He used to be very good for Sevilla and the national team. He was named the transfer signing of the year by Marca in 2006 and won Danish footballer of the year award twice in a row. Then, for whatever reason, his level dropped dramatically and he was a total disaster at Juve. Great business for Sevilla though (as usual): signed for free, had 2 best seasons of his career with them, sold for 10 million euros to Juve.
Hodgson took a gamble with a player he knows from previous experience, figuring that change in the environment and working with a former coach might bring Poulsen back to where he was in 2006-07. Unfortunately for us, it isn't happening so far.