NEIL ATKINSON is joined by John Gibbons, Rob Gutmann and Melissa Reddy to discuss their emotions around the sacking of Brendan Rodgers.
They also talk about what is likely to happen next, and they do about 10 minutes on what now feels like a pretty inconsequential Merseyside Derby.
Rather incredible that you boys put so much effort in last night. Don’t be shy plugging at £5 a month it’s a no brainer.
Guttman asked how the fans reacted to Klopp when things were tough in his last year.
Here’s a clip that explains a bit about how he reacted
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=C2pQZrLg_mg
Gibbo answering “hungover”to that question was gold.
I think FSG look at football in the same way they look at baseball. Throw enough numbers at the squad and you will get the results.
By this, I mean how they rate players. two 7/10 players are as good as one 9/10 plus one 5/10 player.
The reality is that one 9/10 player is worth far more than a couple of 7/10 players, in football.
There are at least 15 clubs in the top flight that would instantly be better than us (if they aren’t already), if they were gifted a Suarez, a Sanchez, an Aguero, or a Silva.
I can’t remember us ever really turning it on, without us having at least one 9/10 player.
Having said that, Rodgers still needed to do better with what he had in the last season and the start of this one. The squad is better than at every other club apart from the big 4 (even when Sturridge has been out) and by some distance.
“There are at least 15 clubs in the top flight that would instantly be better than us (if they aren’t already), if they were gifted a Suarez, a Sanchez, an Aguero, or a Silva.”
I don’t think that’s true. The only way it could be true is if 31-goal Suarez does for a West Brom what he did for LFC in 13-14. But the reality is he wouldn’t. Suarez wouldn’t score 31 goals for West Brom because he doesn’t have Gerrard, Coutinho, Henderson and Sturrridge to work with.
Interestingly, FSG’s recent history with Boston Red Sox is not dissimilar to what we’ve seen at LFC: one season of over-achievement bracketed by campaigns best summed up as ‘meh’ (although in the case of the Red Sox you’d have to say it’s been much worse than that these last two years).
There’s always the chance a LFC, Atletico or Dortmund (or Red Sox) will buck the trend, but for the most part you need those 9/10 players (preferably more than one)to be surrounded by 8s and 8.5/10s.
Right now, we’re the stature of club that, even if we pulled off the miracle and won the EPL, would probably only be joint-fourth favourites the following year. There’s a reason for that.
I agree with all this but if you are a 9/10 player are you going to want to come and play for Brendan Rodgers? He can attract 7/10 players or those that are 7/10 – 9/10 with baggage or potential but if you are a 9/10 player are you going to come to Liverpool with FSG and Brendan Rodgers. The only time we have recruited a 9/10 player in the last 10 years was under Rafa and it was Torres and that was after Istanbul and Athens with Rafa (the best Spanish manager at the time), and when we already had a load of good Spanish players and Torres himself was at Athletico and therefore going to Real Madrid was a no no, and even then Torres had to be locked in a hotel room while it was all agreed.
Liverpool have the reputation of being the wild card of European football because others teams know that when the planets align with a mad manager a mad crowd and some boss players anything can happen. When Brendan was mad we were great it was went he tried to be sensible that it all fell to bits
“I agree with all this but if you are a 9/10 player are you going to want to come and play for Brendan Rodgers? ”
I agree that’s a problem and it’s one area where Klopp has a clear advantage over Rodgers, although I do think there’s something of a self-fulfilling prophecy about that; if our own fans are constantly ripping Rodgers to pieces (and let’s face it even when he took us to 2nd there was no shortage of detractors within the fanbase), it totally undermines the ‘bright young thing’ persona that we were hoping would draw Europe’s best to our club. Let’s remember he is a Mourinho protégé whom the great one himself said was destined for great things. There is a good Barney Ronay article on the Guardian site that touches on this. I’ll post some of it in a bit.
BTW, Reus was benched for der Klassiker at the weekend and is said to be unhappy at Dortmund. There was even a rumour that he had not known about Klopp’s impending departure when he signed his new contract last season. With Klopp at Anfield, you’d have to say that we stand a reasonable chance of snaring Reus next year (or even in Jan given no CL for Dortmund this year).
Been growing more and more into the idea of Klopp becoming the manager and this podcast just confirms im right to have these feelings. I was all for Ancelotti but after research and listening to this show and seeing how close it is to actually being done, Klopp is now my number 1 choice for the job.
On reflection I’d prefer Ancelotti over Klopp. I feel Klopp fits a profile similar to Brendan Rodgers and this appears to suit FSG. Not being overly keen on Fenway, this makes me wary. Ancelotti also has years of experience on his side and may be that bit more adaptable, not simply with team selection / formation but also with handling the back of house shenanigans at Anfield.
Klopp’s looking favourite at the moment and if we bag him hopefully things will progressively improve over the season and we won’t simply get an instant adrenaline hit from having a new manager and then fade. One things for sure, you can’t say things are boring at the club.
