Liverpool FC Forum

[tubby]

I don't think he'll play much this season.

Aurelio will still be first choice when fit.  I know 'when fit' is a big 'if' for Aurelio, but Benitez may give Dossena another chance if he doesn't get flogged.

What I can see happening is Distin coming in as back-up CB, and if he does I actually expect him to get a lot of games at LB when Aurelio doesn't play.  He was LB for Newcastle and initially at City before being moved to the middle and can do a pretty good job there.  I'm not saying this is good or bad, but if Distin comes in I can see this happening.  We know Rafa likes verstaile players.

Dossena should be backup to Riera at LM and that's it. At LB he is terrible. I really hope Rafa doesn't play him at all there again.

[JC_81]

I don't think he'll play much this season.

Aurelio will still be first choice when fit.  I know 'when fit' is a big 'if' for Aurelio, but Benitez may give Dossena another chance if he doesn't get flogged.

What I can see happening is Distin coming in as back-up CB, and if he does I actually expect him to get a lot of games at LB when Aurelio doesn't play.  He was LB for Newcastle and initially at City before being moved to the middle and can do a pretty good job there.  I'm not saying this is good or bad, but if Distin comes in I can see this happening.  We know Rafa likes verstaile players.

Not too sure to be honest mate, Rafa rates Insua highly, thats why he gave him a lot of games last season to impress, and he was solid in all of the games he played.

I wouldn't be surprised if he got alot of games this season.

I hope he does mate, but I hope he does not get too many games, because that will mean Aurelio has had another injury ravished season.  Aurelio has proven his class when fit and for me would start every time, or at least all the big games.

[JoeTerp]

I don't think he'll play much this season.

Aurelio will still be first choice when fit.  I know 'when fit' is a big 'if' for Aurelio, but Benitez may give Dossena another chance if he doesn't get flogged.

What I can see happening is Distin coming in as back-up CB, and if he does I actually expect him to get a lot of games at LB when Aurelio doesn't play.  He was LB for Newcastle and initially at City before being moved to the middle and can do a pretty good job there.  I'm not saying this is good or bad, but if Distin comes in I can see this happening.  We know Rafa likes verstaile players.

Dossena should be backup to Riera at LM and that's it. At LB he is terrible. I really hope Rafa doesn't play him at all there again.

he could also do a job as a wingback if we decided to change up the formation.

[tubby]

There are enough games in the season so maybe he will get a few chances this year for Insua telly should be the 1st choice. Here we have a youngster who has done well when he has figured in the first team. He needs to be blooded in more and then i really think that position is sorted. Aurelio is good but he is injury prone so we cannot rely on him. He is backup at best except for maybe in CL games where his experience can come in handy in big games.

[heimdall]

I don't think he'll play much this season.

Aurelio will still be first choice when fit.  I know 'when fit' is a big 'if' for Aurelio, but Benitez may give Dossena another chance if he doesn't get flogged.

What I can see happening is Distin coming in as back-up CB, and if he does I actually expect him to get a lot of games at LB when Aurelio doesn't play.  He was LB for Newcastle and initially at City before being moved to the middle and can do a pretty good job there.  I'm not saying this is good or bad, but if Distin comes in I can see this happening.  We know Rafa likes verstaile players.

Not too sure to be honest mate, Rafa rates Insua highly, thats why he gave him a lot of games last season to impress, and he was solid in all of the games he played.

I wouldn't be surprised if he got alot of games this season.

I hope he does mate, but I hope he does not get too many games, because that will mean Aurelio has had another injury ravished season.  Aurelio has proven his class when fit and for me would start every time, or at least all the big games.

I actually prefer Insua too Aurelio, I think he's almost a better player now and very soon will eclipse him, I expect him to be a regular next season.

[Nando26]

I don't think he'll play much this season.

Aurelio will still be first choice when fit.  I know 'when fit' is a big 'if' for Aurelio, but Benitez may give Dossena another chance if he doesn't get flogged.

What I can see happening is Distin coming in as back-up CB, and if he does I actually expect him to get a lot of games at LB when Aurelio doesn't play.  He was LB for Newcastle and initially at City before being moved to the middle and can do a pretty good job there.  I'm not saying this is good or bad, but if Distin comes in I can see this happening.  We know Rafa likes verstaile players.

