Topic: The Klopp Template

[hesbighesred]

I loved our long throws against Leicester...marginal gains and that!

[Red Beret]

I can see our football being more pragmatic this season. We're clearly learning to win ugly.

It's easy to win titles playing pretty football when you have infinite resources and are uncatchable most seasons.

[Djozer]

I loved our long throws against Leicester...marginal gains and that!

Andy Gray and Paul Robinson think you're wrong, which means you're almost certainly right.

[the_red_pill]

I can see our football being more pragmatic this season. We're clearly learning to win ugly.

It's easy to win titles playing pretty football when you have infinite resources and are uncatchable most seasons.

We've progressed sofar that we can now work on the details and eking out every ounce of good from what we already know- setpieces included.
We're basically a complete team now and there are now only marginal gains to be had... and we're working on those of course. The inch you need when facing the best teams in the world- when both of you are equally as good or one's weaknesses are the other's strength and vice versa.
In those games- in the finals, the title deciders, the semis- it's that extremely little improvement on "chance" that makes you score a goal more or concede a goal less.

The only thing that's left for me- is Ox. Then we would have been complete for THIS season and I would've said without hesitation that we WILL compete with City and would have just as much chance of winning the league as they have.

[Adeemo]

I loved our long throws against Leicester...marginal gains and that!

It should be interesting to watch them develop, knowing that it's something we're working on.

[Keith Lard]

The thing I love about Klopp is he has courage of convinction. He thinks long term and takes public flack for it.

Joe Gomez is a perfect example. The insistence of playing him at right back for an entire season and resisting the switch to CB mid season shows that conviction. Come rain or shine, Gomez was made to learn his trade at right back and understand the life of a right back before being given the chance at centre back. I think this gives him greater peripheral vision to execute the role now. I would hazard a guess Klopp and his team had this planned as part of his career development.

To know this philosophy is applied to the entire squad is pretty amazing. We haven’t had this for so long.

[Shaved Crossbar]

The thing I love about Klopp is he has courage of convinction. He thinks long term and takes public flack for it.

Not signing a CB and waiting for half a season just for a chance at moving for van Dijk again. That was ballsy.

[Gnurglan]

Not signing a CB and waiting for half a season just for a chance at moving for van Dijk again. That was ballsy.

Yes and it's very good that we try and do things that way and wait for the right player. Now we are trying to focus our spendings. We appear to know what we want and we target first team players. It looks simple and natural but it has taken us some time to get there.

[Doc Red]

Not signing an attacking midfielder and waiting for half a season just for a chance at moving for Fekir again. That is ballsy.

[mercury]

The thing I love about Klopp is he has courage of convinction. He thinks long term and takes public flack for it.
....
To know this philosophy is applied to the entire squad is pretty amazing. We haven’t had this for so long.

Calculated courage in sports is priceless, not the least in a football manager. 

May I also give a pat on the shoulders to the management and, not the least, ourselves?  The whole Club moves in the same direction with the right manager at the helm.  We are such a well managed, if not the best managed, Club nowadays.  This is what we fought for 8 years ago.  Took 8 long years to be close to what we dreamt of.

[the_red_pill]

Calculated courage in sports is priceless, not the least in a football manager. 

May I also give a pat on the shoulders to the management and, not the least, ourselves?  The whole Club moves in the same direction with the right manager at the helm.  We are such a well managed, if not the best managed, Club nowadays.  This is what we fought for 8 years ago.  Took 8 long years to be close to what we dreamt of.

We're all in sync again. Club and management trusts the manager- whom they've selected carefully and are willing to sacrifice - with him- short terms gains over the long term. The manager, scouting and recruitment are on-point, diligent, relentless, patient, shrewd, in the know and efficient.
Fantastic all round!

We're a unit, looking from the outside-in: from the pitch, to the stands, right through middle to upper management and long may it continue!

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Klopp

The players are not at their top level yet. That is because we are in the early part of the season. It is normal,” said the Liverpool manager.

“Everybody should know we have a lot of work to do still, but if they don’t then I have told them. When you win four times it sounds really crazy to say this, but it is still part of the pre-season for a very long time after the summer.

“From mid-September, we play every three days. So we do the work now, and this is how it is – it is normal that you are not quite at 100 per cent in the games.”

[Phil M]

Andy Gray and Paul Robinson think you're wrong, which means you're almost certainly right.

[sms1986]

We're all in sync again. Club and management trusts the manager- whom they've selected carefully and are willing to sacrifice - with him- short terms gains over the long term. The manager, scouting and recruitment are on-point, diligent, relentless, patient, shrewd, in the know and efficient.
Fantastic all round!

We're a unit, looking from the outside-in: from the pitch, to the stands, right through middle to upper management and long may it continue!

We're only going to get better as well!

[MNAA]

Bump

Are we getting close? Damn right we are!

