Liverpool has become the subject for a milieu of voices, all declaring their allegiance either for or against Roy Hodgson. Then once decided upon that particular point you will either excuse him somewhat by blaming Rafa Benitez for the state he left Liverpool in or declare this as irrelevant for Hodgson is the man in charge now and should be judged on what he has done rather than alleviating the blame via a predecessor. From the thoughts that are disseminating from Liverpool fans it seems that Hodgson isn’t the man for them, but what I’d like to know is how much of the blame can be attributed to Benitez for Hodgson’s poor performance?
When Benitez left Liverpool they had finished 7th in the Premiership, were knocked out of the F.A. Cup by Reading and lost in the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa Cup. These factors were deemed to have been an underachievement with Benitez being shown the door and Hodgson passing him by on the way in. The previous owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett didn’t exactly endow Benitez which a substantial dowry in order to strengthen his diminished squad that saw the likes of Xabi Alonso, Alvaro Arbeloa and Luis Garcia amongst others depart. But to replace these outgoings, players such as Glen Johnson, Alberto Aquilani, Fernando Torres and Lucas Leiva came in to bolster the squad. Not to mention the revolving door that saw Robbie Keane and Peter Crouch have spells at the club which were largely unsuccessful.
Hodgson has seen Javier Mascherano leave, bringing in Raul Meireles and Christian Poulsen to fill the midfield gap which sees two defensive players always at work. Joe Cole and Paul Konchesky have also been added by Hodgson in the notable signings made. Therefore we can assert that Hodgson has had the ability to compensate for the losses incurred by Benitez in terms of personnel, whether the players chosen were sufficient enough is another matter. But what is notable is that Hodgson didn’t inherit a squad that would keep him up late at night tossing and turning over the dilemma that Benitez had ensnared him in.
[divider]
As a manager the majority of your history is merely a reference for others to glance at, what you are really judged on is the present and what type of results are forthcoming. Therefore it is simultaneously unfair to heap the blame from Hodgson’s shoulders onto Benitez because it is the former who is manager. Hodgson was powerless to determine whatever had gone before, but he now has the responsibility due to his position to the outcome of events. Whether or not he can control matters on the pitch, he can certainly influence them with tactics, motivating players, preparation, transfers and the ideology he wishes to implement in his style of play.
When I watched Liverpool play Everton recently I was astonished at the absence of creativity and the languid demeanor of the players. There wasn’t any initiative taken or the retention of possession that you would expect from players in a Liverpool squad; rather it was a performance of uncertainty, an uncertainty of identity.
This is what Hodgson has to give rise to and make the players adhere to believing it will work, for no player wishes to take on a new mode of play when the observable evidence suggests it isn’t working. Benitez had his reign over Liverpool and invariably the moment came for him to leave with certain events not assisting him, in the wake of this a residue was left. This residue owes the previous man for existence but is then moulded by the next into something worthwhile or something to discard. What has Hodgson moulded Liverpool into?
To read more articles of mine follow me on Twitter or RSS Feed.
Fancy playing your mates every week in a Premium Fantasy Football game?