by bigmick » Sat Aug 02, 2008 11:29 pm
Joe I've absolutely no doubt the merry go round hasn't quite ran its course yet. Equally, I'm pretty sure that Barry will sign eventually and nail down a starting slot, and that the Olympics will provide a stimulus and an excuse for some styling.
I do though get the feeling that at least this time around we have a purpose, we are actually trying to have a look and establish what is going to be our first team which is a new development. Now I know various detectives, chief constables and rapid response unit members will instantly be reaching for the batons at that comment "well FFS what do you think he does normally, just have a laugh you d!ckhead?". The reality though in my opinion is that the pre-season games have been used previously for purely a means of getting everyone fit. That way we can go into the first few games with numerous "options" and "possibilities" which provide umpteen permutations with which we can baffle whichever opposition who are unfortunate enough to line up against us.
In reality of course in the four seasons of Rafa's tenure so far, we've had to a lesser or greater extent ditch the idea mid way into the season as our inconsistency of selection has been mirrored by our league form. Then as the selections have become more consistent, so have the performances and by and large we have managed to get it together towards the end of the campaign, only the once did we give Everton too big a start and actually not manage to get in the first four.
Well this time, as you say Agger and Carragher have bene the pairing by and large in the friendlies. Today we had a look at Skyrtel, nothing wrong with that. Did he do enough to force his way in? Feck knows as I didn't see it, but at least there's something to force his way into as oppoosed to a group, a club, a bunch of players who are going to take it in turns to get a game. I'm convinced it's going to be different this season Jo, and until Rafa convinces me differently I'm sticking to it.
"se e in una bottigla ed e bianco, e latte".