Liverpool Thread - Premier League Champions* 2019/20 (Part 1)

Farewell Xabi

You were good, you were damn good!!



I just hope the 2005 CL Trophy is the only one you hold, it's a shame you won't be lifting the EPL one with us this season.

Thanks for the good times Xabi. Good luck...I hope you know what your doing Rafa. I heard that we maybe in for Poulsen?

Let the buying begin. At the very least we have $30m to spend.

Do we:
a) spend it on one player or
b) share it around a couple?

 Sad to see Xadi go.

Man-U are sniffing around Silva. Do you think we need another Centre Mid? Can Lucas step up? or Plessis? It sounds like we have pretty much signed Aquilani

The rumour around Villa was to use him up front with Torres and drop Gerrard back to an attacking midfielder, essentially replacing Alonso.

I wish I new more about this Aquilani chap, Xabi has some huge boots to fill.

DUP post... TheKop2009-08-05 10:23:49

Aquilani is off and on player from memory but i could be wrong here, i know he's got a powerful shot too but that wont help if he cant pass or tackle

Don't know a lot about poulsen either... maybe we could do cash + Dossena swap for him. Dossena would get his Juve transfer.

Poulsen was seen as a crap player when Juve signed him, the panic buy for not getting Alonso last season. Other Serie A clubs ridiculed Juve for buying him, he proved to be an ok player though. But, he also has punched a player in the stomach, stamps on players ankles and general kicks the sh*t out of opposing players. Seems to have feuded with many Italian players prior to moving to Juve. Do not want to see him in a Liverpool shirt, at all.

Every team needs a player like him then, sh*t gunner should sign him

Oh so we will have two Mascheranos! Tyler2009-08-05 12:51:37

So far Liverpool today have been linked with having interest in :

 

Steven Defour � Belgian 21 year old central midfielder from Standard Liege

Alberto Aquilani � Italian 25 year old central midfielder from Roma

Christian Poulsen. � Danish 29 year old central midfielder from Juventus

I never really though he'd leave. I'll be sad to see him go. A true dictator of how we played, the controller of everything. He controlled the tempo. While Gerrard and Torres were struggling with injury, he just kept going and going. When we were at home, he kept us playing, when we were away, he made sure we were never under pressure. He very rarely played the wrong ball. I would wish him well, but I cannot stand the Madridistas. So I hope he wins f*ck all.

I like the move for Aquiliani a bit more now he's been proven in Serie A. Almost 150 games for Roma another 40 at Triestina. Highly talented and plenty of experience and still only 25. But he might have problems adjusting though, have trouble with pace of the Premier League and maybe injury and consistency problems.

The Liverpool Echo reports that we will be giving him an thorough medical when he arrives and that there is no truth to the Christian Poulsen rumours.

"But Aquilani�s fitness � or rather the lack of it � could prove a sticking point as the 25-year-old is currently sidelined having undergone surgery on his right ankle back in May.

Rafa Benitez is a big admirer of Aquilani�s technical ability but will need to be convinced that the central midfielder has recovered well enough to be able to withstand the rigours of a Premier League campaign before committing to the transfer."

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2009/08/05/alberto-aquilani-must-prove-fitness-to-liverpool-fc-as-xabi-alonso-s-move-agreed-100252-24318151/
linds2009-08-05 20:31:57

Welcome Aquilani



Rafa's stitching you up a nice shiny red shirt. Any particular number? 14's free...

Read this article a little while ago. Zola is definitely the stand out.

LFC Media Release

Rafa Benitez believes Alberto Aquilani would be an exciting addition to his title-chasing squad.

Roma have given permission for Liverpool to discuss terms with the 25-year-old, who has yet to take a medical at Melwood.

In an exclusive interview with Liverpoolfc.tv, the boss revealed how Aquilani could fit into his side.

"Roma have allowed us to talk with him, so that's good and positive. He is a player with the quality we are looking for," said Benitez.

"He can play a little bit higher than Javier Mascherano - maybe between him and Steven Gerrard.

"He has good passing - the final ball is good - and he also works. If he can settle down properly in England he can be a very good addition.

"I think the signing should excite the fans. He won the U19 European Championship with his country, and U21 too. He has some trophies - including the Italian Cup.

"I always remember one game - England versus Italy U21s at Wembley, and he was man of the match in a 3-0 win."

The Reds concluded their discussions with Roma over permission to talk to the player once the sale of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid was agreed.

Off topic, Always thought Carlo Cudicini would be on that list, had a few good seasons at Chelsea

Aquilani is an exciting signing, but i wonder if he can shoot from halfway like Alonso could

I hope he stays fit. Could be a good prospect but I hope he isn't like the other Italian player at Anfield currently.....Although Dossena did score the last goal against the maNcs didn't he? 4-1! or is my memory blurred?

This ain't looking good. I hope he's fit...

Midfielder Alberto Aquilani's medical later on Thursday could prove to be a pivotal point in his career and Liverpool's future.


Manager Rafael Benitez has identified the Italy international as the ideal replacement for Xabi Alonso, who completed his �30m move to Real Madrid yesterday.

Liverpool and Roma have already agreed a fee, believed to be in the region of �20m, but the 25-year-old must now pass the physical examination.

