Cybereagles

No. They already sung his nunc dimitis at Anfield.

As a manager Klopp has a lot of power to affect things. But he can't wake the dead!

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Form is temporary; Class is Permanent!
Liverpool, European Champions 2005.

We watched this very boring video, 500 times, of Sacchi doing defensive drills, using sticks and without the ball, with Maldini, Baresi and Albertini. We used to think before then that if the other players are better, you have to lose. After that we learned anything is possible – you can beat better teams by using tactics." Jurgen Klopp

As far as Liverpool be concerned, Mario has fallen into the fire at Koopa's castle.

Surely this lengthy jagbantantis conversation could have been done via PM

@SB, thanks for the contribution. Chicken bone in the collection bowl.

Don’t mention it

The Return of the King?

As stars war across continental constellations, the once heralded Jedi knight, turned nefarious Anakin Skywalker, by New World Order (I learned from the failure I had as England manager that if we keep trying to play 4-4-2 we are never going to win the World Cup. - Graham Taylor), returns, pulsating with positivity and relentless energy. The 4-4-2, demonised, downtrodden, disposed, has rebooted its motherboard and flashes bright, brilliant lights across screens like a fully charged R2D2. Leicester, Crystal Palace, Watford and the Simeoneonics of season's past and season's new, have offered ode to the old orthodoxy. Has the new ageness of the new age met its match in a Rocky Balboaesque return of a once fallen king? Bloodied nose, bent broken, puffy cheeked, blackened eyes, the 4-4-2 stood as limp and forlorn as Drago's Apollo Creed before the leviathanic midfield triumvirates and wide forwards. The empire was over. Today, fleet-footed forwards flash in attack like swinging light sabers. Blistering wingers blast towards touchlines like soaring supernovas. The empire strikes back. Perhaps?

Leicester's success so far has more to do with the specific qualities of players and their fit to a counterattacking approach than the formation by itself. It also reflects on the tactical depth of the EPL, which runs more on emotions than probably any other top league in the world.

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Form is temporary; Class is Permanent!
Liverpool, European Champions 2005.

We watched this very boring video, 500 times, of Sacchi doing defensive drills, using sticks and without the ball, with Maldini, Baresi and Albertini. We used to think before then that if the other players are better, you have to lose. After that we learned anything is possible – you can beat better teams by using tactics." Jurgen Klopp

^Qualities served very well tactically.

@Tx, gegenpress or egg and cress? Pathetic.

The cliches are not always relevant bro, even if they sound good....

Try injuries and the inevitable tiredness at this time of year, like we saw for ur arsenal at Soton...

There was no high press by LFC today...

_________________

Form is temporary; Class is Permanent!
Liverpool, European Champions 2005.

We watched this very boring video, 500 times, of Sacchi doing defensive drills, using sticks and without the ball, with Maldini, Baresi and Albertini. We used to think before then that if the other players are better, you have to lose. After that we learned anything is possible – you can beat better teams by using tactics." Jurgen Klopp

^Just tactical sterility for the umpteenth time.

Not really...

_________________

Form is temporary; Class is Permanent!
Liverpool, European Champions 2005.

We watched this very boring video, 500 times, of Sacchi doing defensive drills, using sticks and without the ball, with Maldini, Baresi and Albertini. We used to think before then that if the other players are better, you have to lose. After that we learned anything is possible – you can beat better teams by using tactics." Jurgen Klopp

Firmino was no just a poor inclusion but an inclusion with tactical purpose, which, once again, proved to be absolutely nonsensical. Hurriedly removed in the 60th for the umpteenth game. Schoolboy errors from a Dean apparently. Hopefully he'll take notes from the Prof's visit to Upton, plenty of chances, Hammers hanging on in there, lucky to scrape a point. Charitable as ever. What's the points return in comparison to Rodgers leading up to the departure?

Inevitably ur comment would center on Firmino. Back in the day it was Henderson. then it was Aspas. Then it became Markovic...
That is commentary by rote!

The failure re Firmino was more to do with Benteke's inability to play between the lines. Had Origi been fit, he would've started and the attack would more than likely be more fluid as we saw vs Leicester...

The goals by WH were not evidence of tactical failure but individual defending and lack of industry in the defensive phase.

And quit with the nonsense about Pulis. He has nothing to offer football...perhaps the American version of the game...

_________________

Form is temporary; Class is Permanent!
Liverpool, European Champions 2005.

We watched this very boring video, 500 times, of Sacchi doing defensive drills, using sticks and without the ball, with Maldini, Baresi and Albertini. We used to think before then that if the other players are better, you have to lose. After that we learned anything is possible – you can beat better teams by using tactics." Jurgen Klopp

^Best defensive record in the whole of 2015, Sir Antonius Pulis, Prof. Nothing to offer football? Nothing to offer opposition strikers too.

As for Klopp, Firmino doesn't fit, hasn't fit, yet it seems Klopp must lose a truckload of points before this reality dawns. Very much the same at Watford. Talented player maybe, certainly not one for the dig in deep. Yet, selected for such.

What was the purpose today? High energy press, short passing and possession, quick transitions and fast counters?

