Will Alberto Aquilani be a flop at Liverpool?

Ollie Irish

6th, August 2009

36 Comments

PA-6474517.jpg
Alberto Aquilani, who is set to become Liverpool’s latest signing (subject to a medical), has played only 73 games in three seasons for current club Roma. His last appearance was on March 11, against Arsenal in the Champions League. Hmmm. Alarm bells going off…
For all Aquilani’s talent – he’s razor-sharp on the ball and his long-range shooting is superb – there must be major concerns about that patchy injury record.
So how will the Italian cope in Europe’s most physical league? Very difficult to say. Reports say he won’t be fit for the start of the coming Prem season, as he’s still recovering from an ankle operation he had in May. Not a good sign.


I notice that several newspapers, including the Guardian, herald Aquilani as a replacement for the departed Xabi Alonso. But Aquilani is no more a replacement for Xabi than if Rafa Benitez had signed another keeper to make up the numbers in his squad.
Alonso and Aqilani are totally different types of midfielder: the former is a quarterback who carefully picks his passes, the latter a bundle of energy who tends to play further forward than Alonso ever did at Liverpool.
I’d like to see Aquilani do well at Anfield, but my gut says he’ll be a flop who spends more time on the bench or in the physio room than on the pitch. What do you think?

Posted in Liverpool

Share this article: Email

36 Comments

  1. Kipp says:

    You would hope that this isn’t a panic buy and have assurances over his health. Xabi was ‘injury prone’ too, technically, if you call getting scythed by Lampard as injury prone.

  2. rowan says:

    There is a risk with this signing, no doubt about that.
    One would imagine, after the keane debacle, rafa will have done his homework well.
    Apparently, the ankle operation he had in may was to fix the problem, once and for all, although we all know those ankles will attract a lot of sliding , angry feet fairly soon!
    Aquilani wil make us much more attacking than with alonso.
    Rafa has decided to play a back 4, with masch in front, and a front 5 , who can all interchange.
    If we get silva too, which i think will happen this week, we would have a mean front line.
    kuyt–gerrard—torres–aquilani—silva.
    Try stopping that!
    Lets hold fire on the doom and gloom for now.

  3. nostradamus says:

    The Italians are laughing 20 mill for a broken down hack who will be back in Italy at quarter the price in 2 seasons.
    No other side surely would even consider paying half that Rafa get ready for the dole queue.

  4. MB LFC says:

    ‘rowan’ i hope you’re right about Silva. I kind of have the same feeling but not sure if it’s just hopeful.
    After seeing Aquilani in action (highlights reels) this guy can light up the prem if only he can stay fit. But unfortunately have to agree with the article on the likelihood of him staying fit. Overall i’m excited that he’s coming to Liverpool a potentially massive signing!

  5. adam says:

    he will be a flop, 25 years old and never played more than 15 games in a seaso through injury, wenger looked at him 4 years ago and decided he couldnt handle it , roma must be laughing at geting that much for a crock, 14 games last season and struggled to make the squad when he was fit !

  6. rob says:

    Look if we dont get behind him he will be a flop wont he and give him some time to settle in at least we got someone more attacking and score more goals, so we aint gunna be any more defensive as last season so thats a positive. Alonso was probably one of my favourite player but we have to forget about him and move on otherwise we will be going backwards not forwards
    YNWA

  7. liverbird76 says:

    Agree with rowan and may god help us get Silva and win the 20th title!!!…
    YNWA!!

  8. wrighty says:

    i think if all the people saying Roma are laughin at us should look at some of the Roma message boards, they are all gutted, calling for the owners head for selling him! i’m not saying that his injuries don’t bother me but i’m sure the medical staff will be looking at him very carefully and if fit he’ll be amazing!

  9. Born2Die says:

    People mentioning is injury record, but I heard fans wanting owen back and lokk at his record.
    I agree with Rob, we should report him through thick and thin and let him have time to settle in. It is alright supporting players like Carra, Gerard or Torress (they don’t need the support). Players who are struggling need the support more than the bickering and booing that as gone on if a certain player misplaces a pass , but never happens when Gerard does the same.
    Will he be a flop, I don’t know and I will not judage him on a handfull of games like some of our fans will do. And once fans don’t like a player that is that.

  10. Stevie says:

    His back story sounds very similar to that of Jamie Redknapp, except aqcqui is the local equivalent of a born and bread scouser.
    The Romans are cheesed off because they selling a Roman. Most agree Liverpool have overpaid, but with this money in our account we were always going to overpay for whoever we bought. I hope the deal is structured to appearances and trophies though.
    His career will be like Redknapp’s, I suspect. Lauded for occasionally dominating games through sheer class, but ultimately unfulfilling due to constant punctuation through injury.

