Viz Xabi Alonso's departure...well all i can say is that it is better to let a player move on if he is not happy at the club regardless of how important a player he is...because at the end of the day such unhappiness seeps into the entire dressing room and causes even more problems...no player is bigger than the club itself...this even includes Gerrard and Torres...players come and go but the club shall remain...as for Xabi himself...I say thanks for your 5 years of fine loyal service and wish him all the best at Real, well unless Real play against the Reds
Now more importantly what about the arrival of Alberto Aquilani from Roma?...to be honest i have never heard of this chap until now, not much of a follower of seria A...i believe Rafa would have immediately gone for Gareth Barry as a replacement, a player tried tested and seasoned in the EPL...unfortunately Abu Dhabi Blues had other ideas.. now the little that i have read about Aquilani, he sounds like quite a talented attacking midfielder...however what worries me is the fact that his stats show that he get's injured alot, in fact he has just had ankle surgery in May so it is doubtful whether he shall be fit for the start of the EPL season...and at 20m pounds i think the least we should be askking for is a fit talented impact player...not necessarily a replica of Xabi but someone who can stand out on his own and relatively stay fit for the whole season...to this i think there is a question mark that hangs over Aquilani...really hope i am proven wrong...
personally i would have preferred if Rafa went for David Villa instead...spent all the $$$ he could collect and use to land Villa with Torres' help...with Villa and Torres upfront, push Gerrard back to the middle of pitch with Masch in his usual holding role...wowee makes my mouth water:p...i believe this sort of combo would probably have paid off big dividends for Rafa and the Reds...particularly since Villa and Torres have already created a great deadly attacking partnership in the Spanish national team...
oh well, it is what it is...i guess...really hope Rafa knows what he is doing...also hope team players like Babel, Voronin, Ngog and Lucas finally rise to the occasion, step up to the plate in the EPL and CL this season...
wish Rafa and the Reds all the very best as always...come on you Reds
YNWA