Do NESV really understand and appreciate the mood over here?

[Neil Young]

I do genuinely worry if they understand the damage that can be done by allowing this season to continue. A bad season in American sports isn't the same as it is in football and I worry they don't understand that.
Roy is destroying our club and letting him stay one is extremely dangerous.

In what way is American sport all that different?

[Mattshark]

In what way is American sport all that different?

No relegation, lowest placed teams get first choice in the draft so they can get the best young players, finishing bottom one season can still see finish top a year later. You can accept a season of being the worst in US sports if you are working to remedy that, that could be very disastrous for us.

[Cormack74]

I have no doubt they totally understand how we feel about Hodgson.

You've got to ask why they did that phone-in. They didn't need to and lots of other owners wouldn't have dared to have put their heads over the parapet at such an awkward time.

I can't see any other explanation for it than this - they did it so they could give us a direct channel of communication and that therefore we could be in no doubt that they knew how we were feeling. I think it was an attempt to create a holding pattern - kind of 'we understand but we're not acting yet because we have a plan in mind'. They created distance between themselves and Hodgson without publicly undermining him.

Now things have got worse then they might be forced to act sooner than they might wish to. To be honest I'd rather they didn't have to change their plan. There is no way we can get fourth and I doubt we could even get sixth or seventh. So as long as we're not in danger of relegation then perhaps it would be better if we weren't pressing the owners to dump Hodgson now.

There are two conditions:

1. Like I said, the possibility of relegation. If we lose tomorrow then he's gone I think.
2. The remote possibility that if we see an upturn in form he'll stay beyond the summer. As long as there's no danger of that (and I can't believe there is, barring miracles of which he is not capable) then gulp maybe it's better he stays.

No, I wouldn't like it either. But I do think it's worth considering.

My thoughts exactly (possibly excluding the "conditions") albeit more coherent than I could manage.

[Neil Young]

No relegation, lowest placed teams get first choice in the draft so they can get the best young players, finishing bottom one season can still see finish top a year later. You can accept a season of being the worst in US sports if you are working to remedy that, that could be very disastrous for us.

I know those are some of the differences but I don't see how they really support your argument. In other words, yes, it's different but it's not the be-all and end-all as long as we don't get relegated.

I assume you're not suggesting they're unaware that relegation operates over here so I can't see that your scenario, for all its drama, really has much mileage in it.

[Pablo]

I have no doubt they totally understand how we feel about Hodgson.

You've got to ask why they did that phone-in. They didn't need to and lots of other owners wouldn't have dared to have put their heads over the parapet at such an awkward time.

I can't see any other explanation for it than this - they did it so they could give us a direct channel of communication and that therefore we could be in no doubt that they knew how we were feeling. I think it was an attempt to create a holding pattern - kind of 'we understand but we're not acting yet because we have a plan in mind'. They created distance between themselves and Hodgson without publicly undermining him.

Now things have got worse then they might be forced to act sooner than they might wish to. To be honest I'd rather they didn't have to change their plan. There is no way we can get fourth and I doubt we could even get sixth or seventh. So as long as we're not in danger of relegation then perhaps it would be better if we weren't pressing the owners to dump Hodgson now.

There are two conditions:

1. Like I said, the possibility of relegation. If we lose tomorrow then he's gone I think.
2. The remote possibility that if we see an upturn in form he'll stay beyond the summer. As long as there's no danger of that (and I can't believe there is, barring miracles of which he is not capable) then gulp maybe it's better he stays.

No, I wouldn't like it either. But I do think it's worth considering.

That's the major worry for me too. If we do OK towards the end of the season, the press will back him again, and it will be harder to get rid of him. I think we do need to strike while the iron is hot on this one actually, the more I think of it.

[Mattshark]

I know those are some of the differences but I don't see how they really support your argument. In other words, yes, it's different but it's not the be-all and end-all as long as we don't get relegated.

I assume you're not suggesting they're unaware that relegation operates over here so I can't see that your scenario, for all its drama, really has much mileage in it.

Actually I also think that a bottom half finish could mean damage to our squad and our ability to attract players in the long run. I am worried it could do serious damage.

[Molby]

Alun, I think NESV have given up on this season and were happy enough to make a statement of intent in the summer and build from there. It annoys me because I don't think we should ever down tools, but it is partly understandable.

