Liverpool FC Forum

[Ciggy]

Excellent piece by Dion Fanning 

Hodgson is a man well-respected in UEFA circles or, in other words, a nonentity, a corporate line manager who can make everybody feel at home. Sky feel at home at Liverpool now.

Javier Mascherano's refusal to play created a convenient scapegoat (there always seems to be one nearby when Gerrard is exposed) as Hodgson had to abandon his plan to play Gerrard behind Torres at the last minute. Mascherano had stated his desire to leave for a year so intending to play him in the last few days of the transfer window could be seen as bad planning rather than planning.

Hodgson used the fall-out from the Mascherano strike to criticise Benitez's attempts to sign Dirk Kuyt. Benitez had given a written undertaking that he would not return to sign his former players, Hodgson claimed.

Some said Hodgson had made a similar promise when he left Fulham, that he would leave the talent at Craven Cottage alone. By signing Paul Konchesky, he can be said to be observing the spirit of this agreement.

"We don't need the money," Hodgson said when discussing Inter's interest in Kuyt, words that should have tripped a few alarms when Liverpool need every penny they can get.

Hodgson was the appointment of a board that has failed in its primary duty. He was the low maintenance man they could do business with while they failed in their main objective.

It is time for Liverpool supporters to start boycotting matches, to take direct action against the owners and the board that sustains them still.

Hodgson, it was said, brought stability. Liverpool does not need stability, it needs radicalism. Bill Shankly did not bring stability; if he had, the club would have remained stable in the second division. Hodgson needs to challenge Gerrard. When Cole returns from suspension, the manager will have to confront their failings and play them where they are most dangerous, not where they think they belong.

Benitez had to go because the dressing room atmosphere had soured. So far this season, Liverpool are playing with the abandon of free men.

dfanning@independent.ie

Sunday Independent

http://www.independent.ie/sport....11.html

[Owzat]

Do you seriously think I care about getting a ban on here?

F*ck off, Owzat!

I leave "tw@tish" replys to absolutely moronic posts because they just don't deserve me wasting more than 10 seconds in even trying to offer any kind of subjective debate on it. If I think someone is talking complete bollox, I'll tell them so. Honesty's the best policy, see.

Ignore them if you don't agree, don't feel so 'important' you have to tell people your 'thoughts' because frankly noone is interested. Get over yourself

Oh and "F*ck off" yourself. If you care so little about whether you get a ban or not, why don't you just "f*ck off". If that's the extent of your debating skills you might as well, mods are truly laughable in moderating on here since they let people like you do what they like...........................

As for your "honesty" policy, if I told you a few honest home truths I'd be the same as you except I'd be right and not talking out of my @r se

Jumped up little &"^£%$%!"@



EDIT : I dedicate this post to woof who instead of doing his job decided to lecture me on his opinion which I still disagree with. Just do your job (for once) - cue I get banned, people who should have had 999 cards don't even get one :ROLLEYES: Maybe you should get on with something 'important' like bumping up the russian dolls thread, for what that's worth which is about as worthwhile a read as ER's posts

[Owzat]

Excellent piece by Dion Fanning 

Hodgson is a man well-respected in UEFA circles or, in other words, a nonentity, a corporate line manager who can make everybody feel at home. Sky feel at home at Liverpool now.

Javier Mascherano's refusal to play created a convenient scapegoat (there always seems to be one nearby when Gerrard is exposed) as Hodgson had to abandon his plan to play Gerrard behind Torres at the last minute. Mascherano had stated his desire to leave for a year so intending to play him in the last few days of the transfer window could be seen as bad planning rather than planning.

Hodgson used the fall-out from the Mascherano strike to criticise Benitez's attempts to sign Dirk Kuyt. Benitez had given a written undertaking that he would not return to sign his former players, Hodgson claimed.

Some said Hodgson had made a similar promise when he left Fulham, that he would leave the talent at Craven Cottage alone. By signing Paul Konchesky, he can be said to be observing the spirit of this agreement.

"We don't need the money," Hodgson said when discussing Inter's interest in Kuyt, words that should have tripped a few alarms when Liverpool need every penny they can get.

