The New Manager Thread

[Big Dave]

Totally underwhelmed

Thing is though, how much leeway will Hodgson be given? We've got a pretty tough start to the campaign and it's not unreasonable to think that we may lose our opening games. Can't see the crowd being too happy with that. What's the likelyhood of the team getting booed early in the season? Could be a real **** storm start.

[dww]

Aside from the fact he cant win away from home, doesnt use young players, has a suspect transfer record and plays defensive football I think he'll be great!

Which transfers are you questioning?

The youth policy thing is an interesting point and one which I think could be key. The thing is though that he inherited a squad with little quality young players and an under performing youth structure at Fulham. What was he supposed to do? He is thought of as having a good eye for young players (see Smalling) and has given a few young players a couple of games last season at Fulham.

It will be interesting to see what he does/what happens to our newly imported youth system. I'd like to see us have a stable set up for at least 5 years to see the effects of the changes made.

I do wonder whether we will see the return of Elias as well.

[Chris]

Which transfers are you questioning?

Loads. Starting with Andy Johnson at over £10m, other crap like Nevland, Eddie Johnson, Stephen Kelly and many more. He's got a few bargains but bar Hangeland and Smalling (who he doesnt play anyway) he's not really plucked any amazing bargains out who'd go for a lot more than they were signed for, like say Moyes has with Jagielka, Pienaar, Arteta, Cahill, Lescott etc. And going back to Blackburn you have Kevin Davies, Nathan Blake and Christian Dailly which ended up with him getting sacked.

Smalling is supposed to be really good and yet cant get a game for Fulham. Another reason to be massively concerned with his use of young players.

[lickedlollipop]

Deschamps, please

[PTP]

roy ****ing hodgson - it's going to happen - we are going to end up with hodgson kenny will walk, we are going to lose mascher/gerrard/torres, we are going to sign some cheapo ****e to fill in the gaps, and we are ultimatley going to be ****.

I don't like feeling like this - i want to welcome our new manager, and i like roy hodgson, but **** him, it's not what i want to see, it's not what any of us want to see, we have turned into newcastle united or bolton where we are going to ****ing boo the appointment, it also for me points to no new ownership in the near future - it's so ****ing depressing -

Please please please England sack capello now and approach roy hodgson!

[byrnolegend]

Not sure if this has been on here already but I remember a couple of weeks ago at the end of a World Cup programme when RTE were first reporting our interest in Hodgson, they said Houllier had recommended him to the board, thanks alot Gerard! Balls.
Pellegrini out to 20-1 with Paddypower, can we all stick a couple of quid on him, bring his odds down, let the media think its a two horse race again and maybe give us something to hope for!
Roy please take the England job, your country needs you! Please!!!!!

[dww]

Loads. Starting with Andy Johnson at over £10m, other crap like Nevland, Eddie Johnson, Stephen Kelly and many more. He's got a few bargains but bar Hangeland and Smalling (who he doesnt play anyway) he's not really plucked any amazing bargains out who'd go for a lot more than they were signed for, like say Moyes has with Jagielka, Pienaar, Arteta, Cahill, Lescott etc. And going back to Blackburn you have Kevin Davies, Nathan Blake and Christian Dailly which ended up with him getting sacked.

Smalling is supposed to be really good and yet cant get a game for Fulham. Another reason to be massively concerned with his use of young players.

The point about signings is in some ways fair although the fact he has kept one of the smallest wage budgets in the division is probably a pretty large factor in that too.

The criticism re: Smalling I think is unfair though. He is a young central defender and has been eased into the team. You rarely see the likes of Ferguson or Wenger giving young central defenders more prominence than that so early in their careers.

[byrnolegend]

Anyone out there want to set up a quick hodgsonforengland.com petition type website?! Spread the word! Let's get a million hits from LFC fans alone! Stay away from Liverpool Roy!! England was made for you!

1) He's English!
2) He doesn't have tax issues!
3) He can deal with mediocre players!
4) He has previous International experience!

[michelmas]

roy ****ing hodgson - it's going to happen - we are going to end up with hodgson kenny will walk, we are going to lose mascher/gerrard/torres, we are going to sign some cheapo ****e to fill in the gaps, and we are ultimatley going to be ****.

I don't like feeling like this - i want to welcome our new manager, and i like roy hodgson, but **** him, it's not what i want to see, it's not what any of us want to see, we have turned into newcastle united or bolton where we are going to ****ing boo the appointment, it also for me points to no new ownership in the near future - it's so ****ing depressing -

Please please please England sack capello now and approach roy hodgson!

This really is hilarious how negative people are being in relation to Hodgson. This is a man that, last year, brought a nothing club to a European final and were unlucky not to walk away with the trophy. This is the man that took a group of players and turned them into a unit that was so much bigger than their constituent parts. This is reflected in their ability to win games in Europe that no one thought they could win. It's reflected in the unbelievable comebacks they were involved in - showing a character that we could only dream of last year. All on a budget that is probably less than he would get here next year.

