Pack your bags Roy

[-V-]

Eh? Is Carheex back?

He was a prick.

Well...



...this.

[Lecter]

Barretts article is exactly what I said previously I feared. If they delay Hodgson could blag himself another season in charge.

Barretts article is clear its Hodgsons initial salvo in a PR campaign that will attempt to show him as the injured party when the inevitable parting of the ways happens

There is not a hope in hell hes having an upturn in fortune and nor is he getting money to spend on players like Carlton Cole et al

[Lecter]

There isn't a hope in hell he will be here after the summer mate, he's a goner and he knows it.

In fact the more I think about it the more sense it makes, excuses like 'I haven't been given any money to spend' and 'this isn't my squad'. That's the talk of a down and outer trying to buy time, but in reflection as a manager how wise is it to criticise the squad that you are relying on to save your job time after time.

He must have the strongest finger nails in the World but a gentle tug on the ankles he is on the way that's for definite.

[Lecter]

If Hodgson blags a few decent results he could stay.

We are capable of 6th even under Hodgson due to no stand out teams other than top 5. An improvement on last year position wise and a trophy and I think there's no way he'd get the boot.

We are the best team in the Europa Cup and if we beat Man Utd at Old Trafford I'd fancy us to have a real go at winning that too.

It's all ifs and buts. I've been saying if this and if that all season with Roy, and he always ****s up. But the chance is always there that he suddenly starts to get things right enough to drag himself over the finish line and keep himself in the job.

**** me, if we beat Blackburn the media and roy will probably think he's the greatest thing since sliced bread and that he is once again turning the corner.

The thing is the last 2 games and the next few are as easy as it gets (barring Everton eventhough they are out of form) and form would suggest we wont come out of January smelling of roses

[Lecter]

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson pleads to John W Henry and Tom Werner for chance to build team in his image
Roy Hodgson has issued a heartfelt plea to Liverpool’s owners to grant him the time and money he requires to construct a squad in his own image before deciding if he is the right man to lead the club forward.

John W Henry and Tom Werner, the principal backers of the club’s parent company Fenway Sports Group, have lost patience with the 63 year-old and will consider replacing him — initially by installing a caretaker before making a permanent appointment in the summer — as soon as they have identified their preferred candidate for the temporary role.

Hodgson, though, believes it would be unfair to judge his troubled reign at Anfield based on his results with a squad largely bequeathed to him by Rafael Benítez.

Instead, he has urged Henry and Werner to back him in the January transfer market, providing him with the funds to build his own squad, before making a decision on his future.

“Being honest about it, I am hoping that one day I will get a chance to stamp a little more of my authority and philosophy on the team by choosing some more of the players,” Hodgson said.

“It is not often mentioned, but I have not been that active in the transfer market since I have been here.

“The players who are playing are the ones you have watched playing for the past few years. They have done exceptionally well for me in accepting a new manager, with a new style and a new training method, and giving the performances they have given, albeit that unfortunately we have been guilty of inconsistency.”

The structure introduced at Anfield by FSG suggests that Hodgson’s wish is destined to be a forlorn one. The appointment of Damien Comolli as director of football strategy — the first made by the Americans after their takeover in October — means the Frenchman will be handed overall responsibility for recruitment, regardless of who is manager.

That, in turn, allows FSG to make a decision on Hodgson’s position regardless of the obvious need to bolster Liverpool’s resources in the next four weeks.

The group are thought to be concerned by the former Fulham manager’s failure to inspire his side to improved form after a poor start to the season, while the breakdown of his relationship with fans is believed to be a concern.

So determined are Henry and Werner to bring an end to Hodgson’s regime that they have abandoned their initial hope to make their first managerial appointment since their £300 million takeover a permanent one.

It is believed that an interim candidate is now preferred to give the club time to conduct a thorough search for a new, long-term successor.

It remains unclear when such a decision will be taken, though only an improbable upturn in form would now save Hodgson. Even then, he would not survive beyond the end of the season.

