Look with clear eyes

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By Brian Reece
Twitter @oldfattoad

It has been much debated over the past three to four weeks about our transfers in and out of the club, but the one name that causes more debate than any other is Aquilani, do we sell don’t we sell debates have been on every LFC forum across the globe and I have written my own views on Aquilani on EOTK on a few occasions.

But with the players imminent move back to Italy just days away many fans wonder why Aquilani is going at all, and some want to know why is he going on another loan move and some just think what the big deal is, well its simple really he has nothing to lose.

If Aquilani plays well and Fiorentina want to buy him after the loan period ends great, but if it doesn’t go well for Aquilani then he can come back to LFC and still be on £90k per week warming a bench until his next loan adventure arises, this could in theory go on and on until he has one year left on his contract and then he can demand a move which will cost LFC huge losses or leave for nothing which will be even worse financially for LFC, either way Aquilani represents everything English supports hate about foreign players, overpriced, greedy and lack of talent to price tag, just ask any Chelsea fan they have been on the receiving end of enough of this type of foreign player.

Now before everyone gets excited and starts sending hate mail, I am not saying Aquilani is a bad player I am saying he’s a bad player for LFC and its only when you look with clear eyes you can see why, yes Aquilani came to us injured and yes he needed time to adjust, but when he did play and started to adjust the impression that he made must have been so impressive that we loaned him out to Italy for a year without giving him any chance of showing what he can do or become for LFC over a whole season, what does that tell you as a supporter? It hardly fills me with sorrow to see our midfield general in waiting go, the simple fact is Aquilani just didn’t cut it in the English game and there is no shame in that, many of the so called “great European players” have not made it in the Premier League.

But what is shameful is the way Aquilani is conducting his move or moves, every year that goes bye LFC are losing money on him while he still gets paid for making little or no contribution to LFC what so ever, and the question begs that if Dalglish saw something in Aquilani you could bet your mortgage on it that he wouldn’t be going anywhere no loan deal or sale, but instead a squad number would be issued instantly, the latter has not happened in any shape or form, so who is right Kenny Dalglish or the “save Aquilani band” who must either be relatives of him or just very uneducated when it comes to judging talent plus they obviously must be more experienced than Kenny himself to make decisions with regards to the first team.

I wrote an article a few weeks ago in which I called Aquilani a “leech” and received more hate mail than a axe murderer, also these “fans” told me that Aquilani doesn’t want to go and that am taking rubbish, “he is going to be a Liverpool great” one of these lunatics told me….. “Really” is all that I have to say to them, I know that what I was saying was correct and if “leach” is not the correct word for Aquilani someone please tell me what is, because I cant think of any other polite one at present that I can put in this article.

33 Comments

  1. right pal listen I’m not going to send you any sort of hate mail over this. and I’m not saying you’re talking rubbish. but some of what you’re saying appears to be a little more presumption than hard fact. like the idea of calling him greedy? the word is he was prepared to take a pay cut just to leave England and join Fiorentina? is it really his fault that clubs are unwilling to pay the tag that’s on him? Juve predictably shorted us on the deal they agreed to considering they’re a bunch of scumbags and gangsters. I’m sure apart from the football the language and culture just doesn’t suit him. how often do you see Italian players in England? they are sort of a rarity, especially in the modern game.
    and the fact that he’d warm the bench here isn’t really fault of his either? you claim that he didn’t have the talent to match his price tag, but neither do Stewart Downing or Jordan Henderson. the one dimensional approach that Stewart Downing has on the left, we no doubt needed, but it was worth no more £12m tops. Aquilani was emblematic of that sort of inflation as well. not to mention Benitez never wanted him but was forced to buy from Roma as Liverpool had a credit note with them at the time over the unpaid fee of Riise. same with Portsmouth and Glen Johnson over the fee of Crouch they owed us. Johnson worked out a little better thankfully. I know you’ll think I’m a conspiracy theorist but under Hicks and Gillet does that not seem a feasible scenario? I received that info a few months ago.
    and not to mention, when Aquilani actually played he actually looked the part? I believe somewhere in the back end of the 09/10 season there was a run of 10 games where he contributed 2 goals and 8 assists? thats involvement in a goal per game? he prospered on his loan spell at Juve and has looked very impressive in our pre season matches? this notion that Aquilani isn’t a talented footballer is a bit far wide I’m sorry to say mate. But you are indeed entitled to your opinion.

    1. Hi Lee thanks for the great reply I agree with you on some of what you say, it refreshing to see a fan with sense without abuse good on you, but i think on Aquilani we will have to agree to disagree mate YNWA

    2. The difference is that jordan henderson and stewart downing are british players thats why they cost so much as i think the rules are going to change where a team are allowed limited foreign players!

