Liverpool FC Forum

by **Waldo** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 10:24 am

If we can get £5m for Insua then I say we cash in. Too many times last year was he caught out of position and he seems to have an issue with concentration. OK, I take the point that he is only 21 but I think he should be moved on and replaced with a more dynamic LB who is a better defender. I wonder how much it would take to get Warnock back at Anfield?

If Insua goes to Italy I think he would do well in a slower, less physical league. He just doesn't appear to have the physical/mental attributes to be a major success at Anfield.

Please Roy don't being in Paul Konchesky!!!

by **loopyliverpool** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 10:42 am

I would take nothing for Insua, he cannot defend, is incredibly one footed and is as slow as as Donkey on Weston beach. He was resposible for some very simple mistakes which players at this level (any level) just shouldn't make. All this talk of him being young etc. doesn't wash with me I'm afraid. I wish the him every success but he just is not good enough for LFC.

by **Paul C** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 11:00 am

Owzat wrote:
Paul C wrote:I hope he goes cos he cant defend, simple!

He is still only 21, will turn 22 in January 2011.

I think he can defend, but like a number of our players he can switch off too readily and doesn't seem certain about his positioning or marking duties.

I think we could do with better full-backs, it is unfortunate that Rafa went in for a lot of theory two seasons ago and spent £7m on Dossena and got Degen with a view to them supplying width, even though neither is much use defensively. Then he decided to ditch Arbeloa and spend £17.5m on a right-back who can't defend, THAT is truly horrendous management in terms of signing policies. £24.5m in two seasons on full-backs and not a decent one among them - decent at the job they are there primarily to do ie defend

I think Woy needs to go out and find a couple of full-backs, Insua will do as back-up and maybe even Johnson if we can't get good money for him, but we need full-backs that can defend first, attack is a secondary role. It beggars belief Rafa wanted our full-backs to join attacks and supply width while keeping two DMs on the pitch! Generally speaking defenders defend, forwards attack and score goals, while midfielders provide chances for the forwards and join in in defence and attack. So why are we so set in a system that has defenders (full-backs) attacking and two midfielders pretty much solely defending?!?

And no way do I want Woy to put Johnson on the wing, he would just be Riise II - not good enough attacking to be a winger, not good enough defensively to be a full-back. Johnson is a luxury we can ill afford, if we had a team with players like Messi, Ronaldo, Villa etc in it then we could afford to have a full-back who can't defend. As England found out, full-backs that can't defend leaves CBs exposed and having too many attackers to defend against - although Terry and June did decide to leave the germans acres of space.

He would make a good LM but he isn't a defender, he lacks simple tactical awareness, for example constantly getting caught out of position, I lost count how many times last season he got ripped to shreds, at 21 he should be able to defend and if he's not upto it and we get a good offer then get rid.

by **LFC2007** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 1:44 pm

I'd want a fee of around £3m and a sell-on clause in there just in case he does well. I think we need a new LB even if he stays though tbh.

Incidentally, I notice that Johnson is coming in for more unwarranted criticism. The truth is he got off to an excellent start last season before the whole team swiftly went t!ts up, and he personally had to deal with injury alongside that. His confidence suffered and his performances did, too. But last season was a case of "who DID perform well?". The context of that season was as unfavourable as it gets. He's a good player - 1000x better than Riise going forward - and good players are worth persisting with, not least because we don't have many of them.

by **Redtribe** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 3:45 pm

Where is all this criticism for Johnson coming from, he may not be the worlds greatest defender but he offers alot to the team and isn't as bad as some are making out. It seems that a lot of people are beliving the grass is always greener elsewhere.
As for Insua I don't think he is up to the job , i won't knock him for effort or commitment but we could have kept Warnock and he would have done as good a job as all the other left backs we have had since then. Plus he was an academy player and very comitted to the team which sometimes gives a bit more edge and balance.
What are our current youth LB's like could they step up as cover and maybe get Figaroa or similar to come in?

by **JC_81** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 6:55 pm

Insua isn't good enough.

He definitely improved as the season went on, but his lack of pace is frightening, in particular the first few yards, which is why he has been ripped apart by any winger with a bit of speed.

Valencia completely embarrassed him against United, even in the game where we beat them 1-0 at Anfield. Likewise with Kalou against Chelsea. And neither of those players are particularly great wingers imo.

Others have mentioned his positional awareness and lapses of concentration, which are also fair enough points imo, but at 21 he can still improve in these areas. Pace is unfortunately something you can't learn. Also aerially he offers nothing defensively, I've seen a stat that he's the shortest player in the premiership at 5'4''.

