TICK tock. Tick tock.
There’s five days to go until the transfer window shuts again. I feel like we’ve been here before but this time it’s different.
In the Januarys of 2009, 2014 and 2017 Liverpool entered the New Year primed for title tilts. On each occasion the club chose to trot out the same arguments for shunning mid-winter strengthening. They read like a familiar litany of excuses. Difficult market, the right players unavailable, January surcharges and this year’s en vogue rebuttals – danger of disruption to dressing rooms and need for time to settle.
Ask Joe Fagan whether John Wark’s spring arrival in 1984, or quiz Kenny Dalglish as to whether Ronnie Rosenthal in 1990 upset the applecart? Nay, but they both hit the ground running and instead upset the opposition with goals that steered Liverpool to the title. Wark and Rosenthal might have appeared insurance buys and short-term solutions at first, but both played at least three seasons in Liverpool red.
Under Rafa Benitez, Liverpool missed out on the league by a measly four points, Brendan Rodgers fell short by the width of Rizla paper, while Jürgen Klopp’s juggernaut ran out of gas last January – exiting the League and FA Cups as well as reeling from a strike below the title waterline and in one fateful Anfield week. Last season’s Reds – stretched to the limit by an injury crisis that defines most football seasons – never really recovered and limped over the line to fourth place with a point to spare on the last day.
On each occasion, Liverpool were forced to rely on an abundance of mediocrity as ripening league championship grapes withered on the vine. For David N’Gog and Nabil El Zhar read Iago Aspas and Victor Moses. Klopp’s surge was halted by the known departure of Sadio Mane to the African Cup of Nations, injury to the same player later, a half-fit recovering Phil Coutinho not at his best until the season’s dying embers. Players were overplayed and became exhausted, The Reds suffered losses to Swansea; and at Hull and Leicester as the title aspirations vanished almost overnight.
January had been dismissed as an option to plan for things that are just part of football; the vagaries of chance – form, fatigue, injury, suspension.
As I said above, this time it’s different. We’ve surpassed ourselves in the opening weeks of the season. We’ve all too relinquished contractual rights to our best player and are actively planning to make do and mend without him. This, with £145million worth of readies sloshing round somewhere in a Boston deposit account.
BERLIN, GERMANY – Saturday, July 29, 2017: Liverpool’s manager Jürgen Klopp chats with club owner John W. Henry before a preseason friendly match celebrating 125 years of football for Liverpool and Hertha BSC Berlin at the Olympic Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
If 2009, 2014, and 2017 saw unforgivable inertia, this time round it’s disgusting, willful negligence. Unless we buy someone. It’s not too late.
There are five days left to reinvest and go hard at a season which is living and vibrant, with second place, the FA Cup and the small matter of a sixth European Cup at stake. But, take our manager at his word and we’re “not actively looking at someone new”. Only fixed targets – conveniently unavailable – will suffice so we have to wait and suffer probable disappointment again.
Witness the sterile, tired, bereft of guile showing at Swansea and tell me you’re not worried that a triple vision turns to blindness almost in the blink of an eye. Arsenal – managed by a similarly sniffy Arsene Wenger – have seen too many seasons evaporate in the face of selling to their rivals and failing to reinvest. The knives have been out Monsieur Development (pronounce that with a soft T) for fucking ages.
It’s not just that old pompous fathead off the breakfast telly saying it. Most of their fans have wanted Wenger out for years, despite being the greatest manager in their history and actually winning three trophies in the last four years. They’re in another final next month but most Gooners still want change and a more aggressive transfer policy over training ground simple nurture.
At Anfield though, Jürgen’s bold insistence he can coach and carry a squad now deprived of its attacking catalyst and best player is all OK. We’ll be fine, apparently, because “it’s what Klopp wants”.
It’s not I want. Some agree with me but not many concur – and I think I know why. The unconditional love the German enjoys from legions of supporters makes his decision-making infallible; beyond critique without expectance of an almighty backlash.
Sure, I get that Coutinho wanted out and it was Klopp (not Boston) who sanctioned, even hurried through the sale. I understand he only wants players who want to play for us. Me too. I also think there’s merit in waiting for players you believe in.
