The Curious Case of Juergen Klopp

Jim Lahey · December 23, 2014

What's going on at Dortmund? Joint bottom of De Bundlesliga half-way through the season.

I really like Klopp. I wanted him to replace Fergie when he announced his retirement. And I'd still have him at United after LVG's 3 year contract ends.

But what the heck is going so wrong this season? I don't watch much German footy these days as BT Sport snapped up the rights and I am not paying them for a monthly subscription.

So, Klopp - getting found out? Overrated? A simple case of several bad transfer windows?

heatmeiser · December 23, 2014

I think he dropped it over and now it's watch until where

MikeH72 · December 23, 2014

This year was a horrific transfer window for them. Let Lewandowski go on a free (possibly the worst piece of business by any club, ever not to get a fee for him last year) and replaced him with Immobile who is dog turd and Adrian Ramos who is average at best. Kagawa has had his confidence shattered at United. Injuries haven't helped, but the players they've brought in just aren't good enough. Defensively they're lost when Hummels doesn't play. Can't see them finishing in the top half

TheFinnFan · December 23, 2014

mikeh72 said:
This year was a horrific transfer window for them. Let Lewandowski go on a free (possibly the worst piece of business by any club, ever not to get a fee for him last year) and replaced him with Immobile who is dog turd and Adrian Ramos who is average at best. Kagawa has had his confidence shattered at United. Injuries haven't helped, but the players they've brought in just aren't good enough. Defensively they're lost without Hummels. Can't see them finishing in the top half

Immobile isnt turd. He's actually very good. What we are seeing is a team that knows it will be torn apart soon...I mean TORN.
They are putting their all into CL and these two FACHTS are the reason.

RFUS · December 23, 2014

mikeh72 said:
This year was a horrific transfer window for them. Let Lewandowski go on a free (possibly the worst piece of business by any club, ever not to get a fee for him last year) and replaced him with Immobile who is dog turd and Adrian Ramos who is average at best. Kagawa has had his confidence shattered at United. Injuries haven't helped, but the players they've brought in just aren't good enough. Defensively they're lost when Hummels doesn't play. Can't see them finishing in the top half

He does have an over-reliance on some of their stars, which is understandable. Without Bayern's budget they are only going to have a handful of game changers in their squad, and unfortunately they've mostly been injured. Reus is having terrible luck.

Jim Lahey · December 23, 2014

De Bundesliga is so dull this season. Bayern just running away with the league. They are just too powerful and wealthy compared to everyone else.

Believe it or not (you probably won't believe me) but I welcome Chelsea, City etc and their rivalry/millions. Our league would just be Man Utd and Arsenal slugging it out if those two didn't get investment.

RFUS · December 23, 2014

Jim Lahey said:
De Bundesliga is so dull this season. Bayern just running away with the league. They are just too powerful and wealthy compared to everyone else.

Believe it or not (you probably won't believe me) but I welcome Chelsea, City etc and their rivalry/millions. Our league would just be Man Utd and Arsenal slugging it out if those two didn't get investment.

I don't think the solution to big spending leviathan clubs is to have even more of them. At least in the Bundesliga a team can get into the Champions League without having to spend £200m.

It'd be nice if it was a (reasonably) level playing field for everyone.

EFCNIK · December 23, 2014

The Bundesliga is just bizarre. If you look at 4 of the bottom 5 teams, they've all achieved success in recent history. Stuttgart and I think Bremen have won the league as have Dortmund and Hamburg have always been near the top.

Weird.

Jim Lahey · December 23, 2014

EFCNIK said:
The Bundesliga is just bizarre. If you look at 4 of the bottom 5 teams, they've all achieved success in recent history. Stuttgart and I think Bremen have won the league as have Dortmund and Hamburg have always been near the top.

Weird.

Yep it's very strange. Don't they have like a play-off type scenario for relegation candidates at end of every season in Germany too?

toffee matt · December 23, 2014

Klopp will be the next arsenal manager

Seamus Colemole · December 23, 2014

He clearly turned from a good manager to a bad manager in the summer.

RFUS · December 23, 2014

EFCNIK said:
The Bundesliga is just bizarre. If you look at 4 of the bottom 5 teams, they've all achieved success in recent history. Stuttgart and I think Bremen have won the league as have Dortmund and Hamburg have always been near the top.

Weird.

I like that, though.

The idea of a collapse in this country is a team winning the league then finishing 6th.

Years ago, we won the old 2nd division, got promoted, then immediately won the 1st division. Football would be so much more interesting if it was still that competitive.

Jim Lahey · December 23, 2014

toffee matt said:
Klopp will be the next arsenal manager

Yep that's what I think too. Would like him to do well there.

davek · December 23, 2014

RadioFriendlyUnitShifter said:
He does have an over-reliance on some of their stars, which is understandable. Without Bayern's budget they are only going to have a handful of game changers in their squad, and unfortunately they've mostly been injured. Reus is having terrible luck.

They're the root of it aren't they? No other team can build a dynasty in Germany with that lot swooping in and buying up their best players. When Reus snubbed them and signed for Dortmund instead of moneybags Bayern a couple of years ago it looked like a big departure from that, but normal order has been resumed. I wouldn't be surprised to see Reus join Lewandowski and Gotze at Bayern soon.