AFTER the frustrating failure of Liverpool’s efforts to secure Virgil van Dijk’s signature in the summer, Jürgen Klopp’s public stance ever since has been to back the defenders at his disposal.
Many supporters, people in the media and pundits alike, doubted his words when, at the start of August, the manager claimed to be “fine” with the options at centre half.
“Look out there and tell me five that would make us stronger. Five. Then you win a prize. It’s difficult how it is,” said Klopp.
“We have four. I don’t think we need more. In the moment I’m fine.”
Klopp also said that day: “I am already here to work with this squad and not just always thinking ‘but if we don’t get this or this’.”
Even if the sincerity of his words could be questioned given the pursuit of van Dijk, the reasoning for the stance was easier to explain.
Publicly supporting your players is hardly a new approach from managers who appreciate that their every word is scrutinised to the nth degree and negativity towards any aspect of the club is swooped upon and writ large within a matter of minutes.
In general terms, it’s been Klopp’s approach too. Biting back at the questions that search out a negative strand. Steering the stories away from the individual and concentrating on a collective. Admitting that he has a difficult task but never ruling out making the impossible possible.
All of which possibly makes some of his more recent behaviour a little bit of a worry.
As frustrating results have become more frequent, so too has the sight of an exasperated Klopp on the sidelines; bottles have been thrown, he’s slapped his own head and at Wembley he was miles away, muttering alone as Liverpool crashed and burned.
His stance in press conferences also seems to be shifting. Klopp has always banged the drum for “emotional football” but it’s unlikely he meant struggling to keep hold of his own emotions post match when it’s gone wrong.
After the defeat to Leicester City in the League Cup, Klopp was forthright about what he had witnessed, saying in the press conference: “That we concede like this, that makes me really, really sick. That’s hard.
“But defending set pieces is a thing, it’s not the first ball obviously – we always had problems with this – now it’s the second or third even. And the throw in (big sigh).”
After the subsequent win over Leicester in the league yet more questions about the defence were dished up to which Klopp replied: “I can’t take a car and drive them out of the box. That’s how it is. As long as not every player is doing it we will work on it.”
And then came Spurs. Klopp at his tetchiest, or his most honest, depending on your perspective. The frustration was clear. But how often does a manager, particularly a manager big on the group, focused on positivity, tell the world he could defend better than one of the players he put out on the pitch?
“If I am involved in this situation on the pitch, then Harry [Kane] cannot get the ball,” Klopp said.
“I could have been out there in my trainers and they wouldn’t have scored. The first goal was a little throw in and we are not really there. It was just really bad, bad, bad defending.”
Some will praise that honesty. Some will say it’s time for players to take some responsibility for the mistakes and lapses in concentration that have cost Liverpool dear in recent weeks.
But it appears to be a change in approach from the manager. And if confidence is cracked and the mentality is fragile, as it appears to be, are these public dressing downs helping the team find their way?
It can be argued that it could make matters worse. The players will read those comments. See the headlines. Watch the discussions.
And maybe they wonder why the message has changed so drastically in a matter of months.
Sports psychologist Damian Hughes was back on The Anfield Wrap recently and spoke of the detrimental effect conflicting messages from the manager can have on the players. Is that what we could be seeing now?
🎥 @LiquidThinker: “For any coach, they have to come in with a clear idea of how they’re going to play…”
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— The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) 18 October 2017
Or could it be that it’s a message upstairs? Klopp is savvy enough to recognise the reach of his words. As he frowned his way through the post-Spurs press conference he even spoke of not wanting to give the reporters headlines. But then he did just that.
Complaining at the start of the season about a set of circumstances that led to him missing out on his main target would have set a toxic tone before a ball was kicked.
But now we’re two months in, and already 12 points behind the league leaders, perhaps Klopp is guiding the pointing fingers elsewhere. Is he indicating that what looks like blind faith in players that simply aren’t good enough for the task in hand is in fact down to circumstance?