Were in negotations with Napoli over the sale of Dossena at the moment so hopefully well get 4+ mill for him. Aurielo will be out for probally the first month so if Insua plays well then he can stake a claim t be number 1 this season

world class player in the making & with that german lad Butchmann looking the part we could actually have the lb position sorted for the next 1o years which isnt like the Liverpool ive supported

[sajven]

Lets hope he continues his development because he does look like he has the ability to become a top player, he needs to work on his positional sense and his ability to the read the game a little more in order to achieve his potential.

[SupitsJonF]

I heard he hurt his left ankle and is out for a month or two...













Oh wait, thats me

[JoeTerp]

Just wanted to bring up this thread.

This year its going to be huge for him. Its time to show if he can keep up his consistency and build up his experience. He has bags of potential and could be a massive player for us.

Just found this brilliant compilation of Insua 08/09 season review.


Emiliano Insua 08/09


More of the same please Insua!!!

very unlucky not to get more assists, set up some sitters.

love the stat at the end

record when insua plays 10 wins 1 draw (Arsenal away, which he played well)

[Penguins]

I also believe Aurelio will be 1st choice when fit.

But saying that I feel confident in Insua and as 2nd choice he will get alot of opportunities to show his talent.
He is smart and plays a nice and steady game with some offensive upside.

Right now LB is the position i feel least worried about in defense.

[bigmick]

I also believe Aurelio will be 1st choice when fit.

But saying that I feel confident in Insua and as 2nd choice he will get alot of opportunities to show his talent.
He is smart and plays a nice and steady game with some offensive upside.

Right now LB is the position i feel least worried about in defense.

Yep, agree with all of that mate. I do think Johnson will be good when he plays, but any rotating or injuries which bring Deggen in won't do wonders for the quality I don't think. Similarly, in the centre of defence as long as two of Carrager/Skyrtel/Agger are fit we'll be OK if not the strongest in the league.

Sabre actually made a very interesting point visa vis the centre of defence a coupld of days ago, when he said ought really to try and get the fella who is going to be the next "best English centre half". There's no doubts in my mind that Chelsea having Terry and Man Utd having Ferdinand is hugely advantageous to them.

Many people have talked of the fella Hangelund off Fulham (including me) as he looks like a commanding figure, but if you were looking English and potentially the next first choice centre half, I'd look at Mathew Upson. I think you'd get for around 11-13 mill' and he's one of the major reasons west Ham were hard to beat last season. He's about 30 which isn't young but isn't that old for a centre half either, and he's got that bit of something about him.

I like him and always have, it's a surprise to me that none of the really big clubs have been in for him.

[Penguins]

Even though I rate Upson I can see us not going for him for a few reasons.

1) His resale value is pisspoor which, I am afraid to say, plays a huge part for us. See Barry and the owners reported happiness about splashing out on him.
2) I just don't think there is that much cash to spend
3) We already have 3 very able CB's who will be if sitting on the bench too much and I do not see Upson as anything but  1st choice.
4) In this situation if money is also a little tight I'd prefer if we
aimed for a 4th choice who would be fine to sit on the bench.

[JoeTerp]

picked the wrong CB if your going for the next best English CB.  James Tomkins is the future

[bigmick]

picked the wrong CB if your going for the next best English CB.  James Tomkins is the future

When I was checking out Upsons age Joe I happened onto a West Ham fans site and they certainly rate him fairly highly as one for the future, along with another centre half they've got called Spence, or Spencer or something like that.

I must confess I don't think I've seen him play so I can't offer an opinion, but going by his age and potential he wouldn't come cheap. I wonder if these days with these owners we are the type of club who will shell out 10 million quid on a kid who just might or might not turn into something. I notice Villa are going to get the kid from Leeds, Fabian Delph, and the World and his brother have had a good look at this lad. I think they've paid 6 million quid for him and that's less than figures which have been bandied about for a while. Once again though, although he has been hyped to the nth degree you are buying a kid who won't currently make the team.

That's the cvall with the fourth centre half which we need. If you are looking to buy a player to rank four out of four, then this West Ham kid will be too dear for us I think, we'd be much more inclined to go for a Distin. My thoughts are though that we are weak at center back. Before it became obvious Alonso was leaving, I actually made centre half our joint top priority with Torres/Gerrard cover.

If you wanted someone to step in and improve us, for me it's Upson or the lad from Fulham. the Fulham lad could prove to be anything given time, but Upson is today better than all our centre halves bar arguably Carragher IMHO, particularly given Aggers injury record.

[JoeTerp]

but I thought that you were talking out picking out someone to be the Robespierre of a decade long Reign of Terror on the premier league. Surely Upson nor Hangeland could not do that.