Post-mortem Northampton

[Maxiedge]

City won three nil - soft goal from bad defending, free header from a corner and a penalty. But Reina had no other saves to make. Hardly a destruction, although it was a poor performance

No, I still stand by my initial post. We were totally annihialated. I don't remember ever feeling so overawed by another team. At the time I thought maybe City had come good but results since have shown they haven't really kicked off their season yet.

[Arn]

No, I still stand by my initial post. We were totally annihialated. I don't remember ever feeling so overawed by another team. At the time I thought maybe City had come good but results since have shown they haven't really kicked off their season yet.

Hodgson acted like an idiot in that game. I don't like to call our manager an idiot but when everyone could see that we had no chance with only two in the middle against City's three and he did nothing about it then you must start to ask questions. He simply acted like a kid that don't want to admit that he got it totally wrong.

[Arn]

So far Hodgson has been outsmarted in every competitive game. In every one.

There isn't even a sign of improvement. When a team like Northampton dominates against us at Anfield and the manager allows that to happen then he simply isn't the right manager for us.

Just sack him, please.

[5europeancups]

Personally I think that it should be made very clear to Roy that he needs to score some good points over te next five games (which are all winnable) and anything less than 3 wins should be considered not good enough and changes should be made.

He would have the opportunity to then play what he feels is his best side without having to worry about a long season.

If a rut sets in now, then we will not catch up for a top four place normally required. These days the top four is more complicated with the likes of Tottenham and an City and Villa also competing.

I think that after these five games plus the Europa League Matches will be adequate time for the management to assertain whether or not Roy Hodgson is up to the job.

[5europeancups]

So far Hodgson has been outsmarted in every competitive game. In every one.

There isn't even a sign of improvement. When a team like Northampton dominates against us at Anfield and the manager allows that to happen then he simply isn't the right manager for us.

Just sack him, please.

for me Birmingham was the most depressing game. We got outplayed and only surivived thanks to Reina.

[cream]

So far Hodgson has been outsmarted in every competitive game. In every one.

There isn't even a sign of improvement. When a team like Northampton dominates against us at Anfield and the manager allows that to happen then he simply isn't the right manager for us.

Just sack him, please.

I'm no big fan of Roy but those layers shouldn't have needed any kind of instructions to beat a 4th division side, they should be ashamed of themselves.

[Arn]

I'm no big fan of Roy but those layers shouldn't have needed any kind of instructions to beat a 4th division side, they should be ashamed of themselves.

Why do you think the whole team sat back after we scored? When the whole team do it the rest of the game then it points to orders from the manager.

The players can't do much else than follow the orders from the manager as they should do in every game, the boss must the boss or else he is finished.

If the tactics is **** then it's up to the manager to change tactic so the team play better.

You simply don't go into a cup game without any protection net on the bench. Torres and Gerrard should have been on the bench in case we needed them.

[Norbs]

Personally I think that it should be made very clear to Roy that he needs to score some good points over te next five games (which are all winnable) and anything less than 3 wins should be considered not good enough and changes should be made.

He would have the opportunity to then play what he feels is his best side without having to worry about a long season.

If a rut sets in now, then we will not catch up for a top four place normally required. These days the top four is more complicated with the likes of Tottenham and an City and Villa also competing.

I think that after these five games plus the Europa League Matches will be adequate time for the management to assertain whether or not Roy Hodgson is up to the job.

No win situation for Roy

[kenny_89]

Spot on. I feel really uneasy about Hodgeson at the helm and have been since we got him. I honestly feel for the first time in me supporting liverpool (40 Years now ) that we could be facing relegation unless we lose hodge and quickly.

Yep unfortunately I have to agree with this. Very worrying times indeed, I'm dreading Saturday to be honest.

[Kenneth]

Why do you think the whole team sat back after we scored? When the whole team do it the rest of the game then it points to orders from the manager.

The players can't do much else than follow the orders from the manager as they should do in every game, the boss must the boss or else he is finished.

If the tactics is **** then it's up to the manager to change tactic so the team play better.

You simply don't go into a cup game without any protection net on the bench. Torres and Gerrard should have been on the bench in case we needed them.

When it's a competition that is a distraction at best, it's not worth risking the big guns, subs or not. Torres comes on, sends us through but limps off... Then what? **** it, it was te league cup.

