Goodbye Roy!

Oh Roy, you managed Liverpool like a new born playing with his new toy.

This blog follows a question asked by a fellow Liverpool supporter. He asked, when will things change.

When will things change?

When Roy Hodgson leaves.

When Kenny Dalglish manages Liverpool.

When an out of form Fernando Torres can be sent to Spain for a two week rest.

When Steven Gerrard likes the players he’s playing alongside.

When someone can be called half as important as Steven Gerrard is seen at Anfield.

When Danny Agger starts.

When Fabio Aurelio starts.

When we can rest an out of form player.

Agree with my observations?

So other than the first two questions, Roy had these options to his disposal. What he did to start of with was, win over fans by signing Joe Cole. Then, the defeats to Blackpool and Northampton at Anfield were forgotten as addressing the ownership battles between Gillette, Hicks and Liverpool seemed to be more important.

Takeover completed, Everton beat Liverpool 2-0.

Press conference after the game: Roy = Liverpool’s second half performance was their best performance under him.

Truth: First half of that game = pathetic. Second half of the game = Everton: taken their foot of the gas, Liverpool: Trying to grind out a performance.

Then: A Torresmatic victory over Chelsea. Torres showed the world what he’s capable of with two stunning goals. Three days later, a game scheduled against Wigan at the DW. Torres scores within the first ten minutes!

The pundits then go: Torres is back, Liverpool FC are back. Are they back?

No!

Raul Meireles (second best player on the pitch against Wigan), is taken off to be replaced by Jonjo Shelvey. (18 years old, touted as the next Gerrard). Would you rather see an 18 year old showcase his skills when three points are important? Leading 1-0 at Wigan, if Meireles was tired (that’s the reason Roy gave for his substitution), was Shelvey the man? With a squad full of internationals (albeit ,out of form), an experienced head would do the job? Enter Shelvey, Liverpool drop two points.

Next up: Stoke City. Get battered 2-0! Momentum gained after the Chelsea win?

No!

Liverpool’s last few games have summed up Roy Hodgson’s tenure as Liverpool manager. Struggle, struggle, struggle. Lots of pain, no gain, all the effort in vain, fans becoming insane, players needing a shot on their backside with a cane!

Now to the positives under Roy:

1. Joe Cole signing for Liverpool, without the Champions League and moving out of the capital to join Liverpool. PS: He was offered a larger pay cheque.

2. ?

Was there a second positive?

No!

I’m for one who believes that managers must be given time at a club: Provided he shows glimpses of taking the club to the right direction. Signing Meireles, was the right decision.

Playing him wide right? No.

The players history shows he started of as a left back. He moved to central defensive midfielder and then to a role of a central midfielder. He’s shown his glimpses of his best form as a central midfielder only. He started in the centre against Villa. Put in his best performance, gained an understanding with Lucas and then came the Wolves game. Gerrard returned from injury. What would the best 11 and the best formation be?

If anyone associated with football would place Meireless on the right and Kuyt on the left with squad players such as Joe Cole, Ryan Babel, Maxi Rodriguez and Milan Jovanovic (all internationals) in the squad. Please don’t read further, you won’t understand this. You’re not a football fan!

For God’s sake! Kuyt played as a right winger in a part of a 4-2-3-1 formation. He enjoyed his days on the wing only because we had Torres (in-form, at a time when his understanding with Gerrard was out of the world) and Alonso and Mascherano to accommodate in the team. He cannot play on the left. When a right footed player, plays on the left wing, he needs to have pace to cut in behind defenders to leave space for the left back to storm through to play the crosses in (Konchesky played LB against Wolves).

Result: Liverpool 0 Wolves 1.

Common sense then prevailed (it almost didn’t). Liverpool played Bolton at home. Better team, more balanced (only after half time with Cole coming in for Ngog, Kuyt playing off Torres, Cole in a free role and Maxi on the left). Liverpool played better football, and grinded out the result. Emotional scenes at Anfield.

Three points grabbed, with Blackburn next, mission turnaround is on its way?

No. We’re halted again. Poor play, de-motivated footballers, zero managerial intelligence (Aurelio dropped from the squad and Agger demoted to the bench), NGog starting with Torres.

How tough is it Mr Hodgson? The supposed 442 formation being played away from home isn’t working. Please play 4-4-1-1.

Reina

Johnson Skrtel Agger Aurelio

Maxi Gerrard Lucas Babel

Cole

Torres

How tough is it? NGog hasn’t scored a goal away from home. For all his efforts is he a better player consistently than Babel? Is he a better player than Joe Cole?

No!

Move over Roy, bring in King Kenny!