Why the Hodge is what Liverpool need

Due to unpopular demand, I managed to go and watch the Liverpool vs Rabotnicki game yesterday. Normally, living away from Liverpool, lack of money and the Liverpool general sale ticket line (which is about as functional as a Rafael Benitez zonal marking system) prevents me from seeing games, so it was nice of Liverpool to enter the Europa League at the qualifying stage to allow us less-able-to-visit fans to get a ticket (great, a positive for not being in the Champions League…). Let’s ignore the quality of the opposition last night and view the positives – Jovanovic and Cole, both free signings, were both excellent. Jova made some great little runs, looked very lively and caused a threat – yes a threat – to the opposition. Cole was similar (although we knew what to expect more with him), and worked refreshingly hard for the team. In fact everyone on the pitch seemed to up their work rate that little bit more – I remember seeing the Reading FA Cup tie on TV (obviously) last season and being mortified by the evident lack of belief or even passion that was on show.

Which leads me onto Roy Hodgson. Many Liverpool fans, understandably so, were under-whelmed but satisfied by the appointment of Roy Hodgson. However, after thinking about this, it seems that actually, what most of these players need is a bit of common sense. Roy Hodgson is one of those managers who does the simple things simply, like, again, marking man for man, passing the ball properly and making sensible substitutions. Some of the players were probably in a state of bewilderment during much of Benitez’s tenure, not least captain Steven Gerrard (the shake of the head after ‘that’ Torres substitution last season spoke volumes), Alberto Bench Aquilani and Yossi Benayoun. Yossi decided enough was enough and quit Liverpool for Chelsea, and really, who can blame him? What’s surprising is that Aqua didn’t do the same.

These same players, Benayoun aside, will not only get an opportunity under Hodgson, but they won’t be asked to do nonsensical things, the little things Rafa employed that prevented a good team from being a great team (zonal marking again). This left the players visibly frustrated. Roy will keep it simple where required, and let the technical, more flamboyant side of the game materialise in the player’s ability instead. This was reflected last night – Jova, Cole, Stevie G and Aqua when introduced were able to be more expressive, and not locked in chains. Again it is worth mentioning that the opposition weren’t exactly Chelsea or Barcelona, but nevertheless it is still refreshing to see. Some of the players may have been left stale and confused by some of Rafa’s tactics last season in particular, and Roy’s more sensible approach may have persuaded Torres and Gerrard and the like to stay.

Rafa was a good manager of course – a man who can win the European Cup with Smicer in the team deserves massive credit – but his frustrating chess tactics prevented a better team than the 2005 winning squad from ever blossoming to their full potential. It’s more than possible that Roy’s more straightforward approach will actually allow for more of this blossoming to occur.

Two more positives about Roy – (1) We will hopefully see some of the English youngsters in the team more frequently. Martin Kelly, for example, is excellent and apparently (after playing left back last night) can play across the back four. (2) A Roy Hodgson team, as shown by Fulham last season, is a team that works tremendously hard, regardless of the competition or circumstances. He demands no less than 110%, and that as fans is all we ask for.

Let’s hope this is the start of a refreshing new era – it is unlikely that there will be instant success, due to various factors (the Chinese bloke, the American blokes – for example) but hopefully with time, Roy can build up a successful, expressive and passionate team.