Many supporters have expressed concern over our pre-season form and extrapolating that to our possible performance in the Prem over the course of the coming season.
Pre-season results aren’t an especially reliable way of gauging or divining who will win the Prem. The games are warm-up fixtures, an opportunity for the lads to stretch their legs outside training sessions (and earn some money for the club through foreign tours).
However, pre-season games are great for spectators (from manager to humble Kopite) to see how each individual player has developed since the previous season. I was at Anfield on Saturday for the game against Atlético. Yes, ok, I accept that a 2-1 defeat at home is never easy to swallow; but boy are there reasons to be cheerful and positive!
First of all: Rafa’s praise for Lucas is not underserved AT ALL (for once). I don’t know what they’ve been feeding him over the summer, but he was actually really impressive! I’ve never been a fan, but I was really pleasantly surprised. I wonder whether he’s been in Alonso’s shadow for too long…
Johnson is settling really, REALLY well and is gelling fantastically with Kuyt. Our right flank is going to be dangerous.
Mascherano’s looking a little off-pace but he’ll be back on 100% form soon.
Gerrard and Torres: absolutely no cause for the slightest concern there!
Carragher turned his ankle early on and we all started muttering and fretting in the Kop. We soon realised it was just a precautionary measure.
The youngsters who came on over the course of the game (San Jose, Kelly, Spearing etc) looked pretty sharp and close to being ready to fight for regular first-team play.
We can expect more great things from our boys in the 09-10 season. Only six days to go!
YNWA.