Backing Hodgson and backing the decision to appoint him are two different things

Tuesday, 6 July 2010

Backing Hodgson and backing the decision to appoint him are two different things

July 01, 2010 - 06114531 date 01 07 2010 Copyright imago BPI The New Liverpool Manager Roy Hodgson during The Press Conference PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUKxFRAxNEDxESPxSWExPOLxCHNxJPN men Football England Premier League 2011 Presentation later team manager press conference Portrait premiumd Vdig xmk 2010 horizontal Football.

WHEN Roy Hodgson emerges from the Anfield tunnel on August 14 to take charge of his first Premier League game as Liverpool boss, I’ll be there cheering him on.

But that doesn’t mean I’m happy with his appointment as successor to the axed Rafa Benitez. Far from it. In fact, I can't shake the feeling that it’s a backward step.

Liverpool will be Hodgson’s 17th job as manager – he’s a journeyman, and in 35 years he’s never won a major trophy.

He was sacked by Bristol City, Blackburn, Inter Milan, The UAE and Udinese. Some track record.

And ask yourself this, if Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal (even Spurs, Man City and Aston Villa) had been looking for a new boss would they have plumped for Hodgson?

It’s a mediocre appointment because the powers that be at Anfield are accepting the club now has mediocre aims under the stewardship of owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

Ok, Hodgson got Fulham punching above their weight. He saved them from relegation, he took them to seventh, he reached the UEFA Cup final.

But Fulham isn’t Liverpool. Liverpool is still the most successful side in England. The club has worldwide support. Off-the-field problems or not, expectations for many fans won’t change. They want the title, cups, Europe. They want attractive football. Hodgson hasn’t got form for delivering any of that at a big club.

At Blackburn he spent £20m on a string of flops and nearly took them down. At Inter Milan the fans pelted him with lighters.

But he’s the LMA manager of the year, right? So? Joe Kinnear, Frank Clark, George Burley and Steve Coppell have also won the award so it’s hardly a benchmark for quality.

It stinks of desperation – a knee-jerk appointment based on one good season with Fulham.

It says it all that Kenny Dalglish made it so clear that he wanted the Liverpool job. He didn’t fancy Hodgson for the job and felt he could do it better himself. The King wanted someone world class in the role, a man who could command respect. A Guus Hiddink, a Jose Mourinho.

A man who could persuade Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Javier Mascherano and others that their future lies at Anfield rather than Real Madrid, Chelsea or Inter Milan.

Such bosses are unrealistic targets maybe, due to the state of the club. But that’s why Kenny was prepared to steer the ship until it reached calmer waters.

Now we have a man who can drive a milkfloat steering a Formula One car and he’s expected to make pole position.

Thank God, Sam Allardyce didn’t have a good season…

More analysis of Roy Hodgson's appointment, Rafa's exit plus exclusive interviews with Rob Jones and celebrity Kopite, actor David Morrissey, in issue three of Well Red.

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Redlee6963 · 768 weeks ago

Agree with you 100% my thoughts are they wanted someone who wouldn't question the owners and wouldn't be under the spotlight so much with the press! Or maybe a short term contract till new owners come in! Would imagine contract and wages no way near rafts,time will tell.

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AldosLoveChild · 768 weeks ago

My main concern with Hodgson is that I didn't see any tactical magic during the Europa Final - for all of Rafa's faults, getting it wrong in Europe (within which success breeds domestic confidence) wasn't one of them.

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miaoow 1p · 768 weeks ago

when you put it like that .. hard to disagree ... official panic mode has set in .... roy is not the messiah .... he is st. paul ... shoreing up backline till better option comes ? this is no road to Damascus ... this is the road to hell ?

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David · 768 weeks ago

why dont you just stop whining and see what happens, and roy hodgson has great ability with man management (could help defensively with glen johnson) and a motivator which liverpool need at the moment and by the way you haven't mentioned his successes with Malmo FF, Switzerland and Fulham teams that are down in the dumps and making then do u-turn which is what we need, you say you are supporting him but all you have done in this argument is slag him off.

