Jürgen Klopp

[Vermilion]

[Vermilion]

Big Boned Klopp made me think of Boris, so i had a quick look to see if he'd commented, and....

[ame]https://twitter.com/TheBorisBecker/status/652143829894627328[/ame]

https://www.dreamteamfc.com/c/even-boris-becker-has-jumped-aboard-the-jurgen-klopp-bandwagon/

[Slinky Skills]

He will be when he realises the tea is laced with LSD.

[Yozza]

Jurgen Klopp: No Liverpool FC targets this season, just rediscovering identity

German coach Klopp says he will focus on playing a recognisible brand of football

Jurgen Klopp has revealed he has been set no targets for his first season at charge of Liverpool, and will simply focus on regaining the club’s on-field identity.

Klopp signed a three-year deal on Thursday, and was immediately pressed on the expectations surrounding his new role.

With the club just three points off a Champions League place, and six away from leaders Manchester City, there is a suggestion Klopp’s arrival could lead to immediate success.

The 48-year-old German, however, is not under any pressure to deliver in his first campaign.

He reportedly told Bild: “I spoke to the people in charge of the club at length.

“[There are no targets for this season], just simply to play football with a recognisable brand.”

Klopp left Borussia Dortmund at the end of last season and subsequently took a sabbatical, one which lasted just four months as Liverpool came calling.

The coach admits it was a role he did not dream about as a young boy, but is humbled to be at Anfield nevertheless.

“Did I dream about becoming a Liverpool manager when I was a kid? No, I dreamed about playing for Stuttgart, and that didn’t work out,” he added.

“But I am totally humbled to be here.

“It is almost a bit bizarre: there have been so many good and successful German managers and yet no one has been here.”

His appointment has been met with widespread approval, and was increased even further after an impressive opening press conference on Friday.

In it, he labelled himself ‘the Normal One’ - in reference to Jose Mourinho’s ‘Special One’ tag - but admits it was not something he planned to say.

“No, I hadn’t thought about that at all,” he said. “I was asked and simply answered.

“Sometimes it is better to keep your mouth shut – but that is quite difficult at a press conference.”

[Yozza]

Jurgen Klopp: Too good to be true? The hurdles he must overcome at Liverpool FC to become 'perfect fit'

Everyone is hailing Klopp and Liverpool as a perfect fit - but there will have to be a bit of work from both ends

Franz Beckenbauer has said it. Jamie Carragher has said it. His former captain at Borussia Dortmund, Mats Hummels, has said it.

The list goes on. Dietmar Hamann, Stefan Effenberg, Joachim Low, Graeme Souness, Jamie Redknapp and Michael Owen.

All have been asked their opinion on the man who has taken charge at Anfield, all have agreed.

Klopp to Liverpool just makes sense.

No wonder, really. The similarities between Liverpool and Dortmund are evident; so, too, the task that Klopp faces on Merseyside. Given he was so successful in the Bundesliga, winning two titles and taking his side to the Champions League final, more of the same can be expected with the Reds.

In theory, at least.

But football can be spurious game where logic and reason matter little. It would be dangerous, though admittedly enthralling, to imagine Klopp will revive Liverpool's fortunes, just as he did at Dortmund.

He has the ability, of course. That is unquestionable. There is good reason why so many highly-respected people of the game – World Cup winners, Liverpool legends, Michael Owen – have predicted it.

It won't be easy, though. Klopp will not be under any illusion of that.

He has already called for patience. Not long after his introductory press conference, he said:

It is now up to Liverpool fans to show their smarts.

Here are the issues which the German coach must deal with, and the questions he must answer, in order to live up to the expectations.

GEGENPRESSING

Gegenpressing is the new tika-taka. This is not the new series on Amazon or Netflix, but the latest craze in tactics.

Like tiki-taka – which rose to prominence at Pep Guardiola's Barcelona – gegenpressing is a catchy title for a complex tactic. In short, however, it is based on a high-tempo, pressing game which an energetic side swarm the opposition from the first minute until the last, winning the ball back as soon as it is lost.

It sounds tailor-made for the Premier League. It certainly worked in Dortmund, as they won consecutive league titles. Klopp himself hailed the style as the best playmaker a team could have, due to the space created.

