Pack your bags Roy

[DannyMan2006]

Okay rumours are hotting up now.

It's already been seen on caughtoffside. Basically it's gathering pace.

Roy will be sacked.

Only sticking point is the games being so clogged up. Likely he will go in next 48 hrs, but also a chance it could be after the next two fixtures. It seems that had their been a week before the next game he'd be gone for sure.

Guess we'll see. Could just be a press release from the club to take the heat off Roy.

[danperkins]

Sums it up for me. Nice to see at least some of the media tide turning.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/b...premier-league

Grotesque Underachievement, nail on the head stuff

[danperkins]

Ah please go

[Tezza1974]

Grotesque Underachievement, nail on the head stuff

just found this myself about time the papers sais it like it is


Liverpool have to sack Hodgson now
Pass and move, it's the Liverpool groove? Not any more. The Hodgson way is more hoof and pray. As endless long punts were hammered towards Fernando Torres and David Ngog during last night's defeat to Wolves, it became increasingly impossible to justify Roy Hodgson lasting at Anfield beyond the end of the week. Patience has its virtues, and chairmen can be trigger-happy, but it is hardly compulsory; Hodgson's time is up. He simply has to go. Forget about giving him extra time and the chance to dip into the transfer market in January. Trust has to be earned and Hodgson has failed. Liverpool are perched three points above the bottom three. Losing to Northampton Town, Blackpool and Wolves at Anfield in the space of six months, no matter what financial constraints Hodgson has had to work under, is a grotesque underachievement for a club of Liverpool's elevated standing.

For all his complaints about the situation he inherited from Rafael Benítez, Hodgson took over a squad containing Pepe Reina, Jamie Carragher, Javier Mascherano, Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt and Torres. Granted, he lost Mascherano to Barcelona but he also willingly parted with Alberto Aquilani, while bringing in the laughable pair of Paul Konchesky and Christian Poulsen. Although Liverpool were average last season, they still finished seventh. With the players at his disposal, Hodgson has introduced an ugly, negative route-one style, which last night saw the defence bypassing the midfield with alarming regularity.

These tactics might have sufficed at Fulham, but then Hodgson has often appeared dumbfounded by the level of expectation at Anfield. Not only is this approach unforgivable against Wolves, who were bottom of the table before the game and had amassed just one point on their travels all season, it is hopelessly misguided considering the players at Hodgson's disposal. Torres is not exactly Kevin Davies – he needs the ball played to feet or for him to run on to. He will never beat the likes of Christophe Berra in the air. Torres is a world-class striker being forced to operate like a lower-league journeyman, even if his form has been at that standard since the summer.

While Liverpool's players must take some responsibility too, clearly Hodgson has lost the dressing room, if he ever had it in the first place. Under Benítez, when Liverpool were losing games at Anfield, teams would brace themselves for the inevitable barrage as they defended their goal at the Kop End, waiting for Gerrard to pop up with a jaw-dropping equaliser. Last night there was nothing. With Wolves, whose sparky, attractive style of play belied their lowly position, required to do the bare minimum, dissent grew among the home supporters. Afterwards Hodgson was critical of the fans, questioning where the "famous support" had gone. He sounded like an away fan mocking a subdued home crowd about the lack of atmosphere. It almost appears as if he is getting his shots in early. Liverpool's supporters already disliked Hodgson. This will be seen as a step too far.


Arsenal should be investigated by the Premier League
There was nothing wrong with Arsenal making eight changes to the side that beat Chelsea for their visit to Wigan Athletic. What Roberto Martínez would have given to have had some of the players Arsène Wenger was able to field – Andrey Arshavin, Nicklas Bendtner and Marouane Chamakh – while leaving out Cesc Fábregas, Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie. Given that Arsenal had excelled and exhausted themselves in beating Chelsea just two days earlier, largely down to a vibrant tempo that overwhelmed the champions, this was prudent, responsible management. But the outcome was still entirely predictable, Sébastien Squillaci's late own goal that gifted the 10 men of Wigan a point once again exposing Arsenal's defensive weaknesses.

But rather than ponder Arsenal's squandering an advantage to pressure Manchester United again, ask yourself this: what exactly is the difference between Arsène Wenger making eight changes to his side last night and Blackpool's manager, Ian Holloway, making 10 alterations to his side when they played Aston Villa last month? Holloway found himself having to justify how he managed his own side to the Premier League, an utterly risible state of affairs. As yet, the Premier League has shown no inclination to launch an inquiry into Wenger's team last night. Perhaps eight changes are acceptable, whereas 10 are not, an arbitrary measure indeed. If Arsenal are perfectly within their right to utilise their squad how they please, then so are Blackpool – not to mention Wolves, who were fined £25,000 for the weakened team they selected at Old Trafford last season. This rule is a sham.

