Shearer Says: “World Class Klopp to turn Reds season around”
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Klopp the right man to get stale Liverpool going again
I’m convinced Jurgen Klopp is going to go into Liverpool and re-energise the club. He’s done and said all the right things so a far and he’s been seen out and about in Liverpool, which is also a smart move, connecting with the locals. It’s now all about him getting results for the football club.
The majority of his players have been away on international duty but he now has the chance to get some time with them. Unfortunately for him, he has suffered two blows before he has even played a game – Danny Ings has been one of Liverpool’s best performers in the last few weeks and with the Gomez injury the the day before, it is a huge blow after a week of feel-good for the club. You have to feel for both players as they have both been doing so well and I wish them both a speedy recovery.
Liverpool had a decent result in their last game with Brendan in charge, going away to Everton and picking up a point in the Merseyside derby. Spurs have been in good form over their last 5-6 games so this should be a decent game at White Hart Lane.
The Liverpool players are bound to have a spring in their step. If Klopp can get them going and get them to show as much enthusiasm as he has in his press conferences, then they should pick up a point.
It’s great for the Premier League that when you look around now and see some of the top class managers. Mourinho at Chelsea, Van Gaal at United, Wenger at Arsenal and now Klopp with Liverpool. These are world class established managers, who are used to winning things.
Big Sam can turn things around at Sunderland
I don’t think Big Sam has taken on an impossible job at Sunderland as many people have suggested. If there is one person who can turn it around, it is him. When you look at his record, it is what he does well. Sam probably feels he does not get the credit he deserves and he will relish the chance to prove the critics wrong. What you will see now is Sunderland being more organised, cutting down on the silly mistakes that they were making and what might drive him on a little more is he might want to prove a point to Newcastle.
He has gone on record as saying he did not feel he had enough time there. They play Newcastle the following weekend too at the Stadium of Light so he’ll definitely have one eye on that game. When a new manager comes into the club it can freshen things up and Sam will presents new ideas to his players. He will feel there is plenty of time to turn it around though I am sure he will also be looking to move some players in and out in January.
Republic deserve Euro play-off luck this time around
I hope Ireland are able to qualify for Euro 2016. They were hard done by the last time they were in a play-offs for a major tournament with the blatant Thierry Henry hand-ball which ended up being the crucial goal. They had a terrific result against the world champions Germany to keep their hopes alive in the group. It would be great if they were be able to join England, Wales and Northern Ireland next summer in France.
Top clubs should do more to lower ticket prices
Clubs should be doing more to lower ticket prices in football. For a family to go to a game now it turns out to be a very expensive day and the loyal and local fans are being priced out as we see more and more tickets being sold to corporates and transient fans. By the time they have bought the tickets, a programme, drink and a pie, it is a big day out for most people and we are paying more than the other top clubs across Europe. When you consider the amount of money these clubs are getting from the TV money in the Premier League, especially next season when the new deal kicks in, it’s hard to justify the inflated ticket prices and the clubs should be doing a lot more to reduce the prices.
Match of the day job has that dressing room feel
I absolutely love watching football and the job that I have now. It’s as close as you can get to replicating the dressing room environment. It is great still be involved in the football scene. I am very lucky to be working on Match of the Day. I leave Newcastle at around 8am on a Saturday morning and I get down to the studio for around 11am. We watch the early game and then follow all the games as they progress at 3pm.
We take our notes, watch the teatime game and then we have around 90 minutes to prepare our analysis. After the show I jump in the car around midnight and drive back to Newcastle and get in around three o’clock in the morning. It’s a long day, but a really enjoyable one.
Ausgusta Kate keeps Cheltenham
Outside of football, I have an interest in a horse called Augusta Kate with Ant and Dec, Graham Wylie, Lee Westwood and Chubby Chandler. She won well first time out last month and we are hoping she can go on to big things.
I think she is going to come out in 3-4 weeks or so and fingers crossed we might have a decent one on our hands. It was all discussed when we sat at Augusta watching Lee play in the Masters. With a bit of luck she might go all the way to the Cheltenham Festival!
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