Rafa: Aquilani Close to First Team Debut!

[The 5th Benitel]

I saw two gangs of fellas nearly come to blows at the match yesterday over Aquilani. It's easily the most bizarre transfer and subsequent handling if a player at any club I'm aware of and it's got people rightly annoyed

 

 

He obviously thought the Keane shambles wasn't farcical enough. I can actually picture him searching for people to blame for it. I noticed he's stopped laughing at Roma's medical staff and started blaming an external specialist. It was all about how our medical team had diagnosed and resolved the problem at the start.

[Brownie]

I've actually just read the quotes from Rafa regarding the Aquilani situation.

 

Maybe we will start with Aquilani in our next match because today was a very difficult and tough game, but against Fiorentina maybe he will start.

 

We were thinking of putting him on today but the game was too open. When a player isn't match fit, it is a risk to put him on the pitch. Maybe it would have been worse for him. At Anfield, with our fans behind him, I think it will be easier.

 

It's also a question of the other players being injured. Gerrard was injured before and is fit now. With Gerrard, Lucas and Mascherano we now have balance in the midfield.

 

In my view, the game being open only strengthened the point that he should have come on. Again, this just gives an insight into Rafa's mindset.

 

Also, based on the last bit in bold, it's now clear to me that he's happy with the pairing of Lucas and Mascherano and doesn't want to break it up.

 

It really is a shocking situation, in my opinion.

[Carra_is_legend]

In my view, the game being open only strengthened the point that he should have come on. Again, this just gives an insight into Rafa's mindset.

 

And that is exactly why he will never ever win the title for us.

 

He is a fucking negative coward.

 

He should try growing a pair at some point.

 

Any team who played against Blackburn would have known that they will be knackered after the midweek Carling cup game which involved extra time. But not Rafa. Rafa thought because they beat Chelsea, they are the next United and that it would be best to "control" the game and bore them to death and steal a point. Job done.

[Red Nick]

I've actually just read the quotes from Rafa regarding the Aquilani situation.

 

 

 

In my view, the game being open only strengthened the point that he should have come on. Again, this just gives an insight into Rafa's mindset.

 

Also, based on the last bit in bold, it's now clear to me that he's happy with the pairing of Lucas and Mascherano and doesn't want to break it up.

 

It really is a shocking situation, in my opinion.

 

 

It just confirm what some us have been saying and proves it has nothing to do with injuries just stupidity or plain chicken shit caution.

[Red Nick]

Just to add bar Torres Rafa now has a fully fit squad to choose from

 

I think its fair to say its just not acceptable

 

Most people have been saying when he gets all his players back and now he has bar the best player.

[Crazyhorse7778]

I've actually just read the quotes from Rafa regarding the Aquilani situation.

 

 

 

In my view, the game being open only strengthened the point that he should have come on. Again, this just gives an insight into Rafa's mindset.

 

Also, based on the last bit in bold, it's now clear to me that he's happy with the pairing of Lucas and Mascherano and doesn't want to break it up.

 

It really is a shocking situation, in my opinion.

 

Is right. It's extremely worrying that Rafa thinks a midfield consisting of Lucas Mascherano and Kuyt gives us good balance and I dread to think Lucas and Mascherano are the midfield pairing to take us into the future.

 

They just don't work as a pairing as they do exactly the same thing and offer little or nothing going forward.

[Red Nick]

Is right. It's extremely worrying that Rafa thinks a midfield consisting of Lucas Mascherano and Kuyt gives us good balance and I dread to think Lucas and Mascherano are the midfield pairing to take us into the future.

 

They just don't work as a pairing as they do exactly the same thing and offer little or nothing going forward.

 

The only reasoning I can think is that Rafa knows Mascher will not be signing a new conctract and will be sold in Jan or Summer and doesnt want to piss Lucas off and have Gerrard, Aquiliani and Benyoun as his midfield

[Josef Svejk]

As far as I'm concerned, we've just got to get our best players on the pitch trying to win fucking games. If that means something like the following, I'm all for it:

 

------------- Reina

Johnson Carragher Agger Aurelio

Benayoun Aquilani Mascherano Riera

------------ Gerrard

------------ Torres

 

Subs: Cavalieri, Insua, Skrtel, Lucas, Babel, N'Gog, Kuyt

 

 

Our basic problem - injuries aside - is that we've got squad players as first choice and unbelievably negative tactics.

[Little Sammy]

As far as I'm concerned, we've just got to get our best players on the pitch trying to win fucking games. If that means something like the following, I'm all for it:

 

------------- Reina

Johnson Carragher Agger Aurelio

Benayoun Aquilani Mascherano Riera

------------ Gerrard

------------ Torres

 

Subs: Cavalieri, Insua, Skrtel, Lucas, Babel, N'Gog, Kuyt

 

 

Our basic problem - injuries aside - is that we've got squad players as first choice and unbelievably negative tactics.

 

With that formation I'd rather have you as manager than Benitez. And that's no real compliment to you.

[Josef Svejk]

With that formation I'd rather have you as manager than Benitez. And that's no real compliment to you.

 

No compliment taken!

