In a few short months, Roy Hodgson has been transformed from admired elder statesman to ridiculed scapegoat thanks entirely to a change of clubs. Suhail Seedat explains why Hodgson and Liverpool were just not a good match from the outset.
The antipathy towards LMA Manager of the Year Roy Hodgson is growing amid some ill-advised decisions made on and especially off the pitch. The reputation of the ‘English gentleman’ is wearing thin with the Anfield faithful after another stinging attack by the manager questioning the morals of the Liverpool fans; morals that are constantly championed by those few who have been honoured to ply their trade, in some form, for the most successful club in England.
No player, no manager, has a right to be associated with Liverpool Football Club. In fact, like all clubs, it has to be fought for. Managers and players in the past at Anfield fought for their right to be champions and additionally gained recognition for their services paid to the committed faithful.
A few weeks ago, owner John Henry introduced a free kids ticket scheme for the dead rubber against Utrecht, which turned out to possibly be one of the worst performances in living memory. The game against Wolverhampton Wanderers may have surpassed that and everybody had to pay in full for the dire ineptitude on show.
A lack of imagination, poor systems, square pegs in round holes – this sounds eerily familiar for Liverpool, but instead of a Spaniard with a goatee feverishly stalking the touchline, gesticulating heavily, Hodgson sits on the bench scowling and rubbing his face with the hope of a genie popping out with a bright idea, perfectly epitomising his inertia. It all points in one direction: Hodgson simply does not have what it takes to be Liverpool manager.
Granted, Rafael Benitez was not the most well received by all because of his bullish approach towards the press, but his warmth and open heart made him an iconic figure of whom many still have fond memories. His donation upon departure of £96,000 to the Hillsborough Justice Group typified the man’s spirit, heart and understanding as to what his forefathers Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley et al built at Anfield.
Hodgson, on the other hand, played the charm offensive when he joined but has now gone on the defensive, much like his football. When asked about the Northampton Town side that dumped Liverpool out of the Carling Cup, Hodgson claimed they were a “formidable” opponent. It comes as little surprise that the supporters have never come round to the manager’s rhetoric.
Hodgson’s CV seems thin despite his 35 years of experience. Spending time mainly in Scandinavia, where he devised a style of football which would irk football fans now, his methods and philosophy have yet to change. The direct football approach has long been superceded by a high tempo passing game which Spain and Barcelona have fantastically demonstrated over the past few years. However, Hodgson remains noncompliant and sternly challenges those who question whether his football can gain accreditation from supporters and, most importantly, achieve success at the top level.
At Fulham, where expectations are significantly lower and where criticism less highlighted, the Cottagers’ tactics were enough to sustain Premier League status. Liverpool’s expectations are above and beyond those of mid-table. His signings, too, reflect Hodgson’s lack of understanding as to what Liverpool aspire to be. Paul Konchesky, Brad Jones and Christian Poulsen have been categorical disasters and considering the age and contracts handed out; Director of Football Strategy Damien Comolli will look to have more leverage in dealing with player negotiations.
The treatment and alienation of players is rather baffling considering the support Hodgson needs from his squad, more so now than ever. Glen Johnson, Joe Cole and Fernando Torres have all been questioned as to whether they have the characteristics to play for Liverpool. Rather than coaching and inspiring players to improve their beleaguered form, Hodgson feels it is necessary to throw the players under the bus - which is inexcusable - and, again, does not fit in with the culture of the club.
Liverpool supporters fail to accept mediocrity. Younger fans don’t know what it feels like to be a position where the team loses to Blackpool, Northampton and Wolves at home. If Liverpool’s decline accelerates, the American owners will be forced to make a call sooner rather than later.
Follow Suhail Seedat on Twitter - @SuhailSeedat
Tags: Liverpool, Managers, Roy Hodgson
Good post. Fully agree with the points raised. The problems go much deeper than one individual but Hodgson must now look at a different approach or he will force the owners to make a managerial change they are desperate to avoid. I may not have liked much of the pragmatic football played in the first three years of the Houllier reign but it got results. Hodgson’s playing style is tedious and incompetent. Like many Reds I want him to go because having him in charge is damaging to the club, but ideally it would be preferable to get through the second half of the season with improved results and a run in the Europa League.
While I’d agree that Hodgson isn’t really a Liverpool manager and was on a loser from the start (I didn’t know a single Liverpool fan who wanted him in the first place) I don’t totally agree with the rest of the assessment.
