Well, I think we can scrap my post above
Achterberg takes the flak but Klopp's faith in Liverpool coach is unwavering
The criticism of long-serving Dutchman is wrong and disrespectful
BY JAMES PEARCE
Loris Karius wasnāt the only man to take the flak for Liverpool ās failings against West Ham.
Social media was awash with a torrent of criticism being aimed at a member of JĆ¼rgen Kloppās backroom staff.
Kariusā struggles have been held up as proof in some quarters that goalkeeping coach John Achterberg is the problem rather than the solution.
Itās not an opinion which is shared by anyone inside Melwood.
The fact is that the Dutchman is a highly-regarded coach who retains the full backing of the manager. The goalkeepers he works with on a daily basis also speak glowingly about the calibre of the sessions he delivers.
Last summer the 45-year-old became one of the few keeping coaches in European football to acquire the UEFA Pro Licence - the highest qualification available. The idea that heās a weak link is simply wrong and hugely disrespectful.
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If Klopp had any doubts about Achterbergās capabilities then he wouldnāt still be part of the set-up.
After all the German isnāt afraid to ring the changes - underlined by last summerās overhaul which saw Andreas Kornmayer brought in as the club's new head of fitness and conditioning and Mona Nemmer follow him to Liverpool from Bayern Munich as head of nutrition.
When Klopp and his trusted assistants Zeljko Buvac and Peter Krawietz penned new six-year deals back in July, Achterberg and first-team development coach Pep Lijnders were also handed contract extensions.
Heās very much part of āTeam Kloppā and that isnāt likely to change any time soon.
Achterberg joined the Liverpool Academy staff during Rafa Benitezās reign in 2009 after 11 years of service to Tranmere Rovers and more than 300 appearances.
It was Kenny Dalglish who promoted him to the role of first-team goalkeeping coach in the summer of 2011 and heās retained that position under both Brendan Rodgers and Klopp.
Critics highlight the issues Liverpool have had with keepers over the past five-and-a-half years and point to Achterberg as the one common denominator. They demand to know who heās improved out of Pepe Reina, Alexander Doni, PĆ©ter Gulacsi, Brad Jones, Simon Mignolet, Adam Bogdan, Danny Ward and Karius.
For a start Reina was in decline before Achterberg got to work with him, while Doni, Jones and Bogdan - who cost a combined total of Ā£2.3million - simply werenāt up to it.
Playing for Liverpool is not just a question of talent, thereās also the pressure and expectation which many struggle to handle.
Gulacsi, who is now shining for RB Leipzig, was young and never got to to make a senior appearance for the Reds, while Wardās development at Liverpool has been eye-catching and his education is currently continuing on loan at Huddersfield Town.
Kop legend Bruce Grobbelaar has previously slammed Achterberg for the flaws he sees in Mignoletās game.
āI now know who the true person to blame is,ā he said. āIf he (Achterberg) canāt right Mignoletās wrongs in two years then he shouldnāt be there.ā
However, itās difficult to take Grobbelaar seriously when in the next breath he basically admitted that he wants Achterbergās job.
The reality is that Mignolet has kicked on over the past six months and it shows the value of having proper competition - something Mignolet didnāt really have with either Jones or Bogdan about.
In terms of Karius, you canāt judge the impact of the coaching heās getting after just 11 appearances. Has he performed for the Reds like someone who was voted the second best keeper in the Bundesliga last season? No, but then playing for Liverpool is a world away from life at Mainz.
Itās also worth remembering that under both Rodgers and Klopp the Reds have been committed to a brand of attacking football which means the keeper isnāt blessed with a huge amount of protection.
āI really trust in John Achterberg because he does a brilliant job here. Heās one of the hardest working people Iāve ever met.ā
They were the words of Klopp last season and they still ring true today.
After the mistakes which have blighted recent Liverpool performances, a major improvement is required between the posts. But Kloppās faith in Acherberg to help achieve that remains.
Echo
Hmm,
After reading this I'm even more concerned, Achterberg a top GK coach because he earned his stripes at.....wait for it....... That incredible world beating European conquering EPL Championship winning, amazing, wonderful w*nk festing non league club... TRANMERE Fooking Rovers..... The experience he has is insurmountable, his phone must be in meltdown from all the world's keeper's ringing for advice,
Ffs C'mon, seriously, so all in all it comes down to Migs having at last some competition or not as it may prove to be,
Top FA coaching badges are all well and good on your CV but where is his experience playing at a top level club in a league second to none, where has he gained experience in European or world football,
Maybe it's just that, he has none or limited experience playing at the level he is now coaching in, he may be a good coach for a club at the level of the Championship, but is he really good enough for us, really?
I guess the Migs needs competition mantra will be proven either way through time, Question is how much time do we afford?
Someone once said that you can't polish a turd, that's true, but are we trying to polish a turd with a turd,? Ain't gonna work is it?
YNWA
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