BYE BYE ROY!!!!!

[the count]

No guarantees for Hodgson from Henry

Soccer: Liverpool owner John W Henry declined to give any guarantees about under-fire manager Roy Hodgson's long-term future but said there were no immediate plans for change.

The American, who took over the Premier League club last month, was similarly non-committal about plans for a new ground, saying it could take another two years before the Merseyside club decided whether to build a new stadium or expand Anfield.

Asked if Hodgson, under pressure after a poor start to the season, was the right man for the job, Henry said: "He certainly is at this point. I can't make any promises about the future for anything in the organisation because two months ago I didn't know that much about English football."

Henry, whose New England Sports Ventures (NESV) also owns baseball's Boston Red Sox, added: "We tend to stay with our managers and our general managers. Roy didn't build this team so I think he has been unfairly criticised this year.

"I think it is my role at this point to support him in every way, to make sure he has the resources to accomplish what he wants to accomplish. There is no change that is imminent."

He promised investment in the squad but did not give any clue as to how much money Hodgson, at Anfield since July, might have to spend in the next transfer window. Decisions on buying players would be taken collectively by the manager, new director of football strategy Damien Comolli and the board, Henry said.

"We need to invest in this team," he said, adding that Liverpool were well placed to compete financially with the top clubs but needed "to work on the football side".

"Our long term objectives are to be able to compete with Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea. We have to be able to be competitive with them at the top of the league every year," he said.

"In order to do that we have to build a long-term strategy, you can't do things for the short term. Some things were done before we came in that were stop gaps for the short term, we've got to change that."


http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/soccer/2010/1105/1224282783086.html

 

[Rosco]

I wasn't aware of this but apparently if you compare Hodgson's first 18 games to Rafa's you'll find we lost more under Rafa.


Makes you wonder about a lot of the hysterics.

 

[Fabio]

Oh no

*awaits stampede*

 

[Portly]

*pricks up ears*

 

[Asbo]

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=42120.msg1212528#msg1212528 date=1289045066]
I wasn't aware of this but apparently if you compare Hodgson's first 18 games to Rafa's you'll find we lost more under Rafa.


Makes you wonder about a lot of the hysterics.
[/quote]

Yeah role on the 2 Cup finals then eh? Or maybe Roy will get us 3 because he loses less?

Ohh no wait!

Most embarrasing defeat in Liverpools History, home loss to Northampton Town in one of the cups Doh!

Thanks God no newley promoted teams will stuff us at Fortress Anfield!

Ohh no ... wait.... I forgot about Blackpool!


Roys better than Rafa though because the stats say so, thank god Rosco put us right!!

 

[Squiggles]

Rafa would never lose to shit teams in the Carling Cup would he?

You're so biase it's untrue.

 

[the count]

first ten Premier league games................

Rafa : won five, lost three, drew two ------ seventeen points
Roy : won three, lost four, drew three ------ twelve points

 

[manwithnoname]

What is the point of this asinine comparison? What is it supposed to achieve?

If you think Budgie is a better manager than Benitez, you're a fucking *mong*, don't bother checking any statistics.

 

[Asbo]

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=42120.msg1212547#msg1212547 date=1289047843]
Rafa would never lose to shit teams in the Carling Cup would he?

You're so biase it's untrue.
[/quote]

PATHETIC. Absolutely pathetic. The abomination of a story that is the modern day Liverpool Football Club has reached its most depressing low.

Worcester City in 1959 is widely regarded as the most cataclysmic result in Liverpool’s 118-year history but last night 22,577 hardy souls saw Northampton Town achieve a result that must rank alongside it.

How the once mighty have fallen.

Ignore that Liverpool mounted a frantic push to save themselves in the second period of extra time and their proud penalty shoot-out record has taken an unexpected battering.

There is only one fact that matters today: Liverpool have been knocked out of the Carling Cup by a side from League Two after a performance that was shameful in so many ways.

Results such as these plunge clubs into a crisis.

Roy Hodgson took a gamble last night by making 11 changes to the side that had been beaten 3-2 by Manchester United on Sunday, but it backfired spectacularly.

As a result, the disaffected natives are becoming even more restless with their lot.

Normally when Tom Hicks and George Gillett were up to their antics or there was trouble and strife in the boardroom, you could depend on Liverpool to pull out big results and big performances, but now the only thing that follows the Reds is embarrassment.


“We have been here for a very long time and the club will be here for a very long time,†said Managing Director Christian Purslow in his much publicised interview yesterday.

“Our raison d’etre hasn’t changed. We exist as a football club to win trophies. That’s never going to change.â€

Yes it is.

