Cole signing sparks renewed optimism on Merseyside

Joe Cole has already been a great lift to Liverpool

Joe Cole's unexpected venture into the realms of Liverpool Football Club has got the Reds' fans drooling at the prospect, but whilst there is renewed optimism and hope surrounding Liverpool 24 hours on, there is no hiding the fact that Cole alone will not be enough for Liverpool to challenge for honours again this forthcoming season.

When a club makes a signing as exciting and beneficial as this particular transfer, it is easy for people to forget that it takes 11 to tango on a football pitch, and whilst I will join the thousands of Liverpool fans out there in saying that this is an extremely positive move, I will also warn people of the frailty of the rest of the squad. On paper, at least, Liverpool look much stronger going forward, thanks not only to the arrival of Cole, but also to the signature of Serbian international Milan Jovanovic, a player brought to the club by Rafa Benitez. Time will tell as to whether Rafa's last foray into the transfer market at Liverpool was a profitable or a questionable one, but for the time being I am content with Jovanovic as a Liverpool man.

All of a sudden, with the scribble of one name on a piece of paper, and the addition of one more pair of boots in the dressing room, there appear to be so many more options in attack. Cole is a very versatile player, as is Jovanovic for that matter. They can both play wide left, or in behind the striker, who is of course Fernando Torres. Indeed, Torres had a very disappointing World Cup in South Africa, culminating in yet another muscle tear in the final minutes of the final in Johannesburg. However, with support from Cole, Jovanovic and of course Steven Gerrard, perhaps it'll be easier than first feared for Torres to re-capture the form that has made him such a hero on the terraces at Anfield. Jovanovic himself can lead the line if for whatever reason Torres is unavailable for selection, and with Javier Mascherano, Lucas and Alberto Aquilani all in the running for the central midfield positions, there's plenty to choose from for new manager Roy Hodgson.

However, I'm going to let go of the positives for a second and take a look at the positions Hodgson should be most concerned about. Firstly, we have no senior left-back. Stephen Darby is the only realistic option for that position, and you certainly wouldn't sacrifice Daniel Agger's aerial ability, nor his defensive prowess to stick him out in unfamiliar territory, as Benitez did towards the end of last season, to little effect. The release of Fabio Aurelio, and the sale of Emiliano Insua to Fiorentina leaves Hodgson deprived of ideas in that area of the field, and one feels he will have to do a lot of work in the transfer market to bring in a suitable replacement for the aforementioned names. Former Tottenham and current Switzerland full-back Reto Ziegler has emerged as the latest candidate for the role, whilst Marseille's Taye Taiwo is another name that has been mentioned. Of course, it is still far too early in the transfer window to make any definitive suggestions, but it seems most likely that one of those two will be a Liverpool player come August 14th, and the opening Premier League fixture against Arsenal at Anfield.

Clearly, filling the left-back void vacated by Aurelio and Insua must be a priority, and I am also concerned about the opposite side of the defence, occupied currently by Glen Johnson, who didn't exactly set the world alight in South Africa this Summer. For too long, he has been branded a player who is excellent going forward, but vulnerable in defence. That has to change. For Liverpool to be a challenging force again in the Premier League, as well as in Europe don't forget, we have to have an unbreachable defence and I don't believe Glen Johnson to be the player to ensure that happens. Bringing in a player that is more adept and secure in the defensive third would offer Roy Hodgson the luxury of shoring up the backline and preventing the big teams from causing the same sort of problems that they did last season.

Finally, a second striker and therefore a potential partner for Fernando Torres is a necessity, and something that I know Roy Hodgson is setting his priorities for. Loic Remy, the France and Nice striker is a strong link at the moment, although with a bid already on the table from West Ham, and further interest from Tottenham, it is anybody's guess as to where Remy will end up this season. What is obvious is that no team can win trophies with just one top-class striker in their ranks. Defoe, Pavlyuchenko and Crouch at Tottenham. Rooney, Berbatov and Hernandez at Manchester United. Tevez and Adebayor at Manchester City. These are the big teams, and these are the teams Liverpool need to be challenging in the 2010/11 season. With one striker, it's not going to happen. Two strikers is essential.