Don't judge a man on what you imagine he might be like on the basis of something that you think you know about him. We all talk about players that are reaching the end of their playing days but still feel like they have something to prove to the world. Players that have 2 or 3 years left of their careers and sign for a big club with more passion to prove themselves than a 20-22 year old that feels like the world owes them something because they think they only have to turn up on match day and be adored for what they will one day achieve. What about a manager that feels likt this?

Judge Hodgson on what he has obviously achieved in his career, focus on his strengths and how they would affect our team. He will almost certainly bring our players back down to earth and if he can engender the team spirit that exists presently at Fulham, then we will have a team that is closer to what most fans want - players that feel and care for the club and not just for themselves. We all want a team that will scale the heights and bring the glory back to L4 but we also want a team that we can be proud of, that reflect the values that we all hold dear and if this comes with trophys then all the better.

I for one think that Hodgson is just what we need to get back to basics and take it from there - a foundation builder that will provide solidity for the future and a team ethic that will pervade all aspects of the club.

[Vermilion]

This really is hilarious how negative people are being in relation to Hodgson. This is a man that, last year, brought a nothing club to a European final and were unlucky not to walk away with the trophy. This is the man that took a group of players and turned them into a unit that was so much bigger than their constituent parts. This is reflected in their ability to win games in Europe that no one thought they could win. It's reflected in the unbelievable comebacks they were involved in - showing a character that we could only dream of last year. All on a budget that is probably less than he would get here next year.

Don't judge a man on what you imagine he might be like on the basis of something that you think you know about him. We all talk about players that are reaching the end of their playing days but still feel like they have something to prove to the world. Players that have 2 or 3 years left of their careers and sign for a big club with more passion to prove themselves than a 20-22 year old that feels like the world owes them something because they think they only have to turn up on match day and be adored for what they will one day achieve. What about a manager that feels likt this?

Judge Hodgson on what he has obviously achieved in his career, focus on his strengths and how they would affect our team. He will almost certainly bring our players back down to earth and if he can engender the team spirit that exists presently at Fulham, then we will have a team that is closer to what most fans want - players that feel and care for the club and not just for themselves. We all want a team that will scale the heights and bring the glory back to L4 but we also want a team that we can be proud of, that reflect the values that we all hold dear and if this comes with trophys then all the better.

I for one think that Hodgson is just what we need to get back to basics and take it from there - a foundation builder that will provide solidity for the future and a team ethic that will pervade all aspects of the club.

So much rubbish in here i don't know where to start. You make him sound like a winner, and a winner he clearly is not.

Or is it all just wishful thinking, a dream maybe, because i have no faith whastsoever in Hodgson, and i feel as certain as i have ever been about anything in football that he will fail...miserably.

This IS liverpool we're talking about right, Hodgson! really! what a mess, the appointement alone will send a message out to the world that as abig club Liverpool is finished for the foreseeable...as long as we have such incompetant owners and board members in charge....Roy ****in Hodgson...i never thought i'd live to see the day when we'd sink so low. shake:

[Kenneth]

I am ok with Hodgson. No manager is going to succeed with our current situation and Hodgson will probably do as well as anyone. Will come across well, good ambassador for the club, won't have a media vendetta against him like Rafa. It's just about whether we can keep the players we have and whether employing Gus would make a difference.

[red g]

Loads. Starting with Andy Johnson at over £10m, other crap like Nevland, Eddie Johnson, Stephen Kelly and many more. He's got a few bargains but bar Hangeland and Smalling (who he doesnt play anyway) he's not really plucked any amazing bargains out who'd go for a lot more than they were signed for, like say Moyes has with Jagielka, Pienaar, Arteta, Cahill, Lescott etc. And going back to Blackburn you have Kevin Davies, Nathan Blake and Christian Dailly which ended up with him getting sacked.

Smalling is supposed to be really good and yet cant get a game for Fulham. Another reason to be massively concerned with his use of young players.

isnt he the guy who signed for Scum for 10million and towards the end of the season he didnt play him as no need as he was moving and fulham were safe?

[RichC]

isnt he the guy who signed for Scum for 10million and towards the end of the season he didnt play him as no need as he was moving and fulham were safe?

spot on - Manure agreed a deal for him - much like Jonjo didn't play at the end of the season for Charlton - you're not going to want to end up with a crocked player that might jepordise the deal.

[Maxiedge]

What's really disappointing about this is that the board would have known by now that this appointment isn't going to get the fans excited but instead of looking at alternatives they've gone full steam ahead in a kind '**** you' sort of way. Any stories about Deschamps, Pellegrini etc have been bull and probably jusst PR work from the club as they wanted Hodgson from the start.

[kris90210]

What's really disappointing about this is that the board would have known by now that this appointment isn't going to get the fans excited but instead of looking at alternatives they've gone full steam ahead in a kind '**** you' sort of way. Any stories about Deschamps, Pellegrini etc have been bull and probably jusst PR work from the club as they wanted Hodgson from the start.

agreed