 matches to be judged and that’s what I’m allowing him.

    Our backline was hindered by injuries to Agger and Konchesky (along with a questionable Kelly) and Poulsen has been an unmitigated disaster as a holding midfielder. Johnson doesn’t rate as far as I’m concerned and was directly responsible for both of Blackpool’s goals, but that doesn’t excuse the long play across the center of the pitch that allowed those lapses to be exposed in the first place.

    This is why Roy should be putting more of our Reserves in as starting players. Shelvey is ready. Wilson is ready. Wisdom is close to ready. Amoo is close to ready. Our bench as it stands right now is not that deep, but we are set up beautifully with young talent that, in platooning to fill the gaps in our starting 11 (for me these are Johnson and Poulsen), could provide the solidity we need to pull back to the middle of the table within a couple of matches and perhaps making a run for top five.

    There’s still time if Roy adjusts his insistence on using only “star” players instead of those who truly match a more positive style of play that his tactics are actually supposed to produce. If he continues to beat his head against the wall, we will remain negative, ineffective at finishing plays, open through the middle, and slow at the back. If the world won’t change for you, then you have to change yourself and then the world will change. I’ll give him three more matches in the EPL, but he’s got to demonstrate that he’s prepared to adapt to the reality that we face as a club. There’s a fine line between tenacity and stubbornness that he’s dangerously close to stumbling over.

  18. It’s heartbreaking to watch us play with such little conviction, no shape and low confidence The manager has to shoulder the blame, New signings Poulsen and Konchesky aren’t good enough, still no width and the failure to bring in a striker before the deadline confirmed my worst fears…. The job was just too big for Roy! To say after the Birmingham game that expectations were not high for this one was a disgrace!… We are Liverpool football club Roy!
    Let’s get an attacking manager in now with the winning mentality that the club deserves, the forward passing football that made us what we are!

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