Let me educate you on the approach:

- anchored on control of the game with possession: Yes, but translated to zilch cus of the issues underlined below
- constant movement of the 3 beyond the two CMs, especially Firmino: Amounted to little much, cus of other failures
- work between the channels by Benteke: Never happened
- surge in the box beyond the lone striker, in a switch of tempo in the last 3rd: Hardly happened, except for few moments in 2HF

2. Too much is being made of the press under Klopp. Apart from the first couple of games, pressing by LFC has been more situational than the much talked about geggenpress.

3. As for Firmino, he is getting to grips with the EPL, and his performance has come in patches. But you watch the game against City and against Chelsea and you can see his talent; a very intelligent player...

4. LFC under Klopp is more workmanlike atm for obvious reason. Its a far, far cry from what his philosophy is about. Talk about tactical sterility and all is frankly foolish...He's been here for 3 months or so; and not once has he had the benefit of his full team.

Give it a break dude....

5. WBA is also mired in the bottom half of the league and has been there for a whole lot. Pulis has nothing to offer football...I'll not waste my time talking about a non issue...

_________________

Form is temporary; Class is Permanent!
Liverpool, European Champions 2005.

We watched this very boring video, 500 times, of Sacchi doing defensive drills, using sticks and without the ball, with Maldini, Baresi and Albertini. We used to think before then that if the other players are better, you have to lose. After that we learned anything is possible – you can beat better teams by using tactics." Jurgen Klopp

Watford, West Ham, West Brom...matches all blighted by the same deficiencies. Lateral movement from Benteke, runners beyond the front man...a case of square pegs, round holes. Perhaps the lack of translation from blackboard to pitch is a consequence of the inapplicable nature of his tactical persuasion in the circumstance of certain games.

Was the 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 the way to go? Precious little penetration, plenty of long shots, a thorough waste of time. Plenty of possession. Kind of like the Brendan days.

Conclusions reached from a whopping 3 games and 3.5 months on the job...Well done coach!

_________________

Form is temporary; Class is Permanent!
Liverpool, European Champions 2005.

We watched this very boring video, 500 times, of Sacchi doing defensive drills, using sticks and without the ball, with Maldini, Baresi and Albertini. We used to think before then that if the other players are better, you have to lose. After that we learned anything is possible – you can beat better teams by using tactics." Jurgen Klopp

Tailor vs Obioma... difference na packaging.

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THERE WAS A COUNTRY...

...can't cry more than the bereaved!

Liverpool should have hired an Obioma...

Someone used to dealing with patch patch and rags.

Asking a designer to handle rags?

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THERE WAS A COUNTRY...

...can't cry more than the bereaved!

Its a real travesty to bring Brendan into this. Its a world of difference in both philosophies...

The common thread in those lost games is failures in defence to deal with the ball in the air.

Upfront, there is no doubt Benteke will be a real challenge and he is opting for the long road. Just like he did with Lewa and later Aubemeyang...

Benteke is the product of some wonderful coaching at Villa that has deadened his cranial nerves...Its a real shame about Origi as he was coming along the fastest.

But Firmino was quite clever today at Stoke...

_________________

Form is temporary; Class is Permanent!
Liverpool, European Champions 2005.

We watched this very boring video, 500 times, of Sacchi doing defensive drills, using sticks and without the ball, with Maldini, Baresi and Albertini. We used to think before then that if the other players are better, you have to lose. After that we learned anything is possible – you can beat better teams by using tactics." Jurgen Klopp

And so, in the simplest of terms, belying all its myriad intricacies, it was the 4-4-2, the old warhorse, the Bernard Hopkins of a battlefield bowed at the centre by a plethora of numerical configurations. The King once dead, long live the King. Back once for the renegade master, default damager, power to the people!

The key to Premiership survival has long been considered to follow in the footsteps of predecessors. Prof Pulis showed the minnows how an army of Goliaths tramples over many a terrain, there followed a season of six footers. Fully expect Burnley to follow the Leciester mold. In Andre Gray they have their own 'started from the bottom' story, packed with all the trimmings, blistering pace and a good finish. The BT bullion will allow many to spend a little more and wouldn't be at surprised to see Burnley and their likes trying to acquire a little ingenuity out wide and work ethic dead centre.

Hopefully Middlesboro' bag the next automatic slot, in as much as one admires the work Houghton has done at Brighton and Hove, Karanka's Boro are a bigger fish, decent history and will bring Tee to a Premiership likely to lose a Tyne.

The return of two up top, may see a few more back threes trudge out of the tunnel. Koeman has lit the wick on many occasions this season. Conte will hopefully do the same.

For me, Ranieri's greatest work with Leicester was not so much about his tactics, although they were always consistently well drilled, but the single minded focus he brought to bear on the entire team. Focus on themselves and the need to play within their best selves, while managing expectations.

Its not the tactics, but the management....

An old school Italian going back to base....

Individually, its a monumental achievement in these days of the mega rich teams.

Broader picture, it reflects the poor quality of the EPL, something I've been pointing at for a few years, including in 2013 when Liverpool came within two points of the title, while fielding a team that would make the architects of the Leaning Tower of Pisa blush with pride!!!

_________________

Form is temporary; Class is Permanent!
Liverpool, European Champions 2005.

We watched this very boring video, 500 times, of Sacchi doing defensive drills, using sticks and without the ball, with Maldini, Baresi and Albertini. We used to think before then that if the other players are better, you have to lose. After that we learned anything is possible – you can beat better teams by using tactics." Jurgen Klopp