I think they've done better than expected so far. As for today's stage at Paris-Nice, I think Astana brought too many engines for the last two days of climbing. Pereiro is in crappy shape and has been useless when the terrain heads upward. Gurov, Noval and Stanglej (sp) have all performed as expected for the most part. It's a lot of pressure on Navarro, Grivko and Fofonov to control a peloton for just over 100KM . . . but they did it. Which is more than could be said for Astana last year when AC bonked.
He's not been left alone yet (even today, Fofonov and Grivko came in 46 seconds back, but they, along with Navarro were there until AG2R hit the gas (Navarro got stuck behind)). Again, which is better than last year.
Assuming DDLF gets healthy and Pereiro gets into some type of actually racing shape, I think they will field a pretty strong team. I don't know what their short list looks like, but if it were today (and everyone is healthy), I'd take Grivko, Fofonov, Gurov, Noval, DDLF, AC, Vino, Navarrao, Jufre.