Topic: Roy Hodgson tells Glen Johnson to get his act together

[Mad Men]

Not a hope is he on £120,000 a week. Post is flawed.

Tony Barrett seems to think so.

[RJH]

The thing is though, he hasn't been fit for most of the games when the team's actually played well.


Yes, when he was playing, he didn't perform very often. But in the games he played, that was true of pretty much the whole team.


I find it a bit odd to single him out for criticism, especially when he's only played 1 game out of the last 7.

[TSC]

You're not really claiming that the two interviews are equivalent, are ya?

Both are critical. 

[Cassiel]

Here was me thinking Johnson had been injured for the past few games and played no part. Must have dreamt that.

[TSC]

Thought the criticism by Rafa of the senior players after that AV defeat had them livid...or so the story goes.

It may or may not have done.  I was responding to a post which suggested Roy is the first LFC manager to criticise his players in public, which is ridiculous.

[Ambrosia]

Both are critical.

One which is buttered up and said in eloquent manner, the other is the equivalent of a bull in a china shop.

[jDJ]

Thought the criticism by Rafa of the senior players after that AV defeat had them livid...or so the story goes.

Apparently so.  There were countless articles by the usual suspects about how Benitez was in no position to criticise senior players too.  Here's one http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/steve-stammers/After-criticising-Gerrard-and-Carragher-Rafa-Benitez-needs-to-learn-what-goes-on-in-the-dressing-room-stays-in-the-dressing-room-article132001.html


Expect the same treatment for Hodgson tomorrow - or maybe not.

[GrkStav]

I can see Hodgson dropping Johnson entirely and trying to sell him, instead of taking the difficult choices like dropping Carragher or playing attacking fullbacks.

Did RH NOT know that Johnson is not exactly an old-fashioned LB? Just how fecking ignorant is he, then?

RH will not drop Carragher UNLESS his job depends on it. If that happens, he'll conveniently come up with some long-winded circumlocution to explain "his" decision.

[Promised to never post on RAWK again]

Tottenham Hotspur would be one possible destination for Johnson were a parting of the ways to become inevitable. The full back enjoyed the best form of his career working under Harry Redknapp, the Spurs manager, while the pair were at Portsmouth. Juventus are also believed to be interested but it is doubtful that the player will be sold during the January transfer window, a move next summer being the more likely option.

The good news is, Hodgson is no longer in charge of transfers at LFC ... However, he might do some additional damage by giving Johnson the ''Agger'' treatment ... I am wondering how much damage will he do, before he is sacked ?

[Pepe Reina Is Rafas Son]

Roy Hodgson tells Glen Johnson to get his act together

Good Man Roy, one to talk about getting act together

[Gnurglan]

“The big thing is whether he will be fit enough to play any part in the game, that’s more relevant than whether he will get his place back,” Hodgson said. “He’s the England right back and if he plays like that, one would expect him to come back in. But then he’d have to play like the England right back and up to now, to be quite frank, he’s not performed — very often, at least — to the level I’d expect of him.

“You would have to ask him the question, ‘Do you think you’re playing at top form and are you playing like the best right back in the country for your club?’ If he says yes, obviously we will have to agree to differ and if he says no then you’d have to ask the question, ‘Why not?’ ”
 

And the hits just keep on coming from Roy...
Why not just say he's off?

Could have said that he's been impressed with Kelly lately, that Johnson would have to show why he's been selected for England if he wants to gain his place in the team back. But no, he has a go at Johnson, which will bring down his value if Roy indeed wants to sell and it will of course feed the rumours that there were players who were not impressed with Hodgson, with Johnson being one of them.

Can someone please tape Roy's mouth and let someone else talk to the press?

[Stussy]

Roy has got it right for once.

He's right about Johnson's dissapointing performances, whether he is right by doing it so publically, only time will tell.

[Scarlet`]

Hodgson should get his act together

[GrkStav]

Both are critical.

Oh, I see. You really ignored the connotations and stuck, scientifically, to the denotative content of my the words in my post.

Ok, I'll keep that in mind in the future.

