FROM here it will be a major surprise if the Premier League does not have a new winner in May. Meanwhile, one of the founding members — a club that since 1992 has not been relegated — will go down in the most humiliating manner possible.
Soon, Manchester City will change their manager. So too will Chelsea. There is clamour for change at Arsenal, Manchester United and Everton. Claudio Ranieri might decide the Italy job is one he cannot reject. At the very top end of the table, things will remain as they are at Tottenham — but only if they do not lose their best players. For that to happen, it would go against recent convention.
One way or another, English football might look back upon this period as a turning point. Soon, the clubs that have not traditionally held an upward financial mobility will be awash with cash because of TV money while the established ones might not be able to attract the very best European players at their peak because they are not participating in the Champions League.
Last July, Crystal Palace were able to sign Yohan Cabaye from Paris Saint Germain. This July, West Ham United will not have to convince Zlatan Ibrahimović of their wealth but instead, of their ambition for him to be theirs. It is not unreasonable to think that next season will be even madder than this: one defined by rises and slumps that are not projected widely.
Where does this leave Liverpool — a team that supposedly has a head start on the others because of Jürgen Klopp’s appointment in October, and yet one that is presently ninth in the league and where they deserve to be?
The current position is a consequence of a bewildering transfer policy last summer, a managerial sacking of their own after only eight games, and subsequent inconsistency in performances and results.
It seems to be accepted that tactical shifts, different training patterns and injuries have all contributed towards the latter while maybe it is recognised slightly less that overriding everything else are the twin issues of a foreign coach learning about a new country as he goes with little time for reflection in between games, and the standard of player he is working with.
Thirteen days will have separated Liverpool’s last match — a defeat at Southampton after being two-goals ahead, and this Saturday’s fixture at home to Tottenham. Thirteen days for Klopp to fly to Tenerife with the fringe members of his squad: to really analyse for himself whether those in front of him are worth persevering with; thirteen days to sit on that horrible collapse at Southampton — perhaps even to agonise over it: time enough, indeed, to stare out into the Atlantic Ocean and realise what needs to be done to move Liverpool forward.
It was discussed on these pages at the time of his appointment that Klopp needed to impose his identity on the club and provoke a culture shift for him to take Liverpool to where they want to be.
He may realise by now, that the pattern of winning well and losing badly has been a theme at Liverpool for far too long; that rather than it being a simple effect of transition it is something deeper and more serious.
After winning the League Cup in 2012, form dropped off so badly under Kenny Dalglish that he was sacked a few months later. A second-placed finish in 2014 was followed by a summer where Liverpool sold its best player quite confidently, while those in a position of influence toddled off to Brazil to watch a World Cup.
Under Klopp, Liverpool trounced Southampton 6-1 and then lost meekly, on a rare day of light for Steve McClaren’s Newcastle, who did not need to play particularly well. Liverpool knocked Manchester United out of the Europa League then surrendered a safe enough looking lead at Southampton considering the manner of the first-half performance.
Whereas its relentlessness in success once stemmed from a capacity to play down its relative achievements, Klopp might have concluded that Liverpool has entered an era where it has become satisfied too quickly by what it has done.
In the mid-1990s, the problem at Liverpool was a similar one. Dazzling displays like the 4-3 victory over Newcastle United propelled Liverpool back into title races before defeats in places like Coventry took pulled them back out of it again. The team was young and too inexperienced to really know what to do from positions of strength.
Simultaneously, it was very happy with itself, indeed.
Gérard Houllier came in and recruited seven new players. Three of them proved to be excellent signings for Liverpool and the cornerstone of the team for years.
Sami Hyypiä and Stéphane Henchoz complemented each other in defence, while Dietmar Hamann offered a screen in front. In the absence of senior British players, the trio set the expected standards both in training and in games, though Hamann was more of a game-player than a trainer.
Hyypia and Hamann were nearly 26-years-old, while Henchoz was nearly 25 when Houllier bought them.
Under Fenway Sports Group, the profile of Liverpool’s signings have been focused on the very young with a view to selling them before anyone notices their decline — just as it was when the club was in the successful past. However, that model has failed since 2010 because of the barren trophy seasons, which has prompted a series of players to think about futures away from Anfield around the time they reach maturity or even before.
The indications are, Liverpool’s approach in the transfer market is changing and it seems, Klopp taking control; him showing the way it needs to be.
Joël Matip has already been signed for next season and the defender will be 25 in August. The potential purchase of Mario Götze is also increasing in probability and in June, he will be 24. It is likely other signings ready for first team action will be of a similar age.
Perhaps Klopp is imposing a new identity after all — a bit like Houllier did.
Morning mates and in the spirit of good cheer comes “Matthew: These Things I Believe” because when you can start a day with a SeasonSeries Seven Simpsons reference it’s going to be a day of slightly less shite.
.Adam Lallana met Bobby Firmino and it was good, seriously, look at their defensive stats.
.Adding Mario “Gotcha!” Göetse provides us with Coutinho 2.0 without having to give away the older model – it’s like buying a Porcsche and keeping your…elite young Brazilian talent.
.Moreno improves after these breaks.
.stop moving Clyne around.
.Dejan what the hell have you done?.
.The last player we had to win a top tier international tournament? Fernando Torres.
.2007 was also when I switched from following Munich halfway to Liverpool through and through.
.I’m still waiting for the other shoe to drop.
