Liverpool: 5 Reasons why manager Roy Hodgson must part ways with the Reds

Liverpool take on Manchester United in the FA Cup on Sunday in a game that could be pivotal to determining the future of Roy Hodgson who has stayed on as the manager despite reports surfacing that the new owners are currently searching for a new manager. Rafael Benitez might have brought Liverpool FC to a lower position from their previous highs but they were always a very tough and capable team under the Spaniard. However they have lost to many lower quality oppositions without a fight and have sunk to new lows under Roy Hodgson.

Roy Hodgson had an excellent start to 2010 as the manager of Fulham but the year ended on a bitter note for the Englishman who has been accustomed to hearing chants for Kenny Dalglish to be the manager for the Reds. Though Hodgson has a decent managerial career, his tenure with Liverpool has not been successful and here are 5 reasons why he needs to part ways with the club for the better future of the Merseyside club.

1. Incapable of bringing out the best from his Talented Players

Liverpool might be languishing in the bottom-half of the table but no one could accuse the club of not having the quality to at least be within the top seven clubs after the first half of the season. It has been due to the poor performances from their best players that the Reds find themselves in this predicament. Though Hodgson has probably made average talents like Lucas Leiva and Maxi Rodriguez into better players, he has not been able to bring out the best from his star players.

Fernando Torres has looked very frustrated throughout the season barring a few matches where the supporters have seen what he is capable of. He does not look like he wants to fight for the manager and if Liverpool are to secure a top seven finish, they need Torres to find his shooting boots on a regular basis. Joe Cole is another example of a talented player failing miserably under Hodgson. Though Gerrard has been decent this season, he has not been as influential as he can be because he has been played too deep in a number of matches.

2. Playing too negative for a team like Liverpool

Liverpool are a huge club and boast of arguably the most supportive crowd in history. However they have been utterly disappointed with the negative tactics employed by Hodgson which has more or less meant that the Reds have not dominated too many games. For a club which has some great attacking talents like Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, they have played too deep which has meant the duo have not been able to influence games on a regular basis.

Liverpool under the Englishman has passed the ball a lot in their own half but have lacked the creativity to break down defences. Also, they have played the long ball game and expect too much of Torres who has been woefully out of form. Daniel Agger was outspoken in his criticism of the manager in his tactics to just clear the ball from the back instead of distributing it cleanly which does provide a view of the manager’s tactics.

3. Poor Transfer Record and Bad Utilization of Some Players

Though Liverpool were struggling financially at the time when Hodgson took over as he manager of Liverpool, he still had decent money to spend. However he has brought in some very mediocre players who do not deserve to play for a club like Liverpool. Christian Poulsen and Paul Konchesky are very average players who are not good enough and have been criticized by the Anfield faithful for their poor performances.

Raul Meireles is different in this regard as he is a proven player who has shown that he can develop to be an excellent player in the future. However, he is a proper central midfielder who does not have too much pace which is why he should not be played on the wing. The Portuguese has played on the flanks on more than a couple of occasions but has not performed too well because he is a quality central midfielder and not a winger. Also Steven Gerrard is at his best when he is influencing the game from the centre but his tactics has meant he has played too deep which has meant he cannot be that influential and Torres has suffered from a lack of service.

4. Hodgson does not inspire confidence to the Supporters and the Players

Roy Hodgson has made a number of statements which have been controversial and has been criticized by the Liverpool supporters. He has not cut a confident figure; in fact, he has been rather cautious in his approach and has not looked like a manager for the long term future of the club. His comments after the poor performance against local rivals Everton were quite pathetic when he said they had put in their best performance of the season in that 2-0 defeat. Also when Sir Alex Ferguson was indirectly pointing out that Torres dived in the game between the two clubs, Hodgson said nothing to back the player.

Also, his comments about Glen Johnson not being good enough and Joe Cole not assured of a regular place has only brought down the confidence of the team. Every time the Reds have let in a goal, Hodgson does not inspire the players who need a tougher manager at the helm. His man-management skills have not been excellent and it does seem like he has found the Liverpool job and expectations too big to handle despite his assurances.

5. Liverpool Supporters want him out and will not back him as the Manager

Liverpool have been one of the most successful clubs in history and the supporters want the club to play attacking football. They have not been happy with the defensive tactics of Hodgson while the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal have been attacking in most of the games. The Reds have an away record that is quite similar to clubs fighting against relegation and the supporters have been forced to watch some pitiful football over the last few months, especially away from Anfield while they have also suffered some embarrassing losses like the defeats to Blackpool and Wolves at home.

