Quote from: Bord na Mona man on March 17, 2024, 08:39:13 PMSometimes adversity, or desperation brings out the best in a team.The decade of damage done by the Glazers since Ferguson retired will be no short term fix by INEOS it will likely take years to be competitive and a consistent top team again with plenty of transfer window business required.
Conceding two deflected goals, a patchwork defence, eventually with Bruno standing in at centre half. Maguire, Antony, Diallo and Maguire the unlikely heroes off the bench.
Liverpool looked electric for a while around when they plundered the two goals, but they were flat for long parts too.
It could be a sliding door moment in the two clubs' fortunes.
When Klopp goes, the underinvestment from Liverpool's tightwad owners will likely be laid bare.
A rebuild is needed anyway with Salah and Van Dijk nearing the exit.
In the 11 years since Ferguson retired and Utd imploded, Liverpool have only plundered a single league title, and when the Klopp fog clears, that shouldn't be viewed as hectic by any standard.
On the other hand, the INEOS regime at Utd have changed course and started to assemble a back office of people with a successful track record in running clubs, unlike the Goldman Sachs banker types which the Glazers had running the show.
I wouldn't say it's been underinvestment by Liverpool as they have spent big when needed and make good money on their transfers out. Michael Edwards was as good behind the scenes as Klopp was a manager and they are a club with the right structures in place whereby they should find the right and suitable replacement. Edwards left and now coming back with Klopp going suggests a fall out between the two however.
Going back to yesterday's cup classic. A deserved win as in the 1st half and all of extra time United was the better team in that match. Liverpool was rather fortunate to be leading at half time so that somewhat balanced itself out for not scoring 2nd half. I think the deflected goal for Liverpool was their only shot on goal in extra time. 2-3 behind and winning 4-3 with a back four of Dalot,Maguire,Bruno Fernandez,Antony was truly remarkable. Very few teams from that situation would push on to win.
Could be sliding doors moment for Ten Hag, a good first season for him and this season has been hampered by injuries and remains to be seen how he does if and when the club gets proper structures in truth few would have done much better with the cards he's been dealt with.