22 Jun 2012

£18m outcast to Anfield? LFC fans give their surprising verdict...

The Agent of Alberto Aquilani confirmed yesterday that the injury-plagued midfielder would return to Anfield for pre-season training next month. Aquilani had been expected to secure a permanent deal with Ac Milan at the end of last season, but that never materialised, and there have been no further offers for the Italian's services. Brendan Rodgers must now decide whether to keep Aquilani, but what do the fans think?

Rodgers spoke highly of Aquilani earlier this month, and his comments suggest that he'd be open to the idea of having the the midfielder in his squad next season:

"I thought he was a really, really good player. He's a wonderful talent, a terrific player. He might just not be able to settle, he might not be able to adapt to the country, so you've got all those issues and obviously sometimes you're not aware of that until you speak to them."

Aquilani's return to Anfield would arguably boost the quality of Liverpool's squad, but do fans want him to return? I conducted a poll recently asking that question, and the results were a little surprising:

* Almost 6000 fans voted.

* 68% of people who took part voted for an Aquilani return.

The result is surprising because:

* A persistent fan complaint about Aquilani is his injury history.

* Despite being injured for three months during his loan spell at Milan, fans still want him back at LFC.

Aquilani is a quality player but he's surely just too injury prone, and if he returned to the Premier League - a more physical league than Serie A - he would inevitably get injured again at some point. Having said that, a fully-fit Aquilani would be an asset to the squad, so perhaps it's worth the risk?

If you haven't voted yet, you can do so below:



Jaimie Kanwar


70 comments:

  1. Whether or not I would like to see Alberto Aquilani return to LFC, depends entirely on the summer transfers. If we cannot acquire some quality central midfielders, then yes, I would like to see him back at LFC next year. 

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  2. We have got nothing to lose by bringing him back. He been a waste of space since he came to Anfield.
    All the bull about him not wanting to settle then why the hell did he sign in the first place.
    All this loaning him out has achieved nothing, Milan are skint and just trying to keep hold of a squad player who they have no intention of keeping.
    Make him stay and hopefully he might turn into a player or eventually just get rid!!!
    Incidently, does anyone know if that supposed LFC fan Phil gannon has been sentenced yet?I live in the same tiny North wales town as him and what a plonker!!!

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  3. everyone calls him a "quality" midfielder has anyone seen enough of him to call him that?

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  4. He cant be any good - nobody else wants him for NOWT - No brainer mate

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  5. He was never given a chance by Hodgson. Dalglish didn't either even after he was our best pre-season player last year. He is our most technically gifted midfield players, but dalglish wanted good old Charlie! I still can't believe the players he bought last season. We had the chance to get some real world class players and look at who what got!

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  6. Really want Aqua to come back and do the business, gut's me to here him being labeled a flop.

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  7. I don't think its a good idea bringing him back, his attitude while in England hasn't been right. However if we cant get a better player it might not be a bad idea.

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  8. He is agood player let him come bak

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  9. Yes, I've watched enough Serie A to say that he is indeed the kind of player that will fit nicely to Brendan Rodgers style. He is a better passer of the ball than any of our current players. Sadly he is really injury prone too...

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  10. Kanwar why dont you do a poll about how many people want you to go away 

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  11. totally agree mate, when i look at the money spent and what we spent it on, it angers the hell outta me. we had the chance to buy top top players with that cash, and instead kenny decided to use the large sums of money to buy sheer mediocrity at best.....we spent almost 55mill on adam, henderson and downing, just think of the players we could have got for that money and we prob would have been playing in the CL this coming season. In my honest opinion, dalglish assembled the worst LFC squad iv every seen. 

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  12. To buy an injured player for so much money in the first place was a mistake.  That said, Aquilani was just starting to look really good towards the end of his first season with us, having begun to shake off his injury issues.

    Then what do we do?  Loan him out to Juve and then to AC Milan.  AC Milan are crooks and we most definitely should not do business with them at any cost.  No, don't sell them Reina and don't do a deal over Aquilani.

    Who was surprised that they gave Aquilani 24.5 starts last season, knowing that just half a start more and they'd be legally obliged to pay us a half decent sum to end this chapter.

    If Aquilani doesn't want to make a go of his opportunity at LFC, then fine, move him on, but not to AC Milan under any circumstance.

