Hodgson ignored advice to sell players
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Manager Roy Hodgson claims Liverpool's recent improvement is a direct result of his decision to ignore the board's request to sell a number of players in the summer.
Hodgson has revealed that former managing director Christian Purslow handed him a list of players to sell in the transfer window, prior to John W Henry's Anfield takeover in October, but chose to ignore the advice.
"I got a list from Christian," Hodgson told the Guardian. "He had been here for just over a year and was a big fan of the club as well as being managing director. He had very strong opinions about lots of players and he gave lots of opinions about them. I listened but I made it perfectly clear that I wouldn't act on it.
"To some extent, he was saying what a lot of other people might have done. But now when he rings or texts me, to be fair, he says what a good job [that] we didn't do the things that had been suggested."
The Liverpool manager did not reveal the names on the list but following the 3-0 victory over Aston Villa on Monday night Hodgson heralded the likes Lucas Leiva, David Ngog and Ryan Babel, who all started in the Anfield victory.
Although some of Liverpool's previously maligned players have started to flourish under Hodgson the Liverpool boss has urged new owners NESV to strengthen the squad in January.
"There are still areas of the squad where we are not so rich," Hodgson said. "If we hit a couple of bad spells with injury we could be in quite a bit of trouble. I'm not certain our depth is what it should be and we certainly don't have the depth of Tottenham, Chelsea or Arsenal."
"My message to them [NESV] would be - and it is not a secret because I have had discussions with John [W Henry] about it - if the right players become available and we really think they will push us on, we should go for them."
Meanwhile, Hodgson has insisted that there is no truth in the rumours linking Liverpool with a swoop for AC Milan star Ronaldinho and Ajax captain Luis Suarez, although he does seem keen on deal for Aston Villa winger Ashley Young.
"Ronaldinho and Suarez are players who we have never even thought about but I would think there is not a manager in the Premier League who has not given Ashley Young a thought at some stage or another," said Hodgson.
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Originally posted by ASKL!:
The Liverpool manager did not reveal the names on the list but following the 3-0 victory over Aston Villa on Monday night Hodgson heralded the likes Lucas Leiva, David Ngog and Ryan Babel, who all started in the Anfield victory.
the bash-rafa-ammunition players
instead of praising the ex-manager who signed them, you praised yourself for not selling them? ok...
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haha chill, it's just mind games they are all playing..