Roy: Liverpool are in "Strange Times"

[Terrier]

Hodgson admits Liverpool are in ''strange times''

By Harry Harris, Football Correspondent

September 6, 2010


Roy Hodgson has confessed that there is a lot of uncertainty around Liverpool and the club urgently need a new owner to invest in the team before they can challenge for major honours again.

Liverpool have so far been unable to find anyone with the credibility to take the club and the team forward, but Hodgson has finally spoken out about the problems of Anfield returning to the glory days.

"The stature, traditions and abilities of Liverpool to attract players certainly make it an achievable task, even though we are in strange times at the moment; the club is up for sale and nobody knows what direction it will take if and when new owners are found,'' he told 'Manager' the official magazine of the League Mangers Association.

Asked if he can attain trophies with the club again, he said: "It's not quite as easy to answer that question as it would have been a few years ago when the situation was far more stable and the money to buy news players was available.

"We hope the situation will change when the club is eventually sold and owners who are prepared to invest in the club come in. When that situation arises I'm pretty sure it won't be difficult for us to start achieving things again, but at the moment the task is really to hang on to the players we've got and make certain we don't have a situation where we have got a total rebuild process."

However, Hodgson refuses to concede the title, despite the problems he faces. "I don't think there's any such thing as false optimism,'' he said. ''There is pragmatism and you should never try to dampen people's enthusiasm and optimism.

"Furthermore, every season you see teams not expected to win titles winning them; it doesn't always go to the favourite in any country. So you should never play down the Liverpool fans incredible desire and passion to keep on winning trophies - and the Premier League in particular - and keep their noses in front of Manchester United."

Couple of hidden messages in there it seems. Maybe Roy isn't the "yes" man many of the fans portray him as?

Oh, and surprise surprise - there obviously isn't a mystery buyer in the wings.

 

[spider-Neil]

I suspect potential buyers are waiting to see what happens on Oct 6th.

 

[TheBunnyman]

I suspect Roy doesn't have a clue about the ownership - any more than we do.

 

[kingjulian]

[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=41773.msg1170319#msg1170319 date=1283774425]
I suspect Roy doesn't have a clue about the ownership - any more than we do.
[/quote]

I worry whenever i see Roy opening his trap to the media. He comes across as this naive uncle types.....

He feeds the press too much headline material.

This is the time to reel out the tried and tested cliches and quietly rebuild.

 

[Judge Jules]

Strongly agree. To begin with I found him a refreshing change from Rafa's (sometimes) excessive caginess, but some of what he says doesn't say much for his level of media savvy.

 

[Jack D Rips]

Strongly disagree. What do you want him to say? Yes we are going to challenge? No we are not going to challenge? The facts are that he is commenting on the situation as he sees it. i.e there is uncertainty about the ownership and until that is sorted there will be uncertainty about our ability to challenge.

 

[Judge Jules]

What do I want him to say? What kingjulian aptly described, namely reel out the tried and tested cliches, while we quietly rebuild. "The facts are" that there's a time for "commenting on the situation as he sees it" and that this isn't it, not while the situation remains as difficult and uncertain as it is currently.

 

[Jack D Rips]

Oh I see. Tried and tested cliches. Thats a good one. So tell me what are the tried and tested cliches in answer to the question " Tell me Roy, when do you see the glory days returnng to Anfield?"

 

[keniget]

He's not really telling us anything we or the media don't already know. I'd just rather, if at all possible, he said nothing.

If the question is regarding glory days or our ability to win silverware, I'd just reel off some guff about everyone at the club being hungry to win things and that the Premier league is very competitive, but we'll do our best. Leave it at that. Everyone knows what the deal is, so if a journalist is fishing for doom and gloom, fuck him.

 

[gareth_thomas]

Roy - Ah naa mate - no chance.. We is well fucked..

 

[Avmenon]

[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=41773.msg1170329#msg1170329 date=1283775621]
Strongly agree. To begin with I found him a refreshing change from Rafa's (sometimes) excessive caginess, but some of what he says doesn't say much for his level of media savvy.
[/quote]

Agree with this, but it does sound like he's reminding everyone we're in the shit.

