SO, he’s finally here.
Jürgen Klopp was the obvious choice, but when of late have FSG opted for the obvious thing and actually accomplished it? No hard-luck stories this time about competing with big fat Manchester wage slips or shopping under the bright lights of London. For once, the fans’ old mantra “We’re Liverpool” has rung true with an appointment that has its roots in the sheer pull, the glamour, the romance of the actual name, Liverpool Football Club. The Kop has got its man.
Such has been the Jürgen Klopp euphoria from Reds fans this week that Brendan Rodgers is already a forgotten man. Harsh but true.
Stuck in the car this morning, I listened to Klopp’s news conference on the radio. Now, here’s a thing. I didn’t think he sounded that impressive. He apologised at the start for his English and I could hear why as he searched for his words and went on a bit of a ramble about his proud mother, his humble playing career and Black Forest background. Forced into a comparison with the “great Mourinho” he offered up a label of the “Normal One” when in all honesty, I wanted him to say he was the mental one.
He fared better with the obvious transfer committee question and his insistence he was comfortable with advice, help and consensus where he has the first word and the last word. Sounds like the type of consensus my missus strives for.
Having now seen the very same news conference via the medium of television, I’m hooked. Yes, his English is a bit ropey but he more than makes up for it with charisma. Anyone can smile — and Klopp smiles a lot — but the man positively exudes personality. Madness lurks behind those eyes; and though he claimed not be a genius, the traits are close bedfellows. Ask Shanks. Ask Rafa.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjuKyzRN6pE
I sensed he was a little nervous and yet journalists came away talking of him commanding the room. Personally, I think the significance of press conferences is massively overplayed and the Mourinho example shows that some hacks are no better than mere sycophants but the presence that so impressed the media will be infectious in the dressing room — where it really matters.
Where Klopp’s magnetism also must come to the fore is in the stadium, at the actual football. He’s already got a head start and the fans are bouncing. Songs are being drafted and banners scripted by supporters who just want to start enjoying their football again. Tottenham away, a week on Saturday, should be a grand day out. The pubs in town will be doing a roaring trade with a televised early kick-off.
Klopp’s biggest challenge though is changing the mindset at Anfield on and off the pitch. There’s an opportunity here to restore the Holy Trinity of manager, players and supporters. FSG have played their part, and let’s give them — and the glowing Ian Ayre — a big pat on the back for getting the job done but now it’s time for them to melt into the background and leave it to those who matter.
The You Tube clips have been battered this week and one in particular shows Klopp’s ten best celebrations. The fella looks a bit mad. “He’s big, he’s Red, he’s off his fucking head” being an early candidate for a song on the Kop. All great stuff but let’s for a minute think about the environment that was the backdrop to those Klopp antics. Supporters often standing, beer in the seats; players and fans as one and the whole performance conducted and inspired by the jumping lunatic on the touchline.
The scenes at Dortmund’s Wesfalenstadion were reminiscent of the old Anfield under that other mad man, Shankly who believed he could “transmit his thoughts” to his players and give an energy to his team that inspired the crowd. It became a glorious symbiotic relationship.
The world, society and football has changed since the sixties and seventies. Anfield has changed with it — dramatically. It has become a soulless place, where the maverick gets a sneer; where conservative, conformist, frankly boring behaviour rules the roost. Jürgen Klopp though is the man to help us raise our game by acting the goat. I want to see him running down touchlines, diving into the Paddock seats and generally showing everyone that it is OK to express yourself; that it is alright to have some fun at the match.
Jurgen, at your first game don’t just give us a wave from the dug-out. Come down to the Kop and get close to us. Let us feed off your warmth. Smile that big smile and watch us grin back and raise the roof. Whoever is charged with picking the history videos, don’t be showing him 5-0s v Forest; instead let him watch the supporters greet Clemence, Toshack and Shankly under the shadow of The Kop. If we’re going to win this unfair game that is the modern day Premier League let’s start behaving differently to everyone else. Let’s have our people start baring their souls.
The players too need to be encouraged to express themselves. Press and run and score all you like but understand that a relationship with supporters goes way beyond all that. There was a Champions League game at Dortmund — I’m not sure which one — where I recall Borussia making an unlikely comeback. The atmosphere was incredible but that is hardly surprising when you’ve got Robert Lewandowski scaling fences to get in the crowd.
Liverpool players; for fuck’s sake, throw off your inhibitions. When we win, it’s alright to come right down to the edge of the pitch to clap the fans and take our applause. If we’re expecting that, then perhaps we won’t all get off on 85 minutes. Stop being so apologetic for earning the millions you do but share it with us in the only way you can.