But it worked primarily in a league which had a winter break, and which only has 34 league games in a campaign. In their first title-winning campaign, 2010-11, they played just 44 games; the season after, 46. With a 38-game Premier League, combined with European campaigns and two cup competitions, a game based on so much energy could be hard to sustain.

There is also the fear – unfounded, so far – surrounding how suitable the tactic will be in English football. In addition, tactics constantly evolve – two up-front, once considered a relic of the game, is back in vogue – and its impact could be on the wane.

Klopp insists he has more than one vision, and he will adapt where necessary. It may be a crucial part of his job.

STRUCTURE

Much has also been made of the club Klopp walks into. Fractured and frustrating, one of the biggest caveats of Brendan Rodgers' final six months at Anfield centred around the conditions he had to work with.

The much-maligned, often misinterpreted transfer committee has been a huge focus amongst observers and supporters over recent times, none more so in the past week since Liverpool's interest in Klopp became apparent.

Some myths must be busted. It is not unusual for clubs to use analytics to help make transfer decisions; it is not strange for a manager to have several other voices to talk to when deciding upon purchases. Indeed, Klopp dealt with this at Borussia Dortmund. It is not the structure itself that matters, but how well it is implemented.

So far, not so good. Klopp, however, said it took less than 10 seconds to agree to the set-up at Anfield.

Given the performances in the transfer market over the past three years, it's a leap of faith. Time for those involved to repay it to the new manager.

COMPETITION

In Germany, he usurped the might of Bayern Munich. His Dortmund side did not have to enter a financial arms race; it was not an exercise to see whose bazooka was bigger. In the two seasons Dortmund won the title, their net spend was just over £200,000, spending under £12m across the two campaigns.

In England, however, there are more teams to contend with. Not that the Bundesliga was a league full of paupers, of course, with the likes of Schalke, Bayer Leverkusen and Wolfsburg all spending big in recent times.

But Liverpool are fifth in terms of the value of their squad and the money paid in wages, so it will take a big effort to break into the top four.

It does not concern Klopp, of course. He recognises there are – in his words – up to seven teams capable of being top, but feels money is not the deciding factor in who finishes there at the end of the season.

It's a tougher job in England, perhaps. He appears under no illusions of that.

EXPECTATION AND ADAPTATION

When he took over at Dortmund, they had not long recovered from the brink of meltdown. After a couple of mid-table finishes in the mid-2000s, they finished ninth and then, most worryingly, down in 13th before Klopp's arrival.

Though his time at Mainz made him one of the most exciting young coaches in the country, few would have expected what was to follow – let alone demand it. Sixth, fifth, first.

Because of that, he arrives at Anfield with far more expectancy around him than he did at Westfalenstadion.

He has spoken confidently about dealing with it, and has also asked fans – despite their desperation to see success – to give him time. Not too much time, but enough.

After the mania of his arrival, it is the least they can do. No groans at misplaced passes, no sighs if his style doesn't work at home to Sunderland.

It will be for the new coach to do this, as well, with the players already at the club. Like Klopp, the term 'perfect fit' has been used for some of the existing squad and the German's favoured style of football.

That won't apply to all the team, however. Patience required, perhaps, from coach, players and fans alike.

[Shaggy]

This appears to be the frontrunner for a song......

[ame]https://twitter.com/Andrew_Heaton/status/653289908161880064[/ame]

[Vermilion]

Is the lead singer a scouser ?

edit: in fact, is he not one of 'the scousers' ?

[baitman]

i dont want us mentioning the **** rag when singing at Anfield

[Liverpel]

i dont want us mentioning the **** rag when singing at Anfield

I agree.

[Fosterbloke]

haha I thought he was a vampire...

[Buzzo]

No worse than yours old boy.

[PTP]

This appears to be the frontrunner for a song......

https://twitter.com/Andrew_Heaton/st...89908161880064

Quite like the opus song, reckon it could take off

[Rich]

A little known fact: Opus - Life is Life was the first single I ever bought. Vinyl from HMV on the way back from seeing A View To A Kill at the cinema.

[PTP]

Nice fact.

The first time I think I heard it was watching Diego maradona doing keep ups to it before kick off once.

[captainfog]

That Life is Life song is terrible. Hope it's not that. Best one I've read so far is:

He's big
He's red
He's off his ****in' head
Jurgen Klopp
Jurgen Klopp