Friday, March 1, 2024

The blog is back - Sporting Director, heady days at the top of the table and the Kids are alright.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/mar/01/liverpool-roberto-de-zerbi-xabi-alonso

De Zerbi finally mentioned as candidate. Xabi should be there. Thomas Frank, Pepijn and Vitos should be in the running as well to continue if they were smart. Just like we are going after Ewards again now. Would love if we could get him in 50% role with others stepping up to do grunt work. So that he and Ian Graham can keep their consulting gig and entrepreneurship going on the side.

Interesting to hear the former Milan sporting director is an option. I quite like Paul Mitchell at Monaco myself and his track of picking out talents and developing them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnvpGpTvYno – Presser for today.

 

Interesting article on Athlethic. https://theathletic.com/5238508/2024/01/30/liverpool-michael-edwards-sporting-director-next/ I do not think this is done. But we will see.

 

Theo Epstein’s involvement is interesting as well given his work at FSG. 

For those on twitter this guy is an excellent follow: https://twitter.com/SimonBrundish/status/1703882583325503668


Much learning from him on load management, real time to get back to 100 % from injuries, testing they do each day in training like taking blood from ear like you see in pre-season lactate testing etc.


Final mention and much love for the young boys as well. Bobby Clark is going to be elite. Jadon Danns will be variable. Conor Bradley is a generational talent.

YNWA,

S

Saturday, January 14, 2023

Worrying signs but all is not lost

In the past 35 games LFC have conceded the first goal in 21 of the games. 

Sully March has been on the cusp of great things for a while. Always come very close many times but it was only today he broke through and had the best game I’ve seen him play. 

Ox should have finished his chance on just around 56 mins. 

We have now let in 24 goals this season. Let in 26 in all of last season. That is a stat that speaks volumes about what is lacking. 


Matip close with pass but ultimately ends up giving away the first goal. 

Trent pressing at 60. Brilliant. Ball lands at Sarah’s feet then it fizzles out. 

Hendo shite again. No legs left and does not win duels any more. 

Ox underwhelming (why he is getting consecutive starts rather than Ben Doak who shows bags of promise is too careful for me from Klopp when you have a generational talent like that on the bench). Harvey is also better up the pitch and was fantastic there for Blackburn last season so why not try him there again. 

Instead of persevering with Harvey Elliott (who’s a great talent as well in midfield) and yes he does lack a bit of tactical discipline he also have some star quality in him as we have seen with flashes of more tactical discipline as he was learning, wrong foot finish int he CL (some would say it is luck). He does have potential and although he is learning the midfield role at least he has a bit a Energy about him more than hendo and Milly for example. Thiago can be decent on the ball but isn’t what he is what he is when he plays one game a week. 

Hendo and Trent sitting off in the press. Mitoma who is in form but hendo second pressure… stays off him. Need new central midfielders with legs, can win duels (there was a tread I saw yesterday that Hendo, Matip and Thiago which are also supposed to be our leaders in midfield, have been losing progressively less and less duels season upon season. To me that is a failure in recruitment and excessive loyalty by Klopp and his team to current stalwarts in the team. 

We really missed Darwin today (our best striker). Missed his presence I thought. 

67 mins in Pen should be given to OX (why does that not go to VAR) at least to be reviewed

Great trippel sub. Right subs but it comes too late. Hendo out, Fab out not right IMO - should have been Thiago) Keita looked good. pass to Salah on 75 from Naby close to succeeding. 

Elliott unlucky at 76 minute with scuffed shot. That was one of the few big chances. 

- Salah had a quiet game 

Gomez looked coming on. Gakpo very unlucky at 76 on great cross. 

Sarmiento (Benfica 18 months ago) Brightons young player of the year last year. Had a few decent moments following his arrival. 

Brilliant nod on from Sully March and great chip/combined drag bag form Wellbeck and finish. You De Zerbi is good when he gets even Danny Wellbeck to look good. 

