Alberto Aquilani could still have a red future.

There are not many teams out there that demand and divide opinion as much as Liverpool Football Club do and included in that are the players of Liverpool FC.

One man who is still technically a Liverpool player and who tends to provoke debate is Alberto Aquilani. The Italian has spent the season at Juventus where he has done okay, but most importantly has stayed fit.

The reasons behind his departure in August 2010 remain a bit of a mystery to me. Only two weeks prior to his leaving, Roy Hodgson had pin-pointed the midfielder as ‘looking good’ (along with Lucas). Whether Aquilani had asked for a move, unable to settle, hasn’t been made clear. He has always played his cards quite close to his chest; saying he loves it at Juventus while reminding people that he still belongs to Liverpool.

Aquilani has been a talking point seemingly all his professional life. Blessed with obvious talent and a great footballing brain, to use an old cliché. Injuries, however, have been his downfall.

Heralded as the successor to Francesco Totti, perhaps unfairly, ‘Il Principo’ failed to take the crown off the legendary Roman. Injuries, often to his ankles, prevented his progression and when Rafa Benitez decided he could rebuild and re-mould the player Roma took the bait.

His first season at Liverpool started off as we all knew it would, with him injured. For some reason this didn’t stop people criticising him. In some quarters, he was unbelievably branded a flop before even kicking a ball. Which is ridiculously as what defines a ‘flop’ has changed over the years it seems. A flop used to be someone who couldn’t hack it at a certain level, now it’s whoever hasn’t made an instant impact.

Of course, some people couldn’t handle the fact Rafa had just replaced the popular Alonso with a player deemed crocked.
I always felt criticisms were unfair though, and a lot depends on the standing of the manager on how much faith the fans give. Kenny Dalglish just spent £35m on an injured player, but no fan will question him, not that I disagree with the decision, but comparisons can be made.

For me, the Roman always looked class. After so long out, in a new country and new league, I felt he acquitted himself well. He always seemed one step in front of the opposition and his one touch passing impressed me. Although apparently it didn’t impress everyone. At one point during the home leg of our Europa League semi-final with Atletico, Aquilani, after a good instance of one touch passing was berated by a group of fans for being ‘scared of the ball’. After I had removed my face from my palm, I understood that this player may never be understood by all.

The majority of Liverpool fans could see the ability he has, and would no doubt have him back at Anfield. There are two key decisions to be made though; whether the player wants to stay in Italy, and whether Kenny Dalglish could find a place for him.

The relative success of Raul Meireles means that there may be no place for ol’ Bertie. Don’t be fooled however into thinking they’re similar players, they are very different and could, I think, play in the same team. It would be a positive managerial headache fitting both creative players alongside Gerrard and Lucas, as I don’t agree with sticking either of the midfielders out wide.

In an attacking team, with a good hold up player such as Carroll alongside more technical players such as Suarez and Meireles, the Italian could find his way at Liverpool yet and deep down I hope this is the case.

While Aquilani could play deep, and has done, he doesn’t possess the tenacity in the tackle as Lucas does. In possession though, there aren’t many better for dictating tempo.

The chances are that he will remain in his home country, whether it’s at Turin or elsewhere, but if Kenny does recall the player, then I think there is still a place for Alberto Aquilani, and I hope if he comes back the fans will give him the chance to prove himself.

By Chris Severs

Rafa's Legacy

When Liverpool u18 demolished Southend u18 9-0 on Valentines Day, my thoughts were of a person who changed a lot of my views on football.

Of course, you may have guessed already if you know me, that person is Rafael Benitez. His vision, and quite frankly his guts, in personally overseeing the overhaul of our youth academy is what we starting to see the fruits of now.

Many eyebrows were raised when Steve Heighway was shown the door in 2007. It was widely accepted that he was doing a good job, bringing the Gerrard’s and Owen’s through, although part of this was self praise.

Heighway stated that ‘no one was better at coaching 17-18 year olds’ than he was. Well, it seems that history may be proving him wrong.

A rapid overhaul was in motion and much of this went unnoticed by the press who were too busy concentrating on Rafa’s press conferences to see the work that was being prepared.

Rodolfo Borrell was brought in as coach after building a glittering reputation with Barcelona and Jose Segura was signed as Academy Director. The vision Benitez had was to build a multi-national football school that scoured the planet for the best prospects.

Liverpool invested heavily in bringing in 17 year olds, many of whom didn’t work out, but that’s all part of the game at that level. The truth is many of us only hear about the 17 year old and older signings. Young players at that age are almost developed to their maximum.

The pressure and demand in the Premiership today, and with the success and talent of players like Fabregas, Wilshire, Aaron Lennon, James Milner and others indicates that if you’re not on the peripheral of 1st team affairs by the time you’re 20 then the door starts closing fast.

It’s only now, four years after Heighway leaving that we’re starting to see the investment shine through. Liverpool, did of course win the Youth Cup two years running with Heighway, but in truth it amounted to nothing.

There are differences now however, from the perceived success of 2006 and 2007.
There is a bigger focus on the catchment area, the average age of the u18’s is younger and there is a bigger emphasis on passing football.

Previously, Liverpool seemed to have focussed on ‘British’ players, and by that I mean the search for the elusive all-rounder, box-to-box stereotypical Roy of the Rovers. Now, as should be the case, there is a bigger emphasis on technical specialists.

We’ve seen other teams such as Arsenal, Man City and even Southampton blooding younger players who have outstanding ability in one or two areas. Only when they become first team members do they start to truly develop that ‘grit and drive’ that comes with age.

Players such as Linfield, Threlfalll and even Spearing who are now in their 20’s where once the brightest stars in the team, but they never quite hit the heights and where quickly surpassed by their peers at other clubs.

