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发表于 8-12-2010 03:47 PM
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本帖最后由 livbest 于 8-12-2010 03:49 PM 编辑
Hodgson vs. Benitez: First 16 league games analysis (+ last season vs. this season)
Liverpool are back on track after another great win at Anfield. Performances are definitely improving overall but how is Roy Hodgson doing in the league compared to Rafa Benitez's first 16 games in 2004-5? Also, how do this season's results compare to results in the same games last season?
BENITEZ vs. HODGSON: First 16 League Games Comparison (Plus this season vs Last season)
ANALYSIS
* Both managers have lost the same number of games (6)
* Both managers have a similar number of wins overall (Benitez 7; Hodgson 6)
* Both managers have a record of 10 games unbeaten in the first 16 league games.
* Hodgson has only 2 points less than Benitez fter 16 games, which is very good considering the massively improved quality of the opposition and [what John Henry calls] the 'plague of problems' Hodgson has had to deal with since arriving.
* Benitez has a better goal difference overall.
* Points per game is practically the same. Benitez averaged 1.5 points per game; for Hodgson it's 1.4 per game so far.
* Hodgson has achieved more clean sheets (7, vs. Benitez's 3)
* The away record is the same, with a Benitez winning 2 out of 9, and Hodgson winning 1 out of 8 (7 game differential at present).
* In his first 16 league games, Benitez's team played 12 of the poorest and/or newly promoted teams in the league: Bolton, West Brom, Norwich, Fulham, Charlton, Blackburn, Birmingham, Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough, Everton (finished 17th in previous season); Spurs (finished 14th in previous season), and Man City (finished 16th in previous season).
* The only real tests Benitez's team faced were against Man United, Chelsea and Arsenal, with two of the three games lost.
* In his first 16 league games, Hodgson's team has faced Arsenal, Chelsea, Man United, Man City Spurs. However, unlike 2004-5, City and Spurs are now quality teams with massively increased transfer spending ability and squads full of expensive players.
* Hodgson's team has played the likes of Bolton, West Brom, Sunderland and Stoke, but these teams are superior in quality to the lower-level sides played in 2004. Indeed, all 4 of the aforementioned teams are in the league top 10 at present, and they've all beaten superior opposition this season. The basic point here is that Hodgson has had a much harder start to contend with than Benitez did.
* Hodgson's team has also played Everton, which is always a tough game no matter what season. The game was lost, but Liverpool has lost to Everton many times in the past; losing against them is no disgrace given the passion involved in the game. Incidentally, Benitez also lost at Goodison in his first season.
* It is widely accepted that the quality of the Premier League has improved since 2004; it is also clear that the gap between the so-called smaller teams and the top 4 is closing. This was especially evident last season, with the top teams losing more games than normal on the way to the title.
* When looking at results from last, Hodgson jas now gained one more point than Benitez in the same games. Considering the context of Hodgson's reign so far, and the fact that last season, Liverpool still had Mascherano and Benayoun, this is a great result.
* This time last season, Liverpool were 13 points behind the league leaders; today, the team is only 10 points behind, which is a gain of 3 points:
* Also note the presence of Bolton and Sunderland in the top 7, which is further evidence of the Premier League's improved level of quality since 2004.
* Performances are improving with each passing game, and we've seen that in the last 3 games. The improvements are also taking place away from home, and the terrific performance at White Hart Lane recently is evidence of that.
* At present, Liverpool are only 4 points from 5th and 7 points from 4th, which is definitely within touching distance.
* The club has won 5 of the last 8 games, and is unbeaten in 6 out of 8 games league games. Only Man United have a comparable record at this stage. Is this not a positive springboard for continuing progress? With 6 and half months of the season to go, and 66 points still to play for, writing off Hodgson and this team now is just ridiculous in the extreme.
Taking everything into consideration, Hodgson is doing very well. His record is on a par with Benitez's so far, and the team has, as a matter of fact, narrowed the gap in the league (between top and current position) from last season.
I have defended Hodgson all season, and at every stage (including through the lows), I've explained in detail why. Nothing has changed - I still remain absolutely confident that Liverpool will finish in the top 4.
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