It's fair to say that on-loan Liverpool striker Fabio Borini endured a disappointing debut season at Anfield. Injuries aside, the Italian didn't quite click in Brendan Rodgers' tactical set-up, and only got to play his favoured central striker role once in twenty appearances for the Reds. Things seem to have changed for the better this year, though, and Sunderland boss Gustavo Poyet is keen to sign Borini to a permanent deal for next season. Has the striker found his level, or should Rodgers bring him back to Anfield?
When asked about Borini's future after Sunderland's recent 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace, Poyet told Sky Sports:
"He [Borini] is going to be important. If we stay in the Premier League I would keep him, as he is very welcome here and the fans like him. Fabio is the perfect character to have in a group of players, professional, he cares, he gives everything - the perfect professional".
With Liverpool certain to be in the Champions League, I imagine Borini will want to stay at Anfield next season, and Rodgers seems to be open to the idea of keeping the striker in the squad. In an interview with the Liverpool last week, LFC's manager noted:
"Fabio has got games and scored some very important goals. He got the opportunity to play in a major final at Wembley. All that bodes well for the future".
Borini's agent is also convinced that a return to Anfield is on the cards. he told reporters recently:
"After the season returns Borini to Liverpool, where he is one of Brendan Rodgers favourites. You should talk to him about a possible sale, but I do not think that is the intention".
Poyet's glowing words confirm what Reds fans already know: Borini is a top-class professional with a great attitude, but has he done enough to secure a future at LFC? Sunderland stats for this season:
* 6 goals/2 assists in 30 apps.
* Goal ever 5 games.
* Shooting accuracy: 36%
* Passing accuracy: 75%
* Key passes: 14
* Crossing accuracy: 20%
* Successul dribbles: 16
* Tackles: 15
* Interceptions: 19
Stats: OPTA
To be honest, I'm ambivalent on this issue. If Rodgers decides to sell, great, but if Borini stays, that's fine too, and the stats suggest that the he could be decent squad player.
There's one major upside to keeping Borini: After another year of Premier League experience, he should - in theory - be more equipped to make an impact for LFC, and if that happens, it will be like having a brand new signing. Additionally, with four competitions on offer next season, the striker should get a healthy number of games to prove himself.
There's also the cost issue to consider. It's unlikely that LFC will make back £11m on Borini at this stage, so it probably makes sense to keep him for another year (or the first part of next season at least) in a bid to raise his transfer value.
Ultimately, I'd rather see Aspas leave over Borini. Whatever happens, one of them will have to go as LFC will not (IMO) be able to accommodate both players next season.
Author: Jaimie K
When asked about Borini's future after Sunderland's recent 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace, Poyet told Sky Sports:
"He [Borini] is going to be important. If we stay in the Premier League I would keep him, as he is very welcome here and the fans like him. Fabio is the perfect character to have in a group of players, professional, he cares, he gives everything - the perfect professional".
With Liverpool certain to be in the Champions League, I imagine Borini will want to stay at Anfield next season, and Rodgers seems to be open to the idea of keeping the striker in the squad. In an interview with the Liverpool last week, LFC's manager noted:
"Fabio has got games and scored some very important goals. He got the opportunity to play in a major final at Wembley. All that bodes well for the future".
Borini's agent is also convinced that a return to Anfield is on the cards. he told reporters recently:
"After the season returns Borini to Liverpool, where he is one of Brendan Rodgers favourites. You should talk to him about a possible sale, but I do not think that is the intention".
Poyet's glowing words confirm what Reds fans already know: Borini is a top-class professional with a great attitude, but has he done enough to secure a future at LFC? Sunderland stats for this season:
* 6 goals/2 assists in 30 apps.
* Goal ever 5 games.
* Shooting accuracy: 36%
* Passing accuracy: 75%
* Key passes: 14
* Crossing accuracy: 20%
* Successul dribbles: 16
* Tackles: 15
* Interceptions: 19
Stats: OPTA
To be honest, I'm ambivalent on this issue. If Rodgers decides to sell, great, but if Borini stays, that's fine too, and the stats suggest that the he could be decent squad player.
There's one major upside to keeping Borini: After another year of Premier League experience, he should - in theory - be more equipped to make an impact for LFC, and if that happens, it will be like having a brand new signing. Additionally, with four competitions on offer next season, the striker should get a healthy number of games to prove himself.
There's also the cost issue to consider. It's unlikely that LFC will make back £11m on Borini at this stage, so it probably makes sense to keep him for another year (or the first part of next season at least) in a bid to raise his transfer value.
Ultimately, I'd rather see Aspas leave over Borini. Whatever happens, one of them will have to go as LFC will not (IMO) be able to accommodate both players next season.
panel management
Author: Jaimie K
borini is good but not the top quality we need id try to do a deal with udinese him and 7 million for luis muriel and id be over the moon
ReplyDeleteI agree in keeping Borini, and moving Aspas on, but if we could do a deal as Trev suggests for Muriel, that would be even better.
