abc

In response to any bull which he'd come out with, the reporter (yes wishful thinking I know) would then just say "hold on - were you not given the job based on the opinion that the previous manager couldn't get more out of this squad, but that you could?. Weren't we told to judge you after 10 games? And then in January? Which is it? Now you want to overhaul the playing squad." Very interesting point about manager having his own players etc. The problem is this - we don't like his prehistoric brand of passive come break us down football methods. We have some good players on the books who are suited to playing an aggressive game. We don't want him to stamp his mark of mediocrity on our proud club with lofty ambitions. We are STILL the most successful club in British football. Someone needs to constantly remind him that - and he will break and say something worthy of the sack. Finally, I'd say that my underlying problem is this - he is not fulfilling the main goal of his hiring, which is to get more out of an apparently underperfoming squad from last year. Actually, he's got them underperforming. And the fact that he's constantly shifting the goalposts without getting pulled up for it is really infuriating me. [sorry for the rant - my blood is boiling...]

Just wish someone would ask the c*nt: What exactly is it are you trying to achieve? What are the team trying to adapt to? What are you asking the LFC fans to patiently wait for?

I like Cole, bit of a wildcard but I think he has something to add to the squad if he's fit. I'd keep Jova too - he has pace, is left footed and plays with passion. I'd like for him to get a few more chances before being shipped out - no one should leave on the watch of Hodgson, that's for sure. Curious about your views on Danny Wilson - I think in terms of playing style we have Agger's natural successor. He looks very cultured and I really hope he gets his chance to develop quickly. Not sure whose place he'd take though. As for Kelly he needs to be more involved, as I think him and Wilson have the potential to be the future LFC centerback pairing for years to come.

[yes he is]

The next manager who comes in needs to have a desire to bond with the fans, and immerse himself in the essence of what LFC is about. Fluffy stuff I know, but it makes a huge difference in the way they are taken to. With Coyle who's to say he doesn't see LFC the way that Hodgson does - just another English club? He does come across pretty well, but then again so did Hodgson. Oh, and Coyle has the dubious honour of being probably the only manager who Hodgson did a league "double" over as LFC manager...

No mate, I said "decent understanding". In other words, he needs to play boss football, but how to organise his team so they don't get raped by Drogba every season like Arsenal did until last week. Or how Wenger has never beaten Mourinho in the 3/4 seasons they went head to head. Based on a simplistic view on footballing philosophy, if Wenger and Rafa were the yardsticks for attacking mentality and tacitcal organisation respectively, then I'd want the new man to have an inclination of 85% towards Wenger's pass and move, and 75% towards Rafa's tactical understanding of match dynamics in terms of organising a team and controlling a game (think first half vs Barca at Anfield in 07). And in case you ask, I don't know how Hodgson marks against the two criteria because I can't take him seriously as a football manager at the moment.

Maybe yesterday was a move to get the supporters behind the team against Bolton by telling them "yes we hear you and he won't be here next season", but still keep Hodgson focused enough for the game? Or maybe they saw what he did and heard what he said after the game and thought "enough is enough, this is embarassing" and have decided to act. If Hodgson does leave in the next few days it will be looked back upon as a great move since we managed to get three very important points, and also rid ourselves of this fraud.

Definitely for Houllier. With him it was very much like Hodgson - keep the shape of the team and look to hit teams on the break. We hardly moved off the ball. With Rafa it's more interesting as I find that he flickered between all three levels, or at least getting his team to play in those modes. Even in his first season we played some very good stuff with Alonso, Gerrard and Garcia being the catalysts - there were some games which I thoroughly enjoyed watching us: Spurs and Monaco at home spring to mind. In 05-07 I thought we played some fantastic football, with some excellent team goals scored along the way. Then Torres came and we looked to sit back and counter a bit more often - I thought the quality of "team football" did regress especially after Gerrard established his connection with Torres. And a lot of it was down to Stevie always trying to hit Torres with the early ball as soon as he got it off Alonso. To good effect, mind you. Last season against Sunderland, Portsmouth, Hull and Burnley I thought we were very dominant and played some excellent stuff. But there were also the dismal performances against Wigan and Wolves away - such contrasting approaches from a manager who generally believed in controlling games by keeping the ball. You're not alone - but then I'm thinking one of a higher order - Ferguson actually got Rafa the sack, and got Hodgson the job through the media (LAME Manager of the year and all that rubbish).

Who both realised it near the end of their LFC careers, but aborted their plans. Houllier didn't have the balls to stick it out after successive strong attacking performances (but poor defending leading to a few high-scoring draws and wins I recall) in 02/03. Reverted to kind, Owen went on a scoring spree despite being fed significantly fewer chances. Went unbeaten for a few more games, and didn't win in the league for 11. Rafa went after Johnson in the summer of 09 to ensure more attacking threat from the full backs, and decided when Alonso went that someone like Aquilani who played further up the pitch would make the difference. But Aquilani only got fit at the end of the season which meant he was forced to use Lucas and Gerrard in midfield - each selection sacrificing something either in the middle or up front. That and apparently he got lied to about the transfer kitty.

I think the next manager needs to have a good footballing philosophy based on pass-and-move, but with a decent understanding for keeping the team organised when necessary. That will buy him time. Can you imagine the Arsenal fans being content with Wenger - having just made genuine one title run in the last 5 1/2 years without a trophy - if it wasn't for his belief in their playing style?

