Topic: The bit where everyone despaired about Aquilani and it got locked...

[smicer07]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18995512

Like I said, actions speak louder than words.

[Dubai_Red]

like many i also think it would be a mistaken selling AA given who we have in our squad at the moment, but will wait to see who we replace him with before jumping on the bandwagon of dispear!

[Melbred]

All I've found is his agent's comments, which are irrelevant. Anyway, as I've said many times, actions speak louder than words, and all his actions tell me he doesn't want to be in England. Nothing wrong with that though, happens to loads of players.

Educate yourself.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1127417/alberto-aquilani:-liverpool-'forced'-me-to-leave-on-loan?cc=3436

[Hazell]

Like I said, actions speak louder than words.

Good one. Lets ignore what he says because it doesn't fit my agenda.

[Fordy]

Apparently not.

Adam has nothing to do with anything(Lets not turn it into an Adam thread and get it locked)

The club more want to cut wages.

AA might not want to be at the club while no matter how much you slag off Adam he does.

Get use to more Adam like players on low wages signing for this club Borini, Allen. These players will be here to stay for a while.

[Melbred]

Like I said, actions speak louder than words.

Actions you say, but what was the lad meant to do when he was forced out at every opportunity?

[steveeastend]

Fair enough. But assuming that having aquilani on our books would have made us competitive against those teams is not justified . Think going forward, we as fans, need to accept these as our best cm options because not being in cl is hurting us big time. Upto BR now to get the best out of them maximize results.

No but I hoped he would be just part of an improved squad, a group of 6 to 8 midfielders offering as much quality we could possible have around while sorting the market for the next transfer window. We have to play euro league which is a hell of a challenge considering thursday/sunday games...

There is no long term without the short term. We still haven´t learned that lesson..

[El Denzel Pepito]

For fuck's sake. I'm sure it's been argued to death since the news broke but seriously what are we doing selling this lad? He's 'happy for the first time' here and in a season where we're in 4 competitions (one which has 16+ games to the final), we're open to selling him.

Comparing the midfielders we had between 2007-10 to what we have now. Fucking disastrous. The dip in quality is shocking.

[Il Capitano]

We did this without aquilani or meirles (both shithouses)

Oh god. I'm done, I'm really fucking done.

Tell you what is a fucking shithouse: being so unable to do anything of note with the ball that you spend all game fucking hiding from it. I'm done arguing the bollocks out of this, I swear I'm getting high blood pressure.

[marcus50bucks]

Alberto Aquilani in sight of Anfield exits with Fiorentina move

Tony Barrett, Gary Jacob
Published 1 minute ago

Liverpool’s two-year quest to find a buyer for Alberto Aquilani appears to be nearing a conclusion after the midfielder travelled to Italy yesterday to complete a transfer to Fiorentina.

Aquilani was given permission to fly to Italy from Baltimore rather than return to Merseyside at the end of Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the United States after Fiorentina had an undisclosed offer accepted.

The 28-year-old, a £17 million signing from Roma in August 2009, has spent the past two seasons on loan at Juventus and AC Milan respectively, although neither club took up the option of a permanent deal. Aquilani’s departure will help to facilitate the arrival of Joe Allen, the Swansea City midfield player.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/...cle3491019.ece

[Live in the Now]

You mean the two best teams in Italy, who were better than Liverpool, in the past two seasons?

The year Aquilani was with Juve they finished 7th, they weren't better than us. They went and upgraded their midfield to shoot to the top. He started 18 matches in all comps for Milan last season, he wasn't a permanent fixture for them last season either. They decided not to play him rather than pay 7m. You be the judge.

I think Aquilani could be a very good player for us, but if the manager doesn't think so it's completely understandable. Roy, Delneri, Conte, Kenny, Allegri, Rodgers (if this happens) all thought it was better to not keep him around. If all those men thought so then it makes sense to me.

[CHOPPER]

FML.

And so the merry-go-round turns. How can three managers possibly be wrong when the rest of their transfer dealings were so stellar?

Obviously no manager has a 100% record. The problem we have here, is that what was has really going on is so clouded no-one has a full understanding of whats gone on over the last 3 years. The only constant has been the cloud that has hung over the player.

For me - yes the managers to a degree haven't played this right, nor have those within the club, but also nor has Aquilani himself and now we look like we will be drawing this saga to close. Why people pinned there hopes on him so much I didn't get, but, I knew he was half decent, but as a club we move on and move on we must.
I just hope people don't beat other players with the 'and we got rid of Aquilani' stick, if they do, it'll be as unprofessional and cuntish as those who they have claimed to have been so unprofessional and cuntish towards Aquilani.

[Rohit]

Adam has nothing to do with anything(Lets not turn it into an Adam thread and get it locked)

The club more want to cut wages.

AA might not want to be at the club while no matter how much you slag off Adam he does.

Get use to more Adam like players on low wages signing for this club Borini, Allen. These players will be here to stay for a while.

Adam like players, come on mate even you know that doesn't sound right. Fact is those sort of players will see us plummet down the table. Signing younger players that are talented for smaller wages isn't a bad thing. Gonzalo higuain is only on 3m a year real madrid and he was bought as a young an upcoming youngster but he progressed. Our problem has been giving older players that contribute little and giving them 60+ grand a week which make it hard to shift them on.

