Rafa choosing Lucas over Aquilani?

ya rafa's cautious...

not with aquilani as I don't think he will start even when he's 100% fit.. but with the whole -I-will-use-tow-defensive-midfielders-to-protect-defence-approach.

Or the ill-use-the-last-two-midfielders-i-have-fit approach?

..nice one..

but do you actually think albert aqua will start against arsenole??

i don't think so.. he will barely start 10 mathces this season.. rafa is just soooo set on make lucas an household name.

I work in Italy alot, and they tell me that he is a quality player, with loads of technical ability and is good at spreading the play.  Their only concern is that he is not very physical and the premiership is!

I watched the reserve game that he played in (about 2 years ago now) and you could see some quality there.  he never wasted a ball and delivered 2 perfect long balls across the pitch and completely switched the play.  we don't seem to have that at the moment.  we don't need a lot in midfield to make the step up to what we expect, but a little bit of vision and touch will certainly help the team.

I'm starting to get a little bit worried that Benitez thinks this lad is sh*t and doesn't want to risk the humiliation of him playing. Hope I'm wrong.

Trust JD to come out with something like that!

As if people needed more reason to worry at the moment!

Doomsayer!

I work in Italy alot, and they tell me that he is a quality player, with loads of technical ability and is good at spreading the play.  Their only concern is that he is not very physical and the premiership is!

I watched the reserve game that he played in (about 2 years ago now) and you could see some quality there.  he never wasted a ball and delivered 2 perfect long balls across the pitch and completely switched the play.  we don't seem to have that at the moment.  we don't need a lot in midfield to make the step up to what we expect, but a little bit of vision and touch will certainly help the team.

He is well received in Italy and they are complimentary about his ability but he was known even over there for being injury prone or maybe he was rushed back into training a wee bit too early - it could be that his system takes a little longer to recuperate from any trauma. This is reason enough for the manager to be ultra cautious in putting him back in the fray as well as which of course are the physical demands of the premier league in comparison to the Italian style of play.
Somebody has spoken before about Rafas' career being prematurely ended by a catastrophic injury and how this might affect his take on Aquilanos' condition, all these facts give an insight into the managers mind set and throw some light on him erring on the side of caution.

Aquilani's nickname in Italy was "piedini a cristallo". Lets hope he doesn't get the same nickname here.

Aquilani's nickname in Italy was "piedini a cristallo". Lets hope he doesn't get the same nickname here.

My Italian is about as good as Brad Pitt's in Inglourious Basterds...what does ''piedini a cristallo'' mean?

Sorry,Matt. Should have translated it. It means Crystal legs.

I think it means Crystal feet ?

I think it means Crystal feet ?

Spot on mate and a very poetic description

Spot on mate and a very poetic description

Wasn't too sure I haven't spoke any Italian in 16 years

I always understood "piedi" to mean feet and "piedini" to mean legs. My mistake.
Just checked. My first reply was right.

I always understood "piedi" to mean feet and "piedini" to mean legs. My mistake.
Just checked. My first reply was right.

Like I said I was unsure 16 years since I spoke Italian

I know alot of Italian swear words if anyone is interested.  could be useful on topics about our owners!

I know alot of Italian swear words if anyone is interested.  could be useful on topics about our owners!

Why they are American ?, lying cheating cunting bas**rds translates from English to American as lying cheating cunting bas**rds, just with a different Twang depending on which state.

I know, but like most things Italian, even swearing seems to have a lot of style attached to it!  It sounds very sophisticated when you hear it, but is really very offensive..

We are more off topic now than a Chris waddle penalty!

I have a feeling this thread may be coming to an end soon...

I have a feeling this thread may be coming to an end soon...

No Ive just saved it with this WORLD EXCLUSIVE NEWS!!

Ive heard from a really good source that there is one primary reason why aqua isnt starting ahead of Lucas and its a financial reason. Have been informed that so far we've only payed 3m eur to Roma and the first series of payments begin AFTER Aqua has started his first premier league game. there was an injury clause in the deal saying no payments would be made until he was fit and ready for the PL which is where we make our money and therefore we havent paid an extra dime yet. My source promises me that we wont see Aqua start a PL game until after the new year even if masch and lucas break their legs as it will count against our spending this year. We'l be seeing him in January for sure.

No Ive just saved it with this WORLD EXCLUSIVE NEWS!!

Ive heard from a really good source that there is one primary reason why aqua isnt starting ahead of Lucas and its a financial reason. Have been informed that so far we've only payed 3m eur to Roma and the first series of payments begin AFTER Aqua has started his first premier league game. there was an injury clause in the deal saying no payments would be made until he was fit and ready for the PL which is where we make our money and therefore we havent paid an extra dime yet. My source promises me that we wont see Aqua start a PL game until after the new year even if masch and lucas break their legs as it will count against our spending this year. We'l be seeing him in January for sure.

sh*t.

Hope that's not true. Aquilani showed flashes of brilliance tonight and a creativity we have been sorely lacking. When he tried that drive from miles out I had a big grin on my face. Of course he did fatigue later in the match but that's to be expected, as long as we can keep him out of the injury room, he should make us one step better towards where we were last season.

It's a shame that our manager has to run the team with his hands tied, his mouth shut(as in the contract he recently signed) and glasses taken away(no point of good scouting system if you can't buy the player you want) and meet the expectation of us fans.

It's not sympathy, it's unbelievable.

F*** the YANKS.... IRWT

YNWA lads!! Ti's time for us to get behind the team and lend our support to the RAFAlution!

Bet we see him against Arsenal, even if only from the bench.

Bet we see him against Arsenal, even if only from the bench.

yeh bench is allowed and doest cost us. Just sub Lucas after the 1st minute

yeh bench is allowed and doest cost us. Just sub Lucas after the 1st minute

Sub Kuyt more like.

If the above is true, and it wouldn't surprise me, then Hicks and Gillett are an even bigger pair of clowns than even I thought possible.