Any Hodgson for England chants???

For me the measure of a man is one who understands and readily accepts responsibility, honours his word, and treats others with the respect they deserve. This fraud has deflected blame and claimed personal credit for collective efforts, asked for time to change things when he was hired to steady a ship and not rebuild it, and has refused to engage with the fans from day one. Roy Hodgson is not worthy to be called, or even referred to as a man. It is scum.

Always liked him as a player, great football brain. But he always acted like a bit of a d!ck complaining via his agent about not being happy with playing time etc.

Jim Boardman: What I'm referring to isn't a new signing or the new CEO. It's not as good as "Roy's been sacked" but it's not a kick in the teeth either.

It's an away game. At Man Utd. Of course we're going to lose - it's an away game! The problem we have is that the owners are not in tune with the club's essence. The key here is their impression of the fans and their understanding of our general behaviour. They fear that we will have a proper moan everytime something goes a little wrong - if they sack Hodgson they would have fed this monster. I actually like their cautious stance. But the problem is that they are not in tune with the institution that is LFC, and are badly misguided. The knowledge gap is proving to be a big problem. Hodgson's appointment has been catastrophical on two counts. First, his brand of football is outdated and even more negative than Rafa "why does he play two holding midfielders - because he doesn't have three" Benitez. Secondly, at a time when they needed to get the right MAN in to unite the fans, they brought in a true outsider. Someone who doesn't understand, or even make the effort to immerse himself with the club's traditions. Our last two managers were "foreigners". Yet Houllier understood what the club meant and had a good connection with the fans. Rafa is red through and through - FFS he calls England home when the sun is almost always shining in Spain and you get great food there. Evans was Bootroom, Souness was LFC captain. Kenny is Kenny. And the list goes on. Some idiot (Danny Murphy?) talked about getting someone in who "understood the club and did things the right/Liverpool way" or something to that effect - they couldn't be more wrong. For me, Hodgson's biggest crime since he got here is playing down expectations, talking about "not buying that we expect to beat teams near the bottom of the league - that's disrespectful", deflecting responsibility. No supporter would stand for that, let alone our proud club.

We are as close to Hodgson getting sacked as ever. One last push. It's like everyone turned after the match on Wednesday- even the media have been critical. There was hardly any murmurs afte the defeat to Newcastle. But now he's at the precipice, he won't get the final push. We'll win and he gets a temporary stay of execution. Sod's law.

We will win on Saturday. Fortunately in the eyes of some fans, unfortunately for others.

Before kick-off: Hodgson for England After a successful pass: Hodgson for England When going in for a 50-50 challenge: Hodgson for England After we put four past them: Hodgson for England Before leaving the ground: Hodgson for England Anything less, and we will be labelled fickle. By the fraud himself.

Still infuriating when the t!ts that hired this fraud - Sky and the rest of the English media - keep trying to convince everyone that it's not his fault. And the sad thing is there are fools out there who will buy this idiocy. It's like a South Park episode where someone says the most outrageously stupid thing and everyone just takes it as gospel.

Oh please. The work already started way before then when he was intentionally sabotaging the club.

For a long time I was a football fan first, then an LFC fan. Over the years though that changed. LFC overtook football. Football was LFC. There's a big game coming up in 10 minutes. I find myself wanting to watch it, but then realise the next second that it's going to compound the pain of my club being in its current state. So I probably won't be catching the game - I haven't watched any football since our last result. But I log onto the forums everyday without fail, hoping to read about Fraudson. But I make sure that I dodge anything which contains quotes from the pr*ck. Fraudson you are killing me slowly - will you please just f*ck off now? F*ck off Purslow.

We were introduced to organised, functional and at times pretty football under Rafa. For me, this was evident very early on in his tenure. We dismantled Monaco in our first CL game that season; Alonso and Gerrard were superb together and Luis Garcia looked excellent in home games. The home games were very dominant, but some of the away days were pretty horrid. But better movement off the ball, and an improvement in ball retention was one of the things that was remarked on very early on. In any case, have a look at http://tomkinstimes.com/2010/06/some-rafa-benitez-facts-and-record/ (2004/2005) In his 1st home game in charge (Man City) Liverpool came from behind at half-time to win a game for the first time in more than 5 years. At Fulham (October 2004) the Reds came from behind at half-time to win an away game for the 1st time in 13 years. These two records above very quickly showed that Rafa had a different (in my opinion vastly superior) football philosophy to Houllier. I thought at the time this was quite obvious and well received by most. Actually, have a look at the linked page, and scroll down the list of records achieved during Rafa's time here. Now, not everything can be attributed solely to the man, but the fact is that he overlooked our most successful (block) period in the last 15-20 years (championship winning season aside). Now, have a look at Hodgson's CV. And then weep...

LOL! Always enjoyed your posts. I agree that PSV team was actually very decent. And my views on Hiddink have been stated so I shall move on. BTW, it was you who tried to convince us that the stars were aligned that year right?

Good God, have you only just reached that part of the thread???

There's a link on the club site which says "Hodgson's Christmas Message". Unless it's "I'm leaving LFC" it feels like a doomsday a message from Satan. All day, everyday.