Liverpool legend Alan Hansen has described the Reds’ performance against Blackpool as an “embarassment” and has called on Roy Hodgson to play more positively at home. In his column in the Daily Telegraph, he first criticised the 11 players who played:
“Roy Hodgson knows well enough that the buck will always stop with the manager, but the truth of Liverpool’s defeat against Blackpool is that the 11 players who started the game should be embarrassed. They were wearing red shirts at Anfield and produced a totally unacceptable performance in a defeat that left Liverpool in the relegation zone. It was an embarrassment.Forget about the history and tradition of the club. Pride also comes into it, but if the pride isn’t there among the players, then there is not a lot of hope for the club. Results are the manager’s responsibility and Roy knows that and that is why he is now being subjected to criticism from the supporters. The owners have also left the club in a mess, so that is another big problem. But it is up to the players to show anybody and everybody that they have the passion to turn this around and that must start when they play Everton in their next game following the international break.”
Hansen also critiscised the tactics used against Blackpool
“Let’s not forget, Liverpool have a group of players who played in the latter stages of the World Cup this summer. Some even played in the final. So when they are facing Blackpool at home, needing to win to escape the bottom three, you would expect them to come out and roll Ian Holloway’s team over and score five or six goals. That is not because Blackpool have just been promoted and were not fancied to win. It is simply because Liverpool were at home, they needed a victory and they should have taken Blackpool apart. It didn’t happen. Even at 2-1 down, you expected them to surge forward and get something from the game, but Blackpool continued to be the better side. It is little wonder that the fans’ patience finally snapped following the game. After three to four years of unbelievable support, and last year in particular when they watched some absolute drivel away from home, it reached breaking point with this defeat. They have seen enough sub-standard football, enough rubbish. At some point, it becomes too much and that is why the supporters were so angry after Sunday’s game.”
Hansen does believe however that Roy Hodgson will be given time to turn things around:
“Despite the disharmony on the Kop, Liverpool are not going to change a manager after seven games. They are not going to change him after another 10 games either. It is not what Liverpool do and the people who are running the club know how it operates and how it has traditionally done things. The only way that a change will be made is if Liverpool are in the relegation zone at Christmas, but that will not happen.”
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Apparently the owners have left the club in a mess and the players are to blame. Shame you didn’t have this stance when Benitez was the manager. Oh the excuses that are now coming from ex-players and pundits who wanted change. You made your bed Hansen. Now please lie in it.
Jack – totally agree with your comments.
I would love it if Hodgson was sacked and King Kenny took over with Hansen as a defensive coach, Rush as an attacking coach. not going to happen though!
LFC need to be sold or declared bankrupt this next week – ANYTHING IS BETTER THAN WHERE WE ARE NOW. Dont care if Torres or anyone else walks – all that matters is LFC.
I am Disgusted , I said it previously, and i will say it again , Steve G offers no inspiration to the current crisis , change the captaincy , if Carra loves this club than he should do the honorable think and quit or take up a position as a backroom boy, Torres is not happy , please sell him , we can fetch between 20 – 30 Million Pounds for him as seen we can not depend on him any longer. I can bear to watch our once famous club play such rubbish football ,Kenny D please take ove and rescue the situation
Hansen’s one-eyed view of events at LFC shows he is a clod
Totally agree!!! Show passion damn it, at times it’s like the guys don’t even want to be on the pitch!???
I was a fan of Rafa but i must say with reasonable funding this season results would be different, so Roy is only facing up to what Rafa went through.
I must say that all the fans and media fools that called 4 Rafas head must now be wondering what if.
As a supporter who always backs the most under fire red men and constant defender of Benitez, at the point Rafa was fired my attitude was I was to turn negative toward Hodgson before a game had been played. This attitude lasted for about five minutes as i just could not resist supporting the club in my blood, my life my release from the groundhog of the struggles of everyday life. IGNORE ex players who have avoided or failed in management, Ignore the moaners whose speeddial number 1 is to a radio phone in and most of all ignore the biased Liverpool hating media. Let’s not rise to the bait of Talksport and Hairy Keys etc. We need to forget champions league places as we won’t see the money anyway. The ownership saga will soon be over and then we start again, a start with one of the biggest fanbases in the world, a start which for most clubs be ipossible but for ours no. Time to stick together and stay behind the manager and the players regardless of who they are. The negativity will affect them on the pitch. Agreed Hodgson needs to sort tactics out but it’s not our style to start bullying someone who just accepted a job. Keep the faith it’s rallying time as we need to get a few points on the board.
Nobody can question Alan Hansen’s remarks for they are spot on. Hodgson has got it wrong tactically and the players have been equally woeful.
Agreed, it is fair to say that he was more outspoken in his criticism of Benitez, and you would have to question that.
However, the current assessment of the club is accurate as are a lot of the above comments. I can accept poor performance but never lack of effort or commitment.
Let us hope that RBS make a decisive decision on the club’s future, a decision which will install some morale into everyone at the club.
Jack, spot on could not agree more with you!