During his first season at Anfield, on-loan Liverpool winger Oussama Assaidi barely got a look-in, and it came as no surprise see him leave on loan last summer. Reds legend John Aldridge recently argued that Brendan Rodgers made a mistake sending the Moroccan to Stoke City, and after a fairly successful spell at the Brittannia Stadium, it looks like Potters boss Mark Hughes wants to make the deal permanent.
When asked about Assaidi's future over the weekend, Hughes told reporters:
"Ozzy...has done really well and we will talk about his future. We have been good for him and he's been good for us"
In a recent column for the Liverpool Echo, Aldo disputed the decision to send Assaidi on loan:
"Hindsight is a great thing but we would have been better off keeping Oussama Assaidi. [He] has contributed a lot for Stoke during his loan spell".
Assaidi - who cost LFC €3m - is not exactly tearing it up at Stoke, and I'm not sure that 4 goals/4 assists in 27 appearances corresponds to 'contributing a lot'. However, he is doing a far better job Victor Moses, who has contributed next to nothing for Liverpool this season, so Aldo is probably right - LFC should've just kept Assaidi and not bothered with Moses.
Last season, I regularly highlighted Brendan Rodgers' reticence to play Assaidi. Like Luis Alberto this year, Rodgers constantly ignored him, and when actually included in the squad, he spent most of his time warming the bench. Whenever Assaidi played, though, he performed quite well, with his direct running and willingness to take players on, and it made no real sense to continually ignore him, but that's Rodgers for you.
Stoke left-back Erik Pieters certainly thinks highly of Assaidi's talents. In a recent interview, he told the Stoke Sentinel:
"Ossie's good, I can play balls to him and he's a good player with great technique. When he gets on the ball he's very strong and that's good for me as well because I can make overlaps. I like playing with him".
I suspect Assaidi - and Fabio Borini - will leave Liverpool at the end of this season. Neither player's creative output is good enough (IMO), and I doubt either of them want to spend a year warming the bench when they can play regularly at their respective loan clubs.
The Reds will inevitably make a combined financial loss on both players. After all, who is going to pay more than £14m for those two?
Is Assaidi consistent enough to be a squad player at LFC, or should Rodgers just cut his losses?
Author: Jaimie K
When asked about Assaidi's future over the weekend, Hughes told reporters:
"Ozzy...has done really well and we will talk about his future. We have been good for him and he's been good for us"
In a recent column for the Liverpool Echo, Aldo disputed the decision to send Assaidi on loan:
"Hindsight is a great thing but we would have been better off keeping Oussama Assaidi. [He] has contributed a lot for Stoke during his loan spell".
Assaidi - who cost LFC €3m - is not exactly tearing it up at Stoke, and I'm not sure that 4 goals/4 assists in 27 appearances corresponds to 'contributing a lot'. However, he is doing a far better job Victor Moses, who has contributed next to nothing for Liverpool this season, so Aldo is probably right - LFC should've just kept Assaidi and not bothered with Moses.
Last season, I regularly highlighted Brendan Rodgers' reticence to play Assaidi. Like Luis Alberto this year, Rodgers constantly ignored him, and when actually included in the squad, he spent most of his time warming the bench. Whenever Assaidi played, though, he performed quite well, with his direct running and willingness to take players on, and it made no real sense to continually ignore him, but that's Rodgers for you.
Stoke left-back Erik Pieters certainly thinks highly of Assaidi's talents. In a recent interview, he told the Stoke Sentinel:
"Ossie's good, I can play balls to him and he's a good player with great technique. When he gets on the ball he's very strong and that's good for me as well because I can make overlaps. I like playing with him".
I suspect Assaidi - and Fabio Borini - will leave Liverpool at the end of this season. Neither player's creative output is good enough (IMO), and I doubt either of them want to spend a year warming the bench when they can play regularly at their respective loan clubs.
The Reds will inevitably make a combined financial loss on both players. After all, who is going to pay more than £14m for those two?
Is Assaidi consistent enough to be a squad player at LFC, or should Rodgers just cut his losses?
survey tools
Author: Jaimie K
I reckon we will make a profit on Assaidi.
ReplyDeleteBrendon has made his first big mistake - we expect our managers to stand up to bullies and psychopaths. it's not in our DNA to be mocked without reply. 100 million worth of subs alone came on to play like that ?.
ReplyDeleteWhat exactly are you on about?
ReplyDeleteI love assaid i remember him playing Europa league last season he was very good but never got chance i think if he was trusted he would have been very good sub
ReplyDeleteProbably a slight loss overall when it includes the wages etc. we paid him for his year spent doing nothing with us, but it should only be a small one, so it can just be chalked up to an unsuccessful role of the dice.
ReplyDeleteI'd have certainly rather seen him coming off the bench than Aspas.
ReplyDeleteComing out with nonsense like this, I think maybe your DNA is the missing link?!
ReplyDeleteSo does louie spence,but doesn't make him a good footballer, tho in saying that Michael Flattley might be ok coming off the bench,as he's got quick feet!!
ReplyDeleteI expect the reason BR did not play assaidi is, as you say, because he does not think his creative output is good enough.
ReplyDeleteNo point playing him if what you have on the field already is in your opinion better.
