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Originally Posted by Uncle Peter
Absolutely lost it and his comments are becoming more and more bewildering and embarrasing with each defeat. The Derby? best performance under his management? that is ludicrous as the best performance under his management was the home draw against Arsenal first game of the season before he'd had any real chance to work with the team. I think the realisation has hit home hard that he is managing a team ill equipped to play his archaic stand-off and counter tactics and he doesn't seem to have a plan B, either that or he's not prepared to use one.
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Definitely. I think it was the second half against Arsenal in which they played excellently but this was provoked by Joe Cole being sent off. In theory this may be because down to 10 men, against an attacking side, requires Hodgson's tactic of choice; Sit back, keep your shape, defend and attempt to score on a counter.
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Sections of the media and certain ex players who ought to know better are still desperately clinging to their anti Rafa agenda and the notion that poor old Roy inherited such a poor squad: one that's not too different to a squad which finished second a couple of seasons before and a squad which didn't concede many goals the season after despite an unacceptable league position. Hodgson has already lost the fans and it won't be long before he's lost the dressing room so he has to go now before any further damage is done.
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It required less than this shambles for the media to completely turn on Rafa last year but herein lies the hypocrisy and certain jingoistic approach from our sports journalists (not all mind). Benitez was never popular with the press, he did chat to them off the record, he was never jovial and fun in the press conferences and he general keep himself to himself. Hodgson on the other hand is a very popular figure with the press and as such they continue to leap to his defense.
Last year
'Rafa finished 7th with that squad?! Clearly underachieving, he needs to go!'. This year:
'Of course Hodgson can't compete with that squad! Rafa left him a horrible team'. Can't have it both ways. Being popular does not mean he is a better manager than Benitez.