6 Dec 2012

'He's a wonderful player' - Rodgers hails 'clever' striker with 80 goals in 3 years...

Liverpool face a tough away game against Udinese in the Europa League tonight, and Brendan Rodgers believes that the Serie A club's star striker, Antonio Di Natale, could once again be a real threat the Reds' chances of progressing in the competition.

Di Natale scored a great goal or Udinese in their 3-2 victory at Anfield in October, In his pre-match press conference last night, Rodgers - who called the striker a 'real clever player' in October, warned the Reds to be wary of the 35-year old. He said:

"They [Udinese] have got some very good players, in particular [Antonio] Di Natale.

"He has been a wonderful player throughout his career"


Liverpool winger Stewart Downing is also wary of Di Natale's ability to change a game. He told LFC TV:

"He's an important player for them. You can see with his finish for the goal [At Anfield] - his quality. We were warned about him before the game, but top players only need a second or a chance and they can sniff it out. He'll be a big player for them.

The Italian International's creative record in Serie A is fantastic:

* 80 league goals in the last three seasons, averaging well over 20 per season each time.
* 119 goals/assists in his last 125 games for Udinese (how fantastic is that!)
* This season: 11 goals/2 assists in 19 games

Considering Serie A is widely acknowledged to be one of the the most difficult leagues in which to score goals, Di Natale's record is absolutely formidable.

Let's hope Liverpool's players don't underestimate Di Natale; he may be 35, but he's still a goalscoring machine. Indeed, he's scored most of his goals for Udinese between the ages of 31 and 34, which suggests he's getting better with age.

It's quite amazing how players like Di Natale and Pirlo - both in their mid-30s - continue to play at such a high level. Will Steven Gerrard still be having a similar impact for Liverpool when he's 35? To be honest, it's doubtful.



Jaimie Kanwar


21 comments:

  1. He is a great player and someone we need to watch for 90 minutes. Would like Coates to play with Skrtel in this one.

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  2. I would have Di Natale now i was at the game at Anfield and he was magnificent, what a brilliant player!!!!

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  3. They have great weather, great food... and sunshine, that all aids to make the body stronger and happier... for longer.
    Thats how he can still cut it at 35, Stevie G has been torn up by freezing temps, rain and hardcore football instead of easy continental flair football.

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  4. I am deadly serious about Di Natale, he would be incredible with Luis Suarez and Borini........................he would cost peanuts!!!!. Do we get him in January????........................remember the impact of Gary MaCallister at 35 years old, he was a catalyst!!!

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  5. H e is God over there, and doesn't have to prove anything, if he didn't go by now he never will.

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  6. With Juve interested in Coates it would be perfect for lifting his price, and if he proves himself maybe keep him or loan him.

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  7. Stevie will endure! He's hard as nails. How many times have we seen players go into 50/50 challenges, only for Stevie to emerge superior (often injuring the other players). Stevie loves "smashing" other players and IMO is a titan among men. Lets not forget, his biggest injuries in his career have been ankle (2007), tight muscles due to his growth spurts (early on), and more recently his strange groin infection and reconstruction...

    Other than that, Stevie is a relatively healthy player. I think if he follows in the footsteps of Giggs (apologies for mentioning such a name here), looks after himself cleverly (Dammit, I did it again!), doing yoga and other brilliant plyometric exercises and stabilizer routines... he will be fine.

    One thing against him is his size, and perhaps his awkward running style, but this is someone who's body has been conditioned over years and years. The doctors and physios will do everything in their power to prolong his career... All I say is "why the hell not?".

    Remember, this is Steven Gerrard we're talking about, the most legendary Liverpool player perhaps over the last two decades... This guy has a habit of making the impossible possible - if anybody can go on for many more years, it would be this guy!

    YNWA Stevie!

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  8. Pay him top top money and you never know???, he said very good things about Liverpool.

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  9. Still unlikely in my opinion, and fsg wouldn't give a 35 old top money..

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  10. Di Natale is truly a fabulous player. And like Jamie said he has gotten better with age. But I doubt SG will be able to keep up this level of performances. Not that I doubt his quality, but injuries have an adverse effect on his performances I feel.

    Wonderful player nonetheless.

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  11. Just read on twitter (I know it's not that reliable) that Carragher is starting tonight. Really hope it's not true. Carragher just doesn't do it for me anymore and if we don't start giving Coates more games he's gonna want a move elsewhere.

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  12. I reckon it will be 3-5-2...................maybe that is why Carra is playing??

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  13. too slow for only one cb alongside, specially if it's not Agger... still like to see him on the pitch though...

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  14. Terrific little finisher. Him, Sanchez and/or Quagliarella (all 3 were at the club at the same for a while) were brilliant together on the counter attack for Udinese. The speed, movement and finishing combined was great to watch. Even beyond his finishing, he has a good all-round play. Him and Suarez in a interchanging front three attack would be tempting. He is bit of a late bloomer, just goes to show that one has to be careful when writing off players early as not every young player is as mature and ready as Cesc, Messi, etc.

    Not all that optimistic but we will have to see whether Stevie has the subtlety and patience required for a ageing CM to be effective, when slowly but surely the energy and ability to rampaging that is key to his all-action style will depreciate as times goes on, like it already has done so far.

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  15. Never quite understood why he never got his big move. Played at Empoli and Udinese but not even his hometown club Napoli tried to snatch him up.

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  16. Is not about weather :) is all about the type of style they played! Gerrard still can play at 35 if he change his game to using his brain more than body...

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  17. He definately has the ability to stroll around the park picking out passes, taking free kicks, vision and still work hard all round the pitch. Pace was never the strongest point of Gerrard's, but his charging beastly runs i guess were his forte...

    CHARGING BEASTLY RUNS!!!

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  18. Why the cheap shot at Stevie G????

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  19. Don't be so hypersensitive. It'a a valid comparison.

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  20. lol.. be careful using Gerrard's name in vain JK. He IS Liverpool... our Captain fantastic... red, blood in blood out... the epitome of what the club represents!

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