Liverpool FC Forum

crazyhorse wrote:Aqua man is the type of player you have to build the side around to get the best out of him. Its no good using him like Rafa did and then slagging off the lad.

He needs games and fitness to bring the confidence. I can see him blossoming this year.

The problem is that we now have several players that fall into this category (Gerrard, Cole and Aqua spring to mind). They are all good individual players but in a strange way they are stopping the team evolving.

Cool Hand Luke wrote:

crazyhorse wrote:Aqua man is the type of player you have to build the side around to get the best out of him. Its no good using him like Rafa did and then slagging off the lad.

He needs games and fitness to bring the confidence. I can see him blossoming this year.

The problem is that we now have several players that fall into this category (Gerrard, Cole and Aqua spring to mind). They are all good individual players but in a strange way they are stopping the team evolving.

Im not sure about anyone besides maybe Gerrard fitting in that category...

Even Gerrard to me doesnt fit the playmaker role the way Aquilani does... Gerrard often tries to force the play rather than simply retain possession higher up the pitch regardless of the needs of the game... Aquilani is better at connecting our lines and bringing others into play...

Like Owzat said, it's all about the formation and the style of play that Roy decides to adopt.. If we continue to play the counter-attacking -minimal effective possession- style that Rafa drilled into the side then I see absolutely no point in having Aquilani anywhere on that pitch...

However, if what Roy said is to be believed, and we decide to play a style based on passing and movement and keeping possession, then Aquilani would then become a vital player in our side.. He still has some improving and proving to do.. But i feel his presence in the side adds some much needed flair and tempo that we seemingly lack when we rely on Mascherano, Lucas, Gerrard, Kuyt, Babel and even Maxi to transition the ball up the field..

With Aquilani, Johnson, Cole and to a lesser extent Aurelio & Agger, we have players who are comfortable playing effective possession football... Good passing, good movement and perhaps more importantly good touch and vision to do it in tight areas..  Add the drive of Gerrard and Torres and the all-round work of Kuyt and Mascherano (new guy) and you have a pretty well-balanced combination accross the pitch.. 

Important player for us imo, and one we should be utilizing this season if we want to change our frustrating style of football..

Cool Hand Luke wrote:

crazyhorse wrote:Aqua man is the type of player you have to build the side around to get the best out of him. Its no good using him like Rafa did and then slagging off the lad.

He needs games and fitness to bring the confidence. I can see him blossoming this year.

The problem is that we now have several players that fall into this category (Gerrard, Cole and Aqua spring to mind). They are all good individual players but in a strange way they are stopping the team evolving.

Nail on head lad that.

aCe' wrote:Im not sure about anyone besides maybe Gerrard fitting in that category...

Even Gerrard to me doesnt fit the playmaker role the way Aquilani does... Gerrard often tries to force the play rather than simply retain possession higher up the pitch regardless of the needs of the game... Aquilani is better at connecting our lines and bringing others into play...

Like Owzat said, it's all about the formation and the style of play that Roy decides to adopt.. If we continue to play the counter-attacking -minimal effective possession- style that Rafa drilled into the side then I see absolutely no point in having Aquilani anywhere on that pitch...

However, if what Roy said is to be believed, and we decide to play a style based on passing and movement and keeping possession, then Aquilani would then become a vital player in our side.. He still has some improving and proving to do.. But i feel his presence in the side adds some much needed flair and tempo that we seemingly lack when we rely on Mascherano, Lucas, Gerrard, Kuyt, Babel and even Maxi to transition the ball up the field..

With Aquilani, Johnson, Cole and to a lesser extent Aurelio & Agger, we have players who are comfortable playing effective possession football... Good passing, good movement and perhaps more importantly good touch and vision to do it in tight areas..  Add the drive of Gerrard and Torres and the all-round work of Kuyt and Mascherano (new guy) and you have a pretty well-balanced combination accross the pitch.. 

Important player for us imo, and one we should be utilizing this season if we want to change our frustrating style of football..

I'm honest enough to say although we usually clash on a myriad of subjects ... that's actually a fine post.... and I agree implicitly that Aquilani although his play is less physical than Gerrard. his game is based around a patient passing game solely to maintain a better retention of the ball and as you say in all  probability brings others into the game much more successfully
I do however also believe that although  Gerrards game is less patient he does in truth provide the drive we sometimes need to propel the team forward so whether you could advocate his omission from the team is a moot point ,but I do concur Gerrard's play is more forced and adds little to the fluency of patient passing  ...I think however with the acquisition of Cole and to a lesser extent Jovanovic it will provide us with players who are indeed comfortable in possession and it certainly bodes well for the future especially given our defenders in Johnson ,Agger ,and now Wilson (who although obviously raw provided a pretty impressive cameo of his coolness under pressure ...albeit from his naivety ) seem capable of turning defence into attack ....
I have said before I don't rate Johnson as a particularly competent defender ... but what I will say is that when he has the ball at his feet he rarely loses possession  and is a potent force when attacking that much is irrefutable

aCe' wrote:The problem is that we now have several players that fall into this category (Gerrard, Cole and Aqua spring to mind). They are all good individual players but in a strange way they are stopping the team evolving.