We are pretty much the ‘I’m a Footballer, get Me Out of Here’ club now – a place for B/C-listers to make their name and for A-listers to get rehabilitated.
Suarez, Balotelli and (it looks like) Klopp will be the 3 A-list figures that we have recruited under FSG. In a way, the writing was already on the wall when we signed Joe Cole in the dog-days of the previous regime.
All 4 should have been Top Trumps card swaps for the handful of clubs that dominate European football. All had/have managed to blot their copybooks, in some way.
If we get Klopp, it’s because of his disastrous final season at Dortmund. The 3 players mentioned ended up at Anfield because they had not matched their talent with the required degree of professionalism.
Ancelotti does not fit the bill. He’s world-class and has no scars. He’s too good for us. That doesn’t mean he would be a sure-fire success, but he reached the point in his career long ago where he no longer needed to turn water into wine.
Ancelotti is given the keys to the cellar and told to fetch the right bottles. Klopp will have to take of his shoes and begin by treading down the grapes.
I’m excited by Klopp, but he is a crazy man who could maybe even take us down if things don’t work out.
However, I think there comes a time when gambling is the only option.
Shows how little you know about Klopp.
From what I’m hearing only Tony Evans & Simon Hughes (on the other pod) are calling out the owners on the model we’re currently working with under FSG. Were consistently told we can’t complete with City, Arsenal, Utd, CFC, well I don’t see why what with FFP out the window we have to tow that party line anymore. Doesn’t matter who comes in if the club aren’t going to pay top whack wages then we’ll get 5th 6th football.
No ones going to City to play for Pellegrini they’re going for the wages. The track record of the transfer committee is appalling and needs clearing out with the new manager otherwise he’s going to have one hand tied behind his back.
Rodgers was a yes man to a certain extent as he had no track record to argue against the model, hopefully someone with some balls will come in and tell the owners “Your model is a load of shite.”
Rob,
Thanks for mentioning Klopp’s terrible last season. Most on here (perhaps understandably) are ignoring the facts.
Hopefully we get the title-winning Klopp, and not the bottom at Xmas Klopp.
Don’t get me wrong, I a really psyched about maybe getting him, but the manager ain’t the only problem at our club. The whole organisation is like a disjointed corporation, and not a harmonious club. Granted it is profitable, but……Absentee owners, Billy whatshisface in London, the TC, commercial deals. Will Mighty Red go? What sort of severance package does he/it/she get?
Thanks to Brendan for making a (then) 39 year old feel like the 12 year old that watched Kenny come on and nick
the league at Stamford Bridge. That’s what 13/14 felt like.
Wish you well son, perhaps in La Liga….
‘Gutmann’ as he’s referred to by impolite so and so’s epitomises how every ‘normal’ (as opposed to sub normal) Liverpool fan should be feeling right now.
Jesus Christ! If Klopp / a new manager (considered world class) doesn’t do it for you then you’re in the wrong game. Watch snooker instead.
I’m more miserable than Morrissey but I was singing in the shower this morning. I unintentionally skipped from the back door to my car. I’ve got a spring in my step like never before.
Apologies for this but I speak my immediate thoughts then regret it later but there’ll be no more small minded control freak running the club covering his arse. It’s party time. Roll Mighty Red out onto the pitch. This is gonna be fun. A few months ago I swore I wouldn’t watch Liverpool outside of league games. I’ve already been on the phone and got my Bournemouth league cup tickets for me and my son. I want him to see Klopp in action. We’re buying matching tracky’s and caps for it and might even wear glasses. As a Toblerone fan I’m praying we treat the Europa with the respect it deserves and go all the way. I want tickets for Spurs away.
What a fantastic time to be a Liverpool fan. Not arsed where we come in the league (for now). It’s all about fun. It’s already fun. My mates are sending me video’s every 2 mins saying ‘haha, look at this’. I laughed for 10 minutes last night watching a loop of Klopp laughing and saying ‘what a pity’. I’m unsure why but I thought it was hilarious. This is what it’s all about.
Up the reds!!!!!!!!!
Ha ha ha – yes, Robin!
Half of me fells like you do, Robin, and half of me feels like Gareth ‘upon St Crispin’s Day’ Roberts did the other night on the pod. The other half wishes I’d done better at maths when I was at school.
“Gutmann’ as he’s referred to by impolite so and so’s”
Well… That’s projection for you
Sorry mate, wasn’t directed at you. Only at the snipers over the last few weeks. Bad timing on my behalf.
Video you posted was good. Unbelievable the respect he commands from the fans. Got the same vibe from the bloke on the TAW special earlier.
Great show considering the consequences. I think your analysis was spot on but I had a question about the last several games.
Do you think that Brendan Rodgers during the end lost the dressing room and the players were tanking these games in order to force him out?