Aquilani

[Mattshark]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...277121,00.html

Rather different to the headline the official site has.

Roy impressed with Aqua

Roy Hodgson is confident Alberto Aquilani can have a big impact on Liverpool's fortunes this season after admitting the talents of the Italian have caught his eye in Switzerland.

Aquilani is one of only a handful of senior players to have taken part in the Reds' training camp in Bad Ragaz, although a minor knock sustained in the friendly draw with Grasshoppers meant he returned to Melwood early.

Nonetheless, Hodgson confesses he has been encouraged by what he's seen at the Swiss retreat and believes the midfielder is eager to make up for lost time after injuries restricted him to just 26 appearances during his debut season at Anfield.

"There has never been any question about Alberto's talents," said the manager. "It is obvious for all to see that he is a gifted footballer.

"What has been the major disappointment for him is that he arrived here with an injury that took an awfully long time to clear up.

"It was only really towards the end of the season when he started to show anything like the kind of form you would have expected from the outset and that will have frustrated him.

"He has got to use this pre-season to put all those disappointments behind him and get his confidence up but what I have seen during the last three weeks has been encouraging.

"You can see every day he is working hard to improve his fitness. He clearly wants to get back to the levels he was showing before he came here and that is a positive sign."

Hodgson confirmed he will handle the likes of Aquilani with caution during Liverpool's pre-season programme and is keen to stress the dangers of demanding too much from players too early.

"We have to remember that it is going to take some time to get to where we want him," he added. "We must not ask too much from him too soon.

"I would rather be putting him on the field and taking him off too early rather than keeping him on five or 10 minutes too long, which would mean he misses a training session in the future.

"We have done a lot of tactical work but most of the work that we have been doing has been with the Australian fitness people. We are really only scratching the surface.

"But in that scratching the surface, Alberto has come out of it very well, as has Lucas, who is really the only person who can say he is a genuine Liverpool regular."

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/roy-impressed-with-aqua

[Mostar]

Rather different to the headline the official site has.


http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/lates...ssed-with-aqua

Official Site article is more what I expected Roy to say..

[kubrickscube]

Never mind Aquilani, having seen that training clip, how long till Cole knackers his ankle jumping on bloody inflatable balls?
What is this, total wipeout?

[Mostar]

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport-news/liverpool-fc/2010/07/24/liverpool-fc-s-alberto-aquilani-hopes-for-better-second-season-55578-26920748/

Liverpool FC’s Alberto Aquilani hopes for better second season

IF ANY confirmation were needed of the negligible impact Alberto Aquilani made during his debut season at Liverpool FC, it has come during the team’s pre-season camp in Switzerland.

With the majority of the senior players elsewhere following their World Cup exploits, Aquilani finds himself as the most high-profile member of a youthful training squad in Bad Ragaz.

But so unassuming has the Italian’s presence been, it is easy to forget only four players in Liverpool’s history have cost more than the £17m spent to acquire the midfielder’s services from Roma 12 months ago.

Of course, Aquilani did not have it easy, as injury, acclimatisation and the team’s general malaise last season combined to ensure a difficult first campaign.

Aquilani arrived recovering from an ankle problem which, while initially diagnosed as keeping the Italian out for another three weeks, ended up with the player sidelined for three months.

Having made his debut in the Carling Cup defeat at Arsenal in October, the 26-year-old was often left on the bench as Liverpool struggled for form and fortune.

Aquilani started the final four games of the season, including the Europa League semi-final against Atletico Madrid at Anfield in which he scored a fine goal in front of the Kop.

And now midfielder is setting his sights on showing supporters his true form in the coming campaign under new manager Roy Hodgson.

“It was a difficult season for me,” says Aquilani. “I started with an injury, it was bad for me and it was a problem for too long a time.

“When I started training I felt a lot better, I felt good. My fitness was still not the best but I was okay for the rest of the season and I didn’t miss a training session.

“But the season was not the best, either for me or the team, and this season we have to do better.