    Personally, I think that he's good enough for us and I hope that he stays.

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  13. Watched him on Eurosport via computer and he IS a talent. I have already said so many times before so no need repeating. So glad he is back.

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  14. Pigman - couldnt agree with you more. Juve and AC have had our trousers down over this. I say bring him back, dont loan him out again and let's see if he can hack it in the Premiership. I suspect not, but let's at least give him a chance to repay some of that ridiculous money we spent on him.

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  15. Obviously you are still in the infancy of "using your loaf" but keep at it you never know Einstein had to start somewhere...

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  16. the few games that he played for Liverpool were enough for me to call him a quality midfielder

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  17. I think it's hypocritical the way that everybody keeps bleating on about Aquilani's injuries- the simple fact is that he IS a Liverpool player, so it's not a case of buying an injury prone player now, it's a case of keeping or selling a player for way below value because of an apparent injury issue.

    Martin Kelly has barely been able to string a couple of games together without getting injured, yet everybody keeps talking about him being the future of our defence. Agger, Adam, Lucas & Gerrard all spent more time on the sidelines through injury than Aquilani last season, yet I don't see any comments talking about get rid of them by any means because of this.

    Anybody can get injured, at any time. The aforementioned players all have an even worse injury record than Aquilani over the past 12 months, so by the same logic should we get rid of all of them asap too??

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  18. It was obvious at the end of last season that we lacked class all over the pitch notably on the left but especially in centre midfield. Aquilani showed last pre-season that he was a class above Adam, Henderson et al and yet he was allowed to go to Milan.

    On Aquilani's injury - has any noticed that our Sports Science and Fitness teams are doing a fantastic job of maintaining the players' fitness - I believe we had the best fitness record in the League last season. I'm sure they can work their magic on Aquilani.

    Aquilani's brilliant first touch and the speed that he moves the ball onto the other players will be crucial in helping us to break down those stubborn defences. I really believe that he will take the league by storm, if he can settle properly. Lets hope he stays, another season of watching the agricultural slowcoach Adam will do my head in.

    Lets hope we get to see Gerrard, Aquilani, Lucas and Suarez together on the pitch during pre-season, it's a mouth watering prospect. These players should be in the spine of the team.

    BTW - I voted yes!

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  19. More like donkey Charlie A. 

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  20. agreed, the same back four as last season, those players and two more attackers could  be brilliant. hopefully we can get some cover for LB and DM aswell.

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  21. Hello..... He is our player of course he should play and joe cole, he never had a chance

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  22.                                       reina/doni

    johnson/kelly        agger/coates         skrytl/carragher           enrique/?

                                         lucas/?

                           gerrard/henderson    aquillani/adam

    downing/maxi                                                        suarez/cole
                                       carrol/bellamy


    this is without buying anybody. with some decent cover for lucas and enrique, plus one or two more quality players i really think we can challenge for fourth!

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  23. Don't look back...6:18 pm, June 22, 2012

    +++ No club in the world wants Aquialni +++

    If he was that great then he would have made the Italian team for Euro 2012 which he has not and top clubs would be looking to take on his services which is also not happening.

    Milan also wanted us to release him so that they can have him for free. 17mil has been wasted. Please may this player be shown the door. He does not even want to be in England. He is a overpaid spoiled brat.

    The fact that nobody wants the player must tell you something. GET RID NOW!!!

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  24. I would safely say i would take a player like  Aquilani who may only play 50% of the season over Spearing, Adam or Henderson (at this moment in time) playing every single game this coming season.
    Henderson may improve this coming season if he fit's into Rodger's way of thinking!!!

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  25. I think the wise thing to do would be to get him off the wage bill. The possibility of him not performing to high enough standards or getting injured is too high and (IMO) we should look to sign a younger, less injury prone midfielder. Does Sigurdson count? :P 

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  26. Mr. Point Of View8:00 pm, June 22, 2012

    he owe lfc some performance

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  27.  what loaf said is true no one wants him even at a knock down price.

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  28. As for Aqua --it was pretty clear that he wanted to leave, roy and kenny did not force him out. there was a leaked video of him in a hotel lobby asking comolli things like "why can't I leave? Why do you want me here?". 