We’ve had to wait for Naby Keita. He – like Our Phil – has been an agitating pain in the arse but RB Leipzig’s management believe themselves capable of managing him back into the final five months of East German fray. A bit like the way Rodgers coaxed a Latin, sulking, banned, serial chomper back into the 2013-14 fold. Did he go on strike being denied his move to Arsenal? Did he fuck. He responded by banging in 33 goals until his legs nearly fell off and he gave way to Iago Aspas and his shit corners.
I also believe in compromise. Bend a little. Be flexible. What did the Rolling Stones once lament? “You can’t always get what you want.”
At school, in lower sixth form, I adored this girl in our year. She will remain nameless. She knocked me back. Then I saw another girl at a different school who looked a bit like her. She was my second choice. I asked her out and we spent three great years together. She was a fantastic acquisition. She grew into a fine young woman, I helped her develop and we had fun doing so.
The football analogy continues. In life most things can be related to the beautiful game.
Then she ran down her contract and signed for another fella. I ended up with nothing, when the emotional equivalent £145m would have come in handy replacing her; maybe not with the same type but someone of equal beauty but different attributes.
I didn’t have the means to replace her and morale suffered. Spirit was lowered until I met someone who would bring the same excitement. But, it took six years; six years during which I won nothing but a reputation for underachievement. Even some of my biggest fans went off me, including my mum and dad. I didn’t blame them. It was my own stupid fault.
So, there’s this week’s dollop of romance.
Back to the footie, or if you get what I’m alluding to above, you realise I didn’t veer off topic at all.
What about this rotation thing that Klopp’s got going? Good wasn’t it? Not perfect, to those who like full-strength derby lineups, but pretty sound nonetheless and 18 matches unbeaten prior to that craft-free show in South Wales.
Perm any three from four out of Coutinho, Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mo Salah and you always have the trident you need, with Phil’s guile, vision and class at the fulcrum of everything. When Mane struggled before Christmas, up stepped Phil to fill the void. Sadio was given time to rehabilitate and is now back to his very best. The rest and rotation did him good.
That’s all gone. Perm any three from three now. Even when they’re all fit and firing, we might want to load the bench with something brutal. So, one gets left out and in comes the threat of Danny Ings and Dom Solanke with zero Premier League goals. A last chance for Daniel Sturridge to do a Lazarus? Not likely since the manager has hardly deployed his talents even when fit and he’s probably off anyway. Another January deal – done perhaps by Sevilla without great difficulty.
Give Ben Woodburn his wings? I’d love that but he’s had barely a sniff of first-team action this season. Why? It’s nearly 18 months since he marked his debut with a goal at 16 years of age. We’ve hardly seen him since; this talent so ripe for Klopp’s famed “development”. Maybe, short of natural pace, but blessed with Coutinho’s eye, is he not a “Klopp player”? If so, I would find that bizarre, so the question must revert to “why have seen so little of this season?”
We simply have to reinvest, even if it is in a second choice, just like the girl I found back in January 1986. I compromised then and struck gold. If we don’t, and another season is sabotaged by lack of quality, to compensate for tiredness, injury, or suspension we will only have ourselves to blame. We have five days to do something about it. Or, we can do nothing and risk 2009, 2014 and 2017 playing out again in front of our lovelorn eyes. Our peelers will end up as red as our shirts.
Let’s hope not. Let’s pray the remaining terrific trio remain fit enough to play all 20-plus games without a niggle, a strain or a cramp. Have them frozen in ice and just defrost them on matchday. Trust to luck and we’ll be sound.
It was either Albert Einstein or Mark Twain who said: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”
Or, as one of my favourite banners in Istanbul read: “Forget not the past, for in the future it may help you grow.”
In simple terms, learn from your mistakes.
Five days.
Tick Tock.
