Liverpool FC Forum

by **Owzat** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 7:31 am

Ciggy wrote:
bigmick wrote:I've seen enough of him already. He won't be a success in English football I'm pretty sure of that, and the fact that Lucas keeps him out of the team says it all really. A truly stupendously bad signing.

7 assists and 1 goal in the handfull of times he's played for us says otherwise.

My only concern re Aquilani, besides the price tag, is if Rafa will ever trust him with a regular starting place. If he's going to wrap him up in cotton wool then we may as well sell. While Rafa has Mascherano and Lucas as options I think he'll be too tempted too often to go 'safety first' even though it hasn't exactly worked this season. If Aquilani were prepared to roll up his sleeves, put in the work and tackles that Alonso did and Lucas does then he'd probably be third or fourth on the teamsheet.

Problem is plan A has failed bigtime this season and Rafa doesn't seem to want to try plan B (if he has one) or look for plans C, D, E, F...................................

by **shawnk** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 7:35 am

parchpea wrote:Despite the squad being thin we still have enough to field a decent side that can take the game to the opposition. Managers dont change, you have to change the manager if you want something different.Until then we have to accept Benitez will select players that can cover ground and tackle rather than lads that can run with the ball or turn a game.Acqualani must have something to offer, like a few others on the books, but is repressed by the system and strategy of the manager.

And this season, Rafa's method has been proven wrong.

by **bigmick** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 9:43 am

ruskiy playmaker wrote:
bigmick wrote:I've seen enough of him already. He won't be a success in English football I'm pretty sure of that, and the fact that Lucas keeps him out of the team says it all really. A truly stupendously bad signing.

Are you serious bigmick? He's by far the most technically gifted player in our squad. He will definitely prove you wrong next season, that's for sure.

He is technically gifted mate, I actually think he's a very talented footballer. I wouldn't go as far as saying "the most technically gifted" as that would be Gerrard (I had to point that out both because it's correct and because it makes the loonies rush to the windows and start licking), but he's definately got bags of ability. The problem of course is whether or not he can get into the team.

It's odd/ironic/funny as feck that those very same people who froth at the mouth if anybody points out that seventh doesn't warrant an open top bus parade get all worked up when you point out that the manager doesn't pick Aquilani in front of Lucas, but that's for them to reconcile. I'm not sure how they get around the "Rafa is a genius"/Rafa doesn't pick Aquilani/Aquilani is a brilliant player connundrum, but no doubt they'll find a way.

For me I prefer to deal in footballing opinions which are based on a foundation of common sense. If you are supposedly skint and then go and spend 20 million quid on a player who can't get in the team, it's a bad signing. It was a bad signing when we did it last season, and it's a bad signing this season.

Footballs quite a simple game really.

by **lakes10** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 10:36 am

OK so heres now my take on AQUILANI

very good footskills and nice ball control.

will find it hard to fit into the English game, he dont like it when other players are pushing him and going in hard, tends to back away too much from them.

not going to be too hard on the guy for this as he has been hurt once,

always seems to have bugs or colds.
the words harry kewell come to mind.

seem to be getting there in pace

by **kunilson** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 12:00 pm

my take on aquilani.

has the potential to be good for us, if he gets regular football.

he came in for far too much pressure even before he kicked a ball for us, then with the ongoing injuries after/added to the fact he aint been picked for whatever reason he's an easy target to say "bad signing"/or "not good enough".

fact is, he hasnt played enough for anyone to have decided whether he will be good enough yet. FACT! i will judge him next season, but as for pinning hopes on him after selling Alonso, that was wrong and naive of Rafa, whatever he was told about his recovery time....

he has talent, whether he will be a success we will see. ive been impressed on some occasions with his play.

by **Scottbot** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 12:08 pm

kazza wrote:Edit- You do know Mick that it is Gerrard that keeps him out of the team not Lucas. On TV they might put him as a CM but when he plays he is more advanced of Gerrard. His first words when he came were I play more the Gerrard role than the Alonso role. Hense the dilema of playing him. He is never a holding midfielder. When the match started yesterday the TV put him as a CM with Gerrard as the AM but as soon as the match started Gerrard stayed back and Aquilani went forward.

I think your way off the mark. Aquilani was bought to sit in front of Masch and behind Gerrard. Rafa said as much when we signed the lad, a centre-mid who can carry the ball, pass it well, work box to box and affect our play in the final third was the general gist of it. Of course since then, Rafa seems not to be anywhere near as sure that the player is up to it and consequently he doesn't play for much of the time and when he does it's in a more advanced role.

I think it's important to realise that this wasn't by design, he certainly wasn't bought to compete for Gerrard's spot, surely you don't think he was?

I suspect Aquad can't get a game because he doens't want to put his foot in and Rafa likes his players to do just that. If he plays a centre-mid who can't do it defensively it compromises Rafa's entire ethos and stamp on the team. is Rafa is the manager next season I suspect he will move Aquilani back to Serie A if he can get anywhere near our original price for the lad.

by **Sir Roger** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 12:11 pm

bigmick wrote:I've seen enough of him already. He won't be a success in English football I'm pretty sure of that, and the fact that Lucas keeps him out of the team says it all really. A truly stupendously bad signing.

