The New Manager Thread

[Icon]

It's like Liverpool are playing chess and were losing.
They knock all the pieces over and try to start from scratch.

No offence to Roy but it feels like an interim appointment and another few years of transition. Prepare for mediocrity...

[Shaggy]

He's got a mediocre CV - at best - so I'm all set for mediocrity. It's not his fault though, and he's plainly not an idiot. He's a nice man and knowledgeable about the game but that's not enough. Good luck Roy, you'll need it.

[fatistuta]

I actually believe Roy Hodgson is a very good manager and will definatley secure us a top 4 finish in his first season...............




......... if Torres, Mascher and Gerrard stay.



Unfortunatly I'm not sure they will and without them I'm sure Roy won't secure a top 4 finish.

[Baracus]

BBC Sport understands DIC to Takeover Liverpool

Jan 2008

"Dubai International Capital - the investment arm of the Dubai Government - is ready to table a new £350m bid to buy Liverpool Football Club.

BBC Sport understands DIC has drawn up plans to take control from American duo George Gillett and Tom Hicks.

But the deal is subject to conditions which Gillett and Hicks are currently unwilling to meet.

DIC was originally thought to be ready to make an offer for Hicks' 50% share, but now favours a total buy-out. "

BBC Sport Understands does not mean anything anymore to me. So roy to Liverpool in less than 48Hours? I'll care once its official

[The_weatherman]

I actually believe Roy Hodgson is a very good manager and will definatley secure us a top 4 finish in his first season...............




......... if Torres, Mascher and Gerrard stay.



Unfortunatly I'm not sure they will and without them I'm sure Roy won't secure a top 4 finish.

Even with them we face a massive task, apparently Tottenham are wrapping up Cavani and Kjær from Palermo and City are getting even stronger, we'd be lucky to finish top 6. I think 7th is about right by the look of things. Why the **** did they sack Rafa!

[dww]

Jan 2008

"Dubai International Capital - the investment arm of the Dubai Government - is ready to table a new £350m bid to buy Liverpool Football Club.

BBC Sport understands DIC has drawn up plans to take control from American duo George Gillett and Tom Hicks.

But the deal is subject to conditions which Gillett and Hicks are currently unwilling to meet.

DIC was originally thought to be ready to make an offer for Hicks' 50% share, but now favours a total buy-out. "

BBC Sport Understands does not mean anything anymore to me. So roy to Liverpool in less than 48Hours? I'll care once its official

Not to say I don't to some extent share you scepticism of the "BBC Sport Understands" tag but we have no information as to whether that story proved true or not do we? All we know is that DIC didn't take over not that they didn't plan or make a bid.

[el matador]

paul ince on roy hodgson...

PLACID, intelligent, articulate. All words that you associate with Roy Hodgson and trotted out by those people who don't really know him so well.

But if you'd sat in a dressing room and seen him peeling the paint off the walls at half-time, you'd get a better picture of the man I'd have no hesitation in naming Manager of the Year.

I've never seen anybody go quite as bananas as Roy - and I include Fergie in that.

He might not get the hairdryer out right in your face in the way Fergie does but grown men don't dare catch Roy's eye when he's in full rant mode.

I was fortunate to work under him at Inter Milan for three years and it was a real education and insight into a great manager.

He came to Inter when the players ruled the dressing room and, in particular, Pepe Bergomi.

Bergomi was Mr Inter. He was the captain, had the ear of the president, went out for dinner with influential supporters and basically ruled the roost.

The problem was, Pepe was past it. He only got in the team through reputation, nothing else.

Roy saw that immediately and after he replaced Ottavio Bianchi as manager, the first thing he did was drop Bergomi.

Cue murder.

The fans went mad, there were huge inquisitions (mostly led by Bergomi himself) and all sorts of threats against Roy's position.

But he held strong because he knew he was right.

He laid down a marker and would not be swayed even though he came under tremendous pressure. I admired that. It showed a man whose outward manner hid an inner strength and belief in himself.

We used to live fairly close to each other on Lake Como and there were many nights we'd have a meal together, Roy with his glass of red and big cigar, me listening and trying to soak up as much information and advice as I could.

It was because of Roy that I didn't pack Inter in after a few months.

Bianchi was playing me on the left wing in a 4-5-1 formation but Roy switched to a 4-4-2, stuck me back in centre midfield and helped give me a football education I've never forgotten.

His CV was already packed with experience both at club and international level and he had a wisdom that rubbed off on players and gave him the immediate respect of even the biggest names. Training sessions were a joy, always fresh and packed with ideas you could easily take on board.

When he left Inter the president, Massimo Moratti, admitted that letting Roy go was the biggest mistake he made.

I see so many of the traits he bred at Inter in the current Fulham side.

They play to a system, they're fantastically organised and they play for each other.

There are no egos or star names which lulls opponents into a false sense of security meaning they underestimate Fulham... and pay for it. I hear managers say there's no pressure at a club like Fulham because there's no real expectations.

Rubbish. The pressure to stay in the Premier League is immense because relegation could cost a club like Fulham so dearly. Then there's the pressure of turning players who have been rejected by other clubs into better players through coaching and fantastic man-management.