“The longer last season went on, the more comfortable I felt and the more used I was to the English game. I felt I was more able to show what I can do.

“I understand English football better and towards the end of last season I was playing more games.

“I played games in a row and with every game I was feeling better.

“I felt I was 100% fit at the end of last season. I feel my injury problems are behind me now and now I’m ready to work towards the new season.”

While happy with his goal against Atletico, Aquilani admits it was ultimately a bittersweet strike.

“It was a great moment for me to score that goal, but in the end we were knocked out on the night,” he says. “It was a big frustration because we wanted to play in the final to try and save something from the season.

“But yes, it was a good feeling to score the goal, and a good feeling to score in front of the Kop.”

Certainly, Aquilani appears to have no intention of moving on during the transfer window, a belief strengthened by his agent Franco Zavaglia yesterday.

“Alberto has had very positive conversations with Roy Hodgson and he expects to stay for at least another year at Liverpool,” says Zavaglia. “He’s very happy that he is part of his plans and Hodgson said he is very happy to have him at the club.

“There are always rumours, but Alberto is enjoying his life in England and he does not want to go anywhere. They have not yet discussed what his role will be in the team or technical matters like that, but all parties are happy for him to stay.”

Despite leaving Wednesday’s goalless draw against Grasshopper with right knee strapped, Aquilani is expected to appear when Liverpool sign off their pre-season retreat with a friendly at Kaiserslautern this afternoon.

As one of few senior players to have travelled to the training camp, he is in line for a key role in next week’s Europa League tie in Macedonia against FC Rabotnicki.

Lucas Leiva also endured a slow start to his Anfield career but won over the fans last season with consistently impressive performance.

Such is the Brazilian’s standing that few eyebrows were raised when he skippered the side in midweek.

Lucas will be another to make an appearance in Macedonia and believes gaining match fitness ahead of the first leg will once again be the prime aim today.

“The first half was very difficult on Wednesday,” says Lucas. “We still need to improve our fitness and the pace of the game.

“The second half was better. We felt better and with the games coming, we will keep feeling better and will be ready for the first official game.

“We’ve been training a lot without much time to recover. But the main target now is to get that fitness back. The friendlies are important but the training is more important so we can get the shape of the team under the new manager.”

Of being named captain, Lucas adds: “It was a great experience. I know a lot of senior players still have to come back, but I felt happy because it shows people have confidence in me at the club. I think I am showing what I can do.”

[Shanks]

“Alberto has had very positive conversations with Roy Hodgson
and he expects to stay for at least another year at Liverpool,” says Zavaglia.

“He’s very happy that he is part of his plans and Hodgson said he is very happy to have him at the club.

“There are always rumours, but Alberto is enjoying his life in England and he does not want to go anywhere.

They have not yet discussed what his role will be in the team or technical matters like that, but all parties are happy for him to stay.”

He wont be around for the long term....

[Baracus]

[QUOTE=Mostar;1658926]Liverpool FC’s Alberto Aquilani hopes for better second season

IF ANY confirmation were needed of the negligible impact Alberto Aquilani made during his debut season at Liverpool FC, it has come during the team’s pre-season camp in Switzerland.

With the majority of the senior players elsewhere following their World Cup exploits, Aquilani finds himself as the most high-profile member of a youthful training squad in Bad Ragaz.

But so unassuming has the Italian’s presence been, it is easy to forget only four players in Liverpool’s history have cost more than the £17m spent to acquire the midfielder’s services from Roma 12 months ago.

Of course, Aquilani did not have it easy, as injury, acclimatisation and the team’s general malaise last season combined to ensure a difficult first campaign.
[QUOTE]

Who are they then

Torres
Mascherano
Glen Johnson

I can't think of the other one if their is one?

[Gazzla]

[quote=Baracus;1658928][QUOTE=Mostar;1658926]Liverpool FC’s Alberto Aquilani hopes for better second season

IF ANY confirmation were needed of the negligible impact Alberto Aquilani made during his debut season at Liverpool FC, it has come during the team’s pre-season camp in Switzerland.

