I'd be interested in reading some detail about Klopp's philosophy.
Obviously I understand that at a basic level it's quick tempo and getting the ball forward but it would be interesting to know if and how he builds and plans for the rest periods in games.
Because then it would be like every team really would have rest periods and try to control the energy they expand, but they would go about attacking in different ways when they try and flick the switch.
You see Southampton go full tempo from the beginning and rest when they have a lead...they are another club where by I wonder if they build rest in when they haven't scored yet. It would be very interesting to know.
Just my thoughts, I don't have any concrete evidence that this is his philosophy:
-Loads of high pressing when possible. Keep the opposition from playing, win the ball back high up the pitch, force them to play it long and win most of those long balls. In periods where high pressing isn't possible because you can't do that all game still operate as a unit, 9-10 outfield players back in your own half working for the team.
-A team filled with technical players. At most one or two players with more average techniques. This would be typically be a defensive midfielder and one of the centre backs. But even those players are at a high level for their positions compared to many other clubs. This allows you to keep possession, play through pressure yourself and play what would otherwise be a fairly high risk strategy when playing out from the back.
-A central/deep playmaker. Used to be Sahin, now Gundogan seems to be preferred when fit. Someone to sit deep most of the game and be the hub of the passing. A Pirlo-esque player. Usually with that defensive midfielder next to him in a 4-2-3-1. A player with excellent close control that will move into space, but can receive the ball under pressure and thanks to a very dependable first touch and skill will rarely lose the ball.
-A lone striker, but in Lewandowski he's found what must be close to the perfect lone striker. He can score from just about all kinds of chances, he can hold the ball up, he's reasonably quick and so a threat in behind and he's good with his feet. Used to be Barrios before Lewandowski, seems like the next one after Lewandowski leaves for Bayern will be either Reus or Aubameyang. Reus, Barrios and Aubameyang are all quicker players, not quite as strong as Lewandowski imo. But none of them are "midgets" either. Will be interesting to see what he does when Lewandowski leaves.
-3 attacking midfielders that can interchange positions, are full of movement and are very good on the ball. Seemingly no "set rule" for player types here, Kuba Błaszczykowski is the closest to a typical winger, but he can also cut inside on his left foot. Regardless of if he's playing "inverted wingers" or more classical wingers there's plenty of width provided by the full backs and the wingers aren't your classical Lennon-esque wingers. Once again close control is important, players that can receive the ball in tight spaces and do something useful with it. Grozzkreutz is a bit of a "one one out", but that's a different story.
-Loads of movement, but seemingly within a system. Full backs pushing up, the attacking 3 moving around, making themselves available and one of the deeper midfielders darting forward when attacking seems to be the norm. In general willing to commit players forward, trust the team to win the ball back quickly high up the pitch when it's lost and if that fails hope that the defensive midfielder(s) and (central) defenders will cope with what they then have to do.
-An absolute fearless attitude. Going to Real Madrid away, go there to attack. Get knocked out of the CL group stages first year back in it, go back the next year and play your football again.
-Very hard working players all over the pitch. Absolutely no passengers. No "Berbatov". Press as a unit, defend as a unit, and move off the ball. If in doubt, run more. This is part of why they struggled in their first year in the CL, they don't have the biggest squad and adjusting to two matches every week seemed to take some time.
-A fantastic transfer strategy/approach. If this is Klopp or the DoF/technical director/club, if this is something they'll be able to sustain or a hot streak based at least partly on luck. I don't know. But they've been able to find players that fit their system perfectly at fantastic prices and they've been able to cope with selling some of their best player over and over again.