Speak to somebody like Danny Murphy who was turfed out by Liverpool. Or Simon Davies. Or Bobby Zamora.

They will tell you Roy has improved them as players to the point Zamora is a real candidate for an England place.

You don't beat the likes of Shakhtar Donetsk, Juventus and Wolfsburg by a fluke.

You win because you're a confident unit completely comfortable with the manager's system and tactics, and you believe in yourselves.

Fulham are at the same stage of the Europa League as Liverpool without spending a fraction of Anfield's budget. That says it all.

Roy is a real manager's manager who never gets involved in controversy, just does his job properly and wins the respect of all his peers.

So while Carlo Ancelotti or whoever wins the title will always be mentioned as Manager of the Year, for me there's only one winner... Roy Hodgson.

[Rich]

If Paul Ince says he's good enough, that'll do for me!

[Baracus]

Not to say I don't to some extent share you scepticism of the "BBC Sport Understands" tag but we have no information as to whether that story proved true or not do we? All we know is that DIC didn't take over not that they didn't plan or make a bid.

Its not the only one thou. It was only a quick google search ‘BBC sport understands’ There have been various BBC sports Understands over the years for us and other clubs that have failed to materialise. I refuse to people believe anything until it is officially confirmed. These reports are no different form rumours posted in good/bad faith by people on forums, just because it is a big media outlet does not mean we should accept it as the truth.

Maybe I am clutching at straws, but my gut feeling is Roy as manager equals no new owners on the horizon.

[Vermilion]

If Paul Ince says he's good enough, that'll do for me!

Yeah, sure we'll hear plenty from his mates. Even when the **** is hitting the fan...they won't be blaming old Roy, oh no.

[dww]

Hangeland pleads with Hodgson to stay at Fulham

Mirror
Published 06:00 09/05/10 By Steve Stammers

Brede Hangeland has led the calls from Fulham players for Roy Hodgson to stay at the club where he has made history.

Under Hodgson’s shrewd guidance, Fulham are in the Europa League Final against Atletico Madrid in Hamburg on Wednesday – and his *success has been noted *outside Craven Cottage.

He’s regarded in some *quarters as the natural *successor to Fabio Capello as England manager and last week was said to be on the short-list at Liverpool should Rafa Benitez decide to leave.

Hodgson fuelled the debate further when he said ahead of Wednesday’s clash: “If the day comes when a so-called big club wants me and I’m available, then I’d be happy to do it.

“But if you ask if I am putting myself on the market now, then the answer is no.

“I have signed a contract and I am happy at Fulham.”

That will not end the speculation. His signings on a *limited budget have been a huge* success – and Norwegian Hangeland has been superb in the run to the club’s first ever European final.

Hangeland, like his *boss, has been linked with a move away with *Arsenal known to be interested.

But Hangeland clearly wants to stay at Fulham – with *Hodgson in charge.

Hangeland said: “Obviously, I hope he will stay. He is a great manager. We all enjoy *working with him.

“He’s the main *reason why we’ve come from battling *relegation to playing in a *European final.

“He is special because of the way he works with the team.

“He believes in his philosophy and I have learned a lot from him. The speculation about him or anyone else is not a distraction. The reason we’ve done well is we get to work and do our own *business the best we can.

“This is not a team of *individuals or big-name players. Roy is 100 per cent professional and he does all the things in training *himself, not give them to other people. All the players buy into it.”

Another insight into the thorough manner in which Hodgson prepares his teams was given by Hungarian *international Zoltan Gera.

He said: “The training can sometimes be boring but we know it works. If I wake up in the middle of the night, I know where I should be *running in the games!

“But you are professional and you have to do it.

“Roy is very important for the club and you’ve seen how successful he has been last season and this *season.

“We prepare in the same way before every game, whether it is *Accrington Stanley or Juventus.”

Striker Clint Dempsey added: “I have worked with great *coaches in America like Steve Nichol and Paul Mariner but in Europe, Roy is the best.”

[Vermilion]

He should listen to this Hangeland bloke. Pleeeeeease Roy...listen to him.

Oh, and this made me laugh...

Striker Clint Dempsey added: “I have worked with great *coaches in America like Steve Nichol and Paul Mariner but in Europe, Roy is the best.”

Suppose it's the sort of ****e we should be expecting to hear, i mean they wont say he's ****, they'll all be thinking about a move to liverpool...with WOY, Europes greatest coach.

[Baracus]

One positive if Roy comes we can get Hangeland as cover

[dww]

I find it interesting that Ince really liked working with Hodgson but most of the Fulham players I have read the opinions of have used the word 'boring' with regards to his training. I think in one of his spells at Inter his time overlaped with that of Ronaldo who said that he treated the players like children. He can clearly be pretty divisive and is not necessarily the easy going duffer some paint him to be.

I do worry our current squad would react badly to that sort of approach. That said all possible candidates will have some such downside.

[Shaggy]

Striker Clint Dempsey added: “I have worked with great *coaches in America like Steve Nichol and Paul Mariner but in Europe, Roy is the best.”

With praise like that how can we be anything other than ecstatic