Roy Hodgson thankful he did not heed Christian Purslow's advice on player cull

[MrMichael]

Ryan Babel
Anfield’s great enigma was the first on former managing director Christian Purslow’s list to leave the club in the summer.

And apart from scoring in the last game, what exactly has Babel done under Hodgson to alter that assessment? He's only played ahout 4 times this season ffs. And he still has the footballing brain of a squirrel.

[Lee]

I really dislike Purslow and the more you hear about him the worse he appears. One of the best things FSG have done is get rid of him IMO.

I think he is trying to cover himself for his shameful early evaluations of players. While I think he is a weak manager I don't think he has been helped by those around him or who surround the club.

Completely agree

Coincidentally Kyrgiakos, Lucas, Ngog - and in recent weeks, Maxi - have been our top performers this season. I've never really warmed to Purslow at all, and if the quotes above are true then my reason is even more cemented.

However, regardless of this interview, I still don't trust Hodgson with any sort of kitty come January. I dread to think of the dross that he'd recruit.

[Mostar]

And apart from scoring in the last game, what exactly has Babel done under Hodgson to alter that assessment? He's only played ahout 4 times this season ffs. And he still has the footballing brain of a squirrel.

I couldn't agree more One or two games do not make him a good player as to me he isn't one.

Soon or later he will go back to his old ways (waste of god given talent) and I personally would look to off load him while we can still fetch some value.

[Rich]

I really dislike Purslow and the more you hear about him the worse he appears. One of the best things FSG have done is get rid of him IMO.

Got rid? Are you sure?

Why is he sitting and talking with players at Anfield then?

The bloke is clueless about football and a lot of the on the pitch trouble are his fault.

[RedReet]

Why the **** is Purslow telling the manager who he should and shouldn't keep, what the **** does he know? Reading this makes the Insua and Aquilani transfers even more infuriating.

I thought the Lucas rumours during the summer were a load of balls too, can't beleive the club tried to offload him.

[Exiled_red]

And apart from scoring in the last game, what exactly has Babel done under Hodgson to alter that assessment? He's only played ahout 4 times this season ffs. And he still has the footballing brain of a squirrel.

I couldn't agree more One or two games do not make him a good player as to me he isn't one.

Soon or later he will go back to his old ways (waste of god given talent) and I personally would look to off load him while we can still fetch some value.

I was saying the same when it was mentioned earlier in the week that Babel's form had improved under Hodgson. It was one game, I expect in the next couple of games he's involved in he'll be back to his old self.

[Arn]

I really dislike Purslow and the more you hear about him the worse he appears. One of the best things FSG have done is get rid of him IMO.

Purslow had his own agenda and acted in a way that should suit that agenda. Purslow first and club second even if he voted against G&H.

[meffin]

Roy is an embarrassment to this once great club. He needs to **** off

[Fredo]

I don't see the benefit in him saying this stuff. I don't see how it makes the players feel good, and I don't see why he'd be revealing the inner workings of the club either. This has me scratching my head at what the point was of him saying it. Puzzling beyond belief.

He's a dishonest and selfish man. He only thinks about himself but he's stupid enough to believe he's turning things around.

[Rich]

It's a ridiculous thing for Roy to come out with.... But it confirms my fears about Purslow. He should be banned from the ground.

[Fredo]

He should thank Purslow for having had that one moment of genius when he appointed him.

[Rowan]

Saw his comments on Maxi and Lucas on the offal. Positive stuff. Can't remember anyone suggesting Maxi goes missing in games but hey ho.

I can see the ethos behind what Roy the Toy is saying. He just uses too many words. And, apart from the obvious credit he deserves for his part in the sale, Purslow seems like a quite odious ****er.

[DannyMan2006]

More digs at Babel.

I don't get the criticism myself. How can he perform to a high level when he never gets a run of games? The only way he'd start to play well is if a manager trusted him and played him week in, week out.

I can only guess that he hasn't performed well enough in training to be deserving of the chance, in which case, criticism by rafa or Roy would be fair if that is what they referred to.

The only time he has had a decent run of games was the first season and in that he did well enough for most to suggest he would really light up the league in his second season. Since that first year it has become obvious to me that the manager hasn't trusted him and that probably doesn't help.

And it's not like he's been happy sitting on his arse. He's asked for extra training and was refused. He asked for a loan to Ajax to progress and was refused. He's basically been told to just stagnate and be prepared to cover should injuries to arise.

At clubs like Arsenal they take it upon themselves to look after players interests and help them improve. We haven't always done that at Anfield and that's why the best young players don't want to come here if they have a chance of moving to Arsenal.

[Arn]

I doubt that Purslow decided himself what players we should sell. He most probably talked to a couple of players(Carragher and Gerrard) and asked them who we should sell and then took it from there.

Not a single English player on the list.....

[Drago]

There's another piece, from the Guardian I think. It's saying the players on the list were not named.