Liverpool FC Forum

by **fivecups** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 1:12 pm

LFC's article from the other thread about the new manager:

Hodgson is a manager who spends his days honing, organising and coaching on the training pitch. He was - briefly, from 1972-73 at Alleyn's School in south-west London - a PE teacher, after all.

'Of course it's nice for people to believe some managers are born with a magical quality that will transform bad into good, but I don't,' he says. 'It's about leadership skills, practice, repetition and bloody hard work.'

Repetition is the cornerstone of Hodgson's success. There were grumblings from within Fabio Capello's World Cup squad that the Italian didn't spend enough time on 'pattern of play' drills, but Hodgson's Fulham did this every day. Fellow coaches and managers, such as Steve Coppell and Glenn Roeder, often attended sessions to watch the 62-year-old in action.

'Every day in training is geared towards team shape on the match day coming up,' said midfielder Simon Davies. 'Every day is team shape and it shows.
'He gets the 11 that he wants on a match day and he drills everything in that he wants. There are no diagrams. It's all on the pitch with the ball, nothing unopposed.'

Hodgson has described his approach as 'player-orientated'. Words 'spill out left, right and centre' from a man who speaks five languages. His players know exactly what he expects and how they can be successful in their ascribed roles. They also know who's playing more than two hours before kick-off.

After failing to make the grade at Crystal Palace and playing non- League football, Hodgson gained his full coaching badge aged just 23. He followed the likes of Don Howe, Sir Bobby Robson and Terry Venables - tracksuited English coaches who relished their 'time on the grass', as Robson called it.

With Hodgson it was 11 versus 11 every day, the manager stopping play to make a tactical or technical point, or to tell a player they weren't in the right position at the right time. Hodgson was at the heart of everything, in his shorts with his socks pulled up to his knees.

Zoltan Gera said: 'We do the same thing in every session and sometimes it gets boring but we know it's working so I'm happy to do it. Put it this way, when I wake up in the middle of the night I know what I need to do in the game, I know everything about how we play.'

Fulham players could have slotted back into position in their sleep last season but, for all Hodgson's emphasis on repetition, he is not a man resistant to change. Quite the opposite, in fact. It is part of the reason the League Managers' Association's manager of the year has rarely been out of work during a 33-year coaching career.

At Fulham he introduced a basketball defensive system, called a 'zonal trap', where his team moved as a unit when protecting their goal. When he joined Inter Milan in 1995 he asked Italian World Cup winner Giuseppe Bergomi, who had always marked man-to-man, to mark zonally. The team switched from a libero system to a back four and Hodgson asked Bergomi to play at right back.

After taking over at Hamstad in 1976, his first management role, Hodgson and his great friend Bob Houghton revolutionised Swedish football. They abandoned man-to-man marking all over the field in favour of a zonal approach. It is no wonder Hodgson tends to bristle at the suggestion he is an old-fashioned manager.

Whether he finds himself rebuilding a Liverpool side bereft of confidence and star quality or trying to lift a badly wounded England team, Hodgson will need to draw heavily on those decades of experience.

by **Ben Patrick** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 1:18 pm

bavlondon wrote:
Ben Patrick wrote:
Reg wrote:Cost us 6 million to sack Wafa and 2 million compensation to Fulham to sign Woy.

Thats half the transfer budget gone already!

We could have kept Rafa, gave him the full budget and seen which player he spent it all on and then never picked though couldnt we, ala Keane and Aquilani.

Doesn't really make a difference tbh mate. Quibbling over 5 mil? You can't buy anyone decent for that much and our squad needs a lot of fresh blood. It's a drop in the ocean.

It is sort of, but good managers do find bargains.

There are always players running out of contract etc.

But if 5 millions neither here nor there then it makes no difference that we have used it to change the manager then does it ?

by **Ben Patrick** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 1:20 pm

Reg wrote:
Ben Patrick wrote:
Reg wrote:Cost us 6 million to sack Wafa and 2 million compensation to Fulham to sign Woy.

Thats half the transfer budget gone already!

We could have kept Rafa, gave him the full budget and seen which player he spent it all on and then never picked though couldnt we, ala Keane and Aquilani.

The owners should have done the sensible thing and kept Rafa until new owners took over. One more season to ensure a smooth transition is a no brainer.

You are talking like a takeover is definately going to happen.