More likely is that FSG are simply waiting for the right moment to end his tenure in a month when the club face four games in 11 days.

Liverpool face Blackburn at Ewood Park on Wednesday night before travelling to Old Trafford for an FA Cup third-round tie against Manchester United.

The rearranged league tie with Blackpool is on Jan 12, before the second Merseyside derby of the season brings Everton to Anfield on Jan 16.

FSG will be well aware that going into such an exacting period with a new manager in place is hardly ideal, especially given Hodgson’s admission that he — or any replacement — cannot rely on either Steven Gerrard or Fernando Torres to play three times in a week.

“If we are going to win games it is the Torreses, the Gerrards, the [Pepe] Reinas, that are going to be the ones to get us up the table and lift us above the rest,” said the Liverpool manager.

He added that he would have to rest them at times this month “and we will have to hope that the fans understand that.

“Fernando had a very serious knee injury, which — touch wood — seems to be in the past, but when you have had an injury there is always the little risk of recurrence.

“And Steven, of course, is susceptible to muscle injury if he plays too many games one after the other.

“I have just got to hope that the ones who just seem to keep going — the Duracell bunnies like Dirk Kuyt and Lucas Leiva — can keep us going and give me a chance of giving a rest to the others. But it is the same for all the teams in the league. We have got a couple of matches [rearranged], which doesn’t help, but a lot of teams do.

“But going into it our squad seems quite big and we probably have a little bit more chance of changing things around than some other teams do.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/8237753/Liverpool-manager-Roy-Hodgson-pleads-to-John-W-Henry-and-Tom-Werner-for-chance-to-build-team-in-his-image.html

[Lecter]

Nicked off RAWK

So NESV have got three options.

1) Sack the senile old ball bag
2) Tell the senile old ball bag that they would rather trust someone they had employed, Comoli, than someone they didnt and whose face looks like a Scrotum
3) Tell Comoli that despite employing him and listening to him on a number of points, they will stick with Roy's wishlist

To be honest, even the most pessimistic must realise its option 1 or 2.

[Lecter]

Nicked off RAWK

I honestly think he thought that when he took over he'd timed it right.

A Club that had previously been 2nd, 3rd, 3rd had just come 7th with most of the same players. His key players were fit and he couldn't do any worse than 7th. Hence the most important thing in all of this, his reputation, could only be enhanced.

As things have move on, he's realised his reputation is now in tatters, he's a laughing stock and he's lashing out all over the place. Rafa, Purslow, the players, the fans and god knows what else.

Now he's gambling. He's on his way out so he has to start propelling the myth that he needs HIS players there now, that the players who had come 2nd, 3rd, 3rd were actually not good enough to get top half and he's been hard done to.

Do one Roy.

[Exiled_red]

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson pleads to John W Henry and Tom Werner for chance to build team in his imageRoy Hodgson has issued a heartfelt plea to Liverpool’s owners to grant him the time and money he requires to construct a squad in his own image before deciding if he is the right man to lead the club forward.

I'm glad the end of that article suggests it won't happen. A team in Hodgson's own image would complete his plan to turn us into Fulham!

[spud_gun]

I'm glad the end of that article suggests it won't happen. A team in Hodgson's own image would complete his plan to turn us into Fulham!

We all dream of a team of errrr Koncheskys and Poulsens?

A team in Roy's image? Terrifying prospect

[Suarez]

Nicked off RAWK

I honestly think he thought that when he took over he'd timed it right.

A Club that had previously been 2nd, 3rd, 3rd had just come 7th with most of the same players. His key players were fit and he couldn't do any worse than 7th. Hence the most important thing in all of this, his reputation, could only be enhanced.

As things have move on, he's realised his reputation is now in tatters, he's a laughing stock and he's lashing out all over the place. Rafa, Purslow, the players, the fans and god knows what else.

