So preseason is over and it's only a week to go before the big kick-off. As a supporter, I go into the season with mixed feelings both on and off the pitch. Results appear to be good since Mark Hughes arrived at the Britannia, with a record of three wins (Dallas, Philadelphia and Wrexham), one draw (Genoa) and a loss in his first game (Houston). Compare this to our last preseason and the results have markedly improved, despite playing less games. However, as we all know the proof in the pudding is in the eating. Whilst we have played more attractive football in the warm-up games, the final scores have not altered drastically with two 1-0s and a 2-0, as well as a 0-0 in today's final game against Genoa. Whilst in all of these matches we seem to have been in the game, the failure to be ruthless in front of goal will cost us if we fail to improve once the season starts. I do believe though that now that preseason is over, the players will be inclined to risk everything to touch a ball into the net, compared to in the last few weeks when a bad landing could curtail their entire season. Time will tell if Sparky can get our forwards firing, and there's no tougher place than Anfield. More on that though in a moment.
Off the field, whilst I have been highly appreciative of our club offering free travel to all away games in the league this season, my pleasure came at a cost. Having sat in The Seddon Stand for past two seasons, enjoying the ride however bumpy it was, I've had to take a break from my season ticket. Whilst it will give me the opportunity to travel to away games and odd Premier League home games, I will miss going to 'Fortress Britannia' and feeling a part of it. If you've got a season ticket and you're reading this, enjoy the ride! In the meantime, I'll be waiting for my first away game in the coming weeks/months.
Formation Focus:
Like every supporter, I have players I like, and players that I don't. I think we all agree that the entire squad is made up of a great bunch of lads that create an unrivalled team spirit, but it doesn't mean we want to see some of them playing every week. One name that I've selected in my team for Liverpool will most likely cause controversy: Ryan Shotton. I felt sorry for him during his initial inclusion in the team as he was forced to play as a striker until reinforcements came in during the Summer 2011 window. After that, he was largely played out of position on the right wing, and despite putting in some good performances initially, we all knew he wasn't a winger. As it was often referred to, 'Shotton Roulette' wasn't reliable when trying to whip a cross into the box. At the end of last season, at times I felt that when the performances were at their worst, Shotton appeared to be the only player trying to dig the team out of the rut that they were in. By the final game of last season, he appeared to have beaten Wilko to the right back spot and made it his own. For the majority of preseason though, Geoff Cameron has been played there, which most likely will leave Shotton settling for a place on the bench against Liverpool. If he were to be included though, I believe he would be a better attacking outlet than either Geoff or Andy due to his pace and that he his fairly effective when making overlapping runs past his winger. That same pace will also give him a greater chance of recovering defensively if caught on the break against the likes of Raheem Sterling whose pace and dribbling skills could cause our team a bag full of problems.
The fact that whoever plays at fullback will be able to make overlapping runs is a sign that 'the cage' has been well and truly unlocked and the 4-3-3 shape we are playing in the warm-up games appears promising. I do believe if we are set on this shape, we need goalscorers on the flanks who can float out wide and deliver in or cut inside and score if the opportunity presents itself. I leave out Etherington and Pennant for this very reason. Whilst Etherington can cross a ball in, his pace and dribbling skills are diminishing fast and if he starts next week it will be something that concerns me. Pennant on the other hand, whilst offering a good delivery from out wide, is less of a goalscorer than Kightly. In 58 league games for the club, he has scored the same number of goals (three) as Kightly who has played 36 less times for Stoke. If you believe in statistics, Kightly is the better in a head-to-head on this basis. Regarding the selection of Jon Walters, I believe he could be given a free role to run channels on the left or right, effectively partnering Crouch (or Jones, if he is selected) up front.If Walters runs channels down the right wing to try and better himself against Enrique, Kightly will be on the left wing to receive the ball and he can cut inside to take a shot. On the other hand, if Walters runs down the left channel, that would leave Kightly on the right where he can cross the ball into the box. The two wide forwards would effectively be covering for each other. The key to this would be the full backs attacking displays. We know that Walters has not got the best cross in him - to say the least - so if he has the ball on the right wing, Shotton/Cameron/Wilkinson will need to be up with him to support him and let him make runs into the box. Unlike under Tony Pulis's stewardship of the club, Walters will have to work with the defenders to score goals, rather than preventing them if his role in the team is to be successful.
