Slow progress??

[mark1975]

I don't like reading too much into preseason games, they don't win you points, nor trophy's of any worth. Hell, win or lose, it means bugger all for the season ahead. It usually means players get fitter and new players give an often inaccurate glimpse of their worth ahead of a gruelling season (ie Cheyrou and hopefully the reverse effect with Gonzalez).

Sissoko looked rusty and inept this time last year, how wrong were we though to write him off as the new Diao?? I hope it's the same scenario with Gonzalez, and the real player stands up sooner or later when it gets all competetive.

Anyway, so far we've had a struggling Gonzalez, a struggling (though inexperienced) Paletta, an injured though fairly decent looking Aurelio, Bellamy and Pennant are seasoned Premiership players, so there's little to worry about there, other than whether they will ultimately offer enough..

But... one stat sticks out like a sore thumb again, and a feeling that something in the centre of the park hasnt been fully addressed.

5 goals in 5 games and still a chronic lack of fluid movement on and 'of' the ball. It's obvious we need a striker still, and with things stuttering on the Kuyt front, and that transfer window's end getting ever closer, one worries that we've taken two mediocre players out of the equation, and replaced them with ONE 'possibly' better player who has question marks over his injury problems and his temperament.

Put it this way, I know most will be disgusted with the club if we allow Rafa to enter the season having only bought Bellamy to answer our goal shortage in attack. It smacks of missing out on Simao (for the right wing) last season.

To get near United, Arsenal and Chelsea permanently (yeah, I know we finished 3rd) we need to become more attack minded, more comfortable on the ball (which hopefully the new additions will aid) and more clinical in attack (which Bellamy alone and an aging Robbie Fowler won't solve).

Alot's up in the air at United and Arsenal, which I guess is one comfort, but if you put money on two of the three of us sorting ourselves out in the transfer market over the next 3 weeks, who would it be on??

You'd be daft to put it on us. *sighs* "Prove me wrong Liverpool, make this a good Summer with the icing on the cake that would be Kuyt".

[Nic83]

It looks like kuyt will be signing.

[TheStig]

I was quite impressed with Momo last year and I can't remember anyone calling him the next Diao.....

Agreed with the rest of the post though, had we scored lots our players would be going into the season full of confidence but we're still missing too many chances IMO.

[gee]

I'd suggest that if flo is allowed to go then it means Rafa has secured cover.

I had hoped Defoe, but Kuyt'll do me.

But, TBH, pre-season hasn't really dented my confidence in the squad... with Crouch, Bellamy and Fowler plus Flo if he stays and the addition of goals from Kewell/Garcia/Gerrard/Gonzalez and even Zenden we're just not short of attacking options. More is always better, but I'm not going to lose faith because of some poor results.

Ultimately you can win the league with 40 goals if your defence is good enough so although firepower is important it's not as important as having a tight squad and good cover.

These I think we have.

[El Jefecito]

Hmmm, definitely half empty. Whenever pennant has played he has definitely provided that extra dimension down the right. He's beaten players and got in decent crosses.

Fowler has been playing in-between the lines and has shown vision and precision that was severely lacking last year.

Add to that the fact that Bellamy has demonstrated far more intelligent movement than Cisse ever could, I'm sorta wondering how you reach the conclusion that we are not fluid enough. Sure we're no Arsenal but it's not as if Crouch is the only out ball anymore.

Admittedly the left side has been weak through the pre-season, but in all other areas we seem to be much stronger.

Sup up, the cup is half full.

[Don Quixote]

If we sign Kuyt, and he and all the other new boys do well, we'll challenge. It's a tall order, but one I'm willing to get my hopes up about.

If we don't sign Kuyt, we'll probably finish 3rd again.

[FaganK]

i never compared momo with diao and i dont think paletta has struggled in pre season, certainly no more so than carra, sami or finnan.

[mark1975]

If we sign Kuyt, and he and all the other new boys do well, we'll challenge. It's a tall order, but one I'm willing to get my hopes up about.

If we don't sign Kuyt, we'll probably finish 3rd again.

And therein lies the point, ALOT seems to be hinging on the signing of one player, the player that could be the difference between us challenging or not. If we get Kuyt this will have been an excellent Summer, every position that needed filling has been sorted with a good standard of players. If we don't get Kuyt, Rafa will have been let down at the final hurdle by the club again, and that simply isnt good enough for a club that aspires to be a title challenger.

