Jonathan Wilson: Expectations at Anfield proving to be overwhelming for Roy Hodgson

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Roy Hodgson always was likely to face two problems at Liverpool: that his football was too boring for the fans, and that his training was too boring for the players. A certain stodginess leading to long-term grumbling was perhaps to be expected, but what nobody predicted was that Liverpool would be as bad as it has been so far this season, and that there would be immediate outrage.

Sunday's 2-1 home loss to Blackpool was humiliating not just because the visitors were so unfancied, and not just because it left Liverpool in the bottom three, but because of the pitiful nature of the performance. Liverpool fans have always been noted for their patience, but just seven games into this season, they were chanting for Kenny Dalglish to replace Hodgson.

The great strength of Hodgson's past sides has been their ability to retain their shape. At times they lacked flair, but they were at least solid. And that is what makes Blackpool's second goal so unsettling. Hodgson set out his side with three central midfielders, with Christian Poulsen and Raul Meireles presumably intended to provide a platform for Steven Gerrard. In the buildup to that goal, though, all three were sucked to the left, so when the ball came in-field to Gary Taylor-Fletcher, he had oceans of room to loft a pass through for Luke Varney to score.

That area is what the Switzerland and former Bayern Munich manager Ottmar Hitzfeld calls "the red zone," a place that must be protected at all costs, and Liverpool surrendered it. These are basics, so basic it seems absurd to blame Hodgson for them. Errors like those have nothing to do with motivation or work on the training field; they speak of a club suffering a psychological meltdown (although it's still hard to believe Liverpool would have been left that open had Javier Mascherano not departed for Barcelona).

The common line from players is that what goes on in the boardroom doesn't affect them, but it surely must. If players are being sold, new investment is not forthcoming and there is a sense that the club is going backward, why wouldn't players start to wonder about the future and question their commitment? And when fans -- quite understandably - begin to demonstrate against the owners, how could that sense of anxiety and dissatisfaction not influence a team that must be low on confidence anyway?

The politicking is unhealthy. Dalglish looms like the ghost of Liverpool's glory, the last manager to lead the club to the championship, and somebody who, after being asked to consult on the appointment of Rafa Benitez's successor, put forward his own name. For a manager to work with an obvious and popular alternative constantly scowling from the directors' box is destabilizing.

Hodgson is further undermined by the probability of an imminent change of ownership, for it is long established that new owners replace the manager sooner rather than later -- just as Sheikh Mansour fired Mark Hughes; David Gold and David Sullivan disposed of Gianfranco Zola; Mike Ashley sacked Sam Allardyce; Ellis Short dumped Roy Keane; and Roman Abramovich relieved Claudio Ranieri of his duties. And if Hodgson's training drills are as dull and repetitive as most seem to suggest, the temptation for players expecting a new man at the helm must be to think, Why bother?
There are other, mitigating factors. Fernando Torres has been hampered by injuries and loss of form for at least six months. Having played in the European Championship in 2008, the Confederations Cup in 2009 and the World Cup this summer, he has not had a proper break since 2007. That's bad enough for any player, but particularly for somebody like Torres, who has a history of niggling injuries, and all the more so when he is expected to lead the line game after game.

David Ngog has been better than anticipated but he is inexperienced, and it is unfair to expect him to be the first reserve at a club of Liverpool's stature (if Liverpool is still assumed to be a top-six club). The squad's limitations were further demonstrated Sunday by the fact that, without Paul Konchesky, Hodgson was pretty much compelled to pick two right-footed players on the left -- Jamie Carragher at fullback and Joe Cole in the advanced role . As Michael ***'s analysis on the Guardian Web site shows, that made Liverpool's approach extremely one-sided. Inverted wingers are very much in vogue, but they are at their most threatening with an orthodox fullback overlapping outside them. Carragher, at 32, was never likely to offer much in the way of attacking threat, but the problem was compounded by his right-footedness, ensuring he didn't even offer the option of outswinging crosses from deep positions.

Some blame Benitez for the squad he left behind, and it certainly has weaknesses, but he was hamstrung by the lack of resources available. Again, his critics point out his expensive flops -- most notably Robbie Keane and Ryan Babel, although Glenn Johnson looks worryingly as though he may be entering that category -- but the fact remains that he inherited a club in a far worse position than either Chelsea or Manchester United and was asked to close the gap with far less money than either. Briefly, when Liverpool finished second in 2008-09, he achieved that, but that has been forgotten because of what happened last season, when injuries and the off-field wrangling combined with the rise of Manchester City and Tottenham -- both of whom have spent vastly more than Liverpool over the past three seasons -- led to Liverpool's slide to seventh.