Too many deficiencies there for him to be first choice LB for us. We probably need to keep hold of him this season though even if we do bring another LB in, purely because that's a position we are ridiculously light in.

by **parchpea** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 7:08 pm

They cant really let the lad move on until they have a replacement lined up as we simply dont have another left back on the books. Any cover there would need to come from a centre half otherwise. Left back is a hard and specialist position to play and though many full backs are not the biggest you can make that up by clever positioning and using your body correctly whe challenging for high balls. Insua is still raw but I think he has the heart to play there if not the natural ability. It would have helpded his confidence had we employed a decent wide man in front of him who pushes the opposition back with forward runs so the tactics and team plan have left him exposed more often than not and hes struggled. He would only be worth playing waiting game with as a sub at this point but I doubt he or the club would go with that arrangement so he will no doubt move on when we have a replacement at the ready.

by **Owzat** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 6:50 am

john craig wrote:Valencia completely embarrassed him against United, even in the game where we beat them 1-0 at Anfield.

2-0

by **Owzat** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 6:53 am

parchpea wrote:They cant really let the lad move on until they have a replacement lined up as we simply dont have another left back on the books. Any cover there would need to come from a centre half otherwise. Left back is a hard and specialist position to play and though many full backs are not the biggest you can make that up by clever positioning and using your body correctly whe challenging for high balls. Insua is still raw but I think he has the heart to play there if not the natural ability. It would have helpded his confidence had we employed a decent wide man in front of him who pushes the opposition back with forward runs so the tactics and team plan have left him exposed more often than not and hes struggled. He would only be worth playing waiting game with as a sub at this point but I doubt he or the club would go with that arrangement so he will no doubt move on when we have a replacement at the ready.

The shocking left-back syndrome remains at Anfield as it has for many a year. We had one LB who may well have been good enough in Warnock, but other LBs were considered better.

LB has to be something of a priority, not CB as so many on here seem to think. If it is Warnock then I'll be thrilled to bits, but I suspect it will be some steady eddy from US or Europe

by **In and Out** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 7:40 am

Insua isn't good enough.

Very apt and concise.

by **In and Out** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 7:41 am

john craig wrote:Insua isn't good enough.

He definitely improved as the season went on, but his lack of pace is frightening, in particular the first few yards, which is why he has been ripped apart by any winger with a bit of speed.

Valencia completely embarrassed him against United, even in the game where we beat them 1-0 at Anfield. Likewise with Kalou against Chelsea. And neither of those players are particularly great wingers imo.

Others have mentioned his positional awareness and lapses of concentration, which are also fair enough points imo, but at 21 he can still improve in these areas. Pace is unfortunately something you can't learn. Also aerially he offers nothing defensively, I've seen a stat that he's the shortest player in the premiership at 5'4''.

Too many deficiencies there for him to be first choice LB for us. We probably need to keep hold of him this season though even if we do bring another LB in, purely because that's a position we are ridiculously light in.

He also got embarrassed down at the Majetski by a division 1 midfielder. It was torturous to watch.

by **Redman in wales** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 7:41 am

in the daily fail...

Emiliano Insua to leave Liverpool after Fiorentina agree to pay £5m for Argentine left-back

Liverpool defender Emiliano Insua is expected to join Fiorentina over the next 48 hours after the clubs agreed on a £5million fee.

The Argentine left-back, 21, has been the subject of various offers from the Italians but a deal is close to conclusion.
Fellow left-backs Fabio Aurelio and Andrea Dossena have already left the Merseysiders.

---

A good price for him imo, but it means we need to buy TWO left backs now! (unless Robinson really is gonna be 2nd choice left back!)

by **tubby** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 9:09 pm

We absolutely need to hang on to him. He has always been one if the best left backs in the world in his age group. He lacks positional sense and that only comes with experience. It makes no sense to let go of him now. He will probably be worth double in a few years.

If we let him go now it will be Roys first big mistake. Especially as we don't even have a decent first choice lb let alone a backup aside from maybe agger.

@karlsentk Fans want youngsters in the team. Then they expect miracles; everyone has to be an Owen or a Rooney.

by **Benny The Noon** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 9:13 pm

Why sell him when we already need a left back and 5 mil won't get us anyone better - keep him as back up and buy another one - oh wait we can't because we have no money so they need the 5 mil to buy players

by **tubby** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 9:14 pm

Benny The Noon wrote:Why sell him when we already need a left back and 5 mil won't get us anyone better - keep him as back up and buy another one - oh wait we can't because we have no money so they need the 5 mil to buy players

Correction. 3 mil to go the debt and 2 mil to players.

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