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Fatha · 768 weeks ago

What's the point of a post like this now that it's been decided? He's our manager now so lets just get behind him at stop bitching about what we think should of happened, or who should of been appointed. You already touched on it above, what top notch manager would want to manage Liverpool being in the state it currently is? All things considered, we got a great manager who has been in top managerial form recently, I know that's no guarantee that he'll do well with us but it's a safer bet than anyone else (Kenny aside). Think on some of the names that were being banded about, Mclaren, Allerdice, Bruce!!

Let's give him some time and see how he does, from what I'm reading (paper talk) he's making the right sounds and talking to some good names. Also, if Torres and Gerrard do want to leave (god forbid) then let them, and let's see if we can get the money back to buy in some players that want to play for Liverpool and want to weather our storm.

I personally have had enough of all the doom and gloom of last season and want to start this one as optomistic and positive as possible. Who'll give me good odds on a league and FA cup double? ;)

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Jamie · 768 weeks ago

Hate hate hate negative thoughts. He hasn't even had time for a cup of tea and your already slating him.
You said Dalglish didnt fancy hodgson for the job although he himself has come out and stated :
"I look very favourably on the appointment. I have known Roy a long time and have a great respect for him".
Also u stated the numerous clubs Hodgson has been sacked from, when again Hodgson stated last week that he's only ever been sacked from one club:
" Blackburn was the only place I have been sacked and that was somewhat harsh. I took a team which had avoided relegation by one point into European football and then lost four of the very best players – three to injury and one to a forced sale to Rangers – the following year".

If your going to criticise our manager who hasnt even had a hame in charge at least state the right facts.
The last thing Hodgson and our team needs is negative thoughts when walking out on opening day against Arsenal. Judge him on his future with Liverpool and not his past (although records show hes been a successfull manager 95% of the time wherever hes been).

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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torres_mouthpiece · 768 weeks ago

Rafas gone get over it

3 replies · active 768 weeks ago

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Ste · 768 weeks ago

Ok these maybe your thoughts, but not very balanced view of his record of success in lesser leagues. It would be difficult for any manager to do well with the club in the position we are in, if we finish in the top 4 which to me will be an achievement given Man City's spending will you print an article admitting you were wrong and had no faith in the manager and give the manager the credit he will deserve.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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robbohuyton 61p · 768 weeks ago

The point is quite clear I would have thought - a) It is my opinion and how I feel about the appointment. b) It stems from the lack of logic to my mind behind the appointment.

I've already said I'll back him, I just don't agree with the board's decision and don't understand how they arrived at their decision.

As for only being sacked by Blackburn? I don't think so. And Dalglish? Well let's just say what he says in public and what he actually thinks appear to be two different things. Look up the comments by his son, speak volumes.

Successful 95%? What's that based on? Depends on your definition of success. I doubt Liverpool fans would tolerate one away win all season.

As for Malmo, sound - a well known breeding ground for world-class managers that.

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Anto · 768 weeks ago

Get over yourselves ...Roy is the man.
There is mo one more cabable of pulling
us out of the mess were in. Most inportant
he is an English man who knows the ways
of the EPL and player relations is second
to none . He may not win much while he is
there but will lay down the foundations
of lfc past for some one younger like J C
or May be sammi himself to greater things
walk on my friends in red

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John Toher · 768 weeks ago

He is not the ideal appointment but then this is not the ideal time to be a Liverpool manager. We are in a financial crisis and a reasonably sucessful manager like Roy Hodgson will have to do for now.
Until we get new owners in then we have the best man in to keep things ticking over, dark days at Anfield.

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Juan · 768 weeks ago

Your article is spot on.

At least you are making your observation and feelings about Hodgson known now.

And what you say isnt be-belittling Hodgson like some fans on here suggest, it is straight up facts. He has won jack sh*t in his 35 year managerial career, he wasnt the best man for the job and he was only appointed because he wont question the board unlike Rafa.

