So... will Aquilani transform our season?

[ILD]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=37804.msg1010659#msg1010659 date=1260404228]
[quote author=Wizardry link=topic=37804.msg1010655#msg1010655 date=1260404045]
[quote author=Peatcheo link=topic=37804.msg1010624#msg1010624 date=1260401680]
My issue with Ryan's argument is that ok Rafa see's him every day but in the games you have mentioned we had stagnated and ran out of ideas going forward, the fans know Aquilani to be an attacking midfielder who is a good passer of the ball and a player who has a good shot on him. Those attributes indicate that he could help going forward and change the game with a goal or an assist. Thats why people were getting frustrated.
[/quote]

Actually, my main problem with Ryan's comment - apart from the fact that it was so heavily focused on defending Rafa...
[/quote]

As opposed to the endless streams of abuse levelled at Rafa for not picking him away to Lyon or Debrecen or Blackburn cos he's have got us a second goal?

I'm trying to balance things out mate.
[/quote]

Replace 'endless streams of abuse' with 'venting frustration'.

If people were using it as a stick to beat Rafa with then fair enough but many were trying to put a balanced arguement across, (me, del etc).

Anyways..... back to tonight. He did okay, grand for a his first start. As many have already said, he looks to play the forward pass and that's promising. He will benefit from getting the 70 odd minutes under his belt.

On a side note, I agree that Lucas has vastly improved on the defensive side of his game.

 

[Wizardry]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=37804.msg1010659#msg1010659 date=1260404228]
[quote author=Wizardry link=topic=37804.msg1010655#msg1010655 date=1260404045]
[quote author=Peatcheo link=topic=37804.msg1010624#msg1010624 date=1260401680]
My issue with Ryan's argument is that ok Rafa see's him every day but in the games you have mentioned we had stagnated and ran out of ideas going forward, the fans know Aquilani to be an attacking midfielder who is a good passer of the ball and a player who has a good shot on him. Those attributes indicate that he could help going forward and change the game with a goal or an assist. Thats why people were getting frustrated.
[/quote]

Actually, my main problem with Ryan's comment - apart from the fact that it was so heavily focused on defending Rafa...
[/quote]

As opposed to the endless streams of abuse levelled at Rafa for not picking him away to Lyon or Debrecen or Blackburn cos he's have got us a second goal?

I'm trying to balance things out mate.
[/quote]

We've had this conversation before, mate. The endless drivel pouring from both extremes isn't going to be balanced out. All that happens when you try to balance that out is you deposit yourself squarely in the opposing extreme.

It's all well and good for posters to provide sensationalist statements or posts on this, that or the other. That makes what they write interesting at times and, if they can actually add some logic to it then it becomes worth the read. Doing it consistently and constantly from one perspective only isn't sensationalist nor interesting - it just becomes tedious in the extreme.

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=Wizardry link=topic=37804.msg1010685#msg1010685 date=1260406110]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=37804.msg1010659#msg1010659 date=1260404228]
[quote author=Wizardry link=topic=37804.msg1010655#msg1010655 date=1260404045]
[quote author=Peatcheo link=topic=37804.msg1010624#msg1010624 date=1260401680]
My issue with Ryan's argument is that ok Rafa see's him every day but in the games you have mentioned we had stagnated and ran out of ideas going forward, the fans know Aquilani to be an attacking midfielder who is a good passer of the ball and a player who has a good shot on him. Those attributes indicate that he could help going forward and change the game with a goal or an assist. Thats why people were getting frustrated.
[/quote]

Actually, my main problem with Ryan's comment - apart from the fact that it was so heavily focused on defending Rafa...
[/quote]

As opposed to the endless streams of abuse levelled at Rafa for not picking him away to Lyon or Debrecen or Blackburn cos he's have got us a second goal?

I'm trying to balance things out mate.
[/quote]

We've had this conversation before, mate. The endless drivel pouring from both extremes isn't going to be balanced out. All that happens when you try to balance that out is you deposit yourself squarely in the opposing extreme.

