Austin MacPhee

[Olof's Beard]

It always made me laugh that his presence wound people up so much. If he had a short back and sides, no body would have batted an eyelid I'm sure. But the fact that he looks like he could burst into a 12 minute keyboard solo made him stand out, leading fans questioning 'what he was fucking doing all week' on a scale not usually reserved for a member of the backroom staff.

He is obviously a leader in his field, respected by players, valued by managers. None of us have even heard him speak let alone have a working knowledge of what he does on the training pitch apart from the odd positive snippet we get from players or Neil Cutler. Having a set piece coach doesn't mean you score from all your own set pieces while successfully shutting out the opposition's.

Now we're winning, he's a bit easier to like for the wider fanbase. Let's hope it continues!

[danno]

I liked him as soon as I heard Danny Murphy criticising the very idea of a set piece coach.

[Bad English]

It's easy to say all that now but when we were shite, seemingly getting one set piece right in a hundred,  people were asking what the fuck he (and the players, the manager and the other coaches) was doing all week. I don't think his appearance counted for much to be honest. Although, he was good for a bit of piss taking, clearly.

Now that we are doing things properly, he is now ace.

[Olof's Beard]

It's easy to say all that now but when we were shite, seemingly getting one set piece right in a hundred,  people were asking what the fuck he (and the players, the manager and the other coaches) was doing all week. I don't think his appearance counted for much to be honest. Although, he was good for a bit of piss taking, clearly.

Now that we are doing things properly, he is now ace.

People didn't seem to question the other coaches in the same way. MacPhee definitely got disproportionate stick in some quarters, with people questioning why he was so prominent on the touchline (the answer to which is 'he's doing what the manager asked' of course). It was always a bit weird. That he's getting a bit of love now is further proof of big Unai's revolution of positivity.

[Bad English]

The other coaches were getting the piss taken out of them for huddling round their iPad wondering what to do.

But that's football. Under Unai they are all highy efficient cogs in the machine.

[Gerrin]

I liked him as soon as I heard Danny Murphy criticising the very idea of a set piece coach.

That's good enough for me too. Why not have one?

They have defensive coaches, attacking coaches, goalkeeper coaches, fitness coaches. A set piece coach doesn't seem like a crazy idea.

[Nev]

I was amongst the most prominent in questioning his influence in the latter days of Smith's reign because his arrival coincided with some really odd and out of character tactics, never employed by Dean before and as far as I can tell, since.

He seemed less involved under Gerrard and now pops up, as you would expect, during set pieces for Emery. His appearance makes him an easy target to some extent but it has to be noted that before Emery arrived we were hardly world beaters at either attacking or defending set pieces.

When all is said and done, if Emery wants him then that is that.

[danno]

I liked him as soon as I heard Danny Murphy criticising the very idea of a set piece coach.

That's good enough for me too. Why not have one?

They have defensive coaches, attacking coaches, goalkeeper coaches, fitness coaches. A set piece coach doesn't seem like a crazy idea.

I’ve long given up trying to fathom how that bonehead’s mind works.

https://www.teamtalk.com/news/liverpool-coach-thomas-gronnemark-explains-role-after-danny-murphy-rant

I kind of agree with BE too, we’ve gotten better at defending set pieces but mostly by not conceding as many of them.

[Gerrin]

I was amongst the most prominent in questioning his influence in the latter days of Smith's reign because his arrival coincided with some really odd and out of character tactics, never employed by Dean before and as far as I can tell, since.

He seemed less involved under Gerrard and now pops up, as you would expect, during set pieces for Emery. His appearance makes him an easy target to some extent but it has to be noted that before Emery arrived we were hardly world beaters at either attacking or defending set pieces.

When all is said and done, if Emery wants him then that is that.

I'd be fascinated to know what happened in the latter day's of Smith’s reign all round tbh. ROK and Terry both leaving not long before the new season started, Jack had already gone so everyone knew it would be tough for Smith.

Agree MacPhee seemed to have less involvement under Gerrard than Deano.

[Gerrin]

I liked him as soon as I heard Danny Murphy criticising the very idea of a set piece coach.

That's good enough for me too. Why not have one?

They have defensive coaches, attacking coaches, goalkeeper coaches, fitness coaches. A set piece coach doesn't seem like a crazy idea.

I’ve long given up trying to fathom how that bonehead’s mind works.

https://www.teamtalk.com/news/liverpool-coach-thomas-gronnemark-explains-role-after-danny-murphy-rant

I kind of agree with BE too, we’ve gotten better at defending set pieces but mostly by not conceding as many of them.

Murphy referencing having Phil Thompson as a coach, so why do they need specialist coaches. Don't get me wrong Thompson was a good player and captain, but Klopp's coach's quote is spot on.

“If the specialist coach has been researching his/her subject for 17 years…every day, like I have, then an assistant coach will never have a single chance to have the same knowledge around that subject.

“They are more generalists. That’s why they bring me in.”

[Risso]

The Leon Bailey long throw was a bit special.

[London Villan]

ROK was told to run the U23s, said no, Smith agreed with the decision, so ROK left.

[RamboandBruno]

When all’s said and done, when football is no than a memory and the scorched earth surrounds us, Austin McPhee, the great survivor, will still be standing on the side of something growling instructions to invisible football spirits. He’ll outlast us all.

[eamonn]

The other coaches were getting the piss taken out of them for huddling round their iPad wondering what to do.

But that's football. Under Unai they are all highy efficient cogs in the machine.

Austin copped the most for his hot hair.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Austin looks too much like Paul Weller when he wakes up for my liking.