[hesbighesred]

Andy Gray and Paul Robinson think you're wrong, which means you're almost certainly right.

Andy Gray thinks it's a bad idea? Yeah, 100% the best decision Klopp's ever made, then, the baked potato-headed fuckwit.

[sms1986]

Bump

Are we getting close? Damn right we are!

I don't know, we might be. Let's check back in a couple of seasons.

We certainly are - we're winning even if it's an ugly victory, we're even winning the early kick offs and games straight after ones in Europe that we struggled with last season.

[PhaseOfPlay]

Average positions for first half versus Southampton. Absolutely clear what the shape was:

[christofu]

Average positions for first half versus Southampton. Absolutely clear what the shape was:

Good to see us trying a plan B. I am guessing this plan is designed to give us a different attacking shape. We seem to attack well but not sure we  have as much control (e.g. the Europa league final v Sevilla or Saturdays game v Southampton). I think we now have players that can potentially play that system and as Klopp alluded to we didn't really have time to practice on Saturday.

I guess one of the main differences is 2 rather than 3 in the midfield and it seemed on Saturday one of the central midfielders were reluctant to vacate the central zone and go and help out the fullbacks with the overload (or should that have been one of wide attacking midfielders job?)

Interested to hear your thoughts Pop.

[SerbianScouser]

Loved the idea of 4 attackers on the pitch but Bobby anywhere but through the middle is a huge no-no for me. Hopefully we'll figure out how to be tough to play against in this shape as we are in our standard 433 so we could use it all the time vs dross because I fear we won't get enough goals from our 8s whereas with 4 attackers we're less likely to shoot blanks.

At least Klopp will have more evidence to support the idea this other shape gives us even a better chance against parked buses.

[Knight]

I feel like I've read stuff on here to the effect that Klopp decided he needed a 3rd CM given his (then) options. I wonder if Fabinho and Keita potentially give us the option going forward of playing just those 2 as a double pivot. Although obviously right now, given they're both adapting to the Klopp way, that isn't going to be possible.

If Salah ends up being less prolific this season I see no issue with him no longer being our 'cheat' and giving him and Mane instructions to defend wide when necessary. However, does that lesson Firmino's impact in that he can no longer play 10?

[PhaseOfPlay]

Loved the idea of 4 attackers on the pitch but Bobby anywhere but through the middle is a huge no-no for me. Hopefully we'll figure out how to be tough to play against in this shape as we are in our standard 433 so we could use it all the time vs dross because I fear we won't get enough goals from our 8s whereas with 4 attackers we're less likely to shoot blanks.

At least Klopp will have more evidence to support the idea this other shape gives us even a better chance against parked buses.

We don't play a standard 433 though. Even Klopp has said so.

[Fluke]

Loved the idea of 4 attackers on the pitch but Bobby anywhere but through the middle is a huge no-no for me. Hopefully we'll figure out how to be tough to play against in this shape as we are in our standard 433 so we could use it all the time vs dross because I fear we won't get enough goals from our 8s whereas with 4 attackers we're less likely to shoot blanks.

At least Klopp will have more evidence to support the idea this other shape gives us even a better chance against parked buses.

Switching the shape was definitely to fit all 4 of them on, and the idea was to put Salah up against the two big center backs who might struggle against his pace.

[NHRed]

We don't play a standard 433 though. Even Klopp has said so.

POP, emphasis on "our" more than "standard", maybe?

[AmanShah21]

Does anyone else feel like we are playing a bit too safe in the final third? I don't think this can be particularly by design, but it does seem like there's fewer attempts to try a riskier pass in the final third if a safer option is available. I know it sounds counter-intuitive when I put it like that but it just feels like of late, there's a certain tendency to play a pass out wide instead of attempting to take on a defender or try a risky cute pass. Most teams are overloading the box when they lose the ball and we get very little in from out wide. Some of this might just be the lack of form in our front 3 but if anyone has access, I'd like to know our takeon stats in the final third this season, especially the last few games and how they compare to last season cause it feels like there's much fewer of those, atleast much fewer being won in that area of the pitch atleast.

[Knight]

Not sure. Seems to me they're either making a mess of final pass/ shot a little more often than last season, or just not getting the ball anywhere near enough (e.g vs Napoli and Chelsea). The service to Salah was abysmal on Wednesday. Balls lumped to his head time after time.

[clinical]

Does anyone else feel like we are playing a bit too safe in the final third? I don't think this can be particularly by design, but it does seem like there's fewer attempts to try a riskier pass in the final third if a safer option is available. I know it sounds counter-intuitive when I put it like that but it just feels like of late, there's a certain tendency to play a pass out wide instead of attempting to take on a defender or try a risky cute pass. Most teams are overloading the box when they lose the ball and we get very little in from out wide. Some of this might just be the lack of form in our front 3 but if anyone has access, I'd like to know our takeon stats in the final third this season, especially the last few games and how they compare to last season cause it feels like there's much fewer of those, atleast much fewer being won in that area of the pitch atleast.

