Klopp to leave Liverpool at the end of the season

[roonster09]

That was in 2013-2014 with (and in large part due to) the best striker in the world at that time, who was gone before Klopp arrived. He didn't take over until October 2015.

The fact that you're even trying to bring that up shows that you're not trying to discuss this in good faith. This was his first starting XI in the league:

Mignolet; Clyne, Skrtel, Sakho, Moreno; Leiva, Can, Milner; Lallana, Coutinho, Origi. If you don't think that's a bang average PL squad then I guess we should just leave it at that.

The way the club was transformed was amazing, hopefully the good days are behind you guys now and you will be back to pre klopp days.

Also will be interesting to see how many players keep up their level once Klopp leaves, he always makes the player to play at much higher level.

 

[GaryLifo]

Next guy is going to have a task and a half I reckon, especially if he doesn't have the motivational skills and they go for some tactical guru type manager.

The bezerker style football that Klopp got them playing doesn't require world class players in every position, just players with very high workrates and good fitness levels, oh and asthma....

 

[Klopper76]

The way the club was transformed was amazing, hopefully the good days are behind you guys now and you will be back to pre klopp days.

Also will be interesting to see how many players keep up their level once Klopp leaves, he always makes the player to play at much higher level.

That's the biggest challenge for the next manager. Some of these players have benefited hugely from Klopp's management/motivation.

 

[Powderfinger]

Next guy is going to have a task and a half I reckon, especially if he doesn't have the motivational skills and they go for some tactical guru type manager.

The bezerker style football that Klopp got them playing doesn't require world class players in every position, just players with very high workrates and good fitness levels, oh and asthma....

I think there are a lot of parallels to United in 12-13 - a team heavily leaning on older players to be the real pillars of the side and a world class manager getting the absolute most out of everybody else and making a lot of those players look better than they are. Take the manager away and the older players leave, decline, or lose a bit of motivation. And what you're left with is a squad without that much truly top level talent and some impossibly big shoes to fill for the next manager.

 

[Klopper76]

I think there are a lot of parallels to United in 12-13 - a team heavily leaning on older players to be the real pillars of the side and a world class manager getting the absolute most out of everybody else and making a lot of those players look better than they are. Take the manager away and the older players leave, decline, or lose a bit of motivation. And what you're left with is a squad without that much truly top level talent and some impossibly big shoes to fill for the next manager.

I think this squad is in better shape than United's in 2013. We probably need a couple of CB's and a defensive midfielder but we're stacked in wide positions, up top, attacking midfield. Salah is probably going regardless of what Klopp does and Van Dijk's not got much left in the tank. I would expect some investment from FSG for a new manager though.

I worry if we lose Alisson. Tough to find a top keeper like him again.

 

[Isotope]

It's pretty poor that their owner didn't really back him on his last hurrahh season. Considering for all those things he has brought them in.

 

[AltiUn]

The strangest thing about this is that he's leaving at the point when it looks like Liverpool have completely rebuilt their squad and made it good enough to challenge for major trophies again.

A Liverpool squad made up of players aged 27 or under looks like,

GK Kelleher (25)
RB Bradley (20)
LB Gomez (26)
CB Konate (24)
CB Quansah (21)
CDM Macalister (25)
CM Trent (25)
CAM Szoboszlai (23)
RW Jota (27)
LW Diaz (27)
ST Nunez (24)

Subs
ST Gakpo (24)
CM Jones (23)
LB Tsimikas (27)
CAM Elliott (20)
CM Gravenberch (21)


I'd argue this is the strongest squad of players Klopp has had since he joined.

Kinda garbage in all honesty, a far cry from the CL winning side.

 

[Powderfinger]

I think this squad is in better shape than United's in 2013. We probably need a couple of CB's and a defensive midfielder but we're stacked in wide positions, up top, attacking midfield. Salah is probably going regardless of what Klopp does and Van Dijk's not got much left in the tank. I would expect some investment from FSG for a new manager though.

I worry if we lose Alisson. Tough to find a top keeper like him again.

I agree Liverpool's squad is probably in better shape but maybe not by much. It really all depends on how some of these players look outside of the very well oiled machine that is Klopp ball and possibly without veterans like Salah, VVD, and Alisson.

Its hard not to be influenced by what happened afterward but United in the spring of 2013 looked like a team with some very promising talent to build around: Rooney was only 27 and one of the best in the world, Valencia was 27, Evans and Smalling looked like a promising pair of young CBs, Rafael was a fixture of the side at 23, Kagawa was only 24 still had promise, Chicharito at 25 had put together three straight seasons with double digit goals as a super sub and might have been ready for a bigger role, Welbeck looked very promising. It turned out that SAF was essentially getting the most out of all these players.

