Last week saw Liverpool's Klopp and Barça's Xavi announced their intention to leave their respective clubs at the end of the season. Tis true that Klopp will be missed by his fans more than Xavi's, but what is really important is that it will potentially start a musical chairs situation at the elite clubs.
Klopp's decision came as a complete shock. He said he is tired and he does look it, but the fact that he changed his midfield last summer gave me the impression he was going to stick around and build another team. But on reflection now is the time to go. I would imagine Salah will leave sometime during the next two windows, so that will mark the end of an era for Liverpool. Also, by announcing it now, he will give his players extra impetus to go for the league title.
Klopp's decision came as a complete shock. He said he is tired and he does look it, but the fact that he changed his midfield last summer gave me the impression he was going to stick around and build another team. But on reflection now is the time to go. I would imagine Salah will leave sometime during the next two windows, so that will mark the end of an era for Liverpool. Also, by announcing it now, he will give his players extra impetus to go for the league title.
I know from my red supporting buddies that it grinds on them that they have only won one EPL title under Klopp and that was won in empty stadia due to Covid. In two separate EPL seasons they chalked up 97 and 92 points but still finished second to City. This season Liverpool are performing so well they are starting to smell another title. City are just not at the races this season. In so many games they are dominating but not getting enough goals to put the game to bed. It is a similar story at the Emirates. There is nothing certain in football, but all Liverpool fans will be dreaming of a proper title winning send off for one of the best managers they have ever had. And it certainly is on the cards, given current form.
So, who will take the hot seat next? Xabi Alonso is the current front runner after performing miracles at Leverkusen. An ex-fan favourite at Anfield, he defo fits the bill. Brighton's De Zerbi is also in the mix. One pundit on Sky said that if Gerrard had stayed at Rangers and won another SPL he would have been a shoo-in. Apparently Klopp favours giving his assistant, Pep Lijnders a shot. Whoever it is will have extremely big boots to fill.
Meanwhile over in Catalunya, rumour has it that Arteta is the number one favourite to take the Barça job. I don't know what to think of that one. Would he leave a stable, viable club competing at the top of the world's best league for a skint has-been? I can't see it happening unless Arsenal want rid. If they don't win the EPL this season will they consider a change? That would leave another of the top positions in England vacant.
We also have Ineos taking partial control at Man U. Will they also want change? You have to admit that Erik ten Bob is looking increasingly out of his depth. If they sack him will they be able to attract a new manager with sufficient stature in the game given that they will have no Champions League footy to offer? And given what has happened to the last 5 or 6 managers, can they afford to gamble on an up-and-coming manager like De Zerbi? The sporting direction of several of the biggest clubs in world footy have big, big decisions to make.
Finally, I have to say a word about Klopp. He really has been a breath of fresh air for English football. He has great character and charisma, which is much needed in today's game. His brand of Heavy Metal Football will be remembered for many years. There was a time when Liverpool had the best front 3 in the history of English football and were a joy to watch. Pep has given the best speech on Klopp's departure so far, saying that he cannot define his time at City without mentioning Klopp's Liverpool. They have been City's biggest rival and driven City to reach new heights in the English game. Pep also said that going away to Klopp's Dortmund with Bayern, and Klopp's Liverpool with City gave him sleepless nights.
So, who will take the hot seat next? Xabi Alonso is the current front runner after performing miracles at Leverkusen. An ex-fan favourite at Anfield, he defo fits the bill. Brighton's De Zerbi is also in the mix. One pundit on Sky said that if Gerrard had stayed at Rangers and won another SPL he would have been a shoo-in. Apparently Klopp favours giving his assistant, Pep Lijnders a shot. Whoever it is will have extremely big boots to fill.
Meanwhile over in Catalunya, rumour has it that Arteta is the number one favourite to take the Barça job. I don't know what to think of that one. Would he leave a stable, viable club competing at the top of the world's best league for a skint has-been? I can't see it happening unless Arsenal want rid. If they don't win the EPL this season will they consider a change? That would leave another of the top positions in England vacant.
We also have Ineos taking partial control at Man U. Will they also want change? You have to admit that Erik ten Bob is looking increasingly out of his depth. If they sack him will they be able to attract a new manager with sufficient stature in the game given that they will have no Champions League footy to offer? And given what has happened to the last 5 or 6 managers, can they afford to gamble on an up-and-coming manager like De Zerbi? The sporting direction of several of the biggest clubs in world footy have big, big decisions to make.
Finally, I have to say a word about Klopp. He really has been a breath of fresh air for English football. He has great character and charisma, which is much needed in today's game. His brand of Heavy Metal Football will be remembered for many years. There was a time when Liverpool had the best front 3 in the history of English football and were a joy to watch. Pep has given the best speech on Klopp's departure so far, saying that he cannot define his time at City without mentioning Klopp's Liverpool. They have been City's biggest rival and driven City to reach new heights in the English game. Pep also said that going away to Klopp's Dortmund with Bayern, and Klopp's Liverpool with City gave him sleepless nights.
