Quantcast
View from the Kop

Have We Moved On Since Hodgson?

|
Image for Have We Moved On Since Hodgson?

WITH the impending visit of Roy Hodgson to Anfield, question’s must be asked about how far we have progressed since the former Switzerland manager’s short ill-fated stay in the Reds hotseat. The West Brom boss’ tenure was marred by questionable signings, turbulent upheaval, want-away stars and mediocre performances. It was in short a rudderless ship crying out for a steady hand to steer the club in right direction.

Hodgson was a victim of timing and circumstance, money was scarce when he arrived having been told he had to sell before he could buy so out went Mascherano, Riera and Benayoun – three important players but he found that they had their heads turned elsewhere. With the kitty that was raised in came Meireles, Poulson, Cole and Konchesky, all unmitigated disasters on big wages apart from Meireles who showed glimmers of quality despite being positioned in his less favoured right-sided position, add Milan Jovanovic who was signed by Benitez into the mix leaving us with a very average side almost overnight.

With just three months into the 64 year old’s stay at the club the writing was on the wall as the new owners came in with their own ideas. As results, performances and the spirit on the pitch and in the stands were at an all-time low the calls for an increasingly vociferous Anfield crowd were calling for Kenny to be allowed access to his throne again.

Dalglish’s big advantage was a romantic one, the people’s choice immediately lifted moral and the promise of money to spend must have left a bitter taste in the mouth of the outgoing Hodgson. Results were not immediate, creases needed to be ironed out, want-aways needed to be sold on the club’s terms but one thing was evident, Kenny’s personality intoxicated the club who dared to dream once more.

Signings have been a bit of a mixed bag whatever way you wish to look at it. Yes money was recouped from the Torres deal but alongside Damian Comolli our January buys were concluded with a degree of panic and desperation. Hodgson made a small profit with his dealings, no doubt the habit of a man who made his reputation by maximising smaller projects. Dalglish does deserve some plaudits by committing Luis Suarez to the club who has proven by some way to be his smartest big money buy. Results were impressive pushing us from the bottom half to within a whisker of the Europa League.
[ad_pod id=”unruly-video” align=”center”]
We have failed to build on this form and summer signings have been less than impressive. The football has varied from calamitous to exceptional as opposed to the depressing percentage football purveyed by the former manager which led to mid-table form leading to nose bleeds when we reached the dizzy heights of 9th. After eight games under Hodgson Liverpool FC was on its knees, we had to rub our eyes when the league table stated we were in the bottom three. This season’s post Christmas hangover has alarmed many connected with the club, and we are in danger of finishing 9th which would be the clubs worst finish since we won promotion back in 1962. Hodgson may have had the club heading for a similar finish but he never had chance – having the club in relegation form over a 10 game period.

Dalglish’s cup form, the promise of several young players and the improvement of the quality of football the club is producing shows that progression it being made, but maybe not quick enough for some people who expect rather than hope for a successful future. Seekers of instant gratification as well as the more level headed fan who accept the highs and lows that go with following a football club and will go on backing the team through the ups and downs can all agree that getting to two cup finals in one year does constitute as a success. Yes our league form has been poor but who remembers who finished fourth in years to come? I prefer to look at the silverware collected.

Live4Liverpool is recruiting columnists. For further info contact the site editor at live4liverpool@snack-media.com

Follow us on Twitter here: @live4Liverpool and ‘Like’ us on Facebook

Share this article

I've been following the Reds ever since I set eyes on the majestic sight that is the Kop in full voice with flags aloft, albeit from the television with my dad as a 5 year old in my hometown of Dublin! He would tell me about the Irish contingent, the likes of Heighway, Whelan, Beglin and Houghton, he is a Leeds fan due to his hero Johnny Giles but I had to go against the grain on this one, his 3 year old grandson will not be afforded the same opportunity!
I completed a Higher National Diploma in Print Journalism back in Dublin where I briefly worked for the Irish Independent on a placement, covering Rugby, obituaries (including the great John Charles) and some sub editing. I then made the short journey to Liverpool, where I currently reside to undertake International Journalism at John Moores University. Some will say that over the years I have picked up a Jan Molbyesque native twang but I'm not so sure!
I was also lucky enough to have worked for the socialist publication "Morning Star" covering the Reds at Anfield which allowed me gain access to the press box and press conferences, I covered about 10 games and loved every minute of it!
I am excited to be joining the team at live4liverpool.com. From what I have seen so far the standard of articles have been first class, I hope to contribute to this by publishing pieces which create opinion and debate.

39 comments

  • Ahmad says:

    The West Brom boss’ tenure was marred by questionable signings, turbulent upheaval, want-away stars and mediocre performances. It was in short a rudderless ship crying out for a steady hand to steer the club in right direction. (Derek Byrne)

    Hodgeson almost relegated rafa’s team. kenny spent £115M and turned Liverpool into mid-table obscurity

    • Bomber25 says:

      No, there hasn’t been much progress since Hodgson’s departure. Dalglish’s signings of very average players has greatly held back any progress this great team could have made.

