Author Topic: Liverpool (Read 25768 times)

John Stonebridge · « **Reply #150 on:** 26 January, 2024, 10:45:09 pm »

Or perhaps a chorus of that old Bee gees classic "Mass o' chew sets" to serenade Herr Klopp off?

I can see either (a) him being persuaded to stay on a bit a la Sir Alex or (b) being brought back sharpish if his replacement isn't a rip roaring success.

Peter · « **Reply #151 on:** 27 January, 2024, 05:07:22 pm »

More likely to be heading for the national side, I think, if he stays in the game at all.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #152 on:** 27 January, 2024, 06:22:35 pm »

If it's the constant pressure that's getting to him, then he will take a break from the game for a while.

citoyen · « **Reply #153 on:** 28 January, 2024, 01:33:31 pm »

Quote from: John Stonebridge on 26 January, 2024, 10:45:09 pm

I can see either (a) him being persuaded to stay on a bit a la Sir Alex or (b) being brought back sharpish if his replacement isn't a rip roaring success.

Nah. He’s not the type to go back. If he does ever return to management, it won’t be in England. German national team does seem the most likely option.

A lot of Man United’s current problems are down to not having proper succession planning in place when Ferguson retired. I’ve also seen it suggested that Ferguson deliberately “salted the ground” to ensure his replacement wasn’t a success. Which is an interesting theory.

Circumstances are very different at Liverpool. They are run very differently. It will be a clean break. Klopp has already explicitly stated that he will have no say in appointing his replacement.

toontra · « **Reply #154 on:** 28 January, 2024, 01:54:05 pm »

Quote from: citoyen on 28 January, 2024, 01:33:31 pm

A lot of Man United’s current problems are down to not having proper succession planning in place when Ferguson retired. I’ve also seen it suggested that Ferguson deliberately “salted the ground” to ensure his replacement wasn’t a success. Which is an interesting theory.

The spent months prepping for Moyes' takeover. Mind you this may have included Ferguson's man-traps! I've always suspected that MU's subsequent demise (right up to the present) is in part due to the red-nosed one's omnipresence and meddling with whoever is in charge. Can't be a pleasant experience.

toontra · « **Reply #155 on:** 28 January, 2024, 01:54:18 pm »

Quote from: citoyen on 28 January, 2024, 01:33:31 pm

A lot of Man United’s current problems are down to not having proper succession planning in place when Ferguson retired. I’ve also seen it suggested that Ferguson deliberately “salted the ground” to ensure his replacement wasn’t a success. Which is an interesting theory.

They spent months prepping for Moyes' takeover. Mind you this may have included Ferguson's man-traps! I've always suspected that MU's subsequent demise (right up to the present) is in part due to the red-nosed one's omnipresence and meddling with whoever is in charge. Can't be a pleasant experience.

citoyen · « **Reply #156 on:** 28 January, 2024, 03:25:09 pm »

Quote from: toontra on 28 January, 2024, 01:54:05 pm

The spent months prepping for Moyes' takeover.

Ferguson had to postpone his original retirement plans because the club just weren’t prepared for it to happen.

They still don’t look like they’ve come to terms with the loss 10 years later.

farfetched · « **Reply #157 on:** 01 February, 2024, 10:09:20 am »

You might even argue that Man Utd have never been a well run club, after Matt Busby left they even went down to the old Div2 in the early 70's
after which they never really competed for titles until the 90's. In those days much smaller clubs (Leeds, Villa, Derby, Notts Forest) all went on to win the league
and on occasion even the European cup.

So in that respect the last 10 years look like normal service has been resumed.... Perhaps Fergie was a genius.

With respect to Klopp, I remember when Shankly left (was also a shock at that time) commentators said it would be the beginning of the end and we
all know what Bob Paisley went on to achieve. Stable management and good ownership is as important as to what is on the field. (See Chelsea)

toontra · « **Reply #158 on:** 25 February, 2024, 07:24:31 pm »

Yeeeessss! Moral and actual victory

Jaded · « **Reply #159 on:** 25 February, 2024, 10:03:04 pm »

citoyen · « **Reply #160 on:** 25 February, 2024, 11:08:39 pm »

You’ll never win anything with kids!