I'm a huge fan of Joe Cole, both on the pitch and off it. I think he'll be a star at Liverpool and I'm sure he'll become a fans favourite as quickly as Torres became when he first arrived in England. However, I'm still concerned about Liverpool as a squad, and I hope that the areas I have pinpointed in this article will be addressed by Roy Hodgson sooner or later and Liverpool can set about their mission to break back in to the top 4 this season.

Roy Hodgson - The perfect man for the job or a cheap way out?

Is there a single country Roy Hodgson hasn’t managed in? Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, England, Denmark, Norway, Finland and the United Arab Emirates. It’s fair to say that he’s clocked up his share of air miles throughout his 34-year managerial career, but what the Liverpool faithful really want to see is a mounting number of trophies in the cabinets at the Anfield museum. Is Roy Hodgson the man to deliver?

Lets be realistic about this. He has been appointed as Liverpool manager because of his achievements with Fulham FC, particularly in the last couple of years. A 7th-place finish in the 2008/09 season was rewarded with a place in the newly-named Europa League, although with their first qualifier coming as early as July 30th last year, it seemed to be more of a burden than a reward. However, despite playing an extraordinary amount of games, and finishing the season in mid-May, Hodgson managed to guide the Cottagers to the final of the Europa League, where they narrowly lost out to a strong Atletico Madrid side. At the same time, he had the motivation and tactical prowess to ensure that Fulham did not sacrifice their Premier League campaign for a long run in Europe. A 12th-place finish represented an outstanding all-round season for the boys from West London.

However, having arguably never been the boss of a club with the same expectations and history as Liverpool FC, it is unclear as to whether he will be up to the task. At Inter Milan, Hodgson was brought in to oversee a rebuilding process, and led the Italian giants to the UEFA Cup final and 3rd place in his 2nd and last season with the club. This particular achievement, coupled with his time at Fulham, leads me to believe that the Liverpool job could not have gone to a more apt individual.

Many people will disagree with my point of view, which is fine, but I’d insist one thing. Don’t be sceptical. Before Hodgson’s arrival, Fulham were a very mediocre outfit. Arguably, they still are, with very few big-name or big-reputation players. They are a side made up of grafters and battlers, and perhaps not the best technicians on the planet, with the odd exception of course. Danny Murphy and Zoltan Gera would have something to say about that. Nevertheless, with the financial backing of Mohamed Al-Fayed, Fulham would say that they were the Premier League’s big underachievers. Hodgson arrived with Fulham in the mire and more than half an eye on the drop. His job was very similar to what was expected of him at Inter Milan, and he delivered the goods once again. After a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Roy Keane’s Sunderland, Hodgson was left to contemplate what was a likely relegation, and was almost reduced to tears in his post-match press conference. However, after winning their first away fixture in 34 attempts against Reading, Fulham went on to win 3 of their remaining 4 games to retain their Premier League survival. The rest, they say, is history.

Whilst Liverpool are far from being relegation candidates, and whilst expectations are far higher than those of Fulham’s back in 2007, they are a club slipping down the Premier League ladder, both in terms of finance and in terms of their on-the-pitch performances. Due to this, the expectations have dropped slightly, and the main focus now is to make sure that the slide is halted and the big money-spenders of Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur don’t shove the Reds completely off the radar indefinitely.

Despite all the obvious optimism I have shown since his appointment was confirmed, I am still fully aware that the quality of players Liverpool have at their disposal is not good enough to mount a title challenge or even a bid to break back in to the ‘big four’. There are too many players at the club who lack the quality to compete with the two Manchester clubs and the clubs in the capital. A lot of money, which Liverpool don’t have, needs to be spent, and needs to be spent fast in order to build a squad which does look capable of getting back in amongst the big boys.

Hodgson’s record in the transfer market is pretty impressive. Upon joining Fulham, he strengthened their squad with a number of players, including Brede Hangeland, who proved to be influential in their eventual survival, and I’m hoping he can do the same for Liverpool on a different level. The chances are he’ll be given a relatively poultry transfer budget, and I just hope that he can spot the odd bargain or two and get rid of the dead wood in the ranks. Money gained from player sales could be very important in relation to who he brings in this summer. Lets just hope he doesn’t take Bobby Zamora with him. That’s the last thing we need.

