The Season So Far: New Beginnings - by John Brennan

[tlw content]

Do we have to? Really? Again? And without Jürgen too? Plus, we can’t even sing ‘Fuck the Tories’ with as much gusto, as they’ve disappeared. Still, we’ve got some new chants, ‘Arne Slot la la la la la la’ (you sang the las didn’t you?) having been bequeathed to us by Jürgen. Three lines in, and already two mentions of ‘Jürgen’, you may have gathered I’m not dealing with this very well…

 

The pre-season and the new season has a very ‘shrug-of-the-shoulders’ feel to it, for me. That’s probably down to the sheer exhaustion from the last few seasons – and last season in particular – as well as the inevitable hangover from Jürgen’s (three) departure. That will no doubt change as we swing into action on Saturday, in hope more than in expectation of a decent season.

 

There are two things to address, I feel, as Saturday lunchtime beckons: what has happened in pre-season since Jürgen (four. ‘Stop the count, stop the count!’) left and what we can anticipate?

 

Well, at the end of the season (which was in March, in hindsight) sadness and also gratitude took over any disappointment. Wolves was great, in the sun, a farewell to someone none of us was ready to see go. The ‘handover’ (ugh!) went as well as could be expected, a welcome lull in output from the Club’s social media team helping to soften the blow. The distraction of the Euros also meant that there was no immediate overkill with Slot. (We’re not on first name terms. Yet.). 

 

Once he did speak, he spoke well. He has struck all the right notes, avoiding any faux pas. Obviously it’s still a honeymoon period and tougher questions will be asked as the season goes on, but so far so good. He’s never going to have Jürgen’s larger-than-life presence – no-one does – but that’s not what any of us expect. He will benefit from goodwill at the outset and his first strides in the job will have done him no harm.

 

So much for Slot, what about the other ‘ins’ and ‘outs’? Sorry, the other outs. The squad has been trimmed quite a bit: Joel leaving was inevitable, although I still think he could have offered us something. Thiago won’t be missed – his contribution last season being the equivalent of the Grandpa Simpson gif. When Carvalho never got a look-in under Klopp, you felt it was never going to happen for him here. Clark leaving, especially given his promise of last season, is a surprise, but FSG probably think it’s good business. Another few have been moved on too, some permanently, some on loan. 

 

 

Whatever side you come down on in the FSG debate, the lack of signings is gross negligence. Coming into a season – deep breath – where we are already down Klopp, where we are facing more and tougher games due to European Cup qualification, where we have greater guaranteed income due to the aforementioned European Cup and a fully complete stadium, where your captain who will be out of contract in six months has said he is hopeful of new signings, where everyone else in the League has strengthened, to not bring in anyone before a ball is kicked needs to be called out. 

 

Klopp made these nerds look great, they’re making themselves look terrible. No-one realistically expects massive signings every season, that’s not the way we are run. But under FSG, the good and great has far outweighed the bad. Alisson, Virgil, Fabinho, Sadio, Mo, the list goes on. Sometimes, you have to go the extra mile, even if it doesn’t ‘fit’ the spreadsheet. Things may be rosy now with a fully-fit squad to start the season, but this could quickly change and our inaction this summer could then become very costly.

 

 

Of course, it’s bad enough not bringing anyone in, but how about, erm, keeping the world-class players who, y’know, actually play for us? If the Club doesn’t move fast, watch Trent’s head being turned over the next few weeks and months (then again, there are benefits to that, he might pick up his man on the back post if that happens…). As pre-seasons go – it has been one to forget, up there with the fiasco of last season.

 

So, what can we expect in the coming weeks and months? In terms of style, there’ll be plenty of changes in terms of formation. The 4-3-3 Red Arrows is now consigned to the history / memory books.  Based on what we have seen and what Slot has said, there is going to be an attempt to add more ‘control’ to our play, which should see us keep the ball better. Despite changes in formation, the players are still largely the same – they scored 142 goals last season and there’s no reason to think we won’t be prolific again. Maybe that control will help us be tighter at the back, even though we had the third-best defence in the League, we still conceded in 28 of our 38 League games (and often first, which was the bane of our existence last season). That meant we were often chasing games, not conducive to control. 

 

I expect the press to be pretty intense – if you want to control the game, you need the ball, but the heavy-metal football may not be seen which will be good for our heart rates and hopefully there will be less wear and tear on the players, too.

 

The step-up from Europa League to European Cup will make rotation more difficult: the Europa League and the other Cup competitions really allowed us to develop and rest players last season. The likes of Bradley and Quansah are pushing for starting places as the new season dawns upon us.

