LIVERPOOL legend Phil Thompson today said that a parting of the ways between Liverpool and Roy Hodgson is the only way forward.
Former Assistant Manager Thompson said he hoped the Reds could a strike a deal with Hodgson which allowed him to leave the club with dignity after trying his best in the face of an array of problems. Said Thompson: “I hate knee jerk reactions – this is not that – and I take no pleasure in saying this. “But these are unprecedented times – we are wallowing in mediocrity.”
This is an awful time for Liverpool Football Club and everyone involved with it.I well remember how it was for those few weeks before Gerard Houllier and I left in 2004 - and at times it was really unbearable.
Of course I can’t speak for Gerard but I took the criticism of him at that time quite personally and I felt a lot of his uncertainty too.
So much flak over the team’s performances and results were aimed at Gerard - but I felt we were all in it together.
You could not help but be affected by what was going on and the mood was very difficult during those final days.
So right now I am pretty certain it will be similar behind the scenes at Melwood and Anfield - but in truth probably far worse.
We had had success before those days and had known good times.
But Roy Hodgson has been at the club for barely six months and it has seemingly come to this. So this is different. Very different indeed.
We are witnessing unprecedented things in unprecedented times at Anfield.
We have never before known such overwhelming calls for the manager to go from so many supporters and with such volume.
I don’t like it because at Liverpool we like to think we handle these things differently and we don’t go around calling for the manager’s head like this. But these as I say are unparallelled times for the club.
The fans are emotional and angry and you have to understand that and take it into account.
Over recent years these supporters have been through some terribly worrying times with the ownership issues and the debts.
Finally, they have seen an end to the Hicks and Gillett era and the debts wiped away - but instead there are now big problems on the pitch.
This is a proud and successful club with the best supporters in the world - and they are understandably hurting.
I have to be honest and admit that the only way I see for us to get out of here now is for a dignified parting of the ways.
Roy Hodgson has done his very best but he has had a lot of problems to deal with and sometimes you just have to admit that the club and the issues are just too big for you to handle. And that something has to happen.
We have never before known such overwhelming calls for the manager to go from so many supporters and with such volume.
I don’t like it because at Liverpool we like to think we handle these things differently and we don’t go around calling for the manager’s head like this. But these as I say are unparallelled times for the club.
The fans are emotional and angry and you have to understand that and take it into account.
Finally, they have seen an end to the Hicks and Gillett era and the debts wiped away - but instead there are now big problems on the pitch.
This is a proud and successful club with the best supporters in the world - and they are understandably hurting.
I have to be honest and admit that the only way I see for us to get out of here now is for a dignified parting of the ways.
Roy Hodgson has done his very best but he has had a lot of problems to deal with and sometimes you just have to admit that the club and the issues are just too big for you to handle. And that something has to happen.
If Roy and the club can strike a deal that lets him go with his head up and allows Liverpool FC to move on, then sad as I am to say it, I believe that would be in the best interests of everybody concerned.
Roy did come in under the previous owners and he did inherit a depleted squad lacking talent and commitment.
He hasn’t had a Chief Executive Officer to work with in recent months and at times it cannot have been easy for him. Early on he had to deal with the Mascherano situation, trying to keep a player who wanted to go and who eventually forced his way and got his wish.
But that said Roy has got some things fundamentally wrong with tactics and personnel, particularly away from home. The truth is we have not seen one fantastic performance from Liverpool all season. And we have seen some abject ones.
We are wallowing in mediocrity and the owners, who to their credit have taken their time and listened to lots of people to try and grow to understand the club, must surely know this is not what Liverpool FC is all about. Quite the opposite.
They’ll be talking to the right people about how to handle things I hope - and for me two of the best people they could listen to are Commercial Director Ian Ayre and Kenny Dalglish.
I hate knee jerk reactions - this isn’t that - and take no pleasure saying so.
But it is time for a parting of the ways between Roy Hodgson and Liverpool. One that happens with a degree of dignity for everyone’s sake.
Read More http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2011/01/07/phil-thompson-time-to-end-roy-hodgson-s-liverpool-fc-reign-now-100252-27944794/3/#ixzz1AL2t8000
Roy did come in under the previous owners and he did inherit a depleted squad lacking talent and commitment.
He hasn’t had a Chief Executive Officer to work with in recent months and at times it cannot have been easy for him. Early on he had to deal with the Mascherano situation, trying to keep a player who wanted to go and who eventually forced his way and got his wish.
But that said Roy has got some things fundamentally wrong with tactics and personnel, particularly away from home. The truth is we have not seen one fantastic performance from Liverpool all season. And we have seen some abject ones.
They’ll be talking to the right people about how to handle things I hope - and for me two of the best people they could listen to are Commercial Director Ian Ayre and Kenny Dalglish.
I hate knee jerk reactions - this isn’t that - and take no pleasure saying so.
But it is time for a parting of the ways between Roy Hodgson and Liverpool. One that happens with a degree of dignity for everyone’s sake.
Read More http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2011/01/07/phil-thompson-time-to-end-roy-hodgson-s-liverpool-fc-reign-now-100252-27944794/3/#ixzz1AL2t8000
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