Liverpool FC Forum

by **JC_81** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 9:38 pm

The signing of Aquilani is looking stranger by the week.

He doesn't seem to have the steel to play in a midfield two, at least thats what Benitez seems to think, and he seems to prefer him in front of two sitting midfielders or as an impact sub. Trouble is our captain and best player over the last ten years also plays in front of a midfield two as his best position these days.

For me the best way of making the midfield a bit more creative and getting some use of Aquilani would be to try a central two of Gerrard and Mascherano with Aquilani in front. Aquilani and Gerrard might even have the flexibility to switch depending on how the game is going. Gerrard is looking increasingly lost 'in the hole' for me. Without a decent frontman to hold up the ball Gerrard's influence on games is minimal these days. Get him back in the centre I reckon.

As for Aquilani, we had resigned ourselves long ago that we wouldn't see the best of him til next season. The question is always how long is an acceptable time to wait for a player. I say he deserves more time, Benitez still hasn't given him a run of games yet.

by **Sabre** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 9:44 pm

Spot on John Craig.

I really don't know what's Rafa waiting for to give him games, because he has seen the team crashing against the same wall with Lucas this season, and most games in the past.

Quite simply Lucas and players like Babel must know that there's not unlimited time in top clubs for players who don't perform well enough.

by **Dundalk** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 9:51 pm

He signed Keane and when he got here he didnt know what to do with him

He signed Aquilani and when he got here he didnt know what to do with him

by **Sir Roger** » Tue Feb 23, 2010 12:29 am

Hes stubborn. We all know this
He wants the players to adapt and embrace his system
The system is right
The players are wrong

by **Reg** » Tue Feb 23, 2010 12:47 am

If we were top of the league I'd agree with you but after this awful season its clear his system isnt working. No excuses.

by **Sir Roger** » Tue Feb 23, 2010 12:57 am

Reg wrote:If we were top of the league I'd agree with you but after this awful season its clear his system isnt working. No excuses.

You havent paid attention
Its not the system. Its the players.
Rafa is right
Always

by **Kharhaz** » Tue Feb 23, 2010 1:03 am

The same system last season showed it can work. This season has failed miserably. I cant help but feel, especially going by Gerrards reaction against certain players on our team against City, that players are just disillusioned. Key players especially. The lack of quality in the team is depressing to watch.

by **Sir Roger** » Tue Feb 23, 2010 1:15 am

Kharhaz wrote:The same system last season showed it can work. This season has failed miserably. I cant help but feel, especially going by Gerrards reaction against certain players on our team against City, that players are just disillusioned. Key players especially. The lack of quality in the team is depressing to watch.

You would have thought that Rafa would have sussed by now that we havent got the same players as last season...?

by **Kharhaz** » Tue Feb 23, 2010 1:21 am

Sir Roger wrote:
Kharhaz wrote:The same system last season showed it can work. This season has failed miserably. I cant help but feel, especially going by Gerrards reaction against certain players on our team against City, that players are just disillusioned. Key players especially. The lack of quality in the team is depressing to watch.

You would have thought that Rafa would have sussed by now that we havent got the same players as last season...?

Im thinking, whatever happened to George Graham....

Im waiting for Freddy of Scooby Doo to catch rafa and lift off his mask to reveal him !

by **stmichael** » Tue Feb 23, 2010 11:52 am

john craig wrote:For me the best way of making the midfield a bit more creative and getting some use of Aquilani would be to try a central two of Gerrard and Mascherano with Aquilani in front. Aquilani and Gerrard might even have the flexibility to switch depending on how the game is going. Gerrard is looking increasingly lost 'in the hole' for me. Without a decent frontman to hold up the ball Gerrard's influence on games is minimal these days. Get him back in the centre I reckon.

Good post. Agree completely.

Gerrard is feeding off scraps because we quite simply don't get the ball to him quickly enough anymore in the right areas. He also often receives the ball with his back to goal and has 2 or 3 players on him straight away. He passes to his teammates and they lose the ball or don't create anything.

If ever you wanted an example of how to play the role you just have to look at the three games last season when we beat Madrid 4-0, United 4-1 and Villa 5-0 in the space of 10 days. In all three Gerrard played in the hole and destroyed all three sides because we got the ball into him between the midfield and attack and he could do his damage. He also had in in form Riera and Kuyt on either side of him. Against United we even did this without Alonso.

Fortunately Torres is coming back now so we may not have to move him, If Torres is fit for Sunday (I don't see him starting Thursday) it would be daft to break that partnership up imo.

by **RED BEERGOGGLES** » Tue Feb 23, 2010 8:56 pm

I am giving him till next Season before making any rash predictions ,you only have to consider how many Chelsea fans wanted Malouda out last season ,now they would totally condemn any such ideas ,for ffs give the boy a season you don't go from being one of the most touted players in Italy to an abject failure overnight

by **metalhead** » Tue Feb 23, 2010 9:52 pm

I don't doubt his ability at all, I think he is indeed a very creative player and a good one.

However, he will never make it at Liverpool with the current state. He needs to play consistently and I mean every game to show his true worth. Thats just not happening with him, he plays one game, then gets dropped, then plays another game, then is dropped another 2 games.

How the hell do you expect him to do well with that sort of treatment?

by **Sir Roger** » Tue Feb 23, 2010 11:28 pm

metalhead wrote:I don't doubt his ability at all, I think he is indeed a very creative player and a good one.

However, he will never make it at Liverpool with the current state. He needs to play consistently and I mean every game to show his true worth. Thats just not happening with him, he plays one game, then gets dropped, then plays another game, then is dropped another 2 games.

How the hell do you expect him to do well with that sort of treatment?

Rafas reasoning is beyond reason

by **Rush Job** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 1:16 pm

We are looking solid at the back again so I think its time to remove a little of the graft and replace it with a little creativity.

by **stmichael** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 1:44 pm

metalhead wrote:I don't doubt his ability at all, I think he is indeed a very creative player and a good one.

However, he will never make it at Liverpool with the current state. He needs to play consistently and I mean every game to show his true worth. Thats just not happening with him, he plays one game, then gets dropped, then plays another game, then is dropped another 2 games.

How the hell do you expect him to do well with that sort of treatment?

I agree with you, not about him being in and out the team, but with the fact that he was always going to struggle with the side devoid of confidence and playing poorly.

Last season he'd have excelled in our side because everybody was playing with confidence. This season he's playing out of position and there's no movement ahead of him anyway.

Any talk of Rafa getting rid in the summer is nonsense imo. We won't see the best of him until next season. It still makes me laugh though how the media question the signing until they're blue in the face and yet don't mention Ferguson signing Hergreaves who had a history of injuries when he signed for United. He hasn't played for nearly two years. Though I suppose when you're winning the League despite having your worst team in years you're beyond all criticism.

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