We don’t bite but you seem scared of us. Let’s have Sturridge doing his dance with someone in the front row of the Centenary Stand and Ings running into The Kop, eyes ablaze after every goal. Lucas Leiva; remember how good it felt to be on the top of that Rickie Lambert piley in the crowd at Villa last season? When did we know the players believed a title was possible in 2013-14? When Gerrard had his top off in the last minute at Fulham.
Klopp spoke today of the importance of “emotion” in football, and everything we see suggests his pores seep with the stuff. Transmit that to your players, Jurgen. Encourage them to behave emotionally. Let us see them for who they are and maybe then we can love them back.
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Pics: Propaganda Photo
Spot on Mike. Everything that he speaks about, the emotion, the intensity, the connection between the team and fans, forgetting your troubles for 90 minutes and enjoying this thing… all of it is so reminiscent of 2013/14. It’s what we want to get back to, what Brendan lost his way from and just couldn’t get back to.
As Jurgen said, today is a good time to restart.
This thing we love is on again!
I disagree. Rodgers never had a way to lose. If he knew what he was doing in 13/14, he would have hooked Suarez or Studge early in the second half when we were 3 goals to the good. Instead, he let them burn out and failed to give valuable game time to others.
I’d wager Rodgers never ends up anywhere near a CL place again, and will become another journeyman bouncing between shit clubs like Big Fat Sam and his ilk, but as he can’t work out defence, it’ll be a division lower.
Ah ok, you’re one of them
Yeah the thing that you’re saying doesn’t even make sense. If you actually know about the results points and GD. But since I agree wholeheartedly with Mike on this, and its time to fuck off/ ignore the cynical snides who don’t seem to enjoy anything football has to offer, I’m not going to go down this rabbit hole mate. Enjoy your bitter. I’m having a load of German lager and getting dead excited about Liverpool for the first time in quite a while. Come on Redmen!
Well said. This club works best – only works at all? – when it’s surfing emotion. Before a ball has been kicked he’s already brought that (as in a previous post when somebody said he’s already revitalised us). I can’t wait. Who doesn’t want the madness?
‘but now it’s time for them to melt into the background and leave it to those who matter.’
Spot on. I don’t want to see or hear from FSG for the next three years. Do what you’ve got to do and let Kloppo do the rest. We’ve finally got a manager big enough for the club.
Emotion, it’s what has been missing. Everything is politically correct, fuck that, lets have a bit more madness. Feels like a breath of fresh air already.
How many fake tears are still being shed for Rodgers today? Klopp shows how to be a class act. No bullshit, no sound bites, tells the twats with the pointlessly noisy cameras to shut the fuck up so he can hear a question, and eludes to the British press being complete tossers – twice.
Even if he cannot reach the heights of BVB, we’re in for a hell of a time, and our players might actually start to play for the shirt with something resembling passion. It’s clear Klopp does not tolerate shit. Can’t wait for the January clear out.
He reminds of of the scary headmasters from school where the cane meets bottom was #par for the course for a few of us.
This, and here’s the thing.
I’ve read about 3 dozen articles already talking about how Klopp is crazy, nuts, a loon, mad, insane, etc. I think this sells the man short. He’s not crazy – far from it. He is singularly focused on football and doesn’t have time or care for the rest of the attendant nonsense. When he celebrates like a loon on the touchline, when he goes after an official, when he engages with the supporters, it is because those are the releases between moments of complete concentration and laser focus on football. That, and he just completely enjoys himself, is supremely confident (without egotism), and doesn’t give a toss what people think about him. When you strip all that stuff away, it’s easy to look like a loon compared to the rest of us, because you’re actually enjoying yourself.
Up Jurgen Klopp.
Up the Reds.
Well said. He has also said a couple of times that, from the outside, the squad looks in pretty good shape so I highly doubt we will see wholesale changes in January.
Of all the things to look forward to and you can’t wait to see players you don’t like getting turfed out? I think you missed Klopp’s whole message, i.e. doubter->believers.
That last bit was responding to Paul in case it isn’t clear
Yes Mike! Let’s do this. I’m desperate to see him celebrating like us, to feel the game like us and for the players to do the same. You’re right – the players are scared of the fans. They’re awkward and embarrassed and they don’t know what to say or do. What do I have in common with a 21 year old Ferrari owner? Maybe the normal one can change this.
