Proof of just how highly Rafa rates Aquilani

[Rosco]

Rafael Benítez assures Alberto Aquilani he is not forgotten

Rafael Benítez has assured Alberto Aquilani that he is not the forgotten man of Liverpool despite having to sacrifice the Italian's adjustment to English football in the race for a critical place in next season's Champions League.

Liverpool will go fourth in the Premier League with a win at Wigan Athletic tonight when Aquilani, the club's £18m signing last summer, may again find himself on the substitutes' bench with Lucas and Javier Mascherano preferred in central midfield. The Italy international has endured a frustrating first season at Anfield with his debut delayed by an ankle injury and then Liverpool's poor form affording Benítez little leeway in his efforts to blood Aquilani.

The Liverpool manager has explained his predicament to the 25-year-old, who has started only seven games since his arrival from Roma and completed 90 minutes only once, and says the midfielder accepts that a top-four finish takes precedence over personal trials.

Benítez said: "When you have been injured for a while it's not easy for a player. Then, when you are available and the team isn't doing well, it makes it even more difficult. You have to decide if you can afford to give him two or three games when you know he's maybe not at the level he could be, so you could end up losing some of them.

"Alberto isn't stupid. He knows the priority now has to be the team and what's best for that. All he can do is keep training and make sure he is ready when we need him. But as I said, the most important thing we have to think of is the team, not one player."

The England right-back Glen Johnson is in contention for his first appearance of the year tomorrow night. He has not played since the 1-0 away win over Aston Villa in the Premier League on 29 December, where he was substituted after 89 minutes just before Fernando Torres scored. Benítez, though, admitted the relaid pitch at the DW Stadium will not influence his thinking of starting Torres or, by contrast, omitting Aquilani.

He added: "When I didn't play Alberto at Wolves it wasn't to do with the state of their pitch, it was because of the kind of game and because others were available, which meant we could manage in a different way. So whether I play him at Wigan or not isn't a decision that will be determined by the pitch.

"But we have had a conversation about things and he knows the situation. Alberto is a very good professional, who was a big name in Italy and wants to show his quality here. When you're like that but cannot play for three or four months and then you're available but can't play because the team is maybe doing really well or has problems, it's a difficult situation for any professional."

The Liverpool manager, meanwhile, has said that Mascherano is now focused on his Anfield career after having his head turned by interest from Barcelona last summer, and expects the Argentina captain and the Spanish goalkeeper Jose Reina to commit to long-term contracts before the end of this season.

"I am 100% certain that Pepe will stay with us and I'm really confident Javier will too – both for a long time," said Benítez.

"I've spoken to Javier about what's going on and, while it wasn't easy when you have a top side like Barcelona asking about you, he's really focused now. I have confidence both will be sorted out sooner rather than later."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/mar/07/liverpool-alberto-aquilani-rafael-benitez


I didn't ever think I'd see us make a worse signing than Robbie Keane.

 

[Farkmaster]

His explanation is common sense, but he's entirely the author of his own misfortune, so I don't exactly give a fuck, and while we are doing better now, we wouldn't want to have risked anything in that entirely shit run of form we were in, would we?

His confidence will be skyrocketing through the remainder of the season on the bench. I can't wait to see what a newly motivated Aquilani does next season, not in the Europa league at all. On the plus side, there's no injury issues with him.

 

[spider-Neil]

I can't say that I care what happens to aqua as I've not seen enough of him to form an opinion but the true test is what happens in the summer i.e. if he is sold and what happens in pre season and then the first game of the season. like I said in another thread its 'possible' rafa is easing him in, the true test is time.

 

[Farkmaster]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39200.msg1065209#msg1065209 date=1268038815]
I can't say that I care what happens to aqua as I've not seen enough of him to form an opinion but the true test is what happens in the summer i.e. if he is sold and what happens in pre season and then the first game of the season. like I said in another thread its 'possible' rafa is easing him in, the true test is time.
[/quote]

So we'll know whether Aquilani will be sold, by seeing whether he'll be sold, some time in the future? Thanks for that. Your post reads like a shit movie trailer voice over.

 

[manwithnoname]

Benítez said: "When you have been injured for a while it's not easy for a player. Then, when you are available and the team isn't doing well, it makes it even more difficult. You have to decide if you can afford to give him two or three games when you know he's maybe not at the level he could be, so you could end up losing some of them.

