Liverpool FC Forum

[bigmick]

On the subject of Aquilani, I think everyone would accept that based on the half an hour or so we've seen him so far, he is obviously a talented footballer. Sabre alluded to the fact you can see by the way he drifts into pockets of space and looks all around him before the ball arrives, before he even gets the ball he looks like a good player. You can see it by the way he covers the ground as well, being taller than I imagined he kind of glides accross the surface of the pitch, and my guess is that he's a yard quicker than he actually looks.

Despite all that, I'm a fraction concerned about Alberto. Not worried, not troubled, but just a little bit uneasy about him. Why? Because on each occasion during that half an hours actiuon split between two matches that somebody has come near him, he's made sure there was no contact. Could it be that he's just feeling his way back in after a long injury? Possibly, even probably being charitable, but one thing is certain, if he thinks he's going to be able to dictate the pace and flow of games in England while dancing between the raindrops in terms of physicality, he's mistaken.

It's only a very early observation, but you can bet that the other teams will have noticed it as well. They'll be queueing up to test out our new signing, forming a line in order to ask him the question. They won't be asking any questions about his ability because that much is obvious, it's his character which will form the basis of his examination. Does he want it badly enough, is he prepared to fight for the right to play? My guess is we'll find out one way or the other before too much longer.

[Fauxy]

Good point there Bigmick..

Against Birmingham he was further back than Mascherano and he was quite far back against Arsenal too. What im a little concerned about is that Rafa might be trying to turn him into a defensive midfielder or another Alonso. Having said that though, it was only at the end of two games and maybe Rafa was just trying to get him in the game without having to make challenges with the opposing defenders.

Small worries but like you said, we can see he is a talented player.

[Festy]

Good point there mick...although you could have shorten it significantly.

By the way, Rafa is making yet another mistake if he's trying to mold Alberto into a defensive/Alonso type midfielder.

[Fauxy]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_5704943,00.html

Looks like he wont be starting against City 

Ah well, Lucas and Masch tend to be good in big games 

[tubby]

FFS When is he going to be ready to start.

[Zidane]

Shame really, perfect time to bring him back too.

[killerp]

Imagine of Gerrard and Torres both broke their legs?

Then its time for a ritual suicide 

[The Real Deal]

Aquilani, not fit to face Man City Apparently.

You can't really judge him on what we have seen so far.

its like buying a car you havent seen!

we have no way of knowing if he is any better than Lucas until he plays 90 mins regularly.He should be starting really, even if only 70% . as Lucas is costing us, results and points.

20m!? By the time he gets in (4 months too late) season could be over.

not seen him for Roma but im betting he is not as good as Alonso.

[Festy]

Aquilani, not fit to face Man City Apparently.

You can't really judge him on what we have seen so far.

its like buying a car you havent seen!

we have no way of knowing if he is any better than Lucas until he plays 90 mins regularly.He should be starting really, even if only 70% . as Lucas is costing us, results and points.

20m!? By the time he gets in (4 months too late) season could be over.

not seen him for Roma but im betting he is not as good as Alonso.

Don't jump to conclusions just yet. He may well be 'better' than Alonso if he stays fit.

[big al]

Many fans here want the guy to play but he may not be any good.  Rafa may have seen that he has a touch like Kuyt, or he tackles like Insua, he might mark like Skrtel and run like Carragher.  Rafa may well be protecting us from a player Rafa knows not to subject us to these types of players again.  OH Yes thats right Rafa paid £20million for him.

[metalhead]

stop talking shyte big al, he is a very good footballer, and he is better than Lucas and Mascherano.

[DAV]

I am sure most of you wont agree with this, but anyway.
After being at todays game and thinking for most of the second half. Rafa will bring Aquilani on in a minute, he will change the game and hopefully win it for us. He better not bloody start in europe next week. The reason being, if he does start it would clearly show to me that he could of played today. Be it from the start or most of the second half. When we really needed him.

[inglis5]

I think it's pretty obvious that the plan was to ease Aquilani in but, as stupid as it sounds, our current injury crisis is not allowing this. Take today, I'm sure the plan was to play him for the last 30 minutes but with us losing two players after 20 and with a centre half struggling it would have been VERY risky to bring on Aqualani. I also think our problem is currently not centre midfield and Lucas and Mascherano are playing well together. Hopefully he'll get a start in mid-week but realistically I think we'll see him introduced after 70 mins or so. Then the question is do you give a player recovering from a serious injury their first start in the derby???

[Madmax]

When will cack-eyed start man.. Its almost december already..

[metalhead]

Aquaman will start next season.