“IF it’s easy in each game in the pre-season, then we get the first problem in the first game in the Premier League. So we want to have the problems in the pre-season and be well prepared in the Premier League.”
Although that quote is from Jürgen Klopp, it echoes the sentiment of managers at all levels of the game at this time of year. Pre-season is the time to smooth out any wrongs from the previous season, and to develop your team in order to be ready for the season ahead.
Last week, on an Anfield Wrap show titled ‘Shaping Up’, Neil Atkinson, Paul Senior and I debated the ways in which the Liverpool manager will be assembling his squad this pre-season.
Listen: The Review – Shaping Up
Klopp would have began assembling his team in his mind almost from the moment he arrived. Almost straight away, he let his squad know that they were playing with a clean slate. “I said I didn’t want to hear about my players any more. I wanted to watch and start learning about them. They are all nice guys with big skills with big passion — all that we need, and now we can work together,” he told the Echo.
It’s been a similar message this summer, with Klopp reiterating that every player on the books at Liverpool is there for a reason. Somewhere, sometime, someone saw something that said they could do a job at Anfield.
Every manager at any level will let his players know privately and publicly that they have the opportunity to impress, and it’s true to an extent. However, as a manager you have to have an idea in your mind at the earliest point what you think your first team will be upon kick off in August.
That Klopp had already made decisions about the good and bad of the squad has been evident in Liverpool’s business so far in this transfer window. A mere two weeks into the window and four players have already been signed, with three arguably coming in as first-choice options in Marko Grujic, Sadio Mane and Loris Karius. A number of players have already been sold, too, with club veteran Martin Skrtel joining Jordon Ibe, Sergi Canos, Jerome Sinclair and Jordan Rossiter as ex-Reds, while keepers Danny Ward and Ryan Fulton have headed out on loan.
They are unlikely to be the last, with Klopp revealing several clubs are interested in loaning fringe players including Brad Smith, Connor Randall and Pedro Chirivella. At the other end of the squad value-wise, it looks likely Christian Benteke will eventually join Crystal Palace.
Not only will it help the manager to make acquisitions early, the quality and decisiveness of the recruitment is vital. There are only two windows a year where you can address the weaknesses in your squad. If you get that right, irrespective of your budget, that will cover any weaknesses in any area of your football club.
You could have the fittest team in the league, be one of the most organised teams in the league, your training could be the best in the league but if your recruitment is not up to scratch, you’re not going to succeed.
By hiring Klopp, Liverpool appear to have effectively put the manager in charge of that. By giving him a new contract under a year into his reign, they have only strengthened that.
“There’s only one person that has the final say over what players play at Liverpool Football Club and that’s Jurgen Klopp right now,” Ian Ayre told a Dublin Web Summit.
That appears to be true. Marko Grujic was recommended by Zeljko Buvac, Loris Karius arrived from Klopp’s former club Mainz, Sadio Mane interested him while at Red Bull Salzburg, and Joel Matip was earmarked by Klopp when he was on his sabbatical.
If recruitment is therefore largely boxed off, Klopp will be looking to focus on the training ground culture and team spirit he has worked so hard on cultivating since he arrived at the club in October.
Players, more often than not, look forward to returning to pre-season training. If you’ve got the right backroom staff and the right culture, the club should be full of optimism and excitement at this time of year. It’s their chance to get their love of football back, and to impress the manager.
For most, it is also their chance to see their teammates again and get back to kicking a ball, which, at the end of the day, is why they got into it in the first place. You enjoy playing football.
The vast majority will see the bigger picture. No player wants to start the season with a team that’s not tactically prepared or fully fit. Everyone wants to have success, so I think everyone buys into it. Whether they enjoy it or not when they’re doing it is one thing, but the incentive of friendlies also plays a part.
Most players will ring a couple of friendlies in their diaries. Whether it’s a non-league team like Tranmere Rovers playing Liverpool, or a big match at Wembley against Barcelona, there will always be a friendly a player will really want to get minutes in. It’s a chance to play and enjoy it without the pressures regularly heaped onto them.
Liverpool will play nine of these friendlies this pre-season, with two already in the books and Wigan Athletic to come on Sunday. It’s not so much the number of these fixtures I would be worried about, but the stress that going abroad may add. It’s not the travel as such, but the different timezone and climate issues you may encounter.
