Liverpool Coach Roy Hodgson: Hopeless or Hero?

Almost six months into his reign and Roy Hodgson is undoubtedly feeling the heat. Nineteen points from an available 45, only one away win in the league and more goals conceded than scored. It's no wonder the former Fulham, Blackburn, Inter and Switzerland head coach is one of the bookmakers' favourites to be the next manager to be sacked in the Premier League.  So, where has it gone wrong for the 63-year-old?

Hodgson's career has, like almost all other managers, had its ups and downs. He was once sacked following a UEFA Cup defeat to Schalke 04 in which he was pelted with coins and lighters from his own Inter fans. However this did seem more likely to be a politics issue as he had guided Internazionale to a European final and their best finish in six seasons.

It was at Blackburn where Hodgson's English reputation would become tarnished where despite a sixth-place finish in his first season, he would be seen as the culprit for their relegation that season.

Roy did however enjoy much success around Europe. Malmo, Halmstad and Copenhagen were dramatically turned into title winners in their respective countries of Sweden and Denmark under the wing of Hodgson. His work at Halmstad is regarded as the greatest achievement in the history of Swedish football, whilst he was offered a lifetime contract at Malmo.

He would later guide Switzerland and Finland to their highest ever FIFA rankings of third and 33rd respectively. The former was guided through their first World Cup in 28 years when Hodgson guided the Swiss through a group that included Italy and Portugal though they would eventually be overcome by Spain in the last 16. He followed this up by breezing through qualification to qualify for Euro '96. He would leave before the Finals began however to take up his post at Inter Milan.

In 2007 he took the post at struggling Fulham and pulled off a remarkable turnaround to keep Fulham out of the championship. He followed this up with Fulham's highest ever finish of seventh position in the league with many calling for him to be hailed as League Manager of the Year—an accolade he would have to wait another season for where despite finishing the 2009/2010 season in 12th position he guided the club to its first ever European Final in the Europa League.

His Fulham side were beaten 2-1 in the final but his side were commended through Europe for their hunger and football style.

Obviously, his appointment at Liverpool has brought some stir with many feeling that though he does not lack experience in reality, he has not managed enough "top level" teams.

On 8 July 2010 it was revealed that Milan Jovanovic had completed his long-awaited move to Merseyside to become Hodgson's first signing (although the signing had been instigated by Rafael Benitez before he left Liverpool). On 19 July 2010, Hodgson's second signing was confirmed as Joe Cole, on a four-year contract on a free transfer from Chelsea.

"Woy" also allocated the services of keeper Brad Jones, defenders Danny Wilson and Paul Konchesky, the pairing of Christian Poulsen and Raul Meirleles and the re-signing of injury-ravaged Fabio Aurelio. His hand was forced by apparent ''player power'' with the sale of Javier Mascherano for a believed €30 million along with Diego Cavalieri and Albert Riera. Huge disappointments, Alberto Aquilani and Emiliano Insua were sent out on loan.

Hodgson is believed to have scooped €40 million from player sales during the summer, however he was granted less than 75 percent of this figure to purchase new players. This came after Benitez had a similar taste of lack of funds after the £30 million sale of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid a year previous.

So the question most Liverpool fans should probably ask, instead of questioning the team's position in the League, is how the club is expected to improve on their second-place finish over two years ago, despite the departure of two of the club's top five players and a net spend in minus figures for four consecutive transfer windows?

Hodgson has really splashed out once since his arrival on Raul Meireles, a player becoming quite a favourite with the Kop. In truth, Hodgson has had to deal with an injury-struck Fernando Torres going through his worst spell since joining in 2007. He has also had quite serious injuries to Joe Cole, Dirk Kuyt, Glen Johnson, Daniel Agger, Fabio Aurelio and more recently Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher. He has been criticized for utilising a squad left by a very tight-pocketed Rafa Benitez, for using such young blood as Shelvey and Spearing and not giving chances to others such as Pacheco and Wilson.

Despite all of this, his side still sit within touching distance of the top four and look certain to progress from their Europa League group. Not bad considering they were by no means certainties to avoid relegation six weeks ago.

Kenny Daglish's name has been rung around a few away grounds this season but his last spells in football ended in disaster for the former legend. Hodgson, barring his advances at Blackburn in his final season there, has certainly not done too many poor jobs in football. Granted, nothing quite as big as Liverpool has been thrown at him until now but surely a man judged by his colleagues in the top four divisions in England as the best in the Premier League does not become an average manager overnight.

With the new owners in place and looking like they will at least increase the net spending for each transfer window until Liverpool returns to the top quarter of the table, surely the least Hodgson deserves is a chance to spend some real money and for the fans to get behind him and his team. It can only be then that true judgement can be passed!