At this point I feel everything has gone against us in this game and Klopp and team has also been a bit unlucky. Hard to explain this. Cause we have not been that much worse than them. Gomez could potentially do a bit better against Wellbeck but effectively that is a great drawback, Deek and finish. 

Maybe a bit too easy for Brighton today. We yet again lose the midfield in terms of battening (not skill and on the ball but pure running, sprints and effort and winning duels) which goes again back to the combined problems we have had with 1. Not renewing the squad and aging profiles playing too many minutes (64 game season, psychological let down and generally a few players not up to the standard any more —- hendo and Milner case in point). 

Sully March had a coming out of his shell game today. I have always said there was a great player there on the cusp of something great and today it was proven. You can ask my mates that I watch games with. 

Stick with LFC in difficult times when it goes against us like this. Better days will come and I hope that is the post game presser and interview from Klopp. Has to feel pretty hopeless at the moment. BUT on the BRIGHT Side (This may lead to midfield signings sooner rather than later once this is analyzed). We need legs in midfield. Kefran Toure (spelling may not be right) the younger Thuram brother, Ugarte…. Could be a few to sign then get Caicedo and Jude in the summer (when we got money and hopefully new investment). 

I am hoping for FSG to stay in charge, keep with their data based approach, admit to making mistakes over Joel Ward, M. Edwards and Spearman and Graham and going back to data approach with other ppl in recruitment. 


Eat some humble pie and then sign 5 midfielders above plus a top class centre back like Lacroix. And all of a sudden we will be title contenders again and we will all be excited.

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Coutinho being world class at centre mid

Did anyone see this? 


Well worth giving this stat pod a listen as well. 

@AIUnderPressure With @GagsTandon @StatsSwearwords @DanKennett @AnalyseSport


Lastly imagine the scenes if we would go and get Neymar... 


Read the entire chain with replies! 

#sillyseasonUponUs!

YNWA, 
Stian



Thursday, August 11, 2016

Jurgen Klopp – Master of Psychology

"Lying is a common communication strategy"

All managers are liars. They have to be if they want to be a successful manager in the modern game. These days they're expected to keep the fans on side, win the game of chess against the media and keep their players happy. It's a juggling act that some struggle to balance. The more conniving they are, the more successful they tend to be.

It's not a bad thing, after all, honesty isn't always the best policy.

Jurgen Klopp - Master of Psychology

As lovable as Jurgen Klopp is he's no different to the likes of Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho. He's by no means an open book and whatever he reveals is done through choice. He tells people what they want to hear. It's this which nullifies whatever he says in press conferences and interviews with regards to players.

Fans are still smitten with Klopp and like to hang on his every word. Social media is currently filled with fans putting up their starting XI's for the Arsenal match and many of these fans will say they've included particular players because they're a Klopp favourite. The German raved about them in an interview so he's automatically a Jurgen Klopp guy. Why would he big up a player he didn't like?

Fans had become accustomed to Brendan Rodgers' bias towards certain players. He had no issue calling out a player for a poor performa.....

This article was written by the great Sam Maguire @sammcguire90 on Twitter.

Great read for any fan of klopp!
http://anfieldindex.com/23786/jurgen-klopp-master-psychology.html

Anfield index episode 117 Great expectations!
http://anfieldindex.com/podcast

Quick comments on pre season from me.

Promising. Shame to get sakho, grujic, studge injured but this year due to signings like klavan, Matip.

Injury to loris karius hurts our top 4 bid but mignolet is capable of producing great play and also can be an absolute calamity.

Mane and wijnaldum look to be great buys albeit maybe not what fans wanted. Right Runs and speed/ pace are key attributes that they add. But goals ( more than Lallana, Lucas, Milner, Hendo (last yr at least) is the key one which some might say is a result of the aforementioned qualities.