Should The Reds make any further movement in the transfer market, The Anfield Wrap will be all over it. For that and extensive pre and post-match analysis, subscribe to TAW Player:
“Having someone like Jurgen Klopp is nice for FSG because it’s nice for their pockets.” 👀
🗣 Subscribe and listen to our latest ‘Gutter’ show, where we discuss Liverpool’s latest transfer rumours here 👉 pic.twitter.com/p1gP51O2q1
— The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) 25 January 2018
Recent Posts:
[rpfc_recent_posts_from_category meta=”true”]
Pics: David Rawcliffe-Propaganda Photo
It’s a pretty simple situation.Klopp will want very specific targets.Either we can get those targets in this window or we can’t.People can scream for Klopp to compromise on that way of thinking all they want but he won’t and he shouldn’t.Our hit rate on transfers is better than at any time I can remember and it’s not a coincidence,it’s because Klopp has the balls to ignore the noise and back his own judgement.Id love an attacking player to arrive but not somebody who Klopp doesn’t want.We’ve all got opinions on what he should do and we’re perfectly entitled to those opinions,but when Klopp starts going against his own judgement because of pressure from us…he’s finished.So basically it comes down to this,would you prefer Klopp to do what he thinks is the right thing,or what you think is the right thing?
Klopp was very specific about wanting Brandt at the start of last summer.
That was until Brandt said he wasn’t moving anywhere the season before a World Cup. Klopp was presented with Salah, didn’t fancy him and by his own admission had to be convinced to go for him by his recruitment team.
He’s compromised before, he can do so again especially with so much at stake.
When I say Klopp I’m including his staff in there mate.Being talked into a player by people who he trusts and are part of the process is not the kind of compromise I’m talking about.
“We were sure he can help us. Michael Edwards, Dave Fallows and Barry [Hunter], they were really in my ear and were on it: ‘Come on, come on, Mo Salah, he’s the solution! When you have 20 players on the table, different players, it’s difficult to make an early decision, but we all were convinced about it so could make the early decision so we could really get him.”
How does that quote from Klopp become “didn’t fancy him”? He literally said he was convinced along with everyone else very early in the process. Where does the “didn’t fancy him” come from?
He said in another interview that he wasnt so sure as he felt he was too lightweight for the Premier league
Ah ok. That’s a bit different from “didn’t fancy him” though. Having some doubts is not as absolute as “didn’t fancy him”.
Great analysis and overview, I concur. Somewhere along the line, you have to review where BR was to where Klopp is and make someone needs to really lol at club strategy….. great to have wins but you need consistency! Personally, I don’t understand Klopp’s persistence with a strategy that does not work properly. Dortmund playing tactics cannot be copied to LFC, we need something different.
I think there’s some sense in what you’re saying. I have similar views. When I went on Twitter today and saw Lallana was injured it really hit home how ‘on the edge’ that squad is. A few injuries and it could be game over. I hope that’s been considered. Laughable suggesting it might not have been but sometimes I wonder.
But, I also feel if we get to the summer and ‘get away with it’ we’ll be in a strong place. I’m confident we’ll win the league in the next 3 seasons and it’s down to our signings improving. Virgil, Salah, Ox, Keita, Robertson and Solanke can be seen as a good season in the transfer market. Another one of those and we’ll be ready to challenge for the league. We could easily have ended up with Maguire and Redmond had we given in last summer. As it is we’ll have Virgil and Keita. I’ve done the workings out and we should have £300m to spend in the summer. We can’t get it wrong and end up with Andy Carroll and Mario. But, I think we’ve identified and courted some of our summer transfers and feel we could make a move now. Overall though, I’m glad Klopp is pragmatic and less knee jerk than us fans. It will pay dividends in the end.
Zero chance of finishing top four in the next three seasons. Houllier had a five yr plan.
Really there isnt a cat in hell’s chance FSG will relinquish £300mn in the summer. From day one of their tenure it has been about “remaining in the conversation”. And yes we are more than ever in the conversation. Top 4 remains the be all and end all.Why? because it agrees with the aforementioned goal and requires the minimal amount of investment. Lets compare the situation with City and United. City have pretty much sewn up the league – yet it looks like they will still be buying this window? Why? Because the aim is to have a strong enough squad to go all the way in the champions league too. After spending £300 mn Mourinho spat his dummy out in the media complaining about lack of funds. What did he get? He got probably the best player in the premier league. Sanchez over the term of his contract will end up costing them 180mn! Why? Because the aspiration is to win the league. Mourinho doesnt want a blot on his record.