I think in the future we will look back on the Pep-Klopp rivalry like we look back on the Fergie-Wenger rivalry, that is as a rivalry that pushed teams to new levels of performance and ultimately entertainment for the footy fanatic. What Klopp has done for Liverpool and English football cannot be under estimated. He is up there with Shankly and Paisley as the greatest in Liverpool's history and he ain't done yet. I expect a slew of trophies before he's done. Unfortunately.
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| Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports |
The premier league will lose a thoroughly likeable bloke when Klopp goes. Can't think of a bad word to say about him. Get Jose in to restore the natural order and make everyone hate pool again 😆
ReplyDeleteI can.......when he decided to demonise people who refused to get the poisonous jibby jabby that is wreaking havoc in all age groups up to the present day. He's what's known in some parlance as a ballbag. Just saying.
DeleteMickO
DeleteDoctors and nurses who were run off their feet for months and who saw the horrors of a pandemic first hand also slagged off those who didn't get their jabs. Are they ballbags too?
Big games for the Reds , hosting Chelsea tomorrow & @ the Gooners on sunday . Win both , a serious title challenge is on . Disappointed that all the backroom staff plan on leaving with J K . Vito the Portugese coach has worked wonders with Conor Bradley & others @ the Academy . Rather win the Europa than both domestic cups . It's the only trophy J K hasn't won . The title may end up @ the Emirates , especially if Arsenal get knocked out of the C L before the semi's ; City are still favourites to win all they are still involved in .
ReplyDeleteCan't recall a transfer window as quiet as the present . Expected the bigger clubs to make a few signings each .
Yep, 2 massive games for the reds. I can't wait for the Emirates game, should be a belter. We'll see how good Klopp's midfield is when they are really up against it
DeleteDoing well so far this evening but Darwin should never have taken that penalty
DeleteWell, that was a slaughter.
ReplyDeleteIt was a tough one for Chelsea - did you think there was any merit to the penalty claims?
DeleteI think they would have been soft penalties but Virgil is treading on soft ground. It is a feature of his game that he needs to cut out. Other referees might not be as forgiving.
Steve R
DeleteEvery cloud has a silver lining. Bad night for Chelsea, good night for the GAWA!
They would have been soft- the type we may have been given at the Bridge if we were against the wall- but our defending was as useful as tits on a bull. If one of my 15 year olds defended as bad as that I'd be going berserk and that last Pool goal were our defender basically trips over the fucking grass....well, I can only imagine what Poch is thinking.
DeleteDo mushroom clouds have silver linings Peter? lol
But yes, I thought young Bradley was exceptional. Full of confidence and energy. Hope whoever takes over from Klopp continues to nurture him.
ReplyDeletePeter--A VAR Frankie Fact Check....
ReplyDeleteDoctors and nurses who were run off their feet for months and who saw the horrors of a pandemic first hand also slagged off those who didn't get their jabs. Are they ballbags too?
During the bat flu scam, I was getting drunk (sometimes stoned) with nurses in Belfast and they didn't seem run off their feet and they didn't see any more or less horrors they see on any given day of the week. I know nurses who like me have never taken the un-tested vaccine the WHO told everyone to take.
You, like billions of others on this rock, bought into the bullshit and signed up for a global eugenics program and some people were given the un-tested vaccine and others a placebo...
The problem with the NHS in the occupied 6 counties is underfunding and newly qualified doctors and nurses going to other counties for better pay....
The vaccine went through exhaustive clinical trials and saved millions of lives.
ReplyDeleteBarry,
DeleteI used to believe that and now I'm not so sure. I've a sneaking suspicion Big Pharma got an undeserved free pass. It's impossible to quantify how many lives the vaccine may have saved- I had 3 shots and still caught it- and everyone I know who were similarly dosed up still caught it too. I remember them saying it would " lessen the severity"...well fine, but don't call it a Vaccine then, call it a therapeutic. My wife has MS and they got her on to anti-virials straight away, she was very sick for 2 days then bounced right back. Perhaps the anti-virials should have been a first defence? Hard to know. But I work in a hospital and covid is all around me, one of my staff was off last week with a bad dose. I rang him at home and got him to start on a course of vitamins B,C,D plus magnesium and zinc, had him gargle betadene 3 times a day and wash his nose out with saline solution. Told him to NOT exercise as it was an upper respitory tract infection and he didn't want to bring it further into his lungs. Coupled with an over the counter anti-histamine he had a dramatic improvement in 2 days. All this advice came from a Doctor who was sceptical of the rush job on vaccines put out by Big Pharma. Now they push "Boosters". They can kiss my arse if they want me to increase their profits for something which doesn't prevent contraction nor spreading.
Stevie,
ReplyDeleteI had 3 shots and still caught it- and everyone I know who were similarly dosed up still caught it too.
That tells me when you took part in the eugenics program you and your friends got the un-tested vaccine.
What about your friends who didn't take the un-tested vaccine, how did they fair?
They still caught it Frankie. Out of everyone I know only 2 people refused it, out of the rest who took the vaccine only one had significant long term side effects.
DeleteThe rest of us are fine. I doubt it was a eugenics program, especially given the sheer ineptitude of local and state governments. Never infer malice where incompetence will suffice.