Liverpool FC Forum

[Ciggy]

For the record Roy didnt ruin my holiday atall I had a fabulous time and seen a lot beautiful places, but getting the p!ss taken out of my club by no mark fans has never happened before until this fraudster. took over!!!

Brilliant post:

Quote from: shanklyboy on Today at 02:21:21 AM
The issue with the owners may have worn Benitez out. That may have also resulted in his decision making being effected, which ultimately may have had a detrimental effect on the players performances. Who knows?

However, knowing what we do about the man it would seem extremely unlikely that this would be the only reasons for our poor season or him leaving.
If we assumed though that this was actually the case and the ownership issue was a major factor then the lack of foresight from the board is worrying.

In June when Benitez left, the world and his dog were well aware that the club was for sale and the deal would have to be done in 4 months or 2 months into this season.
Was Benitez so effected by the ownership issue that the club couldn’t support him for 4 months?
Was his standing at the club so low that the board saw only one option to take, no matter what the long term effects were on the clubs future.
Especially seeing that those making the decision were only living on borrowed time. The CEO,The Chairman and 2 of the owners were either temporary appointments who would be likely to leave or were guaranteed to leave within 4 months.

I would imagine that Benitez who has stated that he was planning for this season when the call came, would have also been aware that within 4 months, any weight placed on his shoulders by the ownership issue would be lifted.
If the ownership issue was causing him so many problems on the playing side, then surely the board would have seen how beneficial it would be once that weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
Unfortunately this wasn’t to be the case and Hodgson was appointed.

No staff member at Liverpool has ever stayed beyond his 65th Birthday and that includes every manager and coach. So unless club policy has changed, Hodgson was only here for 3 years at the most.

The up side of that decision as far as the board were concerned was that within 4 months it wasn’t going to be their problem if things went wrong. It would be the new owners to sort out as they would be well gone.
The short termism is what a great many are concerned about, even if Hodgson turned out to be the best manager we’d ever had.
The board too were also absolved of the responsibility of possibly having to apply the same criteria for Hodgson as they did for Benitez…..one of league position and Champions League qualification.

For all the reasons levelled against Benitez for failing, Hodgson has been cited as the opposite. The steadying influence the man manager, the gentleman, the wise council who understood the English game.

This was the fresh start that yourself and many others thought would be what was needed to get us back on track.
The facts of the matter concerning both his qualifications as a suitable candidate for the managers position at Liverpool F.C and the subsequent fallout from that decision could be far more detrimental to our club that allowing Benitez to take another season under completely different conditions to those he had been working under could ever have.
It is also the most puzzling appointment for so many reasons and the lack of care or concern over the reaction of the supporters is indicative of the type of mismanagement that was all but forgotten when statues were called to be erected for Purslow and Broughton during the ownership battle.
Both the board and Hodgson were that well aware of the possible ramifications of new owners not being happy with him as manager that his contract has a clause in it that gives him a years salary, to be paid within 28 days, should new owners remove him from his position.
That’s fair enough and he’s entitled to whatever he can get. Yet it smacks of short termism yet again.

If we look at the reasons given for his appointment we have the crux of the discontent before a ball was kicked.

EXPERIENCE

Nobody can claim he doesn’t have it. However where that experience of club management was gained is hardly a confirmation of his ability to lead one of the world most high profile and demanding sporting institutions.
His experience of English football is extremely limited. As was Benitez’s when he arrived of course, but that lack of experience in the English game accusation, levelled at Benitez wasn’t even mentioned when Hodgson was appointed. In fact it was seen as some sort of distinguishing factor.

In his 35 years of management, Hodgson has spent a total of 6 years in management in this country.
His last post was his 1 year at Blackburn 13 years ago. Prior to that it was 1 year in the 2nd Division with Bristol City in 1982.
That’s 2 years managerial experience in this country until his appointment at Fulham some 25 years later.

A sum total of 6 years is spread over 25 years. Whereas Benitez has already accumulated the same length of experience in the last 6 years at the highest levels.

If Benitez’s experience and success at Valencia wasn’t seen as a valid qualification by many for success in the Premier League, even though he broke the Barca/Madrid monopoly, why was Hodgson’s, at far lower levels in lesser footballing countries ?

If Benitez’s 3 European Finals and 2 trophies not seen as validation of his expertise at the highest level, why was Hodgson’s 2 European Finals and no trophies seen as being proof of his prowess?

STEADYING THE SHIP

With great man management skills there would surely be no issue with motivating the squad Benitez obviously couldn’t. With his likeable friendly character and wonderful relationship with the press there would be no ’rants’ or ’facts’ for anyone to get upset about.
With the ownership issue about to be resolved there would be no internal strife or politics.

Unfortunately all of these qualities seem to be in short supply as we limp from one PR disaster to another.
We have seen how the pressure of being at our club has ’surprised’ Hodgson when he compared it to what he had to deal with at Fulham. His aggressive and insulting behaviour at press conferences has hardly endeared him to anyone. In fact it has alienated him and makes a mockery of his ’gentleman’ status.
The lack of support for players and supporters has created an even greater division and shows no sign of being solved given his latest outburst.

Rafa ’Rant’ and his ’all over’ hand gesture sent the Earth of it’s axis. Highlighting the immense double standards and pressure heaped on Benitez by the British media and fans alike.