 

[RobinLFC]

Kinda garbage in all honesty, a far cry from the CL winning side.

It's really not though in all honesty.

 

[RobinLFC]

I agree Liverpool's squad is probably in better shape but maybe not by much. It really all depends on how some of these players look outside of the very well oiled machine that is Klopp ball and possibly without veterans like Salah, VVD, and Alisson.

Its hard not to be influenced by what happened afterward but United in the spring of 2013 looked like a team with some very promising talent to build around: Rooney was only 27 and one of the best in the world, Valencia was 27, Evans and Smalling looked like a promising pair of young CBs, Rafael was a fixture of the side at 23, Kagawa was only 24 still had promise, Chicharito at 25 had put together three straight seasons with double digit goals as a super sub and might have been ready for a bigger role, Welbeck looked very promising. It turned out that SAF was essentially getting the most out of all these players.

Never mind the players, Utd's biggest fault was simply their new manager.

The current squad is more than capable of going toe to toe with anyone not named City next season if we get our new manager right, which is why I hope and think FSG will try hard for Alonso. It literally all depends on the manager.

 

[AltiUn]

It's really not though in all honesty.

Feels a lot like when we tried to convince ourselves Fergie had left behind a decent squad when we had Welbeck, Rafael and Cleverley.

 

[RobinLFC]

Feels a lot like when we tried to convince ourselves Fergie had left behind a decent squad when we had Welbeck, Rafael and Cleverley.

Except that in your case it was installing the wrong successor(s) that was the real issue.

 

[Powderfinger]

Never mind the players, Utd's biggest fault was simply their new manager.

The current squad is more than capable of going toe to toe with anyone not named City next season if we get our new manager right, which is why I hope and think FSG will try hard for [Irrelevant point - unless we are talking about F1]. It literally all depends on the manager.

United certainly screwed up the managerial appointment but I think anybody would have had difficulty following SAF. And I think its likely to be similar with Klopp, especially if players like Salah and VVD leave at the same time or stay and lose a bit of motivation.

If you have a manager that has figured out how to make a squad significantly more than the sum of its individual parts, then that manager leaves at the same time as a few of the best parts, its just hard for the next guy to make the math work.

 

[RobinLFC]

United certainly screwed up the managerial appointment but I think anybody would have had difficulty following SAF. And I think its likely to be similar with Klopp, especially if players like Salah and VVD leave at the same time or stay and lose a bit of motivation.

If you have a manager that has figured out how to make a squad significantly more than the sum of its individual parts, then that manager leaves at the same time as a few of the best parts, its just hard for the next guy to make the math work.

On the contrary, I think it might be most beneficial if those best parts are leaving alongside Klopp and we get some signifcant funds for the new manager to bring in some players for "his" system / style of play. We should get a good amount for Salah if he goes to Saudi Arabia, Van Dijk not so much but I figure he's still worth around €30 if he goes to a team like Inter or something like that.

Xabi A.lonso is proving this season that he can make a team perform better than the sum of its parts and compete with the very best, so he's by far my priority for the job. Just sucks that, even when we are a top 5 or top 10 club in the world, he might still reject us to say with Leverkusen or wait it out for the Real job.

EDIT: why the feck is Xabi A.lonso's name banned in here, fecking hell.

 

[GaryLifo]

I will be annoyed if Liverpool's new manager gets a massive overpriced windfall from Salah going to the Saudi league for 200 million in the summer.

Was bad enough them getting about 60 million for Fabinho and Henderson, enabling them to get Soblotzai and Gravenberch.

 

[keithsingleton]

Is Clichys hairline painted on or am I seeing things?

Lego head.

 

[Maluco]

The strangest thing about this is that he's leaving at the point when it looks like Liverpool have completely rebuilt their squad and made it good enough to challenge for major trophies again.

A Liverpool squad made up of players aged 27 or under looks like,

GK Kelleher (25)
RB Bradley (20)
LB Gomez (26)
CB Konate (24)
CB Quansah (21)
CDM Macalister (25)
CM Trent (25)
CAM Szoboszlai (23)
RW Jota (27)
LW Diaz (27)
ST Nunez (24)

Subs
ST Gakpo (24)
CM Jones (23)
LB Tsimikas (27)
CAM Elliott (20)
CM Gravenberch (21)


I'd argue this is the strongest squad of players Klopp has had since he joined.