    I'd take Aqua back in a heartbeat, he could be very useful for us when Gerrard is injured, but worried about him sulking in the locker room, considering he has a 2-3 yr old kid and hot wife who wants to stay in Italy. Then again City had their fair share of players sulking and they won the title. 

    Have to agree with Kenny's transfers, Liverpool had some real momentum with Suarez signing and finishing the season well --then we lose out on our top targets (Ashley Young, Phil Jones, Ox, etc.) and Kenny+Comolli completely run out of ideas with transfers, losing our momentum and making the owners more skeptical about spending money.
    Hope we really go out and spend big money on another attacking player --we need one now more than ever before Suarez leaves and Gerrard continues aging.

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  29. I'd rather c Aquilani back than watch CHA, JH, SD or J Spearing play for us next season.

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  30. you having a larf????
    check out aquillani career stats,,
    hes a proffessional, typical italian con man,,,,,,
    what a total waste of money, signed by another con man benitez,,
    and you want him back,,,,,??
    mentalist chat.........

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  31. you aint learned anything have you from the last 3 yrs ???
    the common denominators in the demise of LFC are plain to see,,,,,,
    they have seen off several managers,,, just like the chelsea mafia have done at their club.
    contract weasel carragher (2 yrs extension 2 days b4 FSG took over, stevie me, me, me, me, gerrard whose personal engurland international career takes priority over LFC,, how come hes always fit for his beloved engurland?? always injured for LFC ??
    LFC pay him 140,000 pounds per week ??
    add to the list, johnson, auto biography writer reina, adam the donkey, cole the joke, aurellio mr glass, stewart drowning, useless,,skrtel, thinks hes now too good to play for LFC,,, 1/2 decent season last yr,, previous 3 crap....
    LFC will not progress until Brendan Rodgers gets shut,,,, and he will,,,, mark my words,, the above overpaid scum were responsible for getting Kenny sacked,, a legend,,,,,,
    multi millionaire scum....

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  32. Hes a quality player but his injuries and all the drama his agent causes puts clubs of, that and his high wage demand

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  33. STFU you twat, you clearly have no idea what your going on about 

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  34. Milan want him for free because they think they can get him for free.

    They value him and want to sign him for as little as possible. That makes sense right?

    We should definitely bring him back and try to integrate him.

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  35. downing? maxi? carra? cole?
    we won't be getting fourth with that lot.
    we might aswell resign zenden and pennant.

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  36. I think we should keep him and give him some real playing time,thought he had a good pre-season last year, then we ended up loaning him out?I would do the same with Cole as well,who know's under BR's leadership they might just prove their worth,if that is not the case then think about getting rid, we have nothing to lose!

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  37. pls mr,Rodgers give Alberto a season trial and you will surely believe in him because Aquilani will surely do the job for us in that position,and all this problem is that roy and kenny did'nt gave a chance to show his class  but during last pre season i believe Alberto shows that he is top class play maker so pls Rodgers give these guy a chance in the coming season. 

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  38. I've said it before and I will say it again: Aquilani is a waste of space and a mistake. Not just Hodgson or Dalglish, even the manager Rafa who brought him in doesn't give him a chance when he came back from injury. It has been PROVEN that even Juventus and Milan doesn't want to take up the option on him even at knockdown prices...that tells you everything and there can be no excuse of homesick when he lives and plays in Italy! He will NEVER be an Alonso that he was meant to replace. It's always a frustrating stop-start for him - getting injured, homesick, etc. Just because Liverpool fans saw some glimpes of his potential in some rare games and we get so excited about him. The managers worked with him every day and surely they know him and his attitude better than all of us. Over the years, we're supposed to have the "future" Viera (Sissoko), "future" Henry (Babel), "future" Messi (Joe Cole), etc.. Be realistic, stop getting sentimental just because we paid BIG for him. Take the loss and move on.

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  39. I totally agree with you. Aqua has great footballing sense. Suarez will thrive on His defense splitting passes. A much better prospect than the flop MF in the current squad. I say keep him. With Europa league on thursdays it will be handy to rotate players. We have nothing to lose.

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  40. Seriously. Carragher is a liability and way past it.He should move on. 

