On Sunday we kick off the 2nd half of the Premier League campaign as we take a trip up the coast and take on EPL new boys Blackpool.
The Seasiders have already beaten us at Anfield this season in what was the last game of the Hicks and Gillett era. We simply cannot afford to drop points this time, as it will make our quest for that elusive fourth place very difficult. Our new owners (John W Henry & Tom Werner) have hinted that they are starting to lose patience with Roy Hodgson. Should we lose this game, they must take action. We are Liverpool; we belong in the Champions League. We belong in the top four, not meandering around in the mid-table.
Ironically Blackburn and Newcastle, both of whom are even with us in points, let their managers go recently, expressing their dissatisfaction with their current performance. Does this mean that Newcastle & Blackburn have higher standards then us? I hope not. Why are 22 points not good enough for Blackburn and Newcastle, yet ok for us? The answer is, it’s not. Something needs to change. Our away form is simply disgraceful to say the least, with our only win in a game that we were lucky not to lose. Enough is enough, this game should be Roy’s last chance. Enough of the negative, boring football. Let us go for the win, please Roy. WE ARE LIVERPOOL F.C. for crying out loud.
There is possibility that the game might be called off should the deep freeze not lift in time, as Blackpool don’t have under-soil heating. If that happens, it could be a blessing in disguise for Roy, who will get to live another day. Regardless, however, if our form does not turn around immediately, starting with this game, Roy must go.
With that sad here is my line up wish, I would like to see Gerrard, Agger & Aurelio start.
My Lineup Wish:
Pepe Reina, Glen Johnson, Daniel Agger, Sotiris Kyrgiakos, Fabio Aurelio, Lucas Leiva, Raul Merieles, Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt, David Ngog, Fernando Torres
Y.N.W.A. & Merry Christmas
-Antoine
On Twitter @empireofthekop
“There is possibility that the game might be called off should the deep freeze not lift in time, as Blackpool don’t have under-soil heating. If that happens, it could be a blessing in disguise for Roy, who will get to live another day”
Sorry mate, your attitude is unfair, and disgraceful…
And These are opinions very very sad.
A bit of fucking positivism any time whould be required.
Sorry, but reading your articles it seems that You’re hoping for a Liverpool’s defeat, in order to voice “bring back Rafa!!” with the volume higher…
If Liverpool win the game, it’s a blessing for Liverpool, not for Roy Hodgson.
I can understand the critics against the Manager, but You are deliberately managing the situation in a personal way..
Unfair…
I can’t fell love for Liverpool Football Club in your articles.
Konchesky will start, guaranteed, no matter how badly he plays. Note that he’s NEVER been criticised by Hodgson.
You can tell WOY to FO for us……he is a CLOWN….enough is enough….Fecking MORON!!!!!!!!!
Rick why is it disgraceful?
Did you see my video talking about why I don’t think Rafa should come back?
I want Liverpool to win, always, I have said this a million times.
I have a feeling something is getting lost in translation.
“in ROY we trust” YNWA (i agree nick)
I wish Roy trusted in us.
Imho, the squad is weak, and the question is personal, not technican.
If the question was technical, although Roy’s errors, everyone whould open the eyes to realise that We need a strong re-build and that Roy should be under scrutiny only at end of the season, because the context in which He took charge, it’s very hard.
But No One want to see the reality and the critics are personal, only because some deluded fans They want desperately seeing Hodgson like an intruder from London, Who represents an obstacle for The General Rafa.
Mate, maybe You can play or joke with your followers, but not with me.
I perfectly know well that 3 pts at Blackpool, 3 pts week in week out and Cl’s spot should be change your attitude for Hodgson? No way: your problem is personal with the Man In Charge.
So I decided that I’m not interested in your views and I can’t read your articles until the end of the season.
I suggest You to realise that your general rafa won’t come back, because No One at Melwood Park want to see his face again.
In The Land of the dreams of some Rafa’s apologists, too blind to see the reality, this weak side, one of the weakest Liverpool’s side in our history, it whould challenge for the title under Rafa.
But oooooooopssss…..it’s the same side which finished to 7th place last season…
But Rafa’s troops They are too blind to see the facts, and the only thing that They want it’s seeing Rafa re-established, and the fucking cockney intruder out.
I’m pro – Liverpool and I see the fact that Rafa can be a general or father in some fans quarters, but He has not the skills to be the father of LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB LIKE BILL SHANKLY DID.
