Why Hodgson was not to blame for Liverpool failure - Murphy
11:59, 22 MAY 2016 UPDATED 11:59, 22 MAY 2016
BY KRISTIAN WALSH
Danny Murphy defends former boss over ill-fated Liverpool reign
Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy believes Roy Hodgson was not to blame for his ill-fated reign at Anfield.
Hodgson arrived at the club in the summer of 2010, but lasted just six months as he was replaced by Kenny Dalglish in January 2011.
The presence of Dalglish was one of the reasons Murphy believes Hodgson was not a success with the Reds, but has also blamed the ownership of Hicks and Gillett, as well as the absence of his regular backroom staff.
Hodgson won just seven of his 20 league games at the club, leaving them 12th upon his departure.
Murphy, who worked with Hodgson at Fulham, thinks several factors worked against his former boss.
âSo why didnât it work for him at Liverpool? Part of it is an easy one really, because there were no funds to get any quality in,â said Murphy. âHe lost Stevie G early in that season through injury for about eight weeks and Torres had just got back from that bad injury and didnât look anything like his former self. He also probably wanted away at that point.
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âSo he was bringing in players of not great quality. Also the way he coaches takes time. When he came in at Fulham we didnât win for eight games. His methods grow. The way he coaches and the way he wants you to play doesnât happen overnight.â
Murphy, now a pundit with the BBC, also pointed to Hodgsonâs successor, Dalglish, watching on as he struggled.
Towards the end of his time at Anfield, Hodgson would be met with chants of the Scot from the Anfield crowd.
âItâs not all about âGo out and be energeticâ itâs about going out and being clever and tactical astute,â he added. âAnd you learn more off Roy the longer you are with him. Liverpool needed more of a quick fix and, of course, with âKing Kennyâ up in the stands every week it was always going to be difficult.â
The former midfielder also thinks Hodgsonâs lack of support in the dugout was a big factor, adding: âThe other thing as well is that Ray Lewington and Mike Kelly, who he worked so well with at Fulham, did not go with him. So he lost two lieutenants and every good manager has a couple of good guys outside. Mike and Ray were very influential at Fulham.â
Mike Kelly actually did join Hodgson at Anfield, doubling up as assistant boss and goalkeeping coach, though Lewington remained at Fulham as a youth coach until joining Hodgson at England as his no.2 in 2012.
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/hodgson-not-blame-liverpool-failure-11368375?
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