Yes indeed.
The system is the star. That's not to say we don't have some excellent players, but that's more about having excellent "fits" for the system. During the Rafa years (and let's be clear, I adore that man) we occasionally had "square peg in round hole" situations - with Klopp players with appropriate skill-sets get by-and-large, even if they are played "out of position" - Fabinho for examples slots in perfectly well to the midfield and also slots perfectly well into the defensive line. Milner can play almost anywhere. Shaqiri can be used in midfield with the right combination despite being bought as depth for the front three. Origi can.....okay, Origi definitely isn't a left-winger but you get the overall idea.
It's system first, appropriate acquisitions for system second. What really excites me is the idea that, further down the line, we may even be able to upgrade eventually. We're so bloody good and yet you always feel that we have more in us - it's utterly mental how many matches we win (winning is good!) and think "could have scored 4 there really" - so if in time we had "the" centre-back partner for Van Dijk, or THE elite centre forward that has the finishing ability of someone like Lewandowski but still can perform the "Firmino role" or if we find further little tiny tactical tweaks to wring more from the existing players..... it's just amazing where we are and how encouraging the younger talent around the club is.
Trent is genuinely fantastic in his position and Curtis Jones is going places. Another couple at that age bracket and a couple of the Elliott/Koumetio age bracket and the future continues to look super.
Bookmarks