[paddyberger15]

As far as I'm concerned, we've just got to get our best players on the pitch trying to win fucking games. If that means something like the following, I'm all for it:

 

------------- Reina

Johnson Carragher Agger Aurelio

Benayoun Aquilani Mascherano Riera

------------ Gerrard

------------ Torres

 

Subs: Cavalieri, Insua, Skrtel, Lucas, Babel, N'Gog, Kuyt

 

 

Our basic problem - injuries aside - is that we've got squad players as first choice and unbelievably negative tactics.

 

Bingo. I agree with all of that. Except I'd still play Gerrard on the right of the 3 and Benny behind Torres. I think that would get the best out of both of them and give the front 4 proper balance.

[Red Phoenix]

Also, based on the last bit in bold, it's now clear to me that he's happy with the pairing of Lucas and Mascherano and doesn't want to break it up.

 

That's pretty scary. He'll have to though to bring Aquilani in, unless he plays him right upfront or something? Baffling.

[Stouffer]

I'm not far off my debut either.

 

And I'm shit; and a bit fat.

 

Sexy tho'.

[Red Phoenix]

This could work when Torres is out, but I doubt he'll try it.

 

------------------------------pepe

 

johnson---------------carra----------agger--------------insua

 

 

---------------------masch-----------lucas

kuyt--------------------------------------------------yossi/riera

-----------------------------aquilani

 

 

-----------------------------gerrard

[Torvald Utne]

management is easy int it, just put 11 players on a team sheet...I chose the wrong career path.

[Red Phoenix]

management is easy int it, just put 11 players on a team sheet

 

Shit I forgot to add that bit on the end of my last post, sorry all!

[Red Nick]

As far as I'm concerned, we've just got to get our best players on the pitch trying to win fucking games. If that means something like the following, I'm all for it:

 

------------- Reina

Johnson Carragher Agger Aurelio

Benayoun Aquilani Mascherano Riera

------------ Gerrard

------------ Torres

 

Subs: Cavalieri, Insua, Skrtel, Lucas, Babel, N'Gog, Kuyt

 

 

Our basic problem - injuries aside - is that we've got squad players as first choice and unbelievably negative tactics.

 

its the best team available but he wont pick it, he could have picked that team bar Torres yesterday but the chicken shit chose not to.

[old skool tom]

I've actually just read the quotes from Rafa regarding the Aquilani situation.

 

 

 

In my view, the game being open only strengthened the point that he should have come on. Again, this just gives an insight into Rafa's mindset.

 

Also, based on the last bit in bold, it's now clear to me that he's happy with the pairing of Lucas and Mascherano and doesn't want to break it up.

 

It really is a shocking situation, in my opinion.

 

when i heard him say it on the radio i laughed my cake off! hes got no balls what so ever!

 

id cry but im so used to seeing negative tactics the last decade that i just accept that were fucking hopeless at appointing positive managers.even roy evans went all cautious after a fantasic first couple of seasons.if only hed of signed a more reliable keeper and one more class defender and kept on playing the attacking footie he started off with!

 

wed of defo won the league under him

[Red Nick]

when i heard him say it on the radio i laughed my cake off! hes got no balls what so ever!

 

id cry but im so used to seeing negative tactics the last decade that i just accept that were fucking hopeless at appointing positive managers.even roy evans went all cautious after a fantasic first couple of seasons.if only hed of signed a more reliable keeper and one more class defender and kept on playing the attacking footie he started off with!

 

wed of defo won the league under him

 

Its pretty clear that he has demonstrated over the recent weeks that we will never win the league under his regime. He might get us back on track to finish in top 4 every season and be competitive in the CL but its clear his gutless decision making will mean we will never win the PL under Rafa

[WhiskeyJar]

its clear his gutless decision making will mean we will never win the PL under Rafa

 

If ignorance is bliss, you must be the happiest person alive.

 

Rafa has taken us foward. He has now set the standard for future Liverpool managers to live up to. Winning means more to him than you care to admit.

 

The fact that his Liverpool team have had a bad season so far doesnt mean that he is not class and not the man to win the Premer League.

[Kennys_spell]

Rafa bought Aquiliani to play a more expanisve game but no longer wishes to play the game he bought Aquiliani for and Aquaman not playing has absolutely nothing to do with his fitness, so why not just get Stevie operated on and play him in Stevies role, unfortunately its just another example of a manager who has lost the plot

 

The team are obviously going through a "Rocky" patch at the moment - you don't think it's a good idea to "Manage" the situation and steady the ship before introducing someone (who without actually playing a full half for us so far has actually been elevated to some kind of football messiah by some) who is a Playmaker rather than a strongman?

[Kennys_spell]

Just to add bar Torres Rafa now has a fully fit squad to choose from

 

I think its fair to say its just not acceptable

 

Most people have been saying when he gets all his players back and now he has bar the best player.

 

He has players that are willing to get out on the pitch and try their best - that is a long way from them actually being 100% fit.

[RedKnight]

If Rafa's the standard then whoever follows him is in for an easy ride.

[WhiskeyJar]

If Rafa's the standard then whoever follows him is in for an easy ride.

 

So you would rather not challange for title, end up as a mid table team whilst playing in the Europa instead of the Champions League?

 

I am not saying that the guy is perfect, far from it, but he has my backing.

[RedKnight]

So you would rather not challange for title, end up as a mid table team whilst playing in the Europa instead of the Champions League?

 

I am not saying that the guy is perfect, far from it, but he has my backing.

 

That's what we're currently on target for at the moment. So whoever came would only have to get in the Champions League to improve.