Glen Johnson slams Hodgson's 'boring' tactics and wants to leave Liverpool
By JOE BERNSTEIN Last updated at 10:19 PM on 13th November 2010
England international Glen Johnson wants to leave Liverpool in January after a total breakdown in his relationship with manager Roy Hodgson.
The right-back is said to be outraged by the way Hodgson is alleged to have handled his injury problems this season and the public criticism he received from his manager on Friday.
Seeing red: Glen Johnson has fallen out with Roy Hodgson
The player's representatives will meet new director of football strategy, Damien Comolli, this week to make it clear the £18million England man has no faith left in Hodgson's 'boring' style of play.
Johnson's team will also claim the boss rushed the defender back from a groin injury, leading to further setbacks.
'Things have moved rapidly downhill for Glen since Roy arrived,' said a source. 'He finds the style of football boring and the way he was criticised by the manager in public was uncalled for. He was made to train too soon with a groin injury and it's kept him out for longer than it should have done.'
Johnson, signed by Liverpool's former boss, Rafa Benitez, is prepared to quit English football to end his association with Hodgson. Bayern Munich are monitoring the situation, but if Liverpool progress from the Europa League he would not be able to play for the German giants in this season's Champions League.
Showdown talks: Johnson's representatives will meet new director of football strategy, Damien Comolli
Johnson missed four games in October with a groin injury but was picked by Hodgson for the Europa League win over Napoli on November 4.
However, the problem has recurred, causing him to miss Liverpool's past three games and ruling him out of England's friendly against France on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old, hailed as the missing piece in Liverpool's title jigsaw when he arrived from Portsmouth last year, is believed to be furious at the way Hodgson rounded on him in a press conference on Friday.
It is unusual for managers to criticise their players so directly but Hodgson pulled no punches as he said: 'To be frank, he has not performed up to now to the level I would expect of him. You would have to ask him the question, "Do you think you are playing at top form and are you playing like the best right-back in the country for your club?" If he says yes, we will have to agree to differ. And if he says No, then you have to ask the question, why not?'
The fall-out with Johnson marks the start of a critical period for Hodgson, with Comolli ready to take on a more front-line role in player recruitment after being appointed by Liverpool's new owner, John W Henry, of New England Sports Ventures. Comolli is to host meetings with agents this week and also plans to publicly outline his role at the club.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz15D6eBvpa
By JOE BERNSTEIN Last updated at 10:19 PM on 13th November 2010
England international Glen Johnson wants to leave Liverpool in January after a total breakdown in his relationship with manager Roy Hodgson.
The right-back is said to be outraged by the way Hodgson is alleged to have handled his injury problems this season and the public criticism he received from his manager on Friday.
Seeing red: Glen Johnson has fallen out with Roy Hodgson
The player's representatives will meet new director of football strategy, Damien Comolli, this week to make it clear the £18million England man has no faith left in Hodgson's 'boring' style of play.
Johnson's team will also claim the boss rushed the defender back from a groin injury, leading to further setbacks.
'Things have moved rapidly downhill for Glen since Roy arrived,' said a source. 'He finds the style of football boring and the way he was criticised by the manager in public was uncalled for. He was made to train too soon with a groin injury and it's kept him out for longer than it should have done.'
Johnson, signed by Liverpool's former boss, Rafa Benitez, is prepared to quit English football to end his association with Hodgson. Bayern Munich are monitoring the situation, but if Liverpool progress from the Europa League he would not be able to play for the German giants in this season's Champions League.
Showdown talks: Johnson's representatives will meet new director of football strategy, Damien Comolli
Johnson missed four games in October with a groin injury but was picked by Hodgson for the Europa League win over Napoli on November 4.
However, the problem has recurred, causing him to miss Liverpool's past three games and ruling him out of England's friendly against France on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old, hailed as the missing piece in Liverpool's title jigsaw when he arrived from Portsmouth last year, is believed to be furious at the way Hodgson rounded on him in a press conference on Friday.
It is unusual for managers to criticise their players so directly but Hodgson pulled no punches as he said: 'To be frank, he has not performed up to now to the level I would expect of him. You would have to ask him the question, "Do you think you are playing at top form and are you playing like the best right-back in the country for your club?" If he says yes, we will have to agree to differ. And if he says No, then you have to ask the question, why not?'
The fall-out with Johnson marks the start of a critical period for Hodgson, with Comolli ready to take on a more front-line role in player recruitment after being appointed by Liverpool's new owner, John W Henry, of New England Sports Ventures. Comolli is to host meetings with agents this week and also plans to publicly outline his role at the club.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz15D6eBvpa
Comment