I backed Rafa at the start of his tenure on Merseyside, and he delivered for a time. So now I’m going to back Roy, and until he proves me wrong, I will continue to do just that. The important thing that Liverpool fans need to understand is that it will take a bit of time for Hodgson to get Liverpool back on track in the Premier League and in Europe, and I’ll be praying that if Tom Hicks and George Gillett fail to sell the club soon, they give him sufficient time to work his magic with a very weak team.

Liverpool get their man: Hodgson to be announced as new boss this week

Liverpool sure know how to draw out a deal. As if the impending transfer of Serbian international Milan Jovanovic hasn’t gone on long enough, we’ve now had to endure the deal to bring Roy Hodgson to Anfield for the best part of 2 months. It’s been on, it’s been off, it’s been confirmed, it’s been denied. But now, with great pride and satisfaction, I can confirm that Roy Hodgson will be named as Rafael Benitez’s successor this week, or even by the end of today according to Liverpool FC.

Hodgson completed a wonderful three years at Craven Cottage by guiding Fulham into the Europa League final last season, ahead of European giants Juventus, reigning champions Shakhtar Donetsk and German champions Wolfsburg. He also established Fulham as a mighty tough Premier League side, finishing a record 7th place in the 2008/09 season before securing a mid-table slot last campaign, a superb effort considering the amount of games they had to play both domestically and in the continent.

The 62-year old topped a shortlist that also involved ex-Real Madrid boss Manuel Pellegrini, Galatasaray’s Frank Rijkaard and Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish, whose job it was, along with Managing Director Christian Purslow, to hunt down and appoint the right man for the job. Dalglish is now involved in the youth development side of the club, but was a strong favourite to be put in charge, prior to Hodgson’s arrival.

Mike Kelly, goalkeeping coach and Hodgson’s no.2 at Fulham, is expected to join up with the man who has managed the likes of Inter Milan, Bristol City and United Arab Emirates in his very successful career.

So, what do we think Liverpool fans? Is this the right move for the club? Is Roy Hodgson the man to take Liverpool back into the Champions League and get them challenging for honours again? Let me know what you think.

Hodgson set for talks with Liverpool

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson is set to open negotiations with Liverpool officials regarding the top job at the Anfield club. Since Rafael Benitez’s departure from Merseyside, Hodgson has been touted to succeed the Spaniard having led the Cottagers to the Europa League final last season.

However, Fulham chairman Mohamed Al-Fayed is prepared to offer Hodgson a lucrative pay rise and a hefty transfer budget to temp the 62-year old to remain at Craven Cottage for the foreseeable future. Despite this, Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow is ready to make his move in a bid to get Liverpool Football Club back on track following a disastrous 2009/10 campaign, both domestically and in Europe.

Hodgson has never ruled out a move to Liverpool, neither has he said he definitely wants to leave his current employers. However, having confessed that a move to a bigger club, or even the England national team would be too good to turn down, it seems probably that Hodgson will make the move north to join Steven Gerrard and friends.

The swoop for Hodgson has ultimately spelled the end of Kenny Dalglish’s ambitious attempt to land the hotseat at Anfield, and even though the Liverpool faithful would be more than happy to see their beloved legend make the step back into management, Hodgson remains the favoured choice amongst supporters.

There is no great hurry for Liverpool to install a new manager, as Rafa’s ex-assistant Sammy Lee has been placed in charge of First Team affairs until a no.1 is named. The Liverpool players are scheduled to be back in training on July 5th, in readiness for their Europe League qualifier later that month. Of course, those players performing at the ongoing World Cup in South Africa may be allowed extra time to recover in time for the new season.

Fulham take the plaudits after remarkable season

Thousands of people have written thousands of articles on Fulham’s 2009/10 quest past the gloss and glamour of Europe’s elite, and it was only a matter of time before someone put their own account here on the WDKF site, so here it is.