Now what have we done? We sold our best player. And if Barca is to be believed we actually lowered our asking price and actively sought to sell him. The only thing we did differently was to announce the VVd purchase before the Coutinho deal. To appease a fan base so used to the Arsene Wenger model being tried out at Anfield. For the future; yes we arent far from challenging for next season’s title – but what do the Salah’s and Mane’s of the world think? do they really want to be a part of a project that yields them no trophies but plenty of profits for fsg? I suspect next summer will be Salah’s turn. We will make another sizeable profit on him. And this so called fabled £300mn budget will have blown to £500mn! Do we not see that had Torres stayed he would have had nothing to show for his career at Liverpool despite being one of the best strikers of his time. Similarly do we really blame suarez for wanting out despite being another great. Was it not criminal that a man of his talent spent his playing career with the likes of Downing, Shelvey and Charlie Adams? Do we really blame him for wanting medals and to play with the likes of iniesta or messi? We are to Barca what southampton is to us. Our owners run a very sophisticated PR arm, the only unfortunate thing is had they been as serious about the club winning trophies are they are about their PR operations we might have actually crossed the line in 2014.
Despite one league cup win to show for their efforts. This really has been a successful tenure for FSG. An asset that cost them £300mn is now worth in excess of a billion. It is pretty much self sufficient with incomings reliant on outgoings.
I am afraid as the writer quotes – it is insanity to continue to do what we have always done.
Very well written Mike.
I don’t understand the hesitation to strengthen when there is such a great foundation in place and the opportunity to make this an unforgettable season. I was immediately struck on Monday night how weak our bench was . One player gone couple of more injured and we looked very short. The risk of loss of revenue through non qualification for CL , loss of attractiveness to potential signings and most importantly not competing for silverware this coming May is surely enough reason to make the jump into the transfer market.
I get Mick’s point about Klopp trusting his judgement and doing what he thinks is right but we as supporters are surely entitled to question it. I still believe not bringing in a centre half in the summer was negligent despite VVD signing later. The raw hunger I felt at Anfield against City last week could turn to something else if our level of consistency falls off.
Thats fine Mick. So should he go if he fails to win a cup or get fourth then? is it fair to say he lives and dies by his methods? Because why should we wait for his plan to kick into action, and how long? 3 years? 4 years? 10 years? The world doesn’t stand still for him or Liverpool FC.
It’s completely fair to say he lives or dies by his methods but No,he shouldn’t go if he fails to get fourth or win a trophy this season.Its up to you how long you’re willing to wait for what you expect but to me it’s obvious we’re very close to being a team that can compete.Starting over because he chose to wait for the players he wanted when we’re this close wouldn’t make sense to me.
4 years at the very least.
Oh Mike, you old romantic. You sound like a right charmer.
I was buzzing off it being Friday 10 minutes ago. Feel gutted now. I want to say I didn’t learn from my mistakes but in reality I didn’t know at the time those choices would become mistakes. Rotation was the way to go. There are things to be said for playing with the same side, familiarity, I suppose, and you know what you’re getting (or not getting, as it is these days) but you can’t beat the excitement of a new signing. Personally, I think we’ve been sold the wrong dream.
I know what I said the other day but deep down I expected the club to surprise us. I still do to an extent but I also know this is looking more and more like wishful thinking. Without injuries I think we can get by. Imaging if we lose 2 decent players from the goalscoring department. Everything we’re building towards could come crashing down. It’s a huge gamble and one I pray doesn’t backfire. My main complaint if we miss out on top 4 and the severe ramifications of the set back that entails would be the Keita thing. We don’t know who’s available. We don’t know who we’ve inquired about and we don’t know what was being demanded. All we do know is our Coutinho replacement was available for £20m. Yes, it’s a lot and an effin cheek but that’s the price. The price of not getting that top 4 would make £20m pale into insignificance. Not from the financial viewpoint but from the lfc momentum viewpoint. If nothing happens it’ll be disappointing and odd, not to mention a huge gamble.