Thus far spend is ridiculously low considering stature etc but I think there is a signing or two in the wings before window closes. Doesn't look like Lucas is gone right now as galatasaray just announced they won't be getting him. If he is happy to stay I am happy to have him as a centre back back up primarily. Also an older head. I just hope he does not play that much.

Bent eke is on his way out and I think palace may finally be paying up what we want for the lad. That happens and we get 30m for the lad our net spend will be -10M quid.

A lot of that is down to klopp to be fair, talking up players at the right time (see phycology article referenced above for more on that...)

Beating milan, Barca AND Wigan was highlights Of pre season. Grujic, Ojo, klavan, karius, mane, firminho and markovic has impressed to name a few.

Trent Alexander youth academy right back may be why we are not signing a backup for clyne as of yet. Brilliant pre season

Ings is back to fitness as well.

Suspect this will be starting 11 come arsenal game

4231

Mignolet

Clyne Ragnar klavan lovren Moreno

Hendo Can

Mane Firminho coutinho

Origi

Apparently studge is training again along with grujic after slight knocks in the past week.

Large chance Lallana gets mane's place due to pressing which he improved massively on last year. I hope and believe Mane is and will be first choice and that he starts.

Bench is way stronger than its been. Expect to see Ings, manninger, Trent Alexander/ Milner (if not injured), Lallana, Ojo, markovic/Ojo Stewart,

Matip ( if not injured will be on the bench), Ojo may be there ahead of markovic as there are rumours markovic is being offered around despite having a productive pre season. I think that would be a shame. Klopp for example hinted in an interview about him not being physical enough...

Hope lazar decides to change his perception. Bulk up like origi did and work on the defensive part of his game. Then he has a future. Same with his shooting....

Anyway I am excited and hope we hear about Di sciglio being signed before the end of the transfer window. Preferably by Sunday. Wing back who can play both sides and currently plays for Milan and Italy.

Would love to hear your thoughts?

Bold predictions for the season:

- Studge to play 30 games

- Sinclair to get over 20 goals for Celtic in the SPL

- Ojo to get a England cap

- LFC to get in top 4

- Rafa to get promoted with Newcastle

YNWA,
Stian

Sent from my iPhone

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Sakho's injury may derail LFC's bid for CL spot

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/nov/09/mamadou-sakho-knee-injury-liverpool

Everyone is talking about Emre/Lucas being at fault for first goal in
Palace game but what about Firminho's marking for the second.

He barely tries against Scott Dann who has got a reputation for being
good on deadballs.

Here is our leader and who should be captain. Sadly wont happen any
time soon with injury.
https://twitter.com/RedsOrDead/status/662334211253264384

Hopefully we can get Illori back sooner rather than later. I would
prefer having Wisdom back as well.


YNWA,
Stian

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Re: Verdict from Michael Cox on Spurs game key changes Klopp has made after just 3 days of training

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/oct/18/jurgen-klopp-liverpool-tottenham-hotspur-new-manager-premier-league-tactics

Agree to a certain extent with this but thought pressure continued in
fits and starts throughout the match which is why we stayed in the
game.

Origi had two chances of note. The one in the bar and the one where he
does an overstep to get away from Kyle Walker and shots low on Hugo
Loris.

Could have done better or tried to step back inside but then risk not
getting the shot away.

Good first outing and in my opinion amazing what he has managed to
change after just 3 days of training and all the injuries.

Currently these players are out that might be in starting 11. Joe
Gomez and Danny Ings, 6-8 months, Hendo, Firminho and Benteke,
Sturridge (all to return in next two weeks I think).

Will be fun going forward.

YNWA,
Stian

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Fantastic article on tactics from a real footy mind.


Worth reading his book Inverting the pyramid if you find this interesting and would like further understanding of the game and tactics.

YNWA,
Stian
Sent from my Blackberry Playbook

And a quick tweet on Jurgen Klopp worth checking out... what a character!
https://twitter.com/lfcmostar/status/655470252931706881