[Spanish Al]

Hodgson you prick. Why the fuck would you come out and criticise in the media one of your OWN players!? See, I know Rafa has gone etc and we need to get over it etc but you would never in a month of sundays see him come out and say things like these. He backed his players all the time (Crouch the best example)

Losing respect for Hodgson every time he opens his mouth.

[rednile]

It might get the best out of him you never know .

[Fordy]

The good news is, Hodgson is no longer in charge of transfers at LFC ... However, he might do some additional damage by giving Johnson the ''Agger'' treatment ... I am wondering how much damage will he do, before he is sacked ?

A lot but as I keep up saying its up to the owners now to prove their salt.

[kevindublin]

NESV should release a statement saying they are not pleased with Hodgson's performance this season, and they'll seek to offload him to Hull or somewere, if his perormance doesnt improve.
tit

[TSC]

One which is buttered up and said in eloquent manner, the other is the equivalent of a bull in a china shop.

But still, both are critical, insofar both are public.  To harangue Roy over this as if it's something new and out of the ordinary for LFC is hypocritical.  The two examples I quickly found of Houllier and Rafa criticising players via the media could prob be backed up with examples of Dalglish, Paisley and Shanks doing likewise.

I simply see it as yet another excuse to hammer the manager.  Plus I agree with his sentiments.  Johnson has been poor this season.  Maybe this will give him the kick he needs.  Maybe it won't.  But maybe a manager has to try.  Maybe he's tried the old 'arm around the shoulder'?

Who knows?  We certainly don't.

[jDJ]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/6263287/Rafa-Benitez-must-keep-Steven-Gerrard-and-Jamie-Carragher-on-his-side-at-Liverpool.html

Here's Winter's take on Benitez's astonishing attack on the Liverpool heartbeat.

Breathtaking article actually containing lines such as - "Carragher will be at Melwood so Benítez must start there, discussing with his centre-half how Liverpool can improve and how Benítez himself can become a better manager." 

[ACLE]

Any good/decent/quality manager would know as and when to protect their players as Ambrosia's quote above. Insua was overdone and blew up because of lack of cover cos Aurelio was injured. Kelly needs a break soon cos he was battered on Wednesday with little cover. Time for Glen to step up and get his finger out after Uncle Roy's shot across the bow. We have a decent defensive squad to fall back on. Come on you reds!

[Black Bull Nova]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/aug/28/rafael-benitez-steven-gerrard-poor-form

[RedinExile]

Did Roy come out with this sort of stuff at Fulham? Can't see him being a popular manager if he did, but Danny I Know Me Football Murphy never made any mention of it. Weird really.

That dressing room must be a riot of laughs at this moment in time.

[GrkStav]

NESV should release a statement saying they are not pleased with Hodgson's performance this season, and they'll seek to offload him to Hull or somewere, if his perormance doesnt improve.
tit

"You'd have to ask him "Do you think you've been performing like one of the most respected managers in Europe, a 35-year veteran of the profession, last year's winner of a prestigious award?" If he says "Yes, I have" then we would need to tell him that we obviously differ with him on that count. If he says "No, I haven't" then we would have to insist that he improve his performance to avoid being fired in a forthnight's time."

[Rohit]

Konchesky, poulsen will he mention them or good old joey cole. I thought not, i wish henry would give roy a public slating tell him to get his attack together and playing some football, rather than hoof it up to  the pitch and defend for our lives. Johnson has been poor but to say kelly been great as some has said people need to take of there scouse glasses, he was regularly skinned by nzogbia, remmeber the step over and boom past him now only if he had a good delivery would people notice. But if that was glen he would have been ripped to shreads.

[JovaJova]

But still, both are critical, insofar both are public.  To harangue Roy over this as if it's something new and out of the ordinary for LFC is hypocritical.  The two examples I quickly found of Houllier and Rafa criticising players via the media could prob be backed up with examples of Dalglish, Paisley and Shanks doing likewise.

I simply see it as yet another excuse to hammer the manager.  Plus I agree with his sentiments.  Johnson has been poor this season.  Maybe this will give him the kick he needs.  Maybe it won't.  But maybe a manager has to try.  Maybe he's tried the old 'arm around the shoulder'?