Liverpool’s Lack Of Movement In The Mid-Season Transfer Market -WILL- Cost Them Once Again.
Get real fsg
I think we can safely say that the fax machine has been packed away already. I look forward to someone in the Echo writing of a £200m summer war chest and everyone dreaming of a decent subs bench without the future departure to Madrid of Salah.
I just can’t be arsed with this anymore, we just about got fourth last time with gambling on the squad depth and quality. Definite lack of ambition by the club and people can leave out the lack of value and available primary targets guff.
By hook or by crook we did spend £215m but Coutinho going has distorted that. It will be available in the summer though. There’s no way on earth the club could get away with spending only £100m and they won’t. Klopp will buy a keeper, a midfielder, and a forward for absolute sure. I think that will cost £150 and I genuinely think he’ll spend £100m on top of that.
Do you also believe in the tooth fairy?
Cos there’s no evidence that FSG will sanction that sort of spend.
Fool me once etc.
I’m unsure about tooth fairies. Wouldn’t like to speculate one way or the other. Lfc don’t make a profit. Money goes back in. This time we’ve got more so I’m hopeful. FSG benefit hugely from lfc success. It’s more money for them than having the money in the club accounts. So, I’m hopeful it’ll all be available. Where I worry about FSG is their stringing fans along over a potential Annie Road extension. It’s not happening because it doesn’t benefit the asset price as much as people think
“Some agree with me but not many concur – and I think I know why. The unconditional love the German enjoys from legions of supporters makes his decision-making infallible; beyond critique without expectance of an almighty backlash.”
Why does it always come across as if Mike sees it as a popularity contest between him and Klopp. I don’t think it’s the unconditional love, I think it’s more what Mick said. And I think most supporters want the club to sign one or two players this window. Maybe the problem is the recruitment team are not putting enough good options in front of the manager?
Also that relationship metaphor – “acquisition”, “I helped her develop” – almost Trumpian.
It’s debatable Amy but I believe some of those girls I fingered around the back of Cinderella’s back in the 80’s gained confidence from those experiences and actually grew as people.
Like you said, debatable.
Haha, I know what I know. Joking aside, ‘Punch’ Nevin will be the saviour of TAW. Sometimes I think everyone is too nice to each other on there. I find it a little agreeable. I don’t know if you’re on the TAW subscribers page but what it’s taught me is TAW subscribers are vile. They love to fight. There was a podcast recently where Mike wanted a signing and he took a lot of stick in the comments. The reason being, people love it when they have someone to take their angst out on. We all love a good pantomime villain. Punch and Judy has been a huge success for hundreds of years. Punch is miserable and treats women terribly yet people have turned up in their droves to see him be like that. The Post Match Show in the pub with Mike’s dad was the best ever imo, again because the views were heated. Personally, I think this is what people want. It takes a brave man to go against Klopp in these times. I think he’s wrong in his belief that Klopp hasn’t won anything so we shouldn’t be getting carried away by him, as I feel he’s showed enough to make me genuinely excited for the future. I definitely encourage dissenting voices though.
Agreed, it’s very strange the things people think writing down is in any way tasteful, as opposed to what is said in conversation. Mike’s ridiculously inane and chauvinistic analogy actually negated any sense of judgment I’d previously afforded his arguments (one’s I somewhat agree with). So strange to sabotage one’s whole point by writing something so off-putting.
Amy, wouldn’t it be better to ask my wife of 23 years whether I’m a chauvinist? Or indeed the girl in question?
Question my football views all you want but please don’t make comments about me that cast aspersions on my decency.
I live in a house full of women and adore them all. And no, I’m not Hugh Hefner.
Chill.
Mike, I am sure what you say is true, and I agree with most of your central argument re: the continued failure of the Reds to fortify the squad from an actual position of strength, rather than continually trying to catch up. However, I just had a problem with your analogy, it seemed a bit, to be kind ‘Ladd-ish’and I then wondered at your judgment in retaining it. Fair do’s, each to their own, I imagine it truly doesn’t reflect you as a person, just in this instance, for me it weakened the article. I do generally enjoy you on the post match and gutter shows. Cheers J.