[Hazell]

Oh god. I'm done, I'm really fucking done.

Tell you what is a fucking shithouse: being so unable to do anything of note with the ball that you spend all game fucking hiding from it. I'm done arguing the bollocks out of this, I swear I'm getting high blood pressure.

Come on, Meireles moving out of the way of a two footed tackle by Rafael and Aquilani, well, I guess being a creative midfielder with long hair - both of them are shithouses. How can they not be?

[Rococo]

Is he a good player?  Probably.  Is he ever going to be a good Liverpool player?  Probably not.

Personally think it's good news if he's off, it's gone on way too long already

[Barry Banana]

For fuck's sake. I'm sure it's been argued to death since the news broke but seriously what are we doing selling this lad? He's 'happy for the first time' here and in a season where we're in 4 competitions (one which has 16+ games to the final), we're open to selling him.

Cos he's not good enough. A nice touch is useless if you're a shithouse who won't tackle or head, and who goes missing after one hard tackle.

Disagree with this assessment? Well several managers haven't wanted him.

He's not as good as you think.

[Melbred]

Adam has nothing to do with anything.

The club more want to cut wages.

AA might not want to be at the club while no matter how much you slag off Adam he does.

Get use to more Adam like players on low wages signing for this club Borini, Allen. These players will be here to stay for a while.

Adam-like players, I fucking hope not. Players like Borini and Allen I can actually get behind because they're actually good, as is Aquilani. That's essentially what we need to be looking at. Getting in/keeping good footballers who suit the way we play, and getting rid of those who don't.

I take your point about the club wanting to cut wages though, and admit it's a little worrying - but at the same time can understand why we need to be prudent with wages, with the absurd amounts we've given out over the past few years. But wait and see and all that.

[steveeastend]

Hahah oh my word, you hammer absolutely everything we do, yet Man Utd's Paul Scholes retiring and being replaced 6 months later by errrr Paul Scholes is boss? Come on now. At least come up with proper arguments you're either making stuff up or writing shit like that.

I am writing about their EFFORT of trying to replace him just as the effort of Chelsea to rebuild their squad...

And then compare it to our effort. Look at our current midfield and compare it to the one when Rafa left.

[Fuson]

Don't remember Rafa trying sell him do you? Roy replaced him with Cole how did that turn out for us? and Kenny(drove) in Adam how did that work out for us? Rodgers i willing give benefit of the doubt see his replacement. So far none of them have been rite which has only been 2 untill Rodgers proves his decision rite.

Pretty sure it all began with Rafa. He signed him, and while healthy game after game chose not to play him. It's what started all the conspiracy theories in the first place. 

[Redeo]

Educate yourself.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1127417/alberto-aquilani:-liverpool-'forced'-me-to-leave-on-loan?cc=3436

What else is he gonna say? Can you imagine him saying this, perhaps: PL has proved too fast-paced and difficult for me to secure a spot in the Liverpool squad for 2-3 years. For that reason the club has preferred to loan me so that they would not pay wages that are disproportional to my role in the team.

Surely, the above is at least possibly true...

[iamrobk]

Would have liked him to stay, but it was never going to happen so I'm glad this saga appears to finally be reaching its end.

[mb1111]

I am writing about their EFFORT of trying to replace him just as the effort of Chelsea to rebuild their squad... pure money wise.

And then compare it to our effort. Look at our current midfield and compare it to the one when Rafa left.

So failing to replace Paul Scholes was a good thing? Your logic is utterly bizarre but whatever.

[B_I_F]

Educate yourself.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1127417/alberto-aquilani:-liverpool-'forced'-me-to-leave-on-loan?cc=3436

Talking about "education"... Are we supposed to believe everything he says?

[Rome 84]

Alberto Aquilani in sight of Anfield exits with Fiorentina move

Tony Barrett, Gary Jacob
Published 1 minute ago

Liverpool’s two-year quest to find a buyer for Alberto Aquilani appears to be nearing a conclusion after the midfielder travelled to Italy yesterday to complete a transfer to Fiorentina.

Aquilani was given permission to fly to Italy from Baltimore rather than return to Merseyside at the end of Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the United States after Fiorentina had an undisclosed offer accepted.

The 28-year-old, a £17 million signing from Roma in August 2009, has spent the past two seasons on loan at Juventus and AC Milan respectively, although neither club took up the option of a permanent deal. Aquilani’s departure will help to facilitate the arrival of Joe Allen, the Swansea City midfield player.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/...cle3491019.ece

I don't think that's right. Aquilani's definitely gone to Italy but I don't think a fee has been agreed with Fiorentina.

[Tepid water]

I don't think that's right. Aquilani's definitely gone to Italy but I don't think a fee has been agreed with Fiorentina.

Which fucker wrote that then?!

[Tepid water]

Do pork scratchings technically count as a fee these days?

[Hazell]

I don't think that's right. Aquilani's definitely gone to Italy but I don't think a fee has been agreed with Fiorentina.