Although it’s a tad lazy to blame Benitez for a lot of Hodgson’s problems, the squad he’s inherited did need substantial rebuilding and there was a fair bit of deadwood that needed clearing out.
At the time Hodgson arrived, the club was in a mess off the pitch and the funds weren’t there (anybody who thinks this summer Liverpool could compete with the other big clubs for signatures is mistaken), meaning Hodgson couldn’t really afford to shell-out top dollar for assorted stars.
Poulsen always struck me as a stop-gap panic buy after Mascherano left, Konchesky was a player Hodgson knew and trusted (even if he’s been shown up since), Raul Meireles is a good player, but wasn’t really Hodgson’s signing, ditto Jovanovic. How Brad Jones can be called a categorical disaster when he’s behind Reina is a tad harsh. That said, I think he made a mistake in shifting out Insua.
At the same time, some of his best players, notably Gerrard and Torres, are hideously out of form, the former possibly irreversably so. The other part of that spine - Carragher - is declining with age. Glen Johnson’s a vastly overrated player. Joe Cole could do with more game time though.
The lows have been a lot more notable than anything else this season, but there are a few good young players in the squad. That said, they were very poor against Wolves, which Hodgson must take a fair share of the blame for.
On balance, I’d keep Hodgson. He’s been subject to a got of abuse since the day he walked through the door but isn’t a bad manager and deserves at least until the end of the season. Liverpool supporters fail to accept mediocrity - sadly, that’s what they’ve got this season and may need to come to terms with this on a temporary measure.
There are no obvious candidates to replace Hodgson (I don’t consider Daglish a credible candidate and can’t see Benitez going back, no matter how popular he is), so give him the rest of the season, a transfer window where he actually has the funds behind him and the chance to show that he can turn things around. A knee-jerk sacking may help but may also do more harm than good. It would be far better to chance managers at the end of the season.
Gary, I could be wrong but I think Poulsen was signed before Mascherano left - while Hodgson thought he could still keep him, in fact. Which makes it all the more inexplicable.
The mediocrity isn’t the issue, well it is, but it isn’t the route of the antipathy towards Roy that is turning into open hositility - something I, as an LFC supporter, never thought I would experience with regard to our manager, never.
All of the above is true, but Roy’s trouble has been his mouth - more to the point, what comes out of it. The bad buys could have been forgiven (all manan
gers make them), the dodgy tactics (huge concern, but again - all managers sometimes suffer from them), but to arrive at the club and make comments of the like you would expect from The Special One (without the CV to back it up) and to turn on the players (in public, to the media) was a huge mistake.
It brought his ‘honeymoon’ period crashing to an end - because it was all about ‘Roy, Roy, Roy’. Not LFC, LFC, LFC. The mild mannered gent was nothing of the kind in press conferences. Considering LFC had been through a period where way too much dirty laundry was aired in public, Roy came in and slaughtered the youngsters after Northampton Town (way to build morale Roy), disowned the squad (not my team, Cole wasn’t my signing) and deigned to tell a football fanbase (who are ‘reknowned’ for knowing our football, as the media love to repeat) that the insipid displays on show were good - just served to make the fans wonder what he was on about, as everyone could see what he thought/said did not match reality.
And that, really, is where the wheels have come off Roy’s wagon: by making non-sensical statements he drew attention to his other failings and then came out fighting (defensively) rather than backing down and holding his hands up.
Contrary to public (media) opinion, LFC fans aren’t unrealistic and don’t have any issues with entitlement. Roy would have got support if he had done a better job of engaging the squad, club and fans alike. Not my squad? Then why did you sign the contract Roy? As soon as you signed they became yours. You should have said this is my team and together we will overcome this…
For the first time in my life I see an Anfield crowd who, pretty much to a man, woman and child have little respect for the man tasked with leading our club out of the trouble we find ourselves in. Respect that Roy demands/expects - rather than sets to work about earning.
This article, although very good could be summed up by a few lines. Most notably that the other big European job that Woy was afforded at Internazionale, lasted only 18 months or so during which time he took Inter to the Uefa Cup final in Milan which they subsequently lost.
His record for lesser known European clubs is actually admirable (If for nothing else the fact that he was happy to go outside of England to learn his craft) a few league titles and a few cup wins, but nothing eye opening.
Conclusion: Woy should stick to smaller teams whom will afford him TIME AND PATIENCE to build his team like Copenhagen, Vikings, Malmo & Fulham. The high pressured big European club jobs demand LESS time and give you NO patience but want INSTANT results.