Liverpool FC Forum

[JoeTerp]

Who has impressed the most this pre-season for you? Who still needs to regain their form?  Have any youngsters or anybody for that matter shown that they deserve a genuine shot at first team football?  What (other than no injuries) would you like to see from the tournament this weekend?

I hope Besian is brought along to Rotterdam to at least be used as a sub I know one of the games will certainly try be be used as to build cohesion between one of the best XIs but can't see Rafa playing the same XI or close to it within 2 days of each other a week before the first game. We have had trouble finishing on the first team, and he scored a hatrick in 22 minutes.  I want to see Crouch and Torres work together as well as see either Idrizaj or Lindfield worth with Voronin or Kuyt and the rest of the starting XI. Also, want to see Insua and Mascherano start this weekend.

Also, where has Arbeloa been this pre-season? haven't seen or heard much of him at all.

[hello_red]

Aint we still got that Rotterdam tournament to go?

Anyway Dirk Kuyt has been good against Portsmouth missed the many chances that fell to him that in my opinion is a good thing, not that he missed but that he got into the positions to miss those chances.

twisted logic maybe but you shall see my prettys!

[red37]

Arbeloa was in Hong Kong Joe. He did Ok.

Im looking forward to seeing Voronin in our league. I also think the same rationale Hello-red used for Dirk Kuyt could equally be extended to Torres. Who, also managed to get himself into a few decent positions in and around the box. A promising sign in these early days. Of course he bloody well should be getting into them!  Might take a while for him to adjust, but i'd be happy to see him bag a dozen or so in the first season, along with the same in assists. Mascherano will be all the better for those few months at the end of last year, and here's to Kewell pulling up a few trees. Oh, and Gerrard to start looking like he's enjoying the game again.

Those are some of the many positives im looking forward to.

But the keys are Stability, balance and consistency. And a solid start. Everything else can follow on from those attributes. Who knows where this squad can propel themselves to.

[JoeTerp]

Liverpool Reserves today set out on a tour of Holland where they'll compete in the Brucon Talents Cup. 
Gary Ablett's side fly into Amsterdam this evening before taking on Shakhtar Donetsk on Friday and Ajax on Sunday.
 
Spanish side RCD Espanyol are also involved in the competition.
 
The reserves will be joined in Holland later this week by the senior squad ahead of the Rotterdam Tournament.



Did not know about this until just now. I guess this means that Rafa will not be giving the younger guys a first team shot at Rotterdam, and instead will work on ironing out who belongs in the starting XI, and getting Torres and co. more used to playing with thier new teammates.

[RichardLFC1]

Jermaine Pennant has impressed me. As has Agger. Also Harry Kewell has been Great.

[kunilson]

this pre-season i have learned patience really is a virtue...
i have also learnt what virtue means.

just looking forward to seeing our new signings play when it matters really, in the tricky away days and the BIG-JUDGEMENTDAY-FANTASTICFOUR-GRANDSLAM weekend matches too..
want kewell to stay fit, pennant to keep improving (especially his decision making). and rafa to keep his goatee at least until january

[Paul C]

I was gonna say I'd learnt that Dirk Kuyt can't finish but I know that last season.

Voronin has been awesome and my dark horse for the season, Danny Agger has improved even more, Kewell is looking lively and I've learnt that Torres has good vision for a pass

[burjennio]

I have learnt the true meaning of Christmas

[stmichael]

The major plus point for me has been Voronin from what I've seen. It was almost as if he was the forgotten man over the summer because he didn't arrive in a blaze of glory aka Torres and Babel.

He'll be a really good player for us. Seems to have a bit of everything. By that I mean he likes to drop deep but he can also play on the shoulder of the last defender, as shown by his second goal against Bremen.

I'll also add that Daniel Agger is maturing into one of the best centre halves in world football.

[RedBlood]

i fink agger is unbeweaveible i love Hs tatoo in big time gerrard we loves pennant done wing

what so u guys think we should rafas tactics

[stmichael]

Generally speaking though I'm not bothered one bit about pre season. Infact in many ways I wish they weren't televised so people couldn't moan about this and that or conversley get excited about this and that. What is with these tournaments too??? Peddled by sky sprouts no less. Caught the very end of the Arsenal one and they were creaming themselves like they' just won the f#cking european cup. Perma-cold Francis waxing lyrical about the wonderful new young Arsenal team about to take the premiership by strom now they had they huge confidence booster and victory under their belt. Jesus Christ.

