Roy Hodgson got the Liverpool job by a series of unfortunate events, he took it and cannot be blamed for that much like Konchesky and Poulsen becoming Liverpool players. He got off on the wrong footing with the fans from day one through his interviews. He had numerous chances to endear himself to a passionate group of fans who will support their manager through thick and thin but he failed to relate to them. He could have nailed Ferguson and Bruce, he should have spoke out against Hicks and Gillett, he should not have bigged up clearly poor oppossition and insulted this proud club in the process. He chose not to do any of this. Instead we got 35 years of managerial experience? Why in that 35 years has he never gasped the fact that half of the games are away from home? There have been some false dawns where a decent result should have been a stepping stone. Clearly he has not got the skills to motivate a group to push on. Fair enough we have topped the group in europe, but being honest this is a second rate competition that should not garner any praise unless you get to the latter stages or win it.
Liverpool lie 9th in the table which is only two places below where we finished last season, but this premier league is different to any other as the aura about the top 4 is gone and more teams are picking up points against them, two wins on the trot can see you in european places while two losses can have you in the bottom three. Banker games like Arsenal at home to West Brom are no more. The worry is that if the results revert to form in the run in then Liverpool will rapidly drop down the table, if you end up in a dogfight at the bottom then a win can be een harder to come by. The comfort lies that West Ham, Wolves and Wigan look doomed already but should a club like Liverpool be taking comfort in this? 6 times Liverpool have been behind at half time and six times they have lost. This stat is worrying on two levels, one the team is mentally frail and currently cannot dig themselves out of trouble and two the half time period had zero impact on the final result. So they may as well have done a Phil Brown and sat the pitch because there has been no inspiration in the dressing room. Sad really when you think of how Shankly sent his team out of that dressing feeling ten feet tall and look they won nothing for a long time but they believed. Liverpool play a negative game even in dead rubber matches that are ideal to go at teams, compounding the obvious inferiority complex emanating from Hodgson and affecting the team. The postponement of todays game could be a blessing as a loss to Blackpool in the next game could see the end of his tenure and at least this will be 3 points that are still up for grabs afterwards. Hodgson is currently trying to save his own media inflated reputation by setting up to not lose games. One eye on England? Now theres a way to alienate yourself from the Kop.
Rafa Benitez can immediately point to the trophy cabinet for differences between the two men, restoring the fabled european nights at anfield too, a far cry from Hodgsons mess v Utrecht where he may have made a bunch of kids cross the park and support the other crowd. Benitez drew critisism for th style of play and this was justified, but he set his teams up to play to a plan and they stuck to it and got results, often as complete underdogs who still believed the could win. However the removal ofte shackles in 2009 took Liverpool to within a whisker of the title and the question is valid, why not play that way from the start? Benitez will argue that being in touch in Febuary was the plan and they were.
A student of the game he was often accused of being too rigid.60 minute subs regardless of the flow of the game, maybe stifling creative players natural instincts too. Outside the game the man made intelligent decisions and these have to be taken at face value as a man who got it, got the city. Charitible donations, sticking it to Ferguson, speaking out against the owners, always referencing the people and embracing the history of the club and the city. Even on his departure he stated he will keep his home and will be back. Now theres the issue.
Get rid of Roy and bring back Rafa? As much as I hated to see him go this is not the answer. Second time round is never as sweet. The impression is out there that there are many open wounds still so I feel its too soon. The next appointment is critical and Rafa Benitez would be a gamble for we dont know what reationships he left behind and one things for sure, this group of players will not want another manager who is going to split the squad due to previous baggage. I hope for an authoritarian who will reclaim control of the dressing room for the manager.Oh and I hope its soon.
