Liverpool Still Dishing Out Mediocrity Under Roy Hodgson

Four wins on the trot had elevated Liverpool from relegation zone to mid-table, but the euphoric mood was ruined in a 1-1 draw against Wigan and 2-0 defeat to Stoke. Liverpool fans are again questioning Roy Hodgson’s credentials, and sympathizing with him is difficult when clubs humble the Reds so effortlessly.

Stoke’s first league win in 26 years over Liverpool was fully deserved in a scrappy but intense battle which saw the disjointed Reds placed on the back foot. Ricardo Fuller opened the account by poking home from a messy pinball passing while Kenwyne Jones wrapped up the win by slotting in coolly.

It is embarrassing to see Liverpool struggle with the tempo and could not make decent shots on goal. Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres were so off-color, they hardly do justice to the effusive praises written earlier. To make matters worse, Lucas Leiva, one of the better players, got sent off.

Recent loss of points against lesser teams prove that clinching the Premier League title is still a distant dream for Liverpool. After a stirring comeback against Napoli and vanquishing Premier League leader Chelsea, the Reds felt ready to take on the world but bravado is no answer to structural problems.

Roy Hodgson has wasted no time in highlighting his “fairly small squad with a few injured senior players.” Hodgson feels he has inherited a banal squad and his first XI kept functional solely by 1-2 players. The rebuke from Rafael Benitez was swift; after all the Spaniard has splurged a considerable sum and does not relish his successor pouring scorn on his recruitment.

In fairness, when Benitez clinched the European championships and second spot in the Premier League, he was able to exploit the attacking prowess of Torres and Gerrard and rely on Finnan, Carragher and Hyypia for a solid defense. But since the departure of Hyypia, Finnan, Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano, the core has weakened considerably.

Notwithstanding new financial fair play regulations and austerity measures sweeping across Europe, new owner John Henry has to open his purse string in the next transfer window, else Liverpool will see its competitive edge being eroded further.

Champions League qualification for Liverpool is no longer a certainty unlike the past where usual contenders are Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal, in different order. These days, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton want a bite of the cherry too and they have formidable squads to stake their claims.

Conversely, Liverpool have looked vulnerable given their thin squad and a manager who has never won the Premier League or Champions League titles. Admittedly, Hodgson possesses a wealth of coaching experience at the club and international level. In Europe, he is held in high regard, having served on the UEFA and FIFA technical study groups.

Roy Hodgson’s last job has burnished his reputation in England, which was in tatters from an earlier stint at Blackburn. Fulham secured an unprecedented 7th place in the Premier League, and then their first major European final the following season.

Though Fulham lost to Atletico Madrid, the impressive run in the UEFA Europa League garnered Hodgson the prestigious LMA Manager of the Year award. Given Fulham’s dearth of talents, Hodgson had outdone himself and it was not surprising that a troubled Liverpool board favored him ahead of their favorite son, Kenny Dalglish who holds the figurehead role of “Ambassador and Head of Football Development.”

So far, Roy Hodgson’s effort at steadying the ship has been mixed, if not negative. Liverpool scored only four goals and picked up just five points from a possible 21 away this season. Away form has always been Hodgson’s Achilles heel; in 105 away league games since Bristol City, Blackburn, Fulham and Liverpool, he has managed only 13 wins and 35 draws.

Managing a club of Liverpool’s stature is different from Fulham where they are more accustomed as underdogs and avoiding relegation. Since the ’90s, the Reds had lost their dominance and worse, its reputation defiled by the rancorous drama of Tom Hicks and George Gillett. Despite the disappointments, the fans still have high expectations every season – top four placing, if not silverware.

Unfortunately, mid-table seem more realistic if Hodgson is unable to stop Liverpool from dropping points in away games. Dishing out this kind of mediocrity will seal Hodgson’s fate in the same way that Rafael Benitez was not pardoned for a poor season. Meanwhile, Kenny Dalglish ‘s stock is rising. Roy Hodgson felt the affective divide when livid Liverpool fans clamored for Dalglish during the defeat to Stoke.

