Jürgen Klopp

[Rich]

He’s clearly booked a break with his missus.

Good on him as well.

It isn't our fault this (well apart from the result!) it's the shambles that is the football calendar.

[Havors]

Klopp should manage the game.

He hasn't given a reason yet why he shouldn't participate, only first team players.

He's making a stand but it's not a good look.

Agreed. I can understand senior players not being involved....(even though I dont agree) but he himself doesn't need a rest, so he loses all credibility if he doesn't "manage" the team for the game.

It is blinding obvious he is booked to go to Dubai or something with the wife and she is fumin! haha

[fah-q]

Why doesn't he need a break?

This season isn't down to either just the players or luck and I imagine he's pretty mentally drained at this point.

I'd much rather he took a short break, ****ed the FA Cup off and came back refreshed and ready to take us to number 19.

**** the FA, when did they give a **** about us?

[Havors]

The FA & EFL wanna be careful that they don't piss off the big boys in the Premier League as they need them clubs in their competition...Who wants to see an EFL final with Tranmere Rovers vs Wigan or a FA Cup final with Barnet vs Macclesfield?...get my point?

Not as simple as that is it? The FA is still the daddy.... We play in the premier league but all the players have to be registered with the FA and they govern the game as a whole in England?

The FA do need the big teams in the FA cup to generate money, but the big teams also need to do as they are told?? Unless we are looking at the big teams completely splitting and forming a new governing body and UEFA/FIFA then getting involved and getting pissed off etc....

[Chris]

Klopp should manage the game.

He hasn't given a reason yet why he shouldn't participate, only first team players.

He's making a stand but it's not a good look.

If there's no first team players then why would he? If it's the u23 team then give it to the u23 manager who knows the players better.

[red g]

If there's no first team players then why would he? If it's the u23 team then give it to the u23 manager who knows the players better.

[Havors]

If there's no first team players then why would he? If it's the u23 team then give it to the u23 manager who knows the players better.

Maybe because a bunch of these train with the 1st team anyway and often get spots on the bench or are coached by him in games like sunday?

They are HIS future players why not manage them? What better way to get a look at them? Im sure the players would relish the chance to get a bollocking at half time by him... or a Klopp hug.

[Chris]

Maybe because a bunch of these train with the 1st team anyway and often get spots on the bench or are coached by him in games like sunday?

They are HIS future players why not manage them? What better way to get a look at them? Im sure the players would relish the chance to get a bollocking at half time by him... or a Klopp hug.

Yeah all valid reasons but it's hardly that crazy that the under 23 team get managed by the under 23 manager. He's always been huge on including everyone so pretty understandable he's not taking all Critchley's players without taking Critchley too.

[Havors]

Yeah all valid reasons but it's hardly that crazy that the under 23 team get managed by the under 23 manager. He's always been huge on including everyone so pretty understandable he's not taking all Critchley's players without taking Critchley too.

Well yeah we can see why Critchley would take over the game. I just think the point is for me personally I think Klopp should be managing it.

To be honest I think the senior players that need game time should be playing as well but not everyone will agree with that. A couple of them should be made to play as punishment for being so **** on sunday tbh haha

[Lecter]

It's maybe not relevant to us in our current position but it's important for historical reasons and more importantly it's important for smaller clubs for many reasons.

Not just the clear financial benefits of being drawn against a big club like us but the excitement for their supporters and the stories and history it creates for them.

Considering our traditional background as a club and supporter base of being left leaning I think it's a shame that it's come to this and that we cannot support the FA Cup for the sake of the smaller clubs to whom it's the equivalent of a Champions League final.

I completely understand Klopps point of view and he can do no wrong within our supporter base the moment so he's a very powerful voice.

However, I'm not sure he fully understands the significance and importance of the FA Cup in the English pyramid system. It's part of our great success as a nation in maintaining such a strong system full of well supported clubs with heritage and history at all levels.

Obviously our priority has to be the league and CL but I hope a compromise can be reached and that we don't forget the smaller clubs.

If clubs like Liverpool abandon the FA Cup it will destroy an important part of what makes the English league system so strong and unique.

This is a very good post about the FA Cup

The problem I have with all this stuff is this

This country has 3 organisations running its football, The Premier League, The FA and the EFL (English Football League)

There was always rivalry between the FA and the EFL and with the Premier League added to the mix thats now 3 groups constantly jockeying for position but generally self serving

The Premier League decide to have a winter break (and write to the clubs asking them to adhere to this) supposedly one of the reasons for this was because of a recommendation of Gareth Southgate in to help the national team in the Euros. The national team is governed by the FA, the same FA that then decide to schedule the replays during the winter break

Just shows the level of incompetence and what self serving cunts they are

[Lecter]

Well yeah we can see why Critchley would take over the game. I just think the point is for me personally I think Klopp should be managing it.

To be honest I think the senior players that need game time should be playing as well but not everyone will agree with that. A couple of them should be made to play as punishment for being so **** on sunday tbh haha

What are the implications of ignoring the Premier Leagues instructions regarding the winter break?

[Maxiedge]

What about the other sides that have replays? Will they field their U23s?

We don't get much wrong these days but I feel like Klopp has made this decision in haste. He obviously wasn't planning to draw and get a replay and he just said what seemed instinctively right at the time as a general blanket over the whole situation.

Just taking Fabinho as an example, he is way off the pace and could do with an extra game to get him up to speed. He's also been injured for 3 months so he's probably had a mental rest and is not fatigued. So it's possible the solution might be somewhere in between the two and play a couple of the seniors (Fabinho, Lovren, Matip and Ox?) and then they can have 11 days after (out of the 14 suggested) to have a rest.

I wonder if we're going to move on our position?

[Shaggy]

What about the other sides that have replays? Will they field their U23s?

We don't get much wrong these days but I feel like Klopp has made this decision in haste. He obviously wasn't pla,nning to draw and get a replay and he just said what seemed instinctively right at the time as a general blanket over the whole situation.

Just taking Fabinho as an example, he is way off the pace and could do with an extra game to get him up to speed. He's also been injured for 3 months so he's probably had a mental rest and is not fatigued. So it's possible the solution might be somewhere in between the two and play a couple of the seniors (Fabinho, Lovren, Matip and Ox?) and then they can have 11 days after (out of the 14 suggested) to have a rest.

I wonder if we're going to move on our position?

For me Fabinho, Lovren, Matip, Keita, Ox, Lallana and Origi all need games. Also Shaqiri if he ever recovers. That's 8 players ffs.

[Alex]

But he doesnt want to split the squad and harmony. I get its about games, but why stop those that need the break for this?

[Maxiedge]

But he doesnt want to split the squad and harmony. I get its about games, but why stop those that need the break for this?

Do they need a break? I don't know. Some of them have hardly featured and maybe wouldn't mind the minutes to get prepared for the business end of the season. Also, as mentioned, they can have 11 days after.

For me Fabinho, Lovren, Matip, Keita, Ox, Lallana and Origi all need games. Also Shaqiri if he ever recovers. That's 8 players ffs.

Also 8 players that could take us into the next round too!