How are our new signings performing?
After six weeks there has now been enough time to realistically assess the start our new players have made.
Bolo Zenden
It appears that Bolo will be nothing more than a squad player. He seems to have lost some pace and is now more suited to playing in central midfield after excelling there for Middlesborough last season. The problem is we already are well endowed in the central midfield area. The return of Harry Kewell is likely to further curtail his chances. As Rafa signed him on a free his purchase cannot be questioned.
Pep Reina
Initially Pep made a confident start and looked very solid. However he has recently looked very dodgy when it comes to dealing with crosses and corners. He also made a costly error against Birmingham. He is very good in one on one situations and is an accomplished shot stopper. The jury is still out on Reina. Hopefully he can bounce back from his mistake quickly unlike Dudek who used to suffer for a few games after he made mistakes.
Momo Sissoko
As a twenty year old coming to a foreign country his early performances have been exceptional. He is very aggressive with telescopic legs and amazing stamina. He must be a nightmare for opposing players. Momo has also shown good skills on the ball and a willingless to make attacking runs and be unafraid to shoot from distance. Definitely the pick of Rafa's summer sigings.
Peter Crouch
The signing of Crouch was greeted with dissaproval by a significant proportion of our supporters. He has made a promising start and shown exactly why Rafa has purchased him. The alternative options he offers are invaluable and one of the Real Betis defenders described him as unplayable. I am sure he would have bagged his first goal already if Rafa had used more attacking tactics.
Please leave your comments on our new signings.
posted by withwolves @ 1:28 PM
5 comments
5 Comments:
Agree with the Sissoko comments he has been truly superb.
Zenden looks well of the pace and certainly isn't good enough to start in the big games. Offers very little going forward.
Crouch has been disappointing for me, not only becuase of his performances which have been hit and miss so far but also because of the way the team plays when he is in the side, always looking for the long ball. The only way to improve the situation would be to play a striker off him to actually get on to the flick ons.
Reina has looked good but seems to be proned to the same mistakes all our keepers seem to be. Hopefully when he settles he will improve. Let's remember he is only young as well.
Agree on Sisokko. Looks like a great long term replacement for Hamann or even Stevie if he ever decides to leave. We have 4 great central midfielders in Gerrard, Momo, Xabi and Hamann. Was excited about Gonzalez and hope that still works out. Still need Joquin or the Benfica guy on the right. Crouch is the reason for our scoring problems. The whole attacking system has been changed to make him the pivot of the system. I would prefer a 4-4-2 with cisse, who looks like the only guy who can score. I would bring Garcia on as a sub like the B'ham game. What I'm real excited about is the youngsters signed for the reserves. I think there's a lot of potential there for the next few years. Also, watch out for Adam Hamill. Maybe we already have a great winger in our U-18 team...
The benfica guys has been playing on left wing for his team though! and the moment we have 5 left sided player, Zenden, Rise, Warnock, Kewell and Troure. However the youngster Barragan looks are deal on the right wing.
Gonzalez will hopefully sign in Summer but if in form we could see him turn up for the reds in January.
Played 442 in Champion league qualifier and lost 1-0 to a small team.
I prefer to change formation depending on the situation/opponents etc!
Momo has been fantastic so far - for a guy of just 20 in a new country and league I think it shows the positive effect and leadership that Rafa and Paco give the younger players.
Bolo's been dreadful. Really really disappointing. If Kewell can get fit and hungry again, Zenden won't play again at this rate. Latest word on Gonzalez is that he'll stay at Albacete until his work permit's approved, then come over to wear the no 12 shirt...
I wish we'd bought Dirk Kuyt instead of the Crouch. I've seen a lot of Kuyt this season and last and he's one of the best true centre-forwards I've seen in a while.
Looks like a lot of you guys are relying on Kewell finally coming through. I'd prefer Riise who had a great season last year but now is dumped in favour of Bolo, who is of no threat to the opposition.
Morientes and Cisse would be my first choice (after Mori is finally fit). We can use Crouch to play against the likes of Bolton, B'ham, etc, who can be tricky but should be disposed of. At Anfield, we should be destroying the opposition by playing flowing attacking football, with a target of winning every game.
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