Im not sure about anyone besides maybe Gerrard fitting in that category...

Even Gerrard to me doesnt fit the playmaker role the way Aquilani does... Gerrard often tries to force the play rather than simply retain possession higher up the pitch regardless of the needs of the game... Aquilani is better at connecting our lines and bringing others into play...

Like Owzat said, it's all about the formation and the style of play that Roy decides to adopt.. If we continue to play the counter-attacking -minimal effective possession- style that Rafa drilled into the side then I see absolutely no point in having Aquilani anywhere on that pitch...

However, if what Roy said is to be believed, and we decide to play a style based on passing and movement and keeping possession, then Aquilani would then become a vital player in our side.. He still has some improving and proving to do.. But i feel his presence in the side adds some much needed flair and tempo that we seemingly lack when we rely on Mascherano, Lucas, Gerrard, Kuyt, Babel and even Maxi to transition the ball up the field..

With Aquilani, Johnson, Cole and to a lesser extent Aurelio & Agger, we have players who are comfortable playing effective possession football... Good passing, good movement and perhaps more importantly good touch and vision to do it in tight areas..  Add the drive of Gerrard and Torres and the all-round work of Kuyt and Mascherano (new guy) and you have a pretty well-balanced combination accross the pitch.. 

Important player for us imo, and one we should be utilizing this season if we want to change our frustrating style of football..[/quote]
Good post dude.

Zidane wrote:I think if he was given a run of games and an opportunity to prove himself at this level he could really be important for us.  The problem is people don't seem to have the patience with him due to his desire to do the stylish play that doesn't always come off, and at times can look very stupid.  People like him have to be playing game in and game out to really begin to feel comfortable with the team and impose themselves more and more.  He has to get a better feel for the players and what their tendencies are.  He managed to show quite a few glimpses of it last season but he was in and out of the lineup so it was hard to expect consistency for me.  The good thing is that he showed he has class, but if he doesn't get a good run of games this season I don't think he is the type of player to be an impact sub and may need to be sold after this season.

The commentator yesterday said words to the effect that he was disappointing last season
Fu*king hell. Seven assists and two goals in twenty five appearances.
I dont call that disappointing

RED BEERGOGGLES wrote:

aCe' wrote:Im not sure about anyone besides maybe Gerrard fitting in that category...

Even Gerrard to me doesnt fit the playmaker role the way Aquilani does... Gerrard often tries to force the play rather than simply retain possession higher up the pitch regardless of the needs of the game... Aquilani is better at connecting our lines and bringing others into play...

Like Owzat said, it's all about the formation and the style of play that Roy decides to adopt.. If we continue to play the counter-attacking -minimal effective possession- style that Rafa drilled into the side then I see absolutely no point in having Aquilani anywhere on that pitch...

However, if what Roy said is to be believed, and we decide to play a style based on passing and movement and keeping possession, then Aquilani would then become a vital player in our side.. He still has some improving and proving to do.. But i feel his presence in the side adds some much needed flair and tempo that we seemingly lack when we rely on Mascherano, Lucas, Gerrard, Kuyt, Babel and even Maxi to transition the ball up the field..

With Aquilani, Johnson, Cole and to a lesser extent Aurelio & Agger, we have players who are comfortable playing effective possession football... Good passing, good movement and perhaps more importantly good touch and vision to do it in tight areas..  Add the drive of Gerrard and Torres and the all-round work of Kuyt and Mascherano (new guy) and you have a pretty well-balanced combination accross the pitch.. 

Important player for us imo, and one we should be utilizing this season if we want to change our frustrating style of football..

I'm honest enough to say although we usually clash on a myriad of subjects ... that's actually a fine post.... and I agree implicitly that Aquilani although his play is less physical than Gerrard. his game is based around a patient passing game solely to maintain a better retention of the ball and as you say in all  probability brings others into the game much more successfully
I do however also believe that although  Gerrards game is less patient he does in truth provide the drive we sometimes need to propel the team forward so whether you could advocate his omission from the team is a moot point ,but I do concur Gerrard's play is more forced and adds little to the fluency of patient passing  ...I think however with the acquisition of Cole and to a lesser extent Jovanovic it will provide us with players who are indeed comfortable in possession and it certainly bodes well for the future especially given our defenders in Johnson ,Agger ,and now Wilson (who although obviously raw provided a pretty impressive cameo of his coolness under pressure ...albeit from his naivety ) seem capable of turning defence into attack ....
I have said before I don't rate Johnson as a particularly competent defender ... but what I will say is that when he has the ball at his feet he rarely loses possession  and is a potent force when attacking that much is irrefutable

Two very good posts there.