When Hodgson sets up a session, he usually concentrates on one aspect of formation, set-piece or set-play. He then walks through the play explaining it minutely and slowing before allowing it to take place at full-speed.

This is a relatively simple coaching tactic used by every single coach in the world worth their salt, but what separates Hodgson from the usual chaff is that he refuses to finish the session until the play is exactly 100 percent right.

In layman’s terms this means an incredible amount of repetition.

Quite often, his teams will spend hours just working on a counter-attack on one side of the pitch; if players on the other side fall asleep or fail to take up their correct position as the play develops, he brings it all back to the start.

This type of coaching system has been enjoyed by Hodgson throughout his rich and varied career, but many journalists and fans, particularly Liverpool’s, will point to the fact that most of his career has been with lesser teams and therefore lesser footballers.

The inclination here is that elite footballers are too good to be treated with such kid gloves and given such specific instructions.

However, the real truth is that footballers at any level crave knowledge, instruction and attention and that they will accept any coaching system once it brings them success.

If it does not; they will down tools like any other footballer.

The problem with Hodgson’s style is that it provides a relatively short-term solution.

By this I mean that giving the same instructions and using the same type of coaching sessions time over time over time eventually erodes the balance between player and coach. In short, players get bored and stop listening.

A simple look at Hodgson’s resume reveals an outstanding manager who has coached all over the world.