Studs Up

The Confederations Cup is a confusing tournament, and I’m not sure if the format changes or if I’m simply not paying enough attention but I just have no idea what the parameters of the participants is. New Zealand vs Spain? Egypt vs Brazil? Ok…

Regardless, it’s been a brilliant opening round. I always enjoy watching North African teams play as the technical ability is high and they generally attack with reckless abandon that makes for excellent viewing. If you’re not watching, you need to be.

The transfer window still sucks ass. Glen Johnson to Liverpool is a great bit of business even at 18 million. When you get to the top tier of your league, you basically need to pay whatever it takes to get the player that helps you win. Ferguson dropped 18 million on Carrick and people went mental, but United won the title both years that he’s been at the club.

I can easily see Johnson being a ‘missing piece’ to the bubbling, gooey, delicious Rafa pie. I have no idea why I described it that way. But Rafa loves putting Kuyt on the right wing so he can physically dominate the opposition’s left back and he’s basically a wing-based target man. Having an attack-minded fullback like Johnson behind him is perfect tactics.

Liverpool need a go-to tactic in attack. They keep possession well but lack a player or move they can go to time and time again in attack to help get them in dangerous positions. Remember when Arsenal went down the left to Pires/Henry like 90% of the time? I foresee a similar situation at Liverpool with GJ on the right.

And I think it’ll work.