Hodgson made another error by criticising the famous Anfield support and was invited with sarcastic chants of “Hodgson for England” in the next few games. He must understand that Liverpool supporters generally back the manager to a great extent but they do not back him because they do not believe he is the right man for the job. The new owners have been patient so far but they should make a move to appease the supporters who are very restless at the moment.

The fact that Anfield has not been completely filled by supporters for the last couple of matches is a huge cause for concern which clearly gives the indication that the fans have lost the faith in Hodgson and the team for now. Hodgson might have come in at a difficult period but will not be unfairly treated if he does get the sack because he has been given a lot of time to turn things around at Liverpool. Now that he has been unsuccessful, it is time for someone else to try to steady the ship.

Arsenal's Carlos Vela Should Be Targeted by Liverpool for a Loan Move In January

Liverpool's Joe Cole got Roy Hodgson out of jail when he tapped in to earn a vital three points for the Reds on New Year's day to ensure that 2011 started for them in a positive mood. In other news, Arsenal cruised past Birmingham to earn all three points through goals from Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie.

Carlos Vela did not make the squad yet again and Arsene Wenger made it clear that he was open to a loan move for the Mexican striker. Liverpool's striking options are not many and they bank heavily on Fernando Torres to provide them the goals. They have clearly not been helped by his form and have suffered a bad first half of the season.

Hodgson has preferred to play two strikers together in his formation in many games this season but he has not been helped by the fact that David Ngog has not scored enough in the Premiership this season. Also, apart from Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, they have not got many creative players in their squad which is why they have struggled to break down defences.

Ryan Babel is a talented player but has been very inconsistent and has disappointed on many occasions in the past. As a result, Liverpool are said to be on the lookout for new arrivals in January and supporters will hope they provide more quality than that of Paul Konchesky and Christian Poulsen.

The Reds have been linked strongly with Sylvain Marveaux and could secure his services in January. Liverpool have struggled to have enough quality wingers this season and they do not have quality depth in this department. This is why the Reds must consider making a move for the versatile Arsenal striker Carlos Vela.

The Mexican International has been linked with a number of Spanish clubs as well as a move to Serie A but Wenger is only prepared to loan the lad to gain more playing time. So in that case, a move to a Premier League club can be beneficial for both the club and the player who is considered to be a good long term prospect.

The versatile Mexican can play in the central role or on the wings if required and his talent and quality is undoubted. He cannot get more playing time because Arsenal have too many experienced players in his position and he has slipped behind in the pecking order. However, he has showed in the past that he is very talented and the problem has been the lack of playing time for him.

Damien Comolli and Liverpool have scouted many youth players like his reported tracking of Southampton starlet Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain but Liverpool would do well with acquiring the services of Carlos Vela in the short term. It is tough for players who come in January to adjust to the Premiership which is why Vela would be a good option.

Also, Torres' creativity and link-up play has not produced many good results because the players around him have not been in similar wavelength. Vela is quite creative and his good runs behind the defenders provides Torres and the midfield more options. Also, Vela is a good winger who has good crossing ability. Despite his age, he is quite experienced having made over 30 appearances for Mexico and would have the hunger to perform well.

Besides Torres and Ngog, Liverpool do not have a proper option with Babel the only other possibility. The addition of Vela would add competition to their places which would make them perform better. Also, Vela's talent and creativity could prove to be a huge boost to the Reds.

Arsenal would probably let Vela leave to a club like Liverpool as it would help him gain a lot of playing time and experience. Liverpool are a big club and the club's supporters might not like the idea of having a rival's player on loan. But they only have to look at Bolton to see what it could mean for the club.

Bolton were struggling last year when Owen Coyle took charge and he signed young and unproven Jack Wilshere on loan. The Englishman proved to be a big addition to the team as he helped them avoid relegation with ease. In the next season, their whole confidence is better and they have not missed the services of Jack Wilshere too much.

Liverpool's move for Vela might be temporary but it could be a huge lift for the club if he does improve the quality of the Reds. At the moment, Vela could be a part of the first team instead of Ngog and despite Ngog being the more physical striker, Vela could be an ideal partner for Torres.

Liverpool's Slump: Who is to blame? Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard, Rafael Benitez or Roy Hodgson?

