So I get back from work, only to find that Hodgson has left Liverpool and Kenny Dalglish is back in the dugout. Before I get going, I just want to say that Roy is clearly a very good manager as he showed at his time at Fulham. I just think he was the right man at the wrong time for Liverpool.
I'm not too struck on King Kenny coming back. It's not because I don't think he'll be bad at the job, far from it. He's been back in football for a number of years now as part of the backroom staff so he should be up to date. I just don't think the owners should have said: "Right, you have sixth months to stabilise the club and in the meantime we'll be looking for a new guy." What the owners should've been doing is being on the phone to any of their prospects weeks ago so that the new man could be ready to come in ASAP (ideally with some time left in this transfer window).
The squad that Hodgson inherited was absolutely terrible. Hell, it was probably weaker than the one he had at Fulham. Add to that the complete lack of morale in the squad due to the previous owners and Rafa's inability to do man management, it's no wonder the squad's done so badly. Now is the time when the past 20 years have come to a head and it's left Liverpool mid-table, out of one cup, most likely out of another by the end of the weekend and with only the Mickey Mouse Europa League to look forward to. Given the fact that Spurs and Man City have picked up their game and have cash to flash, it's no wonder that we haven't a hope in hell of getting in the Champions League any time soon.
Gerrard's carried that team for certainly the last five years, if not longer. Considering he's now in his thirties, he's starting to drift in and out of games and get more injuries. However, he's still the one player in the team who is able to change a game more than any other and even when he doesn't play well, he looks hungry. Torres is another matter though. He clearly just doesn't want to be there any more. If another club (not in the Premiership) offered £30 million for him, I'd bite their hands off.
The player situation is truly awful. Of the 21 players listed on their Wikipedia page (not including youth players), the only ones I'd keep are Reina, Gerrard, Carragher (more as a future coach than anything), Raul Meireles, Agger, Skrtel and possibly Lucas (considering his improvement this season) and Cole (if he can get his act together). The rest can go for the right money.
Not only does the squad need to be trimmed and renovated (and the wage bill reduced), but the Youth System needs a complete overhaul as Benitez managed to completely screw that up. The best prospects that we have are Jonjo Shelvey, Daniel Pacheco, Martin Kelly and Danny Wilson. The only one that's come up from the youth system is Kelly. Considering that the Liverpool academy was once the best in the world, that's shocking.
What Liverpool need in the long term is another Shankly. Someone who can inspire and terrify in equal measure. It was what we needed after the debacle that was Benitez and instead we got Grandad Roy.
I'm personally hoping for Martin O'Neill. He's not only got a great track record, but his time at Villa was characterised by getting the best out of a mediocre bunch of players, which is what Liverpool have. Hopefully with him in charge, we can raid Villa and get some players in areas where we're weakest, like Ashley Young, Warnock and Albrighton.
Funnily enough, I can see Hodgson at Villa before the end of this season.
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