Hodgson said: “If the club decide they want to give the job to somebody else, then I’ll have to accept that. I can’t get upset every time the fans chant someone’s name. They may have to do it a few more times this season, because I can’t see us going through a season winning every single game.”

Roy Hodgson is being honest, but the defeatist attitude will not endear him to the fans. To make matters worse, Glen Johnson – who was criticized by the manager for his poor form – hit back by describing Liverpool as ‘boring’ under his charge. The last thing Hodgson needs is internal strife and losing the support of key players. It also doesn’t reflect well on his man management skills.

Despite Kenny Dalglish being the fans’ top choice and Roy Hodgson having little chance of eclipsing his predecessor Rafael Benitez in winning the Champions League, I believe his immediate dismissal is counterproductive.

Since 1991, Liverpool has gone through several management changes, including Graham Souness, Roy Evans, Gerard Houillier and Rafael Benitez. Each manager brought a new direction but the constant transformations in transfer strategy and formation are disruptive, financially wasteful, and left the club nowhere near its much craved Premier League title.

Rather than having the whole process start again, Liverpool should live by its decision in appointing Roy Hodgson. To be sure, Hodgson is still on track for European qualification. Those who expect him to perform miracles in his first season which saw Liverpool narrowly escaping administration and a 10 points deduction, need to wake up and smell the roses.

Roy Hodgson can heave a sigh of relief that player transfers are taken out of his hands; the fans have one less complaint. Damien Comolli, the newly installed Director of Football, has to identify and purchase suitable reinforcements. The Frenchman comes with a big reputation as talent evaluator, recommended by Billy Beane, close friend of John Henry and general manager of Oakland A’s baseball team.

Billy Beane is best remembered for his use of objective metrics in baseball. The statistical analysis on players’ performances allows him to find talents worth more than their market value. John Henry wants this approach replicated at Liverpool and Damien Comolli is deemed the best person to implement it.

As scout and sporting director, the Frenchman picked up from obscurity Koulo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue and Gareth Bale, all admirable coups which fit into Henry’s long term value-for-money strategy.

However, it is not clear if Comolli will bridge the gap between the manager and owner/directors. His presence has certainly made Kenny Dalglish more of a peripheral figure. Very likely, a clash of egos may erupt soon. At Tottenham Hotspur, Comolli undermined successive managers Martin Jol and Juande Ramos by signing players without their knowledge. His return to Saint-Étienne as sporting director in 2008 has also hastened the departure of manager Laurent Roussey.

On the surface, Roy Hodgson has welcomed Comolli’s arrival, even though he was caught off-guard by the club’s sudden announcement.
The Director of Football is an eminent position at continental clubs but has never caught on in England. Overlaps and conflicts with the all-powerful manager often arise as the scope of work is not clearly defined.

Having assumed the role of Director of Football at other clubs, Hodgson may be more understanding towards the new hierarchical structure. But a fallout is inevitable if Damien Comolli decides on transfer deals unilaterally or try to teach Hodgson what to do.

In a sign of things to come (putting Hodgson and Dalglish in their place), Christian Poulsen could be axed just months after signing for Liverpool. He was bought by Hodgson in the summer, with the blessing of Dalglish, along with Joe Cole, Raul Meireles, Paul Konchesky and Milan Jovanovic.

They had been largely lackluster but Poulsen is the biggest flop, considering the intention for him to replace midfield stalwart Javier Mascherano. Damien Comolli views Poulsen as part of the ills of the old regime in which aged players with little resale value were signed.

He wants to bring in a younger player with better ability. In this case, I believe Hodgson has no argument, seeing how Poulson’s lack of pace, energy and passing made the £5m outlay appear extravagant as compared to Spurs £8m bargain for Van der Vaart.

Since Hodgson has tried and failed to impress with his transfer policy, I doubt John Henry will parlay more money for another round of trial-and-error by the former. Damien Comolli has to convince Henry that Liverpool needs more reinforcements in the January transfer window.

Due to injuries, Roy Hodgson has been deprived of fielding his best team on several occasions. Daniel Agger, Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Joe Cole and Glen Johnson saw more action in the treatment room, while Fabio Aurelio, Dirk Kyut and Ryan Babel have not hit peak fitness after recovering. Liverpool’s resurgent form, albeit short-lived, has coincided with returning players and increased confidence.

