KopTalk.com Forums Football Liverpool FC Forum Transfer Situation - You Decide!

I voted that they play significant different positions... All players have a mix of skills that make them great or poor for your style of play... Something to me loosely comparable to a game of top trumps... I think both have been scouted previously, but neither of them were high on our list... That is how I see it.

JJ - how would you compare Alberto and Eriksen?

Both great on the ball, good through-balls, and relatively weak in the tackle. Neither hussle the opposition too well imo. I'd have preferred Eriksen as he seems to be able to take a man on, whereas Alberto can do enough to create space, but generally looks for the pass. Would have thought Eriksen would've been more ready to make an immediate impact. Would say Alberto plays a bit further wide (an inside-forward type of role), but on Tuesday he played in the No.10 - exactly Eriksen's position.

Lamela plays more wide than Aspas, so actually would've thought Lamela would be more suited to our formation. More suited to our style as well, imo - perhaps his work-rate wasn't deemed enough, which is one of Aspas' strengths.

Alberto is a player that plays higher up the field. Eriksen has been capable of filling the AM/W role for Ajax, but from what I know, there are doubts about whether he can play there in the PL. Truth is, despite being talented, the widespread opinion is that he'll have to play deeper. Right now, we don't need a Gerrard replacement, hence why I said so on another thread... He is not as good as Gerrard, but I think most see him in that kind of position. Alberto is like a striker converted into an AM/W. Can finish, can assist and did so in a very "instinctive" team in Barcelona... There were also said to be questions, in Eriksen, about his speed of play. Again. The club may be wrong, but that is how they say him. I do think he was worth trying to sign, but I don't think he actually fixes our problems right now. I think he'll have to play deeper.

As for Lamela and Aspas, I think it is like Ying and Yang. The only similarity is that they could both play in our front three. I don't think BR gets enough credit for being so aggressive with the formation. Despite the "winger" position having Assaidi and Downing, we're said to be looking at wingers who also play up top. Technically good players with better finishing ability. Lamela would fit that bill I admit. Maybe we went for him and missed out... Maybe we don't rate him as highly... Maybe we thought he wasn't worth the money... but Aspas doesn't play there! He plays in the hole and can drift... He is more like a hard-working second-striker, than a guy who can cross... A trickster.

And for the record, I just read that Lamela is said to have wanted to join Arsenal, but Wenger chose not to pursue a deal... I keep seeing the whole "why didn't we try" but "why didn't others?"

If I'm Utd, I would have tried to sell off one of the wingers in the club to buy him for sure... If I'm Arsenal, I'd have definitely have traded up from Gervinho, Bendtner, even Chamberlain... I'm not saying I don't rate the guy, I do... But I do wonder at times... When players become available in positions other top clubs can improve with...

I can think of a thousand players that'd be an upgrade on Giggs at the moment... glad Utd don't! As for Wenger rating Mertesacker and Koscielny so highly - well, don't know what to say.

Like I said, so far BR's thinking has been pretty much in line with mine - until Eriksen. We'll see who we get instead, if anyone.

Bang on the money!

As always

Indeed...anyone speak portuguese? Reports the Illori deal has been completed.

http://www.abola.pt/nnh/ver.aspx?id=424701

Google Chrome solves the problem, but you get a weird translation.