The message lately seems to be he can’t do much more. He’s telling them what to do and they’re not doing it. He can’t drive them. He can’t make them concentrate. He can’t force them to switch on. And in fact he could do better himself rocking around in a pair of New Balance trabs.
In his first ever press conference as Liverpool manager Klopp talked about the process for signing players – a much-discussed topic in the days of Brendan Rodgers.
“We only want to discuss very good players, discussing on the highest level,” he said then. “I am not a genius. I don’t know more than the rest of the world. I need other people to get perfect information.”
Has he had that perfect information? Was his declaration that there were not better available centre halves available based on that information?
There are signs he isn’t happy, that much is clear, and not just in his words. His actions at Spurs – hooking a centre half he awarded a new deal and refusing to replace him with one he signed in Ragnar Klavan – suggests that for all his supportive comments in the past he has now lost patience with some of the individuals tasked with making Liverpool a force.
What’s next though? What are the options? How does he really shake things up with this squad?
Perhaps that’s the point. He can’t. Liverpool needed to buy better and buy more in the summer. They didn’t and they’re paying for it.
Klopp must stick plasters between now and January but perhaps then he won’t be so happy to say all is rosy.
Liverpool need to find some balls. On the pitch and off it. And it’s not the first time that’s been said.
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Its about time he gets vex and slams bad school yard mistakes many times clopp has played down the defensive errows of the team nuf is wthenuf its costing us but clopp has do adress it in formasion and personel at his dispole ie taken out can, lovrn, meggs putn in gomez, ward milner / gini playn 4321 with tino , firmino,ox and salha as the attaking threat
I agree with this!
Whatever it means
Klopp is a top class manager. I find it difficult to believe that he does not want a rock solid defense, knowing full well that we have a potent force upfront. Scoring a hundred goals a season while conceding 50 means that we’re just not progressing to the top end of the table. FSG must have let him down in not securing his targets. Remember he was very optimistic at the end of last season saying that most of the work was done. So FSG must have let him down! I’m going to convince myself of that. We have an awful defense because of our awful owners. Right….I feel better now.
Please give Klopp more time to revive LFC by condemning him won’t help much. To secure a good coach doesn’t mean solving overnight we have to be patience n hv trust in him. He must hv his reason for so many things thrown at him at the moment. Like he said earlier n many2 times it will take sometimes to become title contenders. I still believe he’s capable taking LFC to title near future.
The pursuit of van Dijk – essentially a one man back-line – was Klopp’s admission that what we have is not good enough.
He may now be realising the folly of pursuing van Dijk alone.
Interesting article Gareth, a lot of speculation as we all are doing the same.
For me your musings leads me to wonder…
…what is really stipulated in the contract extension that Jurgen signed in July 2016? So much money in exchange for….?
…why did FSG award Jurgen the extension (for losing two finals?), and why did Jurgen sign it?
…who is it then that is in charge of player recruitment and has final say?
…why is Klopp try to send this supposedly veiled message upstairs? Does he and the owners not have an open-door policy or it not stipulated in his contract?
…Isn’t Ragnar Klavan his signing? If he cannot rely on his own experience and resulting choices, does he think the nerd with the computer should have brought in VVD and things would have been rosy and Klopp not being called out?
So you ask “What’s next though? What are the options? How does he really shake things up with this squad?”
Well how about Klopp adjust to the existing team’s ability. He and all of us know they are not at the level his tactics call for. No more Heavy Metal football for the time being, as we’ve seen more of the White Noise version.
How about show a little humility, trust and flexibility in changing formations to suit the players, and also accepting their desired or natural roles…
I don’t have coaching badges, just clutching at straws like most now so how about…
…playing Moreno as an attacking winger (for me he is not a LB though I commend his hard work and improvement by his standards)
…playing Robertson in LB?
…playing Henderson up the pitch, and allow Can to take his place, but still give the arm band to Hendo?
…giving Ward a go?
…playing Gomez, Matip and TAA together as back three only?
… playing an out and out striker?
So yeah how about we try that and see what happens against the mighty Huddersfield next.
We’ve already been made to look pedestrian by Spurs, and City, what else have we got to lose?
