What is it with Rafa and full backs?

[southern red]

Since Rafa became manager in 2004, he has bought Josemi, Kromkamp, Arbeloa, Dossena and Degen (ok, he was on a free, but that's all he's worth!) Add to that Aurelio who's not good enough to be a Liverpool player and Insua, who must surely be better than Dossena and is worth a run in the first team - he can't be any worse! Does he have a blind spot when it comes to buying a decent full back? To be honest, the most consistent right back over the past 5 years was Finnan, and Rafa sold him. Yes, I know that he was starting to slow down with age, but, I'm sure he could have continued to do a good job and help to nurture Darby, who looks promising - unfortunately, knowing Rafa, he'll be off on loan to Accrington Stanley before the end of the season and we'll never hear about him again (Robbie Threlfall anyone?)
Watching Dossena and Degen was embarrassing last night, Liverpool players should be better than that.

[Reece]

Well I quite rate Arbeloa personally. And I also don't understand the stick that Aurelio gets. I'd generally agree on the others though.

[Craig_H]

Since Rafa became manager in 2004, he has bought Josemi, Kromkamp, Arbeloa, Dossena and Degen (ok, he was on a free, but that's all he's worth!) Add to that Aurelio who's not good enough to be a Liverpool player and Insua, who must surely be better than Dossena and is worth a run in the first team - he can't be any worse! Does he have a blind spot when it comes to buying a decent full back? To be honest, the most consistent right back over the past 5 years was Finnan, and Rafa sold him. Yes, I know that he was starting to slow down with age, but, I'm sure he could have continued to do a good job and help to nurture Darby, who looks promising - unfortunately, knowing Rafa, he'll be off on loan to Accrington Stanley before the end of the season and we'll never hear about him again (Robbie Threlfall anyone?)
Watching Dossena and Degen was embarrassing last night, Liverpool players should be better than that.

Josemi was a cheapo, Kromkamp was sold at a profit, Arbeloa is cheap and good to boot, Dossena is a waste of space and money, Degen was a free full international and Aurelio was free and is good.

Dossena aside, there's not been any real costly errors.

I think Rafa realises that if you get most other areas right, you can do well without 'superstar' fullbacks and given our financial position, i'm happy he chose to spend most of his money on other areas.

[-V-]

Def been a problem area but i like Arbeloa alot and he is on brilliant form nowadays. Solid solid player and is getting forward alot these days. Alvaro has been superb this season.

I have a good feeling that Darby will come through and compete with Arbeloa at some point.

On the left side, Aurelio is okay. Not ideal but he is ok. Dossena looks bad at the moment but i wouldnt rule him finished just yet, he may recover

[Kenneth]

It's a fair comment. We are particularly bad in that area. I like Arbeloa, but the Dossena purchase is a real worry. We sold Riise because he'd gone ****e and we spend even money on a worse player.

[southern red]

Well I quite rate Arbeloa personally. And I also don't understand the stick that Aurelio gets. I'd generally agree on the others though.

yes, Arbeloa looks solid, however, I still don't think that he's a patch on Rob Jones at his peak, or for that matter on Phil Neal or even Steve Nicol

[Nicey]

Evra was **** in his first season .. I'm keeping my powder dry on both Deggen and Dossena ... the others are solid players especially Arbeloa who is class and anybody who questions his talent is a lazy dozy clueless ****tard

[Reece]

yes, Arbeloa looks solid, however, I still don't think that he's a patch on Rob Jones at his peak, or for that matter on Phil Neal or even Steve Nicol

Well no, but then you could say that about plenty of our players not being as good as x from our previous teams.

[MrMichael]

Since Rafa became manager in 2004, he has bought Josemi, Kromkamp, Arbeloa, Dossena and Degen (ok, he was on a free, but that's all he's worth!) Add to that Aurelio who's not good enough to be a Liverpool player and Insua, who must surely be better than Dossena and is worth a run in the first team - he can't be any worse! Does he have a blind spot when it comes to buying a decent full back? To be honest, the most consistent right back over the past 5 years was Finnan, and Rafa sold him. Yes, I know that he was starting to slow down with age, but, I'm sure he could have continued to do a good job and help to nurture Darby, who looks promising - unfortunately, knowing Rafa, he'll be off on loan to Accrington Stanley before the end of the season and we'll never hear about him again (Robbie Threlfall anyone?)
Watching Dossena and Degen was embarrassing last night, Liverpool players should be better than that.