When a club gets sucked into a maelstrom such as the one Liverpool have inhabited for the past 12 months, things start to change dramatically and there is no doubt whatsoever that their rivals will have surveyed this result and howled with laughter.

But there are more ramifications.

Losing in such a bitter way impacts on spirit around the training ground; imagine how Jamie Carragher, Dirk Kuyt, Pepe Reina, Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres et al felt watching this, knowing another route to silverware has just been wrenched away.

You get the picture. This was Liverpool’s big chance of winning something this season.

A number of rivals for the pot they have lifted a record seven times all fell at the first hurdle and for them to do the same is careless beyond words.

Among the many hot topics that were posted on Liverpool’s official website yesterday, the title of one story leapt off the screen – “Does this cup matter?â€

It may be the done thing to poke fun at the Carling Cup, but every Red answer should have been “absolutelyâ€.

It had all started so routinely.

With just eight minutes having elapsed, Daniel Agger rolled the most inviting of balls through Northampton’s defence for Milan Jovanovic to scamper on to and the Serbian forward duly applied the finish that was demanded.

Having given an interview to a television station in Denmark when he stated that he would not sacrifice his principles, here was Agger providing proof of what a talented footballer he is – it was the kind of pass some midfielders at the club could not think of making.

Sadly it was the only flash of quality Liverpool mustered in an opening 45 minutes that was just not good enough; laboured and lethargic – you will have read those words once or twice already this season – they never fashioned another chance to test Northampton keeper Chris Dunn.

Just read that again.

A Premier League side – one of the greatest names in football history – failed to put any kind of pressure on a club whose most recent piece of silverware was the Fourth Division title in 1987 – there can be no bigger indictment.

Full credit to Northampton. Determined, disciplined and knowing they had a stage to make themselves heroes, Ian Sampson’s men gave everything they had and more; for that reason, they absolutely deserved to draw level just before the hour.

Billy McKay was the man who sent the 5,000 visiting supporters into raptures, hooking the ball past Brad Jones from eight yards, but it was utterly shocking for Liverpool to concede – that the defence was undone by a simple chipped ball into the area defied belief.

Then again, most of what was produced – or should that be what wasn’t produced? – defied belief. Other than the goal, Liverpool did not have one single shot on target in normal time and the failure to impose themselves as an attacking force was incomprehensible.

The more Liverpool staggered, the more it became apparent they were in grave danger of being jettisoned from the competition and they were fortunate that the killer blow did not arrive in injury time when Northampton mounted another attack. It proved only to be a temporary reprieve.

Within eight minutes of extra time getting underway, the Cobblers had got the second goal which they had been threatening, Michael Jacobs sweeping the ball past Martin Kelly with Jones stranded.

Though Ngog got them back into it, heading in via a Kyrgiakos flick on, it was impossible to escape the feeling that Liverpool had got away with it.

But their luck ran out after Kelly had made an astonishing goaline clearance from Nathaniel Wedderburn in the penalty shoot-out.

Don’t single Nathan Eccleston out for censure for missing the crucial kick – at least he had the courage to step up and take one. The blame must be shared around from top to bottom. Something, after all, is rotten in the state of Anfield.

THIN RED LINE: Manager Roy Hodgson prepares his players for a penalty shoot-out – only the second Liverpool have lost in a senior first team match in the history of the club

 

[mark1975]

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=42120.msg1212547#msg1212547 date=1289047843]
Rafa would never lose to shit teams in the Carling Cup would he?

You're so biase it's untrue.
[/quote]

Exactly. I'm sick of reading the same blinkered rubbish. Burnley anyone? Barnsley?

 

[Squiggles]

[quote author=Asbo link=topic=42120.msg1212552#msg1212552 date=1289048387]
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=42120.msg1212547#msg1212547 date=1289047843]
Rafa would never lose to shit teams in the Carling Cup would he?

You're so biase it's untrue.
[/quote]

PATHETIC. Absolutely pathetic. The abomination of a story that is the modern day Liverpool Football Club has reached its most depressing low.

Worcester City in 1959 is widely regarded as the most cataclysmic result in Liverpool’s 118-year history but last night 22,577 hardy souls saw Northampton Town achieve a result that must rank alongside it.

How the once mighty have fallen.

Ignore that Liverpool mounted a frantic push to save themselves in the second period of extra time and their proud penalty shoot-out record has taken an unexpected battering.

There is only one fact that matters today: Liverpool have been knocked out of the Carling Cup by a side from League Two after a performance that was shameful in so many ways.

Results such as these plunge clubs into a crisis.