Hodgson was the appointment of a board that has failed in its primary duty. He was the low maintenance man they could do business with while they failed in their main objective.

It is time for Liverpool supporters to start boycotting matches, to take direct action against the owners and the board that sustains them still.

Hodgson, it was said, brought stability. Liverpool does not need stability, it needs radicalism. Bill Shankly did not bring stability; if he had, the club would have remained stable in the second division. Hodgson needs to challenge Gerrard. When Cole returns from suspension, the manager will have to confront their failings and play them where they are most dangerous, not where they think they belong.

Benitez had to go because the dressing room atmosphere had soured. So far this season, Liverpool are playing with the abandon of free men.

dfanning@independent.ie

Sunday Independent

http://www.independent.ie/sport....11.html

Far too much 'feelgood factor' oozing from Woy, I reserve judgement to some of the things that do actually matter like signings (their age, value etc) and what happens on that grass thing surrounded by lines, seats and then walls ie the pitch.

Whether a manager jumps up and down on the touchline like a demented kangaroo, or stays calm and collected is immaterial to me. So someone might have a bit of passion, and occaisonally some draw the conclusion a few near misses involving tea cups and players' heads is the reason for a comeback, so what?!? It's about signing the right players, playing a workable system and formation and the players clicking from the off. Even if mr passion happens to stir a comeback at the half-time teamtalk, doesn't detract from the fact he got it wrong in the first place - or something was wrong.

At the end of the day we've played two league games beforehand we would have wanted four points from and we got one, no matter how achieved. And for all the praise Woy gets for changing things at half-time with a ba'llacking, what about against Citeh?!?!? Perhaps his magic wand was broken then......................? I'm sure some will point to 'bad luck', not being fully fit or some excuse, but all clubs get it, it's what you do with what you have and making sure 'bad luck' plays less of a part than your SKILL. Did we get nothing at Sunderland last season because the ref didn't know the laws, or perhaps as much or more because we didn't score in 90 minutes football so didn't deserve much/anything? Cling on to the one point we might have had, but I'd rather question why we didn't score ourselves than the ref making a mistake I'm guessing plenty others would have.

We're bottom three, we won't stay there but that is bad enough

[loopyliverpool]

Roy's working with what he has and has identified areas where we need not just back ups but first teamers. The team/squad is in transition. A left back is an absolute must and all being well we should be getting the Fulham player Konchesky before Tuesday's deadline. Overall I think our defence has been quite abject so far this season and although only a couple of games in, it needs to be addressed. For all the money we spent on Johnson I have serious reservations about his ability to defend. He gets turned inside out far too easily and often goes in to the tackle and doesn't win the ball which obviously leaves us massively exposed. Going forward he is fine and I would suggest that perhaps he would make a far better right midfielder rather than right back. With the aquistion of a left back it would potentially free up Agger to return to the centre which would then free up Carragher to possibly play at right back. Im not saying he should definitely do this but it is an option.
If we can get a striker and a central midfielder before the window closes I think we can be competitive with the top teams but our season will very much depend on what is brought in in the next few days otherwise we might be getting much of what we had last season.

[Ciggy]

Carraghers been awful the past few games our best defender by a country mile has been jimmy the Greek, and also poses a threat to score at set pieces.

[roberto green]

jimmy the Greek,

[bigmick]

Carraghers been awful the past few games our best defender by a country mile has been jimmy the Greek, and also poses a threat to score at set pieces.

I don't agree Carraghers been awful, I actually think he's stepped it up big time from last season. I do agree on "Jimmy the Greek" though, he deserves a starting slot IMHO. When we couldn't handle Micah Richards from a physical point of view from set pieces, we really could have done with him to go into battle. Your point about the goal threat is valid too Lynds, I think he'd get half a dozen a season if he were a regular.

[fivecups]

Carraghers been awful the past few games our best defender by a country mile has been jimmy the Greek, and also poses a threat to score at set pieces.

I don't agree Carraghers been awful, I actually think he's stepped it up big time from last season. I do agree on "Jimmy the Greek" though, he deserves a starting slot IMHO. When we couldn't handle Micah Richards from a physical point of view from set pieces, we really could have done with him to go into battle. Your point about the goal threat is valid too Lynds, I think he'd get half a dozen a season if he were a regular.