Seventh, though, is a whole lot better than 18th. The Benitez knockers say it's an issue of the squad, but every one of Sunday's starting 11 was part of a World Cup 23 in the summer. None of Blackpool's had that status. That, of course, may be part of the problem. Although Rafael van der Vaart is doing his best to show up the rest, most players who play at a World Cup suffer a slow start to the following season. Nonetheless, the idea that, all else being equal, this Liverpool side should not have won comfortably is absurd.

Just because there are mitigations, though, does not mean Hodgson is not culpable, just as the fact that Benitez can largely be exonerated does not mean Hodgson is to blame. As this analysis from Paul Tomkins suggests, Hodgson's first 14 games have raised specific tactical concerns.
Yet Hodgson has a very good record as a manager, having won titles in Sweden and Denmark, led Internazionale to a UEFA Cup final and Fulham to the Europa League final, the last of which led to his being named Manager of the Year last season. His critics, though, would point out that, with the exception of Inter, he has never before led a club whose fans demand not merely success, but also a certain style.

Worse than that, in his other English job, he left Blackburn 14 games into the 1998-99 season, having won only once. The club went on to be relegated that season, despite having the second-most-expensive squad in the country. What is often forgotten is that, the season before, Hodgson had taken a team that had finished 13th the previous season to sixth, earning qualification for the UEFA Cup, and that in that second season he was beset by injuries and dressing-room unrest. He certainly wasn't a success at Blackburn, but there were reasons for his second-year failure. At Inter, meanwhile, Hodgson's record was impressive. He lifted a struggling side to seventh, and then took it to third the following season.

His record is admirable, and the last 14 games at Blackburn don't change that. The problem is that because his success has largely been with smaller clubs, he arrived at Anfield with the reputation of being a smaller-club manager. Perhaps he does have a small-team mentality, and perhaps that would have been a problem anyway, but at the moment he is seen almost as a self-fulfilling prophecy: When a club is fighting against diminishing status, the last thing it needs is a manager perceived as being of a lower status.

Hodgson, through no great fault of his own, has been cast as a receptionist at mediocrity's door. He may or may not be the right man for the job, but it's hard to avoid the feeling that at the moment managing Liverpool is an impossible task.


Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20...hodgson/index.html?eref=writers#ixzz11WiNg4Ip
 
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Should never hire a manager based on a cup run. Bit off more than he can chew. Hope he proves me wrong. Doubt it though, A LOT.
 
it wasen't just his cup run the reason why he got the job, he done pretty well taking Fulham from the bottem of the table to the top half.
 
it wasen't just his cup run the reason why he got the job, he done pretty well taking Fulham from the bottem of the table to the top half.
as was said before when dicussing this before he got the job, with the greatest respect to fulham, they're not liverpool. hes approacched his games with the wrong mentality
 
as was said before when dicussing this before he got the job, with the greatest respect to fulham, they're not liverpool. hes approacched his games with the wrong mentality

Yer ok they are not Liverpool but they are going that way if they are not careful. Roy has managed big clubs before so why is this one different?? ill tell you why its because of the off field problems thats why.
 
Yer ok they are not Liverpool but they are going that way if they are not careful. Roy has managed big clubs before so why is this one different?? ill tell you why its because of the off field problems thats why.

Inter Milan are the only big club he has managed and they weren't exactly a fantastic side when Roy moved there. Managing Liverpool is nothing like managing Fulham, Roy should be able to focus the players, he is the manager after all...
 
Inter Milan are the only big club he has managed and they weren't exactly a fantastic side when Roy moved there. Managing Liverpool is nothing like managing Fulham, Roy should be able to focus the players, he is the manager after all...

I remember hearing at the start of his time at Fulham Simon Davies said they players didn't like his training methods and tactics and they thought they were too above him, time past and look what happend. I think he has taken his usual training methods and tactics to Liverpool and the same thing is happening, the players are looking at it and thinking hold on we are better than this man he dosen't know what he is doing and the fact is give it time.
 
I remember hearing at the start of his time at Fulham Simon Davies said they players didn't like his training methods and tactics and they thought they were too above him, time past and look what happend. I think he has taken his usual training methods and tactics to Liverpool and the same thing is happening, the players are looking at it and thinking hold on we are better than this man he dosen't know what he is doing and the fact is give it time.

That's the thing, it won't work at Liverpool. The fans expect more.
 
That's the thing, it won't work at Liverpool. The fans expect more.

I really think they should take a long hard look and realise that they are not the Liverpool of old anymore. More teams have got better i.e Arsenal, Utd, Chelsea, City, Villa, Everton, Spurs etc all these teams are capible of beating each other. And lets not forget its what over 20 years since Liverpool last won the league so you could say it all changed back then . Like someone said to me a little while ago success wont last forever so i enjoy it now and you had your huge success over 20 years ago, its just other teams turn now im afraid.
 
