The Hunt for Klopp’s Successor

Well I won’t be betting on Alonso so Gerrard.

I’ve been thinking on about this. The circumstances when Klopp joined are quite different to now.

When he joined, he was a clear upgrade on the existing manager and a clear match to the club. We were also not exactly the most attractive prospect with a team filled with journeymen.

Now we are effectively trying to replace the best coach, a perfect fit, and with a very strong squad of players.

When Klopp was signed, the stats guys at the club had determined that he was the best possible candidate. I expect them to do that again but we will be getting a complete package with a sporting director as well.

Knowing how FSG operate, they will want someone who can get the best out of undervalued players and not someone who can play FIFA on cheat mode with Monopoly money.

Alonso looks like a good bet but I think he carries more risk than when we signed Klopp. Also, is he capable of getting a top functioning team with what we have?

In truth, I don’t watch enough other football to know who is available. I’m going to watch Leverkusen vs Supercalifragilisticborussiamönchengladbach this evening to get a feel for how Alonso sets his teams up. The post match interviews should be interesting!

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And what will those players do, will they say, great that is it good manager, whom ever it will be, or will they forse an exit …

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It’s a risk. Also, there may be players that don’t feature in the manager’s plans.

Thinking back to when Shankly left, Paisley made some changes but compared to Bill he was ruthless with players that he no longer thought were up to scratch or who were a bad influence on the team. Quite at odds with his otherwise genial personality.

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Depends if we get the right guy in.

Yes, I’m only saying Klopp’s leaving could have a huge impact on everything. When player had the choice playing for Klopp or whomever they often chose us. What will the other backroom staff do, will players sign a new contract, will they force a move …

Next to the football it will be a exciting time.

Hopefully keep Taff around for Alison :wink:

I’m a bit worried about the squad. Matip and Thiago will most likely go in the summer and the new guy will definitely want to bring players in. I’m sure a few players will be thinking about their future which we could do without.

Well, it’s natural.

New manager and staff in means basically different ideas about different players. There’s a lot to like about this squad, but it’s inevitable that there will be some changes.

Some players will be looked at differently, the new guy will not see everything the same as Klopp did or does.

Also, it’s expected that some players might think about their futures.

It’s good that we don’t have a Djibril Cisse for a club record fee type of situation just before Rafa took over, because I believe he wouldn’t have gone or agreed with the club to do that.

It is challenging because it’s been a long, long time in this club’s history since we had two successful managerial reins in a row.

Liverpool needs to show that, regardless of Klopp’s big importance during this time, we are big enough and can continue being competitive and win.

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The squad that Klopp is leaving his successor is one of the best in world football. It is up to the new man (or woman, I suppose you have to say these days) to ensure that those players continue to perform at a high level.

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Not sure what it is but I feel that Xabi coming in would be Trent’s best chance to be moved to midfield permanently.

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People clamoring for Lijnders are probably the same people who have blamed him for everything the last 18 months.

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They obviously missed the part where it was confirmed that he’s leaving, too.

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I‘m sure Pep will be a Premier League manager at some point next season.

Apparently Xabi does use a 3-4-2-1 formation, so that would suit playing Trent in midfield perfectly.

Of course, a formation like that would be ideal with Mo and Mbappe as the 2. :wink:

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For the first time in modern times, we can genuinely say that the era on the pitch and off the pitch finally brought the club back into present. It’s in a much better place than in the 90’s, 00’s and a good part of 10’s also.

Stadium, training ground (especially, even more important for a new coach/staff than the stadium), brand, income, overall infrastructure… is not behind it’s age anymore. And it was multiple times when we hired new managers.

Owners have learned or understood better in last years more or less what type of dynamics between relationships and roles is needed to build something successful under their limitations.

I’m a pretty realistic guy, but also curious to see what’s the level of attraction we have now, compared to some other times when we looked for new head coaches. Of course, you also massively depend on the market situation, not everyone will be available or willing.

It would help if we had a much better sporting structure situation than we have, but it is how it is. Klopp has surprised us a bit earlier than planned. I was hoping at the latest, 2025 would be the point when we would have all positions around/above Klopp sorted, so we’re prepared for his departure in 2026.

Romance is nice, but it’s more of a bonus. I hope the club is pretty cold headed and stays rational. Popular choices can be wild, inconsistent and not based on quality enough reasons.

The new guy (for me at least) doesn’t have to be German, doesn’t need to have incredible charisma (impossible to replace Klopp in that, everyone’s special in their own way), doesn’t need to have intensity as his identity, it doesn’t need to be a 5+ years story, etc.

Klopp as a guy, well that’s something we will rarely get in a Liverpool fan life. Maybe once or twice, for the lucky ones that have been there under Shanks.

There are all kinds of different characters, there’s not only one or two types.

So I just hope the club appoints the best guy possible, they don’t forget to remain ambitious and then we go. New relationships, new habits and stuff can be built with time.

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Xabi’s formation is flexible, also only a year and a half into his senior coaching career.

It doesn’t necessarily mean he’d use the 3-4-3 here. When you look at their dynamics, the right sided player plays much higher than the left sided one.

We’d have to wait and see how he would approach it here, I’m just saying it’s possible that he would have another formation here with maybe his own ideas how to shape it or how to be flexible.

Feel like he is playing three at the back because of the players he has and because it suits the Bundesliga.

Not sure it’s his preferred formation or will be when he is at a big club.

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I really can’t understand how we are supposed to imagine a manager like Emery to succeed Klopp.
He was the manager that denied us our first Klopp final. He managed Arsenal…and these two are reasons enough for me to pass.

I also can’t understand the de Zerbi calls. Yes, not a bad manager, he’s one of the good ones in the league, but I just don’t see him getting us trophies. Hell, Moyes is doing better than him atm…

Gerrard just isn’t made to be…and he’s my childhood hero… it’s like bringing him in just to get through hell with him. And no question, if for some reason he is chosen and manages Liverpool, I’d walk the abyss all the way with him…but I don’t want his legacy damaged…nor our club to fall down the spiral UTD has been for the past decade (especially if it’s because of him).

Any other calls are so absurd I can’t even find the words to comment, like Zidane, Simeone, Mourinho, Postecoglou…totally changing direction when we have come all this way creating this identity. Not that it won’t change quite a bit anyway, whoever comes in, but such options would leave no trace whatsoever from the brand of football we have come to love…

So, who then…
Only Alonso for me.
I hear the arguments that fans would demand the trophies immediately, and that it’s too soon for him, and that he would succumb to the pressure, etc…
Maybe all potentially quite a bit valid, but the way I see it, is he is making Tuchel trail and play catch up, and Tuchel is a Champions League winner and finalist with two (?) teams, who’s now managing a team that wins the League for fun, and has a team of superstars, with what? I mean what kind of team of unknowns is that in Leverkusen…and he’s got them winning…knocking Bayern Munich off their perch is no mean feat, and totally Klopp reminiscent. A sign, for sure in my book.

And not just in the league, he’s just winning and winning in Europe as well, whoever he’s facing. With a brand of football that can definitely merge with the style we are playing now, and can you imagine what this system will achieve with star players like ours?
Plus being a football icon that is adored here, plus a winner, plus a man who understands Liverpool and the Liverpool way, plus a man for whose football intelligence I’m totally convinced, ever since he displayed his vision as a player, and now is showing he understands the game from the manager’ pov…
A no brainer for me… there’s no one else that ticks these boxes that is not somehow flawed in some way or another…

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