 

As a Club, you can only try to do better season-on-season. That would mean a Cup (or two) and second or better in the League. Stranger things have happened – but given the upheaval after eight unbelievable years – a couple of decent Cup runs and a top-four finish would do just fine. Up the Reds!

 

John Brennan

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[DalyanPete]

Lot of sense there John, but I hope the clubs aspirations are higher than cup runs and top four, despite the upheaval.

For me,  if you finish third despite a decent season anyone can see you need to improve some areas. The only problem is how FSG view that.

I do think that Mo will be revitalised now Klopps gone, as like in any business if you fall out with your manager that manager will always be a cunt no matter what happens.

[Smell The Glove]

6 hours ago, tlw content said:

Do we have to? Really? Again? And without Jürgen too? Plus, we can’t even sing ‘Fuck the Tories’ with as much gusto, as they’ve disappeared. Still, we’ve got some new chants, ‘Arne Slot la la la la la la’ (you sang the las didn’t you?) having been bequeathed to us by Jürgen. Three lines in, and already two mentions of ‘Jürgen’, you may have gathered I’m not dealing with this very well…

 

 

Very odd paragraph. I mean everybody can change their minds but you had serious dislike for Klopp, huge volte face you're portraying there where you slagged him constantly for a while and now can't even face a new season without him. Yes times change and you are allowed to change your opinion but you gave a pretty vitriolic take on Klopp that is interesting to me, was it just success that changed that? Tories haven't disappeared either.

[Chris]

45 minutes ago, Smell The Glove said:

Very odd paragraph. I mean everybody can change their minds but you had serious dislike for Klopp, huge volte face you're portraying there where you slagged him constantly for a while and now can't even face a new season without him. Yes times change and you are allowed to change your opinion but you gave a pretty vitriolic take on Klopp that is interesting to me, was it just success that changed that? Tories haven't disappeared either.

 

It’s completely false to say that the take was “vitriolic” and there wasn’t “serious dislike” either. Absolute revisionism. 
 

There were a couple of things that annoyed him early on and he wrote them. Namely Klopp’s criticism of the fans and his attempts to micromanage us while getting us on board with “believing”

 

As John did, I also felt that him going on MNF early on and talking so openly about his methods was a mistake and wasn’t happy with him for that either. 
 

Are you honestly trying to say it’s not possible to criticise something that annoyed you early on, and still develop deep love for that person and lament life without him?

 

 

[Smell The Glove]

2 minutes ago, Chris said:

 

It’s completely false to say that the take was “vitriolic” and there wasn’t “serious dislike” either. Absolute revisionism. 
 

There were a couple of things that annoyed him early on and he wrote them. Namely Klopp’s criticism of the fans and his attempts to micromanage us while getting us on board with “believing”

 

As John did, I also felt that him going on MNF early on and talking so openly about his methods was a mistake and wasn’t happy with him for that either. 
 

Are you honestly trying to say it’s not possible to criticise something that annoyed you early on, and still develop deep love for that person and lament life without him?

 

 

I'll wait for John to answer

[Chris]

2 minutes ago, Smell The Glove said:

I'll wait for John to answer

 

Honestly, why would he engage with you?

 

There's not much point. You've already made you're mind up if you're gonna read everything he's written through the lens of "he wasn't immediately 100% all-in on Klopp" like you never once registered annoyance with him at the match, in the pub or talking with mates.

[Smell The Glove]

Just now, Chris said:

 

Honestly, why would he engage with you?

 

Why have you?

[Jairzinho]

6 minutes ago, Chris said:

 

Honestly, why would he engage with you?

 

 

Because his article has just been posted on a forum?

[Chris]

1 hour ago, Smell The Glove said:

Why have you?

 

 

To defend my mate from people distorting what he'd written in the past and acting like it's not possible to grow from an initial opinion as you get to know someone, duh. 

 

Dunno about you, but I'd much rather be someone who had an initial impression, realised that impression wasn't accurate/ was overstated, and revised his opinion over time rather than just doubling down.

 

But no, that's not really how it happens 'round these parts where it's more about people being right and then just doubling down ad infinitum regardless of anything to the contrary. 

[Smell The Glove]

21 minutes ago, Chris said:

 

 

To defend my mate from people distorting what he'd written in the past and acting like it's not possible to grow from an initial opinion as you get to know someone, duh. 

 

Dunno about you, but I'd much rather be someone who had an initial impression, realised that impression wasn't accurate/ was overstated, and revised his opinion over time rather than just doubling down.

