Liverpool fans, rate Hodgson's work so far
Today marks the 12-week anniversary of Roy Hodgson's appointment as Liverpool manager but it's fair to say that it's been a far from happy honeymoon period for the former Fulham boss, who has yet to fully convince fans that he's the right man to take the club back into the Champions League.
Hodgson is no stranger to life in charge of a sleeping giant having previously coached Inter Milan, yet even he must be slightly shocked at the speed in which he has gone from being everyone's favourite boss after Fulham's heroics last season to having his credentials questioned.
His own reaction to last night's staggering Carling Cup exit at home to bottom-half League Two side Northampton was fairly surprising too, as in addition to apologising to supporters, he heavily criticised his own players, stating that "the team I had so much faith in did not repay that faith". While some fans will admire the honesty, others will consider it counter-intuitive.
However, doubts raised over Hodgson's ability aren't just a consequence of yesterday's upset - after all, Liverpool have achieved little in the competition since reaching the 2004-05 Final - instead, the absence of a new manager bounce and a tally of five points from five Premier League games has created concern.
Admittedly, even the most optimistic Kopites probably expected nine points at best from such tough fixtures, but being ten points off top already naturally creates pressure and cause supporters to quiz whether he's an improvement on the popular Rafael Benitez, whose impressive start with Inter Milan hasn't helped Hodgson either.
So what we want to know is what grade Reds fans would give Hodgson a dozen weeks in? Right now we'd go C-, as one win in six domestic matches clearly isn't good enough, though we think he did a good job rebuilding the squad over the summer with the second lowest net spend in the division, and that those signings need time to settle before a true judgement can be made.
Published: 23 Sep 2010
costasy (September 23, 2010 10:17 AM) said:
Very Poor. LFC needs a high caliber manager. Marcello Lippi is still available!!!
Ragish (September 23, 2010 10:19 AM) said:
Well the rating is simple, a disgrace! Seeing his 'tactics' against Manure cost us the game (taking out Meireles) and some players he bought (Poulsen, Konchesky) just says it all!
BR@ (September 23, 2010 10:23 AM) said:
I don't have anything against Roy Hodgson however I think, Martin O'Neil should have go the job in the 1st place.
Andy (September 23, 2010 10:25 AM) said:
Just another 'Hick' cup, the season is already over...........It could be worse just look at your neighbours
IvanDobsky (September 23, 2010 10:26 AM) said:
Roy Hodgson isnt a Liverpool manager in a million years. Totally out of his depth!
steve mcauley (September 23, 2010 10:30 AM) said:
negative and uninspiring, much like his predecessor! i thought roy was a good appointment initially and he said all the right things in the summer especially concerning liverpool's traditional fast, pass and move game but unfortunately his tactics and line-ups haven't supported this! I am now convinced that mr. hodgson, although clearly a nice man, doesn't have a big club mentality! i know it's very early in the season and liverpool fans are renowned for supporting their managers until they prove unworthy of such support, but i'm afraid roy has already shown he's not capable of managing a historic institution like Lfc, so i think it would be better to replace him NOW while there is still plenty of time for a new man to save our season!
Dublin Dan (September 23, 2010 10:35 AM) said:
Give him time he gave the young lads a run out last night we have had a tough start with fixtures the scum away and Man city away.Too early to judge anyone
Blindside (September 23, 2010 10:41 AM) said:
Should never have been appointed. Replace him NOW! That's hopeful as it will never happen.Just a man who can't walk and chew gum at the same time in my books.I can't support him until he is "proved unworthy" as he was unworthy before he was allowed in!
I was just wondering how much Chanpionship tickets are costing these days as that is where we are heading under this man. Get rid now before it's too late...
rolando (September 23, 2010 10:42 AM) said:
get rid now whilst O'Neill is available!
Neil (September 23, 2010 10:50 AM) said:
We want O'Neill on the MOTD sofa for a bit. Let us enjoy his thoughts on telly instead of management for a bit!
Betfair Football (September 23, 2010 10:54 AM) said:
Thanks for all the comments so far, it's been an unbelievable response! Surprised to see quite a few calling for Martin O'Neill, as we're not convinced that he'd be able to do a better job.
