Liverpool v Unirea Post Match

[el matador]

im disappointed to hear that he didnt play well.

another creative player comes to liverpool and doesnt perform.

i suppose this is probably why rafa buys players with a work ethic instead because at least you know with them what youre getting.

[ufc43]

Aquilani's time at Liverpool has been appalling, I can't see the great player in him.

He's not physical, he's not strong, he's not pacy, he doesn't demand the ball, he doesn't put a shift in, he's not quick minded, he can't tackle, and he passes sideways way more than Lucas ever has.

Trying not to slag the lad too much but he looks like a player who can only play in the slow pace of the Italian league.

As for the performance, all perspiration, no inspiration really. Babel tried and didn't do too bad when he came on, Pacheco had a couple of decent touches, Gerrard tried, Mascherano did his job excellently.

I agree 100%. You saved me having to type the above comments.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

Hope all the people asking me why babel should have started in the pre match thread realise why now..

[Vermilion]

On another night we could have scored 10, i like the fact N'gog does'nt hide after missing chances and getting grrrr's off Stevie.

http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/4802306/

[-V-]

Our subs were the best thing about last night. The only positive. But Rafa won't give them any game time on sunday, Babel will go back to not trying and Pacheco will be wasted in the reserves

[PTP]

my brother was at the game last night and he said that he had massive concerns over Aquilani who looked terrible last night.

I didnt watch the match as I was working but apparently I didnt miss much.

Its wierd how we look lacklustre without Torres even with the likes of kuyt and gerrard in the side.

But the aquilani thing does worry me. Was anyone else at the game and did he really play that bad ?

yeah was at the game - most people around us all said the same - you could here other peoples conversations as it was that quiet

It’s harsh to be so critical, the lad had bad injuries, and any player who misses a pre-season struggles to get into it – added with the fact he has come to a new league etc – it is difficult.......but........he has featured enough now, or at least has ‘been available’ enough, to have should something – for me, i just haven’t seen any little tiny glimpse that has made me think “hmmm, i can see why we wanted him” - He doesn’t look like he can head the ball, doesn’t seem to have much pace, power or strength, seems afraid of tackling and shooting. – all i’ve seen is a few nice touches, and tidy passes – the majority of which he wasn’t under much pressure from the opposition.

He has made 14 appearences – so still early days – i hope he proves me wrong – but as i’ve said, i’d be shocked if he was here past next season – i’d even go as far to say that, if..... something good happens on the investment front – ie, all of a sudden everything is sorted and we have £100m to spend in the summer plus anything we make from sales – he’d be gone.

I think, what his signing comes down too is – we are skint, Alonso was going for big money, and rafa was told you have **** all to spend on a replacement – rafa searched, he knew he needed a ‘name’ – and iirc the deal with roma was for like £5m and it would only rise to the £20m quoted if he actually went on to get fully fit and became a bit of success playing regularly – which if it was the case then it would be great, but i wouldn’t be surprised to find that if he struggled to make it to say 50 appearances by the end of next season, be it due to injuries or form or just being ****e – he’d be bombed back to Italy for around £8m and we won’t actually have ‘lost’ any money on him

[Exiled_red]

Yes Aquilani was poor last night, he's still only played a handful of games, and isn't fully fit, isn't used to the English game (ok last night was Europe, but I'm talking in general) and isn't used to the system. Don't get on the lad's back, judge him next season.

I'd again use him sparingly, off the bench when possible. Lucas has been doing well (even though some people won't acknowlege it )

[Assassin]

One positive thing about Aquilani last night, he kept his passing simple most of the time, unlike other games when he was trying too hard to make "hollywood" passes all of the time

[Guest]

One positive thing about Aquilani last night, he kept his passing simple most of the time, unlike other games when he was trying too hard to make "hollywood" passes all of the time

He doesn't have 'Hollywood looks' to be fair to him so maybe Rafa had a word in his ear on that one.

[Exiled_red]

One positive thing about Aquilani last night, he kept his passing simple most of the time, unlike other games when he was trying too hard to make "hollywood" passes all of the time

I think the nature game would have had that effect, faced for the majority of the game with 9 or 10 players between him and the goal the hollywood ball was never really an option IMO.

[PTP]

regarding aquilani - just looking at his stats on bbc he is what 25/26, and only made 96 starts in his career including internationals! - with 59 sub appearances - a total of 155 competitive appearances - 41 of which were in Serie b on loan - am i reading that right - cause that is **** all he made is debut at 18, so average about 20 games a season

SELL SELL SELL

[Rich]

regarding aquilani - just looking at his stats on bbc he is what 25/26, and only made 96 starts in his career including internationals! - with 59 sub appearances - a total of 155 competitive appearances - 41 of which were in Serie b on loan - am i reading that right - cause that is **** all he made is debut at 18, so average about 20 games a season

SELL SELL SELL

It's looking more and more like a disastrous signing

I honestly can't see the potential in there either anymore - what's his best position?!

[Big-Red-Ed]

as i said previously i think Aqualani will leave i don't think he is settling well nor showing any glimpses of form to suggest he is a £20million player regardless of injuries .........

I think Aquilani will be the final undoing of rafa.

[BobTheCharmer]

Dirk played well last night. There was one pass to Carra down the line that would have had us in on goal but for Carra's lack of pace and touch.

Another break towards the end where the quick thinking Dirk volleyed it forwards and we had 5 against 2 yet Pacheo let him down with his inability to head the ball properly. Shame.

[Big-Red-Ed]

Collectively we can't pass quickly enough. When we pass the ball eventually it is not with accuracy. When we do receive the ball we can't control it. When we do no one is taking up good positions to pass on to. When we do no one is in the box to receive a pass. When we do our one striker invariably misses.

Repeat to fail.

Our spine isn't too bad. Reina, Agger, Mash, Gerrard, Torres. Everyone else is ****.

I am feeling very down about all of this. I have never seen worse in all my years.