Not a single truly great player there. A few very good ones, and some promising youngsters, but a lot of average and he knows it.

 

[Sunny Jim]

I will be annoyed if Liverpool's new manager gets a massive overpriced windfall from Salah going to the Saudi league for 200 million in the summer.

Was bad enough them getting about 60 million for Fabinho and Henderson, enabling them to get Soblotzai and Gravenberch.

60mil? and we wouldnt be able to sell Prime Messi for half of that money

 

[Steve Bruce]

That was in 2013-2014 with (and in large part due to) the best striker in the world at that time, who was gone before Klopp arrived.

Don't remember zlatan at Liverpool

 

[Savlehest]

Seriously though Liverpool’s squad is not close to be good enough for the CL or PL triumph. They need world class players to keep the standards Klopp provided. I struggle to find players any other top club would take, besides the front tree and Allison.

 

[tomaldinho1]

Seriously though Liverpool’s squad is not close to be good enough for the CL or PL triumph. They need world class players to keep the standards Klopp provided. I struggle to find players any other top club would take, besides the front tree and Allison.

This isn't true at all, they lost to a good Arsenal team away from home. City were favourites for the league at the beginning of the season and Pool/Arsenal will fight for 2nd/3rd. Maybe one of them can push City but I doubt it unless the 115fc punishment comes around quickly.

Allisson, VVD (even this old, slower version), Konate, TAA, Salah, Nunez, arguably Mac Allister, arguably Diaz, arguably Jota would start for us. The hope is by the end of the season, players like Hojlund, Mainoo, Dalot, Rashford have either kept up the promise or regained form and the Pool players fall off a cliff but, as of today, but we've been poor for most of this season.

The CL is incredibly weak and has been for a few years so they have a real chance, even Bayern and Real look quite average so basically they hope City get some tough draws and then they're likely favourites.

 

[cyberman]

This isn't true at all, they lost to a good Arsenal team away from home. City were favourites for the league at the beginning of the season and Pool/Arsenal will fight for 2nd/3rd. Maybe one of them can push City but I doubt it unless the 115fc punishment comes around quickly.

Allisson, VVD (even this old, slower version), Konate, TAA, Salah, Nunez, arguably Mac Allister, arguably Diaz, arguably Jota would start for us. The hope is by the end of the season, players like Hojlund, Mainoo, Dalot, Rashford have either kept up the promise or regained form and the Pool players fall off a cliff but, as of today, but we've been poor for most of this season.

The CL is incredibly weak and has been for a few years so they have a real chance, even Bayern and Real look quite average so basically they hope City get some tough draws and then they're likely favourites.

Liverpool haven’t even qualified for the CL, hard to play up how weak everybody is when they couldn’t even get in the fecking thing

 

[Cutch]

The strangest thing about this is that he's leaving at the point when it looks like Liverpool have completely rebuilt their squad and made it good enough to challenge for major trophies again.

A Liverpool squad made up of players aged 27 or under looks like,

GK Kelleher (25)
RB Bradley (20)
LB Gomez (26)
CB Konate (24)
CB Quansah (21)
CDM Macalister (25)
CM Trent (25)
CAM Szoboszlai (23)
RW Jota (27)
LW Diaz (27)
ST Nunez (24)

Subs
ST Gakpo (24)
CM Jones (23)
LB Tsimikas (27)
CAM Elliott (20)
CM Gravenberch (21)


I'd argue this is the strongest squad of players Klopp has had since he joined.

A lot of those names I expect could look very average to poor under another manager.

You got a glimpse of what the attack looks like without Salah v Arsenal. It's a serious step down from the Salah/ Mane/Firmino and Suarez/Sturridge/Sterling/ Coutinho days

 

[Remember the geese]

VVD (even this old, slower version), Konate, would start for us.

Lisandro Martinez exists. Also, there is no guarantee that Nunez would start for us.

 

[RobinLFC]

A lot of those names I expect could look very average to poor under another manager.

You got a glimpse of what the attack looks like without Salah v Arsenal. It's a serious step down from the Salah/ Mane/Firmino and Suarez/Sturridge/Sterling/ Coutinho days

You mean Konate, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Jota, Diaz, Nunez and Gakpo who have already proven that they are quality players outside of Liverpool?

Also so narrow-minded to pick out the Arsenal game as "a glimpse of what the attack looks like without Salah". Without Salah:
- We comfortably won at Arsenal and scored 2
- Put 4 past Bournemouth at their place
- Put 5 past Norwich at home
- Put 4 past Chelsea at home

But of course you chose to single out the Arsenal game

 

[Remember the geese]

A lot of those names I expect could look very average to poor under another manager.

