Roy Hodgson set to become Liverpool manager

[Dr. Pepper]

Roy Hodgson is set to be appointed Liverpool's new manager by Thursday, BBC Sport understands.

The Reds were granted permission to speak to the 62-year-old two weeks ago by his current club Fulham.

Hodgson has also been linked with the England manager's job following the team's humiliating exit from the World Cup but Liverpool have acted quickly.

BBC Sport - Football - Roy Hodgson poised to become new Liverpool manager

Good luck to Hodgson. Like many people, I'm a fan of Hodgson for what he's done with Fulham and other clubs over the world. He deserves a chance to manage a "top" team in England.

 

[shravi]

I understand that he's being given 12mil plus money received on transfers as well.

 

[blake]

Well, at least he knows how to be successful in Europe...

Liverpool need a bit of a shake-up, anyway.

 

[mattfb]

We payed what, ?8m to get rid of one of the best managers in the world for Hodgson? It's worth noting that Hodgson has never stayed at a club he was managing for longer than 5 years, which was his first club he managed back in 76-80. He's managed 16 clubs in 34 years which is an average of just over 2 years at each club. If you look at Liverpools recent managers and backroom it's had a heavy spanish and continental effect. The fitness and training regimes etc would all have a continental feel. I can see heavy changes happening here in the backroom with Hodgson and it will take a while for that to be fully effective. Hodgson will probably need his first season to still set everything up. He'd need a good 5 years at the club to change the continental feel it's had.

So hopefully we can keep him long-term now we have him. I can't see him doing any better than Rafa did, Hodgson doesn't have the best track record of signings. He also hasn't won one major trophy in 36 years of top flight managing. I don't see us making a Champions League spot next season. Will be interesting to see what he can do with his signings though. Maybe in a few seasons we might make our way back into CL football.

Although, we were really never going to get anyone better than Rafa. :/ He will be missed.

 

[Dr. Pepper]

Was Rafa really that good of a manager? He won two trophies: Champions League and FA Cup. They were both won by ridiculous comebacks and a fair share of luck. His record in the transfer market is hardly brilliant. Yes he signed Reina and Torres, two excellent players, but what about everyone else? And when he signed them, he didn't get the best out of players. Look at Dirk Kuyt. Before he joined Liverpool he was a prolific goalscorer, now he's a defensive winger. He also sold players for a pittance as well. Sissokho was sold for ?8.2m, Liverpool didn't make anything out of this guy who was top quality at the time. His success with Valencia and early career at Liverpool was great but he didn't adapt when everyone else around him did. I understand that as a Liverpool fan, you'll always be grateful to Rafa for winning the Champions League and whatnot, but it wasn't really because of his brilliance, more the players outstanding determination.

 

[mattfb]

Hold up, that's a little harsh. What about Xabi Alonso? Signed for just ?10m and sold for ?30m. At the same time Rafa signed Garcia who was a very good player at times, played some important roles in cup games.

Or Crouch? Signed for ?7m and sold for ?11m. He scored 41 goals in just over 100 games. But he came on as a sub in 1/3 of those games.

Daniel Agger? He was signed nice and cheap and is turning into a nice defender. Mascherano has been a great player for us too. Scott Carson was signed for <1m and was sold for ?4m... Also Sissoko was signed for ?5.5m so a nice profit there. Benitez signed Reina for ?6m and he's already turned out to be quality. Already broken numerous Liverpool goakeeping records - he did so years ago. Still plenty of years left in him.

Rafa had some poor signings but nothing like Shevchenko for ?30m or anything. He signed well and sold players well.

 

[Ollie_H]

And did what with them? Nothing. As Mani said, he won two trophies in his tenure, how can you consider him a good manager at all?