ReplyDeleteSomeone make this man the 'Managing Director' ... man with a plan.
ReplyDeleteI do love Borini's passion when he plays (also seem's like a cracking bloke), but he doesn't cut the mustard for me (sorry to say). Only reservation with Muriel is, he looks like a guy waiting to get fat, if that makes sense. But hey Jan Molby was boss, and Titi Camera was a similar body type and wasn't too shabby.
I think we should keep him. He's still very young and seems to have a good attitude. Not particularly bothered one way or the other tho
ReplyDeletevery young?? he is 24 now and he wont get more than 3 goals in a season. This is the guy u says he can play for big club because he scored in a cup final.This guy has no attributes at all and we wont be developing players next season as we have to fight on all fronts ..so good luck u 60%
ReplyDeleteIf those are the only two options I say keep. We need strikers who can come in and score while resting one of SAS and I think Borini can do that. He can start those Cup matches and THE GUY. I believe he understands the speed of the PL now...not only physically, but mentally too...that opportunities to score can happen quickly and you better be ready to take them because they close down as fast as they arise. Plus...we already own him and don't have to buy him...but then you have to drop Aspas and probably Assaidi too. I really like that Ings kid and I don't understand why there isn't more excitement about him. Can anyone enlighten me?
ReplyDeleteYes he has had one good season, plus his injury record makes Aurelio look like a perfect specimen of a human being.
ReplyDeleteborini is 22
ReplyDeletethink about where hendo was last year, at the same age.
ReplyDeleteI'd say this is exactly the kind of player we're after. Real quality in that position, hopefully a decent defender and can provide goals and scoring chances. Tie him up with Flanno, keep Johnson and that's three quality wing backs in the side pushing for two spots. If he lives up to the hype then we'd be doing really well to get him.
ReplyDeleteHe's decent enough for a guy to come off the bench. I'd love to get an honest appraisal from Rodgers, understand precisely what's gone wrong given that we were happy to pay so much up front. It seems like he has the talent and he certainly works hard. Maybe if he comes back to LFC he'll re-start his football education and learn better what he needs to do in order to score more goals. Sunderland is good experience but Poyet isn't exactly a tactical genius.
ReplyDeleteJamie you're a negative cunt.
ReplyDeleteYeah cause Shelvey is a world beater....pfft
ReplyDeleteActually, some of the best WBs are small in stature, height but they were solid. This guy has that sort of solid looking structure. However, you said Rodriguez & Shaw as the top 3 prospect, but what about Lucas Digne. I don't think Shaw won't have been that highly rated had he not been English. 25mn for Saw is just insane, probably close to 20mn of Downing (nobody can match KK & Donkey Carroll).
ReplyDeleteThe loan move was best for Borini. He has played regular football and seems to have shrugged of the injuries that blighted the start of his LFC career.The summer transfer window will give us all the answer we need. I reckon Borini will stay.
ReplyDeletethe thing is i dont see Borini coming back into the current team. who can he replace? we have a set strike formation for many years to come in Suarez and Sturridge so he's definately not gonna get his breakthrough there. can he play on the wing? i doubt it, he has very minimal technical ability and cannot dribble, be flexible and pick crosses to teammates. what he has is predator instinct, which is why he has to play up front. but tbh, if Borini came back i reckon it would disheartened the other players that were not taking steps forward. Borini has not lit up his loan spell. theres nothing special about his loan spell to suggest he deserves a place back amongst LFC bench. we need to actually sign a proper 3rd striker to come on for 20mins and keep players like Sturridge fresh. my choice would be Luis Muriel. he will cost up to £15M, but is a very good player, wil be able to start FA Cup and Carling Cup games and will be able to start every now again in CL and PL depending on injurys, but he will be able to come on as a sub every game for Sturridge. lightening quick, with technical ability and predator instinct and movement, he will fit in straight away. whilst only being 22 he fits the FSG profile and will be willing to learn from the World Class Luis Suarez whilst also keeping Sturridge on his toes and also filling in on the wing.
ReplyDeleteBR will probably say he's been outstanding.....
ReplyDeleteAgree your points. He is still young for a striker and could still improve significantly. On the other hand he might not develop enough for Liverpool. The trouble is knowing n advance which way it islikey to go. I suspect he might end up with a further loan period especially if wesign another forward in the summer.