You got a glimpse of what the attack looks like without Salah v Arsenal. It's a serious step down from the Salah/ Mane/Firmino and Suarez/Sturridge/Sterling/ Coutinho days

There really is a hell of a lot of dross there. Also, the chap you have quoted is a Liverpool fan. Just isn't open about it.

 

[tomaldinho1]

Liverpool haven’t even qualified for the CL, hard to play up how weak everybody is when they couldn’t even get in the fecking thing

You don't think they will finish in the CL places this year?

Lisandro Martinez exists. Also, there is no guarantee that Nunez would start for us.

He's injured... Licha is my top CB but I would pick either of the Pool CBs ahead of any other CB we have. Nunez gets a lot of flack on here because he's so erratic with his finishing but he's on 7 goals, 7 assists in the PL alone. As said in my post, hopefully by the end of this season hojlund has smashed in a good amount of goals and there's a strong case for him to be 'better' but, as it stands, one is clearly outperforming the other.

 

[Cutch]

You mean Konate, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Jota, Diaz, Nunez and Gakpo who have already proven that they are quality players outside of Liverpool?

Also so narrow-minded to pick out the Arsenal game as "a glimpse of what the attack looks like without Salah". Without Salah:
- We comfortably won at Arsenal and scored 2
- Put 4 past Bournemouth at their place
- Put 5 past Norwich at home
- Put 4 past Chelsea at home

But of course you chose to single out the Arsenal game

Lindelof, Anthony, Sancho, Van De Beek etc all looked like quality players too in functional sides. They probably would playing for Jurgen Klopp also.

Konate is very good, Diaz pre injury looked good. Szoboszlai looks like he has potential and Jota is good enough as a squad player in a title winning side. The like of Gravenberch, Elliott, Gakpo, Quansah, Bradley, Nunez etc still have it all to prove though.

It's like when we thought our back 4 was sorted post fergie for the next 10 years with Rafael, Jones, Smalling and Fabio.

It's a decent squad but without Klopp, Salah and Van Dijk it doesn't scream star quality to me. Salah is as good a clutch player as I've seen in years, getting someone to replicate that in the biggest games is going to be near impossible and getting the new manager right is absolutely huge.

 

[Remember the geese]

He's injured... Licha is my top CB but I would pick either of the Pool CBs ahead of any other CB we have. Nunez gets a lot of flack on here because he's so erratic with his finishing but he's on 7 goals, 7 assists in the PL alone. As said in my post, hopefully by the end of this season hojlund has smashed in a good amount of goals and there's a strong case for him to be 'better' but, as it stands, one is clearly outperforming the other.

Yeah, no issues with the Liverpool pairing in the absence of Martinez. No chance of me taking Nunez over Højlund. He's in a more successful side currently. One that functions better and creates more chances/scores more goals. However, Højlund over Nunez for me.

 

[tomaldinho1]

Yeah, no issues with the Liverpool pairing in the absence of Martinez. No chance of me taking Nunez over Højlund. He's in a more successful side currently. One that functions better and creates more chances/scores more goals. However, Højlund over Nunez for me.

For what it is worth I agree, although it's probably because I like Hojlund and dislike Pool given the numbers are very one sided. I am hopeful by the end of this season people are arguing that none of the Pool team would get into our squad after we have a storming end to the campaign and Salah leaves them for peanuts.

 

[RobinLFC]

Lindelof, Anthony, Sancho, Van De Beek etc all looked like quality players too in functional sides. They probably would playing for Jurgen Klopp also.

Konate is very good, Diaz pre injury looked good. Szoboszlai looks like he has potential and Jota is good enough as a squad player in a title winning side. The like of Gravenberch, Elliott, Gakpo, Quansah, Bradley, Nunez etc still have it all to prove though.

It's like when we thought our back 4 was sorted post fergie for the next 10 years with Rafael, Jones, Smalling and Fabio.

They indeed have it all to prove but have youth on their side and have shown signs of promise, agree that the jury will still be out on them post-Klopp but to label them "average to poor looking" is a bridge too far for me.

Disagree on the last sentence though, TAA - Konate - Robertson with a any decent CB replacing Van Dijk is miles and miles above the back four you mention imo.

It's a decent squad but without Klopp, Salah and Van Dijk it doesn't scream star quality to me. Salah is as good a clutch player as I've seen in years, getting someone to replicate that in the biggest games is going to be near impossible and getting the new manager right is absolutely huge.

