Pep Lijnders is back

[dom9]

I put that down to having the legs to press from the front again, much more difficult to make those passes.

Listening to the some of the forest stuff post Sunday slagging their manager off, I reckon no matter what he had done he comes away with a defeat but hindsight of should have tried the other thing and it might have worked.

With our current squad we have more ways to play successfully than last year by a mile

I agree that the new players have made a massive difference. Whichever way you play, that is gonna help - having that level of quality available not just on the pitch, but on the bench too.

But the improvement in form started in the spring with the change of formation.

So I do think keeping legs and systems fresh has benefited the team.

[Fosterbloke]

I think we need to judge it against City and Arsenal, as we have the players to beat all of the teams we have played, regardless of system.

Ultimately, if we beat Real Madrid in the next 3 CL finals, I think we can call him a genius

I don't think so, those teams are built to play toe to toe and we usually raise our game enough to negate any issues around any system we played.

For me the proof is in the rest of the league, after all this is where we dropped silly points and ultimately lost out on the top four.

[RedReet]

I don't think so, those teams are built to play toe to toe and we usually raise our game enough to negate any issues around any system we played.

For me the proof is in the rest of the league, after all this is where we dropped silly points and ultimately lost out on the top four.

Good point.

I'm guilty of saying City match will be the barometer, but City will be favourites to beat anyone they play, so losing to them isn't necessarily a fair indication of what level we are at. We were **** last year but still beat them, drew twice the year before but still came up short, our biggest problem over the years as you say tends to be the lesser teams and dropping silly points to them. Considering this is supposed to be a transitional year, with many predicting we'd struggle for top four or even top six, continuing to beat 90% of those eams should exceed those expectations and surely must be seen as a success and a good foundation to build from?

[Charly]

Our old system allowed us to compete with city, so the shape of the team for me is important to he tested against the best.

We dont want to be in a position where Real runs rings around us again either.

[kingfunk]

Apparently Pep is in talks with Ajax to become manager for next season.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Apparently Pep is in talks with Ajax to become manager for next season.

That would be a very interesting project in terms of getting some idea of whether he has it in him to be the coach/manager of a team or if he is better at being part of the coaching team.


More than a little bit of a rebuild needed at Ajax so not like their next manager just walks in and gets handed a nailed on title winning squad.

[ntto]

have to say i like pep - and would love to see him back managing some day once/if he proves successful. Would have a lot more faith in him than Stevie at this point

[red g]

have to say i like pep - and would love to see him back managing some day once/if he proves successful. Would have a lot more faith in him than Stevie at this point

I would have more faith in my dog managing than Stevie

[Norbs]

I would have more faith in my dog managing than Stevie

I'd have more faith in my dead dog than Stevie

[peterbread]

[Joyce] Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders in running to become Ajax head coach

[Le Chef]

[Joyce] Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders in running to become Ajax head coach

So's Ten Haag

[Irishnev]

A fair bit of conjecture in this but not good when there are rumblings. On Bacetjic, he looked very good when he broke through but shocking post injury lay off. He needs games to show his true level


Stefan Bajcetic’s top status at Salzburg has ‘astonished’ Pepijn Lijnders’ other players
October 4, 2024
Jack Lusby

Pepijn Lijnders could be facing a critical situation at Salzburg already, with sources in Austria claiming the squad are unhappy with his use of Stefan Bajcetic.

Bajcetic joined Salzburg at the end of the summer transfer window, and his debut for the Austrian side was delayed further by his wait for a visa.


Since then, though, the Liverpool loanee has been a key player, starting three of the five games he has been available for and coming off the bench in another.

The only game he has sat out was against third-tier SC Wiener Viktoria in the OFB-Cup, with it clear that Bajcetic is one of Lijnders’ favourites.

It should come as no surprise that the Dutchman, who left Liverpool to take over Salzburg after Jurgen Klopp‘s exit, holds both Bajcetic and permanent signing Bobby Clark in high regard.

But according to Austrian newspaper the Krone, his preference for the duo has led to “astonishment” from their teammates.

PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC - Thursday, March 7, 2024: Liverpool's first-team development coach Pepijn Lijnders (R) gives instructions ot substitute Bobby Clark during the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 1st Leg match between AC Sparta Praha and Liverpool FC at Stadion Letná. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)


It is claimed that they “have not yet impressed in sporting terms,” and “some players have recently been puzzled about starting XI call-ups.”

This comes after right-back Amar Dedic told reporters after the 4-0 loss to Brest in the Champions League in midweek that: “I won’t say the reasons now, but there are certainly reasons.”

Salzburg earned their place in the Champions League proper after overcoming FC Twente and Dynamo Kyiv in the qualifiers, both of which Bajcetic and Clark were not involved for.

Their swift installation to the starting lineup for the league phase opener against Sparta Prague – a 3-0 defeat – has seemingly frustrated some of their peers.

Clark has started both games against Sparta and Brest while coming off the bench in the two league fixtures against WSG Tirol and Austrian Wien, as well as playing the full 90 minutes in the cup win over Wiener Viktoria.

Lijnders under pressure already

LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 21, 2024: Liverpool's first-team development coach Pepijn Lijnders during the pre-match warm-up before the FA Premier League match between Fulham FC and Liverpool FC at Craven Cottage. Liverpool won 3-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

While the Krone‘s report could imply animosity towards Bajcetic and Clark themselves, it is more likely that the onus falls on Lijnders instead.


A popular appointment upon his arrival in Austria earlier in the summer, a miserable start to the Champions League campaign – sitting 34th in the 36-team table – has already led to doubts over his future.

Bajcetic’s status as a Liverpool player, and Lijnders’ long-standing relationship with both him and Clark, was always likely to lead to suggestions of bias if things did not pan out as hoped.

The hope will be that all involved can turn a corner swiftly, as in theory it is a setup which should benefit Liverpool and their loanee greatly.

Bobby Clark, Former Players, Loan Watch, Pepijn Lijnders, Stefan Bajcetic

More from This Is Anfield

[The_weatherman]

He's not really been great as a solo manager in his career, hope he can turn it around but I'm not optimistic.

[baitman]

Far too intense

[kingfunk]

Better buck up or he’ll find himself in tent city.