• You may have to login or register before you can post and view our exclusive members only forums.
    To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Aurelio in the middle?

Status
Not open for further replies.
If Arbeloa had stayed, would you say that because he played well and didn't do much wrong he shouldn't be dropped for Johnson?

It's simple, because Aurelio is a better player.
 
[quote author=jan link=topic=35623.msg938131#msg938131 date=1251992511]
If Arbeloa had stayed, would you say that because he played well and didn't do much wrong he shouldn't be dropped for Johnson?

It's simple, because Aurelio is a better player.
[/quote]

Thats not exactly the same is it?

Nobody has managed to make the LB slot their own for a couple of seasons now, so why drop the young lad after he's been doing such a good job?

Insua is playing to a very decent level and if he continues to develop then we might just have filled a spot that we've had trouble with for years.

If Aurelio had managed to stay fit for more of his career with us, then maybe he'd have earned the right to come straight back in.... The problem is though , he hasn't.
 
[quote author=GOD_23 link=topic=35623.msg938119#msg938119 date=1251991270]
[quote author=ILD link=topic=35623.msg938061#msg938061 date=1251984832]
[quote author=keniget link=topic=35623.msg937918#msg937918 date=1251972971]
It's not something I want to see to be honest.

Aurelio played one game for us in central midfield against an awful side, we didn't look particularly good and we only won it by the skin of our teeth.
[/quote]

Aurelio assisted the winner I think.

Insua can't be expected to play every game at LB so getting Aurelio back will be a big big bonus for us, especially for European nights in Anfield.
[/quote]

Yossi made the assist for Torres, but Aurleio did score the first and had a very good game. I remember hearing the teamsheet and there were 6 defenders in it. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
[/quote]

True. He assisted Yossi out wide left to then went on to assist Torres.
 
[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=35623.msg938144#msg938144 date=1251993363]
[quote author=jan link=topic=35623.msg938131#msg938131 date=1251992511]
If Arbeloa had stayed, would you say that because he played well and didn't do much wrong he shouldn't be dropped for Johnson?

It's simple, because Aurelio is a better player.
[/quote]

Thats not exactly the same is it?

Nobody has managed to make the LB slot their own for a couple of seasons now, so why drop the young lad after he's been doing such a good job?

Insua is playing to a very decent level and if he continues to develop then we might just have filled a spot that we've had trouble with for years.

If Aurelio had managed to stay fit for more of his career with us, then maybe he'd have earned the right to come straight back in.... The problem is though , he hasn't.
[/quote]

Of course it's not the same, I intentionally exaggerated a bit. The logic remains the same, Aurelio offers more and will most likely improve our game, whereas Insua is a steady defender that rarely does something wrong, but that's it (he did constantly give the ball away against Villa though).

And Insua will get games even with both of them fit as it's evident that Aurelio doesn't have the stamina/fitness to play every game.
 
[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=35623.msg937929#msg937929 date=1251973678]
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=35623.msg937924#msg937924 date=1251973441]
I think Insua's done alright.

But I just see him as another Steven Warnock. I don't think he's half as good as he's made out to be, nor do I see huge potential within him - just a solid Premiership footballer.

Defensively he's been fine and has made few mistakes, but over the half way line he's been pretty poor which is a shame because he's got a good cross on him. It'll improve with Riera in front of him but I'm not convinced it's enough to displace Aurelio, who had his finest year for us last term.
[/quote]

I think you just hit the nail on the head with the last bit. So far he's had (for the most part) Babel or Yossi, who've both cut in and generally done little defensively.

I swear Insua and Johnson have looked like they've been playing the fullback and wide midfield berths almost singlehandedly so far.

Regards Insua, he's less spectacular than Johnson, but he's looked a good, solid capable fullback in the Arbeloa/Finnan mould. I think as time goes on he'll gain more confidence offensively. He's certainly got a good left peg and looks like he can provide good delivery and the occasional goal - He also set up Torres' goal against Villa, with a good run in beyond the defense.
[/quote]

I agree with this. Insua's mistakes thus far look mainly down to inexperience rather than anything else, and if all he turns out to be is a solid, capable fullback, well, that's a step up for our youth system isn't it!

For the moment I think Aurelio is the better bet, simply because our defence looks prone to panicking at the moment, probably due to the new faces and a bit of familiarity and experience may settle things. If aurelio had any sort of physicality he'd be a really top fullback, but i wouldn't put him in midfield at all. He's got the passing range all right, but if teams knew he'd be playing there they'd hustle him out the game sharpish. He did ok in that game, and in emergencies sure, but if rafa put him there for an extended period i could see him getting slated at seaon's end for another 'insane' team selection. For now lucas is our midfield partner to mascherano, for better or worse, he's the best option (unless we're willing to drop Gerrard back and blunt our attack)
 
[quote author=jan link=topic=35623.msg938151#msg938151 date=1251994095]
[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=35623.msg938144#msg938144 date=1251993363]
[quote author=jan link=topic=35623.msg938131#msg938131 date=1251992511]
If Arbeloa had stayed, would you say that because he played well and didn't do much wrong he shouldn't be dropped for Johnson?

It's simple, because Aurelio is a better player.
[/quote]

Thats not exactly the same is it?

Nobody has managed to make the LB slot their own for a couple of seasons now, so why drop the young lad after he's been doing such a good job?

Insua is playing to a very decent level and if he continues to develop then we might just have filled a spot that we've had trouble with for years.

