TEAMtalk's Mark Holmes is starting to wonder whether
the Liverpool job may be too big for Roy Hogson following
Saturday's defeat at Stoke.
Roy Hodgson's appointment at Liverpool was greeted by a great
deal of scepticism from supporters, but the national media, never
too quick to criticise his predecessor Rafa Benitez, were
purring.
The Anfield faithful were assured they were taking on a man of
dignity, a man with class, and a man that would play the attacking
football they craved. Claims that the job was too big for him were
laughed off - this is, after all, a man that has managed Inter
Milan and two separate national sides.
But Liverpool are a different proposition altogether. One of the
two great sides in English football, one of the five biggest clubs
in the world and one whose supporters DEMAND success.
The fans probably need to lower their expectations in truth -
Liverpool are after all nothing like the force they were - but they
have every right to expect more than what Hodgson's men served up
at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.
And the Londoner's post-match comments hardly screamed out
'class' or 'dignity'. "It was a triumph for Stoke's way of
playing," he said.
A backhanded compliment if ever there was one, but he is right
of course. It was a triumph for playing with two wingers, it was a
triumph for playing with two strikers and it was a triumph for 11
players that fought to the death for their manager and their
shirt.
It was a defeat for a side that set up to defend, a side that
were disjointed, dispirited, despondent, a side that were clearly
not fired up for the task.
The players themselves deserve criticism for that - they proved
what they are capable of against Chelsea - but every ship needs a
captain and perhaps Hodgson is just not that man.
It has been claimed he does not have the universal backing of
the dressing room and that appeared clear as day at the Britannia -
Steven Gerrard apart, there was no player that looked willing to
fight for the shirt and the manager.
Hodgson hardly has an embarrassment of riches to choose from in
fairness, but he is famed for getting the most out of players and
that knack seems to have deserted him at Liverpool.
Take Fernando Torres for example - excellent against Chelsea at
Anfield, but completely isolated at Stoke. Did Hodgson honestly
believe the Spaniard could turn countless long balls into
goalscoring chances? Against Ryan Shawcross and Robert Huth?!
Torres never had a kick, but it was hardly his fault and he must
have been upset with the way his side were instructed to set up -
the poor bloke never stood a chance.
Most bizarre of all is that Hodgson does not appear to see any
great problem. He declared himself happy with the performance in
the derby defeat at Goodison last month and was similarly
unperturbed by the showing at Stoke, claiming "I thought we did
very well for 55 minutes."
I'm sorry Roy, but you need to clear your desk right away if you
think that was good enough for Liverpool. His side were on the back
foot from the first whistle and were remarkably fortunate to go in
level at half-time but it appears Hodgson would have been pleased
with 0-0. Is 'hanging on' at Stoke acceptable for Liverpool these
days?
They went to Stoke to defend, to frustrate and to avoid defeat.
They were so comprehensively outplayed that a 2-0 loss flattered
them. It could easily have been far worse, yet Hodgson accepts
it.
"Stoke are a very difficult team to beat here," he argued. True,
but would Sir Alex Ferguson accept a Manchester United defeat
there? Of course not, and as manager of the other great club in
England, neither should you Roy.
Stoke deserve an enormous amount of credit for their performance
- they pressed high up the pitch, got the ball wide, gave the front
two plenty of service and were full value for their win.
Yes, they scored from a Rory Delap throw, but they also added a
fine second and played the better stuff throughout at the
Britannia. They were the only side set up positively trying to win
the game and there were a good number of their players - not least
former Red Jermaine Pennant - that looked a class above their
contemporaries.
This was the great, great Liverpool and they were utterly,
utterly dreadful. They didn't play "very well" for five minutes
Roy, never mind 55 and you need a serious reality check if you
think they did.
Hodgson said the chants for Kenny Dalglish do 'not help anybody'
but who can blame the fans? They will not accept performances like
Saturday's and neither should the manager.
But he does, and for that reason he must be on the thinnest of
thin ice.