I’m only pro – Liverpool, and I will support Liverpool only for the blessing of Liverpool Football Club, not for blessing of Roy Hodgson.
Too many useless personal agenda here.
Tired.
The ‘poor squad’ excuse is bollocks! Roy said recently that any other manager would not be able to do any better than he has. He is thus implying that Bolton, Sunderland and Newcastle (who are above us on the table) all have better squads than us – that is laughable! Roy is looking for excuses to cover up that he has done poorly – he is well respected (probably because he poses no real threat to anyone) – but he is nothing more than a mid-table manager. Roy should’ve been sacked a long time ago but unfortunately I see him staying until at least the end of the season – if he stays beyond that we are doomed. Hopefully Spurs and Man City’s yo-yo form continues and by some miracle we make top four. For those of you who support Roy, you are even more ridiculous than those calling for Rafa (great manager he is) to be reinstated.
I did’nt know Woy wore a truss, that would explain why he just stands there without moving,just rubbing his face
Spot on antoine. But u can guarantee the old duffer will play konchesky. I want hodgson gone, and if it means a couple of poor results in the short term, then so be it.
My starting 11 (4-2-3-1): Reina, Johnson, Agger, Kyrgiakos, Aurelio, Lucas, Mereiles, Kuyt, Gerrard, Maxi, Torres. Pacheco and Shelvey should be on the bench. We need Gerrard back in that supporting striker role to get Torres firing again. Konchesky and Poulsen should go play for the reserves – thats if Mc Mahon even has any use for them…
Roy Hogdson is a joke. He keep harping on not buying with short term goal. WTF did he buy Konchelsky and Poulsen? Or does he meant these two are for long term.
Bring in Riijkard or Hiddink. Roy Hodgson is too big an ego for LFC. We deserve better.
Rick…….Compare Rafa v Hodgson’s last six month’s of management (not 35 WOY years); Rafa 1 Italian Super Cup, 1 World Club Championship………Roy’s = ZILCH = Relegation candidates………….and, Rafa’s two successess, with only FOUR senior players, as the rest out injured for most of the Italian season!. Nough said.
I don’t agree that as “Rick” suggests the squad is weak. On paper we have an impressive squad but with players played out of position, players out of form not dropped, players not given a big enough chance in their strongest positions, players not motivated, substitutions made far too late, negative tactics and low moral is it any wonder we are struggling.
Compare our squad with any of the premiership clubs and it’s very impressive in comparison.
This idea that the previous manager left a weak squad is Andy Gray rhetoric, what we have is a weak inept manager who is unable to adapt to managing world class players at a world class club.
totally agree with lineup wish! in terms of subs i’d go for: hansen, pacheco, agger, cole, maxi, babel, kelly.
either bring pacheco on, or bring kelly on and push johnson up. and maxi for a super sub appearance like @ bolton if we need to!
I do not contest the fact that Roy is doing some errors but giving the context, the lack of quality of the side, the lack of funds available (at least until Carl Henry’s take-over), given the fact that some players come later at the Club due to World Cup, the lack of conditions of Nando, is it a correct way to call for the man’s head week in week out any time We lose a game?
Is it an attitude which respect Liverpool’s way?
I’m not saying that Our Manager (Yes, because just now Roy is the Man in Charge, Roy is our Manager, not Rafa) is not doing mistakes, or that We shouldn’t apply a critical approach to our performances, because critics are always welcome (myself have so many reasons to criticise the Boss), but We should uderline the context, look at the big picture and avoiding this unfair attitude against our Man in Charge.
I’ve been supporting Liverpool with love for 20 years, and surely I’ve never seen in my life of a Fan, a so terrible attitude against our Manager.
Anyway, maybe He’s not good enough, maybe He’s out of his depth, He must be subject of critics, but any time We point the finger only against him, calling for his head, accusing him to be only responsible of this situation: it’s unrealistic mates.
We all saw last season: maybe Roy has not the experience to this level but He’s challenging some problems of long term that We know well, problems that He ineherited.
As a Liverpool’s Fan, Should We Stick with The Manager, giving him all the possible support to make easier his life at Anfield?
Irregarding to our love versus Rafa, Roy is now here, and He accepted this difficult challenge in a period of turm – oil.
It’s the biggest challenge of his career: Why We do not support him? We must help Roy to work easier in the Club.
Many time I heard this sentence “When Roy will be sacked, We’ll definitely remove H+G’s reign”.
Terrible, terrible, terrible.
The Man is a good person, a kind person.
Roy doens’t deserve that.
