A slow start to the new season – improvements are needed
Saturday, August 30th, 2008
Well I wouldn’t say it’s been a great start to the season, but them again we have not lost, which is always a good sign when you are playing badly and still winning. I still think the team is lacking in certain areas even though we seem to have what is considered a very rounded squad. The team has been playing with no width in the first three games, everything going through the central areas and for this reason we have looked very static. There is no support for the front two and Keane has not looked like he was even playing.
I am glad the Barry saga seems to now be over, I really don’t think he is an £18m pound and although he is good is not exactly going to set the team alight. I have always felt we needed a player in a similar vein to Deco to take the weight of Gerrard and he could sit in the gap behind the front two. Someone with a great footballing brain to control the game and set that killer ball to release the front two. Kuyt is not a winger for me and although a workhorse could easily be replaced with someone with pace and skill to run at defenders, Babel is still not the finished article and even purchasing Albert Riera (who was shocking at Manchester City) doesn’t give us enough solid options out wide.
Mascherano being back from the world cup is a great help now that Gerrard is out for 2 weeks and hopefully Alonso (so glad he did not leave) steps his game up playing like he was in the European championship to tide us over a difficult period without the captain. A win at Aston Villa on Sunday will be our best start to the season since 1994 and should put us in good position going into the second month. Now all we need is to start playing great attacking football and Torres and Keane to start forming a formidable partnership and I could see us doing well.
Will we win the league this year? I don’t think so but we should go closer than last season if everyone keeps fit playing to the top of their ability.
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September 15th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Just to update what a cracking game against Man Utd, could we be challenging for the title this year?
November 15th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
another update, Still at the top, except for the millionaires, i think liverpool are just starting to play well. I’m also glad we didn’t get Barry as that would mean no more Alonso who on his day is the best passer of a ball since Jan Molby. Riera also looks dangerous when he’s running at players so it looks like the wide areas are providing some decent ammo for Keane and co. Robbie Keane is proving useful on the pitch even if he hasn’t hit his scoring rate for spurs yet. In time though i think he’ll prove to be another hero of the kop. I watched the game against Bolton today and the first half was a great pleasure to watch. Keep it up boys!
November 15th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Completely agreed, the first half was great today, Bolton came back at us in the second but we certainly need to get better at finishing our chances, hopefully having Torres back will help! It is looking so promising though, I still fear we do not have the strength in depth though. Edit: Alonso has been brilliant this season, I am so glad he did not leave, none of the fans wanted him to go!