Jürgen Klopp

[Corndog]

Yes I’m aware that Kone and Thuram are more defensive midfielders but I don’t think that’s what the team needs as urgently as box to box midfielders hence the reference to Bellinghams goal involvements.

I don’t see how Kone or Thuram improves on Fabinho right now. I genuinely don’t see how anyone could come to that conclusion. I also don’t think they’d be coming for 30 mil. More like 45mil if an English club comes calling.

He’s been on average form this season but it would be better to give him more time and focus on replacing the box to box mids like Henderson, keita and wijnaldum who was never properly replaced like for like.

Bellingham isn’t any other young player, he’s so fr a step above. He looks better at what he does than Sancho was and it’s got absolutely nothing to do with his nationality.

I don’t think buying more players necessarily makes a better team but agree it should be at least 2 mids that come in.

I like Adeyemi but there’s no way dortmund let him go right now and at this stage, he’s not shown the end product to justify a huge move to Liverpool.

Will have to agree to disagree on Klostermann. I actually think he’s more of a CB long term.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Yes I’m aware that Kone and Thuram are more defensive midfielders but I don’t think that’s what the team needs as urgently as box to box midfielders hence the reference to Bellinghams goal involvements.

I don’t see how Kone or Thuram improves on Fabinho right now. I genuinely don’t see how anyone could come to that conclusion. I also don’t think they’d be coming for 30 mil. More like 45mil if an English club comes calling.

He’s been on average form this season but it would be better to give him more time and focus on replacing the box to box mids like Henderson, keita and wijnaldum who was never properly replaced like for like.

Bellingham isn’t any other young player, he’s so fr a step above. He looks better at what he does than Sancho was and it’s got absolutely nothing to do with his nationality.

I don’t think buying more players necessarily makes a better team but agree it should be at least 2 mids that come in.

I like Adeyemi but there’s no way dortmund let him go right now and at this stage, he’s not shown the end product to justify a huge move to Liverpool.

Will have to agree to disagree on Klostermann. I actually think he’s more of a CB long term.

I was not suggesting Thuram as a DM replacement for Fabinho as Thuram is rarely is used as an out and out DM by his club.

I, in my fictional team, was playing Kone at DM and using Thuram in one of the CM roles ahead of him. Probably the RCM role.


Fabinho has been poor for large chunks of this season and only average the few times he was not miles off the pace so basically any mobile competent DM would be an improvement at present let alone a highly rated young DM like Kone.


Right now I would take any of Kone, Laimar, or Ugarte and drop them straight into our team over Fabinho on current form.

A guy who is mobile, quick and tracks play is right now better than the version of Fabinho we currently have imo.

Maybe Fabinho improves dramatically next season with more mobile players around him, maybe he continues to decline and we all spend the season wishing we brought someone in to replace him or to compete with him.


Peak Fabinho is damn near impossible to replace in a like for like manner as that guy is one of if not the best DMs in the game. Thing is, just like TAA, we have not seen peak Fabinho since something during the season before this season.

The cliche of form is temporary and class being permanent could be trotted out, but loss of form is usually something that lasts weeks or maybe months, when it starts to stretch into season long losses of form then maybe it starts to no longer become a loss of form but rather an indication of what a player's new level is.


Either way my made up team matters not a jot. Maybe some of those players would work for us in the rewal world, maybe they would all flop for us in the real world.


The only thing that is certain is a lot of our senior players have been poor this season and more than a few of them do not have the excuse of being over 30.

Maybe the likes of TAA, Gomez, Robertson (hate adding him tbh as he generally keeps scrapping away even when having a poor game), and Fabinho can stop playing and moving like that are in their late 30s.

Maybe Henderson and VVD can turn back the clock and get a spring back in their step. Maybe Salah (again another I do not like to bash as he is still giving a good goal and assist return) will regain that acceleration he uised to have.

Maybe all those senior players will regain that fight to the final whistle attitude they used to show in spades during games where things were going against us.


Me I am not so sure they all will and I would like to see us bring in competition and/or replacements for at least half of them this summer rather than bring in one or two first teamers and hoping those on a season long dip in form all regain their old levels.

