17 Jan 2017 22:17:07
Absolutely sick to death of reading about our so called "long ball" style of football. All over the Liverpool site, all over the daily rags from former Liverpool players, I seems we've really hit a nerve.

Now, unless I'm mistaken, football is a game of many variances. There is no one particular way to play the game. There are many ways to set up and many tactical changes during a game in order to get a result. Klopp likes to play a high press and hound the opposition, that's fine. Does that make this the only way to play? Leicester won the league last season with about 40% average possession over the season, hitting teams on the counter. Barcelona play with 80% possession and pass opppsition to death. It's all varied.

Now, at half time in our game, having put ourselves in a bad situation with a crazy penalty conceded, it was obvious to us all as well as Jose that we weren't at the races. Liverpools game plan was working. Had we made no change we would have lost the match. So, how do you counter a high press in midfield? Bypass it. We have two specialists in Fellaini and Zlatan who can bring the ball down. There is a difference between lumping long balls and hoping, and accurately finding your target man who can bring the ball down and play somebody in. We changed tactic and it worked. Where is the problem with this? Had Brendan Rodgers had a plan B of any kind Liverpool would have a title to their name by now.

If there had been ten mins more to play we would have won that game. Klopp embarrassed himself after the game bemoaning the "long ball". Guess what Jurgen, it's your job as coach to counteract it. All this rubbish about how brilliant they are, they didn't score in open play against us, the didn't score in open play against soton, the didn't score in open play against Plymouth, they didn't score in open play against Sunderland. Yet the way they go on they're the next Barcelona. They get upset when a lesser team "park the bus" as they call it. What would you expect them too do, go toe to toe and get hammered?

We have been VERY entertaining to watch the last few months, and we're building a very good side. 16 games unbeaten, a very poor performance against them and still a draw. It really bothers Liverpool fans and I think they're starting to worry about us. Jose has us going firmly in the right direction. We will only improve.

By the way I find klopp highly irritating and cringe to be honest. His over the top, showmanship is boring me.

1.) 17 Jan 2017
17 Jan 2017 23:44:21
i wouldn't say we played a long ball game i just think it was a case of needs must and we went a bit more direct to get back into the game and then push for the win, we play a certain style at united with attacking flair i don't think we could ever be labelled long ball merchants.

2.) 18 Jan 2017
18 Jan 2017 00:14:51
Don't let it get to you.

Going direct is what's known as having a plan B and as Pat Nevin rightly points out is the best way to beat the press so makes sense.

Managers get panned left right and centre for not having a plan B *cough Guardiola* so personally I'm pretty happy we have a manger that does have one.

3.) 18 Jan 2017
18 Jan 2017 00:28:27
Also we should have had about 5 different players red carded. Even retrospective banning mentioned, really? A Liverpool supporter below refers to fellaini as "that thug fellaini". Maybe they wanted him red carded too for winning a header as he must have moved his arms at the time, which would be intentional violent conduct. Absolutely bitter, pathetic behaviour. Also glad someone mentioned John Aldridge going on about class, yet leaving class by the wayside with his bitter and twisted rant. Even Anderson has probably got more trophies than him.

4.) 18 Jan 2017
18 Jan 2017 00:29:43
On the long ball question, I agree 100%. It was a smart way to bypass the Liverpool press. As fas as Klopp goes, most of us would love his passion if he were our manager. I'd take that over the notebook any day.

5.) 18 Jan 2017
18 Jan 2017 02:51:02
Klopp is a cartoon. I do not understand the love in with him. He got a side relegated. With Dortmund, he was lucky to have a group of very good players and won the league while Bayern were in a rebuild phase. Then as soon as the going got tough, he packed up his bags.

His expressions, every time I see it, I feel like slapping the bijijeez out of him. If his record is something to be heralded, then Mancini, de matteo etc should also be praised.

His jokes are not even funny.

{Ed025's Note - i dont think you would like anyone who managed liverpool shan its part of your DNA, i happen to really like the guy and think he is talented but as they say it takes all sorts mate..