We can criticise him for not playing him or cos he should not have been bought (with hindsight) but Shirley not both.
Is there a prize for guessing? My stab in the dark is Mourinho and BR making his peace with him but I coud be wrong. There has to be a first for everything....
ReplyDeleteDon't think Brendan minds us questioning his acquisitions,but he may take umbrage to being called Shirley!! LOL
ReplyDeleteSell. No doubt about that.
ReplyDeleteVery inconsistent player.
moses has been rubbish it was his lack of skill which led to hendo being banned...im all for loaning
ReplyDeletebut not for dross moses is dross
To be honest, I thought exactly the same recently, would be a nice addition to our squad + if Fulham go down he would be available for a cheap price :)
ReplyDeleteYes! last time I checked he had a 3-years deal with fulham, and now he is entering the final year of his contract!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBeside his appearance, his work rate and aggressiveness reminds me of Carlos Tevez
Ha ha, can't help myself!
ReplyDeleteHoping to see Simeone beating his chest on the touchline tonight. Come on Atletico
ReplyDeletePenalty. Hehehehe
ReplyDeleteEven that damn crater can't stop him. Chelsea chasing now. How's it feel?
ReplyDeletegooo atletico show mourinho where its at 1-2
ReplyDeletewhere's the time wasting simeone
ReplyDeleteNo need they just got a third. Glorious
ReplyDeleteGame over Mourinho. You are getting exactly what you deserve.
ReplyDeletejustice come on mourinho where's the victory roar now
ReplyDeleteCome on Simeone, no chest beating? Disappointed
ReplyDeleteI want to see you getting very familiar with that corner flagnow lads!!
ReplyDeleteThis is the best therapy possible
ReplyDeleteKarma in your face f**kers! How's it feel chasing a game and getting shown up? S**t isn't it!
ReplyDeleteChelseas having their butts handed to them wheres their brilliant side now they cant park the bus LOL.
ReplyDeleteJust the medicine we needed .it feels good.
ReplyDeleteOwww...such a shame. Football always wins in the end.
ReplyDeletejust pisses me off that atletico can do it at atletico bridge but we couldn't do it at anfield...
ReplyDeleteA Sunderland bid of around 20 M for both Assaidi and Borini might be a good deal for both parties, though I'd like to keep Borini to be honest. However if it means funds to get better targets, I wouldn't be too sad if we find a replacement with the money, a la Lacazette or Muriel, or other linked forward/winger combo.
ReplyDeleteHear,hear.
ReplyDeleteHe's never gonna break into first team now so reckon we sell. Wouldn't be surprised if borini was given another crack next season but to be perfectly honest I don't think we'd make a massive loss on them now after their respective seasons
ReplyDeleteWhat are you talking about?
ReplyDeleteI don't think he's tactically intelligent enough for what Rodgers was implementing either
ReplyDeleteAt best we only need one of the two...and it should be Borini.
ReplyDeleteTiago, Koke, Arda Turan. It would be difficult for them to leave potential European Champions. But if we could get Turan in this year with Rakitic and Lallana. We would be feared in Europe.
ReplyDeleteDr Steve Peters better do a number on the team this week. I'm looking forward to see
ReplyDeleteoh and John Terry's greatest memory of a European Cup final will either be that penalty slip or watching from the stands!! Captain, Leader, Legend! haha
ReplyDeleteMoses is Chelsea's Trojan Horse.
ReplyDeleteChelsea had every man behind the ball against us but it was a little different against Atletico. I can't fault our players for not being able to find a way through, but when Aspas comes on and can't even deliver a corner, it makes it worse.
ReplyDeleteJust gotta take it on the chin and win these next 2 games!
buy Atleticos keeper....Chelsea obviously don't want him... I was surprised he played against his own club actually..
ReplyDeleteI think if we do not spend big or buy too many this summer, he can establish himself on the Liverpool bench and get introduced as an impact player to run ragged tired defences in the closing stages of the game. If he manages to fit the bill in such a role for a season, who knows he can be promoted else losses can be cut come end of next :)
ReplyDeleteAnd Gerrard's greatest Premier League memory will be his slip up against Chelsea?
ReplyDeleteWe will easily get 14mn. Easily. I am sure.
ReplyDeleteno problem getting our money back on Assaidi. Those stats are modest but he's done it in the Premier League and Stoke are comfortably mid-table. I'd guess we'll turn a small profit. Borini is another matter but I think he'll come back into the squad and push for a spot. He's an ideal backup for Sturridge and if he can find some form I think we'll get good value from him next season.
ReplyDeleteAu contraire, We're League Leaders and we will win it.
ReplyDeleteMy comment is jocular in nature.
ReplyDeleteAssaidi seemed to be very one footed and would take an age to release the ball. Although I wanted to see more of him at LFC, I could see why BR couldn't see him in his teams make up.
ReplyDeleteThese players are often bought as much for the level of player in training games as much as for players to contribute to the starting 11, You can't undermined the value of a good training squad.... LFC are testament to this, where as big names are just going to strop when not getting into the team these guys are going to work hard and try to break through rather than act like pre madonnas...
ReplyDeletethat would be underestimate, not undermine....
ReplyDelete