The January transfer window is fast approaching, and many fans will read a lot into the owners spending. Will they back Roy? If they do, does that mean we’re in it for the long haul? The majority of Reds are indifferent to Hodgson and his methods. His nice guy attitude in front of the cameras doesn’t sit too comfortably with those of us who want a manager to ruffle some feathers. The tactics employed, are unflattering to say the least, derisory football and an obsession with rigidity isn’t winning over anybody. One defence for bad football tends to be ‘well at least it’s effective’. In this case however, it’s both bad and ineffective. Sam Allardyce would be ashamed of us! And that says it all.
I have stated before, that I would give Hodgson the full season, because deep down, I just don’t care how we do this season as long as the future is looking bright. A scorched Earth approach can bring new shoots to bear, and I think with a new ownership and a new direction, the club needs to outline certain long term fundamentals. Football isn’t going anywhere, so one revolution after another won’t achieve much, we need a blank slate, and time to evolve. Whether Hodgson is capable enough to wipe the slate clean and start again is one question, whether he has the ability to develop us into a force that sticks to an entertaining mandate is one I’m almost sure will not happen.
I admit to knowing little about our new Director of Football Strategy, mostly due to me not paying attention to him before he came here. (If anyone has any relevant information on Damien Comolli, share it!) It seems that the Frenchman could have some considerable influence at the club, and although I’m not an advocate of suits running things on the pitch, I’m willing to give him time. As I mentioned before, a long term vision is important, and if he has it, as well as the suspected big influence, he could well be a kingmaker at the club. If, and I guess if is the buzzword, we were to get a new manager in the summer, I wouldn’t expect a big name. A few names who I wouldn’t mind being banded about are Flores, Coyle and Deschamps.
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Coyle may seem a strange shout to some, but I think his ability to over-achieve with a good brand of football and an intelligent, insightful personality mean he is a different type of over-achiever than Roy. We might see a few class goals for the reserves too. Hodgson’s achievements were through a tough shell and a ‘blue collar mentality’. Coyle on the other hand seems to encourage creativity, although, nobody has a crystal ball and whoever was to come in would have to have the fans onside quickly.
Flores and Deschamps are both in my eyes, similar coaches. They employ a technical approach and both work alongside (or under, if you prefer) football directors. It would not surprise me if the club started to take on a French feel over the next couple of years. Although, Deschamps has been around the game almost 10 years now, he is still relatively young and has managed to topple Lyon from their perch. Quique Sanches Flores is a hard one to sell, he’s more personality than coach, although he clearly has ability. His antics against Espanyol two weeks ago were, although in the wrong, good to see. He isn’t afraid to get involved and I think his success in the Europa League last year with some big name players means he knows how to handle them.
Henry and the rest of NESV speak well, and they understand diatribe when they see it. However, people understand that Roy Hodgson isn’t their man and unless success is quick, new owners don’t tend to stick with the in place manager. It’s gotten to the point now that, when watching Liverpool play, I find myself bored of being frustrated. A deep back-line and no pressure on the opposition in their own half could give me restless nights and calls echoing in my head of ‘attack attack attack’. It’s hard to even be philosophical about it, Roy may be sure in his ability, but not many others are, despite his embarrassing claims of good form. Besides beating Chelsea, Liverpool have done the bare minimum and less, throughout the season.
If we’re to start a fresh, there’s no time like the present. As stated, I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking ‘I wouldn’t mind Roy having the season’, but I think that’s only because deep down, I’m hoping he’s not here come June.
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guardiola’s contract is up at the end of the season and i don’t think he wants to sign another. i say we should try if he’s available
i think guardiola will replace carlo at chelski if things dont pick up thb
Ian Holloway! The mans a genius and the perfect character for the club hes a supporters man and would embrace a club like liverpool and not be fazed by the big names and big egos!! What do you guys think? Cant be any worse than roy right?
Another shout for Rafa!
He still has unfinished business here and was only sacked because the previous owners wanted a ‘yes’ man.
His record with us is great and the last season was purely because he wasn’t backed financially for 4/5 transfer windows in a row.
He’s one of the best strategists out there. He get’s results. Most of all, he has LFC in his heart!
