One touch passing, brilliant movement, great vision, late runs into the box is what we saw from Alberto Aquilani 2nite.
Liverpool is a club with a great history, filled with memories of intense european nights, thrilling fa cup finals, and passionate derby games. Our fans are used 2 witnessing high tempo football with quick passing. Prior 2 xabi alonsos departure we witnessed possession football, teams lik Real Madrid would struggle 2 get the ball from us. Manchester united were thought a lesson on football in their backyard.
So what exactly happened 2 this passing football of ours?
I'm afraid our problem this season has been the decisions of the manager. I was a great fan of Rafas but slowly have lost patience with him this season. A teams core is its midfield.. The midfield links the defenders 2 the strikers, think of your midfield as a way of binding things 2geta.. Teams with great midfields generally win titles.
When we lost alonso to Real Madrid I was gutted, I loved alonso, brilliant playmaker, always wanted the ball, always looking to make something happen. I wondered how rafa was going 2 plug the gap? Then came along aquilani, I watched him a few times with Roma and he was pretty exciting, yet I wasn't convinced that he could fill alonsos big boots. Then I looked at our existing squad and saw 1 of the biggest names in football, steven gerrard! A powerhouse of a midfielder. Javier mascherano the captain of Argentina. Lucas Leiva - back up for Steven gerrard and Javier Mascherano were they 2 get injured ( so I assumed). My heart was filled with hope. A standard 4-4-2 formation should do the trick untill alberto gets fit. Then we can go back 2our 4-5-1 formation. I was wrong! Rafa kept playing lucas and mascherano. There was no creativity in midfield. Both players are too defensive! Where's that killer pass going 2 come from? Whose going 2 supply gerrard with the ball? Nope.. Nothing..Flat.. This formation clearly doesn't work without alonso. Wouldn't Rafa realise this, apparently his a master tactician? I would hav dropped lucas 2 the bench and played gerrard with mascherano in midfield.. Threw on another striker and you know what we may have been on top of the league by now.. I'm serious..
But the season is nearly over.. Kopites do not worry.. Do not fear coz alberto aquilani is here! Here 2 plug that gap left in midfield..here 2 score more goals than xabi alonso.. More pace than alonso.. Younger than alonso..more attacking minded.. More 2 prove than alonso.. His passing is great, yes he does lose the ball occasionally but everything comes with confidence.. Now that he has scored that goal there will be plenty more 2 come.. He has surely kicked lucas out the starting 11 for the match against united? Dnt b too sure.. Rafa sees something we all don't see in lucas..
Whatever happens 2 our club, jus know ul never walk alone!
I'm just admiring our football now that alberto has brought some class back into our line up!