…what is really stipulated in the contract extension that Jurgen signed in July 2016? So much money in exchange for….?
A world class Manager with a proven track record who had, in just a few short months taken LFC to two major finals with a largely underperforming squad.
…why did FSG award Jurgen the extension (for losing two finals?), and why did Jurgen sign it?
TO TIE HIM DOWN and reiterate their support for a world class Manager with a proven track record who had, in just a few short months taken LFC to two major finals with a largely underperforming squad.
Jurgen may have signed it as he had his honeymoon period, enjoyed the job and the challenge, as well as the personal change in circumstances of living in a new Country and City. He ‘gets’ us, probably felt like he had made the right move and that there was (is still) the potential for great things ahead.
…who is it then that is in charge of player recruitment and has final say?
Player recruitment EDWARDS, final say KLOPP
…why is Klopp try to send this supposedly veiled message upstairs?
Possibly to show his frustration at the VVD saga, HE did his part! The others f**ked it up!
Does he and the owners not have an open-door policy or it not stipulated in his contract?
Who knows
…Isn’t Ragnar Klavan his signing? YES
If he cannot rely on his own experience and resulting choices, does he think the nerd with the computer should have brought in VVD and things would have been rosy and Klopp not being called out?
Not too sure what this means?
I just think he’s finally realising that some of these players are just not mentally strong enough. I don’t like ragging on individual players but I imagine that Deggsy is really good in training. The guy has all the physical tools and the talent to be a top class centre half, he just doesn’t have the mentality, or tactical awareness to be able to play in a very open side. I don’t mind Klopp being angry, for all his charisma and skill with the media, he’s still a human being and occasionally the emotions will show. I think he’s been guilty of showing too much faith in players that (as above) can look great in training, but are found wanting continuously when it really matters. I would like us now to move to a 4-2-3-1 with Can and Hendo’ sitting deeper. I’m not too worried about Klopp to be honest. He’s shown that he’s big enough to cope when the chips are down, and recover well. I would now give Gomez a run, with Robertson at LB and Ward in goal. If we then lack cover at RB then it’s surely worth persuading Milner to cover. At least that back five could grow together with a bit more protection in front. It would also be cut more slack from everyone.
What has really annoyed me is Carragher and G. Neville desperately trying to backtrack over Lovren. Find it a bit pathetic and revealing to be honest. Carra’ with ‘oh, oh, I just said he was good once, I never told them to sign him’ etc. Really classy stuff Jamie.
Lots of interesting comments. It’s obvious that with a net spend of £20m per season FSG are not investing enough to compete. Lfc will declare a huge profit this season …. why not at least reinvest what we make. FSG are not supporting the manager. Thanks for 7 years of nothing FSG…. glad Red Sox failed haha
Massive fan of hendo. But he is not a war time consiglieri. We are struggling for leaders on the pitch at the minute and he is too passive.
Without trying to make excuses for those gobshites at the back, or for klopp, the current (or only?) system We have needs 3 aggressive mids (we have none right now), which is why klopp expects more cover. Our midfield 3 were a lot more competitive last season which took the pressure off the back 4/5 a bit. But when they keep going missing or falling asleep then the poor defence is even more exposed.
This goes a lot further than spurs game, how many midfielders let shelvey make that pass? On top of that Emre has been caught out at least twice this season leading to goals.
Also, I’m currently quite drunk, sat in Carraghers in ny wondering how many of these geebags care about Sundays game. Cos I feckin do.
This is virtually the same side that capitulated in the Europa Cup Final, expecting things to suddenly become better is frankly ludicrous .
I really don’t know where you go from here, I like Klopp and hope he’s the man for us but it’s not looking good at the minute.
