I’M not always one for comparing teams and looking for encouraging similarities. I’m not always a fan of teams trying to emulate another team because of said team’s success.
However, there are times when it is tempting and times when it is practical. Perhaps this is one of those times.
This isn’t a post about the differences and similarities between the Premier League and the Bundesliga so let’s set those aside.
It is, however, a piece about two teams from these respective leagues. Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund.
The two sides are obviously worlds apart. One just lost in the Champions League final, the other didn’t even qualify for the tournament. That being said, perhaps Dortmund offers an example to the management of Liverpool FC and the fans of the club that Liverpool can follow as they attempt to rebuild.
Dortmund don’t have the same history and reputation Liverpool have but they certainly aren’t lacklustre either. Eight German titles, three DFB Pokals and a Champions League title, along with a runners-up, are nothing to sneeze at. Neither is the way that they have achieved success lately and fought off the goliath, that is Bayern München, in the process.
Led by a young, charismatic manager, Borussia Dortmund play an attractive style of football that goes hand in hand with their dedicated and animated fan base. Dortmund has created their own success, not by going out and buying every player they could but by building a solid base with talent that they developed in their academy. This is something that Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers can try to emulate.
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There will always be a need to buy players but Liverpool and their fans don’t need to expect the same kind of lavish spending you see with the likes of Real Madrid, PSG, and Chelsea, among others. With an increased focus on an already well-established academy, Liverpool can cultivate the players they want and the ones that fit their system.
An increasingly successful academy also fills any potential voids that might be left with players’ departures. Much has been made in the media about Mario Götze’s transfer but Dortmund have remained relatively quiet; no mean feat considering they lost arguably their best player to their rival. Perhaps this is a result of their confidence in the system that they have in place that has already reaped reward for them.
Brendan Rodgers and Jürgen Klopp may be different men with different styles, just like their respective teams, but that doesn’t mean that there are no lessons to be learned.
After a mediocre season this past campaign Liverpool would be wise to look at ways to level the playing field because the likes of this year’s top four are not going anywhere.
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Ridiculous stupid comparison. Rodgers is a clown not the next klopp
Pipe down-you’re the only clown. Toss off to another team if you don’t like Brendan. We’re in for the long haul with him and if you don’t like it you’re not required.
Dream on . Bodgers will be gone by xmas
No . I don’t like brendan. I dont think any real Liverpool fan should like a manager who is full of s*** and making us worse.
I will be here supporting Liverpool long ing after that plank has gone . Clowns like you should follow Rodgers when he is sacked
Good article,Brendan is building a team & we will see progress in the season to come,to add to this our academy is looking good,he has brought in some talented youth,given the backing our future is bright,Colin go support chelski
Grow up . Telling another fan to support another club is childish and ignorant
4GIV ME…BUT I CANT MAKE SENSE OF YOUR “WHATEVER DAT IS” DIA IS SIMPLY NO SENSE, CLUE OR POINT……. AM BEGINING TO THINK YOU JUST WROTE IT TO SEE HOW WE WLD REACT…….SORRY
Rodgers will make Liverpool great again, just you wait and see haters
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ……. ha !!
No need to emulate Dortmund. Liverpool should go its own way as usual and build a style and presence to suit the Reds.
A famous German once remarked ‘History repeats itself the second time as farce’. We don’t need the farce and should be happy to settle with the force we’ll be next season.
On the other hand it might be the right time to pass the quote on to a certain Blue club in London so its ready for a special occasion.
A comparison with Steve Kean us more appropriate. That’s what he reminds me of – totally useless and full of B.
Rodgers is our Steve kean
this whole comparing liverpool to the dortmund model is a joke…isn’t that what arsenal having being doing for years ?
arsenal have a great manager with a fantastic youth set up thst gas vermin place for 15 years…..and they still can’t compete with the top clubs
it won’t work , especially withstand guy like brendan who will never be in the class of wenger or Klopp. back to the drawing board ina years time I think
The trouble is no manager starts off as an experienced successful manager. Klopp has a lean spell at Mainz, not too successful and was taken to Dortmund in hope he would improve and help the team move forward. That gamble in taking an unproven manager by Dortmund has worked out now after Klopp was given time to build his team in a league that is not as good as the ELP or as competitive. The reason why it hasn’t worked for Arsenal is because they are refusing to spend at all costs, and when they finally were forced to, they made rash decisions in buying the likes of Santos, Mertersacker etc. Wenger has lost his touch a little is finding those young talents perhaps because due to other teams scouting network and more TV coverage young talents are already in media and worth quite a bit based on hyped potential etc.
Quit trying to compare Rodgers situation to klopp. They are totally different
For every gamble on a youngish manager like klopp that has worked for a big club – I can name over 10 times as many that have failed
Anyway Rodgers has had a chance and has proven himself our of his depth at a big club
Is this the blueprint to follow for #LFC ? http://live4liverpool.com/2013/05/view-from-the-kop/the-blueprint-to-follow
There is one major difference between BR and Klopp , Klopp is a Good manager , Rodgers is not