Is it time for Alberto Aquilani to get a run in the Liverpool team?
28th October 2009, and Liverpool fans were more excited than they usually would be about the 4th round of the Carling Cup. On the long trip down to the Emirates Stadium, buoyed by the two nil victory over Manchester United three days earlier - the travelling Kop couldn't wait to see Alberto Aquilani in the first team.
It was always said that it would take a while for the first glimpse of the Italian playmaker and, although it took longer than first imagined, his gradual introduction to Liverpool Football Club began against a second string Arsenal side.
The last quarter of an hour was all he got but was still enough to whet the appetite of the supporters looking eagerly for a saviour to their already disappointing season. Comparisons to the departed Xabi Alonso were inevitable and a couple of beautifully weighted passes out wide didn't do anything to remove the probably unwanted and highly pressured tag of 'Alonso's replacement.'
There is no doubt that Liverpool's poor start to the season increased the desire for the new number four to be thrown in as soon as his ankle had recovered. The central midfield partnership between Javier Mascherano and Lucas wasn't proving too fruitful, particularly in games against lesser sides, and change was needed.
Boxing Day's victory at home to Wolves was Aquilani's first Premier League start and although largely unspectacular, the home faithful were satisfied with his close control and quick passing and a better judgement could be made of him than his only other start - the dead rubber against Fiorentina.
The Christmas period is a demanding time in the football calendar and Rafael Benitez probably wouldn't have wanted to throw him in three days later at Villa Park. Mascherano's suspension made this necessary and again he was fine as Liverpool snatched a crucial win against one of their rivals for fourth place.
The manager, pundits and past players warned the supporters not to expect too much too soon from Aquilani, but it seems some are losing patience already.
The Reading result would have been a turning point for some, but the victory over Bolton at the end of January was when the odd voice of disapproval at a mistake, turned in to a more congregrated groan that usually meets a misplaced pass from Lucas.
Although it was refreshing to see a central midfield player getting into the box, he actually set up the crucial first goal for Dirk Kuyt, it was a total role reversal as people were relieved to see the much maligned Brazillian replace him after the hour mark.
His frustration must have increased this month as he didn't start massive games against Everton and Manchester City, and although illness ruled him out against Arsenal, he probably wouldn't have started anyway. The largely forgettable home win over Unirea Urziceni was the only match where he was in from the off, but it wouldn't have given him much confidence when Daniel Pacheco, the man who replaced him, shone and made the only goal in a brief cameo appearance.
Of course he needs time and there have been flashes of what is to come. One attempted back heel against Spurs might not seem a lot, but it showed that he is on a more creative wavelength than the majority of the team, he has something different that is required in the final third. The Tottenham game was his best so far, and he seemed more comfortable in a more advanced role. Perhaps that would be better for him whilst he is still adapting to England, it is totally opposite to Serie A.
With Blackburn, Wigan and Portsmouth the next three league games, could it be time for Aquilani to finally get a little run in the team? It's certainly worth a go, but up for debate as to whether he will play on the awful Wigan pitch.
The best of Alberto Aquilani won't be seen until after this strange season has finished, but this next month could go a long way to seeing the Roman properly start his Liverpool career.
Older/Newer
« Dominic King: 100 up for Daniel Agger at Liverpool FC | Rainy Romania »
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Is it time for Alberto Aquilani to get a run in the Liverpool team?. TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.liverpoolbanter.co.uk/cgi-bin/mt421/mt-tb.cgi/194168
5 Comments
Leave a comment
Keep up to date
Liverpool Twitter
Follow me on Twitter
Technorati
Blogs that link here
Of course not. Instead, it is time for Aquilani to pack his bags and return to Italy. He is not the player Rafa has made him out to be.
rubbish comments from parkes, obviously not showing any patience or understanding of the demands of moving to the premierleague.
his creativity, in my opinion, needs to be utilised in the support striker role. when gerrard dropped back into midfield, aquilani seemed to be more free and the team more structured as gerrard could spray balls left and right.
however, that being said, we must all remember that we know only 1/10th of what the manager knows, and that we are not nearly as qualified nor will we ever be to pass judgement on his decisions. so unless we are ready to dance with the devil, we should keep our mouths shut and our critiscms to ourselves.
For goodness sake . just let the man play . Then some comments may or may not be appropriate. Not enough has been seen of man to make any comment even halfway intelligent about his playing ability. Is it not said that "fools rush in...." ?
Wayne For christ sake the player has not played 5games in a row for pool he's a creative player in the mould of modric but he needs game time not training. games - be patient rafa's fault was he needed a replacement immediately for xabi which he never got his stupid decision as a player like murphy he could have gotten cheaply just to fill that role then less pressure on Aquaman
He still needs time to build up his fitness, im sure the manager and coaching staff could see how effective he was in the support striker role so im sure it is just about building him up in the right type of games nothing more. Im fairly certain we will all be gushing about him next year if he his handled well.