I liken things right now to our team during that first half season (a bit more) Klopp was in charge. We went on a couple of Cup runs but we lost a string of league games in the run-in and it was evident we weren't going to qualify for Europe unless we won the UEFA Cup (which we didn't, thanks in part to the referee ignoring two Seville handballs in the area). /
Still there were promising signs as Klopp implemented his system, even with a team full of Brendan's players. It was going to take a while to transition, but there were some young players getting vital experience, and he was identifying some veterans he could rely on (like Bobby). The following season we didn't have European football and this impacted revenue and potentially recruitment, but JĂźrgen continued building a new team, with some youngsters getting extended runouts with the team (they didn't all make it). That first full-year team qualified for the Champions League and that team made it to the final the following season. Both of those teams led the league at some point in the Premier League season.
This team will strive to do what it can, but I'm writing off this season in terms of results. I expect no European football next year. Despite that, I expect our manager and the management team to build another top-level team over the next season and a half. It is a drop from what we have gotten accustomed to the past few seasons, but these things take some time when you can't just spend without restriction. It was worth waiting for the first time and it will be again.
In the meantime I will keep watching and supporting the team for every game - and believing in our manager to bring us happiness on the park.
Take heart, true Reds.
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