The Guardian and several other sources are reporting that Roy Hodgson has flown home from South Africa in order to put pen to paper on a deal at Anfield.
I wrote earlier this evening that if Hodgson were to be appointed, I’d find it a fairly uninspiriting decision not entriely motivated by football - that his ’safe pair of hands’ label is really a way of saying he won’t interfere with the shambolic running of our club. It has since been brought to my attention by Richard Buxton that Hodgson’s time in Italian football was not quite as smooth as I may have suggested, seeing as one of the reasons for his departure from Udinese was a disagreement with his bosses.
I’d suggest that Hodgson has since calmed down as a manager and would not risk losing his first huge job in many years by annoying the board. But, that he is capable of upsetting big wigs is important to me. Whilst what I would ideally like to see is a manager come in and easily take us back into the top 4, such a situation is highly unlikely. I would like the next manager to be able to take on the owners - but only after having cemented himself as popular with the fans. Would the owners really move on another enormously popular but dissenting manager? Maybe, but it’d hurt them if they did.
And so we hit another issue. Roy is not popular. He is seen by many as soft and medicore, and to be fair, it is easy to see why. So he will not be in a position to take on Broughton or Purslow or the Americans for a very long time, if ever at all. Thus even if he did have a bit more revolutionary fire in his belly than I first thought, it wouldn’t really matter anyway.
I’ll be back with more on Roy tomorrow.
Let’s face it. Should he become our next manager then it would surely be simply cementing in the last brick to being an absolutely mediocre club?
Roy is not popular ??? where do you get this from ! yes it is the opinion of some - but from the media articles and bloggs I have read he seems to be very popular with a great number of people ! However,you,with your site are able to try to persuede people to your way of thinking! He could do a good job for the REDS if the likes or Kenny D and a few others,(like Sammy L/Roy Evans/Rush etc;), are there to help him! I am of the opinion that LFC need an ‘English’ manager, not another foreigner. I am also of the opinion that Rafa was doing a great job under ‘very’ difficult conditions,and I think LFC will ‘regret’ letting him go !!!
About what you would expect: old, tired, mediocre, cheap, won’t rock the boat while it sinks; wouldn’t make the long list at a top club. In other words, a perfect fit.
Hodgson is 62 yrs old, and surely this is the last important job in his career: Hodgson is risking anything, his reputation too.
He moves to Liverpool with important guarantuees: I’m sure.
Regarding the debate about “pedigree”, because nowadays the “pedigree” appears the most important thing: Shank, Paisley, Fagan They had not a valid CV, and now They are considerend best managers all times.
To dave, u state the media think he’s a great manager remember alan curbishley. I think its a disgrace if we get hodgson, agree massively that we are being turned into a mid table club, i’m gutted
As a Wolves fan I’m surprised at how much negative reaction you Reds supporters are showing to Roy Hodgson. This guy has had successful spells as manager in Switzerland and Italy, and valuable experience as a manager of national sides. The transformation he has made at Fulham is truly remarkable. He’s probably now the no.1 English manager in the world. Give the guy a couple of seasons before you start knocking him. It can only do Liverpool harm if the new manager starts off with the fans being bolshie. Don’t demand someone flashy instead of Hodgson, who is a really competent manager. You want to watch out that it isn’t you fans who drag the club down. My son is a Reds fan and for him and Steve Morgan I want you guys to show Chelsea, MU and Arsenal a thing or two, but it may take a couple of years. Try to be objective and not too sentimental!
If Roy Hodgson is in the frame we should give him a chance. He may not be an all singing, all dancing, fire and brimstone spouting, loudmouth manager, but he has been succesful in very difficult circumstances before, and we need a level head right now!
Roy Hodgson to manage Liverpool ,with King Kenny as director of football , give this duo a chance , the American owners may put pressure on Roy on his own but with Kenny at his side to bring the Great Liverpool passion and fighting spirit back to the club ,this has a good chance of being a success
If he does get the job then we should support him. I am sure most of us would prefer Kenny. However, supporting the manager, whoever he is, and giving him time and respect is part of LFC tradition and sets us apart from other clubs.
i would not have renewed my season ticket if i thought roy hodgson would manage LFC. the man has managed 16 different clubs and won nothing of any note as a player or manager its crazy. we will not win the lge for years to come if this man stays in charge for any lenghth of time. we needed passion, pride,a great. we got dull,dour,a NOT SO GREAT. I AM DEVESTATED
i am gutted roy hodgson is a joke we may as well have got sam alledyce or alan curbisgley or tony pulis or mick mcarthy or anyone because roy hodgson will do nothing at liverpool absolutely nothing
never mind the new boss what about the players