Perhaps Pep Guardiola’s most successful season came when he and his Barcelona squad decamped to St Andrews for a week, as told by Guillem Balague in his book, Pep Guardiola: Another Way of Winning: “For Barca’s players there was no respite and nowhere to hide. When Xavi Hernandez, Carles Puyol and Andres Iniesta joined the squad following Euro 2008, they could hardly believe the transformation, the sheer intensity”.
For Klopp and Liverpool there will be no St Andrews, but a training camp thousands of miles away in California.
It will be one of Klopp’s biggest challenges to recreate a similar atmosphere in the face of a series of different climates. Ideally, you want to go somewhere with a similar climate to the UK. That way, you can get your players away with no distractions, enjoy a change of scenery and ensure your training facilities are top notch.
Klopp faces a modern reality in that, if you want the biggest transfer budget you can get, and to sign the biggest players you can get, you’ve just got to accept that the club needs to make money — and needs to play games in far foreign lands in front of supporters who love the club.
What will be key for Klopp is to continue to build upon what earned him the massive six-year contract — installing his electrifying passion and drive into a club that has been in desperate need of it.
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Has anybody thought that with all this ‘getting a good pre-season’ in it is now half way through July , two games down , and on to US tour. If we have not yet done our major signing then it ain’t going to get done.
Yeah, Arsenal are only one month away. Mind you, in this case that works out at thirty seven days. Hopefully, there is much behind-the-scenes negotiating happening. For example are we satisfied to start off with Moreno as our only left back?
Who did you have in mind? I always thought Mane was likely to be our biggest signing. Apart from left back, we seemed to be well stocked all over the pitch so where would your “major signing” fit in?
We have very weak centre of defence. This is a area where we should improve by a big transfer. Karius is great signing, Mane would be very usefull, but still our CBs looks poor.
Rodgers stated adamantly in May 2013:
“There is absolutely no way a player will come in here if I don’t want him,I will always be the first person it comes to. That’s not being arrogant, that’s how we operate here and how it works in this country”
Whilst Rodgers was to Bullshit what cows are to milk, I think the transfer policy is still committee based and still conducted using the same corporate polices FSG work to.
No way will Klopp change the way an American corporate operates thier franchises, especially one headed by the character that is John W Henry.
Perhaps people need to remember how JWH made his cash in the first place.
I suspect Klopp is a believer in advanced metrics and is adept at when and where they are relevant. Just like every other manager in the modern game.
The way to make money in Football is to have the biggest global brand selling as much merchandise and web membership as possible with the cheapest possible squad. Which is exactly what we have and exactly what was forecast by switched on columnists back when FSG bought us.
My hopes for this season are 5th and a cup.The occasional giant beating at home with a good sprinkling of humiliation from the bottom half. Business as usual Anything better will be a nice bonus. Anything less won’t be a surprise. The transfer window is panning out exactly as expected after all.
Mid table reality.
Never had Jurgen down as a bit of a yes man. Maybe that’s how come he signed the new contract eh? Yes, I reckon they bought his acquiescence.
I don’t reckon he is a yes man, I just reckon he has a soft spot for this club and city and believes he can deliver success within FSGs transfer policy. What success is for Liverpool FC under FSG is?? I don’t know. Likely incremental improvements on previous seasons whilst raking it in.
He is on 7.5 million a year, which over 6 years will create a dynasty for many generations of Klopps. Some people would do and become anything asked of them for that kind of cash.
Modern Footy eh?
The other top clubs would be more than willing to pay Klopp the same or even higher annual package, let’s don’t question that — MU, city, Arsenal, chelsea, real, barca, bayern, PSG.
He could walk into any of those clubs at his own timing and at his own terms.
But he chose Liverpool.
The difference between Klopp and some of the top managers (ie Jose) is that Klopp builds the eco system of the club (Liverpool country) for long term success. While others might destroy it indirectly for short term gain (ie Chelsea).
Leave Klopp alone to do the job for us.
As I clearly stated, I believe Klopp has a soft spot for this club and city.
Klopp builds “eco systems”??!!?
Brendan Rodgers legacy remains both in the squad, and , evidently, sections of the support.
Eco systems…..
BR tried his best for the club during his three years and a bit. All due respect to him for that. The job was probably too big for him in the end. He will go on to proof himself elsewhere no doubt and all the best to him.
JK is a different level — WORLD CLASS — and bonus is that he has ‘soft spot for the club and city” as you stated. He has his own blue print that he will stick to.
Last season team might be BR’s team, but I have no doubt players like Origi, Can, Bobby, Lallana, coutinho, clyne, and even Moreno type (to some extent) can be and will be in Klopp team.