[Ace Ventura]

Generally speaking though I'm not bothered one bit about pre season. Infact in many ways I wish they weren't televised so people couldn't moan about this and that or conversley get excited about this and that. What is with these tournaments too??? Peddled by sky sprouts no less. Caught the very end of the Arsenal one and they were creaming themselves like they' just won the f#cking european cup. Perma-cold Francis waxing lyrical about the wonderful new young Arsenal team about to take the premiership by strom now they had they huge confidence booster and victory under their belt. Jesus Christ.

Its common knowledge that pre-season friendlies on the whole mean f'ck all and shouldnt really be broadcast or taken much notice of. They never used to be, it would of been a time for the manager to bed in new players, try new tactics and ease the players back to fitness before the all important first game.
     Now because of the money and publicity side of things tv companies are itching to get these games on there channels as it is offering first a chance to see the new big name signings.
It is putting early pressure on these players when they should really have been given games behind closed doors, enabling them to acclimatise to often a new country, new playing style and general playing conditions.

Take the games with a pinch of salt. Obviously if we are getting hammered 5-0 by german relegation certainties its not going to help confidence (like last season) but in general games like the Portsmouth one the other day are ideal preparation, and the performance of players (especially new) ones, shouldnt be scrutinised as it is in todays modern climate.
So far pre-season despite me saying dont watch i have  and have been quietly pleased with the way the players have performed, the likes of Kewell and Pennant creating chances against Pompey, with Sissoko all over the place.
Voronin has started well and looks like he will offer more than what we thought, although a bit of cautioned is needed with him - so far we have seen him in quite slow paced walkabouts, the hustle and bustle of the premiership is a major difference, but to be fair he looks capable and a good addition to the squad.

[Owzat]

You don't win the league in pre-season, you can get carried away or dejected by it and so I have largely not given it much time at all. TV is showing it simply to keep it's audience. If Rafa were putting out his first choice XI, they were playing like it was a competitive match and looking for goals and going unbeaten then maybe you could read something into it, but it isn't about that and if the opposition aren't taking it seriously either and giving everyone a game then no significance can be read into it. Might as well say someone played well in a training match

[stmichael]

paul tomkins' pre season thoughts:

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/NG156561070801-1309.htm

[Rupi]

I just missed the match vs Pompey (seen only highlights). As I live in Switzerland I've been to both friendlies against Werder and Auxerre.

Some players really impressed me:

- Pennant: very quick and sharp on right wing. I hope he'll begin last season on the same direction he ended last. Very good partnership on the right flank with Finnan (who's very constant and impressive).
- Voronin: hard worker and seems to adapt quick to his new partners. The Crow could be the surprise signing of the season...
- Agger: some very solid defensive displays and scored goals. Really excited to see him next season.
- Torres: didn't play a lot, but I was really enthusiastic after the prospect he has shown at the end of the Werder's game. Torres-Kuyt seems to me a real good partnership for the coming season. Torres-Crouch as they play one half against Auxerre weren't very brilliant, but the entire game was quite boring, too. Very hot prospect to me.
- Benayoun: was brilliant against Auxerre and shows good prospects against Werder, too. Not a pure winger for me, but he is quality!
- El Zhar: very good entry against Auxerre (he wasn't that good against Werder). It seems unlikely that Rafa will take him to first team, though.

About the established players we all know, I'm pleased with the level of Gerrard, Alonso, Kuyt (even if he missed a few, at least he created many chances)...

Some players weren't very classy:

- Sissoko: correct defensive display, but awful when he has the ball. Fairly uncapable of doing a pass, even 5 yards away... But he seems to have done a good job against Pompey, so maybe I am wrong (hope so... ).
- Mihaylov: only our 3rd keeper, but I'm very happy he isn't our 2nd choice. He was really approximate and unsure against Auxerre.
- Babel: the last to come... he's young, talented and need time to settle. This could explain his poor displays in Switzerland...

I'm really looking forward of seeing more of Kewell and Mascherano.

As Tomkins says, it's only pre-season games and we'll see in one week and a half whether or not we are the team in form !