Roy Hodgson took a gamble last night by making 11 changes to the side that had been beaten 3-2 by Manchester United on Sunday, but it backfired spectacularly.

As a result, the disaffected natives are becoming even more restless with their lot.

Normally when Tom Hicks and George Gillett were up to their antics or there was trouble and strife in the boardroom, you could depend on Liverpool to pull out big results and big performances, but now the only thing that follows the Reds is embarrassment.


“We have been here for a very long time and the club will be here for a very long time,†said Managing Director Christian Purslow in his much publicised interview yesterday.

“Our raison d’etre hasn’t changed. We exist as a football club to win trophies. That’s never going to change.â€

Yes it is.

When a club gets sucked into a maelstrom such as the one Liverpool have inhabited for the past 12 months, things start to change dramatically and there is no doubt whatsoever that their rivals will have surveyed this result and howled with laughter.

But there are more ramifications.

Losing in such a bitter way impacts on spirit around the training ground; imagine how Jamie Carragher, Dirk Kuyt, Pepe Reina, Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres et al felt watching this, knowing another route to silverware has just been wrenched away.

You get the picture. This was Liverpool’s big chance of winning something this season.

A number of rivals for the pot they have lifted a record seven times all fell at the first hurdle and for them to do the same is careless beyond words.

Among the many hot topics that were posted on Liverpool’s official website yesterday, the title of one story leapt off the screen – “Does this cup matter?â€

It may be the done thing to poke fun at the Carling Cup, but every Red answer should have been “absolutelyâ€.

It had all started so routinely.

With just eight minutes having elapsed, Daniel Agger rolled the most inviting of balls through Northampton’s defence for Milan Jovanovic to scamper on to and the Serbian forward duly applied the finish that was demanded.

Having given an interview to a television station in Denmark when he stated that he would not sacrifice his principles, here was Agger providing proof of what a talented footballer he is – it was the kind of pass some midfielders at the club could not think of making.

Sadly it was the only flash of quality Liverpool mustered in an opening 45 minutes that was just not good enough; laboured and lethargic – you will have read those words once or twice already this season – they never fashioned another chance to test Northampton keeper Chris Dunn.

Just read that again.

A Premier League side – one of the greatest names in football history – failed to put any kind of pressure on a club whose most recent piece of silverware was the Fourth Division title in 1987 – there can be no bigger indictment.

Full credit to Northampton. Determined, disciplined and knowing they had a stage to make themselves heroes, Ian Sampson’s men gave everything they had and more; for that reason, they absolutely deserved to draw level just before the hour.

Billy McKay was the man who sent the 5,000 visiting supporters into raptures, hooking the ball past Brad Jones from eight yards, but it was utterly shocking for Liverpool to concede – that the defence was undone by a simple chipped ball into the area defied belief.

Then again, most of what was produced – or should that be what wasn’t produced? – defied belief. Other than the goal, Liverpool did not have one single shot on target in normal time and the failure to impose themselves as an attacking force was incomprehensible.

The more Liverpool staggered, the more it became apparent they were in grave danger of being jettisoned from the competition and they were fortunate that the killer blow did not arrive in injury time when Northampton mounted another attack. It proved only to be a temporary reprieve.

Within eight minutes of extra time getting underway, the Cobblers had got the second goal which they had been threatening, Michael Jacobs sweeping the ball past Martin Kelly with Jones stranded.

Though Ngog got them back into it, heading in via a Kyrgiakos flick on, it was impossible to escape the feeling that Liverpool had got away with it.

But their luck ran out after Kelly had made an astonishing goaline clearance from Nathaniel Wedderburn in the penalty shoot-out.

Don’t single Nathan Eccleston out for censure for missing the crucial kick – at least he had the courage to step up and take one. The blame must be shared around from top to bottom. Something, after all, is rotten in the state of Anfield.

THIN RED LINE: Manager Roy Hodgson prepares his players for a penalty shoot-out – only the second Liverpool have lost in a senior first team match in the history of the club
[/quote]

Wow, that's me told.

 

[mr_moo]

[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=42120.msg1212554#msg1212554 date=1289048569]
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=42120.msg1212547#msg1212547 date=1289047843]
Rafa would never lose to shit teams in the Carling Cup would he?

You're so biase it's untrue.
[/quote]

Exactly. I'm sick of reading the same blinkered rubbish. Burnley anyone? Barnsley?
[/quote]

Fair enough, but rafa was a far better manager than roy, end of!

 

[Squiggles]

Obviously.

 

[Paddy]

Ross is naughty.

 

[willby]

[quote author=mr_moo link=topic=42120.msg1211700#msg1211700 date=1288906554]
Seriously - if we lose to Chelsea (a strong possibility) he has to go. How much fucking longer will he get?
[/quote]

We won't lose to Chelsea!