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  41. Kenny mistakenly loaned him out having high hopes on the mediocre MF in the squad. When Lucas got crocked it was down all the way. If Aqua was in the squad, he would have made a huge difference. Kenny SOS'd Shelvey from loan. The rest is history. 

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  42. It doesn't take a genius like Einstein to tell you that no club wants Aquilani. It is also a fact that Aquilani had failed to impress any of the clubs he was loaned to. Hmmm, makes one wonders who is the 'infant' here. 

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  43. He was not supposed to replace Alonso: they're two very different types of player.  Alonso is a metronome, mainly staying in the same area of the pitch; Aquilani flits all over the pitch, often finding himself either near, or inside, the penalty box.  In other words, posing a greater attacking threat than Alonso.

    Yes, he may be injured: so is Gerrard, more and more.  Do you want to get rid of him, too?  Torres suffered a lot in his final two seasons.  Did you want rid of him?  No, I doubt it.  Why?  They offer a real threat when fit and on the pitch, able to change games with skill, goals, or telling passes, that's why.  Aquilani has that ability, too.

    Homesick?  Who knows?  I've heard about wanting to stay in Italy, but is that because he loves Italy, or because he felt unwanted at Liverpool?  I ask, because I've heard from Comolli, and from Aquilani a few weeks ago, that all he wants is to be able to play regularly and contribute, and that he'd be happy to return to Liverpool, to play in the best league in the world.  Check out his comments from this year and last year, around the same time.

    He's quality and we need him.

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  44. Hardly a 'waste of space'.  The first season he spent with us, he was a very good player after he recovered from injury.  And before anyone retorts "but he only stayed for a season", he, like Andy Carroll, was signed for five years, not five weeks.

    And even if - if - he were a waste of space, it's hardly HIS fault that he's been sent out on loan, because two managers couldn't see his quality.

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  45. Whilst I was in China, I watched every Liverpool game (full 90 minutes) on T.V., and he became my favourite player.  So yes, I'd say he's the real deal.

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  46. Yeah - that makes a lot of sense.  Apparently, nobody wants RAFA either....so he must be rubbish, too....

    Or not....

    Media hype - or excoriation - can be extremely powerful forces.  Just ask Harry Redknapp, regarding the England job....

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  47. And yet the best manager of all those who've had the chance to play him - RAFA - was the one who signed him, and made the best use out of him.

    Interesting.

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  48. Henderson could come good.  He has a great engine, and is technically very good, I've read.  Perhaps he's a bit overawed, similar to Carroll?  Carroll's got a bit of the 'bull' in him, though: he can use his physical power to intimidate the opposition, which, in turn, could increase his own confidence, seeing the effect he has; Henderson can't really use this tactic.  Lucas mark II?  Suffering the 'Gerrard  Effect'?

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  49. Not so sure.  Aquilani has said only recently he just wants to play.  Comolli said the same thing last year - he wants to be a regular, not be a fourth choice.  And, looking at the talent on offer - Adam, Spearing? - wouldn't YOU feel disheartened, if you had the ability Aquilani has?

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  50. Heard him complain recently, have you?  Does he give less than 100 when he plays?  I've not seen it.  He seems a nice lad, quiet, just getting on with things, taking life as it comes, in spite of being treated appallingly.

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  51. He would have cost MORE if he'd not been injured.  For his quality, £18m is pretty good value, when you consider that Alonso was sold for £30m.  Is Alonso REALLY almost twice the player Aquilani is?  Twice as good?  I don't think so.

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  52. By the way, we've created a rod for our own back: two managers made it absolutely clear that they didn't want him, which makes negotiation much easier for other clubs.  Liverpool, at that time, seemed to want rid at all costs, which is ludicrous.  Stupid, stupid loan deals.

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  53. At last!  Well done, Jay, for stating something poignant!  No-one else appears to have noticed this, that other players suffer injuries (how about Vidic, for Man. U?  No-one would think about getting rid of him because of that, would they?).

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  54. Yeah, a conman who saved our club, from REAL conmen; a conman who sacrificed his own job for our club.

    Idiotic comment.

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  55. The article says 68% voted 'yes'; now up to over 70%!

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  56. Maxi is quality.  Cool head, good finisher, clever movement, clever in the head, good passer, rarely injured, bags of experience.  Worth keeping.