  2. Gotta agree with you on this one. Aquilani and cole are two overpaid mercenaries who will contribute nothing to Liverpool this or any other season besides picking up their massively inflated paychecks. Personally I’d sell them for anything I could get and if not loan them out and cut our losses when they go. Great careers guys hope you’re proud!

  3. I do not consider the run-out he got under Rafa as sufficient eg if you compare it with chance Lucas got or for the matter Ngog – to mention a success and failure. And, Roy loaned him out when we needed him most. Rafa and his team made a poor judgement on the extent of his injuries, when they got him but now I would love to see him having a good run out for the next season to see if he takes on well the EPL after we ‘ve invested so much in him. Don’t forget that at one point in time even Xabi wasn’t seen as the magnificient player we know we’re missing out today. I won’t release him just yet unless on financial grounds, but then I’ll put Joe Cole as well in that list.

  4. Well I think the point is, no-one will sign him on a permanent deal. What else are we meant to do? Get someone to pay £1.5 million for a loan deal and 100% wages is surely better than him sitting here gathering dust?

  5. I agree, no doubt aquilani has potential but I don’t understand when fans say he needs to stay as he is the only creative midfielder we have besides gerrard. The simple fact is, he did have an injury when he arrived and then limited opportunity’s when he was fit, but he hasn’t yet proven himself in the epl yet and if the player truly wants to move back to Italy, then we should let him go. I don’t think we should keep a player out of his will, who are we man city?

  6. i dnt understand your way of thinking..
    i still remember the game Aquilani played under Rafa, (spurs, chelsea, atletico) and he was simply a classy midfielder..
    and when he had started to adjust with english game, he was loaned out by our flop manager..
    I simply believe if we hadn’t loaned out Aquilani, we would at least get the europa league spot, if not the champions league..
    And he has been showing his talent in all pre season game so far..
    It’s true Dalglish sign lots of midfielder, meaning that his chance will be limited, but to have lots of quality midfielder, when we still don’t know Gerrard will be injury free next season, is much better as i dont want us to be short of quality player next season..
    The one that should definitely go is Poulsen..

  7. Brian, good post. Like you I believe that Aquilani only signed for LFC for a big pay day and never really wanted for the club. This is evident due to his apparent latest demand of £1.5mill handshake to leave the club and join Fiorentina (according to the LFC website). People who say he deserves a second chance due to playing well against a couple of poor teams in Asia are very wide of the mark. He is simply not interested in playing in the EPL and besides that he is too lightweight. Assuming that one else comes in this summer we still have Cole, Meireles and Pacheco who can play a similiar role. Get Aquilani off the wage bill and lets hope KK can bring someone in who does want ot play for our club

    1. The Golden handshake wasn’t according to LFC website. It was just in rumours/transfer gossip section and clearly says they are not LFC views.

  8. firstly let’s not forget who it was that loaned Aquilani in the first place – that lover of beautiful football Roy Hodgson. Obviously as he did well for Juventus he’d want to stay there or in Italy where people are aware of his talents as opposed to here where he hasn’t been given a chance to shine.

    And yes if King Kenny wanted to keep he would but taking into consideration FSG policy of signing young British talent Kenny has bought Henderson. Along with a player who actually performed in the prem – Adam. So obviously he’ll need to trim the midfield and as Aquilani is on high wages and still unproven he’ll be one of the first to go.

    If Raul Meireles wasn’t hear u can bet ur bottom dollar Aqua man wouldn’t be for sale.

    Personally I think it’s all Roy Hodgson’s fault. If he could recognise a good player he wouldn’t have loaned him out in the first place and we could have seen if he really is good enough for LFC – instead of just guessing!

    1. Hi Sheimo i agree it was Hodgson who loaned him out and maybe ended any chance of him staying long term but two managers cannot be wrong even if one is a fool

      1. Was it Roy Hodgson or Christian Purslow that masterminded Aquilanis loan to Juventus? I was lead to believe Purslows was hte driving force behind the move

  9. Absolutely right, mate. We can feel frustrated about the money wasted on him. And angry about how his attitude is insulting fans and club. But we now have to think without him. We will not miss a man who has never been a part of lfc, and now will never. The only question is: why don’t sell him? As you said loans and loans make the risk of a free move 6months before the end of his contract.

    Well written. Great article. Good job guy. I’ll follow your tweets. Ynwa

    1. Hi and thanks for your kind words i always try to be fair to every player but i just cannot do this when it comes to Aquilani, Cole, Polusen and Jovanovic, it may seem harsh but it is true

  10. This is the story of the show pony aquilani.
    he moved to liverpool for a reported 20 million uk pounds, this indeed has been proved wrong,(sky sports)- ussual crap rubbish and the sly sports armchair people seem to think they know it all.