This makes me think again about Rodgers said with regards our possible summer spending. It's not so much about getting the expensive super players, although you need quality, but what's most important is that the guys you have buy into your methods and are capable of implementing them. Rodgers asks a lot of players. He even makes strikers do defensive and pressing work. If you don't cut the mustard when it comes to that sort of thing I suspect you get benched pretty quickly. If I recall correctly Borini was no slouch when it came to doing the work, nor was Aspas. But is there some other aspect of their play that just doesn't match up? Are they capable of doing the job the manager asks?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, it will be interesting to see. If we have European football next year I think I'd like to see both Borini and Aspas in the squad. You need that kind of depth, and they would get more game time in the league too. But if we can get someone better than both of them then that's perfect. Still - you never know - we could buy a striker in the summer who is fully expected to be quality but who, for whatever reason, doesn't turn out to be good enough. Selling Borini and Aspas without knowing for sure that they are surplus would be a mistake.
Well put. Been a long time since, I have felt this good ... let us enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteBorini's positioning is good, and I believe he's a very competent finisher. A spell at Sunderland and he looks better, physically, at coping with life in the Premier League. He's still only young and has a good attitude. Personally I would hang on to him, certainly over Aspas. We will need a much bigger squad next season and can't over-rely on Sturridge and Suarez; they can't play every fixture of every competition. In my opinion Rodger's will need to bring in another quality striker but Borini should still get chances to play.
ReplyDeleteWe're arguing that we keep him on the bench, not the first team.
ReplyDeleteGive Aspas to MANURE they need him more than we do , Keep Borini he will be better next season and since we will be playing more games we might need him when we rest SAS.
ReplyDeleteThere is no doubt Borini has the ability,so in my opinion we should keep him. I can't see Suarez or Sturridge playing in too many fa or league cup games next season. I can see Brendan using these competitions to bed in the young players and to give fringe players a chance. If we are serious about making waves,then we will need four strikers next season. I'd be more than happy with Suarez, Sturridge, Borini and Muriel!!
ReplyDeleteBorini has been playing on the left of a front three and he has been Sunderlands star man all season,their fans love him. He has performed in a crap team,so should be given a chance at liverpool. He is a quality player with a work ethic and I've no doubt Brendan will have him back.
ReplyDeleteYes true we do need more depth for next year though I am not so sure whether its worth keeping Aspas he is a good bit older and i think it might be time to let him go.
ReplyDeleteAs you say you need to work hard to play the way BR requires but for the team to keep pushing on you also need them to have that bit more quality.
Keep him. He will never be first team pick obviously, but he's a good player who can add to the squad. We're going to need options up front for next year with the extra games. As much as I would like to see us spend big on another world class striker, I don't see it happening. So why go into the market for another 10million punt, when we know what we have already in Borini.
ReplyDeleteIf he is sold i hope he goes on to become a Sunderland legend as he has been a top pro, never complaining when left out or played out of position, always tried for every minute he was on the pitch, it's a shame for him he's at the club at the time of the best strike partnership in the league.
Definitely take him over Shaw. 25mil is a joke. I know he is a quality player, but putting that kind of price on someone so young is ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteShaw may be a slightly better player at the moment, but one thing young players have to do is improve every game, every season. When you buy someone so young you are taking the gamble that this will happen, and for me 25million is too big a gamble.
OK...didn't know he was walking stretcher bait...but DS has had his share of injuries too. What about Rhodes then?
ReplyDeleteThat's got my vote. Nice quartet that.
ReplyDeleteI expect Liverpool to transfer or release the following players: Pepe, Glen Johnson :(, Enrique, Coates, Kelly, Brad Jones, Kolo, Assaidi and Aspas :(. I expect Brad Smith and Ryan Mclaughlin to make the jump into the first team and make contributions immediately and on a limited basis at the fullback slot, (Cup, possible CL games and limited amount of EPL games). My guess would be for Glen Johnson's contract to be run down, blooding Smith and Mclaughin while maintaining experience at that position. As one can see, experience counts for something, especially in the Champions League.
ReplyDeleteThey can buy him. For 10.5 million pounds they can.
ReplyDeleteAnd Luke Shaw is a big signing why? Because he's English and the English media and pundits pretend he's Paulo Maldini?
ReplyDeleteI like him, I genuinely think he should stay at liverpool.
ReplyDeleteHe's 22 actually, and has improved greatly on last season. Same level of improvement again and we could have another hendo. Either way I believe BR knows what he's doing and will make the right call
ReplyDeleteBoring is born as a shooter rather than intimating an attack.
ReplyDeleteHe got great movement and shooting though his pace is...
But it's worth to keep him.
Obviously aspas is not comfort to pl, which the defense is much tighter than liga.
So aspas should be sent back to spain
He also refused to sign Séamus Coleman, when he was recommended to him, for a mere 60K.
ReplyDeleteGot to have someone to back up Sturridge. I can't forget he's injury prone but this season he seems to have had a relatively injury free time. Not sure if it will continue but I hope so.
ReplyDelete