Liverpool : General discussion

Mitchell Nicholas said:
@Bob Loblaw, if he goes, who would want to see manage Liverpool?
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Honestly not sure. Obviously Ancelotti and Klopp should be the number 1 and number 2 targets. I don't think either would join but it would be idiotic not to at least try.

Who else is available? Don't know much about Favre to have an opinion on him. I'd be fine with a caretaker manager for a while until we identify a good target anyway, Rodgers shouldn't stay another day.
 
Would not mind if Klopp would join them and would brig back a bit of the old fire . Last 'derby' felt like a preseason game in the usa
 
I think it's shocking the idea that Liverpool might be considering replacing the manager that almost gave them so much with yet another foreign import manager who has no links to Liverpool, nor even English football. Ancelotti managed here for two seasons many years ago and hasn't been back since, and now with his age is unlikely to give them any sort of long-term commitment. Klopp hasn't even that much experience of managing in England, and would he show them the commitment that Rodgers does? Especially if bigger clubs come in for him at some stage? You don't need to worry about that with Rodgers, do you?

No, if they insist on giving Rodgers the boot, then they should be looking elsewhere I think - what's wrong with giving the job to Stuart Pearce? Or a Liverpool legend like John Barnes? That's definitely the direction they should go in if Rodgers is ousted.

I think I'll have to get in touch with John W. Henry to provide him guidance at this difficult time...
 
botond said:
Would not mind if Klopp would join them and would brig back a bit of the old fire . Last 'derby' felt like a preseason game in the usa
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I thought thw same before his 13/14 season but looking them being so close was hard. I wish they countinue their downfall because it is just as comical without any worry that they might win something. For example it would be glorious if the would get relegated ;)
 
botond said:
Would not mind if Klopp would join them and would brig back a bit of the old fire . Last 'derby' felt like a preseason game in the usa
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True. It's a fine balance of wanting them to be relevant so the matches matter but not so relevant that they can actually win anything.
 
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If he avoids injury, Sturridge can be Englands best forward for the next few years. Liverpool always look dangerous when he plays.
 
Aye, Sturridge is class, shame he's got a horrible injury record otherwise i think a big club would pick him up again.
 
Rafateria said:
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He's clearly a very clinical finisher, although I don't think he quite compared to Suarez or Torres. Suarez because of his all-round game, and Torres because he doesn't (at least yet) have the same fear factor with defenders constantly looking over their shoulders nervously. Sturridge is like Liverpool's Aguero - keeps getting rushed back and played all the time due to his team's dependence on him to his own long term detriment.
 
Akshay said:
He's clearly a very clinical finisher, although I don't think he quite compared to Suarez or Torres. Suarez because of his all-round game, and Torres because he doesn't (at least yet) have the same fear factor with defenders constantly looking over their shoulders nervously. Sturridge is like Liverpool's Aguero - keeps getting rushed back and played all the time due to his team's dependence on him to his own long term detriment.
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Also known as doing a Torres.
 
He'll be back on the treatment table in two months, tops. A great player, just a shame he plays for them and is almost always injured.
 
If he manages to stay fit he could probably score 30 goals a season. A top class player. Shame he plays for them, because without him they'd be battling for 10th place or something like that.
 
That they still have to rely on Sturridge after all this time and all those injuries, is a damning indictment on Rodgers and the idiots at FSG. Buying strikers (who in any system are the most important players) that don't suit the system that Rodgers wants to implement (Balotelli, Lambert, Benteke) is pure and utter lunacy.
 
3 very well taken goals. Sturridge is one of the best forwards England has produced. Shame he can't stay injury free.
 
There`s no doubt he`s got an eye for goal but it won`t be long until he is crocked again , it has happened right through his career wherever he has played and most his injuries aren`t caused by bad tackles but by strains ( calf , hamstring etc ) . He does give the scousers and Brendan an excuse though when they fall short each year even though every team has injuries but the year that he did stay fit for the majority of the time they would have won the title if it wasn`t for that pesky slippy bloke .
 
They have forgotten how to win games. Out of their last 9 matches in all competitions, they have won only once (not including the shootout victory against Carlisle). I can see this season being their worst ever points tally in the Premier League.
 
So, let's just assume Klopp is done, forget about rating him against other managers. Let's just focus on how we're going to play under him, where we're the weakest, and what positions need upgrading the most.

In the 2013 CL final, according to the highly accurate Wikipedia, Klopp played a 4-2-3-1, not too unsimilar from what United are playing at the moment. Given that formation, I'd expect our squad to line up something like...

Mignolet
Clyne Skrtel Sakho Gomez
Lucas Henderson
Ibe Coutinho Lallana
Sturridge

Or

Mignolet
Clyne Skrtel Sakho Gomez
Lucas Henderson
Lallana Firmino Coutinho
Sturridge

Bench options
GK - Bogdan
Defence - Toure, Lovren, Moreno
Midfield - Milner, Rossiter, Firmino, Can, Allen, Teixeira
Strikers - Benteke, Ings, Origi, Sinclair

I've bolded the players I feel we need to upgrade the most if we're to play the formation to its fullest. Firmino will hopefully/probably come good, and Skrtel, while we should be looking to upgrade due to his age (31 this year), will be alright for another window or two yet. Markovic, who is out on loan, may be decent cover for the wingers if Klopp does intend to play this system, but none of our other loanees are particularly interesting to be quite honest.

Let's just see what our team would be like if we replaced the bolded with players from that beaten 2013 team.

Weidenfeller
Clyne Skrtel Sakho Gomez
Gundogan/Bender Henderson
Blaszczykowski Firmino Coutinho
Sturridge

Bench: Bogdan, Moreno, Lovren, Can, Milner, Benteke, Ings

That looks much better. Obviously we're not going to get those exact players, and we might get in players better in one of the positions but another weaker player in another part of the pitch, but a net improvement to our squad of a similar level as that is more than achievable within two transfer windows (Jan & Summer). That strikes me as a squad capable of challenging for the top four & other honours in 16/17, although I do understand the top four will also improve during that time (unless Wenger doesn't buy again).

Who knows... With the potential outgoings, we might end up with enough funds to improve that defence a little bit.

Thoughts? Are my expectations unrealistic?
 
So, it's confirmed :) 4-2-3-1 then?
 
Adisa said:
So your £32m striker won't be first choice.
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Nothing wrong with that. I think our depth in strikers, when fit, surpasses those of some of the five teams that finished above us last season.
 
If Klopp can start getting these players to up their games (finally a manager that can) then I reckon Emre Can will be the closest to his/our new Bender/Gundogan.

Klopp needs to get him working harder at pressing. His reading of the game and ball work is fine for a deep lying midfielder but he does need to start running more (and more intelligently). Playing as a defender for 18 months should have helped his defensive awareness and responsibilities. Also helps he is already U-21 German captain and now featured in the main team too.
 
Dumbstar said:
If Klopp can start getting these players to up their games (finally a manager that can) then I reckon Emre Can will be the closest to his/our new Bender/Gundogan.

Klopp needs to get him working harder at pressing. His reading of the game and ball work is fine for a deep lying midfielder but he does need to start running more (and more intelligently). Playing as a defender for 18 months should have helped his defensive awareness and responsibilities. Also helps he is already U-21 German captain and now featured in the main team too.
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Hasn't shown anything to suggest that. He's pretty composed playing out from the back but I genuinely never got the CB experiment with him since he always sh*ts himself when the ball comes in the box and it's his area or his man it's heading too. So many botched clearances especially.
 
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