It's all well and good for posters to provide sensationalist statements or posts on this, that or the other. That makes what they write interesting at times and, if they can actually add some logic to it then it becomes worth the read. Doing it consistently and constantly from one perspective only isn't sensationalist nor interesting - it just becomes tedious in the extreme.
[/quote]

I actually don't know what we're debating or arguing anymore mate.

 

[Peatcheo]

 

[keniget]

I think Wiz has made some very good points and maybe there is a tiny little bit of avoidance going on here.

The more you try and provide a balance Ryan, the more you veer into Tomkins land. It's a no win situation.

 

[Ryan]

Oliver Kay

I liked what I saw of Alberto Aquilani on his long-awaited first start for Liverpool last night. Elegant, intelligent and blessed with a sublime touch, he is undoubtedly a class act, though it will clearly take time for him and his team to adjust to his role alongside Javier Mascherano and behind Steven Gerrard, who is generally at his best when he has space in which to roam through the middle of the pitch.

My concerns for Aquilani are three-fold. First of all, he is not Xabi Alonso and, in a team where a loss of defensive nous has been the main effect of the Spaniard’s departure to Real Madrid, the immediate priority must be to play safe. Second, some excellent Italian players have struggled to adapt to the physical demands of the Premier League, where the prerequisite for any central midfielder is not to play or even to think, but to run. And third, can Aquilani stay fit long enough?

It is far from unknown for a manager to sign an injured player – and, to use two very different examples of how it can work, Sir Alex Ferguson got it right when signing Ruud van Nistelrooy, who had barely recovered from cruciate knee ligament damage, but seemingly failed to do his homework on Owen Hargreaves, who arrived with a tendinitis problem in the summer of 2006 and has struggled with it ever since. Aquilani’s terrible injury record in recent years leads you to think he may be a Hargreaves, rather than a Van Nistelrooy. The difference is that Manchester United had the players to cover for Hargreaves’s long absences. At Liverpool, as ever, the margin for error just isn’t there.

 

[Peatcheo]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=37804.msg1011525#msg1011525 date=1260489825]

Oliver Kay

I liked what I saw of Alberto Aquilani on his long-awaited first start for Liverpool last night. Elegant, intelligent and blessed with a sublime touch, he is undoubtedly a class act, though it will clearly take time for him and his team to adjust to his role alongside Javier Mascherano and behind Steven Gerrard, who is generally at his best when he has space in which to roam through the middle of the pitch.

My concerns for Aquilani are three-fold. First of all, he is not Xabi Alonso and, in a team where a loss of defensive nous has been the main effect of the Spaniard’s departure to Real Madrid, the immediate priority must be to play safe. Second, some excellent Italian players have struggled to adapt to the physical demands of the Premier League, where the prerequisite for any central midfielder is not to play or even to think, but to run. And third, can Aquilani stay fit long enough?

It is far from unknown for a manager to sign an injured player – and, to use two very different examples of how it can work, Sir Alex Ferguson got it right when signing Ruud van Nistelrooy, who had barely recovered from cruciate knee ligament damage, but seemingly failed to do his homework on Owen Hargreaves, who arrived with a tendinitis problem in the summer of 2006 and has struggled with it ever since. Aquilani’s terrible injury record in recent years leads you to think he may be a Hargreaves, rather than a Van Nistelrooy. The difference is that Manchester United had the players to cover for Hargreaves’s long absences. At Liverpool, as ever, the margin for error just isn’t there.

[/quote]

That highlights that Lucas isnt good enough, and highlights the fact Rafa didnt have sufficient cover for buying an injured player.

 

[the_khl]

[quote author=LadyRed link=topic=37804.msg1010456#msg1010456 date=1260395522]
With him coming into the side, Gerrard and Torres returning, we have to be optimistic. We can turn things around.
[/quote]
Hear hear!

 

[Peatcheo]

[quote author=the_khl link=topic=37804.msg1011620#msg1011620 date=1260522938]
[quote author=LadyRed link=topic=37804.msg1010456#msg1010456 date=1260395522]
With him coming into the side, Gerrard and Torres returning, we have to be optimistic. We can turn things around.
[/quote]
Hear hear!
[/quote]

I do think we will get top 4.

