Agent: Aqua wont be sold this summer

[darkstarexodus]

Very much so. I think it's safe to say that this season did not end up anything like what Rafa had planned at all. Aquilani's purchase and Johnson's seemed like a signal of intent that Rafa really intended to have a go at teams this year. Unfortunately, we got off to a poor start, Aquilani didn't return to action as planned, and Rafa changed his approach completely. Which, of course, also didn't work. (The defensive frailties you've mentiond repeatedly of late certainly didn't help.)

 

[TheBunnyman]

I think Fark's right about him needing to calm down. Not necessarily because he panics under pressure (although there is a bit of that), but more because you sense he's trying too hard to impress. Hardly surprising, given that he's had so little game-time. Ryan's right about him only looking to go forward - he's like a kid at times in his eagerness to attack. If he's going to play in CM he needs to learn to time his runs a bit more carefully, but to me he looks more suited to the no10/'Gerrard' role, if we continue to play 4231. Although I do like the unpredictability he brings to matches against the weaker teams, where we *can* afford to play with only one DM. On the whole, if he's happy to stay and we think his injury problems are behind him, then he's one to keep - not least because he wouldn't fetch much money on the current market. But obviously that only applies if Rafa leaves.

 

[doctor_mac]

[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=39921.msg1093724#msg1093724 date=1272339016]
He's a strange sort of midfielder for the Rafa we know and love to buy, but that part of the equation is a good thing.
[/quote]

It has seemed lately, with Keane, Dossena, and Aqua, that Rafa has been surprised at the qualities of the player he himself has bought. As if he was out on the lash and woke up with an ug beside him, scratching his head wondering how the fuck that happened.

 

[Peatcheo]

The pass for Maxi was gorgeous!

 

[TheBunnyman]

[quote author=doctor_mac link=topic=39921.msg1093770#msg1093770 date=1272353451]
[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=39921.msg1093724#msg1093724 date=1272339016]
He's a strange sort of midfielder for the Rafa we know and love to buy, but that part of the equation is a good thing.
[/quote]

It has seemed lately, with Keane, Dossena, and Aqua, that Rafa has been surprised at the qualities of the player he himself has bought. As if he was out on the lash and woke up with an ug beside him, scratching his head wondering how the fuck that happened.
[/quote]

Ha!

 

[Ossi]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=39921.msg1093700#msg1093700 date=1272326253]
Hmmm, I agree with Brendan that there's a bit of the 'shitting-himself-when-a-tackle-comes-in' about Aquifanny, which is a touch disconcerting.

He's played his entire life in Serie A, where the game is played more or less in front of him. The adjustment to tackles coming in from all angles in the Premier League has probably been tough for him, and as such he seems to want to jump the fucking fence everytime somebody comes near him. Long-term, if he continues like that he's gonna struggle. You have to add some degree of cunt to your game if you want to add more than a few sexy passes and the odd assist to your repertoire. To be fair to him, his long-standing injury record might have done soemthing to sway him from going in hard too.

He also seems to only want to go one way. There's no way you could play that guy in a centre midfield two against a decent side. He'd fucking kill you.

But, he's got ability. His one-touch, quick-passing, fast-moving brain are a fucking delight, and ensures he stands out a mile in our current side. I get the impression Gerrard doesn't mind having him there, and he's got a pretty decent propensity to set up chances.

So, does he need to beocme a tough-tackling type to succeed? Do we need to turn him into Gattuso?

If he can add a bit more toughness to his game, just a touch, and a defensive mindset - would that be enough? Surely with Mascherano and Lucas/Gerrard around him, there's enough tackle there to compensate for him?

Are we trying to mould him into something we don't really need?
[/quote]

I don´t think we´ll try to change his game sand I sure hope we don´t! He reminds me of Litmanen so I love him! Héll become very good for us. No need to change a thing. Just play him Rafa.

 

[manwithnoname]

[quote author=Ossi link=topic=39921.msg1093963#msg1093963 date=1272366550]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=39921.msg1093700#msg1093700 date=1272326253]
Hmmm, I agree with Brendan that there's a bit of the 'shitting-himself-when-a-tackle-comes-in' about Aquifanny, which is a touch disconcerting.

He's played his entire life in Serie A, where the game is played more or less in front of him. The adjustment to tackles coming in from all angles in the Premier League has probably been tough for him, and as such he seems to want to jump the fucking fence everytime somebody comes near him. Long-term, if he continues like that he's gonna struggle. You have to add some degree of cunt to your game if you want to add more than a few sexy passes and the odd assist to your repertoire. To be fair to him, his long-standing injury record might have done soemthing to sway him from going in hard too.

He also seems to only want to go one way. There's no way you could play that guy in a centre midfield two against a decent side. He'd fucking kill you.

But, he's got ability. His one-touch, quick-passing, fast-moving brain are a fucking delight, and ensures he stands out a mile in our current side. I get the impression Gerrard doesn't mind having him there, and he's got a pretty decent propensity to set up chances.

So, does he need to beocme a tough-tackling type to succeed? Do we need to turn him into Gattuso?

If he can add a bit more toughness to his game, just a touch, and a defensive mindset - would that be enough? Surely with Mascherano and Lucas/Gerrard around him, there's enough tackle there to compensate for him?

Are we trying to mould him into something we don't really need?
[/quote]

I don´t think we´ll try to change his game sand I sure hope we don´t! He reminds me of Litmanen so I love him! Héll become very good for us. No need to change a thing. Just play him Rafa.
[/quote]

Yeah. Litmanen was a huge success.

 

[peekay]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=39921.msg1093705#msg1093705 date=1272329738]
[quote author=LarryHagman link=topic=39921.msg1093703#msg1093703 date=1272328449]

Ry, the last thing we should be doing is imposing a defensive mindset on one of the very few players we have who actually passes the ball forwards. That's our fuckin problem.


[/quote]

Against good teams Larry, he'd get killed. All of his decent performances and assists have come against Portsmouth, Burnley and the likes.

It's naive to think that we can just let him hang around waiting to threaten offensively. We'd need more than he currently offers defensively.
[/quote]


Once our team gets used to him, I think a trio of Aquilani, Gerrard and Mascherano is good enough for 28-30 games in the PL. In the other 8-10 games we can think about giving extra protection by playing Lucas.

 

[Squiggles]

Agreed

 

[Delinquent]

[quote author=peekay link=topic=39921.msg1094061#msg1094061 date=1272374609]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=39921.msg1093705#msg1093705 date=1272329738]
[quote author=LarryHagman link=topic=39921.msg1093703#msg1093703 date=1272328449]

Ry, the last thing we should be doing is imposing a defensive mindset on one of the very few players we have who actually passes the ball forwards. That's our fuckin problem.


[/quote]

Against good teams Larry, he'd get killed. All of his decent performances and assists have come against Portsmouth, Burnley and the likes.

It's naive to think that we can just let him hang around waiting to threaten offensively. We'd need more than he currently offers defensively.
[/quote]


Once our team gets used to him, I think a trio of Aquilani, Gerrard and Mascherano is good enough for 28-30 games in the PL. In the other 8-10 games we can think about giving extra protection by playing Lucas.
[/quote]

I agree with the first sentence, but not the second. I don't think there is any situation that calls for a central midfield pairing of Mascherano and Lucas. I can appreciate the need for two defensive midfielders occasionally, but it helps if at least one of them is capable of a little more besides. We should be looking to replace Lucas with a superior player, even when we adopt a defensive strategy.

Obviously, we need to ensure that there is more quality ahead of them as well, but that's another point entirely.