Those 2 reasons above were the only criteria the board spoke of when Hodgson was appointed.
Nothing was mentioned about challenging for trophies. Nothing was mentioned about restoring Liverpool F.C back to it’s place as Englands and Europes finest.

Some people claim that Hodgson shouldn’t be blamed for taking the job, even though he isn’t qualified to do it. Certainly not as qualified as his predecessor.
I think that just because the boy racer that lives next door to me can do a handbrake turn in a bumper car. That’s no reason for thinking he is qualified enough to drive in a Formula 1 team.

I would say that anyone who believes they are good enough to take on this job in the first place, should be judged on their ability to do it like anyone else.
They should also be judged by the same criteria as the person they replaced. The levels achieved by the man he is replacing should be the minimum expected from him, no matter what, but especially now we don’t have the ownership battle to contend with.
There was no logic to his appointment and up to now no obvious improvement on the pitch.

So we can support him all we like. But no amount of encouragement will enable that boy racer to win for Ferrari.

[Bad Bob]

so yes, the style of play has been different but i'm seeing signs of a return to being a bit more pressing and an attempt to play a higher tempo. my general point remains though, we have very rarely been a hugely entertaining an potent attacking team for some time now. the last two games have been pretty much a return to the norm.

Yeah, I'd agree with that.  For much of the early part of the season we looked completely out of our depth but the last couple of games have seen a return to a more familiar and effective style of play, much like we saw under he who shall not be named.   The Chelsea match will be an interesting barometer.  Will we revert to sitting deep (and get torn to shreds in the process, IMO)?  Or will we press and battle and have a go?

[stmichael]

These latest shenanigans are just tedious. It's like a couple of politicians ffs.

Neither are doing our club any favours. They should both shut the up and get on with managing their clubs.

[metalhead]

These latest shenanigans are just tedious. It's like a couple of politicians ffs.

Neither are doing our club any favours. They should both shut the up and get on with managing their clubs.

Agreed mate, I was saying this a couple of pages ago, both need to go on do their jobs.

[Benny The Noon]

so yes, the style of play has been different but i'm seeing signs of a return to being a bit more pressing and an attempt to play a higher tempo. my general point remains though, we have very rarely been a hugely entertaining an potent attacking team for some time now. the last two games have been pretty much a return to the norm.

Yeah, I'd agree with that.  For much of the early part of the season we looked completely out of our depth but the last couple of games have seen a return to a more familiar and effective style of play, much like we saw under he who shall not be named.   The Chelsea match will be an interesting barometer.  Will we revert to sitting deep (and get torn to shreds in the process, IMO)?  Or will we press and battle and have a go?

Spot on - has to stick with the same team or if Cole is injured bring in Jovanovic , we have to match the three in the middle , no poulsen near the pitch , Lucas and Merieles to hassle and battle . Like you say if we sit deep they will rip us apart

[Igor Zidane]

Roy lied , rafa put him straight ,sorted. Don't know what the problem is.

[Benny The Noon]

Roy lied , rafa put him straight ,sorted. Don't know what the problem is.

Apparently its undermining liverpool

[dawson99]

Rafa put him straight... then Rafa went on again about how awesome he was and how the fans love him etc etc... as ive said Rafa should concentrate on Inter as thats what there fans deserve, and roy should concentrate on Liverpool, as thats what we deserve

[Igor Zidane]

Roy lied , rafa put him straight ,sorted. Don't know what the problem is.

Apparently its undermining liverpool

There's only one person undermining Liverpool in this little spat i'm afraid.

[lakes10]

Rafa " Some people cannot see a priest on a mountain of sugar."

Rafa grow up and stop talking about a club that you did nothing for in the last year you was here apart from off 90% of the players and fans.

[Reg]

Roy lied , rafa put him straight ,sorted. Don't know what the problem is.

Exactly Igor mate. Woy should focus on coaching his team.

[Benny The Noon]

Rafa put him straight... then Rafa went on again about how awesome he was and how the fans love him etc etc... as ive said Rafa should concentrate on Inter as thats what there fans deserve, and roy should concentrate on Liverpool, as thats what we deserve

Rafa told Hodgson to concentrate on doing his best for Liverpool - did you miss that bit ?

Here it is again for you

"Concentrate, try to do your best because it will be the best for the club and it will be the best for the fans."

[Igor Zidane]

Rafa put him straight... then Rafa went on again about how awesome he was and how the fans love him etc etc... as ive said Rafa should concentrate on Inter as thats what there fans deserve, and roy should concentrate on Liverpool, as thats what we deserve

Rafa was asked a question on a few occassions . Now if i start slateing you daws , you are more than entitled to come back and put me straight . Dead easy . If it starts a flame war between us there's only one person to blame and that's me for layeing into you originally,  because i'm the one telling lies about you and rumour mongering ,no?

[Reg]

.
I'm not laffin lad, you might be

.

Rock 'ard internet warrior!    

[Benny The Noon]

Rafa " Some people cannot see a priest on a mountain of sugar."

Rafa grow up and stop talking about a club that you did nothing for in the last year you was here apart from off 90% of the players and fans.

You forgot to add the words - IN YOUR OPINION at the end of your post .