Liverpool Fans...

[Crab Lungs]

... Just reading their fans thoughts on Hodgson.

 

Now, I refrained pretty much from the reaction they gave Hodgson when he was appointed but in short, it was nothing short of disrespectful and ungrateful.

 

It now appears as if they'd wish Liverpool had stuck with Rafa - a guy who spent £180m and left them with their worst squad in years. It's Hodgson's fault they are rubbish though, of course.

 

Where is the infamous Liverpool "stand by your man" attitude that they gave to their other managers - in particular Rafa Benitez?

 

Personally, I think Hodgson will turn it around eventually, given time, but they are probably around 2-3 years, possibly more, behind the likes Man City, Aston Villa - let alone Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal. For a similar case, think what Juande Ramos (what is it with Spanish managers?) did to Spurs and multiply it by 2 or 3 in severity. That's how bad a side he left Hodgson.

 

It annoys me that the fans could be so deluded - don't they actually realise how much Rafa Benitez ****ed up their club and how much of a job Hodgson has? It would appear not... and it's insulting to rate Hodgson as an "average" manager too.

 

Personally, I hope Hodgson gets a better job offer and leaves those ungrateful, braindead sh1ts in the mire...

[saint_stevo]

Benitez had gone stale there, and left a very weak SQUAD behind, and some people who didn't want to be at the club any longer (Mascherano) so this season is really a transitional one where top 5 is best they can hope for.

 

Liverpool fans in general are morons though

[JackFrost]

Liverpool fans tend to be as deluded as Newcastle fans have been in recent years (2 different 'messiahs' within 12 months and the Newcs still got relegated LOL), although don't forget they are always going to have millions of morons due to the sheer size of their fanbase. Hodgson has an impossible job there and I feel for him personally.

 

This season is going to be even more of a wake up call than last season for Liverpool IMO. They are in dire financial straits, have a very average squad barring a few world class players. They are a million miles away from Spurs and Arsenal, let alone Man U and Chelsea. Mascherano has seen it coming, Torres obviously hasn't.

 

5 games in and they are already 10 points off the top spot. Says it all.

[stevegrant]

I think it's probably too early to tell just how bad the situation is there at the moment, particularly taking results on the pitch as the barometer. They've had a tough set of fixtures so far, playing Arsenal, Man City and Man United in their first 5 games, and the sides they've played in Europe are no mugs either. It's very clear that the squad Hodgson has inherited isn't good enough to challenge for the top 4, although I'd say that most of the first-choice starting eleven aren't too bad (and came 2nd only 18 months ago). Wednesday night proved that the second string isn't anywhere near good enough, which leads to its own problems, e.g. squad stagnation, complacency among first-teamers, etc.

 

I also suspect the supposed "hype" over them has been over-egged by the media - I know a few Liverpool fans and they've all said they'd be quite happy to get 6th place this season and try to build from there. Next month could be key in terms of the financial situation, as RBS and Wachovia could effectively take over the club by default, although I think RBS are currently investigating whether they can do this without forcing the club into administration. As Robert Peston wrote on his BBC blog the other day, why would someone pay what Hicks and Gillette are asking for (£450-600m) when in a month's time they might be able to get the club for £280m, with the added bonus that the two Americans are left with nothing?

[Lord Duckhunter]

I thought we had it bad the last few years, with the rise of the Blue Few going hand in hand with our demise, but that's nothing compared to what LFC supporters have had to endure. 20 years ago they had won a dozen more titles than the Manc's and now look at it. Comaperd to Man Utd and their glory supporters, give me Liverpool any day of the week. Proper Club and by and large decent supporters.I think it's sad what's happened to them, but fear it could be another 20 years before they win another title.

[hypochondriac]

Liverpool don't deserve Hodgson. I so hope he is the next England manager.

[JRM]

Benitez had gone stale there, and left a very weak SQUAD behind, and some people who didn't want to be at the club any longer (Mascherano) so this season is really a transitional one where top 5 is best they can hope for.

 

Liverpool fans in general are morons though

 

Not sure if you are making that judgement on fans you know who live in the south, but Liverpool are one of the better "big" clubs in terms of the fans who actually go to games, i'd back them over Chelsea any day.

 

have a read of Boys from the Mersey and "here we go gathering cups in may" proper footballing city with a traditional support base as a core.