    The fee was indeed 17 million uk pounds, he then came injuried and didnt get fit into well into the season, the only game of note that he was fit for and played well in was the tottenham at home when we beat them, with aquilani getting a good goal, but to be fair this was about it.

    This guy and please all you loved up fans wake up! this guy was wanting to stay in italy, – full stop, and if you really think he wanted to come back here after so much media rubbish form him and his agent,after many many reports form yet again him and his agent of him wanting to stay in italy.

    Juventus dont want him – thats a fact by the way, so get over it, you lived up fans,,, and not many other clubs fancy him after the fact that juventus turned around in the verbal deal that liverpool had with them, and they did, both clubs had a deal in place for a 13.1 buy transfer, they just dont and didnt want to pay out for a very over rated player that need alot of time on the ball.

    Lets be clear he has come out only of late and said the crap about coming back to liverpool, thats nicley timed by him!! most of the crap has come from his agent, but there is no smoke without fire and you can see that the bloke just doesnt want to be here, he is on high wages here, 90 k a week, so for us to shift a player that doesnt want to be here is great news.

    What has this guy done for liverpool fans to want us to keep paying out for a player that lacks fight and the mnetality to see that give liverpool time and the club and the team are on the up…

    This player is average at best and we will not miss him at all, can you not see kenny wants fit strong hungry players who want to be here, end of.

    BUy the way did you all forget that half way through the season when aqua man got it, the first thing he asked us to do was send him back home? – and you really think he wanted to be here – he never did, and yet some fans think because he passed the ball around in two bit games in pre season – he is worth keeping, no way get rid use the wages on someone else.

    have we not had enough of the torres, mascherano, aquialni type personalities at thsi club?

    happy days he is off, fingers crossed….

  11. I am kinda’ confused about this entire episode. Don’t quite know what needs to be done. But I’m at the same time very hopeful that Kenny will make the right choice and end this prolonged saga!

  12. I m just not confused at all, can some fans just not see that these players are just not what we need?

    JOE COLE, – HE IS ALL DONE.

    AQUILANI – TO MUCH OF HIM NOT WANTING TO BE HERE AND I THINK WE ALL KNOW HE WOULD RATHER PLAY IN ITALY – FINE, SELL HIM TAKE THE 9.7 MILLION = AROUND 11 MILLION EUROS AND GET HIM OUT.

    POULSEN – COME ON GUYS, HE IS JUST PURCE CRAP, YES HE IS THAT BAD, ID LET HIM GO FOR NOTHING IF WE ARE NOT GETTING ANY TAKERS, FULHAM WOULD BE MAD TO PAY EVEN 1.5 MILL??? JUST CUT HIM AWAY AND SAY GOOD DAY.

    INSUA, IN A YEAR WHEN WE MUST GET BACK T THE TOP 4, AND YES ITS THAT IMPORTANT THAT WE DO THIS YEAR, WE CANT EVEN THINK OF THSI LAD, SLOW, CANT DEFEND AND HAS NOT STARTED AT PREM GAME FOR OVER A YEAR!! NO THANKS, ID LOVE 2- 3 MILL FOR HIM, GET HIM OUT ASAP.

    JONES – GK, SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN SIGNED, HE NEEDS TO GO, OTHER WISE WHY DID WE GET DONI?

    SOTO – TO SLOW NOW, AND NOT GETTING ANY BETTER, GETTIND DONE ON THE TURN MORE NOW AND LOOKS IN BAD FORM IN THE GAMES SO FAR THIS PRE SEASON, JUST GET RID PLEASE.

    DEGEN, EL ZHAR – JUST LET THEM WALK AWAY IF WE CANT GET EVN THE SMALLEST FEE!! PUR CRAP THE PAIR OF THEM.

    JOVANOVIC – DEAR ME WHAT A OVER PAID PLAYER THIS IS, GET RID YESTERDAY.

    INCE – BAD ATTITUDE AND IS BAD AROUND THE PLACE I HAVE HEARDM HIS TWO BIT DAD IS NOW GETTING INVOLVED AND HE IS NOT THAT GOOD ANYWAY,

    WILSON, – DEAR ME, HAVE YOU WATCHE HIM??? STAGGERING HOW WE PAID RANGERS 2,5 MILL GOING TO 5 MILL BASED ON GAMES, LET MME BE CLEAR THSI GUY IS PURE TOLIET, HE IS SO POOR AND YET SOME FANS LOVE HIM??? DEAR GOD….