I’m sincerely sad for Roy.
Where is The Good Old Liverpool’s way?
Roy accepted the Job offer from Martin Broughton & Chris Purslow, when american were irrilevant in our board..
Sincerely, all this venom is unfair.
Where is the good Old Liverpool’s way, which I learned from the Good Old Liverpool’s fans?
Liverpool fans They always say to me that irregarding to the name, the status and the CV’s of the Man In Charge, The Man in Chaarge at Liverpool He should be given respect.
Where is the respect for Roy?
Sad Days to support Our Club..
I apology for my behaviour.
Apologies for Zamma, sincerely bit I do not recognize some Liverpool’s Fans in these days..
Sad Days..
Sorry I can’t support a manager who doesn’t support us and disrespects our club with the negative play and lack of ambition.
WE ARE LIVERPOOL FC, NOT FULHAM.
totally agree with you,antoine…don’t understand why 22 points is good enough for us to keep roy in charge. for me,win,lose or draw,roy should leave.we are LiverpoolFC for crying out loud,and thanks to roy,we’re laughing stock rite now. we belong in the top four,NOT the top half of the table. while he’s happy enough with “top half”,what’s that tells you? sorry if my english is bad.
btw,konchesky will start,coz he’s roy’s golden boy. he’ll never be wrong
WELL SAID Antoine!!!
Hi guys just wanted to wish you all a Merry Xmas and a Happy new year. Lets put our issues aside for this weekend, if your supporting Roy or not, just enjoy yourselves. Guys lets not argue for one day we don’t all agree about certain things but lets unite for once and be what where known for the best supporters in the world, SO MERRY XMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR, lets hope the new year brings the best for our club, love and respect to all have a good one and takecare of yourselves guys.
P.S. if you havn’t seen this yet please have a look at the link below it will bring a tear to the eye but what great players we have and Jezza Kyle doing what they did for 1 special brave little boy……it makes me proud to be a fan of this club and to say YNWA
Hi guys just wanted to wish you all a Merry Xmas and a Happy new year. Lets put our issues aside for this weekend, if your supporting Roy or not, just enjoy yourselves. Guys lets not argue for one day we don’t all agree about certain things but lets unite for once and be what where known for the best supporters in the world, SO MERRY XMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR, lets hope the new year brings the best for our club, love and respect to all have a good one and takecare of yourselves guys.
P.S. if you havn’t seen this yet please have a look at the link below it will bring a tear to the eye but what great players we have and Jezza Kyle doing what they did for 1 special brave little boy……it makes me proud to be a fan of this club and to say YNWA
http://liverpoolfc.co.za/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1126051643/m/5387054495
After a couple of decent articles, this one’s a let down and normal service on this site has been resumed. What a shame.
“Our new owners (John W Henry & Tom Werner) have hinted that they are starting to lose patience with Roy Hodgson” – this is untrue. They haven’t hinted anything. They have in fact stated that the “performances have been unacceptable”. These are “team” performances and in no way was a “hint” at the inadequacies of Roy Hodgson – this is merely how you have chosen to interpret their statement.
“Blackburn and Newcastle, both of whom are even with us in points, let their managers go recently…” – Blackburn, who are now owned by an Indian chicken company have no idea about football (just look at who they have appointed in place of Sam Allardyce) and do I really need to say anything about Newcastle Utd owner Mike Ashley and their disgraceful sacking of Chris Hughton? Are you really comparing the inaction of our American owners to the actions of these tools and do you want them to follow their lead? Seriously??
“We are Liverpool; we belong in the Champions League” – of course we should be in the Champions League, based on our history and heritage. But with the squad of players we have, do we “deserve” it? I think not – there’s nowhere near enough quality or strength in depth.
Also, one of your tweets in the past stated that Blackpool FC shouldn’t be in the league because of their lack of undersoil heating? Personally, they’re a breath of fresh air, their manager is one of the most under-rated in the country and if these “smaller” sides aren’t given a chance in the top flight how are they to develop resources and obtain funds so they can further develop their facilities.
I am one of the most passionate LFC fans there is but occasionally you should try looking at things with a bit more perspective.
YNWA
well said antoine … we are liverpool not fulham. we’re too big for this gentleman. we need a manager like riykaard who turned barca’s fortunes few years ago. it’s not that we don’t respect hodgson but it’s obvious that he’s not the man for the job. the january transfer window will show us if the americans trust him or not. we’ll wait and c. and like i commented yesterday, it’s not rafa’s time to come back. we need riykaard who will change the defensive style into an attacking style that suits the club of liverpool. happy christmas to you and all your readers.
mah…
I think it is fair to say that everyone from the owners, players and fans realize this is going to be a nothing year. What is the point of firing now if the board feel there is no adequate replacement? then we’ll be stuck with another manager who doesn’t totally fit the bill.
