24 Oct 2017 08:40:32
It might not mean much but here's my two pence worth on our current situation.

I have managed my sons team for 3 years and before that a men's team for 2 so I know a little about coaching and team set ups etc (and before you ask, no I am not comparing myself to Klopp or think for a second I could do a better job etc etc etc) .

As you would expect in kids football there is a large turn around in players each year, and each time the first thing I look to address is the defence. It takes a few matches, you receive a few hammerings but you soon know who should be your keeper, your cb etc.
Sometimes as often the case your best midfielder is also your best keeper, and although you are desperate for them to play on the field you soon realise you need them in goal as it doesn't matter how fancy your team play is if the opposition scores every time they shoot (before you ask I am not saying we should place Mane in goal) .

How does this translate to Liverpool?
Well in club football you address these issues by building from the back, making sure your defence is strong then build from there. We have one of he strongest attacks in the league without question, but that means nothing if your defence are conceding 2, 3 goals a game.

What I am saying is Klopp has done it all wrong, when he signed if you had asked any Liverpool fan who needs replacing they would of said migs, lovren, Moreno. Yet 3 windows later all 3 were still in our starting 11 on Sunday.
If your team has a weakness you protect it, as Fergie (blasthomy im sorry) said "you are only as strong as your weakest link". Klopp needs to address our glaring issue and change the formation to protect the back 4 until he can recruit. If and when the defence improved you move on to expansive football.

I am not part of the Klopp out brigade, but I also do not have red tinted specs. He is a good manager but he is making mistakes that need to be addressed. If he does not address them then his ignorance to the issues will eventually be his downfall.

1.) 24 Oct 2017
24 Oct 2017 09:04:37
See now that's a wise and fair post, nice one carra, couldn't agree more. Defence has been our issue for quite along time now so for it now to get addressed even a few years ago is beyond me yet here we are with the same old, it needs sorting but I fear it won't be done quickly. For some reason the recruitment process within Liverpool is pretty poor.

2.) 24 Oct 2017
24 Oct 2017 09:14:17
Simple but true Carra.

3.) 24 Oct 2017
24 Oct 2017 09:44:17
One of the best posts I've ever seen on here to be honest. Superb read. Completely agree with all of it.

4.) 24 Oct 2017
24 Oct 2017 09:52:09
We are sat 9th in the table 3 points off 4th place. If you take into account that we have played 4/ 5 of the top 6 teams, only losing 2 away games to arguably the leagues 2 strongest teams then we are not doing to bad.

You could argue that we should have taken points from Burnley, Newcastle and Watford too but all 3 of those teams are directly above us in the table and have been taking points from everyone. Other than Chelsea and Southampton we have played every team in the top half of the table already. We could have done better, but this season isn't lost and we could easily pull this back between now and January with a much easier run of games.

Klopp needs to get the attack firing on all cylinders over the next 9 games before the window opens because I can't see any temporary fix for the defence with the players we have available. Personally I would just throw all the youth in so they get experience before he buys a completely new backline.

January is a difficult time to buy players, I doubt we would fail to get VVD again but our problems run deeper than just 1 CB. We need a decent keeper and at least 2 CB's providing we don't get VVD. I would get an older more experienced CB as cover until Gomez is ready and try our luck with him. It would definitely be the more affordable option and can't be any worse than what we have now.

5.) 24 Oct 2017
24 Oct 2017 09:57:37
Following on from my post if he moves Gomez to CB which many of us hope he does then he needs to protect him. As a young inexperienced CB he will be targeted by the opposition.

At a young age it will make or break his career, he is a good defender with lots of potential but he is not the finished article or the messiah (Illori was) .
At this moment in time he is a mild upgrade on what we have with room to improve further. If we play the same way but with him as a CB I fear we could ruin his Liverpool career as many fans will have their knives out after his first few mistakes.

I hope to see Karius in goal with Ward on the bench
Moreno, Matip, Gomez and Milner at RB (Playing Trent would be a very inexperienced back 4).
With Can and Hendo holding infront of them.

6.) 24 Oct 2017
24 Oct 2017 10:18:47
As always great posts Carra but I'd put Ward in goal.

7.) 24 Oct 2017
24 Oct 2017 10:40:14
@Reusch, I would go with Ward if I hadn't of put Gomez in defence. Playing both Gomez and Ward is a very inexperienced defence and a lot of pressure on them both.

8.) 24 Oct 2017
24 Oct 2017 12:12:48
23carragold, ward actually has more experience than Karius. They were born on the same day so age wise, they're identical. However, Ward has played 2 and a half seasons of senior football in British leagues, compared to Karius who has about 15 games here and a couple of seasons in Germany.

I'd pick Ward because he commands his area well. That takes pressure off your defenders at set pieces which is worth more to us than Karius's slightly superior sweeper keeping, in my opinion.

I think we can all agree that "anyone but Mignolet" is an improvement. Even Grabara or god forbid it, Bogdan 😂.

9.) 24 Oct 2017
24 Oct 2017 13:25:49
im not sure on Bogdan lol. I remember when our options were Migs in goal with Bogdan on the bench!

10.) 24 Oct 2017
24 Oct 2017 13:35:08
Carra, very well said mate and agree 100%.