 

But no, that's not really how it happens 'round these parts where it's more about people being right and then just doubling down ad infinitum regardless of anything to the contrary. 

Took you an hour to think up that? Easier to say it was a shit piece, was very wrong and in time, after winning everything, I grew to like him.

[Chris]

1 minute ago, Smell The Glove said:

Took you an hour to think up that? Easier to say it was a shit piece, was very wrong and I grew to love him.

 

Haha. You think I'm on here around the clock? Waiting for you to reply? Jesus, grow up man.

 

[Smell The Glove]

2 minutes ago, Chris said:

 

Haha. You think I'm on here around the clock? Waiting for you to reply? Jesus, grow up man.

 

Sorry Gordon Gekko. Maybe not waste your time answering questions that aren't addressed to you then.

[Smell The Glove]

When anyone dares criticize him, of course, Kloppites trot out the same old “arguments”: “Would you prefer to go back to the 6-1 hammerings at Stoke?” (well, at least we scored that day); “I’d prefer this to those drab days under GH and Rafa.” (yeah, winning all those troffies and trophies, pffff, much over-rated). The reason we are in this mess and that we won’t win anything this season is the fault of the Board and Klopp.

 

In seventy-two League games, his teams have conceded 90 goals. NINETY!!! Seventy-two games is surely enough to realize there’s a problem and more importantly to try to fix it! Up front, this guy has a Plan A, B, C, D and E. There is literally a dozen combinations he has at his disposal and he deserves credit for that.

 

But at the back his Plan A is, at the very best, Clyne, Matip, Lovren and Milner. One of those is injured, the other is average at best, the other is a liability – literally, he’ll cost us 10 goals this season – and the other is our “new midfielder”. If Lovren or Matip get injured, Klavan can slot in! This is negligence on Klopp’s and the Club’s part. But woe betide you if you dare criticize him.

 

That’s the thing with the Cheerleader-in-Chief. Nothing sticks. Get beaten 5-0 at City? He has a built-in excuse with Mané’s sending-off. It would be cynical to suggest that was why he made such a big deal out of it, of course. Concede three at Watford? It wasn’t “that bad” and “too much was made of our defending”. Score on the counter-attack? Shout “That’s football!” at the crowd in a self-congratulatory manner. He’s above us all, isn’t he? The defence is just the on-field manifestation of this guy’s arrogance.

 

Kloppites

 

Trophies pffft

 

Cheerleader in chief

 

The guys arrogance

 

Along with every other sentence dripping with disdain. I didn't distort anything.

[redinblack]

I've enjoyed the summer with no football. I've promised myself I won't get so emotionally involved this season.

 

See how long that lasts.

[sir roger]

I like John on the pod, but that article is one of a very few that I still remember from the dim and distant, and not in a good way.

[an tha]

Fair enough piece apart from IMHO this part:

 

"Whatever side you come down on in the FSG debate, the lack of signings is gross negligence"

 

IMHO this viewpoint can only be true come the end of the window. This window was always going to be a difficult one with summer tournaments and a new manager/staff.

 

If we are still not strengthened come the end of the window then it becomes a fair shout - but for me, as it stands with the window still open it isn't.

[Chris]

7 hours ago, Smell The Glove said:

When anyone dares criticize him, of course, Kloppites trot out the same old “arguments”: “Would you prefer to go back to the 6-1 hammerings at Stoke?” (well, at least we scored that day); “I’d prefer this to those drab days under GH and Rafa.” (yeah, winning all those troffies and trophies, pffff, much over-rated). The reason we are in this mess and that we won’t win anything this season is the fault of the Board and Klopp.

 

In seventy-two League games, his teams have conceded 90 goals. NINETY!!! Seventy-two games is surely enough to realize there’s a problem and more importantly to try to fix it! Up front, this guy has a Plan A, B, C, D and E. There is literally a dozen combinations he has at his disposal and he deserves credit for that.

 

But at the back his Plan A is, at the very best, Clyne, Matip, Lovren and Milner. One of those is injured, the other is average at best, the other is a liability – literally, he’ll cost us 10 goals this season – and the other is our “new midfielder”. If Lovren or Matip get injured, Klavan can slot in! This is negligence on Klopp’s and the Club’s part. But woe betide you if you dare criticize him.