  11. Skeletor says:

    liverbird76 – getting ahead of yourself a bit? you need a 19th title before you get 20.

  12. Alan says:

    Owen was a FREE TRANSFER that’s why he was worth the risk. Aquilani is costing 20m so it seems like a crazy price or this player.
    Benitez has made many gaffs in the transfer market but this will be his biggest if Aquilani flops because even a blind man can see this guy is injury prone all of his career.
    Benitez’s time at Liverpool won’t last if he buys one flop too many.

  13. Dan says:

    Ever consider the possibility that his “patchy injury record” is related to the training schedules at Roma? Aquilani has become “injury prone” since Luciano Spalletti became the coach. Coincidentally Francesco Totti has also become “injury prone” in the same period. I know a few Roma fans that are very unhappy to see the player go and are very critical of how Spalletti handles the players training.

  14. Torres9 says:

    But then again we got 30 mil maybe rising to £35 mil, so it’s all swings and roundabouts. Just as we’ve benefited from the stupid prices, we’ve also lost out. Although I ma slightly surprised it’s 20 mil, wasn’t it 15 not so long ago.

  15. Xabier says:

    Three points:
    1) £20 mil is WAY too much
    2) Historically Italians don’t travel well and find it hard to fit into the EPL
    3) The last three seasons he has played 13, 21 and 14 games due to injury
    For these simple reasons it’s a perfect set-up to become a flop.

  16. Omega-One says:

    I think this aticle ws written by a fuking idiot. Sorry mate but it really is a piece of shite. How can you make that kind of judgement the guy hasn’t played yet you punk.

  17. Chico Guerrera says:

    Omega-one you’re a fucking idiot. He’s been playing – and getting injured – for years.
    That’s the point you cocksmoker.

  18. jand says:

    of course he’ll be a flop, his shit motherfucker, bastad should stick to roma, i hope he fails hismedical test

  19. deisered says:

    Jesus lads harsh. from what ve read from people who actully know what theyre talking about the only thng stopping him from being world class is his injury record if rafa gets him fit and playing week in and out then twenty million will look cheap even though its more likely fifteen. Graham Hunter rates him highly so i reckon give the lad a chance jesus owens getting more support at united than aquilani is from some of ur support

  20. Adam Vasco says:

    Historically Italians don’t travel well? Any remember when chelsea signed a certain player named Zola? Every player is different. Before Rafa came along historically Spanish players didn’t travel too well… Now we’re all gutted Xabi is gone1 see what I mean? 1st off a great bit of business, 5 years service, 1 european cup, 1 champ league final (we lost that ironically we should have won), 1 fa cup, 2nd in the league, genuine progress & 20 million plus of profit! & before you talk of injuries check any player at the top 4 & they’re all crocks really. Let’s give the lad a chance eh. Face facts the prem is going pop. 50p in the £1 tax rate means the non loyal cream of the crop foreign players are off to Spain why elso would the likes of Lee Catermole be banded around at 10 mil plus. I’ve sid it’ll be our season too many times before. Sundays trip to The Lane isn’t the best start to a league campaigne and has draw written all over it (2 points dropped instantly) but Fergie’s pre season moans shows 1 thing & 1 thing only… A certian Mr Ferguson is worried & rightly so!

  21. Adam Vasco says:

    Historically Italians don’t travel well? Any remember when chelsea signed a certain player named Zola? Every player is different. Before Rafa came along historically Spanish players didn’t travel too well… Now we’re all gutted Xabi is gone1 see what I mean? 1st off a great bit of business, 5 years service, 1 european cup, 1 champ league final (we lost that ironically we should have won), 1 fa cup, 2nd in the league, genuine progress & 20 million plus of profit! & before you talk of injuries check any player at the top 4 & they’re all crocks really. Let’s give the lad a chance eh. Face facts the prem is going pop. 50p in the £1 tax rate means the non loyal cream of the crop foreign players are off to Spain why elso would the likes of Lee Catermole be banded around at 10 mil plus. I’ve sid it’ll be our season too many times before. Sundays trip to The Lane isn’t the best start to a league campaigne and has draw written all over it (2 points dropped instantly) but Fergie’s pre season moans shows 1 thing & 1 thing only… A certian Mr Ferguson is worried & rightly so!

  22. dan says:

    Aquilani, this boy is class, pool have got themselves the perfect replacement for what’s his name, oh alonso. He can do the forward role and holding role, superb technique, better mobility than alonso, only thing alonso may have a better shot on him.

