Liverpool FC Forum

by **Reg** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 2:13 pm

supersub wrote:I accept the narrow defeat because it was what we deserved from the 90 minutes....but I would never accept it before a ball has been kicked

Well said.

by **Ciggy** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 7:03 pm

Alan Hansen: Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson must be more adventurous after defeat

Roy Hodgson is beginning to reap what Rafael Benítez sowed in his final 18 months. When he replaced Benítez as manager of Liverpool, Hodgson accepted an incredibly hard job because he was left with a team that, while not in total disarray, simply were not good enough.

Published: 6:30AM BST 20 Sep 2010

If you set out to challenge for a Champions League position and finish in seventh, then the team are clearly not up to requirements.

Hodgson knew the task facing him at Liverpool when he left Fulham, and you have to say that he has already cleared out some of the dead wood and replaced those players with better personnel. But it is all about results, and when they are not going your way, people will begin to ask questions.

After the defeat at Manchester United, it is clear that Liverpool are still suffering from the same problems away from home that they have had for a while.

They were abysmal away from Anfield last season and have only managed one point from three away games so far in this campaign.

Having come back from 2-0 down to make it 2-2 at Old Trafford, I expected Liverpool automatically to go deeper and deeper and that is what they did.

Just like in last season’s defeat at United, instead of defending the 18-yard box and keeping the opposition away from goal, Liverpool dropped back until they were on top of the goalkeeper – and they paid the price when Dimitar Berbatov scored the winner.

What Liverpool have to do away from home, certainly against lesser opposition, is become more adventurous and try to get some positive results.

The big concern, just five games into the season, is that Liverpool already find themselves 10 points behind Chelsea because, at the outset of the campaign, there was real optimism that they could put up a good show in the title race.

After ending the last campaign in doom and gloom, there was a lot of hope at Anfield generated by the signing of Joe Cole and the announcements by both Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard that they were staying at the club.

It was a lift for everybody and, with a couple of good signings in Raul Meireles and Christian Poulsen, the outlook appeared much brighter.

I am not saying that I expected Liverpool to win the title, but I certainly believed they could put up a decent show. You have to say that the hope and optimism has diminished after just five games.

Progress has been made by Hodgson, but despite the reality that his players will take time to gel into a team, results are everything.

After 20 years in the doldrums since Liverpool last won the league, the fans are desperate for that to end, but it has to be tempered with the realisation that any new manager needs time.

Hodgson will be looking at 18 months to two years to shape his team, because you cannot get success straight away. He will get time, but on the pitch it is a case of the players simply having to keep going and maintain the belief. It is what we did in the 1970s ’80s, whenever things were not going for us.

In mitigation, you can say that Liverpool have had a difficult run, with games against Arsenal, Manchester City and United, plus a tough trip to Birmingham, who have a tremendous home record.

A tough start can show how good you are or highlight just how far you have to go and, at this stage, you would have to say that the latter has been borne out.

But the fact remains that Liverpool now have what they would view as winnable games coming up at Anfield, against Sunderland and Blackpool, before they face Everton at Goodison Park.

In those home games, they must look to become more offensive and get back to the Liverpool of two years ago, when they went at teams and hemmed in opponents.

But after starting the season believing that Liverpool could challenge again, the situation now is that they are thinking, ‘Can we get fourth?’ rather than anything more ambitious.

So despite the positives that Hodgson has already brought in his time as manager, the story so far is mixed and the emotions of the supporters are fluctuating between high and low.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport....at.html

Dont be acting suprised Jocky you watched Fulham enough times on MOTD.

by **zarababe** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 7:08 pm

So... ALL PALLY PALLY WITH THE THE ENEMY BEFORE HAND.. THEN DISSED BY THE ENEMY.. TRUE TO FORM fergie- 'cricket score' .. 'catastrophic' loss ay.. Roy has a lot to learn.. WE ARE LIVERPOOL FC.. NOT FULHAM !

by **bigmick** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 7:24 pm

really good article from hansen Lynds, thanks for posting it up particularly as he is obviously extremely supportive of the manager. I know the tendency on here is to only post up articles which agree with your standpoint, and fair play to you for bucking the trend.

I like these quotes where jocky tells it like it is:

"When he replaced Benítez as manager of Liverpool, Hodgson accepted an incredibly hard job because he was left with a team that, while not in total disarray, simply were not good enough."

"Hodgson knew the task facing him at Liverpool when he left Fulham, and you have to say that he has already cleared out some of the dead wood and replaced those players with better personnel"

"After the defeat at Manchester United, it is clear that Liverpool are still suffering from the same problems away from home that they have had for a while."

I could go on, but people can read it for themselves. Just as well that those who know about such things are still talking sense, good article.

by **fivecups** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 7:34 pm

Nice, balanced, middle-of-the-road article. No sign of extremism, accepts Roy needs time and isn't going to judge him yet. Equally he's not calling Konchesky world-class and he accepts we're not going to win the league. The last bit is my pick:

'So despite the positives that Hodgson has already brought in his time as manager, the story so far is mixed and the emotions of the supporters are fluctuating between high and low.'

by **Thommo's perm** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 7:46 pm

I really respect jockey and he does usually talk a lot of sense. But Im afraid his ar'se has had a turn instead of his mouth if he thought we were going to be near the top of the league this season.

