Liverpool FC Forum

by **Thommo's perm** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 8:03 pm

aCe' wrote:If this isnt a sign that pretty much everyone has given up on the guy making it with us then i dont know what is

On the contrary
When he does the business for us I think he should play for england
Italian manager, Italian players. Who gives a fu'ck?

by **aCe'** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 5:17 am

Liverpool FC’s Alberto Aquilani hopes for better second season

Jul 24 2010 by Ian Doyle, Daily Post

IF ANY confirmation were needed of the negligible impact Alberto Aquilani made during his debut season at Liverpool FC, it has come during the team’s pre-season camp in Switzerland.

With the majority of the senior players elsewhere following their World Cup exploits, Aquilani finds himself as the most high-profile member of a youthful training squad in Bad Ragaz.

But so unassuming has the Italian’s presence been, it is easy to forget only four players in Liverpool’s history have cost more than the £17m spent to acquire the midfielder’s services from Roma 12 months ago.

Of course, Aquilani did not have it easy, as injury, acclimatisation and the team’s general malaise last season combined to ensure a difficult first campaign.

Aquilani arrived recovering from an ankle problem which, while initially diagnosed as keeping the Italian out for another three weeks, ended up with the player sidelined for three months.

Having made his debut in the Carling Cup defeat at Arsenal in October, the 26-year-old was often left on the bench as Liverpool struggled for form and fortune.

Aquilani started the final four games of the season, including the Europa League semi-final against Atletico Madrid at Anfield in which he scored a fine goal in front of the Kop.

And now midfielder is setting his sights on showing supporters his true form in the coming campaign under new manager Roy Hodgson.

“It was a difficult season for me,” says Aquilani. “I started with an injury, it was bad for me and it was a problem for too long a time.

“When I started training I felt a lot better, I felt good. My fitness was still not the best but I was okay for the rest of the season and I didn’t miss a training session.

“But the season was not the best, either for me or the team, and this season we have to do better.

“The longer last season went on, the more comfortable I felt and the more used I was to the English game. I felt I was more able to show what I can do.

“I understand English football better and towards the end of last season I was playing more games.

“I played games in a row and with every game I was feeling better.

“I felt I was 100% fit at the end of last season. I feel my injury problems are behind me now and now I’m ready to work towards the new season.”

While happy with his goal against Atletico, Aquilani admits it was ultimately a bittersweet strike.

“It was a great moment for me to score that goal, but in the end we were knocked out on the night,” he says. “It was a big frustration because we wanted to play in the final to try and save something from the season.

“But yes, it was a good feeling to score the goal, and a good feeling to score in front of the Kop.”

Certainly, Aquilani appears to have no intention of moving on during the transfer window, a belief strengthened by his agent Franco Zavaglia yesterday.

“Alberto has had very positive conversations with Roy Hodgson and he expects to stay for at least another year at Liverpool,” says Zavaglia. “He’s very happy that he is part of his plans and Hodgson said he is very happy to have him at the club.

“There are always rumours, but Alberto is enjoying his life in England and he does not want to go anywhere. They have not yet discussed what his role will be in the team or technical matters like that, but all parties are happy for him to stay.”

Despite leaving Wednesday’s goalless draw against Grasshopper with right knee strapped, Aquilani is expected to appear when Liverpool sign off their pre-season retreat with a friendly at Kaiserslautern this afternoon.

As one of few senior players to have travelled to the training camp, he is in line for a key role in next week’s Europa League tie in Macedonia against FC Rabotnicki.

Lucas Leiva also endured a slow start to his Anfield career but won over the fans last season with consistently impressive performance.

Such is the Brazilian’s standing that few eyebrows were raised when he skippered the side in midweek.

Lucas will be another to make an appearance in Macedonia and believes gaining match fitness ahead of the first leg will once again be the prime aim today.

“The first half was very difficult on Wednesday,” says Lucas. “We still need to improve our fitness and the pace of the game.

“The second half was better. We felt better and with the games coming, we will keep feeling better and will be ready for the first official game.

“We’ve been training a lot without much time to recover. But the main target now is to get that fitness back. The friendlies are important but the training is more important so we can get the shape of the team under the new manager.”

Of being named captain, Lucas adds: “It was a great experience. I know a lot of senior players still have to come back, but I felt happy because it shows people have confidence in me at the club. I think I am showing what I can do.”

by **Tim LFC** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 8:33 am

Aquilani probably wasn't the right buy at the right time but he's here and it's time to show what he's got. If this lad can get about 8 goals this season and get plenty of assists and overall be a much better player this season then it should mean we have a much better season ahead of us. Really hopes he makes some of the pundits eat there words as labelling him as a flop now!

by **Owzat** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 12:26 pm

mart wrote:There are around 40 leagues in europe. How many do we really need?

More like 50 if the number of countries in UEFA is anything to go by

Simple solution to any argument about non-Champions in the "Champions League" is to just call it what it is, the European F in Cup.

