A rare decent article from Football365:
Although there is an obvious logic in under-pressure Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson drawing attention to the deficiencies of the previous Anfield incumbent, prolonging the recent war of words with Rafael Benitez will only serve to undermine his own position.
Judge me after ten league games, said Hodgson after Liverpool's disappointing start to the season. Ten games in and Liverpool are 13th, 13 points off top spot and considerably closer to the drop zone. No wonder Hodgson has seen fit to place the blame for Liverpool's ultimately depressing season squarely on his predecessor's shoulders - particularly in a week when he will meet the club's new owners for talks on the future.
Hodgson's reaction is a natural one - but he is treading a fine line. Although he may well have some pertinent points to make about the previous managerial regime, complaining about them ad nauseum can only carry you so far. Hodgson has to be careful about the message he is trying to peddle - as he is in danger at times of sounding defeatist. He may have inherited a difficult position at a club in crisis, but he got the position on the basis that he would be able to make a change. With new owners watching very closely, Hodgson cannot afford to give the impression that he cannot cope.
Hodgson also has to be mindful that many Liverpool fans still revere Rafael Benitez and have been underwhelmed by the club's choice of successor. Hodgson's carping about Benitez always runs the risk of raising their heckles at a delicate time. He must also be mindful that his criticism will only draw a scathing and potentially damaging reaction from Benitez. Many will argue that the Spaniard should be focusing on Inter Milan, but he nevertheless has the right to respond to Hodgson's barbs. Benitez, despite his exit, enjoyed some notable successes at Anfield and in his overall career to date, so Hodgson would do well to avoid any slanging match that ends with fans and media focusing on a comparison of managerial records.
In a related point, Hodgson should also be aware that drawing attention to the contentious issue of Benitez's record in the transfer market is a dangerous game for a manager who has spent the guts of £10million on Paul Konchesky and Christian Poulsen.
So, having instigated the spat for his own ends, Hodgson would do well to see that it ends here. Benitez may well be casting a shadow over Hodgson's position at Anfield, but in the end, NESV and John Henry are not in a position to sack the Spaniard.