With the majority of the senior players elsewhere following their World Cup exploits, Aquilani finds himself as the most high-profile member of a youthful training squad in Bad Ragaz.

But so unassuming has the Italian’s presence been, it is easy to forget only four players in Liverpool’s history have cost more than the £17m spent to acquire the midfielder’s services from Roma 12 months ago.

Of course, Aquilani did not have it easy, as injury, acclimatisation and the team’s general malaise last season combined to ensure a difficult first campaign.

Who are they then

Torres
Mascherano
Glen Johnson

I can't think of the other one if their is one?

It's easily forgettable, the mighty Robbie Keane

[little dave hedgehog]

robbie keane.

[Baracus]

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport-new...5578-26920748/

[quote=Gazzla;1658931][quote=Baracus;1658928]

Liverpool FC’s Alberto Aquilani hopes for better second season

IF ANY confirmation were needed of the negligible impact Alberto Aquilani made during his debut season at Liverpool FC, it has come during the team’s pre-season camp in Switzerland.

With the majority of the senior players elsewhere following their World Cup exploits, Aquilani finds himself as the most high-profile member of a youthful training squad in Bad Ragaz.

But so unassuming has the Italian’s presence been, it is easy to forget only four players in Liverpool’s history have cost more than the £17m spent to acquire the midfielder’s services from Roma 12 months ago.

Of course, Aquilani did not have it easy, as injury, acclimatisation and the team’s general malaise last season combined to ensure a difficult first campaign.


It's easily forgettable, the mighty Robbie Keane

Ah yes..Totally forgot he played for us

Now if you compare that to the current top 4 including Man City over the years we just cannot compete we've spent 20m plus on 3 players. And 15m plus on 2 players if IIRC

Torres
Mascherano
Robbie Keane

Glen Johnson
Auqilani

[DannyMan2006]

[quote=Baracus;1658934][quote=Gazzla;1658931]

Ah yes..Totally forgot he played for us

Now if you compare that to the current top 4 including Man City over the years we just cannot compete we've spent 20m plus on 3 players. And 15m plus on 2 players if IIRC

Torres
Mascherano
Robbie Keane

Glen Johnson
Auqilani

Mascherano was £18m and Keane £19m.

Torres is the only player who has cost over £20m.

[Baracus]

[quote=DannyMan2006;1658936][quote=Baracus;1658934]

Mascherano was £18m and Keane £19m.

Torres is the only player who has cost over £20m.

I thought it was reported Mascherano was 25m, Keane 20m. Still I stand corrected. However in the scheme of things, we just can't compete with the best of teams

[dww]

[quote=Baracus;1658948][quote=DannyMan2006;1658936]

I thought it was reported Mascherano was 25m, Keane 20m. Still I stand corrected. However in the scheme of things, we just can't compete with the best of teams

IIRC the Mascherano fee was almost impossible to work out accurately as the overall value of the deal involved wages and payments to his agent (which was who we were buying him from) which usually don't get included in the transfer fees discussed by people.

[SB]

Alberto Aquilani has handed Roy Hodgson a fitness boost ahead of Thursday's Europa League clash against FK Rabotnicki.

The Italy international missed Saturday's 1-0 defeat in Kaiserslautern with a knee injury, but has responded well to treatment after returning to Melwood.

Boss Roy Hodgson said: "Peter (Brukner) told me he ran for the first time on Saturday.

"So I would expect him to be fit for Thursday."

Author: Paul Hassall

[danperkins]

Aqua hasnt got through a full season in 5 years and thats without the rough and tumble of the premier league, on the plus side he can see through walls with his crazy eyes

[Djimi Cruyff]

It's going to be intresting to see what position Hodgson plays Aquilani in.In the centre in midfield or off the front man.I'd like to see him in a 4-3-3 with Gerrard and Lucas but I'm not sure if Hodgson will divert from a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1.