    • Paul says:

      115m to go from relegation candidates to mid table seems about right, especially when players were leaving as well. It wasn’t just 115m ON TOP of players we already had but 115 to replace players moving on. Big difference.

      The next set of investment should be about hitting the top four and then from there it should be about trying to win the league. As the saying goes, “don’t try to run before you can walk” (or something like that)

      • Bomber25 says:

        The next set of investment should be in the hands of a much broad minded manager; not a narrow-minded one like Dalglish.

      • Ahmad says:

        so which team spent £115M these past 12 months?

        And don’t forget, this is rafa’s team that delivered 63 points in his final season…and delivered 58 points and 6th place last season.

        Kenny dalglish is one of the few managers in premier league history who has successfully managed to downgrade a football team having spent a ton of money on it.

        presumably when the team finish 18th next season having won both domestic trophies KD will be able to say “look we’ve got consistency in the team, we defended our trophies!”

    • Chan says:

      I think the writer kind of answer his own question. KD had stability in the new owners plus 113 million in little over a season, things that Hodgson and Rafa could only dream off. Yet, we are a dismal 8th and had a bad run that dates back to 1953.

      KD and many of his fans (not to be confused with actual LFC fans) keeps talking about the CC win (yes we only won 1 trophy todate, there is this small matter of beatinf CFC in the FA Cup final, the same team that just beat Barca in the CL) but we nearly lost to a mid table 2nd Div team.

      With all the reasources at his disposal and the stability, is it a crime that we demand our beloved club do better than this. Is challenging for 4th too much to ask of KD with such advantages he has over Hodgson and Rafa? If Rafa who won the CL, the FA Cup and had us played in the CL every season except for one and Hodgson who had so little time and resources were fired for so called “non-performance” should not KD be judged the same? Why the double standards? B’cos he was a great player? B’cos he attended a few more funerals during the tragic disaster? Or is it b’cos he walk on us during one of our darkest time?

      Obviously our club have not move an inch during KD’s time, we are kind of suspended in time and might as well retained RH. The only way to move forward now is to sack KD and reappoint Rafa or someone else who shows they can do a much better job than KD such as Unai Emery from Spain.

  • stan h says:

    do bears shit in the woods ?

  • Bruce says:

    Roy’s side lost to Northampton in early rounds of the league cup. Kenny’s side won the league cup (beating Chelsea and Man City on the way). Oh, and got to the FA Cup final too. Progress?

    • Chan says:

      Oh you so conveniently “forgot” to mention our dismal league position. Both Manchester team lost those one off games in the Europa league, does that mean teams from Portugal are better than the BPL champions?

      We all know the league is the true barometer of progress and consistency. Except for KD and his fans.

  • stan howard says:

    Hodgson disrespected the fans, He thought He only had to please the owners – Big mistake, are there any Liverpool supporters on here ? two Cup finals MAGNIFICENT whoever dosnt finish 4th will have had a worse season than us FACT Tottenham ? Arsenal ? Chelsea if they go out of Europe ?. I HOPE TO BE STANDING ON QUEENS DRIVE WHEN THE BIG PARADE PASSES WITH TWO CUPS – ITS ONLY BEEN DONE 3 TIMES, SOME FAILURE.

    • Bill says:

      I’m with you Stan These no-marks are not LFC fans just impatient want everything yesterday kids.

    • Chan says:

      So now we could only look forward to the cups for salvation? Wonder how we won those 18 League titles years ago? And Shanks have to start from the 2nd Div.

      With fans like you is it any wonder we have not won the league for well over 20 years?

  • Dean says:

    Dalglish is a relic from the past !!! His signings are nothing short of diabolical as are his tactics and substitutions ??? Use are all fools too follow this idiot of a manager…we are and always will be a bottom half side under FOOLGLISH

    • sleeps with angels says:

      Hey you little bluenose gobs**** don come on here
      pretending to be a liverpool fan!!

  • Davie says:

    Roy had us playing dreadful football Dalglish has had us playing exceptionally. I hated Roy being interviewed before or after games,he talked the biggest lot of shite.I mean getting beat at Everton “that was our best performance of the season”. Roy was never up for the Liverpool job that always showed through. Give Dalglish time he has us going in the right direction. His signings have been questionable but im sure theyll come good especially AC. YNWA.

  • SuaRed says:

    Weve moved on for the simple fact that all Hodgsons buys best days where behind them! All Dalglishes buys best days are ahead of them (apart from downing whos in his prime and is poor).

    Players reach their prime between the ages of 27 to 30.

    All but one of the players bought will get a lot better.

    DEAN your an idiot!!!! Constructive yes abusive no!

  • redhed17 says:

    We have progressed because the football for the most part has been better. Under Hodgson it was depressing and not much chance of scoring, because we weren’t an attacking force. We may not be scoring that many, and many posts around the country have been hit, but at least the balls have been going near the target. The stats may not be much better, but it is an improvement from where we were heading with Hodgson. One cup, and a fifty fifty chance of another is progress too.

    Yes Dalglish has made mistakes, but who hasn’t?