Ouch, that's a shocking assessment of Aurelio which is nowhere near accurate. The lad is made of glass but he's not that bad a player at all.

Plus, as for Rafa's judgement of fullbacks, were it up to him Alves would be turning out for for us, and he is one hell of a player on his day. Oh, and it was him who signed Insua.

Finnan can't get a game for Espaynol and demonstrated last season that he wasn't up to the job anymore imo. Arbeloa is a decent footballer who we will make a tidy profit on if or when he's moved on... remember the way he handled Messi at the Nou Camp? Oh, and Degen (who may turn out to be pants admittedly) has only played one game for us EVER and just came back from 6 months out.

Crikey, Dr Mike prescribes a look at the league table and a health dose of anti-knee jerk pills for that man please!

[billy_mac]

Aurellio is good enough when he's fit. He looks brilliant compared to Dossena. Arbeloa is OK, can look all at sea sometimes but generally gets away with it. Finnans days were numbered from Christmas last year for some reason, he didn't play thim at all. I generally think we're OK with Arbeloa and Aurellio, not headline grabbers but what do you want from your full backs? Don't know why Dossena was signed with Insua breaking through? When money was tight it looks like a horrendous signing. We'll see how long Rafa holds on to him.

Sergio Ramos is looking for out of Real Madrid. I think Manure have a player on their hands in Rafael, haven't seen his brother play.

[MrMichael]

It's a fair comment. We are particularly bad in that area. I like Arbeloa, but the Dossena purchase is a real worry. We sold Riise because he'd gone ****e and we spend even money on a worse player.

He has certainly not impressed so far. He looked a totally different player in Serie A last season though, sometimes bringing in players from foreign leagues goes as spectacularly wrong as it does right with say, a Torres. C'est la vie really, he might improve or he might be going back from whence he came next summer, c'est la vie imo. He's the only expensive full-back "mistake" (assuming he is one) Rafa's made in that position and I reckon we can offset a lot of his cost against potential profit from Arbeloa.

Aurellio is good enough when he's fit. He looks brilliant compared to Dossena. Arbeloa is OK, can look all at sea sometimes but generally gets away with it. Finnans days were numbered from Christmas last year for some reason, he didn't play thim at all. I generally think we're OK with Arbeloa and Aurellio, not headline grabbers but what do you want from your full backs? Don't know why Dossena was signed with Insua breaking through? When money was tight it looks like a horrendous signing. We'll see how long Rafa holds on to him

Insua's not ready yet I don't think, he's tidy going forward but his decision making and defensive abilities would get exposed currently at regular first team level. I guess Dossena was brought in with the idea of Aurelio moving if the former worked out, seeing as you just can't rely on Aurelio in fitness terms, with Insua then to pressure Dossena in the coming years. The best laid plans etc etc....

[MrsB]

[southern red]

If he thought that either Insua or Aurelio were good enough, why spend £7m on Dossena? He knew that both Aurelio and Degen were injury prone, you just have to look at their records with previous clubs. Finnan is actually injured which is why he's not playing. As I said earlier, Arbeloa looks solid and has done a good job this season, so why buy Degen when you have Darby. Yes, I know Degen was a free. but we still have to pay his wages

[BFG]

If he thought that either Insua or Aurelio were good enough, why spend £7m on Dossena? He knew that both Aurelio and Degen were injury prone, you just have to look at their records with previous clubs. Finnan is actually injured which is why he's not playing. As I said earlier, Arbeloa looks solid and has done a good job this season, so why buy Degen when you have Darby. Yes, I know Degen was a free. but we still have to pay his wages

Which we'd get back plus possibly a nice little profit if it didn't work out and we moved him on. No risk with that one really.

[Reece]

No risk with that one really.

Apart from when he plays