Fabio Aurelio

[cream]

But we're unlikely to get someone of equal or better standard, on a free.

We'll end up having to pay a transfer fee to replace him, PLUS a wage package and signing on fee.

Isn't that better than paying someone to be injured all the time? As it stands, we only have one left-back, we will have to buy another one, so money will have to be spent in this area, keeping Aurelio on anything other than a pay as you play contract would then be a waste of money.

[Matt]

I bet he will. If someone's getting him for free, they'll give him a standard contract. Maybe only 2 years, but i'd be shocked if he's left with a PAYP deal.

There'd be plenty of competition for his signature.

[Shaggy]

Maybe. Maybe everyone's just not as skint as us and can't afford to piss away cash on players who sit in the stand every week.

[Matt]

He's not injured at the moment, he just isn't getting picked.

[Shaggy]

He's not fully fit though, Rafa's said as much.

[Matt]

That's not surprising if he isn't playing

[Shaggy]

But he's been injured so often this season that he just can't get going. I really want him to stay but I can't blame the club, he's a drain on resources.

[Matt]

Okay let's say he goes and Insua remains first choice.

We'll still have to bring somebody else in - wages, signing on fee etc, and on our non-existent budget we'll be looking at free's or over the hill's and I don't think anyone in those categories is a better option as back-up than Aurelio.

[saj]

IMO, he's been more or less woeful the few times he's played this year - good riddance. To think Rafa said he was a better passer than Alonso when he signed for us - I'm no football expert but I can confirm that that statement was complete bollocks. And his ability from set pieces is vastly overrated.

[saj]

Okay let's say he goes and Insua remains first choice.

We'll still have to bring somebody else in - wages, signing on fee etc, and on our non-existent budget we'll be looking at free's or over the hill's and I don't think anyone in those categories is a better option as back-up than Aurelio.

Agree he is a good backup but he's always injured.

Martin Kelly can play left back if needed.

[Matt]

IMO, he's been more or less woeful the few times he's played this year - good riddance. To think Rafa said he was a better passer than Alonso when he signed for us - I'm no football expert but I can confirm that that statement was complete bollocks. And his ability from set pieces is vastly overrated.

Really? On the rare occasion someone other than Gerrard takes them he's done ok.

I remember a thread on his free-kick ability shortly before he pinged one in against Utd.

Agree he is a good backup but he's always injured.

Martin Kelly can play left back if needed.

Can he though or are you just making up a new position for him?

[Exiled_red]

Okay let's say he goes and Insua remains first choice.

We'll still have to bring somebody else in - wages, signing on fee etc, and on our non-existent budget we'll be looking at free's or over the hill's and I don't think anyone in those categories is a better option as back-up than Aurelio.

He's a good player when fit, the problem is we only have one other left back, so he's our only cover, if Insua gets injured, we need someone who we can rely on, with Aurelio the chances are he'll be injured too.

Aurelio is 30 and has (according to wikipedia) a career total of 254 appearances (including sub appearences) compare that to Gerrard who is a similar age (Gerrard is a year younger) who has over 500 career appearances

[Exiled_red]

Agree he is a good backup but he's always injured.

Martin Kelly can play left back if needed.

I don't like the whole bigging up of Kelly that's been going on here recently, he's only played one first team game. Yes he did well in it, and he's done well in the reserves and is a promising prospect, but you can't judge a player on this basis! He's not at the level that we can rely on him regularly as the first choice back up in any position, if we are to push for silverware we need experienced back up in all positions. We can then bring the kids like Kelly, Darby, Spearing, Pacheco et al through without as much pressure.

[saj]

Really? On the rare occasion someone other than Gerrard takes them he's done ok.

I remember a thread on his free-kick ability shortly before he pinged one in against Utd.



Can he though or are you just making up a new position for him?

Yep he can play across every position at the back. I think he played LB for Huddersfield when he went on loan there last year

I don't like the whole bigging up of Kelly that's been going on here recently, he's only played one first team game. Yes he did well in it, and he's done well in the reserves and is a promising prospect, but you can't judge a player on this basis! He's not at the level that we can rely on him regularly as the first choice back up in any position, if we are to push for silverware we need experienced back up in all positions. We can then bring the kids like Kelly, Darby, Spearing, Pacheco et al through without as much pressure.

What has Pacheco done? Nothin much yet he's being bigged up. You may or may not know but Kelly did really well at Huddersfield last year. He is good enough for ur 1st team squad therefore he's good enough to be a backup, well that's my opinion.

[Exiled_red]

Yep he can play across every position at the back. I think he played LB for Huddersfield when he went on loan there last year



What has Pacheco done? Nothin much yet he's being bigged up. You may or may not know but Kelly did really well at Huddersfield last year. He is good enough for ur 1st team squad therefore he's good enough to be a backup, well that's my opinion.

No one is claiming Pacheco should be the only back up to Gerrard (or whoever) though. He's in a position where we can bring him on as and when, if Gerrard got injured he wouldn't be the only alternative. If we were to say have Kelly as the only back up to Glen Johnson, when Johnson is out Kelly would have to play, this season Johnson has been out for a long period. If it got to the stage where Kelly needed to be take out of the firing line, we couldn't do it until Johnson was fit. That IMO is why we need an experienced backup.

For the record, I've got nothing against Kelly, I would love to see him come through and be a class player for us, At the moment I just think people are getting a bit carried away after one performance, and that he's not ready to be our only back up, for bothe the sake of the club and his development.