Away from the Brit - Injury Time:
All three of these players have come under scrutiny in the short time I've been writing this blog, yet no transfer has materialised for any of them as of yet. Strangely enough though, all three have picked up injuries since interest in them picked up, preventing them from playing in their respective tour games. The farce expanded in the last few days when Rooney and Bale were officially called up for friendly games against Scotland and the Republic of Ireland for their respective nations. Whilst I understand that a buying club would not want to purchase a player who may fail a medical, especially with the fees being mentioned, I feel that somewhere this has to stop. Despite the comedy surrounding his latest attempts to engineer a move away from Anfield, it should be said that at least Luis Suarez has been open enough with the supporters to explain why he wants to leave. With Rooney and Bale, we have quotes from 'sources close to the player' who mitigate that they want a move. The media love little tidbit quotes which say a lot with no actual facts contained within them.
An example in point is reports that Ryan Shotton is 'attracting interest' from a 'host of clubs' after Beswick Sports made a statement about his position yesterday. Does this mean Shotton wants to move? Who knows? The player himself hasn't said anything. It's unlikely considering he's playing for his boyhood club and did well at the end of last season. Yet the media pick up on the quotes and make a story out of it. Whilst the convenient injuries Suarez, Bale and Rooney have picked up, I still cannot see them making a move away from their respective clubs. If they stay, at least the league will remain strong and exciting.
Quick Snippet:
The Football League has started and I'm actually excited to see how each league finishes up. Without going into great detail, I'm tipping QPR to finish champions in the SkyBet Championship, largely due to wheeler-dealer Harry Redknapp. He does spend a lot of money wherever he goes, but his transfer track record and his man management style should help QPR stay at the top end of the league throughout the season.
If I were to pick a surprise package in the same league, Yeovil would have to be awarded that. Despite losing their first home game today, Gary Johnson has been an impressive Championship manager, pushing Stoke all the way to promotion not so long ago with Bristol City. To keep a club like Yeovil in the 2nd tier of English football would be a monumental achievement, but I would not be surprised if he did better. Another trip to Wembley for a play-off final could be possible!
The fact that whoever plays at fullback will be able to make overlapping runs is a sign that 'the cage' has been well and truly unlocked and the 4-3-3 shape we are playing in the warm-up games appears promising. I do believe if we are set on this shape, we need goalscorers on the flanks who can float out wide and deliver in or cut inside and score if the opportunity presents itself. I leave out Etherington and Pennant for this very reason. Whilst Etherington can cross a ball in, his pace and dribbling skills are diminishing fast and if he starts next week it will be something that concerns me. Pennant on the other hand, whilst offering a good delivery from out wide, is less of a goalscorer than Kightly. In 58 league games for the club, he has scored the same number of goals (three) as Kightly who has played 36 less times for Stoke. If you believe in statistics, Kightly is the better in a head-to-head on this basis. Regarding the selection of Jon Walters, I believe he could be given a free role to run channels on the left or right, effectively partnering Crouch (or Jones, if he is selected) up front.If Walters runs channels down the right wing to try and better himself against Enrique, Kightly will be on the left wing to receive the ball and he can cut inside to take a shot. On the other hand, if Walters runs down the left channel, that would leave Kightly on the right where he can cross the ball into the box. The two wide forwards would effectively be covering for each other. The key to this would be the full backs attacking displays. We know that Walters has not got the best cross in him - to say the least - so if he has the ball on the right wing, Shotton/Cameron/Wilkinson will need to be up with him to support him and let him make runs into the box. Unlike under Tony Pulis's stewardship of the club, Walters will have to work with the defenders to score goals, rather than preventing them if his role in the team is to be successful.
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