So, what of Aquilani?

[IN_RAFA_WE_TRUST]

Big game this weekend Inter v Juve
my second team used to be Juve.

Sunday 7:45pm kick off

I'll be watching.

[Roboklopp]

http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/842640-alberto-aquilani-praises-liverpool-fans-but-hints-at-issues-with-hodgson

[Chris]

Don't think he played last night, did he?

Injured?

Ineligible.

I miss him, seeing those two plod around in central mid yesterday and him farmed out on loan sickens me. We got glimpes of what he could do last season in games like Spurs and Atletico where he was very good. Gerrard in particular seemed to love playing with him.

[Craig_H]

But there's absolutely no way he was the flop he was painted as either. Yes he was injured a lot, and yes that definitely makes the value of the signing hghly questionable. When the press write off a player, it takes a lot to turn that view around because they dont watch that many games themselves.

But when he had a consistent run, I thought he looked like a really useful player. He had some excellent performances for us in the second half of last season - Portsmouth, Athletico, etc - and some of the movement and link-up play from our front four when he was playing was great. I was genuinely hopeful about him for this season.

Signing him may not have been a great idea, but once he was here and starting to play well, getting rid of him was crazy.

Possibly true that we should've kept hold, but the fact remains, he played a grand total of 18 PL games for us.

[Mostar]

But there's absolutely no way he was the flop he was painted as either. Yes he was injured a lot, and yes that definitely makes the value of the signing hghly questionable. When the press write off a player, it takes a lot to turn that view around because they dont watch that many games themselves.

But when he had a consistent run, I thought he looked like a really useful player. He had some excellent performances for us in the second half of last season - Portsmouth, Athletico, etc - and some of the movement and link-up play from our front four when he was playing was great. I was genuinely hopeful about him for this season.

Signing him may not have been a great idea, but once he was here and starting to play well, getting rid of him was crazy.

Absolutely. I also was really looking forward to seeing him more this year or at least to be given a chance to play more regularly. It was a joke to let him go on a loan. The way we play we sure could use his creative abilities.

Possibly true that we should've kept hold, but the fact remains, he played a grand total of 18 PL games for us.

In honesty Craig who is to blame for that. It's not like we didn't know he was injured when we signed him and then when he was ready to start and needed to play Rafa either subbed him at 60-minute mark or left him to rot on the bench until we had no chance to qualify for top 4.

[dww]

MOTM for Juve last weekend and was applauded off the pitch.

At least we're "protecting his value"

Although I think it was said we agreed a fee for the end of the season

[saj]

Quality player. Much better than Meireles IMO.

[RichC]

Quality player. Much better than Meireles IMO.

He did nothing at Anfield but warm the bench or the treatment table - some players don't suit a league IMO he is one of them

[Mattshark]

He did nothing at Anfield but warm the bench or the treatment table - some players don't suit a league IMO he is one of them

He played very well at the end of the season though, he barely played enough games to even settle.

[saj]

He did nothing at Anfield but warm the bench or the treatment table - some players don't suit a league IMO he is one of them

So he was injured and therefore not suitable?

We bought him injured. What about when he played? He clocked up 7 assists I think and 2 goals. In the few games he played for us, he was impressive moreso than the likes of Meireles, Poulsen and Lucas. What I will say is, he is not physical enough for the premiership. Technically, he was superb. Great movement, good passer, quick, a good eye for goal, had a good work rate and he moved all over the pitch.

[saj]

He played very well at the end of the season though, he barely played enough games to even settle.

Exactly

Peoples opinion of him is blinkered just because we got rid of him. He showed more potential in those games than the likes of Cole, Meireles and (****ing) Poulsen have so far. Cole should come good though. Meireles I doubt - i doubted the signing of him and playing him on the wing won't help him.

[RichC]

So he was injured and therefore not suitable?

We bought him injured. What about when he played? He clocked up 7 assists I think and 2 goals. In the few games he played for us, he was impressive moreso than the likes of Meireles, Poulsen and Lucas. What I will say is, he is not physical enough for the premiership. Technically, he was superb. Great movement, good passer, quick, a good eye for goal, had a good work rate and he moved all over the pitch.

Yes basically, the physical side of the PL didn't seem to suit him that and the weather not playing due to a cold !!

And you're point about playing games he did ok but how many games would we really get out of him over a season? Not many would be my guess.

[RichC]

He played very well at the end of the season though, he barely played enough games to even settle.

Agreed he did but you have to ask why 2 managers in a row (rafa and roy) both seemed to not rate him?

[Mattshark]

Agreed he did but you have to ask why 2 managers in a row (rafa and roy) both seemed to not rate him?

I think that is nonsense, Rafa played him near enough completely through the tail end of last season.

Roy imo, is a terrible judge of players.

[Maxiedge]

MOTM for Juve last weekend and was applauded off the pitch.

At least we're "protecting his value"

Juventus ****in owe us big time.