Topic: The Jurgen Klopp Draft - Discussion thread

[Popcorn]

Only in from work, picked and I'll get the formation sorted now.

[surfer. Fuck you generator.]

[Popcorn]

https://www.buildlineup.com/shared/66030f1420bb1206a4fdbcd9

Can someone possibly attach this please. I'm having a nightmare with this 

[red1977]

There you go.

[Popcorn]

There you go.

Thanks Red.. No idea why that caused me so many issues. Blurry eyes from hectic day haven't helped.

What a team though. Counter attack pressing machine.

[Popcorn]

Thanks lads

[Betty Blue]

One of my favourite teams in awhile. Wanted to try and replicate a classic Klopp 433 with attacking fullbacks which almost become wingers, a hard pressing controlling midfield full of excellent passers, and three fluid hard running attackers who could hurt any defence. Probably Robben is the least Klopp like player in there, but I liked that he could replicate some of Salah's dangerous ability to cut inside and score worldies.

Passed up a few players I'd normally pick just because I wanted ones that best fit the Klopp way. Please forgive me Hagi.

BUT saying all that, it won't be going into the voting. From the start, I never had any intention to include my final team. I had far too great of an advantage over all of you. Not saying I'd win it (pretty sure I've made several enemies after the blonde/celebration drama), but it never felt fair. I spent several weeks planning out the categories, which basically meant researching each one individually and working out whether they were viable/had enough good players in each. I have a whole list of discarded categories that were either too hard or too easy. Be thankful I didn't go with the first version of the German rule - a German who never played outside of Germany. There are only about 5 good ones. 

This meant I knew where all the best picks were and could mostly kick my feet up while you all panicked. Sorry to anyone whose players I stole, but I needed some incentive to run this thing and keep you lunatics in order. The drafting has always been the best bit. So I'm happy I got to do that.



Having one team less also makes things easier with an even 14 teams. This way we'll do straight knock-outs and then decide some way of the best runner-up getting a reprieve and going into the next round.

Thanks all for making it such a fun draft and keeping me entertained while I was sick all last week 

Draw is as follows 1 vs 2, 3 vs 4, 5 vs 6 etc -



Congrats to Bobby on his bye into round 2 

[Popcorn]

Thanks for running Betty

[Draex]

Thanks Betty, you should have stayed in it, I mean with respect, your team isn't "better" than anyone elses, its probably one of the closest drafts I've seen.

[Betty Blue]

Thanks Betty, you should have stayed in it, I mean with respect, your team isn't "better" than anyone elses, its probably one of the closest drafts I've seen.

Yeah, I know that. I'm definitely not trying to suggest my team is substantially better. I just wouldn't feel right IF I were to win it and/or knock other teams out with the advance knowledge I had throughout the draft.

I actually tried to sabotage my own team slightly by picking in categories I knew I could have saved longer haha to make it more challenging.

[Hazell]

Thanks Betty for organising.

On players that didn't get pick, I had Rivera, Sagnol, Makelele and Maxi as no 19's, Zoff and Thomas Muller as players who played more than 325 games, Vierchowod as having played under Sacchi.

Wijnaldum and Henderson didn't get picked either, and I suspect the latter might done a year ago.

[Draex]

Crespo was my backup 19 striker.

[Betty Blue]

Crespo was my backup 19 striker.

The remainder of my 19 list -

Ruggeri, Inzaghi, Karembeu, Radebe, van Bronckhorst, Reuter, Crespo, Mostovoi, Balbo, Law, Rivera, Sagnol, Juninho 1 & 2, Canizares, Boksic, Favalli, P. Sousa, Gilberto Silva, Sane, Pique, Baraja, Hakimi, Chiesa, Montella, Joaquín, Senna, Sagna, Sturridge, Kewell, Heinze, Varane, Kluivert, Anelka

Some of these I hadn't checked whether you could actually find a picture of them in a 19 shirt though.

The biggest shock for me was that nobody picked Klinsmann as their blonde German. That was one of the picks I deliberately passed up. I was expecting someone to pull an amazing round 11 heist on him, but then nothing.

[child-in-time]

Glenn Hoddle was another n19 who was passed on. It took me forever to find a pic of him wearing the n19 for England so maybe thats why.

[Draex]

The biggest shock for me was that nobody picked Klinsmann as their blonde German. That was one of the picks I deliberately passed up. I was expecting someone to pull an amazing round 11 heist on him, but then nothing.

He was on my list but I couldn’t not have Kenny and Rush the greatest Liverpool pairing of all time.

Very happy with my defence especially, no weakness.

[red1977]

Glenn Hoddle was another n19 who was passed on. It took me forever to find a pic of him wearing the n19 for England so maybe thats why.

You found one? I spent ages looking but he never had his back showing in the pics. Rivera was another one.

[Popcorn]

Very nearly took Bobby Charlton instead of Gattuso but wanted to stick to my 433 shape utilising Kante playing that left sided/Gini role with Mane and Roberto Carlos.

[Sarge]

No list for me I winged it.

[child-in-time]

You found one? I spent ages looking but he never had his back showing in the pics. Rivera was another one.

