Are we prepared enough?

[danperkins]

Just thinking there's so many things in the balance at the moment:

- We've only had 3 pre season games mostly light runs out and chances for the youngsters, team hasn't looked settled and has lacked continuity and rhythm.

- Lot of players back late form the World Cup.

- We've had a European game (2 games) at a very awkward time.

- Torres/Insua/Masch are all swinging at the moment.

- And now all this talk about new investment and the potential players we could bring in before the transfer window closes.

All this with our first 2 games against potential top 4 teams in Arsenal and Man City with United soon to follow. I have full confidence in Roy and his coaching abilities but we're kinda all over the shop at the moment on several different fronts which are kind of disruptive, and we have an extremely difficult start to the season.

I guess thats why i liked it when Roy said he wanted to concentrate on coaching the team and thats it. Nothing is ever easy with LFC, any thoughts?

[Fernandinho]

I think you are very right, we are very underprepared at the moment. We have one game before the Arsenal team and the majority of our key players have only played 60 minutes or less. Players like Kuyt, Maxi, Torres (maybe injured), Pepe, Agger and Skrtel have seen no game time at all if I am right...?

[danperkins]

I think you are very right, we are very underprepared at the moment. We have one game before the Arsenal team and the majority of our key players have only played 60 minutes or less. Players like Kuyt, Maxi, Torres (maybe injured), Pepe, Agger and Skrtel have seen no game time at all if I am right...?

Your spot on mate, i wonder will Roy play what he thinks will be the starting 11 against Arsenal on Thursday or will he stick with the kids? i think i'm more concerned than worried ya know, just too many things swinging this late in the game, as drama at LFc keeps ur on our toes

[IN_RAFA_WE_TRUST]

We'll be alright.It's not as if our top players have been resting all summer,they will be fit and ready to go.Most of them have played together and cole will fit right in,like 1 of the missing pieces of a jigsaw.I am looking forward to the season and everything else regarding us

Though it could all change a month or so in we might all be depressed as last season.

[danperkins]

We'll be alright.It's not as if our top players have been resting all summer,they will be fit and ready to go.Most of them have played together and cole will fit right in,like 1 of the missing pieces of a jigsaw.I am looking forward to the season and everything else regarding us

Though it could all change a month or so in we might all be depressed as last season.

classic you just went to ultra positive to ultra negative, i love it

[Fernandinho]

While on the topic of the Arsenal game, I was just thinking before how important the Fabregas deal could be in relation to our entire season. Firstly we all know how important a good start to a season can be, look at last season we played and lost vs Tottenham who were a top 4 challenger and we ended up having a very up and down start.

If he Fabregas leaves Arsenal he will leave a huge gap which will help us get off on the right foot. Also if he isn't replaced properly then this could really open up another top 4 spot making it even more possible that we can regain CL football.

[danperkins]

While on the topic of the Arsenal game, I was just thinking before how important the Fabregas deal could be in relation to our entire season. Firstly we all know how important a good start to a season can be, look at last season we played and lost vs Tottenham who were a top 4 challenger and we ended up having a very up and down start.

If he Fabregas leaves Arsenal he will leave a huge gap which will help us get off on the right foot. Also if he isn't replaced properly then this could really open up another top 4 spot making it even more possible that we can regain CL football.

Great point, i suppose there having trouble of their own and the Cesc deal is so crucial to their season IMO and i suppose their opening game against us, wonder does anyone know how their new CB Koscielny is getting on, as he will most likely start beside Vermalen?

[Exiled_red]

I've been having similar doubts, the world cup and early season start (due to Europa League Qualifier) have left us in a very difficult position. We also seem to have fewer preseason games this year than I remember from previously.

I hope we can get this sorted and hit the ground running.

[IN_RAFA_WE_TRUST]

Fabregas aint leaving,they have him tied to a 7year contract

[dww]

Not sure how you tell really. Hodgson has pointed out that we train differently for the preseason game than we would competitive matches so the performances there are even less of a useful guide than usual. We will have had two competitive games before the league starts in the Europa league which will have done some players a lot of good I would think.

Obviously the World Cup and the turmoil at the club is a sub-optimal set of circumstances to get ready for the new season but I don't think they represent an insurmountable obstacle. In fact in a way the concentration on getting the young and fringe players drilled into the pattern of play might help us.

[Craig_H]

I'm very worried about us not being fully ready. That happened last year and so far, i'm not seeing much to reassure me for the start of this season. However, if we dick FC Robotwars on Thursday night then that could give us a nice timely boost in confidence.

If we get our house in order though, playing Arsenal and City so early could be useful. Especially City.

[The_weatherman]

I think you are very right, we are very underprepared at the moment. We have one game before the Arsenal team and the majority of our key players have only played 60 minutes or less. Players like Kuyt, Maxi, Torres (maybe injured), Pepe, Agger and Skrtel have seen no game time at all if I am right...?

Agger and Skrtel played a full game last week and will probably do so again this week, Reina shouldn't need as many games to get fit either, I think it could go either way really. But the preparation could not have been lesser though and look at Tottenham, they play so many games that the squad barely has time to train together.

[CJ]

i wonder how we will set up under roy. if its very different than under rafa it may mean we are not as prepared as we could be. maybe roy will change it bit by bit.

but am worried at the moment.

[squaddie]

Tbf though it would have been a miracle if we'd have been going into this season feeling prepared...... I think ive only felt that once in me life..... And the circumstances we're far more appealing than at the moment.

[-V-]

No we are not ready. Im very worried as our first 5 games are tough. Im not confident about us getting a positive result against Arsenal. They look fitter than us, faster than us and playing better football than us.

Our senior players are nowhere near ready to take them on.