Dave Davis singles out fans who continue to question Jürgen Klopp despite the positive changes the German has made at Liverpool.
When Jürgen Klopp arrived last season, there were the standard quotes being trotted out about his pressing game, success at Dortmund and how sadly it ended. The sentiment that most Liverpool fans wisely echoed was that we had to give the man time and let him bring in the players to make it his team. Spend long enough on Twitter though, you can see that many are now questioning the players were being linked with whilst panicking about the signings rivals are making.
Lessons can be learned from his first summer at Dortmund. 13 players exited while 11 new faces were brought in. Unknown players such as Neven Subotic, Marcel Scmelzer and Felipe Santana came in to lukewarm receptions and questions around their abilities. An unknown Nuri Sahin was promoted from the academy and given a key role in central midfield too. It didn’t work out too badly for them.
Many won’t have heard of Lorius Karius, Joel Matip and Marko Grujic. Well Matip was voted in the Bundesliga team of the year and Karius was voted second best keeper in the league. When Manuel Neuer is in your way, that’s an achievement. Grujic is a Serbian international who, already at such a young age has won a major tournament with his country. Ben Chilwell didn’t play that often in Leicester’s title winning season last year. Joe Gomez wasn’t a star either, but we soon took to his qualities and missed him when Moreno was making brain dead decisions. If Klopp feels these players are what we need, we have to back him.
The clear out has begun with Martin Skrtel joining Fenerbache and Jordon Ibe set to complete his move to Bournemouth. Youngsters such as Sinclair, Canos and Texiera have left and up to 10 more players could follow. It’s still expected that there will be one or two more additions at Melwood, with a left back and midfielder targeted. Chilwell and Dahoud have been the two continuously linked, but if Klopp can’t get who he wants, Joe Allen and even Lucas may find themselves reprieved for another season.
The ruthlessness that lurks beneath the toothy smile is now rearing its head. Hugs and smiles Klopp may share with his players, but if he doesn’t see them in his plans -out they’ll go. This isn’t a cheque-book manager who goes out and buys great players, he makes them. FSG have given him their full backing with a 6 year contract. We all need to do the same.