 

[mattfb]

Well, Rafa Benitez averages 78 points a season in the league. That's after taking over from Houllier who averaged a mere 68. He turned that around by 10 points. He also amassed our highest ever points record in the Premier League with 86... This is all with a well average squad which is nothing in value compared to the likes of United, Chelsea and City (well, now at least especially with Silva going). He's taken us forward from the days of Houllier.

 

[Dr. Pepper]

Hold up, that's a little harsh. What about Xabi Alonso? Signed for just ?10m and sold for ?30m. At the same time Rafa signed Garcia who was a very good player at times, played some important roles in cup games.

Or Crouch? Signed for ?7m and sold for ?11m. He scored 41 goals in just over 100 games. But he came on as a sub in 1/3 of those games.

Daniel Agger? He was signed nice and cheap and is turning into a nice defender. Mascherano has been a great player for us too. Scott Carson was signed for <1m and was sold for ?4m... Also Sissoko was signed for ?5.5m so a nice profit there. Benitez signed Reina for ?6m and he's already turned out to be quality. Already broken numerous Liverpool goakeeping records - he did so years ago. Still plenty of years left in him.

Rafa had some poor signings but nothing like Shevchenko for ?30m or anything. He signed well and sold players well.

Madrid were willing to spend anything for anyone. Benitez should be criticized for under-estimating the ability of Alonso who was clearly crucial to the system. Without him, Gerrard's flaws were shown and it was clear he's unable to play central mid as he doesn't have the positional discipline. And what about Voronin, Morientes, Riera, Babel, Keane, Josemi, Bellamy, Pennant etc.

Shevchenko is a poor example because it was Ambramovich who wanted him when Mourinho didn't.

 

[mattfb]

I agree Alonso shouldn't of been sold, just mentioning him after the fact you said Rafa's only good signings were Reina and Torres. There were plenty of very nice signings. I know there were poor ones like you mentioned, I'm not saying he was perfect in the transfer market but he wasn't as poor as you made out.

Aslo Voronin was a free, and Babel is showing potential. Probably payed too much for him but he's pacy and was selected in the Dutch squad. Has potential.

 

[JBlues08]

Roy Hodgson is certainly a brilliant manager after what he achieved with Fulham for the past 2-3 seasons. However, I'm not too sure whether is he suitable in managing a big club like Liverpool. Some managers are better when working with a smaller club. Also, with Roy Hodgson at the helm, there will be less or even zero verbal attacks between him and Alex Ferguson. And maybe, Roy Hodgson will turn Liverpool into everyone's favorite neutral club, just like what he did with Fulham last season. :laugh

 

[Kiko_97]

Madrid were willing to spend anything for anyone. Benitez should be criticized for under-estimating the ability of Alonso who was clearly crucial to the system. Without him, Gerrard's flaws were shown and it was clear he's unable to play central mid as he doesn't have the positional discipline. And what about Voronin, Morientes, Riera, Babel, Keane, Josemi, Bellamy, Pennant etc.

Shevchenko is a poor example because it was Ambramovich who wanted him when Mourinho didn't.

You can't forget Lucas, possibly one of the most useless players i've seen.

 

[mattfb]

I'm extremely interested to see what Hodgson can do with Lucas. Most of the squad Rafa Benitez has already helped along and world class players have said he has helped their game - but I think Hodgson can help turn the likes of Lucas, Babel. Pacheo, Insua and Rodriquez into better players.

Look at what he did with the Fulham squad. A bunch of half decent players, and without too many changes he got the best out of them. Danny Murphy was average at Liverpool, but at Fulham Hodgson turned him into a very good player. He got the midfield to play to it's max and he had a simple plan he wanted them to follow out.

Hodgson can get the best out of Lucas I feel.

 

[Dr. Pepper]

I think that Lucas has talent but Benitez just never played him in his right role. I think a fresh face with a different look on things can get him playing how he feels most comfortable.

 

[treva]

Hodgson > Rafa.

Brilliant move by the Liverpool board. It's about time Liverpool had an English manager that knows how to win league titles and overachieve with a club.