Before the start of the season, the regular Fulham fan would have settled for progression to the 2nd round of the Europa League – European Champions Cup’s younger brother – and expectations would not have exceeded that by much. A mid-table position in the Premier League was a given considering the stature of their manager and the moderate array of talent that the Fulham squad possesses. A mediocre team with a vastly experience manager and decent financial backing. That’s Fulham for you. At least, it was.

In the space of 10 months, since playing their first game of the season way back in late July away at FK Vetra of Lithuania in the Europa League 3rd round qualifier, Fulham have wriggled their way from the back of the country’s mind, right to the forefront, so much so that their wonderful story isn’t far off outshining the race for the title. The rather predictable Manchester United vs Chelsea battle for the summit seems somewhat insignificant in the face of such an unlikely story, but don’t tell United or Chelsea fans that.

‘It’s what dreams are made of’ is the old adage, and although I’m not one for clichés and soppy fairytales within Football, even I have been fixed to this truly unique conquest. As far as I’m concerned, Roy Hodgson is a miracle maker, and a manager I could see lifting any trophy around the world. Including the World Cup. Future England manager? Fabio Capello’s successor? Who knows. But if I was Trevor Brooking and co. at the Football Association, he’d be first on my shortlist of candidates.

As a fan of Liverpool, and with that a viewer of the stupendous decline of the Anfield club over the last 12 months, I’m constantly on the lookout for possible candidates to take over from Rafael Benitez at the end of this disastrous season, and with Hodgson not entirely committed to Fulham, Liverpool may be on the phone to the Cottage sooner rather than later.

Switzerland, Inter Milan (X2), Udinese, UAE, Blackburn, and Finland are just a few of the clubs the 62-year old has been in charge of, and his CV doesn’t stop there. UEFA Cup winner 96/97 with Inter, Swedish Cup winner on two occasions with Malmo FF, as well as two Championship medals, a Danish Cup and League title with Copenhagen, a now a Europa League final with Fulham. It doesn’t get much more impressive than that, and although some may argue that the stature of most of the clubs he has managed isn’t very impressive, you can’t ignore a man who has so much silverware locked up in his cabinets.

His style of play is another notable achievement to add to the list. Fulham are a side who have always looked to play on the floor, but have never really achieved too much with it – perhaps like today’s Wigan Athletic. Tigana came and failed, Coleman lasted a decent time without winning anything, and Sanchez barely had time to blink before he was out. But in Hodgson, Fulham have found a man who has continued and enhanced an attractive style of football, but actually turned it into a winning formula as well, and that is priceless in football.

Some people who may not have followed Fulham all the way through this season, or even at all, may not understand the enormity of the task they’ve achieved. As if creeping past the likes of AS Roma, CSKA Sofia, and Basel in the group stage wasn’t enough, they then went on to beat competition holders Shakhtar Donestsk (3-2 ag), and Serie A giants Juventus (thanks to an unbelievable 5-4 aggregate win, having been 4-1 down after 4 minutes at the Cottage), before overcoming German sides Wolfsburg and Hamburg over the two legs. A date with Atletico Madrid is the prize, an encounter that is sure to water the mouths of numerous Fulham supporters.

Perhaps the exit of Liverpool on the same night as Fulham’s triumph has been a good thing for the Europa League. I don’t know about anybody else, but I would have made Liverpool favourites for the match, and that’s not being biased. It would have been a great shame for Fulham to go all that way and then fall at the final hurdle. But for me, Fulham have to be favourites for the final against Atletico, who’s dreadful League campaign has been forgotten thanks to 2 Cup finals, including the Copa del Rey. There’s no doubt that I’ll be rooting for Hodgson and his men on 12th May, if only to alert the attentions of the Directors at Anfield to the managerial ability of Hodgson, if they haven’t already noticed.

A 3-2 win at home to West Ham today still isn’t enough for Fulham to qualify for next season’s Europa League, but should they emerge victorious a week’s time, they’ll be competing for bigger honours alongside the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid. What a season. One that this generation of Fulham fans will never ever forget.