Now he's gambling. He's on his way out so he has to start propelling the myth that he needs HIS players there now, that the players who had come 2nd, 3rd, 3rd were actually not good enough to get top half and he's been hard done to.

Do one Roy.

I agree with most of what you say, but to say that he has the same group of players is pushing it a bit. He's without Alonso and Mascherano, two massive players, he's without the extra striker (Keane, short stay yes but he was still here for half the season) and he's without Arbeloa, who is a far better defender than Johnson. Leaving us a striker down was Rafa's decision, he reduced the number year by year.

In 2008/09 we had a group of players that were good enough for a top 3 place and we finished 2nd, partly in my opinion due to Scolari's appointment at Chelsea.

Hodgson has a group of players left which are really not good enough to finish in the top 4, maybe even top 6. Mascherano and Alonso were huge players for us, you cannot just get rid of players like that and expect the team to continue with the same tempo.

Personally, I don't rate Roy. Having said what I have about the quality of the current squad, we are still underperforming, but if he gets us to the end of the season in the top 6 I don't think anyone could do much better with the pile of ****e we have here at the moment. Whether he could steer us into the top 6 is the question.

[Buzzo]

I agree with most of what you say, but to say that he has the same group of players is pushing it a bit. He's without Alonso and Mascherano, two massive players, he's without the extra striker (Keane, short stay yes but he was still here for half the season) and he's without Arbeloa, who is a far better defender than Johnson. Leaving us a striker down was Rafa's decision, he reduced the number year by year.

In 2008/09 we had a group of players that were good enough for a top 3 place and we finished 2nd, partly in my opinion due to Scolari's appointment at Chelsea.

Hodgson has a group of players left which are really not good enough to finish in the top 4, maybe even top 6. Mascherano and Alonso were huge players for us, you cannot just get rid of players like that and expect the team to continue with the same tempo.

Personally, I don't rate Roy. Having said what I have about the quality of the current squad, we are still underperforming, but if he gets us to the end of the season in the top 6 I don't think anyone could do much better with the pile of ****e we have here at the moment. Whether he could steer us into the top 6 is the question.

No way is the squad as bad as Roy has had us performing. No way.

Get rid of Roy and things will start improving immediately. To say nobody else could do any better is absurd. Have you watched Roy's tactics, how deep we play, how narrow. How poorly he sets out his team and last but not least his signings, PFK and Poulsen - his choices and players which are supposed to make us want him to spend on the squad again. The guy is a joke, more interested in preserving his own career and tattered image than the once good name of our club. Hw will make up any old bull**** to suit his agenda and has never once admitted his part in the sambles we are on the pitch this season.

Your comments on the squad of 2008/09 leave me pretty speechless to be honest.

[Exiled_red]

I agree with most of what you say, but to say that he has the same group of players is pushing it a bit. He's without Alonso and Mascherano, two massive players, he's without the extra striker (Keane, short stay yes but he was still here for half the season) and he's without Arbeloa, who is a far better defender than Johnson. Leaving us a striker down was Rafa's decision, he reduced the number year by year.

In 2008/09 we had a group of players that were good enough for a top 3 place and we finished 2nd, partly in my opinion due to Scolari's appointment at Chelsea.

Hodgson has a group of players left which are really not good enough to finish in the top 4, maybe even top 6. Mascherano and Alonso were huge players for us, you cannot just get rid of players like that and expect the team to continue with the same tempo.

Personally, I don't rate Roy. Having said what I have about the quality of the current squad, we are still underperforming, but if he gets us to the end of the season in the top 6 I don't think anyone could do much better with the pile of ****e we have here at the moment. Whether he could steer us into the top 6 is the question.

Yes Mascherano and Alonso were huge players for us and undoubtedly we've missed them, Keane was a waste of space, and contributed sod all to the season we finished second, so he doesn't count IMO. I think there's little to choose between Johnson and Arbeloa.

