The Big Footy Liverpool Army Part 2

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TorresIsGod

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Once again illustrating the folly of selling our best midfielder (and probably best player, full stop) of the previous season and then buying an injured replacement.

If the estimated return is early November, then we're talking 3 months into the season.

As much as we despise the two Septics, Benitez has sure made some dumb decisions as well.
As angry as I was at selling Alonso, he wanted to move on and we did get 30m for him... it was the fact that we spent 18m on it an injured replacement (who was not expected to play until October at the very earliest and now probably not until November) that made me even angrier.

As good as his reports are and people who watched him in Italy say he can play some serious football... the fact that we're struggling to play against decent sides who attack us because we're short of personnel in midfield is a major mistake from Benitez and one which I wont quickly forget.
 

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As angry as I was at selling Alonso, he wanted to move on and we did get 30m for him... it was the fact that we spent 18m on it an injured replacement (who was not expected to play until October at the very earliest and now probably not until November) that made me even angrier.

As good as his reports are and people who watched him in Italy say he can play some serious football... the fact that we're struggling to play against decent sides who attack us because we're short of personnel in midfield is a major mistake from Benitez and one which I wont quickly forget.
Plus Wesley Sneijder was available and pretty much unwanted at Real. He's now starting and doing very nicely at Inter.
 

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Plus Wesley Sneijder was available and pretty much unwanted at Real. He's now starting and doing very nicely at Inter.
No idea why we didn't ask for Real to add a player into the deal, even VDV.

A midfielder, although VDV is an attacking midfielder by trade, it meant Gerrard could have dropped back deeper and played a bit further up from Masch (although tactical positioning isn't Stevie's strong suit, against the weaker teams it wouldn't matter as much).

Sneijder can play right, left or centrally, he would have been close to perfect, although also an attacking midfielder by trade... a genuine central midfielder is hard to come by, which meant the replacement had to be someone very, very good, who could step straight into the team and fill the gap left by Xabi as best he could.

While Aquaman sits on the treatment table, we're stuck with Lucas.
 

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Im not happy that the Aquaman is out for so long but when you lose a player like Alonso, you have to try get the best replacement you can. Rafa has stated numerous times that we got Aquaman much cheaper than he normally would of been because of his injury problems.

Sneijder would have been good, but he isn't world class and we just wanted cash and therefore didn't get him. I would of liked us to get Barry initially, but he was already at City, and we can't afford the other world class CM's like Xavi and Fabregas so Aquilani was the best we could get. It sucks that we won't get to see him yet, but the wait is almost over.

As for his injury problems, Roma has a well known history of having massive injury problems due to factors such as poor medical staff, and the shocking state of their facilities. Another factor was Roma's poor depth which put pressure on star players to return from injury too soon. It wasn't just the Aquaman that was always injured, players like Totti and Vucinic are always suffering injuries. I don't think he will get injured anywhere near the rate he did at Roma.

I think Aquilani will become a very good player for us as he will provide an attacking drive from midfield while we still have Stevie playing next to Torres. Imagine him getting the shots around the box that Lucas does, this guy will actually score some of them instead of shooting straight at the keeper or into row Z. Lastly he will provide some much needed variety in our sometimes stale attack especially against teams like Chelsea that know us so well.
 

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http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N166025091008-1325.htm

Apparently Torres had some discomfort in his groin during a training session with Spain and left the track early, but it was only precautionary and he's expected to line up for Spain in their two qualifiers (even though they've already qualified for the WC).

He should do the right thing and withdraw from the squad and give some of the young players a go.

I'm not expecting to see Torres in a Liverpool shirt until well after the Utd game.
 
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http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N166025091008-1325.htm

Apparently Torres had some discomfort in his groin during a training session with Spain and left the track early, but it was only precautionary and he's expected to line up for Spain in their two qualifiers (even though they've already qualified for the WC).

He should do the right thing and withdraw from the squad and give some of the young players a go.

I'm not expecting to see Torres in a Liverpool shirt until well after the Utd game.
Voro to score a hatty against Utd.

Re Torres, it's the stuff of nightmares isn't it? Some shitty, potholed pitch in a godforsaken country and Torres out there for the full 90 minutes. I think a kidnapping should be arranged.
 

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The trip to Armenia is miles away, the trip from Armenia to Bosnia is not so bad (I'm assuming they'd go straight to Bosnia from Armenia) and then the trip back from Bosnia isn't so bad.

The fact that he has to travel while injured and then play two games in 4 days while not 100% and then return to us for an important week of matches... :(

He hasn't even scored a goal in qualifying for Spain, so they wont even know he's missing.
 

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The thing I don't understand is they have already qualified, there is no need to play their best players.

Why can't they experiment with something like Negredo and Guiza upfront and try some of their other fringe players. There is simply no need for Nando to be playing.
 

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Yes, they have already qualified and no goals from Torres during qualification so far anyway.

I agree, there is absolutely no need for him to be playing.
 

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Rafa praising Insua.

LFC.tv said:
Rafael Benitez today paid tribute to Emiliano Insua after the left-back received his first call-up from Argentina.
Insua is currently away with his country preparing for crucial World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Peru over the next week.

The Reds number 22 has been a regular starter for the first XI this season and the boss believes his chance to impress Diego Maradona is richly deserved.

"It is very good news for him and for us," Benitez told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"He is a young player who is doing well for us. When you talk about young players, the idea is to try and promote them.

"He is playing games for us and it is fantastic for him and hopefully it will be good for his country too."

The Reds boss was also keen to commend his scouting department for discovering Insua at Boca Juniors.

"Emiliano was a very good signing by our scouting department - a young player with potential and quality. It was very good business because the price was good.

"I think he has been a fantastic signing for us.