Which brings me on to my next scary point which Liverpool U18 coach Rodolfo Borrell raised. When asked about Liverpool’s style of play he said referring to Barcelona,
“People have since asked me if that is the style I would hope to see Liverpool playing with in the years ahead but I think this club has its own style and stature. We do not need to copy Barcelona.
THAT RULES FRANK RIJKAARD OUT!!! HE WENT ON TO SAY,
“Liverpool is too big to copy other sides. We can have our own vision.
We must work hard to ensure we do that. That is the most important thing. Now is a crucial moment for us because we have new owners and a new director of football strategy.
We must focus on one direction and stick to that. We cannot make changes every few years depending upon who is in charge. The club should stick to its footballing philosophy and build upon the great history we already have here.
OH SHIT!! STICK TO ITS FOOTBALLING PHILOSOPHY OF HAVING NO FOOTBALLING PHILOSOPHY! he went on to say,
“It is also about signing the right young players to fit in with this style and brand that is known as the Liverpool way.”
IN OTHER WORDS…. OH SHIT!. THE HODGSON, BENITEZ BRAND OF FOOTBALL IS THE BRAND OF FOOTBALL WE WILL BE STUCK WITH. THE YOUTH TEAM WILL BE CHURNING OUT ROBOTIC DEFENSIVE WORKHORSES FOR MANY YEARS TO COME BECAUSE THIS IS NOW (THANKS TO HOULLIER, BENITEZ AND HODSGON) SEEN AS THE LIVERPOOL WAY.
Our shortlist to replace Hodsgon may look like this: Martin O’neil, Houllier, Benitez, George Graham, Tony Pulis and my tip Sam Allardyce. My point is this, whether we sack Hodgson or not our style of play will not change for the foreseeable future. :-(
The full scary interview with u18 coach Rodolfo Borrell (for those ho haven’t read it) that more or less spells out that there will be no attractive football at Anfield for years to come.
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/why-we-won-t-copy-barca
Okay let’s put it this way? This season we have seen decent games and crap games from the Red, right? Was it any different last year??
So I too am not too orgasmic about the attitude on the pitch…we seem a tad too defensive, however would Rafa guarantee better play? He did guarantee us finishing in the top four last season and he did guarantee we would go on to win the Europa League…..! Need I elaborate further?
So if Rafa is not the answer (perhaps!) and Roy has not won over the hearts of the supporters (same as happened to Rafa at Inter), who do we bring? Dalglish, O’Neill…how about Allardyce (okay now that was only a bad joke).
Cheer up lads, it’s Christmas. If we manage to win all our next home games (we should…on paper), we might be singing Roy’s praises all over ….. again!
Lets get behind the team for once, wish team and manager good luck and then do a post mortem after the game. Give the manager a break. We know his record is not anything we’d expected but come on lets get behind the club. Rival fans love us pouring ridicule on our manager, lets stop this. Sincerely, this has to stop. Merry xmas to all from malta.
All this talk about win he stays, lose and Hodgson goes. What happens if The Seasiders have a bad day and it’s a draw? Obviously if they have a good day then Liverpool will get tangoed again. It must be frustrating to have such mixed form when you are used to greatness. I wouldn’t take it too hard if Blackpool give another football lesson, if the seaside magic kicks in there is nothing you can do. I know it seems inlikely withour Charlie Adam playing, but wait till you get a load of Ludo, our secret weapon.
my 11 Reina Kelly – Skrtl(Kyri for long-ball teams) – Agger
– Aurelio Johnson – Gerrard – Mereles – Jovanonic Cole Torres and
the subs I wold use are Babel Pacheco and Kuyt
well tonio bon, rafa did won the heart of the supporters at inter together with some of their legends..the heart of morrati was the only one that rafa broke..
This discussion shouldn’t be about Roy its about LFC, is the club where its supposed to be? Why are we not there? The core of the team are still players who has performed at a higher level before and if they’re are not playing well now it must be the manager or what else Roy to me has shown inability to manager the player and motivate them he either leave or the players do I’m sure the player who choose to leave will be well valued where ever they choose where as Roy will be jobless if LFC send him away. NESV this shame is enough act now please!