Liverpool Supporters Need to Be Patient During Trying Times

Sunderland's Lee Cattermole (L) challenges Liverpool's Joe Cole during their English Premier League soccer match in Liverpool, northern England September 25, 2010. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis (BRITAIN - Tags: SPORT SOCCER IMAGES OF THE DAY) NO ONLINE/INTERNET USAGE WITHOUT A LICENCE FROM THE FOOTBALL DATA CO LTD. FOR LICENCE ENQUIRIES PLEASE TELEPHONE ++44 (0)

The mood on Merseyside is definitely one of frustration for both the red and blue halves of the city. Both clubs have had a terrible start to the season, but its Liverpool that is feeling the most angst. Frustration at poor results, owners that wont seem to leave the club, lack of cash injections for much-needed transfer signings and a manager who hasnt won over the masses.

But most of these frustrations should hardly come as a surprise to supporters of Liverpool FC. The playing side of the club is in a transition, one which will take longer than one season to complete, more likely two years or more before the club can return anywhere close to the summit that theyve enjoyed for decades. Such is the disastrous state that Rafael Benitez left the club in. Itll take time for Roy Hodgson, an accomplished manager on the European continent, to exorcise the ghosts of Benitez and rebuild the confidence of this team. This will not happen overnight. And any Liverpool supporters leveling the blame at Hodgson should consider the situation the manager is in right now.

He has a captain, Steven Gerrard, who hasnt been anywhere near his best in two years or more. His star striker Fernando Torres is still nowhere near 100% and the likelihood of the Spaniard leaving either in the January or August transfer window is exceedingly high. Then you h! ave the remainder of the team which has still not recovered since the departure of Xabi Alonso. And has now been further hampered by the recent departure of Javier Mascherano. Meanwhile, its time for Liverpool veteran defender Jamie Carragher to be put out to pasture.

And thats just for starters. You can go through this entire Liverpool team and see weaknesses galore. And thats if the rest of the players are playing at their full potential, which theyre not even close to right now due to lack of confidence and the financial insecurity of the club hanging over their heads.

Roy Hodgson faces an unenviable task. Hes single handedly responsible for trying to revitalize this Liverpool team, with all of its weaknesses, and to turn them into a winning side again. This is despite the fact that other clubs around them, who have historically been considered lesser opponents such as Sunderland, Stoke and Birmingham City, have bought talent in the August transfer window to strengthen their sides.

What Liverpool supporters need right now is patience. But sport, especially English football, is not a very patient practice. Hodgson hasnt done anything wrong. Hes not a knight in shining armor. Hes doing the best with what he has. Even a Jose Mourinho would face a challenging time trying to turnaround a team that has been left in ruins by Benitez. These things take time. Unfortunately its a commodity that Liverpool doesnt have much of.

Related posts:

  • Benitez Hits Back At Liverpool
  • Liverpool Supporters: Is It Time for Steven Gerrard to Move On?
  • Liverpool Confirm Rafa Benitezs Departure From Anfield



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