andy_g wrote:supersub wrote:You want to tell some of the devout Lucas and Kuyt haters that have become such Roy Hodgson stalwarts for no other reason than they hated Rafa Benitez......
i think this statement is completely and utterly wrong, and its an ingrained belief that is causing a lot of stress on the forum. its overly simplistic and provocative to say that people defend hodgson because they hated benitez. the only person i've seen coming out with genuine hatred towards benitez is big niall, i think - most other people whated him out for footballing reasons which have been explained to death.
the reason that many defend hodgson - myself included - isn't because of any feelings about benitez, but because the guy needs to be given a chance. we know that he's probably not long term manager material, we know he's not an up and at 'em type, and we know he can be a bit tetchy with the media (even though they apparently love him). what i'm seeing is so many people who are so angry about his appointment that they'll go to any lengths to find ways to discredit him - and i don't think that's fair. he's got us on an unbeaten run and we just beat chelsea. we aren't playing drop dead gorgeous football but that's not exactly anything new.
Exactomundo. I don't think Roy is the long term answer either, but feck me now he's here we might as well give him a chance.