Some reports are saying £7m. You not heard anything like that? Or are we trying to get that much?

[Melbred]

What else is he gonna say? Can you imagine him saying this, perhaps: PL has proved too fast-paced and difficult for me to secure a spot in the Liverpool squad for 2-3 years. For that reason the club has preferred to loan me so that they would not pay wages that are disproportional to my role in the team.

Surely, the above is at least possibly true...

If you can't see past the bad management of the lad in the past few years then you are blind. First with Purslow and Hodgson - couldn't wait to get him out, and replace him with Joe Cole. And then Kenny and Comolli who came out saying that there isn't a place for Aquilani in the squad because Gerrard plays in his position. That fucking turned out well didn't it?

Don't really know how anyone can dispute the fact that he'd been forced out.

[Clonsilla Red]

Hopefully we just get some money from him now and draw a line under what a disaster of signing he was and move on. Just as long as its not another loan another Aquilani thread this time next year would be too much to take.

[Fordy]

I don't think that's right. Aquilani's definitely gone to Italy but I don't think a fee has been agreed with Fiorentina.

Either way mate it looks like his days at Liverpool FC are numbered.

[marcus50bucks]

I don't think that's right. Aquilani's definitely gone to Italy but I don't think a fee has been agreed with Fiorentina.

But you wrote it, no?

[Tepid water]

No way £7m surely?

Even €7m seems v steep considering Milan offered to pay nothing for him.

[Tepid water]

But you wrote it, no?

But not always what a Journo writes is what ends up being printed.

[Melbred]

Talking about "education"... Are we supposed to believe everything he says?

If you can't see past the bad management of the lad in the past few years then you are blind. First with Purslow and Hodgson - couldn't wait to get him out, and replace him with Joe Cole. And then Kenny and Comolli who came out saying that there isn't a place for Aquilani in the squad because Gerrard plays in his position. That fucking turned out well didn't it?

Don't really know how anyone can dispute the fact that he'd been forced out.

[El Denzel Pepito]

Cos he's not good enough. A nice touch is useless if you're a shithouse who won't tackle or head, and who goes missing after one hard tackle.

Disagree with this assessment? Well several managers haven't wanted him.

He's not as good as you think.

In his few games here, he showed he was definitely good enough or had the ability to be a key member of our squad if he got regular games and settled in the side. This is the first year in which he said he's happy himself and I'm sure we could have made more use out of him this season. He's not a shithouse. A shithouse would be someone like Downing who hides in big games or under pressure, not someone who 'won't tackle or head' (which Aquilani does do). The only manager who truly didn't want him was Hodgson. He was deemed as an extra under Kenny as we had Gerrard in his position and that turned out to be a disastrous decision. Juventus and Milan got him on loan and used him, they fucked us over with the deal and made the most of it.

[Hazell]

If you can't see past the bad management of the lad in the past few years then you are blind. First with Purslow and Hodgson - couldn't wait to get him out, and replace him with Joe Cole. And then Kenny and Comolli who came out saying that there isn't a place for Aquilani in the squad because Gerrard plays in his position. That fucking turned out well didn't it?

Don't really know how anyone can dispute the fact that he'd been forced out.

Are we supposed to believe everything Comolli and Kenny say?

[AisoD]

If you can't see past the bad management of the lad in the past few years then you are blind. First with Purslow and Hodgson - couldn't wait to get him out, and replace him with Joe Cole. And then Kenny and Comolli who came out saying that there isn't a place for Aquilani in the squad because Gerrard plays in his position. That fucking turned out well didn't it?

Don't really know how anyone can dispute the fact that he'd been forced out.

Agree.

It's amazing how often we devalue our assets and no doubt our treatment of Aquilani devalued his worth in the transfer market. Liverpool are clowns in the market and I would never trust what the clowns that run our club feed to the public.

[El Denzel Pepito]

What else is he gonna say? Can you imagine him saying this, perhaps: PL has proved too fast-paced and difficult for me to secure a spot in the Liverpool squad for 2-3 years. For that reason the club has preferred to loan me so that they would not pay wages that are disproportional to my role in the team.

Surely, the above is at least possibly true...

Or he could not have said anything about it, simple as that. Reading way too much into it.

[steveeastend]

So failing to replace Paul Scholes was a good thing? Your logic is utterly bizarre but whatever.

They tried it although the Glazers policy will finally bring em down in a couple of years. But the sad thing will be that it´s not us benefiting from this. It´s the Chelseas, Citys and Arsenals as we just continue to shoot in our foot for the sake of one long term plan after the other.

THIS season we could have needed Aquilani just as Meireles the last one as our squad is too thin for being able to get rid of ANY quality.

[CHOPPER]

If you can't see past the bad management of the lad in the past few years then you are blind. First with Purslow and Hodgson - couldn't wait to get him out, and replace him with Joe Cole. And then Kenny and Comolli who came out saying that there isn't a place for Aquilani in the squad because Gerrard plays in his position. That fucking turned out well didn't it?

Don't really know how anyone can dispute the fact that he'd been forced out.

Aquilani has done himself no favours over the last 3 years. It's not all a one-way street.