The absence of Alberto Aquilani from Liverpool’s previous two games has really got me thinking as to whether Rafa Benitez really does want the Italian midfielder at Anfield next season. With Fernando Torres out and a home match against a weak West Ham side on Monday, it seemed the perfect opportunity to give the player a run out in a match of relatively little consequence. Certainly, one of the major reasons why Aqua didn’t play in the match was Rafa’s decision to opt for a 4-4-2 formation, with Steven Gerrard reverting to a more orthodox central midfield position while David Ngog and Dirk Kuyt occupied the two striking berths. The change certainly worked as we came out 3-0 winners but the absence of Aquilani made me fear that rather than form and fitness being the issue, he is just not fitting in.
The choice of picking Lucas ahead of him against the Hammers was not at all surprising, considering Rafa likes at least one defensive midfielder, but if Xabi Alonso was at the club, there is no doubt in my mind that he would have been picked ahead of the Brazilian. Alonso was Benitez’s ideal midfield player, as well as picking out players with superb diagonal passes, he could also tackle and play the holding midfield role. He was a player that Rafa could trust, a feeling you sense the Liverpool manager doesn’t have for Aquilani.
A case in point was the match against Atletico Madrid last night. Rafa had said before the game that an away goal was crucial but he opted to start with two defensive midfield players Lucas and Javier Mascherano. The consequence of playing both was that neither created openings for David Ngog and Steven Gerrard, leaving the responsibility solely to Yossi Benayoun. No shots on target, with the exception of the disallowed goal, led to a 1-0 defeat. You can’t say Rafa wouldn’t have started Alonso, because we all know he would have done, but the fact he didn’t start Aquilani speaks volumes about Benitez’s trust in the player at the moment.
This is not to denigrate Aqua’s abilities as a player, as an attacking midfield player he was one of the most highly rated players in Europe, especially in his home country of Italy, and if he was given a long run of games we would see a lot more from him. The unfortunate thing is though, he just doesn’t fit in, he is not the same player as Alonso and will not defend to the level Rafa requires of his players. If he had started against Atletico we may have lost by more goals, or we could have got a crucial away goal, one extra creative player on the field could have made all the difference and changed the outlook of the tie.
The question remains then as to why he was bought in the first place if he didn’t fit the bill. Most probably Rafa gambled on an injured player due to the lack of funding at his disposal, hoping he would come up trumps. He certainly didn’t get all the £30m which was received from the Alonso transfer. In any case, that doesn’t matter now, now that he is here, what should Liverpool do with him? You could be pretty reactionary and sell him straight away or you could ensure that he is physically and mentally prepared for next season’s Premier League campaign. I prefer the latter and I believe that if Aquilani gets a good pre-season under his belt and starts offering more to the Liverpool attack, Rafa will come round to starting the midfielder regularly in the side. I hope Rafa persists and doesn’t sell him at a cut price to finance deals for other players who might not have the same potential as he does. We will have to wait and see though.
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Its clear that Raffa does trust Aquilani and I as much as I would like to see him play, I understand Raffa reservation for playing in. I always thought that Raffa had the idea of using him more in European games because that play, is more suited from him without the rough and physically style of the league matches. Like you mentioned after West Ham, I would have put money on him playing in Madrid. But in fairness, Aquilani has not helped himself either with viruses, colds and nagging niggles every week. I think Raffa is beginning to see what others in Italy saw, there is no question about his talent, but I think that Alberto lacks the drive and deserve of other players like a Kuyt or even Maxi. Maxi brought with him a physically sense that Alberto does not have. Everyone knows that Aquilani was injuries when he arrived at Liverpool, and since he made his debut, he has been injuried or unable to play another 8 times but for what some may consider to be soft problems. He clearly lacks toughest and I think that is why Raffa does not trust him yet. Everyone knows the talent is there, but the question now is Aquilani tough enough.
Aquilani is a puzzle wrapped in a paradox. when xabi went out of one door the most reasonable determination must have been too have a commensurate replacement ready to fill as much as the void as possible. Then to purchase an injured player to fill such a pivotal roll at the beginning of such a pivotal season is misguided in the extreme and the assumption the Lucas could somehow provide solidity in the absence of Xabi and or Aquilani is in my understated opinion optimistic. And yet i truely feel for Rafa. He has been front and centre during the darkest days of our history. Come what may he has my gratitude.
You guys seem to be forgetting Lucas. Rafa trusts Lucas, who in my opinion has done quite well, more so in the second half of the season. Carra said it best, after a dissapointing start to the season where the players’ were aiming for the EPL title, everyone (except for Torres and Reina IMO) let their heads drop and had a terrible season. Why I mention is, put Lucas’s recent form in the confident team of last season and I reckon he’ll be really good, whereas Aqua is still not fully fit, used to the team, nor trusted by Rafa. Hopefully next season Lucas and Aqua will be pushing eachother and giving us some class performances.
I seriously dont know what is wrong with rafa! He first buys a injured 20 mil player, to replace alonso 2nd when the guy is fit he dont play him…? wheres the sense in that? If Aquilani got half as many games as lucas has he peobably be a superstar compared to lucas!
Another point- how many times have we started 2 defensive midfielders n had more than 1 shot on target without torres… not many? it doesnt take a genius to figure out that formation without alonso isnt working, but might work a lot better if Aquilani had more than 1 game in a row!
So, what does a player got to do to get rafa’s trust if he isn’t playing?
Start by washing his car?
Rafa is a joke of a manager and sooner season is over and this cowardice, negitive, boring anti football clown is out the door the better. Fat spanish waiter you have been found out.
Simon, you’re a total moron for saying this. Cowardice, negative, boring – nonsense. To give a couple of exampls, we tore into both Juventus (home) and Real Madrid (home), and were worthy winners of both matches. The fact you don’t give him credit where it’s due is to your detriment, not his. Blithering idiot.
I’ve heard that Aquilani only cost us an initial £4m and the rest would depend on appearences. Therefore if we do not play him for the remainder of the season then he might not hit the agreed number of appearences so no more money will have to be paid this season. (we might not have anymore money to pay out yet)
Could we then sell him in the summer without owing Roma anymore money? Guess this would depend on the clauses in the contract.
Maybe we will just give him back to Roma without paying them anymore money and just lose out on the initial £4m.
I believe that Aquilani is a quality player, but ignoring Gerrard, we already had cheaper, quality alternatives to play the central attacking midfielder/playmaker role, in Benayoun and Pacheco (they just never get the chance to play in that position).
I still don’t understand why such money was invested in him while we continued to ignore the much needed investment on the wings that is needed to take this team to the next level.