Agree on both counts (Sotos/Richards) - I was amazed Sotos is only 31, I thought he was about 35. Both Rafa and Roy seem to be using him a backup though. Definitely brought a sense of authority to the defense in the second half of last season and will score a few headers from set-pieces.

I think it was Puroescu who mentioned the physicality of City last week and Richards personified it. I remember him going in shoulder to shoulder against Jova in a 50:50 on the edge of our box. Jova lost out badly and City regained possession in a dangerous position.

[Thommo's perm]

Excellent piece by Dion Fanning 

Hodgson is a man well-respected in UEFA circles or, in other words, a nonentity, a corporate line manager who can make everybody feel at home. Sky feel at home at Liverpool now.

Javier Mascherano's refusal to play created a convenient scapegoat (there always seems to be one nearby when Gerrard is exposed) as Hodgson had to abandon his plan to play Gerrard behind Torres at the last minute. Mascherano had stated his desire to leave for a year so intending to play him in the last few days of the transfer window could be seen as bad planning rather than planning.

Hodgson used the fall-out from the Mascherano strike to criticise Benitez's attempts to sign Dirk Kuyt. Benitez had given a written undertaking that he would not return to sign his former players, Hodgson claimed.

Some said Hodgson had made a similar promise when he left Fulham, that he would leave the talent at Craven Cottage alone. By signing Paul Konchesky, he can be said to be observing the spirit of this agreement.

"We don't need the money," Hodgson said when discussing Inter's interest in Kuyt, words that should have tripped a few alarms when Liverpool need every penny they can get.

Hodgson was the appointment of a board that has failed in its primary duty. He was the low maintenance man they could do business with while they failed in their main objective.

It is time for Liverpool supporters to start boycotting matches, to take direct action against the owners and the board that sustains them still.

Hodgson, it was said, brought stability. Liverpool does not need stability, it needs radicalism. Bill Shankly did not bring stability; if he had, the club would have remained stable in the second division. Hodgson needs to challenge Gerrard. When Cole returns from suspension, the manager will have to confront their failings and play them where they are most dangerous, not where they think they belong.

Benitez had to go because the dressing room atmosphere had soured. So far this season, Liverpool are playing with the abandon of free men.

dfanning@independent.ie

Sunday Independent

http://www.independent.ie/sport....11.html

Far too much 'feelgood factor' oozing from Woy, I reserve judgement to some of the things that do actually matter like signings (their age, value etc) and what happens on that grass thing surrounded by lines, seats and then walls ie the pitch.

Whether a manager jumps up and down on the touchline like a demented kangaroo, or stays calm and collected is immaterial to me. So someone might have a bit of passion, and occaisonally some draw the conclusion a few near misses involving tea cups and players' heads is the reason for a comeback, so what?!? It's about signing the right players, playing a workable system and formation and the players clicking from the off. Even if mr passion happens to stir a comeback at the half-time teamtalk, doesn't detract from the fact he got it wrong in the first place - or something was wrong.

At the end of the day we've played two league games beforehand we would have wanted four points from and we got one, no matter how achieved. And for all the praise Woy gets for changing things at half-time with a ba'llacking, what about against Citeh?!?!? Perhaps his magic wand was broken then......................? I'm sure some will point to 'bad luck', not being fully fit or some excuse, but all clubs get it, it's what you do with what you have and making sure 'bad luck' plays less of a part than your SKILL. Did we get nothing at Sunderland last season because the ref didn't know the laws, or perhaps as much or more because we didn't score in 90 minutes football so didn't deserve much/anything? Cling on to the one point we might have had, but I'd rather question why we didn't score ourselves than the ref making a mistake I'm guessing plenty others would have.

We're bottom three, we won't stay there but that is bad enough

I agree. We dont need any of this "feelgood" baloney.
If we dont win by at least 6 goals today then I will be calling for his head

[JohnBull]

That Fanning piece is the biggest load of perverse reporting I've read in a long time.

