Liverpool FC: Roy Hodgson Has Only One Choice Left: Resign or Face The Sack

Roy Hodgson needs to leave—voluntarily or through the sack. NOW.

I am not saying this because of the recent results.

I am saying this because I am truly convinced that Liverpool FC needs a dramatic change.

A third into the season, Liverpool has only earned 16 points from 13 matches, winning a paltry four games. The goal difference has been -4, conceding 1.3 per game. Pepe Reina, who once lead the English Premier League in clean sheets, has only 3 thus far.

But the offense has looked stagnant as well. Aside from Gerrard, Torres, and the European specialty N'gog, nobody else has made any impact on the season consistently.

I will be the first to admit that my criticism of Rafa Benitez during his reign was harsh. I think I speak for millions of Liverpool fans around the world when I rue the platitudes spit by the media about Rafa's zonal marking, his lone striker formation and his tendency to forcefully protect his players, even if it means staining his personal record. But I never had any doubts about Rafa's devotion to the club, to the fans, to the cause. Even though I often disagreed with his substitutions, his tactics and his signings, I could not doubt his belief in moving Liverpool forward—however stubborn his belief may have been.

With Roy Hodgson, on the other hand, I see and feel nothing. The following is just a sampling of that emptiness.

Roy constantly poses a confused look on the sidelines, often times scratching his head, screaming in frustration or dejectedly looking on. Does he expect to inspire confidence and belief by being so inanimate? He does not even understand what to do with this team. He has no Plan B, should Liverpool fall behind. In all but two Premier League games this year, Liverpool has failed to score in the first half. That is hardly the recipe for success. 

Roy also has this team playing deep in their own half. Fernando Torres often is behind the midfield line. With so many people devoted to defending, I wonder how he expects to score a winning goal.

Roy reprehensibly attacked his predecessor for the bad team he has right now. He blamed the previous manager for his terrible start. Well, this same team, plus Arbeloa, Alonso and Mascherano (and minus Meireles, Konchesky and Poulsen) placed second just two years ago.

Roy has criticized the fans for their actions. Well, if you want the fans to stop singing Rafa's or Kenny Dalglish's name, perhaps you should manage to win, not for draws. Perhaps you should listen to the fan's chants for "attack, attack, attack" rather than rigidly scratch your chin or nose in your winter jacket in quiet displeasure. Perhaps you should learn from Bill Shankly that the fans, the manager and the players are a Holy Trinity—without any part, the team cannot function successfully.

But the most egregious and repulsive of Roy's actions as Liverpool manager has been his unwillingness to admit his mistakes. This, for any human being, is unacceptable. He labeled the horrendous 2-0 display against Everton as the "best performance of the season." He considers the loss to Blackpool and Manchester United "unlucky." He never admits to his own tactical faults.

But when it comes to the players, he is ruthless.

Following the shocking Carling Cup exit to League Two side Northampton, Hodgson fully blamed his players for the result, never once questioning his own decision to leave out all regular starters from both the bench and starting lineup.

After three months of dismal performance after dismal performance, I have had enough.

I know I don't speak for just myself, but for many Liverpool fans around the world.

Liverpool fans are widely considered to be the most gracious and supportive in the world, especially to their players and manager, but Roy has completely "lost the plot."

He has transgressed just about everything Liverpool holds dear, from criticizing the fans to criticizing the players, from terrible tactics and man-management to ridiculously dishonest post-match statements. He continues to attack those who cannot defend themselves like Rafa Benitez, while never, ever checking his own methods.

Furthermore, there is no reason to believe that anything will improve or change for the better anytime. Hodgson is notorious for his inability to win away games in all competitions (until the Chelsea victory, his sides have 1 win in over 30 matches), his long-ball mentality, and ancient tactics. If Benitez's side at times last year looked stagnant, Roy has made Liverpool the ugliest, most negative team to watch in football. Had it not been for some dazzling saves by Pepe Reina, the results would judge much more harshly on Roy's record.

No player or manager is bigger than the club. Hodgson is no exception, and his actions since taking over merit nothing but disgust.

Roy has one choice.

Resign, or get sacked.

NOW.