 

[mr_moo]

[quote author=willby link=topic=42120.msg1212608#msg1212608 date=1289054808]
[quote author=mr_moo link=topic=42120.msg1211700#msg1211700 date=1288906554]
Seriously - if we lose to Chelsea (a strong possibility) he has to go. How much fucking longer will he get?
[/quote]

We won't lose to Chelsea!
[/quote]

Well, based upon this seasons performances, there's a strong possibility! Now, before you lambast me, I aint wishing for us to lose. I just wish the old bastard leaves asap.

 

[SaintGeorge67]

He's not going to go for losing to Chelsea.

 

[willby]

[quote author=mr_moo link=topic=42120.msg1212612#msg1212612 date=1289055292]
[quote author=willby link=topic=42120.msg1212608#msg1212608 date=1289054808]
[quote author=mr_moo link=topic=42120.msg1211700#msg1211700 date=1288906554]
Seriously - if we lose to Chelsea (a strong possibility) he has to go. How much fucking longer will he get?
[/quote]

We won't lose to Chelsea!
[/quote]

Well, based upon this seasons performances, there's a strong possibility! Now, before you lambast me, I aint wishing for us to lose. I just wish the old bastard leaves asap.
[/quote]

it's the prospect of losing to Chelski again. Can't rem the last time we beat this lot under Rafa. And in the last season victory against us guaranteed them the title... all too easy.. Time to turn it around!

 

[mark1975]

[quote author=willby link=topic=42120.msg1212616#msg1212616 date=1289056125]
[quote author=mr_moo link=topic=42120.msg1212612#msg1212612 date=1289055292]
[quote author=willby link=topic=42120.msg1212608#msg1212608 date=1289054808]
[quote author=mr_moo link=topic=42120.msg1211700#msg1211700 date=1288906554]
Seriously - if we lose to Chelsea (a strong possibility) he has to go. How much fucking longer will he get?
[/quote]

We won't lose to Chelsea!
[/quote]

Well, based upon this seasons performances, there's a strong possibility! Now, before you lambast me, I aint wishing for us to lose. I just wish the old bastard leaves asap.
[/quote]

it's the prospect of losing to Chelski again. Can't rem the last time we beat this lot under Rafa. And in the last season victory against us guaranteed them the title... all too easy.. Time to turn it around!
[/quote]

TBF we didn't look arsed in the game last season because ultimately it meant nothing and we didn't want the Mancs to win the title.

 

[Asbo]

[quote author=willby link=topic=42120.msg1212616#msg1212616 date=1289056125]
[quote author=mr_moo link=topic=42120.msg1212612#msg1212612 date=1289055292]
[quote author=willby link=topic=42120.msg1212608#msg1212608 date=1289054808]
[quote author=mr_moo link=topic=42120.msg1211700#msg1211700 date=1288906554]
Seriously - if we lose to Chelsea (a strong possibility) he has to go. How much fucking longer will he get?
[/quote]

We won't lose to Chelsea!
[/quote]

Well, based upon this seasons performances, there's a strong possibility! Now, before you lambast me, I aint wishing for us to lose. I just wish the old bastard leaves asap.
[/quote]

it's the prospect of losing to Chelski again. Can't rem the last time we beat this lot under Rafa. And in the last season victory against us guaranteed them the title... all too easy.. Time to turn it around!
[/quote]

You can't remember us stopping there 86 game unbeaten run at Stamford Bridge the season before last 1-0? Alonso scored??

 

[jan]

[quote author=Asbo link=topic=42120.msg1212647#msg1212647 date=1289061724]
[quote author=willby link=topic=42120.msg1212616#msg1212616 date=1289056125]
[quote author=mr_moo link=topic=42120.msg1212612#msg1212612 date=1289055292]
[quote author=willby link=topic=42120.msg1212608#msg1212608 date=1289054808]
[quote author=mr_moo link=topic=42120.msg1211700#msg1211700 date=1288906554]
Seriously - if we lose to Chelsea (a strong possibility) he has to go. How much fucking longer will he get?
[/quote]

We won't lose to Chelsea!
[/quote]

Well, based upon this seasons performances, there's a strong possibility! Now, before you lambast me, I aint wishing for us to lose. I just wish the old bastard leaves asap.
[/quote]

it's the prospect of losing to Chelski again. Can't rem the last time we beat this lot under Rafa. And in the last season victory against us guaranteed them the title... all too easy.. Time to turn it around!
[/quote]

You can't remember us stopping there 86 game unbeaten run at Stamford Bridge the season before last 1-0? Alonso scored??
[/quote]

We also won at Anfield that season, 2-0 I think

 

[Asbo]

He can't remember all the times Rafa's reds beat them in the CL either, he's a memory span of a goldfish maybe?