There's less reason/logic for having to have a manager to be the same nationality as the country he coaches/manages than there is for having all players from clubs coming from a) the country they play in b) the county or even c) the city/town.

by **Owzat** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 12:28 pm

Tim LFC wrote:Aquilani probably wasn't the right buy at the right time but he's here and it's time to show what he's got. If this lad can get about 8 goals this season and get plenty of assists and overall be a much better player this season then it should mean we have a much better season ahead of us. Really hopes he makes some of the pundits eat there words as labelling him as a flop now!

Wrong time, wrong price. Signing a player who couldn't start the season due to injury was a mistake, known by most at the time and not in hindsight. Had he been fit to start the season then he may have been fitted in

As it is we stuck with a two DM approach, didn't score enough goals and dropped too many points to finish fourth.

by **Thommo's perm** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 9:45 pm

Owzat wrote:
mart wrote:There are around 40 leagues in europe. How many do we really need?

More like 50 if the number of countries in UEFA is anything to go by

Simple solution to any argument about non-Champions in the "Champions League" is to just call it what it is, the European F in Cup.

There's less reason/logic for having to have a manager to be the same nationality as the country he coaches/manages than there is for having all players from clubs coming from a) the country they play in b) the county or even c) the city/town.

So
Youre agreeing with me...?

by **Tim LFC** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 10:10 pm

Thought he did well tonight. Think he prefers playing in centre midfield where he can spread the ball and do one two's. Looked like he had bulked up as well.

by **maguskwt** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 2:48 am

I still have hope that aquilani can become an excellent aquisition. The lad undoubtedly has quality. He has vision and good range of passing. Hopefully Roy plays gerrard and aqua together at the centre, Joe Cole as support striker and Torres up front.

by **Rush Job** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 3:42 am

maguskwt wrote:I still have hope that aquilani can become an excellent aquisition. The lad undoubtedly has quality. He has vision and good range of passing. Hopefully Roy plays gerrard and aqua together at the centre, Joe Cole as support striker and Torres up front.

I dont think roy will play him in the centre that much, if Jovanovic has been penciled in for wide left I think its more likely we`ll see him compete with cole to play in behind Torres.
We have plenty of options and possibilitys there though with Aquilani, Gerrard, Jovanovic, cole, kuyt and Pacheco knocking on the door.
I just think it would be asking alot of SG to have him regularly partnered with Aquilani in the middle of the park, and would negate Gerrard as a attacking threat if he`s on more defensive duties.

by **aCe'** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:15 am

Wouldnt play him behind the striker... Wouldnt play him as a central midfield role as part of 2 either...
Only way i could see him starting is as part of a midfield trio with the 2 other CMs contributing defensively to compensate...

Might be the best way to get the most out of the squad at our disposal..

I think we should play him... He's excellent at bringing other player into play and dictating the tempo from higher up... If Roy manages to get the balance right then i can see him becoming a very important player for us next season..

However, if we decide to play any other different formation then i just cant see him fitting in...

by **Waldo** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 7:54 am

Aquilani + Gerrard + Cole + Jovanovic + Pacheco + Babel + Kuyt = PLENTY of attacking midfield options.

SorT out the defence (LB) and defensive MF position and we are looking like a more than very decent 1st team squad. No doubt Roy will tweak it a bit (for example I still have my doubts over Babel and Kuyt staying) but he would get good funds to replace them if they move on.

by **Waldo** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 8:00 am

aCe' wrote:Wouldnt play him behind the striker... Wouldnt play him as a central midfield role as part of 2 either...
Only way i could see him starting is as part of a midfield trio with the 2 other CMs contributing defensively to compensate...

Might be the best way to get the most out of the squad at our disposal..

I think we should play him... He's excellent at bringing other player into play and dictating the tempo from higher up... If Roy manages to get the balance right then i can see him becoming a very important player for us next season..

However, if we decide to play any other different formation then i just cant see him fitting in...

Totally agree that he has to be played in advanced role as he can't tackle a fish supper.

I think a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-1-4-1 formation would suit him. Probably the best way of Roy fitting in all the attacking MF options he has as well. Of course this requires 1-2 TOP class defensive MF in front of the back 4 to compensate and at the moment we do not have these players...

by **Tim LFC** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 8:56 pm

Looking back some youtube vids this lad should really be played through midfield and surge forward and shoot. Some of his goals are just incredible, like the one against Regina, top quality run forward and superb strike with his left foot. I certainly hope we see some goals in the similar ilk of that goal!

by **Tim LFC** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 9:15 pm

He can dictate the midfield with short and incisive passing. A few examples - start of the second half against Reading he was controlling the tempo and we looked good until he faded due to lack of game time and fitness. Against Robinitski when he dropped deeper he started to control the tempo. I'd like to hope he plays against Arsenal. But who knows. For all the people saying he wasn't great against Robinitski he wasn't amazing but he was good it's just some of the other players weren't on the same wave length so he cut of out of tricks and flicks which the likes of gerrard,cole, maxi etc would of picked up on. Also the lad got a knock against that swiss team which might of knocked his confidence a bit as he just had recovered then picked up a knock. Here's hoping he plays tomorrow and on thursday and grabs a goal as it would do the world of good.

by **jimmy brighton** » Sun Aug 01, 2010 12:08 am

could be the real play-maker this season

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