Fully agree. It's not the players which scare me but the new manager. If we get it right (A.lonso for me), then I'm still confident we can build up something new again, wouldn't mind if it takes a few years with us still regularly finishing in the top 4 in that build-up. However if we get it (catastrophically) wrong, it can go down the drain very fast and could easily look like something Utd have done post-SAF.

 

[Remember the geese]

For what it is worth I agree, although it's probably because I like Hojlund and dislike Pool given the numbers are very one sided. I am hopeful by the end of this season people are arguing that none of the Pool team would get into our squad after we have a storming end to the campaign and Salah leaves them for peanuts.

Even taking the numbers into account, fair enough Nunez has a fair few assists, but he only has one more goal than Højlund in all competitions. That's with Højlund competing in the Champions League, as oposed to Liverpool being in the Europa League. On your second point, that would be a dream of course. Hopefully we can start making better decisions in terms of recruitment from this summer.

 

[tomaldinho1]

Even taking the numbers into account, fair enough Nunez has a fair few assists, but he only has one more goal than Højlund in all competitions. That's with Højlund competing in the Champions League, as oposed to Liverpool being in the Europa League. On your second point, that would be a dream of course. Hopefully we can start making better decisions in terms of recruitment from this summer.

Yes but 11 assists is much better than 2. Agreed re CL v EL though, I think that's what really gave everyone hope with Hojlund, whilst I don't think we had the toughest group by any means, he was a constant threat.

 

[V.O.]

There really is a hell of a lot of dross there. Also, the chap you have quoted is a Liverpool fan. Just isn't open about it.

It is pretty funny that @Megadrive Man gets binned off in the great Liverpool fan cull of 2020, but @MegadrivePerson pops up a couple of years later as a "United fan" with nothing but good things to say about Liverpool and the mods don't bat an eye.

Spoiler

 

[dwd]

It is pretty funny that @Megadrive Man gets binned off in the great Liverpool fan cull of 2020, but @MegadrivePerson pops up a couple of years later as a "United fan" with nothing but good things to say about Liverpool and the mods don't bat an eye.

Spoiler

I'm amazed it hasn't been brought up before to be honest.

 

[Rooney in Paris]

It is pretty funny that @Megadrive Man gets binned off in the great Liverpool fan cull of 2020, but @MegadrivePerson pops up a couple of years later as a "United fan" with nothing but good things to say about Liverpool and the mods don't bat an eye.

Spoiler

I KNEW THERE WAS A LIVERPOOL SUPPORTING MEGADRIVE!! Was driving me crazy!

 

[Remember the geese]

It is pretty funny that @Megadrive Man gets binned off in the great Liverpool fan cull of 2020, but @MegadrivePerson pops up a couple of years later as a "United fan" with nothing but good things to say about Liverpool and the mods don't bat an eye.

I'm amazed it hasn't been brought up before to be honest.

Agreed. I've mentioned it a few times in the past, but without any response from anyone. This including the poster in question. Yeah, even aside from their name, the content is very pro Liverpool. Though there are many 'so called' United fans on here who enjoy nothing better than defending Liverpool's honour in all matters, in the interest of "balance". Perhaps this poster has slipped through the cracks due to this weird trend.

 

[AltiUn]

It is pretty funny that @Megadrive Man gets binned off in the great Liverpool fan cull of 2020, but @MegadrivePerson pops up a couple of years later as a "United fan" with nothing but good things to say about Liverpool and the mods don't bat an eye.

Spoiler

Having a look through his post history, he's extremely committed to the cause if they are the same person person because most of his posts don't seem to be Liverpool-related.

 

[Remember the geese]

Yes but 11 assists is much better than 2. Agreed re CL v EL though, I think that's what really gave everyone hope with Hojlund, whilst I don't think we had the toughest group by any means, he was a constant threat.

True. 11 is a good number. Though it must be nice to be assisting a player of Salah's calibre and Jota's finishing abilities as opposed to Antony and this season's Rashford. Anyway, I digress. Really encouraging signs from Højlund. I look forward to seeing what he can produce for us over the whole of next season.

 

[tomaldinho1]

True. 11 is a good number. Though it must be nice to be assisting a player of Salah's calibre and Jota's finishing abilities as opposed to Antony and this season's Rashford. Anyway, I digress. Really encouraging signs from Højlund. I look forward to seeing what he can produce for us over the whole of next season.

Yep, the numbers will rack up quickly for us as the quality increases as well. Quick gentleman's wager, how many PL goals you think Hojlund will end up with end of season? I'm going for 12.