As it is, the Reds appeared stretched from playing two matches in a week. One wonders what happen when Christmas come around as the schedule becomes tighter and players usually make do with two days of rest. If Liverpool are again decimated by injuries, they could end up back in the relegation zone.

With the benefit a full team and new options, there is hope for Hodgson to avoid mediocrity. Of course, he has to motivate the players to show the same passion as Steven Gerrard and step up their performances. Gerrard and Torres cannot be at their best in every game, so their team mates have to drive the team forward, take chances on goal and close down on opponents too. Playing as a team has been Liverpool’s recipe for success from the mid 60′s through the mid 80′s.

If the relationship stays harmonious, Comolli’s expertise will strengthen Liverpool in the long run and the fans can expect more unpolished gems like Martin Skrtel to arrive rather than expensive but over-the-hill superstars.

A possible target in January is France under-21 midfielder Dimitri Payet who caught the eye of Comolli at Saint-Etienne. Other transfer activities could involve Dutch utility man Urby Emanuelson. The 24 year-old is versatile and may eventually be available on a free if contract negotiations with Ajax break down.

Comolli should focus on quality defenders too as as the backline has been inadequate and sloppy at times, leaving Pepe Reina to fend for himself. Against Chelsea, the Reds were cruising but had to endure close shaves in the second half. Against Wigan and Stoke, luck deserted them and the defense crumbled under relentless pressure.

Liverpool had conceded more goals than they scored and it is discomforting to know Hodgson’s conservative lineup of 2 holding midfielders in front of the back four (similar to Rafael Benitez) is still insufficient to stop opponents from scoring. Hodgson will do well to focus on the defensive frailties, as the midfield is still capable of holding its own and creating chances for the lethal Gerrard-Torres front line.

Besides recruiting talents from aboard, it has been a while since the youth academy churn out players who take the league by storm. During Benitez’s era, no notable youngsters made their mark and it is worrying where the next Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen or Steven Gerrard will come from. Traditionally, Liverpool possess a resolute English core; and the youth may just get a chance to flourish under Roy Hodgson.

Currently, youngsters like Martin Kelly, Jonjo Shelvey, Jay Spearing, Dani Pacheco and Nathan Eccleston are given more match time, thanks to the absence of senior players. While throwing the youth into the Premier League cauldron may have adverse effects if they are not ready, it is better than practicing in the reserve squad forever.

For all of Roy Hodgson’s limitations, he does not possess some of Rafael Benitez’s frustrating habits. The latter is known for rotating players or keeping them in cold storage for inexplicable reasons. Robbie Keane virtually gave up on Liverpool after being kept on the bench even when the front line is lacking firepower.

Hodgson has stuck largely with a winning team and only resting Gerrard and Torres for important fixtures. Having a settled squad will reap dividends for Hodgson in the later part of the season.

A New Dawn under NESV

Roy Hodgson’s future may look bleak, and it is hard to see him at Liverpool beyond next season. Nevertheless, I like the changes which John Henry is putting into place. He is building an institution where managers are dispensable but it ensures stability at Liverpool. They can remain on track to challenge for trophies, whoever is in charge.

The fans need not worry about implementation like Tom Hicks and George Gillett who painted a rosy picture but underachieved. In fact, their leveraged buyout left only a trail of destruction in its wake. On the other hand, John Henry knows what a successful club entails.

Since Henry’s company, New England Sports Ventures, took over Boston Red Sox in 2002, the club has been perennial playoff contenders in the Major League Baseball and have won two World Series titles, emerging as one of the most successful teams of the last decade.

The Red Sox also consistently top the average road attendance, only the small home capacity of Fenway Park prevents them from leading in overall attendance. Every home game since 2003 has been sold out—an MLB record that has spanned over seven years.

Besides appointing Damien Comolli as part of an American styled corporate makeover to curb wasteful transfer policy, John Henry is also aiming to cut expanding wages. Under Rafael Benitez, Liverpool wage bill increased from £66m in 2004 to over £100m in 2010 which is unsustainable.

