NEIL ATKINSON is in the chair for the second part of ‘What We Call History’ 2010/11.
Joining him are John Gibbons, Ben Johnson and Mike Nevin as they look back at halcyon days of the man they call ‘The Hodge’.
No messing about, no revisionism and no holding back.
The Hodge. To Death.
“The great Mourinho” … absolute “murder”.
Made up you got Ben Johnson on for the Hodge talk. Less than 5 years ago is pushing ‘history’, but it’s a better listen now when it’s still raw. Wolves at home is the low of Liverpool as a football team since I can remember. For all the deadwood that was in there I’d like to think a Liverpool squad with Gerrard, Torres, Carragher, Reina, Kuyt, Maxi, Lucas, Meireles, Johnson, Aurelio, Agger and Skrtel in couldn’t have possibly gotten themselves relegated had FSG continued to dawdle but I can’t honestly be sure the way we were shaping up.
Also, Mark Bright’s a tit and Gerrard missed the pen on purpose… Good luck with trying to wrap your heads round £35m for a lad with half a good top flight season. Suarez and loads of Maxi hat tricks to look forward.
Part 2 as good as part 1. I am loving this but I am disappointed that as yet, nobody’s shouted, in Hodge voice, “It’s a DISGWACE”
Because he fucking was
Another brilliant podcast….totally UTOPIA
How did someone like Purslow even get near the club? Have heard him pontificating on quite a few media outlets (for want of a better word) since then and am amazed he’s given any credibility whatsoever. Hodgson clearly has a survivor’s instinct and friends in high places too. Pleased you identify how the media (with the seemingly innocuous Jamie Redknapp amongst the frontrunners) started to go after Torres during this period, laying the blame for everything at his door. Agree with Neil Atkinson that he seems to have been broken by the whole experience not to mention a useful lightening rod for fans anger when he left. Would love to know what went on behind the scenes back then.
Hodgson a disaster but (see beginning of Times article below) wasn’t Kenny Dalglish involved in the departure of Rafa and appointment of Hodgson, and wasn’t Purslow appointed as a friend of Dalglish. That narrative perhaps a bit to painful to explore.
Tony Barrett, June 4 2010
Kenny Dalglish emerged as the kingmaker in Liverpool’s search for a successor to Rafael Benítez yesterday, with Roy Hodgson and Martin O’Neill featuring prominently on the shortlist to replace the Spaniard.
The appointment of Dalglish as headhunter-in-chief makes it unlikely that the Anfield legend will return to the manager’s role he filled for six years before quitting in 1991.
He will instead work alongside Christian Purslow, the managing director, to find the man whose first task will be to convince a host of star players, including Fernando Torres, Javier Mascherano – to remain at the club
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/football/premierleague/article2540747.ece
The Hodge Files is the greatest thing I’ve ever heard of in my life. Well in Ben Johnno.
Absolutely superb. Mike Nevin, take a bow. The wolves game sticks in my mind, where we got beat 1 nil at anfield. It was one of the worst games I have ever been witness to. Liverpool was like Siberia too which made the night even worse. Bad times.
Brilliant listen, brings back the nightmares of the time. but have to admit I was one if the ‘what you protesting for? it ain’t gonna make any difference’ and I regret that.
Hodgsons voice still gives me shivers to this day.
Out of the many brilliant TAW episodes recorded, this one is the greatest!
“Oh dear…”
–silence–
“Wolves then..”
“HAHAHAHAHA”
I love you guys.