He is definitely being failed by scouting. First he wanted a CB, was recommended Caulker. Then he wanted a fullback, had to convert Milner. It’s half the reason he took matters into his owned hands in the summer (and it went tits up). Klopp *does not* rate Lovren, Matip or Mignolet very highly – but management is more complex than writing posts online and saying what’s shit, and everyone knows that
That’s not to say he isn’t culpable for current form, poor decisions etc. But he isn’t a world away from the sentiments of the fanbase which I think is important
I agree. I know he praised them for Salah and he has been a really good signing but, someone did most of the work on that transfer three years ago! All that talk about having £200m to spend in the war chest pre- the last window and yet we still end up with a net spend of around £25-30m. How can we ever truly compete with that? Another thing that annoys me (while we’re here :) ) is how well Spurs are doing in the market. Most Reds supporters wanted us to buy the Ajax pair of Eriksen and Adeweirald a couple of years back when they were going for around £15m each, and yet, no, we let Spurs and So’ton pick them up. Ridiculous. I, like most Reds, think Klopp is great but unless he can start to turn things around then questions have to be asked. I think that ever since Naby Keita was announced for next season and Van Dijk didn’t arrive, this season has felt ‘off’ somehow. Like subconsciously there’s a feeling that this season is a write-off. At the moment top 4 seems a massive job to achieve, let alone anything else. Man City, Spurs, Chelsea, Man Utd and probably even Arsenal all look like better sides than us. Got to win the next three, it’s becoming desperate. Come on you Reds, come on Jurgen, this is where you show your worth mate.
He’s getting too involved with the media and they’ll make him a figure of fun if he’s not careful. He’s talked about Karius and Mignolet like they’re Buffon and Neuer. He told the world that the defence was fine. They’re good enough, it’s just concentration! In reality they’re not fine, they’re very poor both individually and collectively. He told us that he’d had everyone watched 100’s of tines and challenged us all to name 5 players that would make Liverpool stronger. He’s getting too wrapped up in his wacky, charismatic persona and running a significant risk of forgetting the day job. You know the one he gets paid for, and will ultimately be judged on. He needs to wise up. Contrary to popular belief, you cannot kid supporters. In my view there are too many issues that he’s failed to address. The keeper situation, the defence and the spine of the team are all issues that can only be resolved by a change in personnel. And it’s been pretty apparent for the vast majority of Klopp’s tenure. Whether it’s been wilful neglect or due to a restrictive budget is another matter for debate. For me, he’s on the brink. He has too much to change in a short space of time and historical data would suggest he will have restrictive financial clout. Throw in the Coutinho conundrum and a distinct lack of leadership and it equates to significant turmoil. Very choppy waters ahead for Jurgen and the team and the only way out is to partake in the spending madness or run the risk of becoming irrelevant.
Listening to the Anfield Wrap after the Man Utd game and the Maribor game summed it up, we are not that far away.
Spurs was a bad day at the office, a huge debacle compounded by MULTIPLE individual errors. It doesn’t happen every week, in fact barely a player put a foot wrong throughout the 90 mins 7 days previous against Utd. Jurgen didn’t get his pants pulled down, he was undone by SEVERAL of his players making mistakes in ALL FOUR GOALS.
This team is not as bad as people are making out, yes Lovren & Migs need dropping but both have come back stronger for it in the past AND I can’t see any situation where we don’t get AT LEAST one new centre half in Jan (prolly VVD).
This team will soon have Mane and Lallana back who are HUGE players in this system PLUS Clyne for the first time this season. Add one or more centre backs in Jan maybe plus another signing or two and it looks a whole lot better…..and we will (hopefully) still be in the Champions League at that point.
Liverpool will take 7 points from the next 3 games, starting Saturday, then West Ham & Southampton.
Keep believing.
I like that piece Gareth. I am a hundred percent pro Klopp, but the Spurs game was a momentum killer worse than the City hammering.
Think he underestimates the impatience of people and overestimates the backing of the owners.
Of all people, Phil Neville rightly made the point, that having such a complex and demanding system, needs players up to the task. – I believe, not signing a CB was meant to be a signal for potential new signings, that “this manager trusts you”.
But sadly Lovren has to be on a permanent 110 percent to fulfill that criteria, which he simply isn’t. He got the attitude and the work rate, but simply lacks awareness and concentration.