Liverpool FC Forum

by **Bad Bob** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 10:06 pm

bigmick wrote: Not at all. I'm by no means disputing that it's an early call, but I must confess i am a touch surprised that people are so shocked by it. I expected more from Alberto, he's a player we've just shelled out 20 million quid for and a player who Rafa has said a couple of times will be a better player for us than Alonso. Based on that, and even allowing for the fact he will obviously improve, I don't think he will be. Why is that so shocking?

It's not "shocking" at all for me because I never bought that little bit of guff from Rafa anyway (but of course, I was one of Xabi's strongest supporters so I wouldn't would I?

). Anyways, I'm not sure anyone's "shocked", mate, and if they are, I doubt it's because you're suggesting he won't be as good a signing as Alonso. No, if there's any "shock", it's that you were specific enough to say that he won't prove to be worth 18 million quid and will head back to Italy in the summer of 2011 on the back of one 70+ minute performance in a dead rubber match when the lad's clearly struggling for match fitness. Now, that is a bit of a shocking statement to make but of course you knew that and that's why you go in for these kinds of mystic meg moments--it's all about the thrill of sticking your neck out, I'm assuming. Fair play to you for doing it too, mate...it keeps things interesting and lets us all have a bit of fun but let's not try and pretend that you're "shocked" that we're "shocked" or any of that old nonsense. :;):

by **account deleted by request** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 10:08 pm

bigmick wrote:Alonso wasn't a bad call either come to think of it. I even told him what he needed to do to play better

spot on too Mick

by **Bad Bob** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 10:09 pm

bigmick wrote:It's fair as well to note that while the Lucas early call (and indeed the Kuyt one) now looks at best questionable, I've got the odd one right in my time as well. Aurelio fans weren't thick on the ground when he first played, I was alone on the "ball watch" lookout for Skrtel way back when, I was fairly unequivical that Moreintes wouldn't make it early in the piece and explained why, ditto Cisse and I wasn't a million miles out on Johnson. I only needed to see Dossena play for about half an hour to be fairly sure which way that was going to go, so it's not all bad.

Just to reiterate with aquilani, I think he's a good player. I think he'll do OK for us if we can find a role for him, but he ain't an 18-20 million quid midifelder I don't think.

Chrimbo present in the post for you, mate.

by **bigmick** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 10:10 pm

I'm shocked that your shocked that I'm shocked Bob.

Nice to have a bitof genuine football chat for change anyways. For Aquilani, I have him in mind as a Tom Huddlestone kind of player, or a Stillian Petrov. I'd rather have alonso's mate off of Everton put it that way.

by **Bad Bob** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 10:12 pm

bigmick wrote:I'm shocked that your shocked that I'm shocked Bob.

Nice to have a bitof genuine football chat for change anyways. For Aquilani, I have him in mind as a Tom Huddlestone kind of player, or a Stillian Petrov. I'd rather have alonso's mate off of Everton put it that way.

I'm shocked at you, Mick. Anyone can see he's an Andy Reid type player with a hint of Stephen Ireland thrown in for good measure. Tsk tsk.

by **Benny The Noon** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 10:12 pm

Agree about Arteta but comparing him to huddlestone ? that guy is a machine who throws himself into tackles and puts himself about a bit while also been decent on the ball but not really a clever passer type of player - petrov maybe a bit closer but i would compare him more to yossi with a bit more mobility

by **LFC2007** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 10:13 pm

Bad Bob wrote:
bigmick wrote:It's fair as well to note that while the Lucas early call (and indeed the Kuyt one) now looks at best questionable, I've got the odd one right in my time as well. Aurelio fans weren't thick on the ground when he first played, I was alone on the "ball watch" lookout for Skrtel way back when, I was fairly unequivical that Moreintes wouldn't make it early in the piece and explained why, ditto Cisse and I wasn't a million miles out on Johnson. I only needed to see Dossena play for about half an hour to be fairly sure which way that was going to go, so it's not all bad.

Just to reiterate with aquilani, I think he's a good player. I think he'll do OK for us if we can find a role for him, but he ain't an 18-20 million quid midifelder I don't think.

