pipnasty

I remember joking about that at the time

I don't see any problem with being biased in favour of your own club.

I think that in some quarters, Aquilani was written off before he had even kicked a ball for us.

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And what makes you know for a fact that he is completely unsuitable for this role? How many games have Aquilani, Masch and Gerrard actually played together? And before you say 'ah, that proves my point' do I need to point out that at least one of them has been injured for the vast majority of the time together? So, what makes their brief time on the pitch together prove that basically Aquilani is a dud? And, as I said earlier, we play much better and have more balance with Aquilani in the team. If you still think that he was a 'panic buy' then your opinion and lunacy are hardly exclusive.

Aquilani came to the attention of most of Europe possibly 4 or 5 years ago when he began playing for Italy. I presume that a lot of managers would have been aware of him since 2001. You said he was a 'panic buy' - if Rafa (and scouts) had known of him since the early part of the decade (and I would be astonished if they didn't), then all concerned would have their own opinions on the various merits of the player himself over a quite long period of time. A 'panic buy' suggests the complete opposite.

You said he was a 'panic buy' - if that isn't sensationalist bulls*** they I don't know what is. Obviously? Really? And what role was he signed for exactly?

[quote name='Earl Hafler' date='11 February 2010 - 08:25 PM' timestamp='1265919935' post='2559575' When do you think Aquilani was scouted as a replacement for Xabi ? I would guess at when he was fit and playing. Aquilani came to the attention of most of Europe possibly 4 or 5 years ago when he began playing for Italy. I presume that a lot of managers would have been aware of him since 2001. The idea that he was only scouted with a view to replacing Xabi and therefore cannot be considered to play anywhere else is nonsense. I'm sure that Rafa hasn't got a f***ing clue why he signed him either.

This you mean; "Aquilani ? Couldn't scout him during close season so he was signed either by speaking to contacts and watching videos, or he'd been scouted the season before when Rafa was intending to replace Xabi with Barry." But you are saying that Rafa had scouted him to replace Xabi? And therefore, he hadn't been scouted to play 10 yards further forward = a panic buy?

Again, you are almost saying that Rafa did not even have a hint that Alonso was going to leave, probably picked up the newspaper to find that he had been sold to Real and then said "s*** we need to sign somebody quick - anybody!" and then pulled the name of Aquilani out of the air having never seen or scouted the player and then decided to buy him????? You've lost the plot.

I presume you think that we didn't scout him before we bought him? If so, that is an utterly ridiculous viewpoint. Do you think they picked his name out of a hat or something? I know you don't like Rafa, but that is bordering on the lunatic.

What makes you think that?

How?

And the bit in bold is a pretty good reason why we didn't buy him no matter what anybody thinks of him as a player. Anybody else we can't afford who we think should have signed for us?

We play better when Aquilani is in the team. So, I'm looking forward to him getting back in it.

There is simply no thrust - nothing to change the angle of play, nothing to commit the oppositions defenders or midfielders. Just........meh.

Get a room! Gerrard has always looked better when he has freedom to roam - whether that be dropping back a little, playing wide or getting into the box. I'm not sure CM allows him to do that. Any position that allows him to do this is good with me. I would ideally like to see both Gerrard and Aquilani ahead of Masch and using their 'game intelligence' to swap and change where necessary. I'm sure it was mentioned that when Alonso was here, there was this idea that all of the other players based their position on the pitch on where he was thus he was able to dictate not only the pace of the game but the shape of it too. I would like to think that this could also happen with Aquilani but obviously higher up the pitch. I think Jarg mentioned it earlier today, but we have a much better shape and look more fluid with him in the team than without and maybe this is one of the reasons why. He, like Alonso, becomes the focus of the team. Never want to see Masch and Lucas playing in the same team when we are at home and ideally, never want to see them away either come to think of it.

I think some people had written him off before he had even kicked a ball for us.

Phil Neal comes across appallingly badly - a real idiotic sycophant. It's well worth watching if you can.

He points a lot - but in a good way.

He's had his chance - rotate him back to Roma, please Rafa. And bring Riise home with you.

In his mind, the ball was Rafa's head.

And here's another one. FFS.

Rafa can't f***ing win, can he?