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Roy Hodgson at his Liverpool unveiling in 2010. PA Archive/PA Images

Fulham match programme aims series of jibes at Liverpool over their treatment of Roy Hodgson

An article laden with sarcasm argues that fans were ‘unmoved by his success with smaller provincial clubs like Inter Milan.’

FULHAM HAVE STOKED tensions ahead of their Premier League meeting with Liverpool on St Patrick’s Day with a match programme article criticising the treatment of Roy Hodgson at Anfield. 

Having led Fulham to the Europa League final in 2010, Hodgson left to succeed Rafael Benitez at Liverpool, but endured a miserable spell that was made brief when he was fired in January 2011. 

He was hectored with ironic, ‘Hodgson for England’ chants as his Liverpool reign reached its end, and he was replaced by Kenny Dalglish having won just 13 of his 31 games in charge. 

Whereas Hodgson remains unpopular among many Liverpool fans, he retains the warmth of Fulham supporters and on Sunday he was the subject of a recurring feature in the club’s matchday programme which reflects on people who might have been better served staying at the club. 

The piece aimed a series of jibes at Liverpool and their supporters, many of them laden with sarcasm. 

“He was given a frosty reception on his subsequent appointment at Liverpool” read the article, “with fans being unmoved by his success with smaller provincial clubs like Inter Milan. 

“Realising that Roy was not going to win the league immediately and angered by his failure to buy the world’s best players, who would obviously jump at the chance to sign for the team that had dominated Europe a mere three decades earlier, fans quickly lost patience.

“Demonstrating the cool-headed pragmatism that has endeared them to the footballing public, the Liverpool faithful demanded Roy’s replacement be an exciting young manager befitting the club’s stature.

“Setting the time circuits to 1991, the club’s executives piled into the waiting DeLorean and floored it to ’88, returning with a fresh-faced and energetic Kenny Dalglish, ready to usher in a new era of dominance spearheaded by future club legend Andy Carroll, a shrewd purchase at just £35m.

“Unfortunately, however, Alex Ferguson and Wayne Rooney recovered the time machine, went back to 1991, stole the Sports Almanac and brutally laid out Jan Molby at the ‘Enchantment Under the Sea’ dance.

“This left the club with no option but to drag present day Kenny out of the pub and into the dugout, skewing the timeline and culminating in an underwhelming eight-place finish and Kenny’s departure (again).”

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    Mute Teddyzigzagbigbag
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    Apr 2nd 2017, 11:32 PM

    Great article.

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    Mute Bennythekid
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    Apr 3rd 2017, 4:24 AM

    Great to read about Billy and the way life turned out for him.i
    I can remember him as a kid in Middleton when I stayed with his parents Don and Mary.I will never forget their kindness towards me as I was starting out in my first job in nearby Carrigtouhill.

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    Mute David Linehan
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    Apr 3rd 2017, 1:05 AM

    Great read. Never forget his goal for Rovers against Shels in the cup. Belter. On his day he was unstoppable.

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    Mute Ryan Comiskey
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    Apr 2nd 2017, 11:21 PM

    Nobody underachieves. If you have the skill, but not the motivation, you’ll achieve exactly how much you should achieve with that combination.

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    Mute Kieran Stafford
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    Apr 2nd 2017, 11:31 PM

    @Ryan Comiskey: what if you have the motivation but not the skill?

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    Mute Dave Kilmartin
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    Apr 3rd 2017, 12:43 AM

    @Kieran Stafford: you’ll still likely achieve your potential – whatever that may be.

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    Mute Al S Macthomais
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    Apr 3rd 2017, 1:15 AM

    Great article and gives a no holds account of the times of Leage of Ireladn football from players perspective and still after his football experiences has great love still for Cork.

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    Mute Ronan McDermott
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    Apr 3rd 2017, 12:53 AM

    Jaysus that suit looks shocking on Dolan . Fits like he ordered it online or something

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    Mute James Clancy
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    Apr 3rd 2017, 7:13 PM

    @Ronan McDermott: …would you like if it was a “slim” fit?!…on Dolan?!

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    Mute David Turtle
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    Apr 3rd 2017, 3:20 AM

    Great read I remember Celtic played City in 2001 and brought a full strength team bar Larsson. The game finished 3-2 to Celtic that night too. I’ve the ticket on my bedroom wall still.

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    Mute Roib Ó hArrachtáin
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    Apr 3rd 2017, 7:58 AM

    Great read. Billy scored against Rovers out at Bishopstown once, off the left wing into the right top corner. Best goal I’ve seen in the flesh. Glorious stuff.

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    Mute David Linehan
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    Apr 3rd 2017, 1:05 AM

    Great read. Never forget his goal for Rovers against Shels in the cup. Belter. On his day he was unstoppable.

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    Mute baz newham
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    Apr 3rd 2017, 1:13 AM

    @David Linehan: alright David boy once was enough to say it !

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    Mute Eamonn Duggan
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    Apr 3rd 2017, 9:22 PM

    “Billy Woods was on the wing
    we had dreams and songs to sing”
    Immortalised in song, doesn’t get much better than that.

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    Mute John Brennan
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    Apr 3rd 2017, 9:28 AM

    I remember the slagging Billy got at the Cross when City played Rovers.
    One fella roared”Welcome back Billy, you havent changed. You’re still shite”

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    Mute John Brennan
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    Apr 3rd 2017, 9:30 AM

    I remember the slagging Billy got at the Cross when he came with Rovers.
    One fella roared ” Welcome back Billy, you havent changed. You’re still shite”

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