Who knows?  We certainly don't.

Seriously ?

The guy is continually undermining the squad to try to build a picture to the public / press about how tough a job he has and how well he is doing with it

This is a daily / weekly event, not an isolated incident

[Fat Scouser]

I don't even know if he's done it. Maybe we'll get a denial on tv tommorrow. But can anyone tell me what benefit there is in a manager slagging off one of his players in the papers?

[lawrie]

So thus far Roy doesnt seem to have rated Johnson, Agger, Jovanovic, Pacheco, Aquilani and Babel (for a time Lucas as well until it became obvious Poulsen wasn't up to scratch) strangely that's mainly players who play in an attacking manner. Hmmm

[TSC]

Oh, I see. You really ignored the connotations and stuck, scientifically, to the denotative content of my the words in my post.

Ok, I'll keep that in mind in the future.

No, the central tenet of the criticism of Hodgson was that 'he went public'.  Well so did Rafa and Houllier before him.

If then with the benefit of hindsight (I.e. proof that Rafa et al also criticised players via the media), the criticism relates to 'content' rather than context, then that changes the argument. 

It wouldn't be about going public, but would centre on 'what he said'.

[GrkStav]

There's no comparison, in my opinion, between Rafa's statements and Hodgson's. Perhaps it is a matter of prejudice, it's possible, but I consider Hodgson's statements MUCH worse.

[downtown]

Spurs have poor man's Johnson playing for them (Hutton) and he's been brilliant for them recently, since they attack with numbers...allowing him to get forward, switch feet and take shots......

when I see that, I wonder how good Glen can be if played in the right set up

[Promised to never post on RAWK again]

The guy is continually undermining the squad to try to build a picture to the public / press about how tough a job he has and how well he is doing with it

True ... Roy is attacking everyone and everything in public, trying to find excuses for his own shortcomings ... He should be gone as soon as possible, before he alienates more players to the point of no return ...

[Fat Scouser]

Konchesky, poulsen will he mention them or good old joey cole.

Roy's in today's Daily Mail saying what a good player Poulsen is and how he is "devestated," at the treatment he's recieved from us.

[Hazell]

I thought over the last couple of weeks Hodgson was improving in terms of his comments in the media. Shame.

[redbyrdz]

More 'arm around the shoulder' management i see.

Why the fuck has he got a go at Johnson now?!? Johnson's been injured and hasn't played for a while, why bring up he  hasn't performed now? Couldn't he have just said: 'Kelly has done well while Johnson was injured and Johnson has to prove again he deserves to start'. (But then again, he probably can't say that - it goes against his A/B team devide - if you are an 'A-team' player, you are guaranteed a starting place under Hodgson. Which in itself is a pretty wierd way of getting the best out of your players.)

[rafa4sure]

"You'd have to ask him "Do you think you've been performing like one of the most respected managers in Europe, a 35-year veteran of the profession, last year's winner of a prestigious award?" If he says "Yes, I have" then we would need to tell him that we obviously differ with him on that count. If he says "No, I haven't" then we would have to insist that he improve his performance to avoid being fired in a forthnight's time."

That would only be fair!

[drpepe]

I don't even know if he's done it. Maybe we'll get a denial on tv tommorrow. But can anyone tell me what benefit there is in a manager slagging off one of his players in the papers?

the timing is very odd

gj played in a period when no-one was playing well, and hasn't played at all for the last few matches

now he's coming back from a long-ish injury he gets a bit of individual criticism?

v strange

[hedger]

well said roy

[thegoodfella]

So Roy thinks that Carra is Carlos Alberto, and Glen needs to play like he wants his position back? I am slightly confused...

[RedinExile]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/6263287/Rafa-Benitez-must-keep-Steven-Gerrard-and-Jamie-Carragher-on-his-side-at-Liverpool.html

Here's Winter's take on Benitez's astonishing attack on the Liverpool heartbeat.

Breathtaking article actually containing lines such as - "Carragher will be at Melwood so Benítez must start there, discussing with his centre-half how Liverpool can improve and how Benítez himself can become a better manager." 

I know, the cheeky cnt!