[DannyMan2006]

Btw, rumour on caughtoffside is Frank Rijkaard. I hear from elsewhere that he was not wanted due to possible revelations in his private life that may come out, could be bollocks that though.

[danperkins]

Btw, rumour on caughtoffside is Frank Rijkaard. I hear from elsewhere that he was not wanted due to possible revelations in his private life that may come out, could be bollocks that though.

Rumors will be flying around everywhere, if its not Kenny as a temp. I'd take Villas Boas or Deschamps, does anyone know if either speaks fluent English?

[Rix007]

Rumors will be flying around everywhere, if its not Kenny as a temp. I'd take Villas Boas or Deschamps, does anyone know if either speaks fluent English?

Who cares if he speaks any english at all.. I bet you, he could get this Liverpool side playing better even if he only spoke Klingon..

[dww]

Rumors will be flying around everywhere, if its not Kenny as a temp. I'd take Villas Boas or Deschamps, does anyone know if either speaks fluent English?

I'm pretty sure both do. IIRC Villas Boas worked in England for a bit (perhaps for Mourinho at Chelsea) and Descamps played for Chelsea.

[DannyMan2006]

Villa Boas does. Deschamps I don't know. Was captain of Chelsea when they won the FAcup though so I'm guessing he at least has a good grasp of the English language.

Rijkaard speaks fluent English as well.

[murder_inc]

I'm pretty sure both do. IIRC Villas Boas worked in England for a bit (perhaps for Mourinho at Chelsea) and Descamps played for Chelsea.

Hasnt Villas Boas just signed a contract extension though?

[Bender]

Hasnt Villas Boas just signed a contract extension though?

Doesn't mean anything in football tbh

[Rix007]

The stats make grim reading for Liverpool FC manager Roy Hodgson, who last night tasted defeat for the ninth time in 29 games as Anfield boss - plunging the Reds to a 57-year low.

Wolves' win leaves Liverpool on just 22 points going into the New Year, their lowest tally at this stage of the season since 1953/54 when Don Welsh’s side was relegated.

Hodgson has still never beaten Wolves as a Premier League manager, while last night's visitors - bottom of the league before kick-off - had not won at Anfield since 1984.

The Reds have already lost to two of the promoted clubs this term - Newcastle away, Blackpool at home - and now find themselves just three points off the relegation zone and five points from the foot of the table.

The Blackpool defeat in October put Liverpool into the bottom three and - in the first statistical nod to the 1953/54 season - meant the Reds had got off to their worst league start for 57 years.

And Kopites will remember Liverpool's Carling Cup clash against League Two outfit Northampton back in September for all the wrong reasons, with Hodgson's side crashing out on penalties in what many considered to be the most embarrassing home performance since Worcester City in 1959.

While last night's loss also came at Anfield, Hodgson's away record with Liverpool so far is perhaps more of a cause for concern.

The Reds have been beaten six times and have managed only one win on the road in the league this season, scoring just six goals.

Hodgson has never won more than five away games in charge of a Premier League team in a single season; Rafael Benitez won only five away games in 2009/10 and it was not deemed good enough to keep him at LFC.

Benitez won 13 away games with the Reds in the 2008/09 campaign - the same amount Hodgson has won in his Premier League managerial career to date.

Roy Hodgson's Premier League away record in full:

1997/98 at Blackburn Rovers - 5 away wins - finished 6th
1998/99 at Blackburn Rovers - 0 away wins - sacked when 20th
2007/08 at Fulham - 3 away wins - finished 17th
2008/09 at Fulham - 3 away wins - finished 7th
2009/10 at Fulham - 1 away win - finished 12th
2010/11 at Liverpool - 1 away win so far - currently 12th



Read More http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...#ixzz19bOZehjS

[dww]

Hasnt Villas Boas just signed a contract extension though?

Only a year extension though. Could well be that either side were looking to get better terms if he left (and/or were after a bit of good PR).

[Pablo]

Villa Boas does. Deschamps I don't know. Was captain of Chelsea when they won the FAcup though so I'm guessing he at least has a good grasp of the English language.

Rijkaard speaks fluent English as well.

Don't forget Big Sam. His English is rapidly improving.

[danperkins]

I'm pretty sure both do. IIRC Villas Boas worked in England for a bit (perhaps for Mourinho at Chelsea) and Descamps played for Chelsea.

thank you