AQUILANI THE UNWANTED

Why is Aquilani unwanted?

With pre season nearly upon us the same old question arises about the future of Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani. Having spent the majority of his Liverpool career on loan he has become the most expensive loanee on record when he was signed by rafa all those years ago for 20million quid. The truth is that he just hasn't adapted to the English game or lifestyle, can he really be blamed for that? I don't think so. So why cant he move on?

From what I understand he is contracted to Liverpool until 2014 which is an age in football. I think it would be a smart business move to sell Alberto for a cut price to save on his wages unless they broker another loan deal where the loaners Pay 100% of his wages for the length of the deal. 

Why doesn't anyone want to buy Aquilani? I think it's a number of factors 

1 price, are Liverpool asking too much? 5mill would be my limit

2 wage demands, although he's not a proven quality player his wages must not reflect his current ability, instead of his massive previous price tag

3 form from what I understand he,s not exactly setting the world on fire with his form. Let's look at his stats

Speaks for its self really.

So what should Rodgers do with him this year? In my opinion we should sell him on cut price as mentioned above. He never settled in England an never will. We already have enough midfielders of similar quality we don,t need another one.

In a way I kind of feel sorry for Alberto, he never produced in a pool shirt and has never really settled at any clubs. I hope he finds a home soon but sorry Alberto it,s not Anfield.

sources: wikipedia, liverpoolfc.com

FIXTURES ARE OUT

The 2012/13 league fixtures are out with our mighty Liverpool drawn away to West Brom first up then tricky home ties against Man City,  Arsenal, and Man Utd with Sunderland sandwiched in between. Not an easy first few months by any stretch of the imagination but getting the "bigger" teams early is a good thing for me as they wouldn't have hit their stride yet and are vulnerable to being beaten away from home.

As per usual these fixtures are subject to change, and many will with our Europa League commitments to take into consideration.  YWNA


AUGUST
18 West Brom (A)
25 Manchester City (H)

SEPTEMBER
1 Arsenal (H)
15 Sunderland (A)
22 Manchester United (H)
29 Norwich City (A) 

OCTOBER
6 Stoke City (H)
20 Reading (H)
27 Everton (A) 

NOVEMBER
3 Newcastle United (H)
10 Chelsea (A)
17 Wigan Athletic (H)
24 Swansea City (A)
27 Tottenham (A) 

DECEMBER
1 Southampton (H)
8 West Ham (A)
15 Aston Villa (H)
22 Fulham (H)
26 Stoke City (A)
29 QPR (A)

JANUARY 2013
1 Sunderland (H)
12 Manchester United (A)
19 Norwich City (H)
29 Arsenal (A)

FEBRUARY
2 Manchester City (A)
9 West Brom (H)
23 Swansea City (H)

MARCH
2 Wigan Athletic (A)
9 Tottenham (H)
16 Southampton (A)
30 Aston Villa (A)

APRIL
6 West Ham (H)
13 Reading (A)
20 Chelsea (H)
27 Newcastle United (A)

MAY
4 Everton (H)
12 Fulham (A)
19 QPR (H)

Source: liverpoolfc.com

MY EURO 2012 PICKS: GROUP STAGE

Click on Image for larger version

Here are my picks for euro 2012. At this stage i will only release the group stages.

How do you think it will pan out? and who would you pick?

Walk On,
Stuart

The New Shirt

One happy Kopite

On Friday the 1st of June the new Liverpool kit for 2012/13 arrived at my door step. I would have posted about it on the Friday but there was the small matter of Brendan Rodgers being announced as Liverpool's new manager. This is Liverpool's first non Adidas shirt in over a decade. and prior to them it was Reebok.

Warrior are the clothing brand that make the shirts. A company that resides in the US and i believe already makes kits for popular sporting teams over there wither owned or associated with FSG. This is, however their first football shirt and i must say they have done a cracking job.

The shirt it's self feels great to wear, compared to the previous makers it feels lighter, less clingy and overall well designed.