Blitzkrieg Klopp
Hey ho, let’s go
Hey ho, let’s go
He’s standing on the touchline
His hair is looking so fine
The fans are losing their minds
Jurgen Klopp
They’re piling in the goals now
He’s jumping in the air now
Everybody’s saying wow
Jurgen Klopp
Hey ho, let’s go
Shoot’em in the net now
Goals they want, Klopp knows
They’re all revved up and ready to go
Excellent Mike. I’ve been trying to work out why I feel so happy. Obviously, he comes with a good reputation. Obviously, everyone’s buzzin. Obviously it’s exciting but I think for me, I feel like I’ve been in a kids home for the last few years and my family and friends have just come to collect me to take me home.
I’ve not felt close to the club. I’ve not felt close to our fans and actually, I’ve despised a lot of them. I used to feel we genuinely were the best fans. That we were the most unique. That we had an identity. Basically, that we were different and better. Recently, it’s been shattered and I feel we’ve become the joke everyone see’s us as. People go off the rails when there’s no one to look up to, or nothing to feel part of, or your guardians are remote and distant. But enough of that, I suddenly feel like I’ve got it all back. I feel part of something. I feel secure knowing Jurgen will look after us and I’ll do whatever he says. If he says sing louder I won’t refuse and call him a cunt behind his back on Twitter. I’ll sing louder.
I’ve mentioned on another thread I was only going to league games this season. I’ve also mentioned how my mates have younger kids than me and we leave as late as we possibly can on matchday’s and then walk really fast to the game. Then after the game we walk really fast back to the car to beat the traffic. It became a drag going. Today, texts have been flying around organising going for a few pints before the Kazan game. We’re treating it like we need to win to win the league. The buzz is well and truly back and it’s a collective feeling. Everyone’s naturally feeling it, We’re not orphans anymore. We’ve got all our family back. Family might be a bad choice of word as one thinks ‘lfc family’ but a collective spirit is important. A sense of belonging is important. Having a purpose or raison d’etre is important. Having a strong and charismatic leader is vital and if he’s down to earth too then it’s even better. I feel really secure tonight. I’m not gonna go out and spray graffiti all over Twitter. I’m not gonna bully anyone cos they don’t agree with me. I’m not gonna sniff glue and come on here and talk shit, oh! Ok, I’ve had a few smokes to relax me after all this excitement but I’m just loving it. At some point I’ll want results but I think this feeling is what I’ve been missing more than anything. I’ll feel content and I’m gonna eat a cake tonight.
P.s, I’m confused. Do we want the owners to take a back seat or do we want more of a presence in the city and at the club rather than the odd Skype call? Haha, only joking. I completely agree with you they need to take a back seat. Last thing I want to see is the owners. They do the business we do the football.
It is OK to feel again and I feel happy.
Not to echo Robins comment but I was having much the same feelings . Not that I’m a match goer obviously , but there’s still a commitment of time , to watch the games over here as well as the emotional commitment. I was falling out of love with the club I’d worshipped since childhood . This week really blew all that out of the water and after watching the presser I just feel unbridled joy and enthusiasm again. It’s so fucking great, I’ve been walking around grinning like a loon all day. Many thanks to TAW , the shows all week have been brilliant , a real lifeline , keep up the stellar work lads
Great this Mike.
“when the doors are open and the dinners are on, and you can smell the mince cooking…” That’s not mince, mate, that’s foot-long bratwursts, washed down with numerous pints of Dortmunder.
I think Klopp was right to try and dampen some of the hysteria a bit, it’s far from easy to steer a new path midseason with an existing squad, players with issues technically don’t suddenly improve just because a new manager’s signed on the dotted line, it’ll take time. Saying things are going to get better is the easy part, making them get better is another story, especially in a league you have no experience of. I believe Klopp can take us in the right direction but the idea, that some seem to have, that we’ll just have to turn up to games from now on to get the points is a tad unrealistic.
If things don’t improve immediately how long will it take before some fans get restless? Klopp’s reputation would probably buy him a good deal of time but I recall when Rodgers didn’t qualify for the Champions League in his first season some were already calling for his head. The next season, of course, we were still in with a chance of the title on the last day which just goes to show what a little restraint can lead to.
Klopp is a very good manager but he’s not the Messiah, there could, but hopefully not, be obstacles he doesn’t overcome immediately. I’d like to think our fanbase is patient enough to allow him and his team time to circumvent them but seeing how some reacted at certain points during Rodgers’ reign I’m not so sure.
Copied from a poster in The Guardian:
What a journey. From:
“Unbelievable. What do you mean by that? In 35 years, how many clubs have I had? What do you mean do my methods translate? They have translated from Halmstads to Malmo, to Orebo to Neuchatel Xamax, to the Swiss national team, so I find the question insulting. To suggest that because I have moved from one club to another, that the methods which have stood me in good stead for 35 years and made me one of the most respected coaches in Europe don’t suddenly work is very hard to believe.”