  • How we got the carling cup??? HOW we have reach the FA cup final??? or it’s better of getting nothing ???

  • Bekim says:

    Worst league results for more 50 years. 16 points behind newcastle,36 points behind MU. How can people call that progress is beyond a joke.

    • sleeps with angels says:

      Bekim you idiot if hodgson was still boss we would be fighting relegation!

      • Bekim says:

        And if league started in January we would b relegated toowith KD If RH stayed till the end of the season probably he would have got us where we r now with KD. I never liked him as the mngr of Lfc and I signed the petition to get rid of him. RH was bad appointment just as KD. Just look at the PL table and you’ll c. 16 points behind a team that two years ago were in championship. Only IDIOTS like can’t seem to understand that.

    • Chan says:

      Yes Bekim, many conveniently “forgot” about our bad run and dismal league position. Not long ago, we laugh at Mourinho (with Chelsea that time) for spending well over 100 mill and end up with a league cup. We are doing the same aren’t we?

      • Bekim says:

        Chan. It’s idiots like “sleep with angels” who won’t let this club mOve forward.

  • cal says:

    how u call yourself a lfc fan is a joke. ooops, maybe i was mistaken. u r just another manu scum imposting as one of us. the same goes to those above who call for kenny’s head.

    • Bekim says:

      Does it say anywhere in my comment that I’m calling for KD head or u r just thick. I’m just stating the facts and all u have to do is check PL table and u will c. So whoever is realist and not blind is manc or whatever. When my boy was born the first outfit he wore was ” MY DAD IS AN LFC FAN”. Since than he’s had every single LFC kit which came out. The home and away ones. The same with me and my doughter. So whoever has a different opinion to yours is a manc( the club I despise ) with all my heart than you r just an idiot.

    • Chan says:

      We called for KD’s head because with all the stability and 113 mill :

      1) We are lying 8th.

      2) We are closer to relegation than 4th.

      3) Everton, our neighbours who are above us spends less than what we paid for Charlie Adams. In fact they only spend 5.5 mill. Imagine if Moyes have 113 mill.

      4) Newcastle another team above us rebuilt their entire attack with Carroll’s money.

      5) Others like MC or Manure, when they paid 20 to 30 mill they get the real deal. KD paid for “potential”. Check Nasri, Mata, Aguero and compared with Henderson, Downing, Carroll. Just because KD is more intetested in their passport than actual ability. DC is the fall guy. That shopping list was written by KD.

      6) Because of KD’s tactical ineptitude. Check games against Blackburn, Newcastle, Norwich, Sunderlan just to name a few. That is why we have drawn 10 and lost 11.

      7) Another season out of the CL means we would have less income and football wise be further away from our rivals. Even if our owners sanction another 100 mill or two, we could run afoul of UEFA Financial Fairplay.

      So Cal other then some pointless rant, anything to back up your arguement? It seems the joke is on you AND KD.

      • Bekim says:

        Very well said mate.

        • Chan says:

          Err Bekim, revision on point 6. We have now lost 12 after yesterday’s game. Do not be too alarmed, just another routine result under KD, but heck we have the CC, who cares if we end up getting relegated like the Brums. Just like them we can boast about our CC.

          Mr. Henry if you are reading this, should you decide to be daft enough to retain KD, expect the same or worse next season.

        • cal says:

          you two should stay where you belong. i have seen you guys posting in that liverpoolkop site where fools calling for rafa’s head and now kenny’s head. you people are not lfc fans. while you have said that you prefer roy over kenny says how stupid you are. go support west brom if u like toy so much. u wont be missed.

  • ApoN? says:

    i still BELIEVE, n i will BELIEVE that LIVERPOOL FC will finish this season 7th place in the league n also having 2 cups with us…. even though our league position sucks… Carling Cup n FA Cup would b enough… success doesn’t come overnight.. a loyal fans would stay through thick n thin even though we r in a slump.. n i BELIEVE it is a progress..!! YNWA… !!

  • Redblood says:

    All those that say we aren’t progressed are all manc scum and don’t even deserve to post on this site. Yes KD has made a few bad signings but there all still young and give them a chance. We should get behind the team and stop moaning about it.

    YNWA

  • Spot on Chan, i totally with all your poin.. FACT. Now bring back Rafa!YNWA

    • Chan says:

      Not a bad idea John. At least Rafa is more in tune with the modern game and can sort out the mess presented to us by KD.

      He never had 100 mill in a season. Gives him the right support and resources, i believe he could bring us far.

      Imagine he could get strikers to score even though he UNLIKE KD was not a top striker. I am sure he can do much better.

  • cal says:

    who looks like a fool now? you wanted roy out and now you want him back? he would have got us relegated sooner than the wolves. stop embarrassing yourself

  • Excellent post, very informative. I’m wondering why the other experts of this sector don’t understand this. You must continue your writing. I’m sure, you’ve a great readers’ base already!|What’s Going down i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It absolutely useful and it has aided me out loads. I am hoping to contribute & aid other customers like its helped me. Great job.

Comments are closed.