Henry said: “There were a number of unpleasant surprises during our due diligence. The wage bill is high, it’s going to be higher next year and we’re not a young team. That was disappointing.”

The twin approach of greater accountability on transfer funds and wage bill will bring Liverpool in compliance with the break-even requirement by UEFA.

John Henry has also expressed distaste at the overarching power of agents and players in Premier League which he likened to the “wild west.” In the United States, Henry said players generally see out their contracts and clubs were in control.

It must have been a “culture shock” to Henry when he saw Wayne Rooney forcing Manchester United into submission over his astronomical wage demands and the club having to come out the next day to assure all is well. The NESV owner is firm that he will not be held to ransom and players who are not committed to Liverpool’s cause will not be retained.

That could be too early to say though; if Steven Gerrard wants similar wage terms as Wayne Rooney, Liverpool will be unwise to walk away. Fact is, there are players who are hard to replace, else Liverpool will not be missing the pin-point passing of Xabi Alonso.

Whilst Damein Comolli goes about uncovering raw talents, Liverpool have to retain its key assets too. Pepe Reina has expressed his intention to move on and Chelsea are keen to pry away Fernando Torres who has become too much of a bogeyman for the champions. If the trio are missing from Liverpool team list, appointing Kenny Dalglish as manager with a bunch of kids in tow is not going to win championships either.

Nevertheless, John Henry is sending the right message that players who are under contract must toe the line. It is time for football clubs to gain an upper hand since the Bosman ruling skewed contract negotiations in favor of footballers. The days of pandering to players could be over.

As John Henry control expenses, he also has an eye on increasing Liverpool’s top and bottom line through TV revenue and merchandising. He walks the talk, with his Boston Red Sox generating impressive off-field revenue despite a moderate fan base.

As Liverpool’s brand and popularity in Asia and Middle East is largely untapped, Henry is virtually sitting on a goldmine by bringing the club closer to these markets. There is no reason why Liverpool cannot grow their revenue to compete against Manchester United and Chelsea.

Manchester United have boosted commercial revenue around the world by targeting global sponsors in a range of new categories and Liverpool are expected to follow suit. A new stadium with larger capacity is being evaluated and that will certainly generate more gate receipts to repay debts and buy new players.

After the turmoil of the past year, I am looking forward to a new chapter for Liverpool, even if major trophies for this season seem a remote possibility. The title race is going to be tight as there is not a single team which appear invincible this season.

Liverpool’s closest rivals are dropping points – Chelsea just suffered a 3-0 defeat to Sunderland, while Manchester United are starting slowing again and Arsenal have its usual youth and inconsistency problem. Man City and Spurs are also not looking like automatic top 4 finishers with their shaky forms.

Liverpool remain a match for any side on its day but they have to improve their mental approach towards bread and butter games. The Reds have always excelled in cup competitions and outwitted Goliaths but the occasional display of brilliance is not enough to win a Premier League title.

This weekend, Liverpool take on West Ham and it is time to pummel the opponent into oblivion. West Ham, winless since September and nestling sweetly at the bottom of the Premier League table, will be foolhardy to go on the offensive at Anfield.

Roy Hodgson must throw caution to the wind and unshackle his team. Playing a defensive setup against Stoke and Wigan has shown Hodgson’s naivety. You do that in Champions League against European teams but not teams which are clearly short on quality.

That is not to say West Ham are just a ragtag team of losers. Scot Parker and Luis Boa Morte are likely to hold the midfield together while Carlton Cole and new star Piquionne will feature up front. Matthew Upson will lead the defense in front of Robert Green. That is a fairly decent assemblage and Avram Grant will certainly want to capitalize on Liverpool’s loss of confidence.

I don’t have much illusions about Roy Hodgson winning anything, if he proves to be better than mediocre, it is an achievement. If not, the Liverpool board should blame themselves. The fans should let Hodgson do his work, instead of having knee-jerk swings from positive to negative reviews.

By the way, it is not a long way off from 4th place… having another unbeaten streak, starting with West Ham, will see Liverpool creep higher up the table. Even with an injured Steven Gerrard, the odds are good at most online betting sites for Roy Hodgson to beat West Ham handily. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.