Wowbagger · « **Reply #161 on:** **Yesterday** at 10:19:37 pm »

Well, that was decisive, at both ends of the table.

toontra · « **Reply #162 on:** **Today** at 08:14:33 am »

The wheels have fallen off and instead of competing for the league they are now unbelievably in danger of missing out on a champion's league place next season. What a difference 3 weeks make!

Unless the new manager can work wonders with Nunez he has to go. He's losing them games with his profligacy. Salah gets worse by the game - I suspect he's got half an eye on the door (to Saudi?).

citoyen · « **Reply #163 on:** **Today** at 10:17:43 am »

Quote from: toontra on Today at 08:14:33 am

in danger of missing out on a champion's league place next season

Nah. They'd have to lose all of their last four games for that to be likely and their form isn't THAT bad.

What does make things interesting is that two of their last four games are against Spurs and Villa, the two sides competing for fourth place and the only two teams who could theoretically overtake them.

A draw against Spurs would be enough to guarantee that Spurs can't finish above them.

What makes things even more interesting is that Spurs also have to play both Arsenal and City in their remaining games.

Peter · « **Reply #164 on:** **Today** at 10:31:01 am »

Agree with citoyen. If Liverpool had suddenly reached second, only 3 points from the top, then people (some) would be rubbing their hands with glee, dreaming of Europe. Entitlement is what turns people's heads and ruins sports journalism.

toontra · « **Reply #165 on:** **Today** at 10:59:36 am »

True enough - I was being overly pessimistic

But it's pretty depressing none the less.

Any ideas as to what has gone wrong in recent games?

Peter · « **Reply #166 on:** **Today** at 12:17:24 pm »

Too much expectation. It's a game, almost anything can happen. To be depressed when your team is second and still with a chance of going top is taking it way too seriously (Shankly was wrong - funny but wrong!). Now, Crystal Palace 2 - Newcastle 0, THAT's depressing - or it would be if I hadn't got used to it over the years!

Wowbagger · « **Reply #167 on:** **Today** at 02:00:56 pm »

I regard it as Crystal Palace 2 - 0 Saudi Despots.

I used to know a Crystal Palace supporter. My younger son went to primary school with him and they were both in the Essex u-11 chess team that won the National Championships in ... 1996. The day after that match, I went to watch the same lad play at Roots Hall in some junior football event. Later in life he became a fireman and a semi-professional footballer.

Edit: an idle google found this -

Quote

DAN WORNHAM b. 18/11/84 Midfield LEFT THE CLUB
Born: Southend
A centre half who reads the game superbly. He made a number of appearances for the first team in pre-season matches, including a goal scoring appearance against Northampton Town. Also plays a mean game of chess. Previously with Ipswich Town.

From Boston United Football Club's site.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #168 on:** **Today** at 02:29:40 pm »

Returning to last night's match, I'd hate to be Sean Dyche's ear, nose & throat specialist.

citoyen · « **Reply #169 on:** **Today** at 03:08:30 pm »

Quote from: Peter on Today at 12:17:24 pm

To be depressed when your team is second and still with a chance of going top is taking it way too seriously

Indeed. I'm certainly not depressed - I think Liverpool have overperformed this season, considering they started with a whole new midfield and have been hit by a lot of injuries (so have other clubs, to be fair) which have meant occasionally needing to field a number of academy players. Liverpool's issues are very much #firstwordproblems

Nunez might yet come good. He looks both knackered and very low on confidence to me, and as a result is trying too hard.

Salah hasn't yet got back to full form and fitness since coming back injured from Afcon. He was on fire before he went away. I reckon he'll be back to normal by the start of next season.

The whole team looks a bit jaded, to be honest.

Quote

(Shankly was wrong - funny but wrong!)

I don't think he ever meant that line to be taken seriously.

citoyen · « **Reply #170 on:** **Today** at 03:12:27 pm »

Quote from: Wowbagger on Today at 02:00:56 pm

I used to know a Crystal Palace supporter.

When I lived in South London (Gipsy Hill) I would occasionally pop along to Palace games. It's always a good atmosphere at Selhurst Park.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #171 on:** **Today** at 04:19:50 pm »

Long long ago I went quite a few times to Selhurst Park, but only because of the closure of The Valley. When the latter reopened it was all-seated which meant that as a casual viewer I was at the opposite end of the ground from my season ticketed b-i-l. Not been back since.