But I think people overlook key elements sometimes. 5 months in charge for the new man now is like an extended version of pre season. It means far less work for him in the summer and means we fly out the traps next year.

Could you imagine a new manager coming in and having to delay player recruitment until he's had a proper look at his squad? Of course you can. And that means we miss out on selling and buying players at the earliest possible opportunity.

Danny - surely NESV can't afford to give up on this season, if we (and i mean LFC collectively) take the easy way out and accept mid table mediocrity for this season - what signal does that send out to every other football club or prospective new signing?

If they have any dangly bits between their legs, this situation needs addressed this weekend - tomorrow is the transfer window opening, we haven't a fooking hope in hell in attracting top level players with the current incumbent tosser in charge.

Happy ****ing New Year.

[Neil Young]

Actually I also think that a bottom half finish could mean damage to our squad and our ability to attract players in the long run. I am worried it could do serious damage.

I can't remember who but someone somewhere drew the parallel with Juve - they were relegated not so long ago and now are up towards the top of Serie A. Relegation would of course be a terrible blow but I can't imagine they're unaware of that.

So, leaving that possibility, I don't see a massive difference between finishing 8th and finishing 17th, except for the possible short-term damage a protracted relegation battle could cause.

Of course if NESV aren't prepared to make changes and invest in a long term plan which has a realistic chance of success, then we're in trouble. But I can't see that to be honest and anyway it's a different matter from keeping Hodgson on for now and I wouldn't link the two.

If Hodgson somehow presides over an immediate run where we pull away from trouble then where would be the long term problem with keeping him on, assuming he will definitely leave in the summer to be replaced by someone good (whoever that might be and however that might be defined)?

[tsb]

I would be more concerned if their every move took place in the public domain like our previous overlords.

They put up the cash and are not going to let their investment fail. Something will happen but probably not quick enough to satisfy today's internet terrorists!

[DannyMan2006]

Thing is, he should have been sacked ages a go. The only bad thing about getting a new man in now is that if we started to do better I will just think of what could have been.

He'd said and done enough to be sacked after the Everton game. When he called that the best performance of the season he should have been sacked the next day.

The longer he stays in charge the less chance we have of salvaging anything from this season.

[ChesterDave]

I think Hodgson time is almost up. I dont think they will wait till Summer.

My guess is he needs 4 points from the next two league games and to avoid defeat in the FA Cup. Anything less and I think he is gone.

[GorbyPeacePrize]

In american sports with no threat of relegation, teams often write the current season off and focus on the next season when they get to a point where success is not possible. I think they call it re-tooling.

They may be trying to play that card here.

[RichC]

I have a sneaky suspicion he has 3 games left - Bolton today blackburn and the Manc's next weekend, if we're dropped out of the FA cup as well, there really is nothing to play for bar not getting relegated.

[Red_Polo]

You seem very sure of what their plans are, have you got reason to be?

It depends how hard you look. It also depends on how honest NESV have been when addressing the fans. I don't mean that in a negative way either. When a board gives the vote of confidence I think they can be spared the insults when they invariably go back on their word.

And whilst we as posters tend to lack inside info, it is folly to suggest people who earn their living from stories have none within the club. And the people who I trust within the media have all spun the same story I outlined in my previous post.

Again, you have to measure this up with what the story teller is getting out of this. All information comes at a price and the person doing the talking will always expect pay back at one time or other. Notice Dave Maddocks piece in the paper today and you will see that Purslow (Maddock is his media mouth piece) has today called in a favour and there is quite a tale of how Hodgson is the man to take us forward.

All said, I think a man trusting or intrigued by conspiracy theories could really go out on a limb today. Stories of two games or two weeks to save a job are famed for being leaked to buy time. Many an owner has in the past leaked such stories to lull fans into a false sense of security that things are in motion. More often than not nothing is being done, it is just to get the fans of the managers back and allow him the breathing space to get back on track.

As always with media related items, it's always about who you trust. Wars are won and lost by it as are elections, football always follows suit.

You could have just said no, Mr Tomkins

I think when it comes to sifting the media guff it's really just a question of who I distrust more.

[James P]

In american sports with no threat of relegation, teams often write the current season off and focus on the next season when they get to a point where success is not possible. I think they call it re-tooling.

Sounds worryingly like they'll replace that tool Hodgson with another tool. Martin O'Neill it is , then.