 

[Squiggles]

[quote author=Asbo link=topic=42120.msg1212666#msg1212666 date=1289063524]
He can't remember all the times Rafa's reds beat them in the CL either, he's a memory span of a goldfish maybe?
[/quote]

He can't remember the wins.

You can't remember the defeats.

Explains a lot.

 

[Asbo]

Roys curing me of that problem.

Northampton

Blackpool

kind of hard to forget.

When you have a cup final on average almost once a year, and 2 of them are THE cup final, it makes losing easier to forget.

 

[willby]

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=42120.msg1212669#msg1212669 date=1289065195]
[quote author=Asbo link=topic=42120.msg1212666#msg1212666 date=1289063524]
He can't remember all the times Rafa's reds beat them in the CL either, he's a memory span of a goldfish maybe?
[/quote]

He can't remember the wins.

You can't remember the defeats.

Explains a lot.
[/quote]

hahaha... super! let's just win tomorrow, please!

 

[mr_moo]

Good win today, but fuck it, still sack the dithering old bastard 😉

 

[willby]

[quote author=mr_moo link=topic=42120.msg1213329#msg1213329 date=1289153821]
Good win today, but fuck it, still sack the dithering old bastard 😉
[/quote]

I figure we'll be 2nd or 3rd by New Years, so we need another reason to sack him... giving dodgie press conferences, perhaps.. 😉

 

[RolandG]

Roy can give as many dodgy press conferences as he wants so long as he continues winning.

 

[mark1975]

Decent interview after the match:

The Reds climbed to ninth in the Barclays Premier League following the 2-0 win - and with six points available in the next six days, that position could soon look even healthier.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Hodgson shared his delight that Torres proved to be the headline maker after a tough start to the campaign - and now he wants to see more of the same against Wigan and Stoke.

"I'm pleased with the all-round performance and I'm also pleased that Fernando Torres will get a lot of the plaudits," said the boss.

"He's taken more than his fair share of criticism, some of which has been grossly exaggerated and certainly not fully deserved.

"Of course, when the team's not winning it's hard to defend these things but today he'll get a lot of plaudits and people will say he's back to his best. Let's hope that's the case but certainly today he was. He played very, very well.

"One always hopes that playing at this very high level that you've got that quality of player.

"Today we had the quality of Fernando Torres and that won us the game alongside a very disciplined and organised performance from the others.

"I'll enjoy ninth but you can go back to 16th again with a couple of defeats. We've got to get ourselves going again for Wednesday (at Wigan).

"The squad is looking pretty small with the sickness and injuries we've picked up. It's a long season. It's 11 games in, so we're not even a third of the way through. I prefer in football to keep my feet on the ground.

"We'll have to produce a lot more performances like this from now until May. I can't guarantee we'll do that but I know the boys want to give those performances every week."

Asked how he would celebrate beating a team he never prevailed against with Fulham, Hodgson replied: "I shall probably watch Match of the Day because I'm interested in the other games. I will watch the DVD or the game on LFC TV, possibly, if I can't sleep in the early hours.

"I didn't beat them with Fulham. Thanks for reminding me of that!

"They aren't going to lose many matches this season so I'm glad we've chalked up a victory against them."

The win was even more satisfying after two of Liverpool's first-choice defenders were ruled out just hours before kick-off.

Hodgson explained: "Sotirios Kyrgiakos called in with very severe tonsillitis, so he's very sick at this moment in time, and Glen Johnson turned up complaining about a groin problem which the physios decided was sufficiently bad that he had to miss the game."

The victory was witnessed by NESV principal owner John Henry and chairman Thomas Werner.

Quizzed by a New York journalist on the Americans' impact since arriving at Anfield, the manager said: "They have been very good for the club.

"For quite a long period of time we've been heading in the wrong direction and the new owners gave us hope that we no longer need to fear that we'll head in the wrong direction.

"I can only hope they are as successful with Liverpool Football Club as they have been with Boston Red Sox. If that's the case, we'll see Anfield rocking for a few years to come."

 

[TheBunnyman]

'I'll enjoy ninth' is a bit cringeworthy, but otherwise it wasn't too bad, I suppose. Ideally, he'd do a Ferguson and just stop turning up to press conferences.

However, ON the field, you have to give Hodgson some credit for today's performance. Going 442 against the best team in the league was a brave decision, particularly after what happened when he did the same against City.