More genius insight from Houllier Benitez there: when the team isn't doing well, don't change the team.

Of course!

 

[gareth_thomas]

If we signed him and he got injured in a pre season friendly then id understand these comments...

however.. we signed him injured?!!?! what the fuck Rafa..

one hell of a gamble that has certainly not paid off.. the only thing that i can think is Rafa thought the squad was more than good enough to cover for the loss of Alonso.. In which case why spend so much on a player when they are other positions that needed improving.

this whole year has been nuts.. i think someone has been working too hard for too long and has lost the plot.

 

[Hansern]

I wouldn't call him a worse signing than Keane. Based on the fact that Robbie got his chances, and proved he was cack.

Alberto hasn't gotten many, and while he's been up and down. When Javier got injured, Alberto had to play and was good.

It's Benitez own fault that we are in this situation.

 

[keniget]

That doesn't make for pleasant reading at all.

There isn't much to say about this that hasn't been said before really. Not as things stand anyways.

As far as this season goes, he is without a doubt the worst summer signing in the Premiership. Whether he goes on to make everyone forget about that in the following season, well, we'll just have to wait and hope.

 

[Fabio]

Least it confirms that rafa is a fucking idiot

 

[Hansern]

I think he's batteling it out with Zhirkov for worst signing of the season.

 

[Fabio]

[quote author=Hansern link=topic=39200.msg1065228#msg1065228 date=1268043222]
I think he's batteling it out with Zhirkov for worst signing of the season.


[/quote]

Zhirkov actually looks quite tidy when fit

 

[Hansern]

[quote author=Fabio Alrighty-o link=topic=39200.msg1065229#msg1065229 date=1268043331]
[quote author=Hansern link=topic=39200.msg1065228#msg1065228 date=1268043222]
I think he's batteling it out with Zhirkov for worst signing of the season.


[/quote]

Zhirkov actually looks quite tidy when fit
[/quote]

Heh, and Aquilani hasn't? Aquilani has showed glimpses of what he can do, it's just that there are 5-8 games a year when he CAN play according to our manager...

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=39200.msg1065214#msg1065214 date=1268040824]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39200.msg1065209#msg1065209 date=1268038815]
I can't say that I care what happens to aqua as I've not seen enough of him to form an opinion but the true test is what happens in the summer i.e. if he is sold and what happens in pre season and then the first game of the season. like I said in another thread its 'possible' rafa is easing him in, the true test is time.
[/quote]

So we'll know whether Aquilani will be sold, by seeing whether he'll be sold, some time in the future? Thanks for that. Your post reads like a shit movie trailer voice over.
[/quote]

the fuck are you going on about? you know full well what I'm saying. rafa has said he hasn't forgotten about aqua but the true test of whether rafa is lying or not is whether he sells aqua in the summer and you know full that's what I typed but you went all out for a laugh. well ha ha

 

[Fabio]

[quote author=Hansern link=topic=39200.msg1065230#msg1065230 date=1268043514]
[quote author=Fabio Alrighty-o link=topic=39200.msg1065229#msg1065229 date=1268043331]
[quote author=Hansern link=topic=39200.msg1065228#msg1065228 date=1268043222]
I think he's batteling it out with Zhirkov for worst signing of the season.


[/quote]

Zhirkov actually looks quite tidy when fit
[/quote]

Heh, and Aquilani hasn't? Aquilani has showed glimpses of what he can do, it's just that there are 5-8 games a year when he CAN play according to our manager...
[/quote]
Aqua hasn't really. He's done ok, but not great. Zhirkov actually looks like a worthy back up to cole

 

[Rosco]

Santa Cruz is right up there too in the shite signings staked. 2 goals this season

 

[Dreambeliever]

[quote author=keniget link=topic=39200.msg1065224#msg1065224 date=1268042814]
That doesn't make for pleasant reading at all.

There isn't much to say about this that hasn't been said before really. Not as things stand anyways.

As far as this season goes, he is without a doubt the worst summer signing in the Premiership. Whether he goes on to make everyone forget about that in the following season, well, we'll just have to wait and hope.

[/quote]

Hasn't there been enough waiting and hoping as Liverpool fans for the last 20 years.