I think one more season of what we seen last season and we could have been in even more serious trouble.

Fair enough if you dont but i think Rafa was going to take us even further backwards.

by **tubby** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 1:32 pm

RT @FulhamfcNews: We've had word from the man himself, Roy #Hodgson, that he is officially the new manager of #Liverpool FC #Fulham FC

by **Reg** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 1:35 pm

Ben Patrick wrote:It is sort of, but good managers do find bargains.

Woy´s talking about bringing his assistant, so it looks like Rafa´s scout set up stays the same? Hhmmmmm....... :eyebrow

by **Scottbot** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 1:37 pm

Reg wrote:Cost us 6 million to sack Wafa and 2 million compensation to Fulham to sign Woy.

Thats half the transfer budget gone already!

The Rafa payoff was the one that really got me, surely if Inter were interested we could have simply given them permission to speak to the manager? For a club in our financial position it was bizarre.

by **Ben Patrick** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 1:40 pm

Scottbot wrote:
Reg wrote:Cost us 6 million to sack Wafa and 2 million compensation to Fulham to sign Woy.

Thats half the transfer budget gone already!

The Rafa payoff was the one that really got me, surely if Inter were interested we could have simply given them permission to speak to the manager? For a club in our financial position it was bizarre.

I stated the same on here and got a load of abuse from people saying Rafa was entitled to 6 million as he had a big contract and due to the sh!t he had had to endure.

I feel that if he was getting ANY compensation then he shouldnt be walking into a new job immediately. Otherwise what is the compo for ?

But we have loads of people that think he should of taken the owners for every penny. While that's understandable. I dont think any of these people are thinking how it would affect the new man in charge at all.
We support LFC not Rafa.

by **tubby** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 1:53 pm

Aldo on Roy Hodgson's appointment http://bit.ly/bRUmi0

by **Ben Patrick** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 1:59 pm

bavlondon wrote:Aldo on Roy Hodgson's appointment http://bit.ly/bRUmi0

Blocked in work...what does he say ?

by **SouthCoastShankly** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 3:42 pm

LittleHobo wrote:
mart wrote:Good luck Roy, you will need it.

the reason i think hell need it is liverpool fans still expect glory and trophys and title challenges

even though we have no money to spend and will have to sell in order to buy

i expect 7th and a good cup run

You are easily the most pessimistic person on this board. I bet you turned over at half time in 2005.

You know what, I'm looking forward to the new season, if we lose big players my stance may change, but as for now my backing is to the manager and a squad that barring one lost player (Alonso) finished 2nd two years ago.

A new manager may revitalise this squad who were clearly disillusioned last season.

by **Keris** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 4:06 pm

Congratulations on the appointment Boss.

Wish you all the luck in the world. YNWA.

by **woof woof !** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 4:10 pm

Given the options available I'm not as dissappointed as some in here seem to be

I'm thinking Hodgson could turn out to be a Roy Evans with knobs on. More than happy to see an Englishman well versed in the premiership plus a wealth of continental experience under his belt being given the chance to manage the team.

I hope the players, fans and those in here will a t least give the fella a season in which to show what he can do for us.

Personally I believe that given the right support by all concerned he'll at least get us back into the top four and you know what ?, right now i'll settle for that.

by **maguskwt** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 4:11 pm

Disappointed, very disappointed. It's not Roy's fault but he's simply not good enough for lfc. Out of all the names we've been linked why is he the 1st choice? Some don't realize it but for some it is glaringly obvious.

by **Roger Red Hat** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 4:14 pm

maguskwt wrote:Disappointed, very disappointed. It's not Roy's fault but he's simply not good enough for lfc. Out of all the names we've been linked why is he the 1st choice? Some don't realize it but for some it is glaringly obvious.

maybe because we aint as tasty a prospect as you think we are. in reality we've landed the best manager for this club at this time - he'll do great im sure

by **tubby** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 4:21 pm

Ben Patrick wrote:
bavlondon wrote:Aldo on Roy Hodgson's appointment http://bit.ly/bRUmi0

Blocked in work...what does he say ?

Singing his praises, he has a lot of experience, knowledge of the game, respected by all ect... and that he has a job on his hands to convince our stars to say.

Generally positive though from him. A few digs at Rafa too.

Liverpool FC Forum

ROY HODGSON - Official Thread

Who is online