Roy Hodgson must fight for success at Liverpool
Hodgson took over at Anfield on Thursday (Photo: Mikhail Slain)
Roy Hodgson’s appointment as Liverpool’s new manager has been met by a mixed reaction from the Anfield faithful and it is easy to see why.
The former Fulham boss comes to Merseyside with the unenviable task of attempting to get one of the most dysfunctional clubs in English football back on track and into the Champions League places.
Hodgson offers experience at various levels, from a small international position with the United Arab Emirates to hot seat at the San Siro with Inter Milan.
The 62-year-old also arrives with a favourable reputation for transforming the fortunes of teams on the brink of collapse, most recently during his spell at Fulham, where he turned the Cottagers from relegation candidates into Europa League finalists.
But despite his fantastic qualities, Hodgson lacks the prestigious reputation associated with the managers from Liverpool’s past.
Many have mentioned Hodgson’s ability to bring stability on the pitch but one has to wonder at what cost? Is he really a big enough name in world football to keep hold of the likes of Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Javier Mascherano?
If these three key players should leave without being properly replaced, Liverpool -no matter how stable the dressing room is -can discard any dreams of climbing back to the top of the English game.
On Merseyside, Hodgson faces one of the toughest managerial tasks in modern football history. He must take a club slowly slipping from the top and turn its fortunes around with little to no money, neglectful owners and star players thinking twice about their future.
Hodgson must be ready to fight if he wants to succeed in this monumental task. He has to fight for every penny behind-the-scenes, otherwise he can expect nothing.
Chairman Martin Broughton continues to talk about the sale of the club but many insiders are still suggesting that a high valuation is putting off potential investors. If Hodgson is waiting for new owners so he can splash the cash, he may be waiting a long time.
Hodgson must be under no illusions about what to expect from the club’s current hierarchy. They have, of late, proved to what extent they are willing undermine the manager in order to get their way.
He needs to lay out exactly what he expects right from the outset or we may well again witness the same power struggle that eventually ended Rafael BenÃÂtez’s time at Anfield.
Hodgson has to be ready to stand up against those that have appointed him in order to work in the club’s best interests. Otherwise, his tenure at Anfield could be disastrous.