But Mike, you wrote those words though, and we only have your text to go by here. It made me cringe too, but I’m willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. In fact, there isn’t much doubt there to begin with. Not that you’re bothered, I’m sure. Still, questionable choice of words.
Oh please. I was commenting on your writing, on your analogy. Chill. The rest of it is you projecting there Mike because nowhere did I cast aspersions on your decency. I wasn’t offended, I wasn’t hurt, I wasn’t accusing you of chauvinism. It was a shit analogy. Poor. Cringey af. I’m not even sure it works. Writing a 15-year old would be embarrassed by. Not up to your usual standard. My reaction to it was the way I react to Trump’s tweets. Hence, “Trumpian”. I’m allowed to have a view on your writing, yes? Or am I wool, lily-livered, a kloppologist… when I disagree? Speaking of casting aspersions.
But a bit of advice in good faith, if ever someone (not me) does accuse you of chauvinism or worse, the “I have a wife and daughters and sisters” defence will get you a massive collective eyeroll. No need.
I’ve been saying the same thing as well, we need at least one more body in this window or it will be considered a dereliction of duty. I think it also makes us look weak, selling our best player mid-season even when it rules him out of playing in the knockout rounds of the Champions League as well. There’s also a chance Sturridge goes in January which leaves Ings and Solanke to fill the void, without being critical of the lads they’re not exactly names or reputations that will strike fear into the hearts of defenders in England, let alone Europe’s finest.
We don’t have to go out and spend stupid, Sanchez type money on a player either. There are players at clubs like Real Madrid, Barca and PSG that need to move on for FFP and World Cup reasons and to say there isn’t anyone available who would strengthen the squad is nonsense. PSG alone will sell Pastore and Moura at reasonable fees before the month is out, either of which would be a good addition.
I just hope that there is something happening that we don’t know about because of the van Dijk palaver during the summer and come Wednesday evening we’ll all be basking in the glow of a shiny, new player.
Agree. Lfc are risking a lot. Maybe it’s a harsh lesson that needs learning. I rather come fifth and let FSG feel the pain that scramble in fourth only for FSG to sell Salah to Madrid
I think the guy is a great manager but I don’t want to see him become FSG’s stooge like Wenger became at Arsenal when he lost his winning mentality and it became all about finances and development. Right now Klopp’s a little too comfortable at Liverpool winning nothing and he needs to remember this club exists to win trophies. If he doesn’t achieve that he doesn’t belong here.
If he wins something this season with Ings and Solanke off the bench, great management. But if he doesn’t questions need to be asked about whether the guy is here to win things or be an FSG stooge.
It’s mad we seem to pinning our future on a guy that hasn’t scored a goal in 2 and a half years and had 2 cruciate injuries and also a youngster that’s still to score a senior goal.
Mad!
Hi Mike, you make sense, in some places.
Overall I agree with Mick above, as I remain optimistic about Klopp and team doing their best to get top 4.
I don’t know about trophies, the FA Cup maybe, but like many I was expecting magic at the start of the season, but ended up with somewhere between illusions/delusions of grandeur.
I don’t about what went on between Coutinho and the team, and Klopp. I mean I hear all the talk and conjecture from supporters, how about you Mike? Facts?
I mean who knows what that situation was really like and it’s hard to just say we should have reined him in like RBL did with Keita.
I wonder, would Keita have been easy to restrain if he was bought by Barcelona?
The past (highlights of errors I suppose) is important to learn from, but I think Klopp also knows the huge weight it comes with — all those seasons past, that were fucked up by poor ownership, political games, player/manager mismatches, supporters negativity towards certain managers and/or the ever-changing times of the football world.
We bought Virgil and Tony Gallacher. That’s two transfers done in our favor and while it’s not earth-shattering it’s better than none.
I think Klopp will sort things out, just not in the way we see it every single time after each game.
So let’s support the team and Klopp and trust they will do well against their next opponents.
Just one game at a time for me.
