Aquilani

[Mostar]

I disagree - he was looking really goood toward the end of his first difficult season and I'm really looking forward to seeing what he can do fully fit playing Kenny's quick passing, attacking game.

Same here.

Would love to see him stay and be a part of the squad for next year.

[Craig_H]

He's was injury free all last year.

Yeah, but we all know what's going to happen once he starts playing for us again in the Premier League. Please dont tell me you think it wont happen.

I disagree - he was looking really goood toward the end of his first difficult season and I'm really looking forward to seeing what he can do fully fit playing Kenny's quick passing, attacking game.

I really think that's a massive myth, TBH. He was looking 'ok' - compared to how he'd been before. But by the standards required, i really dont think he was especially good, not even during his 'really good' spell.

[destinydude]

Would keep him than Meireles.

[Craig_H]

Yeah, let's keep the one whose only record of playing for us involves about 5 games and tonnes of injuries

[destinydude]

It's about the resale value sunshine. Meireles at least gets you 12m right now. Aquilani won't.

And we already have Gerrard/Adams/Jordan/Lucas/Spearing for center mid.

[Roboklopp]

Much rather keep Raul- even if solely as understudy to Stevie.

[Craig_H]

It's about the resale value sunshine. Meireles at least gets you 12m right now. Aquilani won't.

And we already have Gerrard/Adams/Jordan/Lucas/Spearing for center mid.

That'd be great if we were playing Monopoly, "sunshine"....football is about winning, not selling your better players purely for money and accumulating a tidy bank balance.

Ask Arsenal fans....

[destinydude]

That'd be great if we were playing Monopoly, "sunshine"....football is about winning, not selling your better players purely for money and accumulating a tidy bank balance.

Ask Arsenal fans....

So you want all Aquilani/Meireles/Adam to just warm the bench? Both are good players and Meireles will fetch you more.

Moreover if Meireles stays we'd have to hike his pay. The way I see it, Kenny wouldn't have spent 16m on Jordan if he didn't deem him a starter.

Either way, Meireles has more takers, Aquilani has none and we do need cash. We are overloaded to the max at CM.

[Craig_H]

If i was picking one to sell, i wouldnt be keeping the one with no record of actually playing many games, being fit, or doing much. Because it's about who is better for the team.

Suarez has more takers than N'Gog and would fetch more - let's sell him too.

[destinydude]

If i was picking one to sell, i wouldnt be keeping the one with no record of actually playing many games, being fit, or doing much. Because it's about who is better for the team.

Suarez has more takers than N'Gog and would fetch more - let's sell him too.

Eh? I clearly told you we are overloaded at CM. It's not the same case with strikers.

The way see it, Aquilani is more mobile that Raul and we only just bought Adam/Jordan.

We still have Poulsen/Meireles/Aquilani of whom two will be offloaded. We need $$$ to still buy a LB and CF. Hence rather than having a fully fit Raul on the bench, having a half fit Aquilani makes more sense

[Mostar]

If i was picking one to sell, i wouldnt be keeping the one with no record of actually playing many games, being fit, or doing much. Because it's about who is better for the team.

Suarez has more takers than N'Gog and would fetch more - let's sell him too.

In fairness Craig we bought him injured and we knew it would take him sometime to finally get healthy. When he was finally ready, Rafa chickened out and decided to use him sporadically as we still had the chance to make it top 4 (he did look very decent at the end of that season when he played few games in a row) and it wasn't his fault that he was loaned last year.

He is healthy now and he was healthy all last year and had a very good year in terms of performance for Juve and Italy NT so to me that is very encouraging.

[Craig_H]

In fairness Craig we bought him injured and we knew it would take him sometime to finally get healthy. When he was finally ready, Rafa chickened out and decided to use him sporadically as we still had the chance to make it top 4 (he did look very decent at the end of that season when he played few games in a row) and it wasn't his fault that he was loaned last year.

He is healthy now and he was healthy all last year and had a very good year in terms of performance for Juve and Italy NT so to me that is very encouraging.

I really dont think he was all that, mate. He blended in and didnt look out of place - but he didnt stand out in a positive sense either, not for me anyway. I think people are so keen for him to justify the transfer and prove to be great, that they're skewing things a touch

As for last year, Italian football's far less physical and intense, so my expectation is still for him to get himself injured after a few appearances.

Hopefully i'm wrong on all counts, he stays fit and proves to be a very good player. I have my doubts though.

[Craig_H]

Eh? I clearly told you we are overloaded at CM. It's not the same case with strikers.

The way see it, Aquilani is more mobile that Raul and we only just bought Adam/Jordan.

We still have Poulsen/Meireles/Aquilani of whom two will be offloaded. We need $$$ to still buy a LB and CF. Hence rather than having a fully fit Raul on the bench, having a half fit Aquilani makes more sense

i was teasing a bit with the Suarez/N'Gog bit. But supposing we went out and bought 2 new strikers now, and thus became overloaded with strikers - i STILL wouldnt say "let's sell Luis and keep N'Gog, because Suarez would fetch more and has more takers" IMO, you keep the better player, because the priority always has to be what a player offers the team, above all else.

If you think Aquilani is better than Raul, then fair enough. I emphatically dont and, to put it bluntly, while i hope he'll prove me wrong, i remain convinced that, ability aside, he is not capable of playing 20+ league games for us in one season, from a fitness/injury point of view. I'm totally convinced he'll get injured not too long into the season, if he's playing games. Based on this alone (even forgetting that i simply think Meireles is a better player and/or a better fit for an English PL side), i think Aquilani should leave and not Raul.

If us being able to buy a new LB and CF is dependent on selling Meireles and the money he would bring in, then FSG will have failed us. But i dont think it is.

[Mostar]

I really dont think he was all that, mate. He blended in and didnt look out of place - but he didnt stand out in a positive sense either, not for me anyway. I think people are so keen for him to justify the transfer and prove to be great, that they're skewing things a touch

As for last year, Italian football's far less physical and intense, so my expectation is still for him to get himself injured after a few appearances.

Hopefully i'm wrong on all counts, he stays fit and proves to be a very good player. I have my doubts though.

Every player needs a confidence boost and I think he got that back finally after having a very good season in Serie A.

if Aquilani stays and gets a real chance (not few odd minutes here and there when the game is already decided but get a run of few games in a row) than I think he may make you "eat your ear" as you said it once before

[Craig_H]

If i was a cynic, i'd say that having £20m spent on you should have been enough of a confidence booster