  23. dan says:

    everyone needs to give him a chance, hes definately got the class to be a success. It makes me laugh when people pipe up saying he’ll be shit! Probably the same experts that predicted that torres wouldn’t get 15 goals because he wasnt a natural goalscorer……

  24. Anonymous says:

    come on alberto

  25. lfcforever says:

    I take it all the negative comments are from non liverpool fans soo fuck off and moan on your own teams signings, I have a few gripes here, Arsenal and Chelsea looked at him and they didn’t want him?? get your facts right he chose not to move because he wanted to fulfill his dream of playing for Roma, a waste of money??? well if 20 mil is too much what the fuck has happened to the Mancs paying nearly the same for Anderson, Valencia, Carrick, Hargreaves and the like, if he plays 14 games this season he will have had a better season than any of them. Injury prone??? oh yeah a player has never came with an injury prone problem before into the tough league here in England, i mean Bergkamp, Overmars, Van Nistlerooy to name a few, for any Liverpool fans critical of the signing you don’t deserve to call yourself a Liverpool fan

  26. Anfield1980 says:

    To Torres9 ya beaut.
    “Historically Italians don’t travel well and find it hard to fit into the EPL”
    Are you sure ????
    Zola, Ravenelli, Vialli, Di Matteo …
    Fcukin nugget.

  27. lfcforever says:

    Carbone, Cudacini untill Cech arrived, Luca Toni in Munich, the reason they are not as respected for lighting up other leagues is because its rare that Italians play outside of there own country, I mean how many Italians are playing in the Premiership or La Liga

  28. liverpoolhardfan says:

    Alberto Aquilani for me will be the player to watch in the premiership season 2009-2010. look at his contribution whenever he played for Roma and Italian u-19 and u-21…..MASTERCLASS…i think the liverpool fans better support him…he will prove hw’s worth 20M or higher. the injury will certainly depend…could be out for sometime but could be playing whole season…can’t say….it’s when he apperars for the game and his contribution…..i am definitely sure the lad will be a BIG HIT. liverpool fans cheer him up……..

  29. liverpoolhardfan says:

    Alberto Aquilani for me will be the player to watch in the premiership season 2009-2010. look at his contribution whenever he played for Roma and Italian u-19 and u-21…..MASTERCLASS…i think the liverpool fans better support him…he will prove hw’s worth 20M or higher. the injury will certainly depend…could be out for sometime but could be playing whole season…can’t say….it’s when he apperars for the game and his contribution…..i am definitely sure the lad will be a BIG HIT. liverpool fans cheer him up……..

  30. Carl says:

    I remember a certain lad named Steven Gerard who was never off the the treatment table… that is until he stopped growing in his early twenties. I say give the boy a chance and lets see what he’s made of. He cannot be that bad given he has captained Italy’s youth teams.

  31. rowan says:

    The whole point with aquilani and johnson is that, you cant man mark a whole side, and with torres and gerrard often taking up 2 men each, it will leav space. space we have yet to learn to exploit.
    Kuyt will benefit greatly from johnson and can also help him out with defending.
    Aquilani will be charging from CM to the box , and will create panic. He would not have been bought if there were any serious, long term concerns over his fitness.
    there is every chance aquilani could be the next robbie keane, but there is also a good chance that he will be an ecellent goal threat. Minimum he’ll be good for the CL and against sides who play football….for everything else….theres lucas.
    Hopefully he will be off soon too, and martinez will come in.
    Ballague says silva is too much for us, but i worked out we have around 30m to spend yet. plus whatever sales there are from now.
    we will see a CB come in and another attacking player.

  32. lkm says:

    of coyhrse he’ll be a flop, that little girl. football is a mans game not wimps like aquilani

  33. madf says:

    only a few players made it in premiership and aquilani wont be one of them, he’ll be a flop, wimps like him belong in the ladies premiership and even then that fascist racist wont survive

  34. mahes says:

    i think he will be a shining star . he should be atleast
    95% like former star xabi alonso

  35. scott k says:

    Only time will tell , 15 million is about right and thats the way the market is at the moment, and as for aquilanis injuries im sure liverpool looked into that before they bought him , rafa isnt daft, torres has had his fair share and still produced for us last season when it counted. What annoys me about the critics , they keep banging on about if gerrard or torres get injured liverpool have nothing , you could say that about any of the top teams in any league, hell if united lose rooney(i know thats only one for united) what do they have left berbatov lol ? or chelsea lose essien and terry ? Its just because liverpools top two players are probably the best one two on the planet when playing together ,people also said torres was a big risk at 25mil as he had never scored more than 14 league goals ina season for atl.madrid , so im sure they know more than we do about aquilani ,lets hope so and get behind the lad !!

  36. tony lucas says:

    aquallalalalalalalala is poo.com lucas is well better than him

Leave a Reply to Stevie