mercury

Made up for the lad.

Stop your twists and innuendos on all things Rafa. Indeed, stop talking about Rafa. He was SACKED, no longer at the Club. Have some grace to let it go. Back on Hodgson. No, we are never as bad as he wants to make out. Credit to credit due though, good win yesterday (despite a weaken Chelsea) and four on a trot is very good. Still do not think he 's the right man for us after this season.

As well as the team set up and tactical / strategic decisions. The past 4 games, though still shakey, have been a sea-change from everything before them. Interesting. Does the manager has a change of mindset? Or, is/ are other (higher) guiding hand(s)? Anyway, feeling good on winning 4 on a trot.

Emotionally yes, rationally, too soon. What both he and us need is a breather and some clean slate to get on. It's not a particular good career move for him to jump back so soon. Much rather he has some sustained success with Inter or other top clubs and make those of us at LFC who have always rate him and stand behind him proud. Just fly. Also, the pressure will be too much for the Club and him to deliver immediately with all the blood hounds amongst our own and the media. So, the stars at this point in time are not exactly aligned for this to happen.

IF - a big IF - it is now a rebuilding job, the very bad summer we just had contributes a big part to this course. Whose responsibility is it?

Except that Hodgson and his mates in the media should not have started a smear on the squad or Rafa. The truly small man here, Hodgson. Agreed that the frenzy vs Hodgson is self feeding now but until HE improves, really improves, on and off the pitch or get the sack, the frenzy could only grow.

No chance now especially with Hodgson in place. Before then in the beginning of the season, we need to play out of our skin to land 4th as competition is up, a real loss in Mascharano and overall a bad summer.

thinking along the same thing, too. Put it simply, on the surface the "european" structure diversifies management risks, is more stable and less expensive (in terms of over-turning the squad). Any system needs to be properly run by appropriate personnel, of course. It will also be interesting to see what experience our new owners will bring with them and translate it to the Club.

Never imagined joining ranks meself to call for the head of the manager in less than a season, never mind only 8 league games. But there is no way round this.

Are they for real? Seriously?

It's not about the sacking but what to do afterwards.

Relegation is no longer a demise to be dismissed. The performance is so inept with no signs which show the manager may be able to turn it around and we are a quarter or so into the league matches. Sadly and reluctantly I am coming around to the idea of replacing the manager, even if it's not the Liverpool or normally sensible way.

Not necessarily. Gillette may still liable to any shortfalls between the principal and the security. Depends on the contract.

at long last something going our way since the two muppets were let in! a big step to winning the war!

Manager is judged on results. if Hodgson has won his matches, we would not have any discussion on his suitability (and he would not need to have said and would be forgiven for saying those daft things). Simply put, the results and performance have been below par even with a weaken squad. It is still too early to write off any manager, even if the way he has been trying to set up the team has not inspired confidence. We do not judged a manager on strength of character. However, strength of character is ESSENTIAL for a manager in a big club like ours, as without which he can never survive a dressing room of egos.

Just to add, it's not so much on Hodgson (though he is certainly out of his depth). The performance on the pitch is finally reflecting the sh** off the pitch. It requires a strong manager to pull the team above the mess, which Rafa did, exceptionally well. But the Club wants a yes man, conveniently, if rumours are to believe, gifted with the help of our most senior players. The lack of character shows, as with the lack of authority. How can the results not but show?

On surface NEJV ticks a lot of boxes but we'll have to see. It's important that they have both the resources - financial, expertise, "creativity" or whatever it takes - and commitment to move us forward especially on the stadium question. We need those extra capacity / facility and there's the City Council position as well - there's not a lot of room for them to wriggle out of stanley park.

On overall track record and calibre alone, no way Rafa be given the push after only one season of, eh, "disappintment". The decisions since Purslow joined have mostly if not all been political. So it's no wonder player power start perking up its ugly head. Signs of a truly weak Club. And players power is destructive. Always.

Rafa is one of the best managers in Europe and he is one of us. Simple. To me, he was the one who held the Club together - not the least that we would got our football - in the midst of the whole mess. However, heartbreaking as it is, it's probably best for him to go, given the toxic environment that is our Club and clearly the toll it took on him. He had fought and fought, refused to back down, for what he clearly loves and believes in. Yeah, he got us. Frankly I have not expected Hodgson to deliver much or anything better than last season, and rightly so time should be given to a new manager. But his approach and demeanor to the job has been disappointing thus far. Liverpool. Submissive. How galling is that!

Agree almost everything in the piece (except the Gerrard should have gone bit ) It's about how the Club is being run to the ground: The quality of the players coming in and Cole being a "bad" - at best an appeasement - signing. The attack on Roy's credentials is a bit cheap. He sees the signs of "deference" to player's wishes of their position as weakening of the manager's role - or actually that of a weak manager. Some may argue against it although I personally agree with this observation of the expedient deference. "A low maintenance manager " is actually apt - not that we are sure Roy already is one, but in describing the psyche of the Club on his appointment. Without disrespect to Roy, he has not been appointed to bring us back on our perch. Ultimately there is the failure of the board, thus far, to sell the Club. A depressing but true piece.

fyds, I'm Hong Kong Chinese. Not purporting to be an expert on Mainlanders but do know a thing or two about them or at least can read and speak the language as my mother tongue. What you are trying to innuendo is MEANINGLESS - if I'm frank plain ignorance and folly. Right now I hope I've been wrong on Huang and he is really a chancer like NYR said - which is a better (by how much is another matter) scenario for the Club as you depict. Sadly for me, that's not my own assessment. Anyway, let's pray there's at least still a credible bid in the Boardroom.

Of course it's IN China not FOR China. Huang has never been in any official capacity. It's just that CIC MAY BE one of the consortium member. :rolleyes:

Coyler, If they are serious bidder, I do not see it as posturing. Just not what the Mainlanders normally behave.

Question: Is there other bids? The Board must speak up on this. Silence from them would be the worst sign now. I tend to believe there's a genuine bid from the Huang camp (of course NYR would have a different view ). If so, it is likely it would have meant what the press release said: bye bye. Usually for them: if nothing has been made official, anything goes; if it has become official, then that's it - especially IF (a big IF) an official body like CIC is involved. Hope I'm wrong that it's a revised strategy. The Board must speak up on the bids. They owe us on this. It's not only THEIR club.

And often as, if not more, damaging. It's no solace for the dire straits the Club is in now.