Standards had slipped. Now we can push on.

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The lowest point of the season under Hodgson, for me actually came during a moment of joy. This one moment emphasised how bad things had become at the club I love.

Never mind the home losses to Blackpool, Northampton and Wolves. Never mind the heavy defeats away to Newcastle and Blackburn. And never mind the under-performing stars such as Cole and Torres. For me, when we beat Bolton and I saw Roy Hodgson and Sammy Lee jumping around, hugging each other on the touch line, I stopped celebrating our win and started swearing at the telly. Sure, they should have been happy that we had won. But to celebrate as if we had won the league when we had merely managed to scrape a win against Bolton put the situation at the club into perspective. When did beating mid-table sides become good enough for Liverpool Football Club?

I know we had been going through a bad time and I was as glad as anyone for the three points but any hope of gaining momentum and going on a successful run was quickly dashed the following game. Why? Because the management weren’t giving the players anything to live up to. The standards had slipped. Whenever I heard pre-match interviews where Hodgson said things like “Of course we will try to win and we want to win but we are facing a good team” I cringed. The negative vibes were being transmitted to the players before a ball had even been kicked and when the team did go behind they looked dejected. Worse still, they looked devoid of any ideas about how to get back into the game. Only Stevie looked like he might inspire something. The manager certainly didn’t.

The fact is, Inter Milan were the biggest club Hodgson had managed before he came to Liverpool. And they weren’t very good when he was in charge!

It was only a matter of time before Hodgson left and I think it was a really smart move by the owners to get rid of him before the game against United. If players like Torres had raised their game and we had beat United it would have been difficult to sack him. And if we lost we would have been out of another cup. By getting rid of him just before the cup tie it inspires the fans and gives the players a boost. Also, by getting Kenny in until the end of the season, it gives them a chance to see if it works out and make a decision with Kenny whether he stays in charge or they get someone else in.

It’s obviously going to be tough for Kenny to lead us to victory at Old Trafford. It’s always a tough place to go and get a result. But I think he will at least try to get the team playing attacking football, he’ll demand more from the players and he’ll command their respect..

Towards the end of Hodgson’s tenure I was dreading each game. I usually used football as an escape from life but the past few weeks I was using life as an escape from football. Now the club can move on and all the fans will be behind Kenny.

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10 Comments

  1. Great piece – obviously I don’t like the thought of anybody losing their job but I am sure he won’t go short of feeding his family or finding a club that suits his level (no disrepect meant here). He didn’t inspire confidence and the rubbing his head and staring at the floor must have rubbed off onto the players.

    I was actually toying with missing the game tomorrow as they have become unbearable to watch, however I will now! Not through some sentimental attachment to Dalglish nor because now I think we’ll win but I would like to think that the players will actually have a go tomorrow – show a bit of pride and even if we do lose – just play some damn football!

  2. ”When did beating mid-table sides become good enough for Liverpool Football Club?”

    It’s this kind of ridiculous, pompous statement that is making Scouse fans the biggest laughing stock of the premier league. The Newcastle fans of the new decade.

    To think you have some kind of entitlement to beat ‘lesser’ teams purely because of your history, or that the manager ‘over celebrated’ a win against Bolton is hilarious, the best of it is I think you said it without any sense of irony.

    I don’t know if you’ve noticed but Liverpool are a midtable club as well. You have a team of lightweights, has-beens and underperformers andnothing more.

    The way you have treated one of the most respected managers in the league is a disgrace. The half-bake sick notes like Torres are to blame for your glorious fall from grace, not Hodgson.

    You need to take a long hard look at yourselves and think about what you have become, delusional, laughable morons.

    Cheery pip

  3. @RealMancsAreBlue I also think the way Hodgson was treated by some supporters was poor and he is a very intelligent man and without doubt a good manager. But unfortunately he couldnt motivate them underperforming players and the signings he made were poor, results dont lie he had to go. Hopefully Kenny can inspire the underachieving players and get us up the table and a few cup finals.

  4. and who exactly are your team ?? oh yes the circus that is manchester city, a team that hasnt won anything in 35 years,a team full of money chasing mercenaries,in fighting, a captain that doesnt really want to play for his team,a club that has spent half a billion pounds and still doesnt look like champions.a club who’s wage bill far outstrips their turnover.remember this sky blue boy just because your owner has tons of cash doesnt entitle you to come on our site calling the odds,considering you were in the championship 10 years ago hahahahaha. enjoy the circus hahahah YNWA

  5. Hodgson was the wrong man for the job, but the ship was already sinking. If anyone is under the illusion the Dalglish is going to come in and perform a miracle, I highly doubt he will.

    That being said you have the players to finish top 6 but I personally would ship out the lot come the summer and start afresh, they have been a disgrace to the shirt especially Torres who wanders around like he couldnt give a toss. Yes, the manager needs to motivate players but you can’t polish a turd and if they cant even motivate themselves to play their heart out for their extortionate wages then all is lost.

  6. See Tommy, I rest my case.

    Im under no delusions about Manchester City but lets just say, one club is going one and the other is going the opposite way :)

    As for ‘ynwa’ you certainly let poor Roy walk alone didnt you, what a disgrace.

  7. Those in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones….

    All I need to say is didn’t Man City try to buy Torres for £60m….mmmm and you talk about him strutting around with no heart….hold up…one word “Robinho” need I say more! As for poor Roy shouldn’t you be saying poor Hughes….

    Back to my opening statement…..’those in glass houses….’

  8. Robinho was an arsehole so we benched him then flogged him. Hughes wasnt the right man for the job but we still backed him, the owners got rid. What we didnt do was start holding mass votes of no confidence and demanding his removal.

  9. Excellent read, insightful thoughts. If the King cant
    motivate the team then we defo need new squad of players. I believe
    he can though, players can only hold in admiration and respect for
    an ex player who had qualities that were mind boggling. Torres and
    Gerrard will sort their acts out and try to prove themselves to
    Kenny. Kenny also is more imposing and motivational than softy
    Roy…

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