Barcola: Training today. Was just cramp in last game. No injury. Should play.
Gapko: Training but we will see.
Ekitiké: Could be back for last CL group games in January.
Back-to-back wins: Team has goals in it. Chances created and scored. Need to be more efficient and not concede. Games more comfortable when you don’t go behind.
Fulham’s form - poor but dangerous? : Too early to assess teams after 3 games. They have high possession and difficult to press against, but they concede goals.
Arbeloa - did discus life at Liverpool? Played together only a few times.
Mac Alister: Pleased with level of performance.
Isak: Hope he is coming to his best. Happy with improvements in training and fitness.
Araujo: Doing well but struggles with language (English) at the moment. Change has been good for him. Has done very well.
Fast starts: We come prepared for a certain style of opposition play but need to adjust if that isn’t what happens. We will adapt faster this year as training proceeds.
Balon d’Or - Spanish managers dominating: Spain has big football culture and good in team sports. Spanish teams win things with Spanish managers which helps.
Team fitness: team is stronger but still building to last full 90 minutes. Players are now in better physical condition. Some players still have fitness niggles.
Koumas: Iraola wanted him to stay from week 1. Good player, hard working, scores goals. Very happy to have in squad. Good mentality and helps team.
TLDR: Barcola OK, Gapko progressing. We play Fulham on Saturday.
I think it was one of the posts in his player thread that mentioned it, but apparently Araujo is taking private English lessons in addition to the club-provided ones to try to pick up the language quicker, which shows great willing imo.
I’ve been really impressed with his attitude overall so far.
It´s definitely a factor that makes playing harder. I wonder if his classes are football focused too somewhat. Cover me or or push up, rather than i would like to purchase that orange beach ball and bucket and spade.
Bunch of Fulham fans on my train to Liverpool…drunk off their tits. Singing (bellowing) something about John Terry, “Harry fucking Wilson”, something about not taking them home from the pub coz they want to drink all the beer there.