 

[Insignificance]

When you're like that but cannot play for three or four months and then you're available but can't play because the team is maybe doing really well or has problems, it's a difficult situation for any professional."

But this gives Alberto great hope.... As soon as the team doesnt do well nor face any problems he will be at least on the bench or not.....

 

[Molbystwin]

It's been a shit sandwich of a season from the start.... since before the start even.... as for Aquilani it would be ridiculous to say anything positive is likely to come out of his signing given that he can't even displace Lucas, but in order to side with blind hopeful optimism maybe Rafa saying that he was "a big name in Italy" is a bit of psychology to gee the lad up into actually doing something.

Or as is more likely Rafa is just covering his ass for buying another fucking lemon.

I hope he is a good player and i hope he gets on the pitch to show so but.... we should never have sold alonso it was fucking suicide.

 

[Roopy]

I have to agree with Rafa on this one.

I'm a big fan of Aquilani, but right now conditions are not favourable for him to be playing.

Ability aside - he needs time to adjust not only to English football, but to a completely different formation/tactical line up than what he had at Roma.

But at the moment we are running thin on time in the race for top 4.... so I fully understand Rafa playing players who have the experience already.

 

[LarryHagman]

Benitez is a worse man manager than Jeffrey Dahmer.

 

[spider-Neil]

if rafa defense I think he though aqua would recover from his injury sooner therefore could be eased in sooner as it is there is no margin for error so he is going with what he knows (lucas).

 

[peekay]

There are only two types of games in the PL: too physical to risk Aquilani or too important to risk Aquilani.

 

[rurikbird]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39200.msg1065232#msg1065232 date=1268043712]
[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=39200.msg1065214#msg1065214 date=1268040824]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39200.msg1065209#msg1065209 date=1268038815]
I can't say that I care what happens to aqua as I've not seen enough of him to form an opinion but the true test is what happens in the summer i.e. if he is sold and what happens in pre season and then the first game of the season. like I said in another thread its 'possible' rafa is easing him in, the true test is time.
[/quote]

So we'll know whether Aquilani will be sold, by seeing whether he'll be sold, some time in the future? Thanks for that. Your post reads like a shit movie trailer voice over.
[/quote]

the fuck are you going on about? you know full well what I'm saying. rafa has said he hasn't forgotten about aqua but the true test of whether rafa is lying or not is whether he sells aqua in the summer and you know full that's what I typed but you went all out for a laugh. well ha ha
[/quote]

There is no possible way Rafa is considering selling Aqua in the summer.

 

[Judge Jules]

I thought the same about Keane at the time though.

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=Hansern link=topic=39200.msg1065228#msg1065228 date=1268043222]
I think he's batteling it out with Zhirkov for worst signing of the season.


[/quote]

Huh?

Zhirkov's quality.

 

[Halmeister]

Plus Chelsea can afford to make such a signing and think nothing of it. We were replacing one of our best players with a massive portion of our dwindling transfer budget and it's backfired dramatically.

Aquilani's been the worst signing of the season. Not all his own fault of course.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

[quote author=Halmeister link=topic=39200.msg1066195#msg1066195 date=1268094589]
Aquilani's been the worst signing of the season. Not all his own fault of course.
[/quote]

I'd say none of it is his fault.

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=Halmeister link=topic=39200.msg1066195#msg1066195 date=1268094589]
Plus Chelsea can afford to make such a signing and think nothing of it. We were replacing one of our best players with a massive portion of our dwindling transfer budget and it's backfired dramatically.

Aquilani's been the worst signing of the season. Not all his own fault of course.
[/quote]

We needed Aquilani to be quality from day one is part of the problem. He's probably done no better or worse than someone like Anderson who went for the same money. The difference is that United have 4 or 5 quality central midfielders that they can rely on until Anderson develops and adapts (if he ever does). We don't have that luxury, for whatever reasons.

 

[Skullflower]

has he even had 2 consecutive starts?

we know nothing about him.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

[quote author=Skullflower link=topic=39200.msg1066202#msg1066202 date=1268094770]
has he even had 2 consecutive starts?

we know nothing about him.
[/quote]

Great isn't it. There are moans about our lack of quality yet we have the luxury of keeping an 18 million pound player on the bench because Premiership games are either too rough or too important for him to start in.