Three Thousand Versts of Loneliness

This morning Kenny Dalglish finally replaced Roy Hodgson as Liverpool manager.  It’s a case of out with the new and in with the old, as King Kenny takes up a post he vacated almost twenty years ago. Officially it is an interim appointment, but Dalglish’s popularity at Anfield will mean he could prove difficult to unseat, if Liverpool’s form improves, or if, miracle upon miracles, the team can finish the season with a trophy. Back in June I wrote about the respective merits of Dalglish and Hodgson, when it emerged that one of the pair was likely to take over from Rafa Benitez.  As I saw it, one candidate for the job represented optimism and the other resignation.  Kenny could boost morale and get the players playing exciting football, while Roy was better placed to manage a team in decline. Since then the club has had a change of ownership, John W Henry and New England Sports Ventures replacing Hicks and Gillett.  It’s early days, but it seems that Liverpool FC...

Someone throw him a life raft Is Roy Hodgson for real?  Rather than address the shame of leading Liverpool to a home defeat against bottom of the table Wolves, he has turned on the fans .  They are not supportive of the club he claims.  Nonsense.  They aren’t supportive of you Roy.  Hardly surprising in a season which has seen defeats against Blackpool, Northampton and now this. Hodgson has added luminaries to his playing staff like the abominable Christian Poulsen and Paul Konchesky, both of whom could vie for the title of worst Liverpool player ever, his post-match remarks have become increasingly bizarre and he shows every sign of being in denial about how far the club has actually fallen. Most supporters were sceptical about Hodgson’s appointment, but they were prepared to give him a chance.  He’s now been at the club for long enough to judge that he can never ever take it in the right direction.  He’s manifestly unsuited to the role. ...

A signing to warm the hearts of sceptical Liverpool supporters, awaiting the season with little enthusiasm (that's me!).  The creative England international Joe Cole, whose lack of football at the world cup actually enhanced his reputation, has today penned a four year deal at Anfield, becoming the new manager's first addition to the squad. Cole is a quality player who attracted interest from Arsenal and Tottenham.  This signals that Roy Hodgson is not prepared to manage Liverpool's decline.  Instead he has ambitious plans and intends to craft a squad capable of claiming back a place in the Premier League's top four.  More importantly the signing will create some optimism around a rather dispirited club.