I am not a big Roy Hodgson fan. Let’s just get that out of the way right away. I’m one of those Liverpool ‘fans’ (there are many of us) that would happily see him sacked tomorrow, with little sympathy. I have grown increasingly irritated with the misguided moralizing about how real Liverpool fans would never get a manager sacked (really? Not even when he is blatantly out of his depth and attempting to justify us languishing in the relegation zone?). But seeing as Hodgson’s meeting with the owners passed without incident earlier this week it appears that we’re stuck with him for the foreseeable future. So Roy might as well look at making some much-needed changes to the first team to improve matters on the pitch while he’s still here.
One thing this past week has brought – quite painfully – to the fore is how lacking we are on the left. Watching Gareth Bale score a hat-trick against Inter Milan a few weeks back then destroying them on Tuesday night was startling. Bale has been described as a ‘cannonball’ and has drawn comparisons with the great Brazilian Roberto Carlos for his rampaging style and powerful shot. It really brings home the gulf in quality when you watch Paul Konchesky constantly hammering the ball back at Pepe Reina every time he is faced with any opposition player that has more than one leg. In the short term, anybody else would do better. Quite literally, anybody. Or, we could do worse than getting Insua back from loan. In the long term, we can hope Damien Comolli works his magic (being the man who ‘discovered’ Bale at Tottenham) and points Hodgson in the direction of some left-sided quality.
Another thing Roy needs to implement is to actually have the players press the opposition, and push up the pitch as a team when doing so. One amusing post on a fan forum before the Napoli game a couple of weeks ago had Liverpool’s formation for the match down as 7-2—–1 and in all fairness, the poster was not far off in his estimation of how we’ve been playing so far this year. Hodgson has made it clear that he is not a huge fan of the former manager but if he only ever took one leaf out of the Inter manager’s book it should be just that – start sending your teams out with orders to press the opposition – preferably from high up the pitch – at all times; never give them a second. If you can accomplish that and put it to good use, then a lot of other positives may well follow. Start this way on Sunday and we may well find the result to be more in our favour than most are expecting.
Continue Reading on Page 2 . . .
STELLA WDM RESULTS
the first half last night was torture for a liverpool supporter, two holding midfielders at home against what he knew were an average outfit was disgraceful, it would have been worth it if we lost in the long run because if that first half crap had continued the crowd would have made sure it was his last game, i started out making allowances for him ,then hoped he would improve, but he is worse, no idea of what we are,what we expect, what we deserve, we are winning despite him not because of him – go go go go now.
That was bad I agree but just wait until Sunday and you will see so many defending midfielders on the pitch we will be playing 1-10-0 !!!
I am dreading it and knowing that Henry is going to keep him gives me nightmares…
We simply can’t move forward with Roy in charge. He is not the long term solution. So every game he wins delays his removal.
We need a long term manager and to be patient with him. Roy isn’t that man. This season is a right off because Roy won’t get top 4 yet if he scrapes top 6 he won’t be sacked until the summer at least.
Stan, Chunky, Alan, I agree with all of your comments – my sentiments exactly
I believe by January Roy may be gone i do not believe he can attract many decent names.
The other point is if you are to have a long term plan, which they have the long term manager you bring in will need to agree to the signings.