There are a lot of excellent points made here. The first thing that sticks out is Kenny not getting the job, but still playing a role in the running of the club. I thought that was a mistake.

Honestly, I think it'll take a season or two to sort all of this out. As to who's fault all of this is, I don't know that there is a definitive answer for that. As the article says, those who blame Benitez and are glad to see a change in manager, blame the squad. It works the same way with those who defend Rafa. They blame the manager.

Something though has been nagging at me since we choked in the title race two years ago that has only grown stronger as the last two seasons have played out, maybe it isn't the fault of the managers or the owners. Maybe we just aren't that good.
 
My biggest problem with us this season is this inability to settle down and retain possession. It's just get the ball, sloppily get it forward, run out of ideas and concede. I don't know if that's a manager or player problem. As a player, surely you possess a minimum skill level that allows you to perform basic tasks well. As a manager, surely you possess a minimum skill level that informs you your tactics aren't working.
 
There are a lot of excellent points made here. The first thing that sticks out is Kenny not getting the job, but still playing a role in the running of the club. I thought that was a mistake.

Honestly, I think it'll take a season or two to sort all of this out. As to who's fault all of this is, I don't know that there is a definitive answer for that. As the article says, those who blame Benitez and are glad to see a change in manager, blame the squad. It works the same way with those who defend Rafa. They blame the manager.

Something though has been nagging at me since we choked in the title race two years ago that has only grown stronger as the last two seasons have played out, maybe it isn't the fault of the managers or the owners. Maybe we just aren't that good.

It's not Benitez.
 
I voiced my opinion on his potential appointment right from the get go and got slated on here by a vast majority of members.

So far however I am being proven right, and by a greater extent than even I would have expected.

I also don’t feel Kenny Dalglish would be the messiah the fans are hoping for, the guy is as old as Hodgson and isn’t the full shilling these days. Will he really be able to control the persona of Torres, Gerrard and co? His tactics wouldn’t be very modern and neither would his training methods.
 
Inter Milan are the only big club he has managed and they weren't exactly a fantastic side when Roy moved there. Managing Liverpool is nothing like managing Fulham, Roy should be able to focus the players, he is the manager after all...

So Let me Get this right. Roy is expected to manage the players and forget all the off field problems and money mess? But When Rafa had a poor Year last year, it was because he was not allowed to strengthen the squad or had to get rid of people he didnt want to.


Roy Probably wanted to keep Aquallini, Yossi and Mascherano. But he was forced to sell them and Buy Less players. Yours and so Many others defence of Rafa's was the conditions he had to work in, Now your all be very hypocritical to slam Roy, when he is in the same situation.

Also, Liverpool will finish top 8 this year. You've had a bad start but an Hard one. the only really shocking result is the Blackpool one, and they happen some times. Just give the ******* man a chance.
 
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Yer ok they are not Liverpool but they are going that way if they are not careful. Roy has managed big clubs before so why is this one different?? ill tell you why its because of the off field problems thats why.
i never said al of the problems are his fault, but he is failing in his own sphere. what is the point of signing a top class central mid, then playing him on the wing? what is the point of lining up a flat 4-4-2 without any wingers? roy cant help the things off the pitch and it must he hard for him, but in his own tactical sphere he must do better
 
1. Benitez stayed too long. With some rare exceptions, not even the best managers can keep the same group going year after year. The reason Benitez stayed too long was obviously due to the fact that he got too much power and it was impossible to buy him out. That became the case as soon as the Americans arrived. They saw European success and didn't quite realise how important domestic success is.

2. completely wrong focus when it comes to buying players. One mediocre or injury prone defender after the other was signed (Dossena, Degen, Agger, Kyrgiakos) and of course the blunder of all blunders : letting Xabi Alonso go and getting an injured Aquilani in his place.

Whether we like it or not, but Carragher and Gerrard aren't getting any younger. Alonso's departure pretty much meant Stevie had to carry the midfield on his own. Torres' injuries meant he had to carry the attack as well. And then he broke down, unsurprisingly.

This season at least the centre backs seem steady with Skrtel and Carragher, but pace is a problem there. With Johnson in a bit of a crisis on his side and Hodgson's signing Konchesky having an absolute drama of a start at the club things are a bit fragile to say the least.

Joe Cole at least reinforces the midfield, so that's less pressure for Gerrard.

Up front it's still very very thin. As said Ngog is playing above expectations, but he's nowhere near Premiership level yet. Which means that if Torres is injured it's all makeshift solutions at the moment.

Not displeased with Mereiles as new Mascherano either. It's not all doom and gloom despite the performances.

With a fast left back and an extra striker in the January window, there might yet be something to save from this season. As in qualifying for Europa League....
 