Chrimbo present in the post for you, mate.

Can you pat others on the head with that one too?

by **bigmick** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 10:16 pm

Bad Bob wrote:
bigmick wrote:I'm shocked that your shocked that I'm shocked Bob.

Nice to have a bitof genuine football chat for change anyways. For Aquilani, I have him in mind as a Tom Huddlestone kind of player, or a Stillian Petrov. I'd rather have alonso's mate off of Everton put it that way.

I'm shocked at you, Mick. Anyone can see he's an Andy Reid type player with a hint of Stephen Ireland thrown in for good measure. Tsk tsk.

Hey I'd have Steven Ireland absolutely all day long Bob. I thought he was brilliant against us at Anfield, most impressive performance by an opposition player all season aside perhaps from Drogba for Chelsea. I think he's going to be an absolute monster of a player over the next two or three years.

And Benny, Huddlestone is a passer mate. He's Tottenhams pinger he's no ball winner. Palacios does the ratting, Huddlestone is a footballer and a good one too. Paceless with zero mobility unfortunately for him though.

by **bigmick** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 10:17 pm

LFC2007 wrote:
Bad Bob wrote:
bigmick wrote:It's fair as well to note that while the Lucas early call (and indeed the Kuyt one) now looks at best questionable, I've got the odd one right in my time as well. Aurelio fans weren't thick on the ground when he first played, I was alone on the "ball watch" lookout for Skrtel way back when, I was fairly unequivical that Moreintes wouldn't make it early in the piece and explained why, ditto Cisse and I wasn't a million miles out on Johnson. I only needed to see Dossena play for about half an hour to be fairly sure which way that was going to go, so it's not all bad.

Just to reiterate with aquilani, I think he's a good player. I think he'll do OK for us if we can find a role for him, but he ain't an 18-20 million quid midifelder I don't think.

Chrimbo present in the post for you, mate.

Can you pat others on the head with that one too?

It's a good piece of kit. If you turn the shoulder attachment upside down you can knock people in the b0ll0cks when they're talking sh!t

by **Benny The Noon** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 10:18 pm

Oh didnt say he was a ball winner but he is a totally different make up to aquilani . He plays the simple ball out wide but no mobility at all.

by **bigmick** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 10:19 pm

Benny The Noon wrote:Oh didnt say he was a ball winner but he is a totally different make up to aquilani . He plays the simple ball out wide but no mobility at all.

Huddlestone is a poor mans Alonso mate, but he's got a huge range of passing.

The worst thing about all this of course even though it's all good natured, is that ultimately I'll be proven correct on Alberto, I'm pretty sure of that

by **account deleted by request** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 10:20 pm

While I don't believe he will ever be a robust hard tackling midfielder, I think he showed that he has good movement, works hard (I think he just tired yesterday) and looks like a box to box player to me. I think he will add variety with his passing and looked more like a creative second striker than Gerrard ever will (and I think Gerrard has done BRILLIANTLY in adapting to a role that doesn't particularly suit him). Whether he can cope with the likes of the Blackburn and Bolton "thugs" we will have to see.

I think if his role is to be behind Gerrard he will need to gain a bit of weight as he looked a bit light, but I liked the way he "floated " into space, especially early on.

Having said that, I thought Kuyt was going to be a star striker for us after his first "cameo" appearance

by **Benny The Noon** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 10:21 pm

Im guess we will have to see more than 70 minutes of football to judge that - Our captain was pretty delighted with him and gave him some high praise .

by **shanklygates** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 10:24 pm

that was aqualani's first start and i think its unfair to suggest that he is going to be our saviour, not only does he have to gel with the rest of the team, he is still gaining match fitness and getting to grips with positional play etc, him and stevie look like they could link really well.

mick btw we havent yet paid 20 million for aquaman we have paid 5 million or less, the rest which would touch the 18 mill mark is made up on goals, appearances etc etc.

by **bigmick** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 10:24 pm

Benny The Noon wrote:Im guess I will have to see more than 70 minutes of football to judge that - Our captain was pretty delighted with him and gave him some high praise .

Fair enough mate, let us know when you've come to a decision :;):

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