6.) 18 Jan 2017
18 Jan 2017 05:35:27
Agree with all you said stand. Great post

7.) 18 Jan 2017
18 Jan 2017 06:55:50
That is pretty likely Ed. But I wouldn't mind Suarez or Coutinho playing for us.

{Ed025's Note - 2 excellent players shan..

8.) 18 Jan 2017
18 Jan 2017 07:56:56
It was a tactical change, no more than that: we couldn't get through their midfield so we gambled on by-passing it.

We tried to play through the midfield for most of the match but their pressing didn't allow us any space - so Olan B with Fellini on.

Doesn't make us a long ball team and do you really care what other people think? Jose was chasing the goal and that's more important than any snide remarks from elsewhere.

9.) 18 Jan 2017
18 Jan 2017 08:07:54
It worked didn't it? We equalised!

10.) 18 Jan 2017
18 Jan 2017 08:10:13
When it suits, Klopp has played "long ball"

Here is the written commentary of what Klopp did when he was losing 1.0 to us on 17 Jan 16.
"Nothing subtle about this. Recent loan signing Steven Caulker - a central defender - is sent on for James Milner to stand up front and win headers. Route one time"

I remain saddened by the Liverpool bias in the press, the unbalanced number of ex Liverpool pros and fans giving their tainted slant on things. Now they have a new way of playing, the gengenpress or something like that and the way to negate it is go over them, turn their hunting pack around. It's a tactic which worked and other teams will see it, that is likely what rankles. What you are hearing is frustration, the it's unfair type stuff. About time the press corp had more balance and realise the gengenpress is only one way to play.

I recall SAF saying he had figured out how to beat Barcelona in 2011, yet their pressing game (and Messi) ran rings around us. Perhaps the switch in tactics displayed by Jose would have given Barcelona more issues than we actually did. We will never know, but switching tactics effectively is part of the game and the Liverpool bias press are, in my opinion, trying to drive a wedge between fans and Jose for "not playing the United way", which is utter drivel. As above even their new hero Klopp does it when needed but there again, like Aldridge amply demonstrated they often ignore reality.

11.) 18 Jan 2017
18 Jan 2017 08:36:10
"Over the top showmanship"? Have you not watched Jose for the last 10 years Stand? Come on! You must have had your tongue firmly in your cheek there?

12.) 18 Jan 2017
18 Jan 2017 08:47:53
They are just grumpy because they rented a bus to park but didn't rent a plane as well :)

13.) 18 Jan 2017
18 Jan 2017 09:40:55
If you remember Europa league finale last year where dippers got torn apart by sevila. They were moaning that klop didn't change the tactics in 2nd half, to counter sevila.

If he had, they might of won it and all would be saying what a great tactition he is and if plan A is not working, he can adapt and use a plan B.


I mean how many finals he lost? 6 or something like that. It's good to have principles, belief in what you are doing, but if it's not working you should change it or at least adapt to a situation. Most of the successful people, adapt to situation and that's what Jose did. Maybe that's why he won what he has won and Klop didn't .

14.) 18 Jan 2017
18 Jan 2017 09:42:32
Souness, Gerrard, Alonso, Mcallister - all lauded as outstanding long ball passers- rightly so. Scholes, Beckham, Carrick, Veron . all part of the game. problem is those who want to cause trouble or arguments purposely don't distinguish between a 40 yard crossfield pass (a thing of beauty) or lumping it into the area. Anyone with high press or packing the midfield go over them or down the side of them. Tactics.

I see Valencia singled out as long ball specialist? because he puts crosses in? Lpool would have as many titles as City if the old Heighway/ st John into toshack, knock down to keegan move never existed.

15.) 18 Jan 2017
18 Jan 2017 10:06:07
On a weekend when city got absolutely clapped the main talking point is playing long balls pretty disrespectful to us and Everton imo.

16.) 18 Jan 2017
18 Jan 2017 10:28:45
To be fair I can't call Utd much in that game. You pressed us and on the day in my opinion was the better team. With a fixture like this there's always going to be people pointing the finger it's always happened and will always happen. In one ear and out the other. As a Liverpool fan I'm chuft with the draw. Tactics mean bugger all to me. Results do.