 

That’s the thing with the Cheerleader-in-Chief. Nothing sticks. Get beaten 5-0 at City? He has a built-in excuse with Mané’s sending-off. It would be cynical to suggest that was why he made such a big deal out of it, of course. Concede three at Watford? It wasn’t “that bad” and “too much was made of our defending”. Score on the counter-attack? Shout “That’s football!” at the crowd in a self-congratulatory manner. He’s above us all, isn’t he? The defence is just the on-field manifestation of this guy’s arrogance.

 

Kloppites

 

Trophies pffft

 

Cheerleader in chief

 

The guys arrogance

 

Along with every other sentence dripping with disdain. I didn't distort anything.

yes you did. 

[Riley Greenleaf]

10 hours ago, redinblack said:

I've enjoyed the summer with no football. I've promised myself I won't get so emotionally involved this season.

 

See how long that lasts.

Till about 12.30 today?

[ralph]

Grest article John, enjoyed the read.

[redinblack]

45 minutes ago, Riley Greenleaf said:

Till about 12.30 today?

That's probably right yes

[VladimirIlyich]

13 hours ago, Smell The Glove said:

When anyone dares criticize him, of course, Kloppites trot out the same old “arguments”: “Would you prefer to go back to the 6-1 hammerings at Stoke?” (well, at least we scored that day); “I’d prefer this to those drab days under GH and Rafa.” (yeah, winning all those troffies and trophies, pffff, much over-rated). The reason we are in this mess and that we won’t win anything this season is the fault of the Board and Klopp.

 

In seventy-two League games, his teams have conceded 90 goals. NINETY!!! Seventy-two games is surely enough to realize there’s a problem and more importantly to try to fix it! Up front, this guy has a Plan A, B, C, D and E. There is literally a dozen combinations he has at his disposal and he deserves credit for that.

 

But at the back his Plan A is, at the very best, Clyne, Matip, Lovren and Milner. One of those is injured, the other is average at best, the other is a liability – literally, he’ll cost us 10 goals this season – and the other is our “new midfielder”. If Lovren or Matip get injured, Klavan can slot in! This is negligence on Klopp’s and the Club’s part. But woe betide you if you dare criticize him.

 

That’s the thing with the Cheerleader-in-Chief. Nothing sticks. Get beaten 5-0 at City? He has a built-in excuse with Mané’s sending-off. It would be cynical to suggest that was why he made such a big deal out of it, of course. Concede three at Watford? It wasn’t “that bad” and “too much was made of our defending”. Score on the counter-attack? Shout “That’s football!” at the crowd in a self-congratulatory manner. He’s above us all, isn’t he? The defence is just the on-field manifestation of this guy’s arrogance.

 

Kloppites

 

Trophies pffft

 

Cheerleader in chief

 

The guys arrogance

 

Along with every other sentence dripping with disdain. I didn't distort anything.

The 'Cheerleader in Chief' remark is the only thing I ever remember as it was the biggest piece of garbage I'd ever seen written by one of the main columnists on here. It was so far off the mark it was pretty embarrassing given who it was aimed at. It has clouded anything John has written since for me. 

[Smell The Glove]

Before somebody else jumped in, I was actually asking a question. I thought it was a terrible take for a variety of reasons but because it was quite a hit on Klopp, I was wondering if he only liked Klopp because of success and still disliked his personality?

 

Some of the things he wrote about Klopp, and it was other pieces as well,  it's interesting to know how he went from one extreme to the other. For example, could I have liked Hodgson if he won us the European Cup?

[VladimirIlyich]

1 hour ago, Smell The Glove said:

Before somebody else jumped in, I was actually asking a question. I thought it was a terrible take for a variety of reasons but because it was quite a hit on Klopp, I was wondering if he only liked Klopp because of success and still disliked his personality?

 

Some of the things he wrote about Klopp, and it was other pieces as well,  it's interesting to know how he went from one extreme to the other. For example, could I have liked Hodgson if he won us the European Cup?

That is very unlikely in the least. The Owl couldnt win the UEFA cup with a star studded Inter team. 

[deiseach]

6 hours ago, redinblack said:

That's probably right yes

 

I promised myself that this season I would adopt a 'que sera, sera' attitude.

 

Narrator: he did not adopt a 'que sera, sera' attitude.

[Chris]

6 hours ago, VladimirIlyich said:

The 'Cheerleader in Chief' remark is the only thing I ever remember as it was the biggest piece of garbage I'd ever seen written by one of the main columnists on here. It was so far off the mark it was pretty embarrassing given who it was aimed at. It has clouded anything John has written since for me. 

Really? I’d have never guessed that. 
 

You only bring it up every time an article is published.