    AYALA, – GOOD FOR ANOTHER CLUB IN ANOTHER LEAGUE LIKE SPAIN OR CHAMPIONSHIP FOOTBALL BUT NOT HERE LETS FACE IT HE IS NOT GOING TO GET GAMES, WITH WISDOM AROUND NOW TOO. GET RID BACK TO HIS HOME LAND REALLY.

    ANY MORE…… OH YES SHEVLEY IS JUST SO OVER RATED IM SICK OF IT, WHAT DOES HE DO, HE CAN PASS AT TIMES I WILL GIVE YOU THAT, BUT HE CANT RUN, CANT TACKLE, HE CANT READ THE GAME, AND FOR ME MARK MY WORDS HE IS JUST AVERAGE AT BEST – GET HIM OUT,

    ANYMORE…. OH YES NGOG – SELL HIM JUST TO GET HIM FORM THE WAGE BILL ID TAKE WHAT WE PAID COMING BACK IN TO BE FAIR, BUT WE COULD GET A BIT MORE FOR HIM, ANYTHING MORE THAN 3 MILL WOULD BE AMAZING….. HE IS CRAP TOO,

  13. My personal opinion is that he could still offer something to us. There are so many variables in this issue. For example, what if by the time any deal for Alberto Aqua is finalised, deals go through for players such as meireles, cole or spearing? Would those negative on Aqua suddenly have a change of heart? That would leave us considerably shorter in the midfield (in terms of quality). Another variable, FSG and J.Henry. Clearly have made there feelings be known on Albertos future, who’s to say they would sanction a deal they believe is doing us out of pocket? Variable 3- captain magnificent has another injury stricken campaign. If Stevie G suffers any further set backs, the fact of the matter is from a CM position, its meireles or aqua that will make things happen. Nobody else in that role. Adam will sit deeper than this, Henderson probably will deputize on the right or centre when needed. Fact is, none of us no the full ins and outs of the stories and rumours, and if summer ends and aqua is still here, we shouldn’t complain. Over inflated squad or not, we need to push on and get back to where we should be. The more ammunition we have for that task- the better. (This applies for Joe cole also) YNWA p.s. Pacheco can offer no more than aqua, if he can, I would like proof

  14. while bodies make us look strong when called upon we are and will be down to the trusty few, people who slate raul are just not footballers and are not followers of the game.

    He came in and did fairly well, we did not pay a kings ransom for him either, and unliek aquilani he wants to be here and works his socks off, just ring the club and ask darren burgess the head of fitness who along with kuyt is the hardest worker and willing runner! it will be raul.

    He only scored 5 goals or so, might be one out there? but for around 11.5 million in his 1st season he did more than most out of the current team, only suarez, lucus and at the end of the year maxi did better?.

    I love these one second liverpool fans who are on all the fans sites saying us, lets get raul out, ! why, what would be the thinking behined a player that gets on well with the whole set up, works hard, came out and said that he would sign for 10 – or 20 years if the club want him, he cam eto the club when we were on our knees also,,, thats naother factor, he seems loyal and he works for the team, kenny loves that.

    Raul has improved and he has now settled and he has stated over many times that he loves being here, he is going to have that season behined him also, and yet a player of aquilani who has never wanted to be here is adored by the fans who pay his wages!!! staggering really……

    for me the players that need to go and then we need to go again and buy in better ones are;

    insua, poulsen, ngog, soto, cole, aquilani.

    if we can replace that with more quality then thats what it is about, QUALITY OVER QUANTITY – any day of the week.

    so insua = pereira.
    soto = godin or coates.

    thats the type of bracket of player we need,,, we just need to stop relying on average players and its that clear.

    joe cole is done, he needs to be released, as does poulsen, degen el zhar jones and etc who give us nothing anyway so whats th point in having them here just making up the numbers??

    im all for being cold and ruthless; get these player out and if it means having less but much more quality then fine, if needs be in order to make sure we get into the top 4, just play the youth , reserve – squad players in the cups and just keep your 25 for the prem, its all about getting that status back and the revenue that comes with it, WE CAN NOT BE OUT OF THE TOP 4 AGAIN AFTER NEXT YEAR AND JOHN HENRY SHOULD AND DOES KNOW THIS,,, SUAREZ WILL GO AND SO WILL REINA, LIVERPOOL HAVE TO HIT THIS LEAGUE BIG TIME, AND ITS ALL THAT COUNTS THIS YEAR.

  15. Most of you guys are FORGETING 1 thing the FACT! That when Aquilani has played competative football for LFC his record is 10 games 8 assists and 2 goals! Now I actually can’t forsee a justified argument against that hard fact! So my arse he can’t play in the premier league that record speaks for itself!

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