Pack your bags Roy

[Neil Young]

Can I have a go?:

Craig knows a person or persons perhaps, that is/are close to Joe Cole on a personal level

It isn't unheard of, footballers have friends too

Yes, they do, that's true.

The flaw in the argument is your assumption that Craig has a friend.

[GorbyPeacePrize]

Can I have a go?:

Craig knows a person or persons perhaps, that is/are close to Joe Cole on a personal level

It isn't unheard of, footballers have friends too

That's not the bone of contention; the bone on contention is how The Bodge's 'cleverly worded' musings don't contradict Craig's assertion that The Bodge promised Cole the 'in the hole' role.

[Drago]

That's not the bone of contention; the bone on contention is how The Bodge's 'cleverly worded' musings don't contradict Craig's assertion that The Bodge promised Cole the 'in the hole' role.

It's no doubt some how Carragher's fault

[little dave hedgehog]

apparently, the presser has been rescheduled for tomorrow.

fingers crossed, eh?

[el matador]

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.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2010/dec/30/five-things-learned-premier-league

[Neil Young]

The bone of contention:

[GorbyPeacePrize]

It's no doubt some how Carragher's fault

Stop this agenda-driven folly at once!

[Drago]

The bone of contention:

I'm just a givin' the dog a bone

I'm going to stick on AC/DC now

Stop this agenda-driven folly at once!

My thoughts exactly.

[cream]

apparently, the presser has been rescheduled for tomorrow.

fingers crossed, eh?

It was rescheduled before yesterdays game, I wouldn't get your hopes up.

[Craig_H]

That's not the bone of contention; the bone on contention is how The Bodge's 'cleverly worded' musings don't contradict Craig's assertion that The Bodge promised Cole the 'in the hole' role.

There's a difference between a 'position' and a 'role'. Hodgson said he hadnt promised a 'certain position'. That may indeed have been true, although i doubt most of what he comes out with. The role that sold the Liverpool move to Cole was one of creative freedom akin to 'roaming', rather than a rigid one which ties him to one side of the pitch. This again is an area where Cole's strengths are not being encouraged with Hodgson's system. He will obviously fill whatever role he is asked to fill, but it isnt one which brings out the best of him, nor that he is most comfortable with.

[Vermilion]

It was rescheduled before yesterdays game, I wouldn't get your hopes up.

Have'nt the club said Bodger will be taking his press conference as usual, sure i heard that earlier.

[wavydavy]

Those of you who have in-laws via a girlfriend/ partner etc will be familiar with the situation when there is some sort of crisis or incident in their family and how you don't feel "close" enough to comment or have an opinion. That's the way I feel about Dowie and the rest of the LMA crowd. You don't know the whole story so just shut the **** up. Only we, the fans, follow every interview and every move the soft cunt makes. These people just aren't informed enough to have an opinion that matters. You wonder what JH/ TW make of these comments if they reach them. Mattocks or whatever he's called comparing Fat head to dear old Joe makes me ****ing furious. What's HIS agenda coming out with bull**** like that?

[Shaggy]

Those of you who have in-laws via a girlfriend/ partner etc will be familiar with the situation when there is some sort of crisis or incident in their family and how you don't feel "close" enough to comment or have an opinion. That's the way I feel about Dowie and the rest of the LMA crowd. You don't know the whole story so just shut the **** up. Only we, the fans, follow every interview and every move the soft cunt makes. These people just aren't informed enough to have an opinion that matters. You wonder what JH/ TW make of these comments if they reach them. Mattocks or whatever he's called comparing Fat head to dear old Joe makes me ****ing furious. What's HIS agenda coming out with bull**** like that?

Isn't Maddock one of Purslow's stooges? So he's doing everything he can to still, somehow, paint Hodgson in a positive light - Purslow of course being responsible for sacking Benitez and replacing him with this idiot.

[RichC]

Isn't Maddock one of Purslow's stooges? So he's doing everything he can to still, somehow, paint Hodgson in a positive light - Purslow of course being responsible for sacking Benitez and replacing him with this idiot.

Was it Maddock that wrote the Pepe piece that was quickly taken down once he came out and said he was going nowhere?

Let's face it chaps, there are several rag writers out there that either have an agenda with Liverpool the club or are staunch supporters of Hodgson no matter what the old goat does.

[GorbyPeacePrize]

There's a difference between a 'position' and a 'role'. Hodgson said he hadnt promised a 'certain position'. That may indeed have been true, although i doubt most of what he comes out with. The role that sold the Liverpool move to Cole was one of creative freedom akin to 'roaming', rather than a rigid one which ties him to one side of the pitch. This again is an area where Cole's strengths are not being encouraged with Hodgson's system. He will obviously fill whatever role he is asked to fill, but it isnt one which brings out the best of him, nor that he is most comfortable with.

Are you saying the 'in the hole role' is different from the 'in the hole position' ?

Somebody playing in centre midfield could be given creative freedom, likewise a winger could have creative freedom to roam and not stay glued to the touchline.