[Corndog]

I see your point of view, but Kone is part of a Gladbach side that is 10th in the Bundesliga and has lost 2 and drawn 3 of the last 5. He also plays in as one of two deeper mids as opposed to klopps favoured system that tends to have one.

His YouTube compilation looks great and he looks very mobile but if you watch a few Gladbach games this season or even highlights of their recent games, he’s actually not the quickest off the mark. He’s quick when he gets into his stride and that’s in a slower league.

I’d still back Jürgen to get it right whatever he does anyways so

[Doc_Piptorious]

I see your point of view, but Kone is part of a Gladbach side that is 10th in the Bundesliga and has lost 2 and drawn 3 of the last 5. He also plays in as one of two deeper mids as opposed to klopps favoured system that tends to have one.

His YouTube compilation looks great and he looks very mobile but if you watch a few Gladbach games this season or even highlights of their recent games, he’s actually not the quickest off the mark. He’s quick when he gets into his stride and that’s in a slower league.

I’d still back Jürgen to get it right whatever he does anyways so

So does that mean Bellingham is only standing out because he is playing in a slower league with a team that can outspend 15 of the other 17 teams then?


I'm in for nothing but PL proven players now instead.

Gallagher, Maddison and Ward Prowse for 2023/24 please.

[Corndog]

So does that mean Bellingham is only standing out because he is playing in a slower league with a team that can outspend 15 of the other 17 teams then?


I'm in for nothing but PL proven players now instead.

Gallagher, Maddison and Ward Prowse for 2023/24 please.

That is a risk with buying anyone from the Bundesliga yes although Jude Bellingham looks faster and more agile than Kone and captains a side that is actually able to compete with Bayern.

It doesn’t have to be PL players, the point being that I think a lot of fans over value players because they are foreign or from another league.

Why not take Gallagher (yes I’m aware he plays a different role) after all, like Kone he’s part of a very average mid table team and isn’t particularly agile or quick off the mark either.

In all seriousness, I don’t think any of those three would be right for Liverpool at this moment for lots of different reasons.

[Doc_Piptorious]

That is a risk with buying anyone from the Bundesliga yes although Jude Bellingham looks faster and more agile than Kone and captains a side that is actually able to compete with Bayern.

It doesn’t have to be PL players, the point being that I think a lot of fans over value players because they are foreign or from another league.

Why not take Gallagher (yes I’m aware he plays a different role) after all, like Kone he’s part of a very average mid table team and isn’t particularly agile or quick off the mark either.

In all seriousness, I don’t think any of those three would be right for Liverpool at this moment for lots of different reasons.

I was taking the piss


My only objection to Bellingham is if it were a choice between Bellingham and no other starter level players or getting a number of starter level players instead of Bellingham.


If we can get Bellingham plus some other starter level players then it is a no brainer.

[Mr Pink]

I was taking the piss


My only objection to Bellingham is if it were a choice between Bellingham and no other starter level players or getting a number of starter level players instead of Bellingham.


If we can get Bellingham plus some other starter level players then it is a no brainer.

a few weeks ago I’d be pushing for quality over quantity, but I’m starting to come round to the fact that 1 new addition in midfield may not be enough…

It’s a shame that Bajcetic got injured. He had a great spell for a handful of games where he looked like the real deal… but with this season cut short you have to wonder if he’s going to be good enough next year, to be one of the starting 3 when everyone’s fit… if he hadn’t gotten injured and played a major part in our team from now til the end of the season we’d have a much getting idea for what type of player we have on our hands, and mayhe it would impact what we do in the transfer market this summer

[SB]

a few weeks ago I’d be pushing for quality over quantity, but I’m starting to come round to the fact that 1 new addition in midfield may not be enough…

It’s a shame that Bajcetic got injured. He had a great spell for a handful of games where he looked like the real deal… but with this season cut short you have to wonder if he’s going to be good enough next year, to be one of the starting 3 when everyone’s fit… if he hadn’t gotten injured and played a major part in our team from now til the end of the season we’d have a much getting idea for what type of player we have on our hands, and mayhe it would impact what we do in the transfer market this summer

I just hope he brushes off the injury & comes back as strong as he was before the setback. I’ve got no doubts of his quality though.