Yeah, thats the only one I could find

[child-in-time]

Rivera was another one.

Rivera:

[red1977]

Fair play. I was looking for days and had to give up.

[Max_powers]

I really wanted to put Redondo on the ban list to be honest, but couldn't work out whose place he could take in the top 20.

I was torn between Redondo and Arturo Vidal who in my opinion is the most heavy metal player ever. 

Despite Vidal being a monster, he never was a true defensive mid, so went for Redondo. 

Surprised Vidal and Falcao went unpicked.

[Sarge]

I went with a strong down the middle side that will be both dangerous attacking but with players who will work their balls off, eg. Son and Zola tracking back. Keane in CDM screaming orders with VVD backing him up, then Ally backing him up. The back 5 is top class with muscle all over the park and that bit of hard working flair where needed.

[Musketeer Gripweed]

I couldn't pick Falcao, I really wanted to as well. Also would have like Cannigia, Boniek and my especially Dragan Stojkovic. I loved that Yugoslavia team.

Surprised Ashley Cole didn't get picked.

[Musketeer Gripweed]

Oh aye, thanks for running that Betty, especially because of all the unruly kids playing up all the time.

[Draex]

Rob Rensebrink  wearing 19



all the great dutch players loved a 19 in America

Also had Kane, Gotze, Torres, Costa

[Betty Blue]

Can't believe no-one picked Mainoo.

[Hazell]

Can't believe no-one picked Mainoo.

Can't believe you didn't put him on the banned list.

[Betty Blue]

Can't believe you didn't put him on the banned list.

[Prof]

Thanks for running this Betty.  It was fun to come out of retirement to join in a tribute to Klopp.

Like you, we went for a Klopp style team.  Getting his two full backs was a nice win.  All the other picks we made were trying to match the style of player to the league winning system.  The drafting is the bit I enjoy and getting a team together that matches the intention is always good.

Keegan as Mane, Gullit as Bobby, Figueroa as Virgil and Bullard (or Neeskens  ) as an upgrade on Henderson (who we could have signed with the Hendo Shuffle trophy lift, but who has lost his rep over the last year).

Good luck with the voting rounds everyone.  Some really good sides in there.  I think my votes will go to the teams that best represent Klopp's values and style of play.

[Prof]

So... Samie mentioned in a pm the cricket simulator I ran during lock down to run the cricket draft teams against each other and suggested I try and do something similar for football.

I've had a brief play around with this today and think it's probably doable with the obvious limitations around the data that determines the relative strengths of players

Is there any appetite/interest in this?

[Prof]

This was the original cricket one

https://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=345265.msg17157252#msg17157252

https://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=345263.msg17156910#msg17156910

Then we ran a test series of two rawk teams against each other

https://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=345334.msg17173311#msg17173311

Then it went even more weird with a Space Jam inspired test series.  Rawk versus the aliens, finishing with a test at Moron Mountain.

https://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=345355.msg17204848#msg17204848

When the grandkids ask me what I did during the Covid Lockdown, I'll just say I helped defend planet earth from some cricket playing aliens!   

[Popcorn]

I'd play another draft if it takes off in the next few weeks. Abroad for a few weeks end of April so be awkward that timing,

[Samie]

Trust me lads Prof's simulator was legendary. 

The footie one will be great. 

[Betty Blue]

So... Samie mentioned in a pm the cricket simulator I ran during lock down to run the cricket draft teams against each other and suggested I try and do something similar for football.

I've had a brief play around with this today and think it's probably doable with the obvious limitations around the data that determines the relative strengths of players

Is there any appetite/interest in this?

How does it determine how good a player is? Do we have to tell it? Does that mean Gento is a first round pick 

[Musketeer Gripweed]

I wish I had stuck with my original Jimmy Greaves advert. I only ditched it because it had Bryan Robson in it as well. And most of my squad were too old anyway. Live and learn I suppose.

[Betty Blue]

I wish I had stuck with my original Jimmy Greaves advert. I only ditched it because it had Bryan Robson in it as well. And most of my squad were too old anyway. Live and learn I suppose.

It's your first draft, mate. You did better than most do!

And you were allowed to have adverts with multiple players in. I think most people panicked over the advert category when it was in fact one of the easiest ones. My remaining list of players in there included -

Hagi, Neymar, Boban, Pires, Alexis, Sneijder, D. Silva, Brady, Griezmann, Adams, Breitner, Lizarazu, Chiellini, Puyol, Ferdinand, Marcelo, T. Silva, Zamorano, Beardsley, Fowler,

[Draex]

I found an advert with 6 barca players in it.

Pitty Alves is a c*nt.

[Musketeer Gripweed]

Thanks mate, it was great fun.

I toyed with having Paulo Rossi for my heavy metal player, only because of the rumours Everton fans like to spread about how Klopp's players run so much. Thought better of it, even if I thought it was funny.

[Betty Blue]

I found an advert with 6 barca players in it.

Pitty Alves is a c*nt.

The Qatar one? I couldn't bring myself to use that ad. I found a Bayern Lufthansa ad with about 5 players in as well.

I was worried someone would pick him unknowingly.