22 Dec 2016 18:56:49
Season`s Greetings, Fellow Ed`s and reds!


I would like to start a discussion about something that has been bothering me regarding how Jurgen Klopp is being regarded as a tactician by the media.

He is by no means perfect and neither is his system (s) and he will make his mistakes and that is fine by me provided he is doing a fine job which we all can agree that he`s doing. However, I have a problem with the way other managers and those in the media view him as a tactician.

I was watching a clip on youtube about him and it was mentioned that a "high level manager" doesn`t think that he`s a "tactically sophisticated" manager and that he only relies on his charisma and motivational skills to get results. Can I just say that that is utter nonsense and an insult to the things he has achieved as a manager. I don`t care how good of a motivator or public speaker you are, if you can`t coach, manage players, have great man management skills, know your tactics in and out, all the things Klopp possesses, then you will NEVER succeed like he has as a manager. Has he lost games, finals or leagues? Sure. But you can only lose if you put yourself in the position to win.

There is also this idea that both Pep and Mou are better than him tactically. To me judging by his head to head record with them, that is patently false. Vs Mou, Klopp has 3 wins, 2 draw and 1 loss in 6 games. Vs Pep, he has 4 wins and 4 losses. In fact, Klopp is the only manager to have inflicted more losses on Pep and Mou than any other manager, period. It took Mou SEVENTEEN games to beat Pep 3 times while Klopp did it in 8. So how is he inferior to both "Super managers" tactically if he has the best record against them? Or are tactics no longer involved when he wins. This is what I think is an unfair judgement on Klopp`s tactical ability, IMO.

Look at the way we play, fore example. People just think we press teams and move the ball around and score goals, no sweat. No tactical structure nor organization involved obviously, right? WRONG! That is bullocks. If you read articles of how the players train and the attention to detail involved in the movement of our players, then believe me, the man is a class act, tactically. Check the BVB game as well. When we were down 3-1, Klopp switched from a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-4-2 diamond by subbing off Can and Firmino and putting on Allen and Studge. This is where the game was won tactically and Tuchel (his pupil) got schooled as he had no way to responding to that tactical change and the onslaught we unleashed upon them. After the game, I can`t remember if any media outlet or pundit ever referring to my observation. All I heard was Klopp`s ability to motivate and channel his energy onto the Anfield crowd and to his players. Nonsense! Had Mou or Pep done this, we would have never heard the last of it. Here lies my anger for not recognizing his tactical astuteness.


I think Klopp is a brilliant manager and a very good tactician and the pundits or the media either can`t see it or simply think he is not great tactically as they think anyone can do and achieve what he has by just getting a group of players to run around like headless chickens YET at the same time, being very intelligent in their way of playing which has gotten him 2 BL titles and a CL runner up, and brought us two finals in his first 8 months and second in the league. Master motivator, My Foot! Please, join in the conversation, lads.

{Ed025's Note - i enjoyed that hamilton, good post mate which is easy for me to say as im a massive klopp fan..

1.) 22 Dec 2016
22 Dec 2016 19:24:08
Glad you approve, Ed. it was just something that I needed to put out there for discussion as I think he`s being unfairly treated by the pathetic English media.

{Ed025's Note - i always give credit where its due hamilton..

2.) 22 Dec 2016
22 Dec 2016 20:47:57
Totally agree Hamilton mate and yes it had to be said.

3.) 22 Dec 2016
22 Dec 2016 21:17:55
Well put, don't forgetthe fact that he never had the funds that were available to pep and jose.

4.) 22 Dec 2016
22 Dec 2016 23:08:48
Don't think we need to bring money into it. Leicester anyone? I love Klopp.

5.) 22 Dec 2016
22 Dec 2016 23:13:51
Great post Hamilton.

6.) 23 Dec 2016
22 Dec 2016 23:45:02
Imagine what he could do at Everton Ed025? He's such a people person, and you are, of course, the People's Club :)

{Ed025's Note - im a massive fan burkey and have been even when he was at dortmund, but ronnie is not a bad runner up mate and i predict great things fo everton over the next couple of seasons, it would be nice if we could get back to the times when we were the best 2 clubs in the land and merseyside ruled....and i hope you wont be disappointed with second.. :)

7.) 23 Dec 2016
23 Dec 2016 00:42:24
I hope all other managers think they can out think him tactically as they might take their eye off the ball. For me he's taken a group of players and looked at the best way to play tactically with the players he has and has worked wonders. Yes we will have the odd blip but who doesn't?