While we reckon it's too early to write Roy Hodgson off, our hunch is that an interesting subplot could emerge if Liverpool continue to struggle - that being that the press will (unlike with Benitez?) probably stay supportive for as long as they justifiably can.
Hodgson is by our reckoning the first English manager hired by a Big Four club since your last Roy in January 1994 and for that reason, there are probably a fair few away from Merseyside eager to see him succeed.
Bill (September 23, 2010 10:56 AM) said:
Hodgson has got to GO. This Woy's a bigger disaster than Woy Evans ever was.
veshan naidoo (September 23, 2010 11:00 AM) said:
I fear the season is over for us..Roy is a nice man but his comments after Birmingham game does not personify LFC , saying he didnt expect much and the draw was good enough ..terrible..we need some sort of drive and energy from the management ...heads need to roll ..Roy needs to leave right now ..please ...how much more can we take ..our beloved LFC is in utter ruins at the moment..the league Cup was our chance to at least get a little silverware even if it is a small trophy to win at least it's a start to better things , the players can get some sort of idea what it means to wear the LFC jersey and work towards bigger things but to go out at Anfield it is truly horrible...YNWA..
Noblelox (September 23, 2010 11:13 AM) said:
Most of the comments above are from clueless spanners with the IQ of a single cell amoeba. The bananas wanting Martin O'Neill are even lower down the IQ scale than that. They are not Liverpool fans, and they don't have a clue. We are Liverpool, we do NOT sack managers. We support our team and our manager and we give him the time he needs to fix things.
This need for instant gratification by all these glory hunting plastic fans sickens me to the pit of my stomach. And the actual article asking for comments after 12 weeks is just a cheep way of rattling the bars of the stupid monkeys who spouted their worthless opinions above.
The level of stupidity involved here is simply overwhelming! No-one has the brains to consider all the facts, they just want victory, with no comprehension of everything that has unfolded over the last 2 years.
So please, if you are someone who has posted rubbish above, please never post anything ever again, anywhere! You are too ridiculously stupid to form a valid opinion. Also please go support another club, we don't want you dragging ours down into the sewer.
BLT (September 23, 2010 11:18 AM) said:
in reply to Betfair Football - Liverpool are no longer a top 4 club. fact. they finished 7th last year and I simply cannot see them finishing higher than 6th this year.
I thought that both Man City and Liverpool made enormous errors not fielding first choice teams last night - the best thing Mourinho did at my beloved Chelsea was win the Carling Cup straight away. The players then had a winning mentality and the pressure was off him.
in May when City, Liverpool and Arsenal are trophy less they will look back and think....if only
Zahir (September 23, 2010 11:38 AM) said:
We got rid of a world class manager on the basis of one poor season. The season before we finished a close second behind the mancs. Worse than that, we fired him first when still on private holiday and began the search later. If we had replaced Rafa with another top international manager, he would have attracted a few top players. Roy has no pulling power but more worryingly, the targets he pursues reflect his low ambitions or simply poor judgement. Luke Young, Konchesky, Poulsen, Carlton Cole, Parker, Crouch, etc. These are not just media reports but backed by direct statements from players or their managers. How can he blame the playes when he made no subsitutions himself until extra time? Having said that, O'Neil would be a bigger disaster. The most over-rated, underacheiving but self-certified manager in current times. We got sucked into this English manager campaign led by the likes of J Redknap and other Sky pundits. Even J Thompson will find himself looking foolish now having declared that Roy was just the right man for the club. So much for footballing expertise.
Chappers (September 23, 2010 12:02 PM) said:
@BLT - the best thing Mourinho did at my beloved Chelsea was win the Carling Cup
Utterly Ridiculous.
I'd stick to your sandwiches mate.
Block306Kop (September 23, 2010 1:03 PM) said:
We wont win anything until hicks and gilete have gone, the poor start to this season while depressing are just a side show to the rapid decline under the current ownership.
We have to sell to buy, the replacments always cheaper than those sold, players like babel are worthless because there is no club foolish enough to buy them.