I just think overall the front 3 are in a little lull. WHich will happen from time to time. I think we need to play Shaqiri in midfield more. We do lack that more attack minded player in there. Just don't think Klopp is 100% happy to play Shaqiri there though. Probably our now weakest area in the team which isn't even that weak, shows how far we've come.

[Vinay]

Average positions for first half versus Southampton. Absolutely clear what the shape was:

Is this a 2-4-3-1 then?

[Ravishing Rick Dude]

It's good that we're having some obvious difficulties while we're winning. We need to fix that before we stop winning, and things become complicated even more. Sunday will give us a clearer picture, if the problems are real or not.

[PhaseOfPlay]

Is this a 2-4-3-1 then?

No.

And also, yes.



(but no - there's next-to-no such thing as a FLAT back four. They're almost always curved like a "C" when you take into account the attacking tasks of the fullbacks).

[harleydanger]

What do people think of moving Mane back to midfield and putting Shaq up wide when we’re struggling to break out, like against Napoli?

[Adeemo]

What do people think of moving Mane back to midfield and putting Shaq up wide when we’re struggling to break out, like against Napoli?

I think Mane's passing is often too sloppy for him to play any deeper, could end up causing us a fair bit of trouble. I'd just find a way to play Shaqiri in the midfield 3.

[mercurial]

I just get a feeling that we are not committed to put players into the box from midfield like we used to do. I don't have numbers but just a general take is the runs from midfield into the final third and specifically into the box has reduced. It might be the reason we retain shape better and defensive numbers are better this season. POP, Babu others can possibly shed more light if this is true or not. If true, we need a can opener of a player like David Silva or Coutinho. I definitely do think it is the reason why the front three are struggling a bit in absence of the runners. The midfielders are possibly holding their positions or if they make the runs someone in the front three falls back to cover. Is there even statistics which brings out how many we commit to the final third in an attacking phase or an attempt at goal?

[diglet]

I just get a feeling that we are not committed to put players into the box from midfield like we used to do. I don't have numbers but just a general take is the runs from midfield into the final third and specifically into the box has reduced. It might be the reason we retain shape better and defensive numbers are better this season. POP, Babu others can possibly shed more light if this is true or not. If true, we need a can opener of a player like David Silva or Coutinho. I definitely do think it is the reason why the front three are struggling a bit in absence of the runners. The midfielders are possibly holding their positions or if they make the runs someone in the front three falls back to cover. Is there even statistics which brings out how many we commit to the final third in an attacking phase or an attempt at goal?

I don’t have anywhere near the knowledge compared to the usual brilliant suspects, but I had the exact same feeling today. It felt like Mo in particular was very isolated. However, I do wonder if this was a tactical decision from Kloppo. I got the distinct feeling he was pretty much happy to get a point, and as such the midfield stayed disciplined and held its shape rather than breaking forward at will. If the penalty goes in then I’m sure he’d take a bit of flak, but it didn’t and ultimately it’s a good result for us.

To put it into context, we’ve taken points off our 2 closest rivals in the last two games, after a brilliant opening volley, without our attacking play really kicking into gear. At the start of the season if you had offered anyone on here the possibility of being joint top of the table heading into the October international break and level pegging with City after playing them, then we’d all be salivating.

Onwards and upwards folks!

[Gnurglan]

I just get a feeling that we are not committed to put players into the box from midfield like we used to do. I don't have numbers but just a general take is the runs from midfield into the final third and specifically into the box has reduced. It might be the reason we retain shape better and defensive numbers are better this season. POP, Babu others can possibly shed more light if this is true or not. If true, we need a can opener of a player like David Silva or Coutinho. I definitely do think it is the reason why the front three are struggling a bit in absence of the runners. The midfielders are possibly holding their positions or if they make the runs someone in the front three falls back to cover. Is there even statistics which brings out how many we commit to the final third in an attacking phase or an attempt at goal?

I reckon it's down to our midfield. Our attacks are limited to our front three. We are missing AOC and what he offered last season. Keita may become the threat we need, but he isn't there yet.

[El Lobo]

Three year anniversary for the boss

[cricketrocks]

Three year anniversary for the boss

What a guy. 

[SteveZissou]

Having a look at which players staying behind for a nice rest during the internationals. Do you know any more?
(Just counting those that will be involved in the first team)

1. Clyne
2. Moreno
3. Milner
4. Sturridge

That's it.

[killer-heels]

Having a look at which players staying behind for a nice rest during the internationals. Do you know any more?
(Just counting those that will be involved in the first team)

1. Clyne
2. Moreno
3. Milner
4. Sturridge

That's it.

Lallana.

[SteveZissou]

Lallana.

Oh yes, he goes without saying now, doesn't he? I forgot Matip.