IAGO Aspas arrived at Anfield without much fanfare.
The former Celta Vigo forward was not quite the signing that got pulses racing. Many fans at the time were hoping for a bigger name, more of a marquee signing that ultimately did not come, but were nevertheless pleased to bring in a new attacking player early in the window.
The hope was that he would settle in as quickly as Coutinho did, and have an immediate impact.
The signs were certainly positive in pre-season, scoring 3 goals, working hard for the team, showcasing good movement, solid technical ability and a real understanding with Liverpool’s other forward players.
So far this season Iago Aspas is yet to really impress and with the signing of Victor Moses might find himself on the bench more often than not if he doesn’t improve his performances.
Iago played well in the win against Stoke. The team played well. Stoke not quite being sure whether they should play the old Tony Pulis way or the new Mark Hughes way, allowed many Liverpool players to have more time on the ball than they would otherwise have expected, and Aspas benefited.
The main development area for Aspas from a game Liverpool dominated was perhaps that his finishing lacked a bit of guile. He missed a couple of good chances where perhaps a more seasoned top level finisher would have dinked the ball over a diving keeper or rounded the keeper to slot home. However it was a good debut.
Against Villa Aspas worked hard but, particularly in the second half, struggled to get into the game and find space. His meagre frame did not allow him to hold the ball up effectively and, with Coutinho also finding the going difficult, Liverpool relied heavily on Sturridge for an attacking threat.
Iago’s performances dipped even further against the Old Enemy from Manchester. In an excellent result for the Reds, on the back of a solid first half and committed defending in the second, Iago was probably Liverpool’s weakest performer. He struggled to get into the game in either half and looked very much like the occasion got to him.
It is hard to criticise a new player too much, playing against the Champions and many experienced top professionals in his first season in the Premier League is always going to be difficult. As in the Villa game he was visibly upset when substituted, perhaps knowing he had failed to impress having wanted to do well.
Aspas has shown enough that he can be a good squad player for Liverpool, but will need to improve in order to hold down a regular first team place. With Moses already accustomed to life in the Premier League, and the incomparable Luis Suarez joining the fray after the final two games of his ban, Aspas will have fewer opportunities to start.
First and foremost he really does need to bulk up. A lack of height need not be a limitation to strength on the ball, just watch Sergio Aguero or Carlos Tevez play. Aspas is waspish in stature and needs to learn to shield the ball better when under physical challenges, for example being prepared for the surreptitious push in the back or shoulder charge.
Coutinho despite his slight frame is nevertheless able to spin past a player by rolling them, or with a quick dance of his magic feet to move away and keep the ball. Against Man Utd, the United defenders, in particular Rio Ferdinand, regularly got the better of Aspas. He was not the only one to be out-muscled. Raheem Sterling struggled against the pace and strength of Antonio Valencia on the other flank.
With Aspas unable to hold onto the ball against United, we consistently gave the ball away and invited more and more pressure. It was only on the occasions the ball came to the feet of the in-form Sturridge did our defenders have a respite. Moses and Suarez are not so easily knocked off the ball.
All in all, with just three games gone, I have been impressed with how quickly Aspas has learnt to interchange positions with our other forwards, and find space when he’s given the opportunity. He needs to become more adept at dealing with the physicality, understand better when to hold width rather than always coming inside, and gain some more composure in front of goal. There’s nothing like a few goals to calm the nerves of a new forward. Oh, and he has to stop holding up imaginary cards trying to get opposition players booked!
It’s all part of a cultural and football acclimatisation that Iago Aspas is only just beginning.
You can catch more from me on my own blog: http://taintlessred.blogspot.co.uk/
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This time last year everyone was saying the same things about borini
“give him time”
“he will come good”
Etcetc etc . Well it never happened because borini is not good enough for LFC. It will be same with Aspas. Moses is better and will put Aspas on the bench. A waste of money
Aspas is fast but tiny in size just like Brendan Rodgers likes his center forwards to be.
First thing Rodgers did upon taking over at Liverpool was to decide that he did not need Andy Carroll even before he saw him kick a football in training. Why? Simply because Carroll Is a big forward who is easily pushed off the ball.
Aspas, Borini, Sturridge, and Suarez are short individuals who are all clearly faster than Andy Carroll in any foot race.
Rodgers likes short strikers so surprise with Aspas. The Spaniard just needs to bulk up a bit.
So ? Just cos they r small doesnt make them good.
Both aspas n borini are not good enough
I don’t think he gets the ball enough. his ball control is weak but if takes a shot it will be on target. just needs for ball.
Till the day Aspas retires, this mediocre footballer will still remain a work-in-progress.
Aspas is a good player watch man city and chelsea bench,too good and game changer players.it will good for Aspas nd victor moses to compete for a place in the first team
Don’t think this guy is Liverpool standard . So what if he works hard ? It’s goals and quality that matters
Early days , but I think flop
No foreign import can be judged the way some are doing in their first season never mind after the first 3 games, remember Robert Pires? Absolutely useless in his first season the best player in the league the next.
Does any1 remember Xabi Alonso? His 1st 2 seasons for us were totally crap! Many including myself thought he was a flop buy… How did he turn out? Lucas Leiva?…. I think our team is doing very well considering wat sort of Transfer budget we had. And in my opinion we will finish in the top4 but FSG need to stand up and open up that checkbook once we do. All we need now is 2 or 3 Marquee signings for us to challenge the likes of Chelsea or Man City. Our 1st eleven would rival any other in the prem league. With Suarez-Sturridge-Moses-Countinho-Gerrard-Lucas-Cissokho-Agger-Sakho-Johnson and players like Henderson-Aspas-Alberto-Sterling-iBE-Enrique-Toure-Skyrtl-Kelly to fill in when needed. We just need a few big names… Like CM, Winger, CAM…. I’d say Benega(CM)-Di Maria(Winger)-Juan Mata(CAM)… We could challenge any team in the world if we had our current team with These 3 players… Let’s hope when we Qualify for Champs League that FSG go all out!!! If not they should sell up to some1 who wants to win trophies!!!!
Not true . Even his first season for Liverpool , Alonso was class
Aspas nw nonsense player,n i hate d guy,borini n asapas are d same…UP MY BEST PLAYER IN D WORLD P COUTINHO..Ynwa
I will continue to say without mincing word that Iago Aspas would soon become a perpetual bench warmer. Please mark my word. He was employed to score goals for the club, but i think he is not the right man for the job. Rodgers has failed in this one. Liverpool this time needs a striker who gets the ball and scores with a slightest opportunity. A good finisher for that matter. Honestly Iago Aspas is not the answer for God sake. But then, let’s give him some time and see what he has in stock for us.
Asap is very good,if you look @ the villa and stoke games he played some good defence splitin passes but on two occasions henderson didnt convert..in the man u game sturridge and coutinho wer trying to do the spectacular instead of simple passin the ball for him to convert…team work is needed not some selfish display.moses is direct so will be better of the bench.