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  57. Carragher said a couple of years ago he wouldn't stay on if he became a third- or fourth-choice defender at Liverpool.  Hmmm....he kept that promise, didn't he?

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  58. We want him, and that's all that counts.  Most of us wanted Rafa, too; the owners - fools, and shame on them - overlooked him.  Does that mean Rafa is no good either?

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  59. Out of respect to JIM G " no comment "

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  60. Don't look back...7:38 am, June 23, 2012

    Rafa is history, he is a pipe dream now. He had his time and I am happy that FSG did not bring him back and they never will. You will have to get used to that :)

    Aquilani wants regular football and with Sigurdsson joining I doubt Aquilani will be a fixture in the team and he will most probably be injured for most of the season too. He also earns more than 100k per week so things are not looking good for Aquilani. He will also get homesick again. This has been a very expensive mistake. We need to count our losses and bring in players who want to play for the shirt.

    You are just miff because Rafa your hero is not and will never be our manager again. Shame, poor you.

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  61. From recent poll 70% of fans want him back. That says it all. I would love to see him play for LFC. 

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  62. When he returned from injury he was our most effective attacking midfielder and looked every bit an 18 million pound footballer. hodgson turned up believing the media criticism and was never going to give him a chance. i think when kenny spoke to him aquilani made it clear he would rather return to Italy and kenny felt we had enough in midfield to let him go.
    ac Milan rated him highly enough to play him 24 times last season but wanted to get him on the cheap. that seems to have backfired and now they need to buy someone else to replace their retiring midfielders.
    If aquilani is happy to come back and fight for his place I'm happy for him to return because he offers something different to all our current players.

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  63. Aquilani DID play for Italy in the qualifiers and he is Quality, as Gerro, JHenry and Comolli. Best player in our pre-season, Roy and KD wanted him off on loan because they wanted to bring in their own flops, Poulsen, Hendo, Adam [whom many of you called a great signing but label him 'fat & lazy', its about time you 'really looked back.

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  64. Problem with Henderson is he's too careful. Not only has he got a good engine and good technique, he is pacy too. I personally don't think it was wrong to try turning him into a winger but he needs someone like Rodgers who would tell him what to do. I don't think Kenny made enough demands, and persisted with giving time to the new buys to acclimatise at the cost of results. The stats say it all. Our new boys were indeed given the most playing time in their positions.
     

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  65. He's got a unique quality that you can't find in any player in the Premier league...
    He's still an LFC player, and the last two seasons have really shown that We made big mistakes in loaning him to Serie A teams..
    Bring him back.. at least he's a proven player not in the PL alone; actually in LFC itself
    YNWA

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  66. Saw him play in last pre-season game, and along with Agger and Mata he was by far the best player on the pitch.
    It seems something needs to switch on in the 'comitment part' of his brain - not just comitting to LFC or living in the UK, but committing to tackles, committing to a full 90, something psychological that makes a player tough, a goal scorer and a winner.

    It takes belief and encouragement from a player's manager, fans & family, leading to increased confidence and mental toughness. You can't GIVE a player this quality, but you can lead it out of them IF it's in them. It's in Carrol, & Hendo...MAYBE Downing, and maybe Aqua. I see it in Spearing but don't think he has the natural ability. I see it in Adam but i think he needs to be number 1 to release it (which he's not at LFC). Kuyt epitomised the fighting quality, so much so that we forgave a fair lack of natural abilty. If only Aqua could have half the heart and fight Kuyt had for Liverpool, he'll be a top top player. Is it in there? Rogers and 70% of fans seem to want to bring some fight out of him...it's down to him now.

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  67. wow how negative can you get lol, you might as well just kill yourself now! personally i believe that rogers is doing the right things so far. kenny signed a bunch of those players so he has to share at least some of the responsibility. He seemed out of touch and had no plan b. shit happens mate but times change and maybe things will get better. also check out real madrids honours list and they change managers constantly

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  68. maxi is very underrated, downing and cole are good enough to be squad players, carra is on a downward slope though and personally i hope we do sign another defender and move him into the coaching staff

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  69. he went back on those words shortly after and said he would like to stay as a one club player

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  70. also you have responded to almost every post on here lol! slow day at the office?!

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