"The big concern, just five games into the season, is that Liverpool already find themselves 10 points behind Chelsea because, at the outset of the campaign, there was real optimism that they could put up a good show in the title race.

"I am not saying that I expected Liverpool to win the title, but I certainly believed they could put up a decent show. You have to say that the hope and optimism has diminished after just five games."

"Progress has been made by Hodgson, but despite the reality that his players will take time to gel into a team, results are everything.
After 20 years in the doldrums since Liverpool last won the league, the fans are desperate for that to end, but it has to be tempered with the realisation that any new manager needs time."

Only five games in and its doom and gloom for some. At least he acknowledges that it will take time to sort things out. People really dont seem to understand the enormity of the job Roy has taken on. Some thought he would walk in, wave his magic wand and all the problems he had inherited would disappear.

by **Reg** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 8:01 pm

I've never known a fella to get kicked out of a job and his successor or someone close to the business say the last fella wasn't a w@nker.

Its human nature.

Moyes to walk, MON takes over, 2 weeks later, Moyes is a w@nker.

by **Thommo's perm** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 8:11 pm

Reg wrote:I've never known a fella to get kicked out of a job and his successor or someone close to the business say the last fella wasn't a w@nker.

Its human nature.

Moyes to walk, MON takes over, 2 weeks later, Moyes is a w@nker.

Moyes is already a w@nker
:eyebrow

by **tubby** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 8:25 pm

He's still finding his feet here and to be honest he can probably benefit from the ownership situation such that there won't be the sort of pressure on him this season as we had last season. There is no real expectation to win the league and many will also admit it's going to be tough to even get 4th.

by **fivecups** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 8:28 pm

bavlondon wrote:He's still finding his feet here and to be honest he can probably benefit from the ownership situation such that there won't be the sort of pressure on him this season as we had last season. There is no real expectation to win the league and many will also admit it's going to be tough to even get 4th.

It's a good point Bav, Rafa certainly played that card when required!

by **tubby** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 8:35 pm

fivecups wrote:
bavlondon wrote:He's still finding his feet here and to be honest he can probably benefit from the ownership situation such that there won't be the sort of pressure on him this season as we had last season. There is no real expectation to win the league and many will also admit it's going to be tough to even get 4th.

It's a good point Bav, Rafa certainly played that card when required!

He did play that card but he was well within his rights. These owners have been a pest since day 1 and it's reached tipping point now. If Hicks stays it will surely make life harder for Roy. Not just in the sense that he won't get fk all to spend but our lack of spending will probably push other players to leave.

by **fivecups** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 8:44 pm

bavlondon wrote:
fivecups wrote:
bavlondon wrote:He's still finding his feet here and to be honest he can probably benefit from the ownership situation such that there won't be the sort of pressure on him this season as we had last season. There is no real expectation to win the league and many will also admit it's going to be tough to even get 4th.

It's a good point Bav, Rafa certainly played that card when required!

He did play that card but he was well within his rights. These owners have been a pest since day 1 and it's reached tipping point now. If Hicks stays it will surely make life harder for Roy. Not just in the sense that he won't get fk all to spend but our lack of spending will probably push other players to leave.

I think their 'tenure' is starting to wind up now, we've been saying it for a while now but I still think we're in the end-game. These viral campaigns are proving supporters do have a voice. Anyway, that's for another thread.

by **shabelle50** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 9:27 pm

Hodgson needs time but whether he'll get it I don't know. All these rumours about O'Neill but even aside from that I wouldn't be surprised if Hodgson was replaced before the end of the season. Football is about results I'm not convinced Hodgson will survive beyond this season unless things improve quite rapidly.

by **Thommo's perm** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 9:41 pm

shabelle50 wrote:Hodgson needs time but whether he'll get it I don't know. All these rumours about O'Neill but even aside from that I wouldn't be surprised if Hodgson was replaced before the end of the season. Football is about results I'm not convinced Hodgson will survive beyond this season unless things improve quite rapidly.

Well if they dont then the players will have to take their share of the responsibility. They have had a tough start to the league campaign but now have the ideal opportunity to get some points on the board. Lets see if they rise to the challenge.

by **RED BEERGOGGLES** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 10:10 pm

People will glean from that article by Hansen whatever suits their own slant on things ....for example I would lean towards this particular passage as delivering the most poignant part of the piece .......

Hodgson knew the task facing him at Liverpool when he left Fulham, and you have to say that he has already cleared out some of the dead wood and replaced those players with better personnel. But it is all about results, and when they are not going your way, people will begin to ask questions

After the defeat at Manchester United, it is clear that Liverpool are still suffering from the same problems away from home that they have had for a while.

They were abysmal away from Anfield last season and have only managed one point from three away games so far in this campaign.

Having come back from 2-0 down to make it 2-2 at Old Trafford, I expected Liverpool automatically to go deeper and deeper and that is what they did.

" any manager inheriting this team would do significantly better than Benitez " .... does it still resonate with truth or does it sound decidedly hollow now ? ...what Hansen is saying in a rather polite way is that drastic change is needed to the managers mindset ... and its needed now before its too late

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