About Me

I have been a Red since I was about 6 or 7. My boyhood hero was Kenny Dalglish and I have an autograph from him while he was still at Celtic. Thanks Gran! As such I gravitated towards the team he played for. So I have been Scottish-South African- Scoucer for about 30 years now! I am extremely passionate about our club, and have felt the need to start this blog in the face of the abject nature of our performaces under Benitez and the Hicks/Gillett ownership.

Saturday 16 July 2011

Asian Persuasion

Well our week tour is over, both games won, 10 goals scored. 85 million shirts sold. All good.

This pre-season seems to have a lot more purpose than the dross we were used under Rafa the clown. His pre-season involved 43 player getting 25 minutes each every 2nd game and wondering why we didn't have clue for the 1st 6 league matches. Kenny and Stevie Clark clearly have a different view. Pre-season is about match fitness, players learning to play with each other in different combinations and most importantly confidence through scoring.

He seems to be employing 4-2-3-1 which seems to suit the players we have at the moment. With Downing added, no real need to change that however we do have the option. In the 1st half Joe Cole and Chucky ran the show. Carroll worked hard and gave some good knockdowns but has no pace whatsoever.He is going to be a set-piece and crosses threat and possibly 2nd ball man for us. They scored a cracking equaliser just on HT with a great freekick into the top corner.

Second half and whole new team, this time it was Shelvey,Kuyt and Aquilani running the show. The Roman Emperor was particularly impressive, having a hand in all five 2nd half goals. On this performance ,(opposition not withstanding), he looks a player. We cant keep him Cole and Meireles, so King Kenny has some hard decisions to make on that front.

I have always been in the Meireles corner and still am, but Aquilani does appear to be at the pace of the game and was more influencial than any other player today. One performance does not a career make, but it is food for thought. Let see how the he performs in the rest of pre-season. I suppose if we get any offers for him we will probably take them.

A rare outing for Insua, he looks to have beefed up a bit.Alas he still looks like a startled rabbit when someone runs at him and his lack of pace is frightening. He looks like he is running through treacle with a piano on his back, perhaps its the one Dirk appears to have shed...... He did provide 2 of the crosses for Ngog and Maxi's goals today. Galatasaray want him permanently, hopefully we can make that happen.

On the leftback front, it seems Mr Enrique wants to play Champions League football next season, so that bombs us out.A bit odd considering 18 months ago he was playing Championship footie. These players very quickly get ideas above their station.

We now appear to be after Aly Cissokho from Lyon. He has been picked by Laurent Blanc for les bleus, so he can't be completely useless.......

If that gets done, then I think its time to offload the passengers. Poulsen (Copenhagen),Cole (anywhere -probably Spurs once they lose Modric),Insua (Gala),El Zhar(Camel jockey at Morrocan resort),Degen(Mars),Jovanovic (Back to Belgium). Then either Meirles or Aquilani. I wouldnt like to lose them both, in fact I would keep them both. If Aquilani doesn't work out we can still move him on in Jan without any traumas.

Whatever funds we get from all of the above moving on we should be able to get one more real player in. I think it should be a centreback. Carra is getting on,Agger has fitness issues and Soty isnt top class. He cost us a few point last year, we need to be thinking of who steps in for Carra. Cahill looks like he is off to Chelski or Arsenal, so I would have a look at Shawcross. Big,strong reads game well and is a goal threat from corners, something only Soty seems able to do for us. Plus being English thats another 'homegrown' player in the squad. Otherwise it Europe for an untried and untested guy and we see how well that has worked out for Arsenal!

Goalkeepers..... Very confused by the protracted signing of Doni.

Firstly we have 3 top keeper already. Reina,Jones and Gulacsi. The latter 2 dont get much opportunity at present, as Pepe is without doubt the best we have and indeed one of the best in the world. I fail to see how signing another one helps Jones and Gulacsi. We only have the League and Domestic Cups this season so even less chance to rotate keepers. Unless we are going to sell one of them.I know there is talk of Gulacsi going on loan to Hull which is fine as he is young and the experience with do him good. But where does that leave Jones? He is effectively now 3rd choice, having done nothing wrong. I expect him to leave.

Secondly Doni is Brazilian, which means he is probably crap. The only exception in 100 years has been Tafarell. Every other Brazilian keeper is a clown. Dida,Gomes,Julio Cesar. I watched Cesar let in 2 straight under him against Ecuador the other night and he threw a few clangers in againt Bayern in the CL last season. Brazil do not good keepers make. FACT

So back home for the boys before a trip to Hull next Saturday. Lets see if we sign anymore players before then.

YNWA

sniff,sniff I can smell the new season!

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