Liverpool supporters had to endure another poor performance from the Reds who lost to relegation candidates Wolves by one goal to nil at Anfield. The Reds have now lost to Newcastle, Blackpool and Wolves all of whom could be fighting against relegation in May. They showed very little fight and it was not a surprise that they could earn nothing from the encounter.

With Liverpool supporters firmly in favour of sacking Roy Hodgson, the new owners will have a decision to make. They have already made steps in the right direction by entrusting the transfer negotiations with Damien Comolli and they will have to get to the bottom of the reason as to why this Liverpool team is woefully under-performing as they find themselves going into 2011 sitting in the bottom half of the table.

Fernando Torres

The Spanish striker is considered a modern day legend by man y Liverpool supporters and he has undoubtedly been an integral member of the team since he joined the Reds from Atletico Madrid. His quality is undoubted but he has looked a pale shadow of himself as he has not been up to his high standards.

He had a poor World Cup and his form has not been good this season as well. However even in this season, he showed his class on some occasions like the game against Chelsea where he ruthlessly scored a brace. He has been very frustrated by the lack of service and also, he has not developed proper understanding with any other striker. He looks troubled at times and he has had to feed on scraps and too much is expected of the Spaniard.

Steven Gerrard

The Liverpool captain has been one to stand behind his manager despite criticism from various quarters which has made it harder for John W. Henry to sack Hodgson which would mean going against the Captain's wishes. Gerrard has tried to inspire the Reds on his own but he has not been helped by the lack of quality in the team.

He cannot be blamed for the slump for sure but the problem is that he cannot seem to inspire the Reds to be determined to win. He seems to be a man fighting a lost cause and his performances though excellent at times have not been enough to salvage a good position in the league. He needs to play behind Torres in the attacking midfield role but often he has played deeper which means there is hardly any creativity in midfield to create chances for the strikers.

Rafael Benitez

It may seem absurd to blame a manager who left the club before the season started for the predicament that Liverpool find themselves in. But in reality, Benitez had made too many signings who were not good enough for a club like Liverpool. He built a large squad but one which was largely dependent on the performances of three or four individuals.

However he could still bring out the best from his team on a number of occasions and last season was his worst season which was due to the ineffectiveness of Alberto Aquilani and Lucas who were supposed to replace the outgoing Xabi Alonso, which was Benitez' biggest mistake in his Liverpool tenure. Also he was not helped by injuries to his best striker Fernando Torres, inconsistency of Steven Gerrard and the boardroom politics.

He is to blame in some ways but to say that he is the cause for this predicament is absurd. That is precisely the reason why Rafa Benitez still commands respect amongst the Liverpool supporters who are fully in favour of sacking Hodgson for Kenny Dalglish.

Roy Hodgson

The English manager had an excellent time with Fulham but managing Liverpool is a different proposition and he has learned it the hard way. He has more or less lost the support of the Anfield faithful and with his latest outburst at the supporters, it is hard to see how he can win them over. He has been trusted by the new owners but he has failed to deliver and after such horrible results, it is time the new owners take a decision on the future of Liverpool.

He brought in a number of players like Joe Cole, Raul Meireles, Paul Konchesky and Christian Poulsen but as a team they have not delivered. Cole and Meireles are talented players and when they settle into the team or capture their form, they can be good for Liverpool in the future. As far as Konchesky and Poulsen are concerned, they have no future at Liverpool and it has been a waste of around 8 million to sign the duo.

Though it is clear that Torres has not found any understanding with David Ngog, the manager has persisted with the same formation and the result has been that Torres has not been close to his best and Liverpool are lying in the bottom half of the table. Meireles is clearly a talented central midfielder and pushing him to the wing makes no sense. Maxi Rodriguez has been at his best under Hodgson for Liverpool but benching him to accommodate a central midfielder on the flanks does not make a lot of sense.

Also, he has not made himself popular by criticizing players like Joe Cole and Glen Johnson in public which will only bring down their confidence in the manager. There has been too much tinkering with the team with hardly anyone being settled in the team. He has clearly struggled to cope with the pressure and before he drags the Reds further, the new owners must swiftly end his managerial tenure with Liverpool.

If the support of the crowd is not there for the manager, that means that the club is on its way down and the new owners still have the opportunity to save the club. It is inevitable that they will lose their best players Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres if they continue to persist with Hodgson.

He has not added a lot of quality to the squad and though he has got the best out of some players like Lucas and Maxi, there has also been some more addition of deadwood. Hodgson seems to have run out of ideas and it has reached a point where he cannot save Liverpool's season for sure.