Pack your bags Roy

[Rowan]

I've no beef with anything he's said since the weekend. I've nothing but beef with everything he's said that preceded the weekend. Unfortunately for Roy I think he's talked himself into such a big hole over the past 3 months that he'll never be able to talk his way out of it.

As for the bitters game. ****ing hell, Roy. Just let it go! If you aren't going to let it go at least be honest and say "we were ****e, we're very sorry, it wont happen again"

[Kenneth]

On my way again (although I'm starting to get tired with all this harrying and mutilation so maybe you could make a start for me by digging the hole in the garden. Cheers).

Even 5Live, which has been full of Hodger propaganda for ages (Gary Richardson described him as "an excellent manager" who needs to be given time just on Sunday morning - when did journalists decide their opinion was enough?), has allowed pundits to comment that Hodger's Everton comments were baffling.

He's a laughing-stock.

Oh definitely, I was referring purely to the two paragraphs highlighted above.

[Craig_H]

I'm on my way.

[banditos]

Oh definitely, I was referring purely to the two paragraphs highlighted above.

Not to be pednatic (i am) but he does suggest we played well in the Everton game. We didn't, so you really should have a problem with those two paragraphs mate.

[Lecter]

Roy - Work still to be done
Reds tactician wants side to continue improving
Last updated: 25th October 2010


Manager Roy Hodgson has warned Liverpool they still have to prove they have turned a corner in his eyes.

The Reds boss saw his team clinch their second Premier League win of the season against Blackburn Rovers on Sunday, although the 2-1 victory was not enough to lift the Merseysiders out of the bottom three.

Liverpool have so far endured a miserable start to the campaign, but with the weekend triumph following Thursday's valiant point at Napoli in the Europa League, some are suggesting it has been a significant week for Hodgson's men.

And while the Anfield chief believes his charges are on an upward curve, he insists there is plenty of work to be done before Liverpool are back on song.

Heartened
"I'd be lying if I said it felt like a turning point. That would be a facile thing to say," said Hodgson, whose side venture to Bolton this Sunday live on Sky Sports HD1/1.

"I've got faith in the team and the way we played in several of the games. We were worse at the beginning, but we have got better.

"Sunderland (2-2) was not that bad. Blackpool (a 2-1 defeat) was such a wretched first-half performance where we shot ourselves in the foot and couldn't get back in.

"Everton last week (a 2-0 defeat) I thought we paid a high price for the second goal, which shouldn't have been allowed.

"We allowed Everton to get on top of us in the first 20 minutes by passing the ball too short and never turning them round.

"I saw the statistics the other day from the Everton game and I've never in my Premier League career seen statistics as positive as they were in terms of passing, accuracy and tempo of passing, number of shots and crosses.

"Those statistics hearten you because you know you are not playing badly, but they don't get you any points.

"We had the same level of passing and intensity against Blackburn, but we were much more incisive, getting behind them down the flanks more.

"Jamie Carragher was bombing forward like Carlos Alberta of old.

"It was the right sort of performance; we've got to give another 29 like that and if we can do that then we won't go too far wrong."

The Liverpool manager believes a new benchmark has been set for the players and he now expects them to maintain that standard.


Battling
"I don't think we can play a lot better than we did against Blackburn," said Hodgson.

"With the team we have at the moment, if people expect us to really play a lot better football than we did for 70 minutes at the start of the Blackburn game they are going to be asking a lot.

"What could happen is we could get a lot more goals for that performance but I don't think we could play better.

"We conceded next to no goal chances, we pressurised the ball and won it back quickly, our passing and movement was good and it was only good goalkeeping, some goal-line saves and a few blocks which made the difference.

"It could have been a clear victory so I suppose for me it is much more a case of wanting the team to continue along these lines and, most importantly, continue to battle because we are in a battling situation.

"We are still closer to the relegation zone than we are to the top of the table and if we get beat next week at Bolton we are suddenly back to square one again.

"There is nothing to do other than keep working at it.

"We need to show a bit of humility and accept if we are not the Liverpool of yore we will try to become it."


Eyes open
Hodgson's reign has been played out against the backdrop of off-field ownership issues.

Now they have been concluded after New England Sports Ventures' £300million takeover the hope is that a period of stability and growth with follow.

Hodgson hopes the new owners will back him in the transfer window while he continues to try to get the best out of the squad he inherited when he took over from Rafa Benitez on 1st July.

Asked whether he had underestimated the job ahead of him when he moved from Fulham, Hodgson replied: "I knew that everything was not as it should be, not least of all because of the worries hanging over the club in terms of who was going to own it and whether there would be money for new players and to re-invest.

"I also knew there were doubts about the size and the quality of the squad - but you don't know if those doubts were correct until you come in and start working with the players.

"I came with my eyes open, but I did come in knowing the expectations on us could be greater than what we are capable of achieving, immediately.

"The only way I thought that could be dealt with was by working on the field of play, making sure we are organised and know what we are doing and every player knows his job."

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_6468574,00.html

[Mostar]

http://www.fifa.com/...id=rssfeed&att=

"I saw the statistics the other day from the Everton game and I've never in my Premier League career seen statistics as positive as they were in terms of passing, accuracy and tempo of passing, number of shots and crosses," he said.