8.) 23 Dec 2016
23 Dec 2016 01:19:07
Agree Hamilton, and just to add, he quickly figured out when he arrived that his greatest assets where Couts, Firmino, Llalana and Hendo (most of which had been underperforming so it's not as obvious as it looks now! ) and built the team around their high intensity, clever movement and interplay. He then addressed the lack of pace with Mane, the LB position by converting Milner, and the CB position with Matip, all of which have been outstanding successes. Even Widjnaldum has been solid and added a mobility and bite to midfield we lacked in either Can or Allen. Only downsides really have been Karius and Grujic but I'm sure in time they will come good (and Migs at least has benefitted from the competition it seems) .

The side now has a very clear identity and style of play with everyone schooled on their part. That is not something that happens with just enthusiasm. I'm sure a big part of this is also Buvac/ Krawietz/ Pep and co. but then again he put that team together himself too.

9.) 23 Dec 2016
23 Dec 2016 00:13:37
Lol Ed. I still remember my first wembley final singing "Merseyside, Merseyside, Merseyside" :)

{Ed025's Note - thats right burkey, heady days indeed mate..

10.) 23 Dec 2016
23 Dec 2016 08:36:43
The same Allen later became " Not good enough" for Hamilton. Tuchel lost the plot when he subbed kagawa who was pretty much running riot at us. A win over Dortmund was our destiny. I couldn't find any tactical genius in that game. To concede 3 goals at home.
Keeping aside Tactical and footballing knowlege, Klopp will be remembered and adored as a People's manager.

How did he lost the final Hamilton?

11.) 23 Dec 2016
23 Dec 2016 09:37:09
For me I think Klopp's charisma masks his tactical acumen. The media are so enamoured by his charm that they don't actually look any further. This is great for the teams he manages as the opposition see them as the team that runs a lot and nothing more.
Just look at the derby for an example of his tactical nuance. He swapped Origi and Firmino, it looks a small change on paper but changed the game. Firmino who was anonymous out wide started dropping deep overloading midfield and getting on the ball to dictate our attacking play. Origi offered pace down the flank and stopped Coleman charging forward as much as he had because we now had a wide out ball threat.
Or maybe this wasn't Klopp's tactical thinking he just got lucky.

12.) 23 Dec 2016
23 Dec 2016 09:51:32
Harry you just go against the grain for the sake of it and spout rubbish. You only see games on the surface, I don't really think your tactically aware what's happening mate.

13.) 23 Dec 2016
23 Dec 2016 09:55:10
Tuchel was never Klopp's pupil.

14.) 23 Dec 2016
23 Dec 2016 10:11:51
You have to let things like this go over your head mate. If he managed united the perception/ critique would be the complete opposite, the media, ex playing so called experts etc have always been anti liverpool and pro united so it's best to ignore these clowns. We know what we know about our manager and me personally I don't need any confirmation of his abilities from the pro united media.

15.) 23 Dec 2016
23 Dec 2016 11:33:22
In reality it's just backlash Hamilton. Lots of media outlets love to gush about how perfect and great and amazing he is. So some outlets will provide everyone who just loves to hate an outlet by going on about how there is nothing to him. It's just swings and roundabouts, don't let it get to you.

16.) 23 Dec 2016
23 Dec 2016 15:24:46
Thanks for the response lads. I just felt that we needed to be aware of the tendencies of the football mainstream as to why he`s being regarded as not good enough tactically.

As for Harry, you make a valid point however, I already addressed his mistakes in the first paragraph of my post so you are welcome to read it again.

I will say that NOTHING is anyone`s destiny in football. Turkish coach Fatih Terim said after their "miraculous" win vs the Czechs in the final group game of Euro 2008 that, "There are no miracles in football. There are only three results: a win, a draw or a loss. That`s it". I totally believe that.

It was never our destiny to beat Dortmund had we not worked hard a managers (tactics), fans (who sang their lungs out" or players who played their hearts out despite it looking that way. For faith without works is dead, someone said. Same for Istanbul. Of course you need a bit of luck BUT as Bjorn Borg said, "I find that the harder I work, the luckier I get". Luck can be defined as "a moment where (great) preparation meets opportunity". We had our opportunities to beat BVB and Milan and we took them because we never gave up and kept fighting.

As for Seville, Klopp messed up and he himself admitted it, so did the players who didn`t take full advantage of their opportunity to win that game as it was more than winnable, so there is your answer.