 

The reclaim the Kop movement is also interesting.

[saint_bert]

The only thing that dissapoints me about that clubs decline is that Roy is part of it.

 

They should have sold Torres and Gerrard in the summer. Give the money to Roy and told him to spend it on rebuilding the squad.

[Andy_Porter]

I think it's probably too early to tell just how bad the situation is there at the moment, particularly taking results on the pitch as the barometer. They've had a tough set of fixtures so far, playing Arsenal, Man City and Man United in their first 5 games, and the sides they've played in Europe are no mugs either. It's very clear that the squad Hodgson has inherited isn't good enough to challenge for the top 4, although I'd say that most of the first-choice starting eleven aren't too bad (and came 2nd only 18 months ago). Wednesday night proved that the second string isn't anywhere near good enough, which leads to its own problems, e.g. squad stagnation, complacency among first-teamers, etc.

 

 

The starting eleven isn't anywhere near as good as the starting eleven that finished second 18 months ago.

 

Alonso was key to their play, Mascherano made Carragher look half decent and Arbeloa was a class above Johnson. Then there is also the general decline of Gerrard, Torres and Carragher.

[saint_bert]

On the plus side they do have some promising younsters.

 

Pacheco,Shelvy, and I think the England under 17's centre back pairing play for them.

 

If they get game time is another matter.

 

On an aside, I really think the signing of Joe Cole was an attempt to get a "star" name rather than what they actually needed.

 

Hodgson wants to play 442 but does not have the depth in the CF position. He needs a partner for Torres. I think Babel could have been the answer but his confidence is shot to pieces.

[Turkish]

Not sure if you are making that judgement on fans you know who live in the south, but Liverpool are one of the better "big" clubs in terms of the fans who actually go to games, i'd back them over Chelsea any day.

 

have a read of Boys from the Mersey and "here we go gathering cups in may" proper footballing city with a traditional support base as a core.

 

The reclaim the Kop movement is also interesting.

 

agree with this JRM. Liverpool fans are as passionate as they come, the atmosphere at Anfield on big cup nights is as good as anywhere. Despite all what is said about Man Utd, their "proper" fans are class, their away support is one of the best in the country. For London "big" clubs, the best atmosphere is at Tottenham and West Ham, Chelsea and Arsenal these days is pathetic.

[S-Clarke]

Liverpool's situation is an interesting one, and a big reminder to everyone that ''big clubs'' are as vulnerable as everyone else.

 

Rafa wasted too much money, it's as simple as that. If you look at their squad today, barley any of his initial signings are left - because frankly none of them were ever good enough.

 

The only 2 buys he made that have proven themselves to be top signings are Riena and Torres, but a strike rate of 2 signings out of god knows how many is not good enough.

 

Players like Kromkramp, Josomi, Garcia, Dossena, Reira all joined for big fee's and have been complete crap for them - and sold for a loss within a year.

 

You then look at the oither players he signed (and they're still there), Lucs, Babel, Ngog, Kyut - all totalling over £20m worth of transfer fee's, but they've simply not been good enough.

 

They've been pulled through by the likes of Gerrard and Torres, without those 2 they are an average mid-table premiership team and when you look at the money rafa has spent, it's not good enough - he should have built a stronger squad than they have and he's also a reason why they are in such dire financial troubles.

 

It's a shame that Roy has been lumbered with it, he shouldn't get blamed or criticised yet - he's having to work with complete tosh and they will be no where near the top 4 this season. I also expect them to sell Torres for big money in january. Without new investment they will continue to slide, and slide....

[Andy_Porter]

You missed Alonso and Mascherano from the good signings category.

[S-Clarke]

You missed Alonso and Mascherano from the good signings category.

 

Alonso was good, not sure why i didn't mention him. He made a profit from that one tbf to him, bought for £9, sold for £32m.

 

Masch was decent, but i know alot of Liverpool fans that felt he started off well (first 6 months) and was then never the same player. But still, 4 good signings isn't a great hit-rate after spending something like 250m.

[saint_bert]

When Babel was signed, he was ssen as a coup as most of the top teams in europe were looking at him.

 

Rafa never really seemed to be able to manage fowards. Bellamy,Crouch,kEane all came and went.

 

That seems strange.