 

[Stulikesdrums]

[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=37804.msg1010628#msg1010628 date=1260402066]
.....and we cannot get back into the CL.
[/quote]

Surely you don't mean we won't be able to finish in the top four?
Because if you do, you're talking complete balls there DB.
Why are you always so negative, eh?

 

[jexykrodic]

I think correcting our defensive frailty is more likely to transform our season.

I'm sure Aquilani will contribute more than Lucas in attacking play but that will be redundant if our defence doesn't improve.

 

[Friend no. 2]

He had a decent game against Fiorentina and looks like he has what it takes to be a very good player for us. He seems quite different to Xabi Alonso who was pivotal to the way we played last season, so it's not like for like, but hopefully he can give us something different.

He also looks like he could play in Gerrard's position behind Torres effectively, if Stevie is ever laid up as he is clever on the ball and would able to get it to Torres early.

I genuniely think he should not start the Arsenal game, but we've got Wigan at home coming up soon as if that's not the perfect time to give him a first league start, then I don't know what is.

 

[TheBunnyman]

[quote author=GOD_23 link=topic=37804.msg1011757#msg1011757 date=1260534693]


He also looks like he could play in Gerrard's position behind Torres effectively, if Stevie is ever laid up as he is clever on the ball and would able to get it to Torres early.

[/quote]

Yeah, that's exactly how he looks. Was a good sub for Gerrard top of our summer priority list though?

 

[manwithnoname]

He's just like Gerrard, except minus the pace, tackling, power and goals

 

[LarryHagman]

I'm all for giving someone the time, space and inclination for settling into this League at their own pace. Unless we've paid 20 fucking million for them that is.
I'm not saying Aqualani will but anyone who takes 12 months to settle to a League (& then maybe won't) just isn't worth a £20M gamble. Not when that represents your whole years xfer budget.
For £20M, surely we want guaranteed.
The statement, 'a £20M signing isn't for this season but is hopefully for the future'????? Fuckin hell.

 

[Red Mullet]

Did Henry take a season to adapt to the PL?

Not sure if he was bought for £20M either.

Anyway, he was a success after he settled.






*Second thoughts are this is a lame post*

 

[TheBunnyman]

[quote author=Brendan link=topic=37804.msg1011805#msg1011805 date=1260540328]
He's just like Gerrard, except minus the pace, tackling, power and goals
[/quote]

Aquilani's got pace. And let's be honest, Gerrard doesn't do much tackling these days.

 

[TheBunnyman]

[quote author=Red Mullet link=topic=37804.msg1011848#msg1011848 date=1260544437]
Did Henry take a season to adapt to the PL?

Not sure if he was bought for £20M either.

Anyway, he was a success after he settled.






*Second thoughts are this is a lame post*
[/quote]

Your second thoughts are dead right. Henry cost £10m, and was (like most of Wenger's purchases) about 21 years old.

 

[mark1975]

[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=37804.msg1012048#msg1012048 date=1260557024]
[quote author=Red Mullet link=topic=37804.msg1011848#msg1011848 date=1260544437]
Did Henry take a season to adapt to the PL?

Not sure if he was bought for £20M either.

Anyway, he was a success after he settled.






*Second thoughts are this is a lame post*
[/quote]

Your second thoughts are dead right. Henry cost £10m, and was (like most of Wenger's purchases) about 21 years old.

[/quote]

Regards the thread BM, I've kinda had the same worries. It's been mentioned alot that he's capable of playing between the lines too, so maybe it's a case adapting between him and Gerrard, but one of them will have to learn to do the covering. I do think he's too free spirited a player and it takes a longtime to instil the tactical side of the Premiership into a foreign player anyway, so there's certainly issues on the horizon. That said, the breaking up of Masher/Lucas is necessary, and given that Kuyt and Riera are playing below par we definitely need that extra spark of creativity.

What I did like, which in itself confirms our suspicions, is the way he's willing to pick the ball up, drop his shoulder and go past players. He's not slow and he has that good trait of making difficult passes in congested areas look simple.

Interesting times lie ahead, it might be the making or breaking of our season, I hope it at least helps us to start passing the ball more fluently again.

 

[TheBunnyman]

Not sure about your Chrimbo tarts this year Mark. They look like you might have found them in Popworld.