Hodgson - No knee jerk reaction

[Kenneth]

I hope we get new owners and plenty of armslag soon!

[DannyMan2006]

We are desperate for new owners. Then there will be light at the end of the tunnel.

I still think Roy can get us results, but I don't think he'll ever be the man to take us on and bring back the glory days. As such, I'd probably want him gone once we got new owners.

I still think if nothing changes we'll get top 6, but we need top 4 and that will be a real push once City hit their stride.

[red g]

We are desperate for new owners. Then there will be light at the end of the tunnel.

I still think Roy can get us results, but I don't think he'll ever be the man to take us on and bring back the glory days. As such, I'd probably want him gone once we got new owners.

I still think if nothing changes we'll get top 6, but we need top 4 and that will be a real push once City hit their stride.

if nothing changes we are in for a relegation battle my friend!!!

Roy has made some awful decisions.......lets hope he is learning quickly

[badpiggy]

That is the problem with Hodgson. He is a playing a system that we lack the players for.

Torres should be on the shoulder of the last defender, not being played as a target man. He has and never will be a target man.

He also plays a very narrow defensive unit that shift across accordingly. If the opposition play quick passes they catch you out, especially when Poulsen is not quick enough to cover the ground across and block incoming crosses.

Not only that, but we lack a Brede Hangeland type player who will clear the ball in the air all day long, as well as being a very competent CB.

He needs to change the system all we will splutter along unitlJanuary when you would think he would make some massive changes in the playing squad.

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Put it this way, if We had Kevin Davies instead of Torres, Hangeland instead of Carragher and Etuhu instead of Poulsen, we'd probably be a better team right about now. All three players mentioned are not as good as the people they would replace, particularly Davies. But they would play the role Hodgson is asking much better than the likes of Torres.

His tactics work better with players of limited talents IMO. Defenders clear it long to a target man. Sit deep, protect the middle and let the opposition get crosses in, where upon your massive CB just heads it away with no bother.

When you have a team of limited talents a very methodical system can make them play above their levels. When you have a team of talented players, a similar system will bring them down as there is less chance to use their ability.

Perfectly put. I'm not sure I wholly agree about Torres role as I can see very little difference between the way he was isolated last season and now again this season but aside from that

[Shaggy]

Torres was isolated at times last season, but he still managed 18 league goals in 20 starts. Massive difference this season IMO. We're not playing to his strengths and he's not even getting any chances in games. I must say it takes a special kind of manager to fail to get the best out of Fernando.

[Kenneth]

Torres was isolated at times last season, but he still managed 18 league goals in 20 starts. Massive difference this season IMO. We're not playing to his strengths and he's not even getting any chances in games. I must say it takes a special kind of manager to fail to get the best out of Fernando.

Vicente del Bosque for example.

[Leyton388]

Roy having a moan about the protest! He really needs to shut the **** up and just train the team!

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson says club will have to deal with protest against George Gillett and Tom Hicks - News - MirrorFootball.co.uk

Hodgson: Reds will deal with planned protest

A sit-in protest planned by Liverpool fans unhappy with owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett is just something else for the club to deal with, according to manager Roy Hodgson.

With the Americans' loan from the Royal Bank of Scotland due for refinancing or repayment next month and no sign of an imminent sale supporters are stepping up their campaign to oust the unpopular pair.

The latest plan is to get the crowd at tomorrow's game against Sunderland to remain behind to demonstrate peacefully after the final whistle

"I, like anyone at Liverpool Football Club, would be very happy if the ownership situation got clarified, and in particular if we got a very good owner that can help us move forward," said Hodgson.
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"It (the protest) doesn't help but is something I've had to live with since I came to the club.

"It is a major issue for a group of people who are very much anti the owners and the current people who are trying to solve the situation.

"It is often the case that when things are conspiring against you there is always an extra thing to come in and make it that little bit worse.

"It tests our mettle, our desire and strength. I am very confident the strength of this club, the strength of the playing staff and the people around me is more than enough for the club to come through this period.

"But while you are in that period it is unpleasant."

A statement from the Liverpool Supporters' Union and Spirit of Shankly group said: "We have given time to those in charge and listened to more empty promises.

"Now we are demanding results, and action will continue for as long as the situation remains unacceptable to us as fans of Liverpool Football Club"

[Kenneth]

Hmm. Echos of CP there. One rule for Rafa, one for Roy.

[Shaggy]

Vicente del Bosque for example.

Very good.

Under VDB Torres has scored 13 in 30 starts for Spain. Not great by his standards and not his best, but it beats 1 in 6.

In fact, Rafa was given so much stick over his 'treatment' and handling of Torres, and yet he got more out of him than any manager has before or since.

[Leyton388]

Just watched those quotes on SSN now

Roy is doing himself no favours whatsoever. How dare he question those who are worried about the future of their club and have seen the club plummet from European finalists to mid table fodder in the space of 2 years? We've had promise after promise, assurance after assurance, and nothing ever happens! People are trying to make his job easier the idiot. Amazing, he dismissed the "group of people" like a gang of hooligans or something, obviously doesnt realise that this "group of people" have more care and heart for the club than all of the shysters at the top put together.

[Fredo]

Hmm. Echos of CP there. One rule for Rafa, one for Roy.

It shows exactly why he was appointed as manager. He falls into line and is diplomatic.

[danperkins]

This is a very interesting analysis by Lars Bohinen. Remember him? He played under Hodgson at Blackburn. I've translated his article from Norwegian, so excuse me if it's not that clear, but you get the gist of his analysis.

Link

Stopped reading this ****e after the "Carra is not a leader" comment, absolute horse **** article.

[danperkins]

Vicente del Bosque for example.

and with the likes of Villa,Iniesta,Cesc,Xavi etc all there with him

[Galb]

The thing is my memories of most games I watched of Fulham was that they were like we are in a lot of ways. They just had an out ball to Zamora which allowed them to play higher up the pitch. Our defence seems to aim to close people but as they are positioned very deep it gives opponents with depth and width a lot of spaces to use to move our players around.

We don't have a target man and need to adapt our approach to start defending/pressing higher up the pitch.

His Fulham were an almost purely reactive side in my mind and so are we at the minute. I've not seen a top side operate in such a way effectively. Time will tell whether Roy can either make that work or adapt his philosophy once we have acclimatised to his core defensive strategy.

Thats my memory of them too. They were neat, tidy, compact and reasonably good at holding the ball. Anytime I watched Fulham, they held onto the ball ok through the back and midfield when they had it. I assume the point is to not concede by denying the others possession. But they offered very little going forward with the ball. (ring any bells from the first half on Sunday?)

The main attacking ploy seemed to be to get the ball forward quickly when the other team lost possession - either by hitting it to the target man, or getting it wide quickly and into the box fast.

The problem is that only works in a certain amount of games. Keeping it tight, making it hard for the others to score while trying to nick one or two from the few occasions when you can hit on the break will get you a certain amount of points over a season. But its not enough to win the league, or even be in the top few teams.

Its an approach that works for mis-table security but shouldnt be how a team aiming at the top end of the table plays.

[Mattshark]

and with the likes of Villa,Iniesta,Cesc,Xavi etc all there with him

Yeah, those that near 1 in 2 goal ratio is awful.