If Aurelio had managed to stay fit for more of his career with us, then maybe he'd have earned the right to come straight back in.... The problem is though , he hasn't.
[/quote]

Of course it's not the same, I intentionally exaggerated a bit. The logic remains the same, Aurelio offers more and will most likely improve our game, whereas Insua is a steady defender that rarely does something wrong, but that's it (he did constantly give the ball away against Villa though).

And Insua will get games even with both of them fit as it's evident that Aurelio doesn't have the stamina/fitness to play every game.
[/quote]

Fair enough.

I've got nothing against Aurelio(he's a good player), it's just that personally i don't think there's much between the two of them. As a result of this i'd rather we stuck by the youngster who is in possession of the shirt.
 
[quote author=jan link=topic=35623.msg938151#msg938151 date=1251994095]
[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=35623.msg938144#msg938144 date=1251993363]
[quote author=jan link=topic=35623.msg938131#msg938131 date=1251992511]
If Arbeloa had stayed, would you say that because he played well and didn't do much wrong he shouldn't be dropped for Johnson?

It's simple, because Aurelio is a better player.
[/quote]

Thats not exactly the same is it?

Nobody has managed to make the LB slot their own for a couple of seasons now, so why drop the young lad after he's been doing such a good job?

Insua is playing to a very decent level and if he continues to develop then we might just have filled a spot that we've had trouble with for years.

If Aurelio had managed to stay fit for more of his career with us, then maybe he'd have earned the right to come straight back in.... The problem is though , he hasn't.
[/quote]

Of course it's not the same, I intentionally exaggerated a bit. The logic remains the same, Aurelio offers more and will most likely improve our game, whereas Insua is a steady defender that rarely does something wrong, but that's it (he did constantly give the ball away against Villa though).

And Insua will get games even with both of them fit as it's evident that Aurelio doesn't have the stamina/fitness to play every game.
[/quote]

Spot on. There's more to football than not fucking up. Insua's done remarkably well since joining the first team but right now Aurelio's the better footballer, and should slot straight back in when up to match fitness.

He had his best year for us last year, and the sooner he's back, the better, IMO.
 
[quote author=Molbystwin link=topic=35623.msg938118#msg938118 date=1251991118]
picking up on what somebody intimated earlier in the thread, it makes fuck all difference his being left footed in the middle of the park, it would be neither an advantage nor disadvantage.

I think he is generally a much much better player than Lucas and as Insua hasn´t been having a shocker I think Aurellio in the middle is not such a bad idea at all.
[/quote]

Of course it matters, he's not pacy and not very good at dribbling. If you're outwide you can cut inside, if you're in the middle there's usually one option for getting out of a potential tackle and it's the pass. If he can't play a competent ball with his weaker foot, which he can't, you force him onto it and he's buggered.

I'm not knocking Aurelio, I think he's a good player and a very good left back, but he's not an EPL central midfielder.
 
Of course it's not the same, I intentionally exaggerated a bit. The logic remains the same, Aurelio offers more and will most likely improve our game, whereas Insua is a steady defender that rarely does something wrong, but that's it (he did constantly give the ball away against Villa though).

exactly the reason I think he should no straight into the team.
 
Aurelio in the centre isnt a bad idea but his reliance on his left would make him easy to tackle in a crowded midfield making our defence vulnerable.
 
Aurelio will get his LB spot back for the important games when he's fit again. Rafa obviously sees him as first choice and pretty much said as much recently when asked about Insua's progress.
 
I don't think Aurelio should get the nod in the middle. And whilst I'm a big fan of Insua, who is only going to get better, Aurelio gives us options from set pieces as well as being a very good FB. If he can replicate last season's form then he gets the nod ahead of Insua. I think it is a marginal decision though, and if Insua gets a good run, we could really see him blossom.
 
[quote author=jan link=topic=35623.msg938117#msg938117 date=1251991082]
[quote author=ILD link=topic=35623.msg938061#msg938061 date=1251984832]
[quote author=keniget link=topic=35623.msg937918#msg937918 date=1251972971]
It's not something I want to see to be honest.

Aurelio played one game for us in central midfield against an awful side, we didn't look particularly good and we only won it by the skin of our teeth.
[/quote]

Aurelio assisted the winner I think.
[/quote]

Don't know about that, but he scored from an indirect free kick.
[/quote]

All of which happened after he went back to LB. He didn't impress me in CM.
 
personally I thought he was excellent through the middle and then later in the game, whether the opposition wised up to him, whether he tired or whatever his influence lessened. He is best left at left back. his is our first choice there (imho).
 
I watched this game again a couple of weeks ago. Fabio went back to left back when Xabi came on. Hey presto all our goals came after Xabi was on.
 
Aurelio looked good in the first 15mins and that's what everyone remembers from that game.

Once Pompey figured out how to play him and started cutting off his angles and time on the ball, he was taken out of the game. If we had've won 5-0 and played champagne football, I could understand the continual use of the Pompey game as a reference point for Aurelio's prowess as a central midfielder, however we didn't. We looked shit.
 
[quote author=keniget link=topic=35623.msg938473#msg938473 date=1252051630]
Aurelio looked good in the first 15mins and that's what everyone remembers from that game.

Once Pompey figured out how to play him and started cutting off his angles and time on the ball, he was taken out of the game. If we had've won 5-0 and played champagne football, I could understand the continual use of the Pompey game as a reference point for Aurelio's prowess as a central midfielder, however we didn't. We looked shit.
[/quote]

I don't think it helped that rafa started with something like 8 defensive players in his starting line up. I think i nearly cried when i saw the teamsheet.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom