Will Aquilani make a difference?

[kingfunk]

will aquilani make a difference?

yes.

as rafa says he will between mash and gerard so hopefully he will give mash a better option to pass to as his range and execution of passing isnt the best. from aquilani i'm hopefull we can get some dangerous passes into ste and torres and benni. i'm more than confident he will improve us no end from the mash lucas partnership.

imho he will even improve us from the Masch - Alonso partnership.

[red g]

imho he will even improve us from the Masch - Alonso partnership.

[red g]

True but I actually think he has been better this season than some players who have received little criticism. He has a problem in that every mistake he makes is highlighted more than the likes of say Mascherano as people are a/ wanting him to replace Alonso and b/some, particularly in the media want him to fail to make a story and have a stick to beat Rafa with.

For me our team hasn't gelled in a slightly revised set of tactics. This has led to poor performances from many and people are very quick to look at the things that are working well and not question if the consequences are all positive. For example our new more progressive fullbacks have done well attacking wise but clearly at the minute we are easier to break against.

For my money the problem is that we need a calm head with authority to get people to do their jobs in the right area. Which is really what we have lost in Alonso rather than necessarily his playing attributes (although maybe they were part of what allowed him to influence others, I accept that). It is a criticism I think is valid of Lucas to say he is more of a force multiplier who could make us better when we are playing well and players are interacting well and working as a unit but at the minute he tends to fight fires rather than trying to make everyone play to the plan Rafa has set out.

The outfield leaders we do have in Gerrard, Mascherano and Carra are all hot heads. The one calming influence Reina seems to have been a little less unflappable this season than in the past too.

Hopefully if Aquilani was fit he would do that more and within a more confident team we would see better performances from Lucas. I however do wonder whether some of our other players also need a tough time to grow and learn from. Kuyt looked to have reacted well to being left out of Rafa's usual role call of players he feels he needs to protect from criticism.

I think the most disappointing aspect of the season so far has been the fact that Torres and Gerrard don't look to be enjoying the games and sparking off one another as they did last season.

its not Lucas's fault at all.....and i think he is a decent squad player, he is a boy doing a mans job, one day he may become a fine player for us, just not yet

[dww]

its not Lucas's fault at all.....and i think he is a decent squad player, he is a boy doing a mans job, one day he may become a fine player for us, just not yet

I think part of the problem with developing players is that the only way for them to become men is for them to play and be given responsibility. One of the things I admire about the way Rafa brings on players is that he will only start them if he is willing to have complete faith in them at least to do the job needed in that game.

Players like Alonso have gained that sort of experience as captain at Sociedad before he came we have to see Lucas go through his growing pains. I think in some ways he has handled things at least as well as many of the other, more experienced players in what has been a trying time for all the team.

[red g]

I think part of the problem with developing players is that the only way for them to become men is for them to play and be given responsibility. One of the things I admire about the way Rafa brings on players is that he will only start them if he is willing to have complete faith in them at least to do the job needed in that game.

Players like Alonso have gained that sort of experience as captain at Sociedad before he came we have to see Lucas go through his growing pains. I think in some ways he has handled things at least as well as many of the other, more experienced players in what has been a trying time for all the team.

i think he handles himself very well, think he tries for the team but he is 22, a mere kid in premiership midfielder terms unless you are a special talent.

at the moment he lacks game intelligence and maybe is scared to take on certain balls as the crowd are hardly on his side. It was always goings to be tough following Xabi and i am sure there were many salivating at the chance to have digs at Lucas.

Course he has aquitted himself better than many this season.....but then he is the only one having to follow Xabi, and instead of 40 yard forward passes we mainly see 5 yard side passes, definitely not inspirational.

[Shaggy]

Just seen new Roma boss Claudio Ranieri on SSN. He was talking about how much he admires Aquilani and tried to get him for Chelsea. He said he spoke with Benitez last night and Rafa told Ranieri quite jokingly that "he stole Aquilani" from him. Claudio then said he wasn't sure if his team was complete without him. Seems to be highly rated by a few folk then. Can't wait to see him play

Cheers for posting.

[Craig_H]

he will add another genuine goal threat to gerrard and torres. Other than that we have no-one who is classed as a proper offensive threat.

additionally we will have a goal threat from long range which if gerrard doesnt play in midfield we dont have

Lucas isnt alonso and he isnt mascherano. I dont know what type of midfielder he is supposed to be and probably he doesnt either.

The lad has scored 13 goals in a club career spanning 143 games.

A goal threat of Gerrard and Torres' ilk, he is not.

[red g]

The lad has scored 13 goals in a club career spanning 143 games.

A goal threat of Gerrard and Torres' ilk, he is not.

In a poor roma team, what was gerrards goal ratio pre benitez? about 1 in 10?? ( guess)

i think with masher protecting him he will score a few for sure

[johnly]

Cheers for posting.

No worries mate,

[Dirk07]

The lad has scored 13 goals in a club career spanning 143 games.

A goal threat of Gerrard and Torres' ilk, he is not.

Sorry for the comparison but Lampard's return from his first 150ish games was about double what Aqui has scored however Lampard took pens as well

[Assassin]

Sorry for the comparison but Lampard's return from his first 150ish games was about double what Aqui has scored however Lampard took pens as well

90% of Lampshades goals in general play come from deflections......****ing spawny cunt!

[wiw]

I think he can and will be brilliant for us. The things he will hopefully bring (late runs, composure, technique, skill, through balls etc) are sorely missed at the moment. I'm sure it's been mentioned before but I can see him playing a Lampard-esque role for us, but with us having 2 in central midfield (presumably him and Mascher) I can see him picking up the ball from defence a lot more, as well as playing a part in attacks

[wiw]

Ok Lampard has been mentioned I see

[Assassin]

I would love to see him come into the team and start banging in a few Paddy Berger type goals from distance into the net

[Shanks]

It may put more pressure on Masch if Aqua takes up a more attacking role but hopefully we will be able to operate on the;

"we'll score more than you"