Which we are, so we can't expect miracles.

 

[Judge Jules]

No argument with that. I'd just rather we don't make the point publicly.

 

[Avmenon]

[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=41773.msg1170427#msg1170427 date=1283791466]
No argument with that. I'd just rather we don't make the point publicly.
[/quote]

Yup.

It's not going to make it any easier to fix if we keep reminding ourselves of it.

 

[Jack D Rips]

Its a bit like having an alcoholic in the the house and not wanting the neighbours to know about it. Only problem is the cunt comes staggering up the street every night singing at the top of his voice.

 

[kingjulian]

[quote author=Jack D Rips link=topic=41773.msg1170433#msg1170433 date=1283792530]
Its a bit like having an alcoholic in the the house and not wanting the neighbours to know about it. Only problem is the cunt comes staggering up the street every night singing at the top of his voice.
[/quote]

lol....we still do what we can....

 

[Squiggles]

It's preferable to the public remarks we got from Benitez, which always gave the impression of in-fighting, negativity and projected a tone of impossibility.

I'd rather Hodgson kept quiet, but at least he's honest and willing to get on with the job in hand.

 

[Fabio]

I take his comments as thinly veiled attempts to get the media to shine more light on the owners over a consistant period of time. Every time he reminds people we're in trouble, its usually coupled with remarks about the owners

 

[Jack D Rips]

Theres some dont like that, but I do.

 

[FoxForceFive]

'Manager' the official magazine of the League Mangers Association.

Bet it took them fucking ages to come up with a witty title like that.

 

[Y1]

Looks like getting the excuse in early just in case the team does not or is not able to deliver!?

 

[Hansern]

These comments are apperantly from the 5th of July, 4 days after Roy took over..

 

[Avmenon]

Oh, are they?

Apols.

 

[Terrier]

I think it's pretty refreshing to see a Liverpool manager be so open with the fans. I can't believe some would rather speculate and second guess the truth!

At least it cuts out heinous chunks of bullshit football is associated with.

 

[StevieM]

[quote author=Jack D Rips link=topic=41773.msg1170353#msg1170353 date=1283779827]
Oh I see. Tried and tested cliches. Thats a good one. So tell me what are the tried and tested cliches in answer to the question " Tell me Roy, when do you see the glory days returnng to Anfield?"
[/quote]

Well.. it's a game of two halfs and it's a team game and we have to take each game as it comes and give 110%.... approach every game as if it's a Cup Final, play to our strengths.. don't give the opposition time to settle.. give the fans the success they deserve... no crystal ball... destiny is in our own hands... blah.. blah.. blah

 

[Squiggles]

[quote author=FoxForceFive link=topic=41773.msg1170576#msg1170576 date=1283810514]
'Manager' the official magazine of the League Mangers Association.

Bet it took them fucking ages to come up with a witty title like that.
[/quote]

In fairness look at other football publications;

442, Goal, Shoot!, Match.

People in football seem to have the artistic licence of a stone.

 

[SaintGeorge67]

Is shoot still going?

 

[Squiggles]

Shoot, or Shoot Monthly, was a football magazine published in the UK by IPC Media. After nearly 40 years, it ceased publication at the end of June 2008, but the brand was bought by Pedigree Group who re-launched Shoot as an online magazine.

-------------

I'll find a life soon - promise.

 

[SaintGeorge67]

🙁

 

[Avmenon]

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=41773.msg1171023#msg1171023 date=1283899908]
Shoot, or Shoot Monthly, was a football magazine published in the UK by IPC Media. After nearly 40 years, it ceased publication at the end of June 2008, but the brand was bought by Pedigree Group who re-launched Shoot as an online magazine.

-------------

I'll find a life soon - promise.
[/quote]

That wa the only magazine I bought as a kid.

Didnt realise it had lasted so long.

 

[jexykrodic]

Shoot was the one with whole page player photos and the occasional team centre spread wasn't it?

That together with those ever so interesting features such as 'At home with xxx player' where you'd get to find out the essentials like: My favourite food, What car do you drive; as well as where and when they born.

I used to put the photos up. Sad really but everybody I knew did the same.