This week the gang get stuck into the international break and even stare longingly into the future at the European Championship. There’s also Premier League matters to attend to in the shape of Jurgen Klopp and Sam Allardyce. We also preview a couple of stand out games from the up coming EPL fixtures and get some basic Geography incredibly wrong. Enjoy…
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[audio http://cleanpairofshorts.podbean.com/mf/web/w4jmat/Episode89-Geography.mp3]or on iTunes
What will Liverpool get in Klopp. With Jurgan Norbert Klopp’s imminent arrival to the Red half of Liverpool, what will the Anfield elite get from a 6ft 4″ former Striker/Defender????
Klopp is touted as one of Europe’s finest footballing minds and to say he likes ‘Heavy Metal’ loud and in your face football, shows his philosophy might work well in the loud and in your face world of Premier League football.
I am a fan of the German and I think he is not just a fan of football, but also a fan of working to build something wonderful from the doom and gloom. If you take his tenure at Dortmund ( oblivious choice ), in 2008 he signed a 2 year deal and replaced Thomas Doll of all people. Now that previous season Dortmund finished 13th and were on the slide, Klopp came in and steadied the ship, beat Bayern to win the cup and finish 6th in the league. He did all of this with many of the same players but how, I hear you all chant!!! Well this is what I really like about how this mans brain ticks and also he is charismatic, cheeky and has an outgoing personality.
“Is Gegenpressing or counter pressing in sort pressing the opposition high up the pitch and give them little time to adjust to their game tempo and give your team more opportunities at goal, combine that with a super fit team and your on to a winner here is a little picture”
Now this meant Dortmund did not have to go break the bank on massive transfer fee’s they just turned their players into super fit running machines and any prize money they came across was reverted back into the club for super cool training tools like the famous Footbonaut.
Now look at Liverpool’s current state. The departed Rogers spent a shed load of cash and failed to build a competitive side not once but twice. Now enter Klopp, who will look at this young squad and work them to the point of near death and then turn them into a loud, in your face side that will attack like a pack of hungry dogs. This will take time and forget dreaming about buying Marco Reus , you’ll probably find Mr Milner will be one of the stars due to his high work rate and attitude and sorry Mario, I think your cards are in the post as I write.
I really am a believer that this man can kick start the new era at Liverpool, a slightly different era that most seem to want to see from the Kop end but if you win games and keep the costings low, surely that’s a win win for fans and board.
MS
Weirdly, this week there is actually a bit of serious talk about football. Brendan Rogers, Dick Advocaat, Arsenal v Man U, and Aguero’s heroics all discussed. Also goal of the week, fantasy league round up, plus more goals than you can shake a Klopp at. A pretty good weekend of football all in all.
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[audio http://cleanpairofshorts.podbean.com/mf/web/6izpwh/Episode88-NotMyCupOfTea.mp3]or on iTunes
Liverpool fans rejoice, the looming axe has finally fallen on Brendan Rogers. Despite the media hyperbole of, not if but when, there is still a little shock in the swiftness of his execution. Yeah the results have been bad but surely he’s got until Christmas, right. Right?
Apparently not. Shortly after a limp draw in the Merseyside derby the Fenway Sports Group dispatched their man, although the decision had apparently already been made before the game had kicked off. Rogers had been in charge since July 2012 and with bags loads of Money spent and a revolving door of transfers it never felt like stability was a priority for Liverpool in his tenure, and middling league positions reinforced this. A 2nd place finish two seasons ago was a highlight of his reign but, what felt like an over achievement at the time, could not be built upon and disappointment in the league and Europe followed. It could be argued that the club as a whole were in a transitional period with Brendan tasked with birthing the new Liverpool in the post Carragher and Gerrard era. Any manager would struggle to cope overseeing the departure of such iconic players but this was not enough to save him. A trophy less proprietorship and poor start this season was never going to end well. The lack of Champions League was also difficult to swallow for fans and average showings in the Europa League did little to appease.
So what now? An international break gives the FSG crew a couple of weeks to find their new man but given the inevitability of the sacking it would be foolish to think there isn’t already irons in fires. De Boer and Ancelotti are on the favorites list but with one currently employed and the other on a years sabbatical it seems that Klopp may be the man. Or maybe that’s just my own wishful thinking. Imagine a Klopp’s Liverpool in the Premier League, a Dortmundesque team scything through opponents with pace and energy. Delightful. Whimsy aside, there does seem to something of a natural fit for Klopp and Liverpool, but if Football has taught us anything, it’s if it seems obvious, it probably wont happen. It is after all, a funny old game.
RG
We’re here, finally. No matter what life throws at them, the Cleanpairofshorts gang carry on through the storm and defy all odds by actually recording a podacst this week even without the CPOS studio. A day late and a dollar short, this weeks show is a mini pod and rather than dwell on the past the gang give us preview of game week 8. The Premier League waits for no man. Enjoy…
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[audio http://cleanpairofshorts.podbean.com/mf/web/fmwvg4/Episode87-FordMondeo.mp3]or on iTunes
Dreams can come true. And here is the proof. Another action packed pod crammed full of Premier league niceness and football delight. Both Manchester teams, Liverpool and Southampton all get discussed, plus something happened at Stamford Bridge. Apparently. Who knows, maybe next week we’ll talk about someone else other than the usual big boys. We just need them to stop doing interesting things first. Enjoy…
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[audio http://cleanpairofshorts.podbean.com/mf/web/yicaug/Episode86-Gabrielle.mp3]or on iTunes
Alas, this week Mike’s absence is felt as Ollie and Russ stumble through the comings and goings of game week 5 in the Premier League alone. But fear not, Mike shall return next week with tales of football and stuff. This week, make do with Chelsea’s woe’s, Martial’s glory, and West Ham’s winning ways. Enjoy…
Listen here:
[audio http://cleanpairofshorts.podbean.com/mf/web/9yat4r/Episode85-FencePosts.mp3]or on iTunes
With no Premier League this week the gang console themselves with the joy that is international football. England’s victory against San Marino plus Wales heroics in the qualifying stages are discussed, as well as a triumphant return of world famous Predictions. All seasoned with a light dusting of libel. Enjoy…
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or on iTunes
We’re back with more comings and goings in the Premier League. This week Southampton v Norwich, Liverpool v West Ham, and Chelsea v Palace. Plus with the end of the window we have a transfer round up and a fantasy league round up. That’s two free round up’s. What more can you ask for…
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or on iTunes
This week the gang get excited about Pedro and disappointed about defending as they deep dive into game week 3 of the Premier League. West Ham v Bournemouth, West Brom v Chelsea and Everton v Man City all feature plus, is Rooney any good? And live tweeting. There’s live tweeting.
Listen here:
[audio http://cleanpairofshorts.podbean.com/mf/web/pv2md3/Episode82-SauronRondon.mp3]or on iTunes
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