TRADITIONALLY at this time of year many of us will risk a glance in the mirror and reach a conclusion as to what shape we’re in.
For some of us that will be a sobering experience as the sight of a thickening waistline and the emergence of man-boobs sends us scuttling to the gym, or maybe produces a wistful sigh and a growing acknowledgment that those High & Mighty fellows are starting to produce some pretty nifty designs.
Such introspection should not be confined to individuals of course, and it’s to be hoped that our Glorious Leader and his acolytes are spending some thinking time over the next few days examining the health of our football club and forming honest opinions about similar key questions.
Are we a bit light up top? Are we looking sluggish around the middle? Has our back pain been truly eradicated?
Starting in the lumbar region, it would be a finicky physician indeed who would find fault with our defence.
A costly fumble at Fulham notwithstanding, Pepe Reina has maintained his excellent form, a commanding presence at the back and a clever instigator of counter-attacks when gaining possession.
In front of him, Skrtel and Agger have excelled recently and must gain great heart from Kenny’s refusal to yield to the temptation to restore Jamie to the defence.
Skrtel in particular has recovered well from being thrown to the cockerels at White Hart Lane earlier in the season and is now looking more like the dominant presence we’ve needed since Sami Hyypia’s departure. At full-back Jose Enrique has quickly become a crowd favourite with his spirited runs up the left flank and his harrying defensive style.
He needs only to improve on some wild shooting when in promising positions – but he’s not alone there.
On the other flank Glen Johnson is in impressive form, though his sickness record would have had him hauled up before many an employer’s HR department by now.
At the start of the season our midriff bulged, and most debate was around how we would accommodate so much talent.
That doesn’t seem such an issue now, as injury and inconsistent form has prevented a clear picture emerging of a balanced and fully functioning midfield.
