By Paul Tomkins and other published authors and respected writers 
Written by Paul Tomkins on September 9th, 2010
More so than any other Liverpool manager, Gérard Houllier’s stewardship is characterised by two distinct periods, divided by a single dramatic event: the building up of a very good side, and then failure as he dismantled it following a near-death experience as his aortic valve ruptured.
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This is not an easy time to be a Liverpool fan. We are being pulled this way and that; torn between the old-fashioned notion of what supporting our club entails and doing ‘the right thing’ in a political sense (with people having different ideas as to what that is).
This was a much, much better performance from Liverpool reserves – although it was basically a different team to the one that laboured to a draw against Wigan. The reds played a higher line, moved the ball about more quickly and rather than constantly knocking it long, were happy to play neat passes in to feet and work an opening.
Simon Fear – pro-qualified referee and Tomkins Times member – takes an uncompromising look at the officiating in games involving Liverpool in August 2010, as the Reds faced a demanding start to the 2010/11 Premier League season.
It was encouraging to hear Roy Hodgson say in a press conference last week that the squad was not in need of a complete overhaul; backing up my recent assertion along those lines (made in response to Gérard Houllier’s ludicrous claim that he left behind a much better collection of players in 2004.)
“The End of the Innocence”: the Don Henley song about a bitter divorce was released during the last season Liverpool won the league title. At the time I was just 18: on the cusp of adulthood, and blissfully unaware of impending baldness.
It was in typical fashion that the Daily Mail – “Premier League stars in cold: New 25-man squad rule has megabucks players sitting it out” – reported the new ruling regarding limited squad size this week. According to the paper, Premier League players would see their careers end or they would be collecting £40,000 every week whilst spending match days in the stand.
The epic tale of how Liverpool Football Club was born in the wake of the split of Everton Football Club, by Chris Rowland.
By Gareth Roberts. IT SEEMS strange to say it when he’s yet to even meet all his players or pick a team for a competitive match, but Roy Hodgson is winning me over.
Before getting started, a quick thank you to those who voted in the poll; of those who participated, 86% thought the site represented either Very Good (34%) or Excellent (52%) value for money, and only 1% said it did not represent any kind of value for money.
Thankfully Roy has taken the advice of Peter Bruckner and co. – I don’t see the point of procuring the services of an elite Sports Science department – and then ignoring them. The Europa Cup has to be low on the list of club priorities, and it’ll be a nice chance to see some of the youngsters …
By my reckoning, teams expected to challenge at the top end of the Premier League need approximately six attacking players; exactly where they line-up in the team is open to adjustment, but Roy Hodgson’s approach at Fulham – which was understandably more negative – will not translate.
Word would have it that Liverpool are in the market for a left back. Strange position, No.3. Certainly, by its nature, not a particularly glamorous role. However, depending on the strategy employed by a coach it can emerge as almost completely different positions in any team formation.
Whilst I lost faith with Gérard Houllier before he was sacked in 2004, I do think he did a fine job up until 2002. However, his incredible attack on Benítez cannot mask the fact that Houllier left a pretty dire squad low on value and morale, and that in almost every way you look at it, the Spaniard did better than the Frenchman.
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