1. Benitez stayed too long. With some rare exceptions, not even the best managers can keep the same group going year after year. The reason Benitez stayed too long was obviously due to the fact that he got too much power and it was impossible to buy him out. That became the case as soon as the Americans arrived. They saw European success and didn't quite realise how important domestic success is.

2. completely wrong focus when it comes to buying players. One mediocre or injury prone defender after the other was signed (Dossena, Degen, Agger, Kyrgiakos) and of course the blunder of all blunders : letting Xabi Alonso go and getting an injured Aquilani in his place.

Whether we like it or not, but Carragher and Gerrard aren't getting any younger. Alonso's departure pretty much meant Stevie had to carry the midfield on his own. Torres' injuries meant he had to carry the attack as well. And then he broke down, unsurprisingly.

This season at least the centre backs seem steady with Skrtel and Carragher, but pace is a problem there. With Johnson in a bit of a crisis on his side and Hodgson's signing Konchesky having an absolute drama of a start at the club things are a bit fragile to say the least.

Joe Cole at least reinforces the midfield, so that's less pressure for Gerrard.

Up front it's still very very thin. As said Ngog is playing above expectations, but he's nowhere near Premiership level yet. Which means that if Torres is injured it's all makeshift solutions at the moment.

Not displeased with Mereiles as new Mascherano either. It's not all doom and gloom despite the performances.

With a fast left back and an extra striker in the January window, there might yet be something to save from this season. As in qualifying for Europa League....
Disagree somewhat. Alonso wanted to go, couldn't keep him. All we done was good a resonable price. Krygiakos and Agger are both great players.We have enough striking cover, for the way we play.
 
So Let me Get this right. Roy is expected to manage the players and forget all the off field problems and money mess? But When Rafa had a poor Year last year, it was because he was not allowed to strengthen the squad or had to get rid of people he didnt want to.


Roy Probably wanted to keep Aquallini, Yossi and Mascherano. But he was forced to sell them and Buy Less players. Yours and so Many others defence of Rafa's was the conditions he had to work in, Now your all be very hypocritical to slam Roy, when he is in the same situation.

Also, Liverpool will finish top 8 this year. You've had a bad start but an Hard one. the only really shocking result is the Blackpool one, and they happen some times. Just give the ******* man a chance.
 
So Let me Get this right. Roy is expected to manage the players and forget all the off field problems and money mess? But When Rafa had a poor Year last year, it was because he was not allowed to strengthen the squad or had to get rid of people he didnt want to.


Roy Probably wanted to keep Aquallini, Yossi and Mascherano. But he was forced to sell them and Buy Less players. Yours and so Many others defence of Rafa's was the conditions he had to work in, Now your all be very hypocritical to slam Roy, when he is in the same situation.

Also, Liverpool will finish top 8 this year. You've had a bad start but an Hard one. the only really shocking result is the Blackpool one, and they happen some times. Just give the ******* man a chance.


For once mate, I completely agree with you.
 
Disagree somewhat. Alonso wanted to go, couldn't keep him. All we done was good a resonable price. Krygiakos and Agger are both great players.We have enough striking cover, for the way we play.
I'm not saying we shouldn't have let Alonso go or at least that wasn't my intention. What my main criticism there is that for the 20 million that was paid for Aquilani there must have been a few players available who were not going to be out for the first few months to begin with after which it remained to be seen how strong they'd come back.

Kyrgiakos is good for what he's cost. I just have my doubts about him as everyday premiership player.

Agger is great, but injured way too often. 86 games since January 2006. That's 17 games per year. That's just about enough to cover for Skrtel and Kyrgiakos' yellow cards. That's 6 odd million for a backfill.

Maxi Rodriguez was sort of brought in as stand in for Aquilani and Gerrard when he was injured, but the hope of him and Torres teaming like in the Atletico days also barely came into play. Admittedly he didn't cost anything, but I'm guessing his salary isn't that of a bench player either.

What it all comes down to is that with the limited money available (which somehow seemed to be the case since the Americans arrived and not before), there's limited quality available. We can only hope that the new owners will give the club a healthy financial boost so we're not forced to make do with second rate signings like Konchesky, Poulsen and Jovanovics. Sure they're good players, but they're not world class and only world class is good enough to win the Premiership.

The long and short of it is that Hodgson has stepped into a difficult situation and is taking a lot of **** now for things he couldn't really do a whole lot about. Of course he stepped in knowing the situation and maybe he should have said "sorry, I don't think I'm the man who can turn this around", but who's going to say no against a club like this?

This year's almost a write off, but given enough commitment from the new owners and some time, I can see Liverpool competing for the title in 2 or 3 years time. I doubt it will be with Hodgson, though.
 
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