Three assists in one game
Youre right mate
Hes fu'ckin rubbish
:wwww

by **Ben Patrick** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 12:11 pm

I think you are dead right Scott and the worrying thing for me in all of this is, if he knows we have a VERY limited transfer budget and gambles on someone like Aquilani replacing a vital cog in his team, that to me is more than a little concerning.

by **kazza** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 2:41 pm

He was bought to fill CM but that is not his best game, his best game is AM as it turns out. Remember Barry was the first choice but he went to City. Aquilani will come good, he was better for Roma and will be better for us.

by **bigmick** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 2:48 pm

Sir Roger wrote:
bigmick wrote:I've seen enough of him already. He won't be a success in English football I'm pretty sure of that, and the fact that Lucas keeps him out of the team says it all really. A truly stupendously bad signing.

Three assists in one game
Youre right mate
Hes fu'ckin rubbish

I also remember him playing very well against Pompey at Home. It's a shame we can't play these teams every week, he'd be excellent.

As for the claim that I'm right that he's "fecking rubbish", it's a strange one because I never ever said he was. Whether it's that people can't read or don't want to read I'm never sure (thinking about it it must be the second one unless you're dictating your posts to an accomplice which seems unlikely on balance

) but it is amazing how people get the wrong end of the stick. On the same page as the post you quoted, I spoke of him being a very talented footballer who has many technical gifts. The issue I have is that I think he is unsuited to English football.

You obviously hold a different view, so it will be interesting to see how it all pans out.

by **stmichael** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 2:56 pm

Rockthekop wrote:Rafa has no defence here

having seen our defence for the majority of this season i'm inclined to agree with you

by **Boocity** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 4:11 pm

bigmick wrote:
Sir Roger wrote:
bigmick wrote:I've seen enough of him already. He won't be a success in English football I'm pretty sure of that, and the fact that Lucas keeps him out of the team says it all really. A truly stupendously bad signing.

Three assists in one game
Youre right mate
Hes fu'ckin rubbish

I also remember him playing very well against Pompey at Home. It's a shame we can't play these teams every week, he'd be excellent.

As for the claim that I'm right that he's "fecking rubbish", it's a strange one because I never ever said he was. Whether it's that people can't read or don't want to read I'm never sure (thinking about it it must be the second one unless you're dictating your posts to an accomplice which seems unlikely on balance ) but it is amazing how people get the wrong end of the stick. On the same page as the post you quoted, I spoke of him being a very talented footballer who has many technical gifts. The issue I have is that I think he is unsuited to English football.

You obviously hold a different view, so it will be interesting to see how it all pans out.

Mick, I think the jury is still out on whether he is suited to the EPL or not, he has not featured in enough games to be judged properly. I know the teams he has played against and contributed well have been bottom of the table but thats not his fault, he can only play against the teams he is picked for and when he has played against these teams he and the team have played well and got good results, I just do not know why Rafa always goes back to Lucas. I think he should start against AM, after all they are not an EPL team and should be 'more suited' to his style of play.

by **Sir Roger** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 5:14 pm

bigmick wrote:
Sir Roger wrote:
bigmick wrote:I've seen enough of him already. He won't be a success in English football I'm pretty sure of that, and the fact that Lucas keeps him out of the team says it all really. A truly stupendously bad signing.

Three assists in one game
Youre right mate
Hes fu'ckin rubbish

I also remember him playing very well against Pompey at Home. It's a shame we can't play these teams every week, he'd be excellent.

As for the claim that I'm right that he's "fecking rubbish", it's a strange one because I never ever said he was. Whether it's that people can't read or don't want to read I'm never sure (thinking about it it must be the second one unless you're dictating your posts to an accomplice which seems unlikely on balance ) but it is amazing how people get the wrong end of the stick. On the same page as the post you quoted, I spoke of him being a very talented footballer who has many technical gifts. The issue I have is that I think he is unsuited to English football.

You obviously hold a different view, so it will be interesting to see how it all pans out.

I apologise. "unsuited to English football" to me, means that you were implying hes not very good at playing in the PL.
Is that correct? If this is true why has he got so many assists?
Which leads me on to your statement: "the fact that Lucas keeps him out of the team says it all really"
What exactly does it say? Could you elaborate please?

by **red_guy** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 6:09 pm

What's the use of having Lucas in the team, a player who's prone to give freekicks and offers nothing upfront? I'd rather have Aquaman.. lightweight? yes. Not that aggressive? Yes. But with the assist and creativity he offers, he's good enough.

by ***_Ruthless_*** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 7:01 pm

Aquilani is very talented gifted player. His touch is excellent and it creates openings for players to run into. Without him in the side the build up play is slow and sluggish and easy to read. Aqua adds a different dimension to the side and it brings out more exciting football. The day Rafa gets rid of the 2 defensive midfielders playing together is a good day.

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