The color is spot on and i like how they have taken inspiration from our shirts of the 60's and 70's by changing the club logo to the liver bird. The soft collar is also a great addition and doesn't feel like you are wearing a collared shirt at all. The change of the details is great too, going back to the mustard yellow for the sponsors name and logos is a nice touch

A special mention goes to the little detail on the back at the top of the shirt there's two flames encompassing the number 96. A fitting tribute to the 96 Liverpool fans who lost their lives at the 1989 FA Cup Semi Final at Hillsborough

Overall i am very pleased with the look, feel and overall design of this shirt. I will be a proud Kopite when i don this shirt on match days

Walk On,
Stu

RODGERS: "The challenge and the motivation is for me to do the best I possibly can and I will always fight for my life for Liverpool, and that will be on and off the field."

Yesterday morning at 10am British time Liverpool FC announce that Brendan Rodgers would take over as manager with immediate effect. This post is about my first impressions of him, the press conference his stats and my expectations for season 2012/13

Having seen the press conference live i must say that i was very impressed with how Brendan carried himself. He came across as a passionate, articulate, knowledgeable, confident and driven man. He respectfully mentioned Kenny and his previous club Swansea and not once looked like he didn't want to be there.  Brendan answered all questions with aplomb explaining clearly and concisely his plan for the club, the direction he wants to go, the "director of football" idea and what we as fans should expect from him and his players in the coming seasons.

I'll admit that i was a doubter, i didn't like the prospect of getting a manager with very little premier league experience. After that press conference he turned me into a believer. I hung on his every word, and he proved to me that he is the man to move Liverpool fc forward and for that i support Brendon 100%

"The challenge and the motivation is for me to do the best I possibly can and I will always fight for my life for Liverpool, and that will be on and off the field. "

Everything about Brendan's appointment feels right, something i couldn't really say about Roy, or even Kenny. I look on to this new season with renewed hope and optimism. I am fully aware that Brendan will need time to make the team his and get them playing the way he wants. In the press conference he mentioned this and i was very excited about the plan and the possibilities Brendan brings to the club

"The philosophy is very much based on the attacking side of the game. People ask me that question and I always say it's about being offensive and creative, but also with tactical discipline"


I for one am very pleased with this appointment now that i know all the reasons and theory's behind it. Brendan brings a fresh approach that our club sorely needs and i can't stress enough how much he has one me over and i hope that any Liverpool fans that are sitting on the fence about him right now give him the time and respect he has given us. so far.

"I genuinely think Liverpool Football Club is the heartland of football folklore. If you look back through the years, at the players and managers. You go back to Toshack and Keegan, Rush and Dalglish, Hansen and Lawrenson, Shankly and Paisley. Then you have the modern day in terms of Gerrard and Carragher. It's a club that's so full of history and tradition and passion."

To Brendan i welcome you, you have my unrelenting support and look forward to being your fan for many years to come

You'll Never Walk Alone


THE STATS:
(taken from Wikipedia)
As of 1 June 2012

Team	Nat	From	To	Record
				G	W	D	L	Win %
Watford		24 November 2008	5 June 2009	32	13	7	12	40.63
Reading		5 June 2009	16 December 2009	23	6	6	11	26.09
Swansea City		16 July 2010	1 June 2012	96	43	20	33	44.79
Liverpool		1 June 2012	Present	0	0	0	0	—
Total				151	62	33	56	41.06

pics: liverpoolfc.com

RODGERS CONFIRMED AS NEW LIVERPOOL MANAGER

source: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1083203/liverpool-close-on-rodgers-after-compensation-agreed-with-swansea?cc=3436

Today i read that is all but a done deal to bring Swansea's Brendon Rodgers to Anfield on a 3 year contract.. As it states in that article it is expected that Rodgers will be unveiled as Liverpool manager at 10 on Friday.

I will reserve comment on the appointment until it is absolutely set in stone.

Walk On,
Stu