Aurelio

[Woodsyla]

If only we could keep him fit for more than 5 minutes.

 

Fantastic player.

[The_Adder]

If only we could keep him fit for more than 5 minutes.

 

Fantastic player.

 

Wouldnt need to be shopping for a left back this summer if we could.

 

Love him and Agger to bits, my fave two our defenders, shame they have both read the Darren Anderton self help book of avoiding footballing injuries.

[Kahnee]

We've got Hodgson to thank for him being here at all

[Woodsyla]

We've got Hodgson to thank for him being here at all

Don't spoil the moment

[Kvarme Ate My Food]

We've got Hodgson to thank for him being here at all

 

true.

[Red]

We've got Hodgson to thank for him being here at all

 

As back-up to PFK.. Can't thank him enough.

[épieur]

As back-up to PFK.. Can't thank him enough.

 

Poulsen starting ahead of Lucas, Agger and Aurelio on the bench behind Skretl and Konchesky. Such inspired ideas to start our season.

[David Hodgson]

Aurelio was great. I'd keep him forever on a 'pay as you play basis'. He'll earn about £40k next year, and have to down size, and the missus will have to go back to work, but he'll prove an invaluable stand in for 2 games for us.

[Kvarme Ate My Food]

Aurelio was great. I'd keep him forever on a 'pay as you play basis'. He'll earn about £40k next year, and have to down size, and the missus will have to go back to work, but he'll prove an invaluable stand in for 2 games for us.

 

[Swipe]

He's so frustrating. A fine player who will be injured for large sections of the season.

[Damian_de]

Thought he was good last night (not brilliant, but good in the way that Riera was good for the team). Despite all the injuries he does seem to slot back into the side at a high level rather than need a period to get back to a decent standard, and that makes him worth keeping IMO.

[Kahnee]

Doesn't get booked often either. Ignoring the reason for that, that'sa good thing...

[Leo No.8]

Think the key with Agger and Aurelio is for us to sign a top quality player in each of their positions - they might not agree but I think that would help both players. For as long as they've both been here they have been first choice, so when fit they'll have a run of games and inevitabily break down. I think if we had better options we could pick and choose their games and give more regular rests without worrying about the standard of the team dropping. I don't think either should play more than once a week.

 

Both are fantastic footballers who need careful handling. We've struggled for squad depth in recent years, wouldn't it be nice if they were both considered 'squad players' so we weren't relying on their fitness.

[Swan Red]

I don't think we can Leo, I was having this discussion after the match last night and with the 25 player squad we just can't carry people who are lucky to be fit for 1/2 the season. I know we can use kids outside of that 25 but if we are playing full time wages and giving them a full time squad number I think we have the right to expect them to be fit to do a full time job.

 

As much as I think the pair of them are good footballers and as much as I have no issues with their attitude I don't want them at the club for the start of the season

[David Hodgson]

I don't think we can Leo, I was having this discussion after the match last night and with the 25 player squad we just can't carry people who are lucky to be fit for 1/2 the season. I know we can use kids outside of that 25 but if we are playing full time wages and giving them a full time squad number I think we have the right to expect them to be fit to do a full time job.

 

As much as I think the pair of them are good footballers and as much as I have no issues with their attitude I don't want them at the club for the start of the season

 

Agreed. Agger is the tough decision, but he has to be sacrificed. I thinking we'd still get half decent money for him.

[Kvarme Ate My Food]

thet rouble with Agger is not just that he won't be available for all games, but that even when you do pick him, he probably won't complete the 90.

[épieur]

I thinking we'd still get half decent money for him.

 

I doubt it. We actively tried to sell him in January because Roy wanted rid and the teams who were offered him all turned us down due to the fee we asked.

 

just to stir the boat - Kelly apparently has a similar injury record to Agger - keep or get rid?

[Kvarme Ate My Food]

Sell Agger to Spurs. Between him, Woodgate and King, they might manage half a season.

[Leo No.8]

I doubt it. We actively tried to sell him in January because Roy wanted rid and the teams who were offered him all turned us down due to the fee we asked.

 

just to stir the boat - Kelly apparently has a similar injury record to Agger - keep or get rid?

 

Kelly's age is the difference though - Gerrard struggled with injuries when he was young and still growing. Hoping Kelly is similar, and anyway he's too young to be using his injury record to sell yet - and has too much potential.

 

Wages will be low as well, so just no point even entertaining the idea.

[fred milne]

just to stir the boat - Kelly apparently has a similar injury record to Agger - keep or get rid?

Our number is 8 is also starting to be increasingly troubled by injuries.

 

I'm with Leo on this one.

[épieur]

Kelly's age is the difference though - Gerrard struggled with injuries when he was young and still growing. Hoping Kelly is similar, and anyway he's too young to be using his injury record to sell yet - and has too much potential.

 

Wages will be low as well, so just no point even entertaining the idea.

Gerrard's problem was identified and resolved though. Bit different form hoping Kelly will 'grow out of it'. Agger is still younger now than when Hyypia signed for us, not very old at all for a centreback and arguably a much bigger talent than Kelly.

 

Tbh, there is little in the way of rational reason for wanting to keep one over the other if injury record is deemed the deciding factor.

 

 

[Leo No.8]

Gerrard's problem was identified and resolved though. Bit different form hoping Kelly will 'grow out of it'. Agger is still younger now than when Hyypia signed for us, not very old at all for a centreback and arguably a much bigger talent than Kelly.

 

Tbh, there is little in the way of rational reason for wanting to keep one over the other if injury record is deemed the deciding factor.

 

Well I would keep Agger anyway so I'm being consistent - although I can more see the sense in selling him than Kelly.

 

Agger may be young for a centre half but he's old enough as a person and has the record to suggest he'll never be consistently fit, wheras I don't think you can say that yet with Kelly.

[Swan Red]

Our number is 8 is also starting to be increasingly troubled by injuries.

 

I'm with Leo on this one.

 

This is a ridiculous argument, the difference between Gerrard and Agger based on games played over the last few years and impact is massive. Saying that we should keep Agger because we keep Gerrard is lunacy.

 

There may be an argument to keep Agger but keeping Gerrard isn't it. In fact it's the reverse if we accept Gerrard will be missing for ~1/3 of the season we need to have a better fitness record throughout the rest of the squad.

[fred milne]

This is a ridiculous argument, the difference between Gerrard and Agger based on games played over the last few years and impact is massive. Saying that we should keep Agger because we keep Gerrard is lunacy.

Given his age, Gerrard's fitness records from 3-4 years aren't a particularly reliable guide and I supect he will be increasingly troubled by injuries in the coming years. I wouldn't get rid of him solely down to his anticipated fitness levels as he has the ability to transform the side when he is fit. I'd say Agger has shown a similar quality this season and I would prefer to keep someone of that calibre in the squad despite his tendency to injuries. I don't see that as lunacy myself, but each to his own.

[Swan Red]

Given his age, Gerrard's fitness records from 3-4 years aren't a particularly reliable guide and I supect he will be increasingly troubled by injuries in the coming years. I wouldn't get rid of him solely down to his anticipated fitness levels as he has the ability to transform the side when he is fit. I'd say Agger has shown a similar quality this season and I would prefer to keep someone of that calibre in the squad despite his tendency to injuries. I don't see that as lunacy myself, but each to his own.

 

What I consider lunacy is not the keeping of Agger as I conceded there was an argument to be made but keeping him because we would afford Gerrard the same.

 

If we do have to allow for Gerrard potentially missing more games then we need a fitter squad behind him, the more players who are likely to miss 35% of the the squad the weaker we are obviously