Re: Thanks for fuck all Roy, now FUCK OFF
Within seconds of Peter Walton calling time on Liverpool's defeat to Wolves, the post morten on Roy Hodgson's disastrous five-month reign was delivered amidst strong animosity.
Results for large parts of this season have been alarmingly poor and the performances even more so, especially when the fact that eight of the starting line-up featured in the legendary 4-0 thrashing of Real Madrid in the Champions League is taken into consideration.
But equally concerning for the fans who urged the club's owners to reappoint Kenny Dalglish, a man overlooked for his old job in the summer in favour of Hodgson, was their belief in the un-Liverpool-like manner in which the current Reds manager has conducted himself.
No manager in recent Anfield history has faced such an underwhelming level of support in their first few months as Hodgson. Similarly, none have failed to endear themselves to the club's famous twelfth man as spectacularly as the former Fulham boss.
The vitriol fired in Hodgson's direction as early as the Carling Cup exit to Northampton Town in September appeared premeditated, regardless of the humilating outcome, and underlined the near hatred by fans of the man tasked with steadying the club through troubled times.
But the unprecedented levels of ill feeling inside Anfield last night let John Henry and Tom Werner know in no uncertain terms the true opinions of fans on the dugout the pair inherited from George Gillett and Tom Hicks when they bought the club in October.
Fans' beliefs in upholding time-honoured customs as part of the 'Liverpool way' have been disregarded where Hodgson is concerned due to his disregard for them and their significance not only in the club's history but also in aiding New England Sports Ventures' acquisition.
Liverpool's fan base has previously been revered by the likes of Sir Bobby Charlton, Johann Cruyff and Diego Maradona to name but three of the game's legends and their concerted efforts which helped end Gillett and Hicks' reign of tyranny should not be dismissed easily.
Yet in September, at the height of the ownership crisis, Hodgson attempted to belittle the fans fighting tirelessly to prevent the club's downfall as 'a group of people' - something which did not sit well with the thousands of supporters campaigning for a better future for their club.
In the same press conference, he went on to say: "It [the protest] doesn't help but is something I've had to live with since I came to the club", which it has been argued is from a similar school of thought as comments Hicks made about 'a noise we are dealing with'.
Hodgson's latest blunder came shortly after the Wolves humilation, when he was at pains to differentiate between 'supporters' and 'fans'. The disenchanted voices that called time on his failed regime were categorised as the latter - which understandably irked many supporters.
Like Hicks and Gillett, his greatest mistake has been underestimating the importance of retaining Liverpool's key support. Token references to the 'Liverpool public' now count for little whilst his press candour has not helped repair the already fractured relationship with the Kop.
Hodgson's lasting legacy on the red half of Merseyside will be one of a man who ended a 51-year tradition where every Liverpool manager lifted at least one major trophy during their time in the hot seat, as well as that of a man who unwittingly united the fans against him.
Unlike the departure of his predecessor, Rafael Benitez, no tears will be shed when Hodgson pulls away from Anfield for the final time barring a miracle of Istanbul proportions.
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