Liverpool's Agger slams Hodgson's long-ball style
Liverpool defender Daniel Agger has spoken out against the tactics of boss Roy Hodgson, claiming that the club's new long-ball style is not the way that he wants to play the game.Agger has grown frustrated at Anfield after falling behind Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel in the pecking order and has been used out of position at left-back this season.
Now the Danish international has hit out at Hodgson's tactical approach.
"I'm here to play football and not to unload [the ball]," Agger told Danish TV station channel 6'eren. "The manager has a philosophy that we're playing football further up the pitch and then you have to play a different kind of football at the back. That's not my style. That's not the type of football player I am. I like to keep the ball on the ground. And I'm going to keep doing that. Whether he'll use me or not, time will tell."I guess I'll try to change even though I'm not going to be the player that unloads the ball every single time I get it. I'll fight for my chance. I'll get the chance. I know what I represent and I think he also knows that."
Agger's anger continued in another interview with Danish football show Onside when he again voiced his reluctance to embrace Hodgson's approach.
"Our play has changed, so I'll have to adjust a bit," he said. "But to be honest, I'm not going to adjust 100%. I'm a footballer who keeps the ball on the floor. I'm here to play, not to unload."
Denmark coach Morten Olsen has urged Agger to keep his frustrations under control and remain patient.
"Now Liverpool are in a new phase. I think everyone just needs to get to know each other,'' he told Sporten.dk. "Agger is a central defender but he will play where he is needed, I have no doubt. It's a good thing he gets annoyed when he doesn't play. It is a normal reaction.''
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=825294&sec=england&cc=4716Liverpool star Agger denies Hodgson criticism
Liverpool defender Daniel Agger says he was "very disappointed" to read quotes attributed to him in the Danish press and has denied suggestions that he is unhappy under manager Roy Hodgson.Agger appeared to question Hodgson's methods in stories published in Denmark on Tuesday morning, in which the defender was quoted as saying he was "here to play football and not to unload [the ball]."
But Agger says his apparent rejection of Hodgson's philosophy was instead a response to a question put to him by a televsision reporter, and subsequently twisted by the Danish press.
"I am very disappointed with the papers in Denmark for the way they have done this story,'' Agger said. "I spoke to Danish TV after the game on Sunday and answered the questions that were put to me. I didn't speak to the papers.
"The problem was the questions never appeared on TV, only the answers did, and then the newspapers put their own questions in. What came out was 100% wrong and that is why I am very disappointed.
"The TV journalist asked me what I needed to do to get back into the team and suggested I should start hitting more long balls. I said I wouldn't do that because I'm not that kind of player. That's where that quote came from."I actually think we play good football and that we have showed that against Manchester United and against Arsenal. What I don't understand is that it was only a few days ago when I spoke to the media ahead of the Steaua Bucharest game and said everybody at the club was happier now with the new manager, the new players and the new methods.
"It's strange to read this just a few days later but that's the way the media works, especially in Denmark. I have been involved in every [Premier League] game this season. Of course I'm disappointed when I'm not in the team, but I have been here for five years and really like it here.
"I wouldn't have stayed for this long if I didn't like it or if I was unhappy. I am still happy and will keep fighting for my place."
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=825443&sec=england&cc=4716[ 本文被TriFox在2010-09-22 09:31重新編輯 ]