[Doc_Piptorious]

a few weeks ago I’d be pushing for quality over quantity, but I’m starting to come round to the fact that 1 new addition in midfield may not be enough…

It’s a shame that Bajcetic got injured. He had a great spell for a handful of games where he looked like the real deal… but with this season cut short you have to wonder if he’s going to be good enough next year, to be one of the starting 3 when everyone’s fit… if he hadn’t gotten injured and played a major part in our team from now til the end of the season we’d have a much getting idea for what type of player we have on our hands, and mayhe it would impact what we do in the transfer market this summer

Totally agree with that.


Agree about Bajcetic also.

[Angryred]

Totally agree with that.


Agree about Bajcetic also.

Me too...with Bajectic & Morton to come back, we are gonna need space in our squad for them to develop so with the likes of Ox, Keita & possibly Milner departing, Henderson & Thiago will be kept around to mentor the young lads. Not sure on Fabinho as he might need a longer rest or a change of scenery.
TAA & Robertson better get their act sooner as we can't afford to be carrying passengers in that team & Klopp better do something about this, there's only so much credit he can have with the fans/club before it all goes awry.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Me too...with Bajectic & Morton to come back, we are gonna need space in our squad for them to develop so with the likes of Ox, Keita & possibly Milner departing, Henderson & Thiago will be kept around to mentor the young lads. Not sure on Fabinho as he might need a longer rest or a change of scenery.
TAA & Robertson better get their act sooner as we can't afford to be carrying passengers in that team & Klopp better do something about this, there's only so much credit he can have with the fans/club before it all goes awry.

Nah Klopp has as much credit in the bank as he wants as far as I am concerned. He is not above criticism of course, but I trust him to know when it is time to go and when it is time to stay and fight.

That man has overseen some of the best moments I have had in my years of following the club so some bad or lean times are never going to erase those highs.

Prefer to see the entire squad removed before Klopp. Man is a class act away from football and is both an achevier and a fighter when it comes to all things footy. Normally I am very much an "everyone in sport has an expiry date" chap, but now and then if you are lucky you get to be around to witness someone that exemplifies greatness, that reminds you of the difference beytween being at an elite level and simply being good. Those men and women you cherish even when they are no longer firing like they were, be it a blip or not.

Klopp is to Liverpool now what Shankly was to Liverpool of old. On and off the pitch.

[baitman]

For all the credit that klopp has in the bank my worry is him stubbornly sticking to "his style" when we don't have the legs to make it work consistently.
I worry that he is surrounded by too many arse kissing yes men who don't make a better case for a more pragmatic approach and allow us to sit back and defend more solidly and then be better able to hit teams on the counter.
When we are defending a corner we are often at our most dangerous and can break really quickly and cut teams open.

[Irishnev]

For all the credit that klopp has in the bank my worry is him stubbornly sticking to "his style" when we don't have the legs to make it work consistently.
I worry that he is surrounded by too many arse kissing yes men who don't make a better case for a more pragmatic approach and allow us to sit back and defend more solidly and then be better able to hit teams on the counter.
When we are defending a corner we are often at our most dangerous and can break really quickly and cut teams open.

We need someone to say no to him from time to time - that is why himself, Edwards and Gordon worked well together. We really need a strong sporting director that works in tandem with Klopp and a new back room voice could also help shake things up

[Phoenix07]

We need someone to say no to him from time to time - that is why himself, Edwards and Gordon worked well together. We really need a strong sporting director that works in tandem with Klopp and a new back room voice could also help shake things up

I know I'm going to sound like a broken record, but the Sporting Director role for me, will make or break Klopp's next rebuild, and his time going forward. Ask questions about our fitness levels, injuries, and preparation (like Paul Mitchell did at Monaco to improve their injuries), question the long term vision for players like Gakpo and Nunez (which I'm still confused about tbh.), and the long term contracts/incentivised contracts we have.

[BootRoom]

Is it really the role of the Sporting Director to get involved with the coaching aspect of things, either by making his opinions known or foisting a coach onto the Manager's staff?