Aurelio

[Havors]

I would just like to hear peoples opinion on Aurelio's recent preformances...

I personally think he looks like a different player of late. Full of confidence and energy and is playing some great football. Are we finally seeing the player that Rafa raved about when he signed him?

I think we have two very good fullbacks in Aurelio and Arbeloa now. As long as Aurelio proves its not just a flukey few games

any thoughts?

[Kenneth]

I think he's been good since the day he signed. He's definitely in a good run of form but he's a massive improvement over Riise as he can pass the ball. Arbeloa is on a good run too, neither looks out of place in our starting line up whoever the opposition.

[MrMichael]

I think he's been good since the day he signed. He's definitely in a good run of form but he's a massive improvement over Riise as he can pass the ball. Arbeloa is on a good run too, neither looks out of place in our starting line up whoever the opposition.

Agree with that

His problem up to now has simply been fitness imo, he's always been a good player but having had so many niggling and regular injuries its no real surprise that we hadn't necessarily seen the best of him until now.

I just hope he can stay away from the physio's table for the rest of the season.

[DeeTheDog]

Is he injured for tomorrow?

[dww]

Agree with that

His problem up to now has simply been fitness imo, he's always been a good player but having had so many niggling and regular injuries its no real surprise that we hadn't necessarily seen the best of him until now.

I just hope he can stay away from the physio's table for the rest of the season.

I think thats right - he has had a decent run without long term injury and he has shown that the form he has started to show when fit for a few games really is his level rather than just something he can reach on occasion when trying to prove himself.

[red g]

arbeloa is the one who has impressed me this year, seems to really loving pushing forward this year. Aurelio always was a class act for me, just made of glass

[zimbo]

Over two legs against Real, Aurelio rarely put a foot wrong. It makes a pleasant change to have a full back that can be trusted to do his job effectively, without the worry of when his next monumental clanger is going to be dropped. [Cue 2 own goals and the concession of a penalty for pulling Anderson's hair tomorrow.]

Unforunately, I'm yet to build up the same level of confidence in Arbeloa.

[Roboklopp]

Aye, like Agger he is a very good player but sadly incredibly brittle.

[Carras_Shin_Pads]

Think he's a cracking player and a vast improvement on Riise, just be good if he could get on the score sheet a little more!

[BFG]

If he had real pace and the capacity to stay fit for more than 5 or so games at a time I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better full back in world football.

As it is he's a very worthwhile member of the squad and on current for a key member of the team.

[ric.williams]

always been a fan. only let downs are his injuries and his free kicks. he was labelled a free kick specialist and he aint that good

[BG1973]

Unforunately, I'm yet to build up the same level of confidence in Arbeloa.

based on what? Arbeloa is an excellent player.

[JonesLegend02]

Rafa was slated for it (surprise surprise) but Aurelio did a decent job in midfield down at Pompey too. I'm a fan, though Insua has the potential to be an even better bet IMO.

[zimbo]

based on what? Arbeloa is an excellent player.

It's not that I don't like him, and I think that he could develop into a quality player if he puts his mind to it. But at the moment there's just too much about his game that could be improved.

Positionally, he's still found wanting a bit too often. He gets drawn into the middle far too easily (it happened in the second half against Real on more than one occasion) and makes too many rash tackles in trying to make up for it. As a result he gives away needless free kicks, often in positions of some danger, and picks up cheap bookings.

Going forward, I just wish he'd show a genuine commitment to provide a consistent overlapping threat. Too often it seems a bit half-hearted, more out of duty than conviction, when he should be, for want of a better phrase, 'bombing on.' And he very rarely pushes on past the edge of the oppposition penalty box, preferring to stop and put outswinging crosses in from about 40 yards out, which are a damn sight easier to defend than a cross pulled back from the goal-line. That was something that Finnan did with depressingly regularity and which never failed to really tick me off.

It's not that he's a bad player; he has a lot of positive qualities. But at the moment I can imagine that a tactically astute manager may identify him as a potential weakness.

[Craig_H]

He's been good from the start, just regularly injured