Barnseysleftpeg

Regarding him taking up weird positions I don't think he does. He goes to the area wherever the ball is to provide an out ball. If all the play is condensed on the left then you'll find him there if it's on the right you'll find him there. How often have seen Dirk on the right with only the our right back to pass to but who also happens to be marked, whilst Torres and Gerrard are waiting in the box and then everyone gets pissed off because Dirk doesn't have the ability to beat his man consistently. With Aquilani rather than rushing straight to the box he provides that third man to pass to, the out ball. We all except that he's a number 10 right? So in what world are number 10s renowned for there tackling capabilities? Maybe that's why many of them don't exist anymore or they exist but aren't deployed in the old school way. However when I think of current number 10 style attackers your Kakas, Ronaldinhos, Sneijders, Van der Vaarts, Silvas there's not much tackling ability there. Sometimes you have forgo things in one area to gain alot in another. We'd love a number 10 who was supreme at attacking but was excellent in the tackle as well, and Gerrard is the closest player I've seen to that, but he plays it differently, it was effective before it doesn't work now For me the thing about Aquilani is that when he's in the team we play better football and Gerrard plays better, I think that's obvious. I don't think Aquis influence on our attacking play can be understimated and I think some on these boards are.

If that team is right I can see why he's gone for Agger in the centre as Atleti don't have a big lumbering striker and won't throw in alot of high balls. Agger is a lot more mobile than the Greek and in theory will better cope with Aguero and Forlan.

Thanks mate

So you've seen him then, great. What style of player is he? I've heard so many conflicting reports. Some have said he's a Gerrard, to others he plays like Lampard. I've heard Gareth Barry comparisons and then one person even said he's like a Glenn Hoddle who plays like none of the above. So any light you can shed would be great. Thanks mate.

Who's our new London scout??? He's obviously been doing a fair bit of work.

Ronaldinho for me. For all the talk of Messi being the second coming essentially he's a player with supreme dribbling ability who can also finish excellently. Ronaldinho had all that plus he created a hell of a lot as well, is an excellent passer of the ball as well long or short. He was the complete player I think a lot of people have short memories. Zidane was brilliant, graceful but lacked pace not that it mattered but just pointing something he didn't have in his vast locker. Ronaldinho had it all and did I things on the pitch I'd never even seen before. What I loved about him is that he could improvise so well. Three occasions come to mind the first being when he did a "back pass" long before Ibrahimovic did it, the second being when he took a crossed ball over his shoulder on his chest and volleyed back they way it cam in the top corner. My third and final occasion was in the champions league against chelsea where from standing still, with John Terry in front of him, he dummied and then rocketed it into the top corner one of the best goals I've seen for the audacity and the occasion. Love him probably my favourite all time player. Honmorable mentions for Ronaldo (fat), Van Basten, Gullit, John Barnes and Michael Laudrup.

You might not be and I apologise if I offended. Just seems to me that if I speak to foreigners or hear foreign journalists speak about him they have no problem with him being called a class player. British journos on the other hand....

I don't know what problem that we Britons seem to have with Ibrahimovic where the rest of Europe seem pretty clear on him being an excellent player. An excellent player yes as good as the top strikers in europe no. The Torres, Eto'o, Villa, Drogba (I'm leaving out Rooney becuase he's one great season) are all better than him and I don't think that people say otherwise - so why all the fuss. Personally I'd have him here (in our current state) all day long. It was funny when on the coverage Edgar Davids was saying he was a great player and the host was trying to say he doesn't do it against English teams but Edgar still wasn't having any of it. He's a very continental type of striker he's all pretty flicks and dribbles and maybe because he's a big guy we Britons expect him to be different more domineering a la Drogba - I don't know.

I agree with you mate many supporters will say he's average because he doesn't have pace and the ability to beats 5 players before sticking it in the top corner. But to use a tired cliche he's a proper footballer. He's got an excellent first touch, technique and vision. With pace he'd be be world class but even without it he's an excellent player.

Didn't you call a Brouwer hat trick tonight? Good start.

I'm not one for over criticising players and Rafa for that matter but I must admit when I heard we were getting him, even though it was on a free, I couldn't understand it. Having seen him play for the Ukraine a couple of times I just knew he wouldn't be effective in our league. Water under the bridge now. Really looking forward to tonights game. Curious to see Duran. As many have said he was looking excellent before his last injury so keen to see if there has been a significant decrease in his pace and mobility. I think McMahon mentioned he got an assist the other day so sounds like things are positive.

You didn't like Voronin did you

Great comparison

Nice. We all like a player with a bit of hair don't we Berger, Torres, Voronin:wow:

I may get shat on from a huge distance after this statement but here goes anyways... I don't think Brouwer is a bad player - waits for the shit to fly... I think his main problem (and it's a major problem as he's a striker) is that he's a crap finisher. But all other aspects of his game are solid. Good first touch, good link up play, has got a bit of a brain and gets into goal scoring positions. I know a lot of you will think I have shit in my eye now:smile:

That's what I thought as if they needed someone to come in who can play on the left or down the middle I would have though Tom Ince would have been the one they'd promote from the U18s. Obviously in light of his recent form Silva has managed to leapfrog not only the U18s but Tom Ince as well. Haven't seen much of him but he looks more physically developed than Ince so maybe that has played a factor in his promotion...

In terms of CM I think Palsson may do but they've been playing him at the back recently so if they continue in that vein suspect Duran may get his first start since returning from injury

That's exactly what I was thinking. Another classy looking player who can't stay fit.

The thing is it was a knee injury that kept him out most of last year so lets hope it's not the same knee. He was excellent tonight.

and what did you say?

Me too. Pallson (sp) seems to be the only recognised CM in the team curious to see who partners him, I know Pacheco has played there before. Looking forward to it anyway.

Have to agree with this sentiment. I visit a few other boards as well as this one and I must admit that TLW has the most anti Rafa sentiment. Not saying it's everyone on here just more than say on RAWK or TIA.

I think he just meant a defender who's comfortable on the ball and is not afraid to come forward with it. It's a reaction to Carra hoofing it many times yesterday. These types of defenders are more often than not foreign hence why he used the word foreign. British defenders are atypically blood and gut type defenders a la carra, terry etc. obviously there are examples of footballing centrebcaks i.e Hansen, Moore and latterly Ferdinand however it is something that is not really encouraged in british football. However I don't Carra is finished just yet as some are suggesting.

I think it would be a bit counter productive to sell him and then replace him with players who would then need time to adapt, when Albert has already had a year to adapt and should improve this season.

hey buddy he's already signed with Inter