Reds new boys
Posted by Akzoony in Liverpool | 28 August 2006
Blimey, the new boys are starting to look alright aren’t they!
Rafa would be the first to admit he hasn’t always got it right when bringing players into the club, but this time round he really seems to have got it on the money.
From the descriptions provided it was clear that round pegs were being found for round holes, however you always have to expect one or two to struggle to settle into a new big club like Liverpool. Somehow however everyone seems to be showing real promise from the off.
In both premiership games so far it has been the new boys that have stolen the show. Bellamy and Pennant have shown great signs of pace strength and movement. Pennant seems to put cross after cross in. He needs to start taking his man on a little more and put a dangerous ball in along the goal line, but I’m sure that’s already being looked at by Rafa and his team.
Gonzales is looking a little shell shocked at the moment, but is still showing his potential up the left and occasionally looks a real threat. Again Rafa clearly has got the right idea here and in weaning him in with 20 minutes here and 45 there, just until he gets his feet under him after such a long wait.
Fabio Aurelio is looking a great option on the left. He always looks a threat with his clever movement and willingness to have a shot, not to mention the danger he offers with free kicks and corners. He has already impressed me with his strength and versatility and although he doesn’t have the pace of our other options up the left, he defiantly provides another outlet with which to change the team. I can see him playing a much bigger role this season than I first expected.
Daniel Agger, while not a summer acquisition is worth a mention here, not so much for the wonder goal at the weekend (although that certainly deserves a mention), but for his solid performances alongside Sami Hyypia. For him to make this step so quickly is nothing short of brilliant.
And finally; Dirk Kuyt. Good god he looked exciting in the 30 minutes he had against West Ham. So hungry, with an attitude that said that he wasn’t going to worry about how a ball got to him or who passed it, he was going to have a go.
He seemed to be everywhere, picking up every stray pass, getting onto every ball that came anywhere near the box, and scary the hell out of the West Ham defence.
He’s a type of striker we’ve not had for a long time and I fully understand why Rafa says he could become as big an idol as Fowler himself to the club. He seems to have so much talent, and a great laid back attitude with it.
I don’t want to jinx anything, but after watching a fair few videos of him over the closed season, along with his instant impact of the weekend he could turn out the be the best buy of the season for any club. I include in that a certain 30 million plus striker (who I have been an admirer of for a long time) who signed for some London team or other this summer!