For me it’s a matter of how you approach it really. Winning the title that is. Under Klopp it’s going to take a couple more seasons before we’re real and consistent challengers. Call that organic if you like, but I’d rather that than the City or Chelsea approach. I’m off to watch non-league if that ever happens.
Klopp is the best manager for this club. He fits like an “arse on a bucket”…
But he has no Champions league victories on his CV,do can’t command the salary of the top managers , like Maureen and Pep.
The sqaud we have had proven it is not top 4 calibre, and well below the standard of Champions league. No amount of “belief” or “positivity” or any other bizarre cult like brain washed bollocks will change the fundamental reality of where we are under this ownership.
Respected neutrals and Pundits don’t see us as title challengers for the same reasons I don’t. If someone can provide some hard fact based reasons why we are title challengers, I am happy to change my opinion. But as we stand today, no way are we title contenders. Klopp is no wizard.
Rodgers and Pascoe never were. From day one they were not up to the job. Hence Rodgers ending up in Scotland. Those who stated that Rodgers was a shit merchant were lambasted by the superfans of Rodgers, who I hope have fucked off to Scotland with him.
I am looking forward to the season, taking each game at a time with realistic expectations of both manager and players.
Does anyone know the net spend figure on this window so far?
I don’t see being an American sports franchise has any intrinsic moral value over bring run like City or Chelsea.
The supporters of those clubs see a higher standard of football and even have owners who attend games.
Many have understandably done one over to non-league already.
The club today is LFC in name only, a shadow of its former. The fucking “seat sale” is testament to that as is the dunkin’ donuts main stand.
Mush mate.
I think everyone realises what a complete cock-up FSG and/or Ian Ayre made of the seat sale. Except obviously them. It’s not their first sin. Ian Salmon’s piece about his father’s seat should be stapled to someone’s forehead. It once again shows that there should be an ex player or real football man at the coal face to broker an accord between business interests and the real world.
But in all seriousness- what keeps your heart beating every day? I detect a love of the club underneath your distinctly curmudgeonly facade but what in the name of Christ is burning you up man?
I’m not trying to wind you up but I despair as to why you’re so overbearingly negative about LFC.
It’s not 1978. Or 1988. We’re not the champions of England or Europe. Yes we are wealthy but we’ve earned it from the sweat of Shanks, Paisley and their successors. It made us the most successful club in Britain. But we’ve been overtaken in the money stakes. But we’re not a billionaire’s plaything. FSG are a business, they bought the club as a business venture- that’s the legacy of the Hicks and Gillet era. I wish we had a sugar daddy who loved the club as I do. But this is reality and if wishes were fishes beggars wouldn’t starve. We HAVE been mid table as you have said repeatedly.
But fuck me – we are still Liverpool. We are still the club the others envy and more importantly Fear. With Klopp at the helm I truly believe the others are even more fearful.
I don’t know whether you’re middle aged like me and have seen the best football ever witnessed bar none played by the King, Barnes, Souness, Beardsley, Rush et al or not but I suspect you are. It would explain your pain, anger and frustration at where we are just now. I’m not patronising you in anyway but I genuinely don’t understand how you can inflict watching the Reds season in, season out on yourself if it causes you such pain. I’d like to know if you’re a troll of the first rank who likes winding the rest of us up or is it genuine rage at not being champions that causes your nihilism.
What do you want from FSG? What do you want from Klopp.? Who would you like to see take over from or buy out the incumbents? What would give you the merest chink of light to give you the capacity to believe we can be better in anyway?
Is there any circumstance you could sign off with an ” up the Reds ” ?
Up the Reds!!
What keeps my heart beating is how lucky I have been in every other aspect of my life, and footy gives me a vehicle for negativity.
I want FSG to sell either the to the fans or someone who can afford to compete. It’s modern Football and I don’t see any upside to being a franchise.
I am not particularly negative, my expectations of the team and Klopp are 5th and maybe a cup. Which is what many informed neutrals and pundits see us. That is were we are.
I can’t be doing with mindless positivity and hope that bears no basis in fact and and is “belief”…I find it frankly embarrassing as we were once considered an intelligent fan base. Not believers like fucking Scientologists or Yogic flyers.
I like Ferraris too.Life is good. It’s just my club has turned into a burger franchise that cannot compete with the mancs.
I read you mate. I’m not into the mindless negativity myself either. We’re all different and entitled to hold different views and express them accordingly.
Sound as a pound.
Obviously that’s a typo and should read mindless positivity.
Up the reds!
Up the Reds!!