Up the Reds!!!
We are building too slowly and therefore run the risk that before we get all the players “we want” some of our best may have gone so we will not get there eventually. We must build on the existing momentum if couts had stayed and VVD came in then cool but couts leaving needed to be sorted out. We don’t have direct replacements for Mo and Sadio Ings and Solanke can slot in for Firmino even though not near enough good so any unfortunate injuries and 4th place will be good night unless we win the bloody thing which will not be easy I’m not worried about getting to the final my worry is the final itself. From where I sit I don’t feel we are strong enough because we went on this “fantastic” run and still could not overhaul Chelsea nor leave spurs behind that in itself calls for reinforcements.
There may well be players available but are they the ones the manager wants? He has to coach and pick them not us.
I agree in that I think we are 1 player light up front. Some of the lads who are meant to be available – how anybody actually knows that in reality – might well look our existing front 3 and think “ not much game time for me
there prior to the World Cup “.
I don’t have blind faith in any player or manager but I do believe they should be allowed to get on with the job. That’s not to say we as supporters we don’t have a right to an opinion because we do.
But in truth very few of us have the knowledge of what is going on inside the club.
From what I have seen and also read via the excellent Rafa Honegstein book this is how Klopp works. He won’t do what he considers short term.
It might all go to pot but I am enjoying this season and a lot of the football we have played.
Really struggling with the negativity of 1 loss after a good run. Losing Phil was poor but gaining VVD adds some balance for me.
Fab four will soon be fab zero.Fsg,one garbage trophy in seven seasons.Roy Evans was sacked for finishing third.Fsg are happy with sixth.The lovely Linda is high maintenance . Americans love money,to quote Basil Fawlty. Screw fa cup.Heading for the Europa.
I remember when we were in the depths of despair, then being uplifted by the trrrifuc need that Joe Cole, the London press Maradona, had condescended to sign for us. Ah, those were the days…Roy Hodgson, Joe Cole, Paul Konchesky. Pulling power, and money to burn.
“I helped her develop”, yeah, was kinda’ with you until this terrible lack of judgment completely negated any of your previous points. All good fun though eh’, nudge, nudge, snigger. Seriously.
100% agree. Klopp is a great manager but the goalkeeper, substitutions and transfer market inertia are big problems for me.
It feels like we are prepared to write this season off.
There won’t be many bigger deals in the summer than what we have seen in the winter but we can’t do fuck all? Those screaming VVD, was he a summer signing using Klopp’s patience or not?
We were by no means certs for top 4 with coutinho. Now we have sold our best player while ALL our rivals are strengthening.
Is it possible to use hindsight in the present? I’m telling you now, we are fucking this up.
Each to there own but personally I find it unbelievable that anyone can be offended by such a light hearted analogy. You can’t say anything in this day and age. I say what I want because I know my morals are sound. All the genuine ills of society and yet this is what offends. Odd.
This… Nail on head
Mike Nevin, I’m reading your article 2 days after the Anfield horror show vs West Brom and have to agree – there was no match we missed Phillipe like Saturday’s. I find it very interesting that Klopp would accept to flogg his players to death when he surely has an option of refreshing the squad in the January window. In addition, was it too hard to tell Coutinho there’s no departure till I get someone suitable, and that you may have to stick around till May? Klopp comes across as an emotional guy, very loyal to his players and feeling them a bit much. He’s already paying the price.
I was 100% in agreement with Mike’s opinion on Coutinho – he should have gone nowhere until the end of the season at the very least – and in complete agreement again with the assessment provided here. Great that we finally got Van Dijk, but it is the front end of the field where we have been diminished and, even if Coutinho had been made to adhere to his contractual obligations, there was a strong argument for us investing in that part of the pitch again in January.
Having caved in to Coutinho, to not invest is a total disregard for what this club exists to do – win things. Barring a Champions League miracle, this will be another trophy-less season, and another where we will very likely be scrapping for places 2-4. Should we really be so surprised that our best players are now so easily tempted away? We are on the verge of being an excellent team, but you have to quickly get over that verge or you fall all the way back down and have to start again.