Munir El-Haddadi's preseason has been good

I really enjoy watching the pre-season. Regular season football is fantastic, yes, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world, but the pre-season has its very own appeal. Every year, teams have the opportunity to start fresh, forget about the previous season if they weren’t good, or build on their successes if they were. Pre-season is where it all starts; another year full of possibilities, for both teams and fans.

Pre-season also gives us the opportunity to see players we normally would not see throughout the season, the youngsters and subs that probably won’t get a lot of playing time in the first team. It is fantastic to see the possible future starters of the club in a bigger stage, and all the talent they may possess. I don’t know about you, but I love watching players from "La Cantera." I know many of them won’t make it, but I am always rooting for them and want them to succeed.

Which brings me to Munir. The young Barcelona forward has already seen some playing time with the first team, and with Neymar occupied with his national responsibilities, most of the playing time as third forward this pre-season. I know most of us agree with the thought that we need a fourth forward to spell either Neymar, Suarez, or Messi, but having not achieved the purchase of another forward, our top choice continues to be Munir.

He has been good this pre-season, playing ample minutes, scoring three goals and improving on his form from last season. He seems more sure of himself and confident with the ball, which translates into more quality performances. Munir won’t probably ever become a starter with Barcelona, but the kid is only 20 years old and seems to have some upside. He improved his positioning, taking better running lanes and being in better positions in attack; he’s also gotten stronger and isn’t getting bullied off the ball quite so easily. I also really appreciate his dedication on defense, willing to drop back to regain possession. Like I say, a purchase of another forward would be fantastic, but so far Munir has not disappointed me and I hope the kid finds some success here at Barcelona. Here’s to hoping he continues to show some good form in the pre-season.