Roy Hodgson, Liverpool manager 2010, and it pains me to type that, to:
I am not a genius. I don’t know more than the rest of the world.
“I need the other people to get the perfect information and when we have this we will sign the player or sell a player.
“It is really easy to handle this.
Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool manager, 2015.
Oh, happy day!
This should make you happy then Mike:
“They [the fans] seem to be a little bit nervous. The atmosphere in the stadium is good but nobody is really enjoying themselves. It’s never good enough. You are winning and then you hear: ‘Well, the defence is a problem.’ That is what I mean when I say we have to restart. It is very important that we make it all closer.
Jürgen Klopp is a modernising force in the mould of Arsène Wenger
Barney Ronay
Barney Ronay Read more
“We need to be closer with all the staff, the fans. It is important they don’t think: ‘These are the good-paid guys, we are the fans.’
“This is the craziest situation I have ever been in – all the photographs, this big trouble [the press conference]. This is not what I want. I want to work with the team. But this is part of the deal. So we do this today, then let’s start to work with the team. I am not the guy who is going to go out and shout: ‘We are going to conquer the world!’ or something like this. But we will conquer the ball, yeah, each fucking time! We will chase the ball, we will run more, fight more [jabs finger on table].
“We will work better together. We will have better organisation in defence than the other teams. We have to find our own way to play. Our performances have to be enjoyable for ourselves. I don’t want to tackle too rough but if there is a tackle that is legal, a good tackle that gets the ball, it’s like a goal, if you want? Yeeaaah! [punches air] The players have to get the feeling that, I don’t know, they can dive into the game. What I want is to be a real special team.”
This should make you happy then Mike:
“They [the fans] seem to be a little bit nervous. The atmosphere in the stadium is good but nobody is really enjoying themselves. It’s never good enough. You are winning and then you hear: ‘Well, the defence is a problem.’ That is what I mean when I say we have to restart. It is very important that we make it all closer.
“We need to be closer with all the staff, the fans. It is important they don’t think: ‘These are the good-paid guys, we are the fans.’
“This is the craziest situation I have ever been in – all the photographs, this big trouble [the press conference]. This is not what I want. I want to work with the team. But this is part of the deal. So we do this today, then let’s start to work with the team. I am not the guy who is going to go out and shout: ‘We are going to conquer the world!’ or something like this. But we will conquer the ball, yeah, each fucking time! We will chase the ball, we will run more, fight more [jabs finger on table].
“We will work better together. We will have better organisation in defence than the other teams. We have to find our own way to play. Our performances have to be enjoyable for ourselves. I don’t want to tackle too rough but if there is a tackle that is legal, a good tackle that gets the ball, it’s like a goal, if you want? Yeeaaah! [punches air] The players have to get the feeling that, I don’t know, they can dive into the game. What I want is to be a real special team.”
He is the Messiah and we should know we have followed a few
Great article and comments.
I was so pleased for you all with your new LFC appointment I wrote a celebratory song. Went to the Gerrard charity match earlier this year, brilliant atmosphere and I continue to watch from afar.
My Celebratory Jurgen Klopp Ditty for @LFC Fans
He Smile’s Like He Means It
(Tune – The Killers – Smile Like You Mean it)
We’ve gotta a new face
We know that it’s a Kop one
He’ll change our way’s
On the pitch
Boy, he’ll help us make a stand
Oh girl, you gonna see Klopp can
Klopp smile’s like he mean’s it
Jurgen, you smile like you mean it
Looking back
At good times at Anfield
We lost track
Of the time
Our dreams
Are what they used to be
Now things
Are changing finally
We can smile like we mean it
We can smile like we mean it
The Kop will sing out your name
From the stands around Anfield
We’ll play our next games
With new passion and love
Klopp’s boy’s will lead us on
With a team we can count on
With a team we can count on
At Home and away grounds
He smile’s like he mean’s it
The Kop sing’s LOUD cos we mean it
Yeh we will smile cos we mean it…
Might be a good one to warm you up in the pub before the game…
Keep Smiling!
haha, excellent
Spot on. I’ll never forget when Stevie hugged the fan after his famous goal, during that famous run, on our way to that famous night. I think Klopp is the man to bring that spirit back.
And the security guard that bear hugs Benitez. Felt like simpler times and I’m hoping some of that comes back regardless of what we do and don’t win.
??? *steward, ffs.
Everyone to Spurs