[Shaggy]

ROY HODGSON entered the press room at Anfield and, when asked how he was feeling as he digested arguably the worst result in Liverpool’s modern history, described himself as “a bit wet”.

Standing on the touchline in the pouring rain, his overcoat having long since been ripped off in a temper while his team fluffed their penalties against lowly Northampton Town, was guaranteed to dampen his mood.

Yet, remarkably for someone with more than 30 years of experience in management, wet behind the ears would be a fitting description of him as he appears to struggle to grasp just what is expected of a Liverpool manager.

Reshaping the club’s fortunes at a tumultuous time in their history was always going to be an onerous task, but the manner of Wednesday’s humiliating Carling Cup exit to League Two opposition ensures Hodgson has just made life infinitely more difficult for himself.

Having backed himself into a corner, he must now come out fighting and prove to those fans ambivalent towards his appointment that he can successfully forge a future for a club where the present becomes gloomier by the day.

A daunting Premier League fixture list has not helped Hodgson garner early momentum, but he needs to get to grips with the task by granting players who were organised last season freedom to perform.

He needs to get up to speed with the strengths and weaknesses of his squad and, more than anything, secure a positive result against Sunderland tomorrow. Otherwise the dream job that, at the age of 63, he could never have dreamed of having will descend into a nightmare.

The penalty shoot-out reverse in front of just 22,577 supporters was a costly way of confirming the squad Hodgson inherited from Rafa Benitez possesses a soft underbelly once the star names are removed.

Hodgson should not be blamed for some of the dross clogging up Liverpool’s corridors – that is part of the legacy Benitez left – but it is not unreasonable to expect him to have worked out where the weaknesses lie by now. Even if he has officially been in charge for only 86 days, the clues over the club’s demise have long since been publicly trailed.

When Hodgson guided Fulham to a 3-1 win over his current employers last October, it should have dawned on him just what a mess a once proud institution is now in and just about anyone in football would have highlighted Liverpool’s lack of strength in depth as a major problem. There is no disputing that Hodgson sent out a team he thought capable of beating Northampton. But to make 11 changes to his starting line-up, and crucially not leave himself with a get-out-of-jail-free card by naming Fernando Torres, Joe Cole or Raul Meireles on the bench, was a grave oversight.

It will only take Liverpool to be drawn away to Premier League opposition in the FA Cup third round – a tie in which the first team would struggle to win – for the folly of Wednesday to be compounded and another route to much-needed silverware blocked.

Of course, the continuous discord off the field means Liverpool are preoccupied in other areas but, for his own longevity, Hodgson must realise what he does now will heavily influence what prospective new owners make of him.
Hodgson has to start thinking like a Liverpool manager. When Sir Alex Ferguson ridiculously branded Torres a cheat following Manchester United’s win at Old Trafford last Sunday, Hodgson’s refusal to leap to his defence was a mistake.

Protecting Liverpool’s players should be more important to him than preserving his special relationship with Ferguson, regardless of what headlines it might have thrown up.

Hodgson is no doubt annoyed by the perception that he is just a pair of safe hands, entrusted with the task of guiding Liverpool through a difficult period. For his own good he has to put his finger on Liverpool’s problems and push on.

[red g]

When it's a competition that is a distraction at best, it's not worth risking the big guns, subs or not. Torres comes on, sends us through but limps off... Then what? **** it, it was te league cup.

Its a trophy, we are not going to be winning the league anytime soon, So a cup would do me. With 3 big guns out it was a great opportunity as well.

I was shocked that he didnt hput any experience on the bench and cant believe he iddnt play cole, who without international and suspending needs games

[Reece]

Where is that article from Shaggy?

[BobTheCharmer]

Why do you think the whole team sat back after we scored? When the whole team do it the rest of the game then it points to orders from the manager.

its strange you should say that as I have heard off a mate of a good mate of my brother who was at the game and was sitting not far from Hodgson that he said to Sammy Lee 'get the boys to shut the ****ing shop, we've got what we ****ing came for'.

[Arn]

The penalty shoot-out reverse in front of just 22,577 supporters was a costly way of confirming the squad Hodgson inherited from Rafa Benitez possesses a soft underbelly once the star names are removed.

Hodgson should not be blamed for some of the dross clogging up Liverpool’s corridors – that is part of the legacy Benitez left