I thought he was sacked because he flopped with his team coming in 7th in the league while barely playing any better football than the dross that Hodgson has served up this season…
Ian Holloway anyone
Although i’m sick of hearing about Roy leaving I have faith in him he is a very good manager and I would like to see where we are at the end of the season and what moves are mad in January, I would like to see Jovanovic,Babel and Poulsen leave and players like Honda,Young and L.Diarra replace them along with a top quality centre forward{Carroll} then maybe in the summer we can look at a left back{Coentrao} and a Centre half{G.Cahill}
class required? yes say no more DALGLISH….
I think we have to get rid of him now before the transfer window, so that he cannot inflict any more “mistakes” on us. In the last window, which thankfully he had very little time to operate in, he managed to lend out a very promising left back and bring in an aging “never was” and a mid fielder who has been setting the Italian league alight and bring in someone who couldn’t even make it glow!! Now I read he wants to get rid of Jovanovic, who in my eyes has looked very promising at times, however has not been given the oppotunity to develop any real understanding witth his fellow team mates because of lack of starts! We need to get someone in who will build for the future, not do his best to impose his methods by bringing in players who have played for him at some stage in the past. We are playing the worst football I have witnessed from a Liverpool team in almost 50 years of watching them and have got to the stage where I almost can’t be bothered reading about them because it’s never very good news. I honestly can’t see things improving while Hodgson is in charge, he has to go and the sooner the better!!
Fully agreed with Evil C & Loinhammer!
Another Big shout to get Rafa back. He has unfinished business to do.
Rafa left mainly because of the politics in the board room (ahem, I heard the name of Christian Purslow) and obvious lack of fund.
He certainly has LFC in his heart and I read he purposely paid a visit to Hillsborough Family Support Group and personally donated £96K the day he was announced the manager for Inter Milan.
Just like Scouse Down Under I’ve not been following the matches ever since our new manager came on board, not that I don’t support the team (mind you that I’ve walked with the team through thick & thin for 25 years) but the results have so far been very very disappointed and I just couldn’t even bear to read the paper the next day, and I so much wish that Roy could prove me wrong.
RAFA BACK!!!
surely we want the club to move forward , not backwards. wake up guys (and I was a rafa fan) . . .just look whats happened to Inter, any similarities?
It’s good to see JOACHIM LOEW’S name mentioned I think he’s doing wonders on the world stage & silverware can only enhance his credentials. OWEN COYLE would be a gamble but I don’t think NESV are the gambling types, PEP GUARDIOLA coming off contract at the end of the year I can only see 3 teams outside of SPAIN who could afford him & we’re not one of them. So who? I like & always have liked DALGLISH someone who has talked the talk & walked the walk!!! and knows what LIVERPOOL is all about. Deschamps the Marseille coach would be able to work with Comolli along with MARTIN JOL who worked with him at TOTTENHAM. But I’d like to toss someone else’s name in there that hasn’t been mentioned RONALD KOEMAN ? To all the fans who want Rafa back he’s starting to portray himself as a bit of a MEGALOMANIAC who cannot work with a Director of Football, a Chairman & Owners. He wants a 9 figure transfer kitty and apologies from MASSIMO, JOSE, ARSENE & FERGIE and you reckon he has unfinished business? THANKS FOR THE GOOD TIMES RAFA BUT NO THANKS!!!
O’Neill is a ‘CLOWN’, keep him away from ANFIELD !!!
BRING BACK ‘RAFA’
Rumour – Rafa has been sacked by Inter Milan! is he going to come back???
It is clear that there are other issues at play, perhaps Scouse vs Cockney. Either way, it is clear that Hodgson does not have the support of a large amount of fans.
Having said that, Owen Coyle is somebody we should seriously look at, before another big club takes him on and gives him the resources to be the next Ferguson or Wenger. He will be a big name in English football in years to come, it is just not yet clear at which club.
New owners, a new page in Liverpool’s history… I think we should take a gamble and get Owen Coyle. We backed a young Kenny Dalglish into his first steps of management I think we should wipe the slate clean and give Coyle his big break. I like his style both on and off the pitch. Bolton have been playing some good football under Coyle certainly a lot more pleasing on the eye than we have been. At least they are positive win, lose or draw… I’m sure I speak for many fellow LFC supporters in thinking that all we want is a team that shows commitment, effort, positivity and willingness to try!
ANDREAS VILLAS-BOAS……33 years old and look at his record with Porto….absolutely phenominal…. If you want a manager for the future he is the man….plain and simple.