That creep certainly knows how to keep the home fires burning with a series of distorted assumptions while sucking up to the anti-Gerrards/Pro-Rafas/Burn-the-Sun/Anti-Hodgson idiots. The man then has the audacity to assume what Shanks would have done in these circumstances.

UN-FRIGGIN-BELIEVABLE that anyone gives this type of reporting credance.

Shame on you Cig.

[Octsky]

Roy just need to solve 3 problems and we be ok: Skertel, Ngog n Lucas.

[RED BEERGOGGLES]

Excellent piece by Dion Fanning 

Hodgson is a man well-respected in UEFA circles or, in other words, a nonentity, a corporate line manager who can make everybody feel at home. Sky feel at home at Liverpool now.

Javier Mascherano's refusal to play created a convenient scapegoat (there always seems to be one nearby when Gerrard is exposed) as Hodgson had to abandon his plan to play Gerrard behind Torres at the last minute. Mascherano had stated his desire to leave for a year so intending to play him in the last few days of the transfer window could be seen as bad planning rather than planning.

Hodgson used the fall-out from the Mascherano strike to criticise Benitez's attempts to sign Dirk Kuyt. Benitez had given a written undertaking that he would not return to sign his former players, Hodgson claimed.

Some said Hodgson had made a similar promise when he left Fulham, that he would leave the talent at Craven Cottage alone. By signing Paul Konchesky, he can be said to be observing the spirit of this agreement.

"We don't need the money," Hodgson said when discussing Inter's interest in Kuyt, words that should have tripped a few alarms when Liverpool need every penny they can get.

Hodgson was the appointment of a board that has failed in its primary duty. He was the low maintenance man they could do business with while they failed in their main objective.

It is time for Liverpool supporters to start boycotting matches, to take direct action against the owners and the board that sustains them still.

Hodgson, it was said, brought stability. Liverpool does not need stability, it needs radicalism. Bill Shankly did not bring stability; if he had, the club would have remained stable in the second division. Hodgson needs to challenge Gerrard. When Cole returns from suspension, the manager will have to confront their failings and play them where they are most dangerous, not where they think they belong.

Benitez had to go because the dressing room atmosphere had soured. So far this season, Liverpool are playing with the abandon of free men.

Good piece that.... even if it does puncture  a wheel on the happy bus  .......

[7_Kewell]

When Cole returns from suspension, the manager will have to confront their failings and play them where they are most dangerous, not where they think they belong.

Cole's played THREE GAMES and Roy needs to 'confront him'? 

[Emerald Red]

Hodgson, it was said, brought stability. Liverpool does not need stability, it needs radicalism. Bill Shankly did not bring stability; if he had, the club would have remained stable in the second division. Hodgson needs to challenge Gerrard. When Cole returns from suspension, the manager will have to confront their failings and play them where they are most dangerous, not where they think they belong.

I'm not normally one to read the press or agree with anything that is said in it, but this is one article which I agree with most of it, especially the part in bold.

Edit - I see it's already been posted.

[Greavesie]

Another thing that is refreshing to see IMO with regards to Roy is his passion from the touchline. I know to many it means a lot if our players play with heart and convinction like Kuyt, Lucas and Mascha etc. But I also think it could be equally important collectively if the manager exhibits the same kind of passion from the touchline. Better still, I get the impression Roy gives the old 'hair dryer' treatment at half time (like most old skool managers) and reads them the riot act. I think with these kind of motivational skills he'll be able to get that extra bit more out of the players, as this will also go hand in hand with the fact he seems like an approachable bloke for the players to talk to.

I am quite optimistic under the circumstances but there is a long way to go I think before he gets the team to 'gel' properly, in the long run though I think it will be worth it.

Watcing thursdays match you could see Roy's ire blatantly. You just knew he wa gonna kick their at half time hence, the 2nd half improment. touche!

what? Roy showing passion on the touchline affects how he aproachs half time team talks?

Not one to hang on to Rafa but erm...didn't he win the CL after being 3:0 down after half time?

I don't give a flying feck about the 'passion' he shows, as long as he knows whats going wrong and how to fix it I trust him. I couldnt care if he's always a grumpy kunt, it's results and performances I want