I'm allowing myself to become mildly optimistic about our prospects this season. Three Premiership games completed and we haven't looked like losing any of them. More to the point, we've looked like winning all of them. An inconveniently rearranged squad against Sunderland and a solid, professional performance. A weakened squad against an admittedly poor Toulouse side and a thoroughly convincing win - the sort of fixture that has caused us needless problems in the past. All in all, reason for the sort of optimism that we have conceded with depressing inevitability in seasons gone by.
Our first team, when fit, looks to be a threat to anyone. Perhaps more importantly, we've shown the ability to rally in the absence of some of our most important players. We've shown invention, we've shown determination and we've shown professionalism. We'll always miss the likes of Gerrard when he's missing but at the very least, I think we're slowly proving that we don't have to be encumbered with dread every time his name doesn't appear on the team sheet. What's more, it's quite clear that we still have a world class center back to cover the center of defence. Sami staying here could still prove enormously significant to our chances of success this season.
Our midfield is creating and protecting in equal measure. There has been a degree of balance in the center of the park which seems to be reinforced by our newfound confidence. Perhaps the only worry is creating a balance when our best central midfield pairing merge (which, even as a staunch Alonso fan) is looking more and more like it should be Masher and Gerrard. Hopefully, with continued positive performances from the likes of Benayoun and Pennant, we needn't be quite as worried about the lack of creativity from our midfield.
Our strike force, while arguably still proving somewhat of a dead weight in terms of goals, has looked capable whichever combination we've fielded. Crouch can't head the ball but then what's new? His feet seem to bale him out of that unfortunate consistency. Most satisfying for me, Kuyt showed glimpses today of what I saw at Feyenoord. Intelligent runs TOWARDS THE FUCKING GOAL meant he was a constant threat today. Granted, he should have buried more than he did, but his incredible frustration towards the end showed his ultimate desire to get on the score sheet and once he did, his relief was palpable. Moreover, he seemed to absorb the ball a lot more today where he's seem to repel it when under pressure against top opposition. I only hope he can carry this sort of determination and sharpness into the Premiership. A brief review of my posts before his arrival would leave my head on the proverbial chopping block if he does not improve on his performances this season. I hope for my sake, but more importantly for LFCs, that he can take the next step forward.
Perhaps a symptom of our much strengthened squad is the evident desire that seems to be instilled in the players. We undoubtedly have a number of welcome problems with our selection process. I can't deny that it's a problem that still worries me under a manager so disposed to squad rotation. However, it's a problem I wouldn't change and one that will hopefully see our encouraging competition for places continue to keep the players on their toes when called upon. The urgency of our play in these early stages of the season is something which, at the risk of glorifying our arch enemies, is something I've associated largely with Man Utd in the past 12 months. Hopefully we can begin to match them in that respect. Pushing the accelerator for ninety minutes is a much more terrifying prospect for the weaker teams than looking for narrow victories.
Tonight marked a landmark for me in Rafa's reign so far. Not because of the performance, not because of the promising displays from our absentees but for his substitutions. For the first time since Rafa took the job, I successfully called his second half substitutions (OK I didn't get the Finnan/Agger one but give me a break). They made sense. Lets give new players a go when the pressure is off. Granted, neither of them set the world, or even Greece, alight, but I think it showed a logical thought process and a commitment to giving new additions the opportunity to perform. I hope that we can afford ourselves the luxury of such pressure free opportunities against weaker opposition in the league this season too; it could certainly provide a springboard to the LFC careers of some our new South American talent.
I originally went under the guise of "Optimist" when I first started posting on Kraptalk but after a sustained period of reality checks, I was forced to revise my approach, not only for credibility, but for self-preservation. Skepticism arms you with a steely resolve, softening the blows of consistent failure. Knee-jerk reactions are not one of specialties. In fact, I despise them. But I've had a growing feeling of optimism since the season began and I'm struggling, try as I might, to suppress it. Liverpool Football Club are certainly not doing me any favours in that respect. Long may it continue.
Our first team, when fit, looks to be a threat to anyone. Perhaps more importantly, we've shown the ability to rally in the absence of some of our most important players. We've shown invention, we've shown determination and we've shown professionalism. We'll always miss the likes of Gerrard when he's missing but at the very least, I think we're slowly proving that we don't have to be encumbered with dread every time his name doesn't appear on the team sheet. What's more, it's quite clear that we still have a world class center back to cover the center of defence. Sami staying here could still prove enormously significant to our chances of success this season.
Our midfield is creating and protecting in equal measure. There has been a degree of balance in the center of the park which seems to be reinforced by our newfound confidence. Perhaps the only worry is creating a balance when our best central midfield pairing merge (which, even as a staunch Alonso fan) is looking more and more like it should be Masher and Gerrard. Hopefully, with continued positive performances from the likes of Benayoun and Pennant, we needn't be quite as worried about the lack of creativity from our midfield.
Our strike force, while arguably still proving somewhat of a dead weight in terms of goals, has looked capable whichever combination we've fielded. Crouch can't head the ball but then what's new? His feet seem to bale him out of that unfortunate consistency. Most satisfying for me, Kuyt showed glimpses today of what I saw at Feyenoord. Intelligent runs TOWARDS THE FUCKING GOAL meant he was a constant threat today. Granted, he should have buried more than he did, but his incredible frustration towards the end showed his ultimate desire to get on the score sheet and once he did, his relief was palpable. Moreover, he seemed to absorb the ball a lot more today where he's seem to repel it when under pressure against top opposition. I only hope he can carry this sort of determination and sharpness into the Premiership. A brief review of my posts before his arrival would leave my head on the proverbial chopping block if he does not improve on his performances this season. I hope for my sake, but more importantly for LFCs, that he can take the next step forward.
Perhaps a symptom of our much strengthened squad is the evident desire that seems to be instilled in the players. We undoubtedly have a number of welcome problems with our selection process. I can't deny that it's a problem that still worries me under a manager so disposed to squad rotation. However, it's a problem I wouldn't change and one that will hopefully see our encouraging competition for places continue to keep the players on their toes when called upon. The urgency of our play in these early stages of the season is something which, at the risk of glorifying our arch enemies, is something I've associated largely with Man Utd in the past 12 months. Hopefully we can begin to match them in that respect. Pushing the accelerator for ninety minutes is a much more terrifying prospect for the weaker teams than looking for narrow victories.
Tonight marked a landmark for me in Rafa's reign so far. Not because of the performance, not because of the promising displays from our absentees but for his substitutions. For the first time since Rafa took the job, I successfully called his second half substitutions (OK I didn't get the Finnan/Agger one but give me a break). They made sense. Lets give new players a go when the pressure is off. Granted, neither of them set the world, or even Greece, alight, but I think it showed a logical thought process and a commitment to giving new additions the opportunity to perform. I hope that we can afford ourselves the luxury of such pressure free opportunities against weaker opposition in the league this season too; it could certainly provide a springboard to the LFC careers of some our new South American talent.
I originally went under the guise of "Optimist" when I first started posting on Kraptalk but after a sustained period of reality checks, I was forced to revise my approach, not only for credibility, but for self-preservation. Skepticism arms you with a steely resolve, softening the blows of consistent failure. Knee-jerk reactions are not one of specialties. In fact, I despise them. But I've had a growing feeling of optimism since the season began and I'm struggling, try as I might, to suppress it. Liverpool Football Club are certainly not doing me any favours in that respect. Long may it continue.