"Last year we had three or four clubs asking about him but we said no. We want to keep him because we are really pleased with him. He is a young player who wants to improve and that is positive for us because he is playing with good players."

Another player set for international duty is Daniel Agger, who will join up with Denmark ahead of their World Cup qualifiers against Sweden and Hungary.

The Reds number 5 was on the bench at Stamford Bridge after making his comeback for the reserves at Manchester City last week.

Benitez is pleased with the defender's return to fitness and is hoping Denmark boss, Morten Olsen is cautious with him.

"It was a difficult decision to bring Agger back into the squad because he wasn't fit enough to start at Chelsea," said Rafa.

"He played 68 minutes for the reserve team so we were trying to protect him and have him on the bench just in case we needed him.

"He is now with Denmark and hopefully they will be careful with him. They have to be sensible and also the player knows it will be tough for him to play both games in a row.

"It's good for him because he needs to play, but we have to be careful and they have to be careful too."

The third international break of the new season means Benitez will once again have to work with a combination of senior and young players at Melwood.

This is a source of frustration for the manager, who accepts it is a situation he cannot change.

"It is really difficult because we wanted to talk with the players and analyse the Chelsea game - but we can't because they are away.

"You can't train and prepare for the next game properly, but we are in the hands of the Federations."

Reflecting on last weekend's defeat at Chelsea - a result that now leaves Liverpool six points behind the Londoners - Benitez has called for a sense of calm and insists there is no need to panic.

"We were really disappointed with the result, but the performance wasn't bad," he said.

"Watching the DVD again you could see we had some chances - so did they - but it was clearly a game that was tight and very close. I thought we worked so hard and were in control of a lot of things. But I always say the small details can make a massive difference.

"The reaction of the team was good when we conceded. But you have to score.

"We had some good situations; Fernando had a great chance with his left foot and we could have had a penalty when Skrtel was brought down. These things can make such a massive difference.

"The most difficult thing this season is to manage expectation. Last season we finished with 86 points and everyone was talking about this being the year!

"It's a long race. We have some players coming back from injury, so we have time. We need to keep the mentality, keep scoring goals and we will see.

"I think it will be tough at the top of the table. Chelsea are a good team but don't forget they will lose some players at the Africa Cup of Nations, so we will see.

"Everyone is talking about Manchester United, Man City, Tottenham and Aston Villa, so I think it could be a very open race. That is why my message is the same - for us to keep doing our job properly.

"It's a long race and if we make mistakes and give up too early, it will be impossible. So, the main thing for everyone here is to try and be calm and keep working hard."
Also good to hear Agger might get a go with Denmark. :thumbsu:
 

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Great news for Insua to get a call up for Argentina :thumbsu:

It must help having his international captain as a club team-mate.

But still, cant fault his performances this season. :thumbsu:

Hopefully Dagger does get a few minutes here or there for Denmark, we need to get some fitness under his belt as soon as possible so he can shove Carra out.
 

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As much as I hope Agger does push Carra out of the team, will Rafa bench him?

I don't know if he has the guts to do it.
We're all dreaming if we think Rafa is going to bench Carra.

Which is such a shame because he's been absolute shit for the season (and the last few before it) and his incessant yelling at team-mates... is just getting old.
 

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To be honest I don't mind Torres playing about 120 minutes in those 2 qualifiers. Get his confidence up after 2 shockers against Fiorentina and Chelsea.
 

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To be honest I don't mind Torres playing about 120 minutes in those 2 qualifiers. Get his confidence up after 2 shockers against Fiorentina and Chelsea.
He might play 120 minutes, but it's the travel/jet lag with a niggling injury that might mean he'll miss games for Liverpool that worries me.

He shouldn't even be travelling with them and if he had groin problems during training, they should have sent him back to us.
 

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To be honest I don't mind Torres playing about 120 minutes in those 2 qualifiers. Get his confidence up after 2 shockers against Fiorentina and Chelsea.
Not much he can do when he gets that sort of diabolical service.

Sure he missed a difficult chance on his wrong foot at Chelsea, but it was hardly a soda. That, and that half chance from the header were about the only sniff our absolutely wank midfield gave him in 180 minutes.

At the moment he's having to create for himself and then score the goals as well. A lot of people to blame for the last 2 losses, Torres isn't one of them.

Gerrard has been a ****ing disgrace all season - and our central midfield has the creativity of a shellfish.
 

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i agree bus, gerrard has been hopeless, he has been counting on others to get it to him rather than do it himself.

last year he had alonso serving him at bedside, i dont think he has caught on to the fact that he wont be getting the ball that easy this season.

still think we need a second striker, just not someone who will get in torres way.
 

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i agree bus, gerrard has been hopeless, he has been counting on others to get it to him rather than do it himself.

last year he had alonso serving him at bedside, i dont think he has caught on to the fact that he wont be getting the ball that easy this season.

still think we need a second striker, just not someone who will get in torres way.
Gerrard = poo.

Why did Alonso have to leave? :mad:

Silly twat.
 

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I wish Crouch never left us, he was a good backup striker.

He gave us an extra dimension in attack and he could hold the ball up a bit.
 

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How much did we sign Insua for?

Funny hearing Rafa of all people saying
We got him on loan from Boca Juniors and then made the deal permanent when we sent Gabriel Paletta back there.

What an excellent deal, paying nothing for him and sending a hack defender back to Boca in return for making the deal permanent.
 

TorresIsGod

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I wish Crouch never left us, he was a good backup striker.

He gave us an extra dimension in attack and he could hold the ball up a bit.
Yeah, I wish he stayed, but for his own good (especially international career), he simply had to leave as he was never ever going to get in front of Nando in the side.
 
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