That will not be as straightforward as it might as the player, who made only 14 league appearances last season, has not played since Roma crashed out of the Champions League against Arsenal on March 11.

He underwent surgery on his right ankle in May but must prove he is over the injury if Liverpool are to justify spending two-thirds of their income from the Alonso deal.

Only 14 appearances last season!

Says 14 LEAGUE appearances, all up he made 20 games. But prior to that... well check his Wikipedia:

Team	Season	League		Coppa Italia		European Competitions1		Other Tournaments2		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Roma	2002-03	1	0	1	0	-	-	-	-	2	0
Triestina	2003-04	41	4	-	-	-	-	-	-	41	4
Roma	2004-05	29	0	4	0	5	0	-	-	38	0
	2005-06	24	3	2	2	8	1	-	-	34	6
	2006-07	13	1	3	0	5	0	1	2	22	3
	2007-08	21	3	4	1	5	0	1	0	31	4
	2008-09	14	2	1	0	4	0	1	0	20	2
Roma Career		102	9	15	3	27	1	3	2	147	15
Career Total		143	13	15	3	27	1	3	2	188	19

I'm hopeful that he will be a great signing, and I have a feeling that Lucas will be better this season too. I think we need to sign a 4th centreback to replace Hyypia's spot, or a centreback that can play right back too, cause I have no idea if Degen is up to the job.

True. Degen's looked a bit vulnerable in the pre-season games. He made several mistakes against Espanyol, two of which got converted to goals.

I hope your right about Lucas, I would like to see him doing a lot better.

Hi Lads, with the utmost respect for you & your lads my belated apologies for the loss of Alonso, he was one of the classiest guys in the EPL and a hell of a player...hopefully Aquaman can step up!

Game on.
brumbys2009-08-07 13:25:54

Thanks mate, it's been real hard.

We'll be ok though, we have to be ok...

Yeah gutted about Xabi although onwards and upwards. I think we'll be alright. Are the Arse going to buy anymore players?

Also Skysports has us in for Distan as a replacement for Sami

lucas is talking about leaving for corinthians... what is going on? You'd think he might fancy himself with alonso out of the picture... or is his style too similar to mascherano to play them together?

Yeah, I have read that Lucas wants to leave if he can't break the regular first team this season.

I found this article on Goal that is pretty good, Everything you want to know about Aquiliani.

I don't think pre season was a good indicator of shape for us. But Rafa likes his 4-5-1, has always liked this formation. Firstly making Cisse play right mid then Kuyt. Plus at Valencia he had the same shape with players like Baraja and Albelda in DM, Vicente and Rufete (Angulo) on the wings, Aimar at AM and Mista up front (or Carew).

Going in for Michael Turner, Hull turned down a �6m bid. We need centerbacks: Skrtel and Agger have missed the last few matches because of injury and now Carragher maybe out or atleast not be match fit for Tottenham. Mikel San Jose and Martin Kelly look like the current starting CB's judging by pre-season.

And also Aquiliani is still recovering from his surgery in May. So will be back in 2 months.

So we might be looking like this for Tottenham-

                   Reina

Johnson - San Jose - Kelly - Aurelio

          Lucas     Mascherano

Kuyt                                 Riera
                Gerrard

                Torres

I didn't realise Aquiliani was still 2 months off from playing...

That defensive lineup looks a touch scary. With SJ and Kelly filling in and Johnson still new to the side it makes for a squeaky bum start to the season.

Aurelio maybe out too, but Benitez is confident that Carragher will be back.

On the signing front Keisuke Honda has been linked, looks good to me from his stats 16 goals from left midfield (albeit in dutch 2nd division). Already scored 3 goals in 2 games in Eredivisie this season. Will add jersey sale revenue and more income from Japan. But if he can be like Nakamura or Nakata then sign him up. Even if he's as good as Inamoto

Honda definitely seems to be getting some good press lately. I don't know anything about him but he seems highly rated.

What do you think about the link with Turner? I thought $6m was a pretty fair estimate, $12m is a huge stretch.

I hope we can get one or two more. Given the sales of Alonso, Arbeloa and co we've paid off the purchases of Johnson and Aqualiani so I would hope we still have our original transfer kitty remaining.

Not for 12mil, I hope. I think Lucas might step up this season (got a nice goal against Atleti), especially with Aquilani not being able to play for around 2 months! Carra should be okay, and Kelly is class. San Jose is alright too. Good at bringing it forward. And Insua is brilliant! Distin would be good, but it sounds like its all going bad at Pompey... And as far as I can see Degen is hopeless.

Nah, missed that match. Saw some of the highlights on YT, looked like Torres and Gerrard had a few shots go begging. Off the cross bar if I recall (the vid quality wasn't that great).

Holy sh*t latest news says gerrard has pulled out of the england friendly with a groin strain... uh oh

Hopefully it isn't serious. Yeah, Torres missed some good chances. Gerrard missed a couple too. And Forlan's goal...Incredible! Even the Kop clapped it! Masch was good and our youngsters held their own in the second half. Decent game though.

Seems like our 17years with Carlsberg is going to come to an end next season Standard Chartered taking over. �15m a year will come in handy, as opposed to the �7m we got from Carlsberg. Although I like the Carlsberg branding and positioning, and now we moving to a cold faceless company.

Was bored so mocked up this:

linds2009-08-12 15:52:48