A potential replacement for Alonso already existed in the squad in Aquilani, but Hodgson let him go on loan for nothing. And he spent £16m on replacements for Mascherano (in Meireles and Poulsen). The squad he inherited was capable of a top 4 finish IMO, it underperformed last season (for various reasons). Yes he had to replace Mascherano, but he had the funds to do so. The signings he made have been on the whole poor and the tactics he has employed have been awful. The reason we are in this position now is down to Hodgson's management.

The squad we have should be capable of making the top 4 IMO.

Edit: If 6th is the best we can hope for you are saying that our squad is about the same quality as Sunderland or Bolton or Stoke??

[Suarez]

No way is the squad as bad as Roy has had us performing. No way.

Get rid of Roy and things will start improving immediately. To say nobody else could do any better is absurd. Have you watched Roy's tactics, how deep we play, how narrow. How poorly he sets out his team and last but not least his signings, PFK and Poulsen - his choices and players which are supposed to make us want him to spend on the squad again. The guy is a joke, more interested in preserving his own career and tattered image than the once good name of our club. Hw will make up any old bull**** to suit his agenda and has never once admitted his part in the sambles we are on the pitch this season.

You seem to suffer from selective reading.

What I have said is that this squad of players is good enough for the top 6, no more. Each club inside the top 6 has a better squad than us IMO.

What I've said is that IF Roy finishes inside the top 6, then I don't think anyone should really complain as thats our limit. Whether I think he'll get us there is another question.

Poulsen and Konchesky were awful buys, but all managers get things wrong on the transfer front, Rafa bought enough turkeys. Raul seems a decent player though.

There was a reason we finished 7th last season (with Mascherano).

[Buzzo]

You seem to suffer from selective reading.

What I have said is that this squad of players is good enough for the top 6, no more. Each club inside the top 6 has a better squad than us IMO.

What I've said is that IF Roy finishes inside the top 6, then I don't think anyone should really complain as thats our limit. Whether I think he'll get us there is another question.

Poulsen and Konchesky were awful buys, but all managers get things wrong on the transfer front, Rafa bought enough turkeys. Raul seems a decent player though.

There was a reason we finished 7th last season (with Mascherano).

No I read your whole post.

It is just the bits I disagree with decimate the bits I agreed with. Roy has shown absolutely no evidence of getting into the top 6, so to base anything on him doing that maks the rest of your post slightly moot. Trusting him to manage the squad to the end of the season will be one of the worst decisions in the history of the club. That is how badly I think he has us playing. He has us celebrating beating Bolton and Villa like we have just won the league... And comes up with pathetic excuses when we don't.

I am not making this a post about Rafa or Roy, just about Roy. We need to make positive steps forward and we need to make them quickly. Sticking with Roy can do untold damage to our squad for this year and for future seasons. Squad wise, yes, we are weaker than probably City, Chelsea (though they look weak right now), Utd, Arsenal and Spurs... But we should be up around 5th 6th with the players we have now. Not getting left behind by Bolton, Blackpool etc.

[Suarez]

Yes Mascherano and Alonso were huge players for us and undoubtedly we've missed them, Keane was a waste of space, and contributed sod all to the season we finished second, so he doesn't count IMO. I think there's little to choose between Johnson and Arbeloa.

A potential replacement for Alonso already existed in the squad in Aquilani, but Hodgson let him go on loan for nothing. And he spent £16m on replacements for Mascherano (in Meireles and Poulsen).

The squad we have should be capable of making the top 4 IMO.

I think Rafa lost the belief in Aquilani last season, he also made a comment or two to the media about his desire to play when not at 100%. I think his days were numbered even with Rafa here. He cost us the best part of £20m and didn't have the heart for the premiership, a terrible waste of money. He's playing well again in his homeland but he wasn't interested in England.

Keane gave us more options and got us 3 points against Bolton. I always said that Keane was a lot better striker than his replacement.

Utd, Spurs, City, Chelsea and Arsenal all have far better squads than us. We have one or two great individuals, but overall the depth in the squad is poor.