Source: Daily_Mail
Furious Roy Hodgson hits out with Liverpool desperate for points
A defiant Roy Hodgson has described himself as 'one of the most respected coaches in Europe' and said it is 'insulting' to suggest he cannot handle Liverpool's big-name stars. [LNB]And in a strong message to the Anfield players, he indicated they must share the blame for Liverpool's indifferent start, claiming some ofthem are not living up to their reputations and have not played any better than his Fulham team did last season.[LNB] Hodgson's decision to go on the attack ahead of today's crucial gameagainst Blackpool is at odds with his nice-guy image but supporters will say it leaves no doubt he has the steel for football's toughest job. [LNB] Well-respected: Roy Hodgson has hot out at his critics[LNB]But his comments represent a gamble with Liverpool currently near the bottom of the Premier League table, having picked up only six points from six games and fell into the bottom three after Everton's first league win yesterday. They were also embarrassingly knocked out of the Carling Cup by League Two Northampton Town. [LNB]Off-field problems will see fans demonstrate again today against American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett while the club could be taken over by the Royal Bank of Scotland this month if the owners default on a £280 million debt. Hodgson, 63, was widely seen as a safe pair of hands when he succeeded Rafa Benitez in the summer but the pressure has been building, with Fernando Torres struggling in front of goal and new signing Joe Cole failing to shine. [LNB]Nonetheless, the former Blackburn and Fulham boss is angered by suggestions he will have to change his management style to succeed at Liverpool. His previous biggest job came at Inter Milan in the mid-1990s.[LNB] [LNB]Poor form: Fernando Torres is one of several Liverpool players who has failed to hot top form this season[LNB]'It is insulting to suggest that because you move to a new club, your methods suddenly don't work when they've held you in good stead for 35 years and made you one of the most respected coaches in Europe. It's unbelievable,' he said. [LNB]'I've had two-and-a-half wonderful years (at Fulham) where nothing ever negative was said about me and my team. Now maybe people are saying negative things. It doesn't change anything. I work the same way as I did last year. [LNB]'My methods have translated from Halmstads to Malmo to Orebro to Neuchatel Xamax to the Swiss national team and many other jobs as well. I am doing the same things and the most important things to me are the players. [LNB]'We are six games into a 38-game season. I couldn't give a monkey's whether we're 16th or 18th at the moment. Be realistic, don't insult my intelligence with that. What bothers me is that we have only got six points and I would have liked a few more. But then I knew Manchester United and Manchester City were going to be tough games. I knew Arsenal with 10 men was going to be a tough game, so maybe six points isn't so bad at all. We are averaging two points from the other three.' [LNB]Significantly, Hodgson also called on Liverpool players to take more responsibility to go along with their reputations. Although 15 of the Anfield squad were picked by their countries for the World Cup, Hodgson does not seem to be over-impressed by some of them. [LNB]He said: 'I don't understand questions about Liverpool and Fulham players being different types. At the moment arguably one or two of the players that are suggested as being very different to the Fulham players maybe aren't playing any better than the Fulham players played. So maybe people should be having a look at that. If I can be accusatory of some journalists, I think they work on names and not on performances. A judgment is based on their name and not necessarily what they have actually done on the day.' [LNB] Backing the boss: Liverpool vice-captain Jamie Carragher supports Roy Hodgson[LNB]Hodgson's strong comments come only three months after he replaced Benitez, who left for Inter Milan with the club in chaos on and off the field. But he will have to back up his outburst with results, starting against a Blackpool side that shipped four goals at Chelsea and six at Arsenal. [LNB]At least Hodgson has received solid support from his vice-captain Jamie Carragher: 'People shouldn't forget about how Benitez and Gerard Houllier struggled to make an impact in the League when they first became manager. Liverpool is about winning trophies, but sometimes clubs go through times when they have to rebuild. Roy Hodgson is going through that.' [LNB]Holloway horsing aroundUnlike the Liverpool boss Ian Holloway has been leading The Good Life recently. [LNB]In scenes reminiscent of Richard Briers in the classic sitcom,Holloway has been moving horses, chickens and dogs from Bath to anew family home. [LNB]He said: 'The fixation started when I got the sack at Leicester. We wanted to be a bit self-sufficient like Tom and Barbara.' [LNB] Liverpool v BLACKPOOL: Alex Baptiste set for lengthy spell on the sidelinesLiverpool need a new star man: Jamie Carragher admits Reds lack a sparkLord Sugar blasts 'problem' American owners of Man United and Liverpool'I didn't want this category, I'm SO disappointed!': Louis Walsh on mentoring the Over 28s [LNB][LNB] [LNB]