I admire that you say it as it is yet will still by Hodgson. The fans on here that are calling you out for telling the truth are the very ones who will turn on Roy should he lose 4 games in a row just like many turned on Rafa.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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Jamie · 768 weeks ago

hes said himself hes been sacked by one club. And Dalglish's son said his dad wanted to be manager but never mentioned he didn't agree with Hodgsons appointment. So ur believing Dalglish's son over the man himself. Bit weird. just a typical blogger making up stuff he hasn't got the slightest idea on.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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Jamie · 768 weeks ago

im no internet warrior at all, im just expressing my opinion on how out of line and incorrect your blog is. Kenny of all people would say how he feels. You own your own blogsite and think your the next chairman of Anfield. If Hodgson wasn't a good enough manager he wouldn't of been appointed simple. So stop laying into him. Your one of them fans our club don't need.

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robbohuyton 61p · 768 weeks ago

The fact is, you have no idea if it is out of line or incorrect. It's baseless opinion, same goes for your comment about Kenny.

As for that shite about if he wasn't good enough - the club is run by bankers, leveraged buy-out experts, people with no football knowledge whatsoever. If you have faith in those people to make the correct decisions about on the field matters, maybe YOU are the type of fan our club doesn't need.

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Andy · 768 weeks ago

A superficial and negative article. To be honest, who cares if you like Hodgson? Who are you?

Torres: "I was happy Hodgson got the job...He did really well at Fulham and I am sure he can do better for Liverpool. He is a very good manager."

Jan Molby: "I think he's a good appointment. I like Roy Hodgson as a manager and he knows what it takes."

Ian Rush: "I know Roy quite well and it's a good appointment. Tactically, he's very astute, he's highly respected across Europe and if you look at his CV he's been everywhere. He's proved himself at club and international level and has managed big clubs like Inter Milan."

Kenny Dalglish: "I look very favourably on the appointment. I have known Roy a long time and have a great respect for him."

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robbohuyton 61p · 768 weeks ago

Equally, who are you? It's a blog, it's an opinion, get over it, move on, don't read it - arsed. And well done on being able to use cut and paste - how about a graph next time?

2 replies · active 768 weeks ago

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Jamie · 768 weeks ago

Amen andy amen, blog and write are both aload of bull !

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Jamie · 768 weeks ago

I didn't appoint hodgson myself u muppet, so whether it was bankers or the pope who appointed hodgson who cares but I know that any decision the club ever makes ill fully be behind and in this case i feel it is a correct one. So get off Hodgsons back and support the team. Fans like you aint needed. Terrible terrible blog mate, dont take it to heart

1 reply · active 768 weeks ago

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Jamie · 768 weeks ago

Im not name calling, im just clearly stating my opinion of you. 'Not the brightest' if only you knew lol. Yes i do support any decision the club makes, and if it does go wrong I will still support my club's decisions. We aren't the most successful English club for no reason. And yes the club is in the wrong hands, i agree with you on that, Roy Hodgson is a good manager and other big names in the football world agree, hence the quotes Andy mentioned.

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Jamie · 768 weeks ago

And i don't get how you sarcastically commented on Andy being able to cut & paste when you clearly did it early. That my friend is why your a muppet. Liverpool fan my arse

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Jamie · 768 weeks ago

earlier*

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robbohuyton 61p · 768 weeks ago

Ah yes, I'm not a fan now, right. So because my opinion differs to yours, because I don't blindly believe media soundbites and I don't trust owners and a board whose motives are questionable at best, I'm not a fan? Brilliant.

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Jamie · 768 weeks ago

No your not a fan because you a slating a man who has barely been in his job less than a week. The last thing we need is for small minded people as yourself to be writing such utter bollox at such a crucial time for our club. What we need is for everyone to rally behind Hodgson and give him all our support throughout, which most never did with Benitez.

1 reply · active 768 weeks ago

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robbohuyton 61p · 768 weeks ago

So back to the first sentence of the blog: "WHEN Roy Hodgson emerges from the Anfield tunnel on August 14 to take charge of his first Premier League game as Liverpool boss, I’ll be there cheering him on."

The whole point is he will be supported but the appointment is questionable for a supposed top-four club. You don't seem able to grasp this so I'll leave it there.

Tuesday, 6 July 2010