I have already done a few articles mentioning Juventus and Denmark midfielder Christian Poulsen before and the reaction from most Reds fans has not been favourable. As a player, he is definitely not one of the most spectacularly gifted players on the list of replacements for Javier Mascherano, but if we go by recent reports, both in Italy and in the Liverpool Echo, the 30 year old is the most likely candidate to come in on a £6million deal. I thought it might good then to look through his career to see what he has achieved as a player.
Poulsen started off his footballing career at his hometown club Asnaes but after spending ten years making his way through the club youth ranks from the age of 5, he moved to fellow amateur club Holbaek. Making his debut at seventeen, he also captained the club on a few occasions during his five year stint at the club. Now 20, Poulsen was offered a trial by Danish Superleague club FC Copenhagen and he signed a professional contract with the team in September 2000. Copenhagen had been used to mid table obscurity during the previous two years but now managed by one Roy Hodgson they had an excellent season and were challenging for the title. Poulsen did not have to wait long to make his debut for the senior team and during the latter months of the season, he played an integral role in attacking midfield replacing the injured veteran Stale Solbakken. He not only helped the club win the league title in 2000/01 but he also helped seal the crown by scoring the first goal against second place Brondby in a 3-1 victory which clinched the Championship.
While Hodgson would move on to pastures new, Poulsen established himself in Copenhagen’s first team. After being called up for the national team in November 2001 where he started on his debut against the Netherlands, the midfielder was named the club’s player of the year in 2002 as FC Copenhagen finished runners up in the league. He went on to play all three group games for Denmark at the 2002 World Cup but was suspended for the defeat to England in the last 16. His performances for club and country however helped him gain recognition from bigger clubs and he was purchased by German side Schalke 04 for €7m in the summer of 2002. Playing alongside countryman Ebbe Sand, he established himself in a holding midfield role for the Gelsenkirchen based club. During his time there he won the German Cup in 2005 and in the same year won the Danish player of the year. During the 2005/06 season though he was accused of kicking AC Milan’s Kaka by Carlo Ancelotti in a Champions League match and in the return fixture he was taunted by Gennaro Gattuso in retaliation after Schalke lost 3-2.
He also played in the 2004 European Championships for Denmark in Portugal although it was marred in controversy for Poulsen as he was spat at by Italy’s Francesco Totti. In the summer of 2006 though he allowed his contract to run down and joined Sevilla. In his first match for the Spanish club he helped them win the European Super Cup in a 3-0 win over Barcelona, and he was again named the Danish player of the year for 2006. He won the Spanish Cup and the UEFA Cup in his first season at the club and was praised by Spanish newspaper Marca as La Liga’s best new signing. He improved his touch and technique during his time in Spain, and combined it well with his ability to retrieve possession and break up opposition passing moves.
Controversy was never too far behind Poulsen though and in June 2007 he punched Swedish striker Markus Rosenberg in the stomach during a Euro 2008 qualifying match against Sweden. With the scores level at 3-3 in the 89th minute, linesman Herbert Fandel saw the incident and advised the referee to give the penalty. Angered at the decision, a Danish fan proceeded to run onto the pitch and attempted to attack Fandel. A 3-0 win was awarded to Sweden after the match was abandoned. After a less eventful second season at Sevilla, Juventus purchased the player for €9.75m. The Danish midfielder however struggled to establish himself in the team and last season his attempts were further frustrated in January this year when he fractured his left shin. His recovery was slow and arduous and only really returned to full fitness for this summer’s World Cup where he played every group match for Denmark.
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He’s a bit slow, and at 30, not a long term investment. Look elsewhere Roy.
I really disappointed because ROY is always looking the players in the age of 30and above and average players……….. He must stop investing in older players and get some fresh blood in the team……..
Players like Kuyt, Greek are finished because of their ages in the demanding Premier league so sell them ROY and get some decent and young players……….
absolutely not! flamini is only 26 and available at around £5m, every bit as good as JM with goals to boot!
agree with vishnu, replace kuyt with turan!
“The Futures Bright, The Futures Liverpool FC”, buy younger players Woy, buy British only because of the quota rule coming in. There are young players that have experience aswell Woy…… YNWA
Im not getting ahead of myself but i think Woys making a list of his most wanted if we had the money as we speak, as we will be rich within 2 weeks, no doubts about it this time, but not much time to spend it before the deadline……
Roy took over with limited budget. And since Kuyt and Soto are in the 30’s range, I guess with your theories, nobody would invest very much in them. I see where Roy is headed. Experienced players with senior players blended with youth to get the, hopefully, right mix. Gerrard is fast approaching the big 30, Carragher is past 30. Perhaps with the takeover confirmed and the funds available after that then perhaps when the transfer window opens again January, we can get better and younger players. For now, work with what we have then build on it. YNWA Roy
Roy should keep Kuyt cause he is a first team player.in my opinion he is more important,than that c**t mascherano.playing a 4-4-2 with kuyt and torres up front is an idea.playing a 4-2-3-1 with kuyt on the right,maxi on the left and joe as a number 10 is another idea.having kuyt for squad depth is also another idea.no way selling him.please dont buy that flop Poulsen.i would buy Parker with money from mascherano.also is insua staying?i hope so.the guy’s got so much talent and was under so much unfair criticism last year.
and if we are to buy that Poulsen,we better have Lucas as a starter cauz Lucas is MILES better than Poulsen.so away from him.buy Parker please.
Reina
Johnson Carragher Agger Insua
Maxi Parker Gerrard Kuyt
J.Cole
Torres
Subs:Cavalieri,Skrtel,Aurelio,Lucas,Aquilani,Babel,Jovanovic,Ngog.
NO POULSEN ! PLEEEEEASE ! HIS FRIGGIN 30 ! OLD HACK ! If Roy’d want to buy him instead of Flamini, I say don’t buy at all ! TOTAL WASTE OF MONEY ! Even young Lucas is a heck load better than him.
Reina
G.Johnson D.Agger R.Shawcross W.Bridge
Cole Gerrard Cattermole Turan
Torres Huntalaar
i think.. liverpool must get showcross .. he was proof with dirty tackle.. long past.. rush & rush.. make goal… he available at 10 million.. young player can keep about 5 years… i like he stay upfron skertel and agger
skertel agger
showcross
jhonson aquilani joe dherente
remy gerrard
torres
with or without investment we shouldnt be looking at Poulsen. his conduct is a disgrace. he’s not a hard player, there’s a difference between hard and just a dirtbag. if the right investment comes along I reckon a move for Schweinsteiger should be on the cards.