The club is hamstrung and unable to move forwards due to the debts laden on us by the yanks.
hitman (September 23, 2010 1:22 PM) said:
hes only a secnd lege manager.look @ his signings "pooor".without money LFC is nothing like a child in the playgrund.
abelish (September 23, 2010 1:29 PM) said:
SACK HODGSON NOW, AND GIVE TO PAUL INCE...HE'S MORE CAPABLE,MORE HUNGER AND HAVE A WINNING MENTALITY TO BE A GREAT LIVERPOOL MANAGER..PLEASE.PLEASE..PLEASE
Alex Ferguson (September 23, 2010 1:57 PM) said:
Blame Torres on the Americans too while you are it. O'Neill isn't going to manage a team that can't spend money. Even Celtic have spent more
money than Liverpool. Have fun at the bottom of the table, gents. You may go so low that you fall
from the EPL into the SPL table.
gowtham.s.t (September 23, 2010 2:04 PM) said:
I know why our fans are backing O'Neill strongly to become boss of LFC. That came after Houiller commands on O'Neill to succeed him.
Look guys at present we have numerous problems. When every player raised their voice on change in ownership, it is clearly indicating that the issue not only bother fans but it also bothers player and manager both on and off the field.
Roy knows it is difficult task before he step-in. But now he realises it is more difficult than he thought.
When Yanks era ends by the next time during international breaks with two wins in next two games before the break I think LFC will be back on track even for Title without doubt.
We all pray it happens soon rather than later
YNWA
TomW (September 23, 2010 3:36 PM) said:
Look. Liverpool are broke, they're struggling to service their debts let alone attract 'world class' players and pay their wages. Also wtf are you guys banging on about saying that Roy can't handle a big club? Y'know he managed teams before fulham right? But you're forgiven because obviously managing teams like Inter (TWICE) isn't a big enough club compared to Liverpool. And as for the guy who said Paul Ince for manager, yeah that will work. The world class players will be knocking on the door with that one. Go back to your top trumps. Liverpool fans are going to either a) be patient (which true pool fans usually are) and hope for the best re the money or b) find a new owner fast.
steve mcauley (September 23, 2010 4:12 PM) said:
@noblelox, you're a t*****! all these "monkeys" as you call them are entitled to their opinion! p***** like you would still have graeme souness in charge, going by your own logic!
and don't tell me to support another team you t***!
steve mcauley (September 23, 2010 4:19 PM) said:
oh and another thing noble****s, you say 'consider the facts' well the fact is Lfc were dumped out by a team struggling in league 2, regardless of what's gone on over the last 2 years liverpool ladies should be able to beat them, never mind the second string! numpties like you make me sick to the pit of MY stomach! feckin know-it-alls!
goldygold (September 26, 2010 8:52 AM) said:
....steve mcauley, you realise you just proved Noblelox's point, right? As for the future of LFC, a lack of funds is the problem. Hodgeson has experience and a proven track record but he cannot afford or attract top class players. Until the club is sold and new owners take over i think it treading water time.
bob bobertson (September 26, 2010 8:58 AM) said:
Please sack Hodgson. 3 draws, 2 losses and 1 unconvincing win is not even close to good enough, especially with the quality of players he has available (Gerrard, Torres, Cole, Reina, Kuyt etc).
And don't get me f****** started on losing to f****** Northampton Town in the Carling Cup. AFC Liverpool in the North West Counties league should be able to beat them, never mind Liverpool.
Davo (September 29, 2010 5:14 PM) said:
In reply to any comments about giving Roy Hodgson a chance to prove himself.
Let's go back to the beginning, he should never have been given the job in the first place, he got the job on the back of what he did with Fulham, what people must start to understand is that there is a world of difference between being manager of Fulham and manager of LFC, no disrespect to Fulham but you all know where I'm coming from.
I can count maybe 6 or 7 unbelievably negative comments that he has come out with since taking over, one of them being on the day before a pre season friendly, quote, I hope we don't get beat by too many, unquote.
No manager of any football club, never mind a top flight club, should come out with comments like that.
He's a nice enough bloke granted, but I said at the time of hearing that he was up for the job, he is NOT and NEVER will be a Liverpool manager.
To sum it up in just a few harsh but true words, (The job is just too big for him ).
There is however an alternative, but how we get round it is anyones guess, There is a manager out of work at the moment who is made to measure for the job, he should have had it a long time ago.
His name is Martin O'niell.