"Those statistics hearten you because you know you are not playing badly but they don't get you any points. We had the same level of passing and intensity against Blackburn but we were much more incisive, getting behind them down the flanks more.

Absolutely delusional idiot. I cannot believe what jewels come out of his mouth

[SimonNo7]

Oh definitely, I was referring purely to the two paragraphs highlighted above.

And you were right in saying there was nothing wrong with what he said in those two highlighted paragraphs. There are plenty on here who use statistics when it suits them like to suggest Lucas (sorry for picking on him) is one of the best passers in EPL because statistics say he completed 64,598 passes in one season which puts him into the top 3 of 1000's or something. What it doesn't say is that 64,597 were two yards to the side of him or behind him and whilst Roy's statistics may suggest we did ok in terms of possession, passes, time spent in their half etc it means jack **** when the biggest statistic of them all shows that you lost!!!

[The_weatherman]

"Jamie Carragher was bombing forward like Carlos Alberta of old.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_6468574,00.html

I thought was editing a la Shaggy, he is off his rocker

[The_weatherman]

"I saw the statistics the other day from the Everton game and I've never in my Premier League career seen statistics as positive as they were in terms of passing, accuracy and tempo of passing, number of shots and crosses," he said.

"Those statistics hearten you because you know you are not playing badly but they don't get you any points. We had the same level of passing and intensity against Blackburn but we were much more incisive, getting behind them down the flanks more.

"It was the right sort of performance; we've got to give another 29 like that and if we can do that then we won't go too far wrong."

Liverpool's next league assignment is a potentially awkward visit to Bolton on Sunday.

The stats from the Everton game

Everton Liverpool
Shots (on Goal) 13(4) 20(6)
Fouls 10 10
Corner Kicks 8 7
Offsides 0 0
Time of Poss 33% 67%
Yellow Cards 2 3
Red Cards 0 0
Saves 6 2

They are good on paper but most of these shots were long range with no danger really and Everton just sat back and let us attack towards the end.

Chalkboards paint a different story, five shots were from inside the penalty area and our passing was so much sideways that the chalkboard is actually blue from side to side, and we had only one interception in Everton's half, they won more tackles.

[luke]

every time the old cunt utters the words "we" i want to kill

right i am off for a good lie down and maybe some therapy

[cream]

What a ****ing loser.

[Mostar]

http://www.lfconline.com/news/tmnw/hodgson_happy_to_ease_pressure_572454/index.shtml

Hodgson happy to ease pressure

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson admits a first victory in eight matches has lifted some of the pressure building at Anfield and insists he does not feel his job is under threat.


Hodgson labelled the match against Blackburn as a "must-win" game and speculation began to grow that the 63-year-old had two fixtures to save himself from the sack.

Such wild rumours appear wide of the mark and Hodgson refuses to accept his position may be in jeopardy after the £300million takeover by New England Sports Ventures (NESV).

"Mass media talk these days says 'Lose two games and let's sack the coach and start all over again'," he said after the 2-1 victory over Blackburn at Anfield on Sunday. "I divorce myself from all of that, it is not something I feel among the players or the staff."

He added: "I'm not certain the people here (NESV) have that type of mindset, they are top sportspeople.

"They took over the Boston Red Sox, who weren't doing very well, and turned them into a champion team."

A number of NESV representatives were in the crowd to see the win, although principal owner John W Henry remained in the United States because of illness.

"There were a lot of people here from the organisation here so I'm pretty sure his (Henry's) phone was buzzing and he'll be pretty happy with the performance," he added.

[Mostar]

http://www.lfconline.com/news/tmnw/boss_pleased_with_win_572485/index.shtml

Roy Hodgson was delighted with yesterday's win

The Reds brought an end to an awful run of form by beating Blackburn 2-1 at Anfield. The performance as well as the result was pleasing to the boss.

"There were elements of our play today which were quite visible in the matches we've lost or drawn. So I don't want to suggest that everything's suddenly hunky dory," said Hodgson.

"But it was more than deserved and I'm very, very happy with the way the team played - particularly in the first 70 minutes.

"The confidence with which players passed the ball and moved was quite surprising given our table position.

"We made it clear to everyone: this is our game, we're going to take it to you, we're going to make certain we put you under pressure, we're going to be quick to pressurise when we lose the ball.

"I thought the passing and movement was as good, if not better than it's been but we were more incisive. We got in more crosses, got more bodies into the box for crosses, we had an enormous number of corner kicks and looked dangerous from those corner kicks, which is nice to see.

"It was a big ask for the players today. It's all very well having must-win games and saying 'This is the one we need to win', but there's an opponent out there that wants to stop you. And you can never get it out of your mind how bad it's going to be if you make a mistake.

"It's been a good week because it was a good performance in Napoli and it was important to back that up today, and I'm very pleased we were able to."

[Glenn Hysen]

I read somewhere that Roy appointed a 60 year old goalkeeping coach as new 1st team coach. True story?

[Neil Young]

I read somewhere that Roy appointed a 60 year old goalkeeping coach as new 1st team coach. True story?

No, that's not true. He's called Mike Kelly and he's not 60.

He's 68.