by Chris Tobin
With the psyche of the modern fan it will always come down to managing expectations, a season where Chelsea have surpassed even their own expectations, a season that without such a run would see five teams within a win and a loss of each other, Liverpool are not doing so badly. More importantly the journey has begun.
Jürgen Klopp has done a great job both on and off the field at Liverpool and remains the key factor if we are to realise that title success, the best opportunity we have in a manager capable of achieving what all supporters want, but he needs that commodity which the modern fan ill affords a manager at a top club – time.
Klopp is the best opportunity the club has had in a very long time to getting us to a sustained challenge over a block of years rather than the hit and miss we have become accustomed to; this man is courageous like no other since the glory days, blooding young players whilst dispensing with those who don’t show the same approach. He is gregarious and charismatic to extremes: why would we not want to follow him on what is the start of a journey?
Imagine another preseason with the addition of players schooled in the pressing mould that he demands, with one or two of the plethora of young players solidifying their futures by gate crashing this squad. We have already witnessed what can be achieved with 70% of a Jürgen Klopp squad and the closer he gets to 100% the better for us.
This is going to be no ordinary path and when he gets this shuddering train up to speed there will not be anything temporary about it, it won’t be bits and pieces of wins here and there. Jürgen Klopp operates on a completely different level, the peculiars of errant goalkeeping and wayward defending will become a thing of history, moody strikers moved on and replaced with 100% effort that supporters take to their hearts on the strength of their exertion and endeavour.
The acquisition of Klopp’s first piece of silver will only accelerate the process yet we require new blood, with specific DNA pace and energy with a winning mentality. That combination will put Klopp and Liverpool closer than ever to winning the title as he has already proven what can be done with a few average players, and if his call on the goalkeeper situation had perhaps worked out better I think they would be within touching distance. We seriously need to acquire a top class keeper.
This season has become very important with it being imperative to qualify for the Champions League if the success is to be hurried along: the media and others would have you believe that winning the Premier League is so much easier if you don’t have European football to entertain the players, when in fact only Blackburn and Leicester have managed Premier League realization whilst not playing in a European competition.
Liverpool are far from the finished article, supporters with any clear sense understand this, those that have positioned themselves on the Klopp train, enjoying the journey with a knowledge that when we get to top speed all the bumps will have been worth it, the trophy haul will be testament to it.
Anyone who doubts Klopp need only look at the after-match interview for the Swansea game. I’m not sure any Liverpool fan was more annoyed and angry than the manager and if Klopp can’t get these players focused in this type of match then nobody can and some of those players will clearly be on their way out.
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