[kerfuffle]

i never compared momo with diao and i dont think paletta has struggled in pre season, certainly no more so than carra, sami or finnan.

Palleta has and will struggle temporarily, the difference being is that he has to overcome a different language, culture and style of football.

What I have seen thus far though he looks like he will turn into a good aquistion.

[univofchicago]

It smacks of missing out on Simao (for the right wing) last season.

I am inclined to agree with you (in general) but your post has a somewhat pessimistic tone to it and I am not that pessimistic about our chances this season. Also, I made my views on Simao pretty clear at the old Koptalk (not that anyone actually remembers) and I still stand by those views.

Despite the disagreement, I still think you are a great poster and urge you to defect permanently to est1829.

[Don Quixote]

And therein lies the point, ALOT seems to be hinging on the signing of one player, the player that could be the difference between us challenging or not. If we get Kuyt this will have been an excellent Summer, every position that needed filling has been sorted with a good standard of players. If we don't get Kuyt, Rafa will have been let down at the final hurdle by the club again, and that simply isnt good enough for a club that aspires to be a title challenger.

I suppose not. I just want to detail the outcomes a little more, though (for the sake of the discussion, we kind of have to assume that all the lads are going to fit in and do well, at least to a reasonable standard):

We have strengthened in all areas except for up front. Kuyt (who will be used in a big man with some finesse kind of way) is clearly the missing piece of the puzzle. All other positions are currently well enough covered with a range of options (if KK leaves in exchange for Kuyt, we will need a new squad RB - also we could do with a replacement for Hamann, but I think/hope we'll manage), and any position left open, like in previous years, or with absolutely no support whatsoever is a genuine problem that hinders us from challenging a Chelsea with two quality first teams.

Any position would be the same: ****e goalkeepers; no defensive mids; right wing - this kind of gaping hole in the squad leaves you either vulnerable defensively or without teeth going forward. Teams can either attack your weak spot or force you to attack only through your weak channel.

Currently we have Crouch to play the big-man in Rafa's set-up, and he lacks the mobility for us to really challenge with him there all season. I don't think he's completely useless, and I like the guy. But it's obvious to everyone with eyes what his limitations are and if Kuyt turns out to be the player we hope he will be, he ought to fill the gap perfectly.

Kuyt is the missing link and would be the pivotal point of the team. Everything that was used as an attempt to back Crouch up (sometimes justified, too often not) would be right about Kuyt. He's big, strong, mobile, works incessantly and scores goals. He'll get in there and do the dirty work up front effectively affording your flair players the space to do their stuff.

Rafa can partner Kuyt with a little man playing between the lines and his "wide" men working from an ostensibly "forward" position with the fullbacks working along side the central mids.

However, if we don't sign Kuyt, Rafa will see his only option for this role as Crouch. And he just won't cut the mustard against the big boys. He works to an extent, and I want to keep him in the squad. But for this kind of role, I'd rather have Drogba - I hope, that if Kuyt comes, we'll have a player capable of playing in this manner, but with a goal tally to make the two of them weep.

We'll see. But yes, you're right - if we don't bring him in, it's criminal.

[Jack D Rips]

If we don't get Kuyt, Rafa will have been let down at the final hurdle by the club again, and that simply isnt good enough for a club that aspires to be a title challenger.

This is the bit that I really agree with, and worry about.

Surely Parry & Moores will not disappoint the Gaffa.

[Peter Delvechio]

I am inclined to agree with you (in general) but your post has a somewhat pessimistic tone to it and I am not that pessimistic about our chances this season. Also, I made my views on Simao pretty clear at the old Koptalk (not that anyone actually remembers) and I still stand by those views.

Despite the disagreement, I still think you are a great poster and urge you to defect permanently to est1829.

He's trying to trick you Mark. He doesn't mean a word of it. He hates you.

[mark1975]

Haha..

Seriously though, I'm not trying to be pesimistic, it's just there's a fine line between us having a squad capable and squad STILL not quiite there (again).. It's just one player, I know it's a fair bit of money, but still, I'd like us to show a bit more ambition this time.

[Peter Delvechio]

That guy in your avatar looks like me.