And for a slightly existential aside: this is a little bit weird but…the combined price or Daniel Sturridge and Coutinho was around £20m. The price of Roberto Firmino was £30m if Gotcha!(I swear this will catch on!) really goes for £15m then that means, while admittedly indirectly, the Suarez sale financed the addition of Sturridge/Coutinho/Firmino and Mario Gotze(cuz that’s how my iPhone wants it spelled). One or those “I’m just saying I’m not saying anything” things to quietly impress..
Hipsters?
Cute girls with dark bangs glasaes who wobble in high heels so they always choose a more sensible shoe? Aye, that kind of girl would be impressed by me facts.
Lovely club.
Sound.
This Matthew guy needs his own column haha
Fuck that, imagine editing that!
The University I went to was Quaker so naturally they beat an ability to proofread into me with nasty wicker sticks and foul language.
:D !
Excellent. Write more like this
Behind this, Matthew probably thinks he’s being very clever. Though he’ll never escape the reality: he spends his days playing Dungeons and Dragons in his mum’s spare room.
Give me the ramblings of a lunatic over a smug, condescending twat any day mate.
Amazing reply.
Is right Matthew. I don’t quite know what you’re on about, but is right.
The only person who’s ever accused me of being clever is my grandmother…are you a 93 year old lesbian too?
Shame if you aren’t, she’s good people.
Sorry, I’m not big into Internet feuds so I’m gonna back away from stuff that personal man I hope you understand. It’s just not worth the stress so I’m closing my eyes and oh my I do love fringe…
I thought that was a really interesting article Si.
As per, I can’t wait for next season.
Good stuff. I think there have been a couple of issues. We’ve never quite had the money or players to compete throughout a whole season, we’ve been overly reliant on one or two players at various stages. The other is that we haven’t had a manager quite like Klopp since Shanks. Shanks was able to impose himself because he was bigger than the club, the team were in the doldrums. I see a similar scenario at play here: we’ve over achieved in getting Klopp in, and he is now able to call the shots – he knows more about football than anybody else at the club, and they know it. They also know we’re lucky to have him.
A very interesting point of view. Not QUITE right about Shankly, though. He was certainly a good manager but had not been an outstandingly successful manager in that he’d never managed a REALLY successful club. but what he was, was a force of nature. I think Paisley was actually a better manager but he probably would not have happened if Shanks had not come here. We’ve had good managers, but Klopp is truly the first we have had that was bigger than the club. Rafa proved to be, but he was not a gob- smacking coup at the time. In the end we didn’t deserve him.
Agreed. When I said Shanks was bigger than the club I meant he was *bigger* than the club: not that he had a great management record but that he thought big and acted big. He was more ambitious than anyone else at the club (and maybe the whole city!). Agree about Bob too. Kloppo, however, is both a force of nature and possessor of an excellent managerial record. He’s done what Liverpool have failed to do in over a quarter of century. He’s big too. Bigger than Liverpool.
Original article was good, comments by Matthew even better. Get that guy a column! Hell, I’ll proofread it myself first if that’s the problem.
Concerning the podcast:
I back Melissa’s first thought (ca. 08:00) and that at 28:00. The other point that Klopp could get boring was also widely discussed in Germany at the beginning of his BVB reign, but he managed to maintain momentum for seven years(!) despite injuries and the syphoning of top players like Lewa and Goetze. This will happen to a lesser extent at LFC, though the competition is stronger in the EPL.
Goetze/Götze
I also think that Goetze would be for LFC what Ribery was to Bayern in 2006: At that time Bayern had history but wasn’t that big. But the introduction of Luca Toni and Ribery sprinkled star dust all over Bayern and the emerging talents Mueller and Badstuber also added to that.
As a livelong Bayern supporter, I can tell you that Goetze is world class and it wasn’t his fault that is career “lately stalled”. He would surely thrive being the star of the team and apart from the likes of Fowler & Gerrard I can think only of Torres (admittedly at his best at LFC apart from the early Atletico time), Suarez who come remotely close to his talent in the last decade. Mascherano, Alonso, Hamann, Babbel, Carra, Hypia (excuse, the spelling), Agger were all class but not in that league. – I doubt Coman or Costa are much better than Goetze, but may fit better in Guardiola’s system. Even next season Goetze would (undeservedly) be only surplus. He’ll surely rock for LFC!
I loved your observation about the Klopp intro press conference but I must protest…Xabi Alonso was truly a world-class player. He really played a beautiful game. Remember Madrid stumped up £30m for him back when that actually meant something.
@Matthew: Just read your reply. Interesting thoughts, indeed. I also think Henry is pretty smart and got humour, which is rare among American CEO’s. I read he used to play in a rock band as a teenager and would love to see him jamming along with Klopp doing Nirvana’s Territorial Pissings or so…
From the business point of view there is no reason whatsoever to get rid of Klopp:
Not only LFC supportes like him. He is (and his native region is famous for that) a miser then it comes to transfers, but has an eye for talent. Sales of Opel/Vauxhall went up 30% after he started promoting them (whatever his part was on that).
Now, he is known in two countries, meaning the advertisement value of him increases. Unlike Arsene Wenger or LvG, he can draw the young advertisement target group (hence lowering ticket prices would really be beneficial to draw even more young crowd). He is able to create a long-term bond and identification. He got his own brand of football which supporters can easily identify and warm up to. This is different to the likes of Ranieri, who are fine as long as they are succesful. But counter-attacking even on the home ground is kinda meh-ish to watch.
Though, as most Germans, I tend to be a football romantic and not think of money-ball or the results. I am convinced once you play beautiful footy, results will follow.