Liverpool FC Forum

by **kazza** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 8:53 am

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez insists new signing Alberto Aquilani will prove to be a shrewd acquisition.

The Italy international has joined the Reds in a £15million switch from Roma, but is currently sidelined with an ankle problem.

The 25-year-old has been hampered by injuries for the past two seasons, with his first-team outings severely limited as a result.

His lack of action has led to fears that his body is unable to withstand the rigours of top level football.

Benitez, though, is adamant that is not the case, claiming Aquilani has just been unfortunate to pick up a few niggling knocks.

"If Aquilani was in a normal market he would cost £25-30m but because of the operation he had on his ankle he was a bit cheaper," the Spanish coach explained in the Daily Mirror.

"We have to wait for a month for him to be fit but he is a player we are signing for five years, not for five matches.

Gamble
"He had a bad tackle and an operation and that's normal he missed matches. It would have been the same with (Fernando) Torres or (Steven) Gerrard. That is why I don't think his signing is a gamble.

"I was talking with a lot of people in Italy and people are saying it is a fantastic signing."

Aquilani has been brought in to help plug the gap created by Xabi Alonso's departure to Real Madrid.

Benitez admits he was reluctant to part with the Spanish schemer, but believes he has found an able replacement.

"We couldn't change the situation of Alonso," he added.

"He decided to go, we had to progress. You have to mange in the best way you can.

"Alberto is now under the control of our medical staff because he had been going to different people. He has the quality to settle down in England."

******************

Skysports

by **kazza** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 9:03 am

Bad Bob wrote:Aquilani pics are now posted on the offal. Anyone care to caption this one!

LINK

Aquilani : "So you grabba her hair with the left and you slappa her @ss with the right, like a horsey si?"

Raffa : " I am still confused, you take her from the front or the back?"

by **we all dream...** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 9:39 am

by **Bad Bob** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 12:14 pm

kazza wrote:
Bad Bob wrote:Aquilani pics are now posted on the offal. Anyone care to caption this one!

LINK

Aquilani : "So you grabba her hair with the left and you slappa her @ss with the right, like a horsey si?"

Raffa : " I am still confused, you take her from the front or the back?"

I must admit, this was the kind of thing that first came to mind for me as well. :blush:

by **Owzat** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 12:55 pm

Bad Bob wrote:Aquilani pics are now posted on the offal. Anyone care to caption this one!

LINK

Aquilani : so this driving malarky in England is a cynch
Rafa : yeah, but you're on the other side of the car so you're pointing at the pedals

by **Dundalk** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 12:59 pm

s@int wrote:The Liverpool Echo are this morning reporting that Alberto Aquilani will inherit Sami Hyypia's old #4 shirt number.

Furthermore, Rafa Benitez is ready to look elsewhere for a centre-half after Hull City slapped a £11million price tag on Michael Turner.

The Liverpool boss is a keen admirer of the 25-year-old defender. However, the Reds are only willing to pay £5million and with the two clubs so far apart in their valuations the manager will now pursue other options

link

Official Now

by **Bad Bob** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 1:50 pm

Thread title changed to reflect it's new "official" status

by **account deleted by request** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 2:43 pm

Bad Bob wrote:
kazza wrote:
Bad Bob wrote:Aquilani pics are now posted on the offal. Anyone care to caption this one!

LINK

Aquilani : "So you grabba her hair with the left and you slappa her @ss with the right, like a horsey si?"

Raffa : " I am still confused, you take her from the front or the back?"

I must admit, this was the kind of thing that first came to mind for me as well.

That's because you are a sick, sick man Bob

Aquilani - "so thats what a football pitch looks like"

by **HacksawJimDuggin** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 2:49 pm

GYBS wrote:Rafa and Aquaman at an Academy match

Great to Skrtel playing in that game.

by **jono** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 4:01 pm

rafa just said on ssn that he never cost 20m, more comin up in a bit, somethin about fergie

by **JoeTerp** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 4:05 pm

I wonder if Torres (god forbid) goes down if we would think about:

Mascherano Lucas
Kuyt Aquilani Yossi/Riera
Gerrard

I don't know about you, but after Nando, Stevie is the player in the squad that I trust the most to put away the chances

by **Tim LFC** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 4:35 pm

^^ Nah maybe try Kuyt. Or Babel and see how he copes? Or maybe try En'Gog he looks decent. Voronin idk!

by **Bammo** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 4:48 pm

I don't think Gerrard would be that good as the lead man (before anyone starts, I'm not saying he's talentless or anything!). His strength is running onto the ball from deep which is a lot different from playing with your back to goal and holding defenders off to bring others into play.

If Torres was out I'd play Kuyt/Babel/N'Gogogogogogogo up top.

What I hope we do with Aquilani is play this against weaker teams:

Masch

Kuyt Aquilani Gerrard Riera

Torres

That way we have 4 attacking midfielders rather than a frequently redundant 2nd defensive mid.

by **Toffeehater** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 4:56 pm

How long is he expected to be out for ? We signed him for 17 million with it rising to 20 or so

by **JoeTerp** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 4:59 pm

Toffeehater wrote:How long is he expected to be out for ? We signed him for 17 million with it rising to 20 or so

3-7 weeks

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