Match Day Thread West Ham v Liverpool

It's all over Twitter how Klopp purged 17 players in his first season with Dortmund. There's no way he'll get away with that here, sadly.

 

He gets into the box and stands next to the cb. The only way to play to his 'strengths' is to have a miracle ball/cross from the likes of a Gerrard, Scholes or Beckham. The nearest we have is Coutinho or Can, and Coutinho's agenda yesterday was to get the ball 30 yards out in space and send it back into space, in orbit over the crossbar.

 

IF we and the club are prepared to wait 3/4 years, then ok. My problem with Klopp yesterday was that he simply wouldn't accept and adapt to the fact floating airy-fairy balls to a static Benteke just wasn't working. Why are some pundits trying to re-write history here? That is what happened, it's as plain as could be, and Bilic must have been utterly pissing himself that Jurgen did **** all about it

I like, possibly even love Klopp, and, though I questioned the timing of dumping Rogers (I don't now after the Chelsea/Utd events) I'm really happy to have him. But for the time being he has to work with what he's got, and even in some Shangri-la future with a full squad of his own choice, he'll still have to counter injuries. yesterday he failed to adapt. He did against watford too. In both cases I have no problem with being beaten by better teams on the day, but, yesterday especially, he was owned by opposition managers, and we shouldn't deny it.

 

Didn't Allen and Lucas manage to get on the end of some crosses?

 

Indeed, as they weren't following the c/bs around to stand next to them.

 

Have any of you considered that Benteke might have been following the managers orders?
Maybe he was told to get next to Collins so that he could turn him when the ball got played through (to his feet) but the other numpties kept floating it high because they couldn't find a pass?

 

Maybe. I'm guessing his previous managers told him to do the same throughout his career as well.

 

Orders to play **** you mean? Every touch of his was gash. Couldn't pass, couldn't run, couldn't shoot. This guy needs to adapt if he is to become more than the big standard prem centre forward target man. He had opportunities yesterday and he ****ed them all. And anyway, top strikers make their own chances.

 

You lot are nuts.

Our team has been about 7th since rafa left after 09/10 barring one joyous six months inspired by Suarez.

If you lot cannot see that we raise our game to the levels Klopp requires for maybe one in 5 and have done similar for years you are missing the obvious.

We are also runs and have been for a very long time. People mistake money for quality.... simple as. Our team is very average but we spent loads on it. If people cannot see Klopp will need to buy to do anything else they they are blind.

1. Meaner defense.

2. Tougher more physical players

3. More intensity and running from entire unit.

4. Get width.

It's that simple.

Lfc have very lightweight midfield that regularly gets rolled over. Why is Klopp's first buy a young lad who's over 6 foot?

Why was Rodgers a 5 foot 6 joe allen?

 

Actually the examples shown by MOTD were of Bentekes movement dictating our wide players actions. His insistence on backing out to the 18 yard line everytime the ball went wide forced the wide player to continue their run and cross later or backwards. They were saying if he had started at the 18 and started running in when the ball went out wide the wide player would go for the cross sooner.

They then off course showed all the Carroll examples of how its done.

Now maybe Benteke is under instruction to continuously wander back and stand still on the 18 yard line..that might make sense if other players were running into the box beyond him.

But looking at the examples given on MOTD I'm not convinced he has been told to do that or if he has then the AM players need a kick in the arse for not playing their part and getting into the box past him.

 

You have to be drunk.

Make their own chances. Are you just angry or are you plastered.... name who regularly makes their in chances in this league then....

 

I think we need to accept it MITO ... Benteke is as **** as we all expected when he first signed. I'm sorry...

 

Holy ****, a scouser who isn't blind to the truth!

 

The midfield has been the crux of our problems for years - consistently neglected ever since Rafa left. Provides no protection for the defence or any support for the attack.

 

Plenty on here saying similar..think you're getting fooled by MITO's inclination for sweeping declarations as if he's the only one who has thought something and everybody else has said something opposite.....

 

Nah im kidding, there's a couple Pool fans at work who are level headed as well. I think most of you know exactly where you should be these days. For the record Klopp can turn things around, but he needs time, a lot more time.

 

I usually go for the opposite of what the most extreme view is.

If we are brilliant I say we are muck.
If we are muck I say it's not so bad.

It's just me.


As I've said before if lfc start with hiring Klopp great but it's not enough long term.

Klopp is a 3 to 5 year bet as is every manager.

We need to put in the structures behind the scenes in quality technical direction and that includes ayre etc at the top. The whole thing needs development there.

Then let Klopp say what's what first team level and who's bought etc. He represents a once in 10 years minimum chance to attract a few good players.

The stand is a decent start but it's not enough. Anfield road end has to be accelerated. We need 60k just to stand still now as shortly most will have it. Spurs, chelsea, West ham, Arsenal in London both manc clubs....

Our owners got an awful shock this summer as they thought they could Swan back to Asia to repeat a sold out tour... bringing lambert and Lucas etc.

Half sold stadiums woke them up.

I think our owners are bricking it about revenues and returns and will try to get a big name player for Klopp. I fear they'll try and force Gerrard back on him too.

However 5 years ago we were effectively bust so 7th isn't disaster like Leeds for example. .. perhaps it not being a big enough disaster leads people to think players we have are better than they are.

Look at Stoke next. They've a better front 4 than us by far, better keeper and defence and really only need some CMs to be a way better side
Yet we are favorites for the cup semi...... why? Big name is all.

 

Yup

 

Lol..I know Mito..you play Devils Advocate just every now and then it feels like when the teacher comes back into the classroom and says "right everybody..back in your seats!"

I think BR getting sacked might have been as much a commercial decision as football. The idea that those lucrative tours would be pointless in the near future was too much to bear.

It is the downside of giving a manager time when it doesn't work out..you look back at money spent then look at squad and go WTF?

They have to trust this guy. They got the "name" manager and yes part of the attraction just like with BR was his preference for player development but fact is you look at our current youth and there is no one screaming WC possibility.

So it's back to the club deciding between paying more for established top 4 type talent or trawling around mid table clubs again and ending up with midtable performers. Thats cost hundreds of millions anyway last time (minus selling our family jewels)

Just let Klopp and his team find the players, pay for them and let him set up the structure around that...

Will they?

 

I think much depends on Klopps opinion of the prem now after tasting it.

We need the type of players west ham have got. Physically they are much stronger than us and more dynamic too.

It shows what a set up can do really as I wouldn't rate gold and sullivan but allardyce and bilic are guy who know the value of power

Our lot are physically weak or unable to play fast and hard. Gerrard commented on aspas and Alberto in his many many comments. They looked like kids in the dressing room.

Klopp has to start with the spine of the team and build a consistent level there.

Then he's got to inject the width and flair.