I think the problem FSG have is that Klopp is quite possibly the only manager in the world who could have achieved what he has under the financial restrictions he is operating under.
And even he, now, needs more help than their operating set up will give. They’re not giving it and it’s clearly pissed Klopp off for him to say anything in public, he just doesn’t do that. Make no mistake as angry, disappointed and frustrated as he will have come across he will be more so away from the media.
So what do FSG do? Stick to their guns even though it may lead to a soured relationship with the one manager who can bring them success? It could well lead to costing them well over £50m in next year’s revenue if they gamble on his ability to handle it and they’re wrong. That’s an expensive gamble and might put their carefully cultivated sporting project back several years. If it does I seriously doubt we retain some of our top stars and doubt Klopp extends his deal any further. We still stand a chance of the remaining part of Klopps reign being a time when we truly dominate English football.
Or do they break their usual restraints and find a way to back him? It’s a terrible time to have to find finances, the club could already be operating at a loss. There’s not even any guarantee that if they were to find finances to back Klopp that it will have the desired impact or that the desired impact is even required. We could be fine without adding a CB and we might not be fine still even with adding one. Gambling on losing more money when they may already be set to lose money on an unsure thing probably screams against every instinct they have as business men.
But here’s the thing. The possible downsides of not acting seem to me to far outstrip the possible down sides of acting. It takes strength to listen to experts on something you aren’t an expert in and even publicly Klopp has had to admit bringing a CB in would help stabilise us. You can bet everything you own that he’d be stronger worded in private! There’s a saying that sometimes in business you have to spend money to make money. In this case it’s more we have to take a hit to secure future revenue.
FSG can’t do much to help with what’s happening on the pitch. But they can provide the boost of showing they listen to and back Klopp no matter how bad the circumstances and timing are. Give the fans and players the morale boost of a new player coming in to help a position in dire need of reinforcing. Give Klopp every tool they can to succeed. They’re literally up shit creek if he fails anyway may as well go “all in” (although that’s just dramatic speech it isn’t even likely to be all that expensive a piece of business).