Now though, after years of investment in players like Raheem Sterling, Suso and JonJo Shelvey, things are starting to look different.

There is a fresher, more technical approach to the academy and it’s players, dare we say ‘continental’, all brought in by Segura and his team.

So it’s to Rafael Benitez who I think the credit should go. His work away from first team matters, including bringing Dalglish back to the club and therefore back into management contention, has rejuvenated and restructured the club to long term success.

Despite the board room fall outs, intense pressure to keep the media at bay along with the interferring and egotism concerning Chris Purslow, Rafa built something that may one day be more important than the 2005 Champions League success.

So Kenny Dalglish, along with Rodolfo Borrell, Frank McParland, John Owens and Jose Segura are doing, have the duty to carry the torch forward.

We might have been left short in immediate squad depth, but the future is bright, and those who are doing outstanding work currently with the Liverpool youth set-up need only carry on their work to ensure Rafa’s legacy and vision is not in vain.

By Chris Severs

Putting the wings back on the Liverbird

Putting the wings back on the Liverbird.

Those of us with our souls buried deep in everything Liverpool FC have seen many revolutions in the last 20 years.
Changes have been made and remade and new promises broken along with hearts.
The latest revolution though, so far, seems to be the big one, we can only hope.
It is of course far too early to start placing eggs in baskets. After two losses, one draw and four wins, Kenny Dalglish’s Liverpool are getting their balance back.

The mixed messages and utter myths blurted out during Hodgson’s reign from each and every angle are forever being busted with each passing day under Kenny Dalglish. When Hodgson couldn’t get the team motivated, people blamed Rafa. They said he left Roy with an impossible task. Now Kenny has them winning and looking like a team again, it’s no longer anything to do with Rafa, now the talk is of Champions League football, who would have thought it?

Of course, those who actually watched and analysed a game in the last 10 years could see that Rafa Benitez had the best interests of the club at heart and had the ability and most importantly the vision to deliver. However, the impact of Hicks, Gillett and Purslow on the club is often overlooked by pundits and journalists.

Most reports on Liverpool, such as a recent piece in the Independent by James Lawton with Ian St. John, is nothing but laziness. They haven’t researched the depth of the problems brought by the owners, so they don’t feel comfortable talking about it. Instead, it’s too easy to blame Benitez and to overlook the evidence in favour of tired old sayings.

There’s been a lot of change recently though, and it looks as though loose ends have been cut.
Roy Hodgson has left, allowing players with flair and talent to rediscover their form such as Agger and Johnson. A rigid 4-4-2 has been cast aside to a fluid, interchangeable formation not seen since the hopefuly days that seem so long ago yet were only in the 08-09 season.
Kenny is hear now and I would be surprised if there was any player who wasn’t behind the manager.

Liverpool were, and still could be, in danger of becoming uncompetitive for a long time.
Credit to Fenway Sports Group though, they made a crucial decision and changed the manager, a new wave of optimism is running through the club.
I admit that, going into the Chelsea match, I thought a positive result would be unlikely, but after 20 minutes my fears were laid to rest. There was a confidence in Liverpool, and a determination and belief that we would not be beat and that we were not inferior.
Players previously derided, Lucas, Johnson and Kuyt all stepped up to be counted.

Lucas Leiva is the epitome of the clubs fortunes over the last few years. He had to overcome harsh and often unnecessary criticism from a lot of people.
I feel that at times, Liverpool fans shamed themselves in their treatment of the Brazilian and I hope that now, his quality, composure and drive will convince those, including ex-pros who said he should never wear the shirt, of his right to be at Anfield.
At just 23 the young midfielder has a lot of time still to develop in a position where players often find themselves peaking in their late 20’s.

As Lucas changes opinions, the team itself are changing opinions.
After the Torres departure, Liverpool and it’s owners where at a crossroads.
This time last year, that £50 million would have been syphoned off to service debts, only a percentage would have been re-invested. Now though, the entirety of it was reinvested.
This puts the power back in the hands of the football people and not the Chief Executive.

Now we see the media are starting to jump on the bandwagon. Talk of the Champions League may be premature, and I don’t think Liverpool fans should expect it now, we are probably too late, but if we continue in the same vein then I think next season the Kop should raise it’s expectations.

If we can catch Spurs, who have a game in hand, that could give us a 9-point gap to reduce in 12 games, then the tide will be in our favour come the summer. The lasting feeling at the end of the season will be one of rejuvenation and that will be important for attracting players and keeping players.

Champions League football is of course the goal, and so is a title challenge. You don’t need to be in the Champions League to challenge for the league though.
The damage this season has more than likely been done by early mistakes, but, if we can go into the summer with good momentum then with some decent investment this team may not be so far from a league win as people thought just two months ago, including myself.

We have a potential forward line that could score goals consistently for the next 5 years at least, and with some shrewd buying in other areas, Liverpool could find themselves an underdog for the league in 2012.

Man United this season have shown that you don’t need to be at your brilliant best to find yourself in a title battle come May. You don’t always need to beat the ‘Top 4’, you just need to beat the other 15 teams in the league and Liverpool should feel that they’re capable of doing that.

In the last two years, Liverpool’s biggest rival has been itself.
Struggling, infighting and disharmony have destabilized the club but now, after the decontamination of the last 6 months, Liverpool can take a big gulp of fresh air and push forward.

So now many fans are asking ‘how far can we go under Dalglish?’.
A king must always be at the top of his game and when Kenny’s been involved that’s where he generally finds himself, so why not be at the top once more, looking down on those who can only come close to him. Like a true king, and the legend he has forged for himself.

Kenny has unclipped the wings of the Liverbird and, at last, the future looks bright.

By Chris Severs