Liverpool FC Forum

by **kazza** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 1:43 pm

Liverpool defender Fabio Aurelio has targeted a return to action in this weekend's clash with Burnley.

Aurelio has yet to play this season, having spent the last few months recovering from a knee cartilage operation.

The Brazilian sustained the knee injury in a kickabout with friends while on holiday in Brazil earlier in the summer.

Aurelio will feature in a practice game on Thursday and he is hoping to prove his fitness to Reds boss Rafa Benitez.

"I am feeling good and working hard to try and get back into the squad for Saturday," said Aurelio.

"The international break came at a good time for me because I have been able to work hard and not miss too many more games. I'm playing in a practice game on Thursday and I hope to prove my fitness and be involved against Burnley.

"I have been training for three weeks now and I can't wait to get back."

Aurelio added: "The injury could not have come at a worse time. I was with my

brother-in-law and some friends playing football and joking around and suddenly I felt something strange in my knee.

"I called my old team Sao Paulo and they examined the knee and found there was a cartilage injury.

"I then phoned Liverpool and got permission to get the knee operated on. It

was my holiday and I spent the rest of the time recovering.

"The good thing is it feels fine now, I am now back and hoping to help the

team. I played in a practice game last week and I felt good."

by **Owzat** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 1:48 pm

In theory FBs should have the skills of a CM/DM, and vice versa, but it doesn't always work out. If Aurelio were fit, shouldn't he be our 1st choice LB? Not sure I'd want to go with converting players out of position more than Rafa usually does or we'll have AMs and CFs out wide, DMs at FB, CBs at FB, etc etc ie what happened last season and this

by **devaney** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 7:09 am

Reg wrote:I would say he´s not physically big enough or sufficiently imposing for that role. The lads a great player, a great LB but too nice for CM.

And Lucas is exactly what Reg? I don't think anybody is suggesting that this would be a long term solution but we could do a lot worse using Aurelio in midfield instead of Lucas. What do the Brazil national side see in Lucas - is Rafa missing something - is it his twin brother because something is very wrong when you compare the Lucas we have with his CV.

By the way Reg I hope you haven't seen the size of Aquilani !!!!!!!

by **DrPepe** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 7:54 am

sorry, but this made me laugh

What do the Brazil national side see in Lucas - is Rafa missing something

Hmm.... Yes those 2 internationally renowned professional coaches have both independently totally missed something that the esteemed members of this football message board have "got" :laugh:

by **kazza** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 10:38 am

DrPepe wrote:sorry, but this made me laugh
What do the Brazil national side see in Lucas - is Rafa missing something

Hmm.... Yes those 2 internationally renowned professional coaches have both independently totally missed something that the esteemed members of this football message board have "got"

Because when you are say a plummer and bartender you see things that the coaches do not

by **heimdall** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 11:34 am

DrPepe wrote:sorry, but this made me laugh
What do the Brazil national side see in Lucas - is Rafa missing something

Hmm.... Yes those 2 internationally renowned professional coaches have both independently totally missed something that the esteemed members of this football message board have "got"

Is Dunga internationally renowned??

by **GYBS** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 11:38 am

yes and no aurelio shouldnt play cm - he is a left back and bloody good one at that and lucas is better than aurelio as a cm

by **DrPepe** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 11:48 am

heimdall wrote:
DrPepe wrote:sorry, but this made me laugh
What do the Brazil national side see in Lucas - is Rafa missing something

Hmm.... Yes those 2 internationally renowned professional coaches have both independently totally missed something that the esteemed members of this football message board have "got"

Is Dunga internationally renowned??

is that a trick question? :wwww

by **sully0182** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 12:53 pm

short answer is no i reckon, but he cant be much worse than the other brazilian in the squad and anyway he's the best LB we have so i don't think putting him at CM will help defensively

by **maguskwt** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 3:58 pm

Owzat wrote:In theory FBs should have the skills of a CM/DM, and vice versa, but it doesn't always work out. If Aurelio were fit, shouldn't he be our 1st choice LB? Not sure I'd want to go with converting players out of position more than Rafa usually does or we'll have AMs and CFs out wide, DMs at FB, CBs at FB, etc etc ie what happened last season and this

In theory? what theory is that? :laugh:

CM's are in totally different situations than FB's... CM's have less space than FB's, they need to be able to hold the ball well. They need to be good on the ball. They need to be aware of what's happening on all 8 directions. They need to pass well. They need to be strong so that the opposition CM could not brush them off. They don't usually need to be that speedy. Imo good CM's need to be a good all-rounder. FB's are a more specialised position. Quite different IMO.

by **Nando26** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 5:57 pm

heimdall wrote:
DrPepe wrote:sorry, but this made me laugh
What do the Brazil national side see in Lucas - is Rafa missing something

Hmm.... Yes those 2 internationally renowned professional coaches have both independently totally missed something that the esteemed members of this football message board have "got"

Is Dunga internationally renowned??

Yes

by **Nando26** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 6:00 pm

Id like to try Insua & Aurielo together on the left side they can both attack & wouldny have a problem dropping back & covering obviously. I think Aurielo is a brilliant player, one of our best when fully fit its just ashame he never is. They both have great crosses on them

by **redhayesy** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 10:46 pm

stmichael wrote:No. Why is there an obsession with playing players out of position all of a sudden. I remember that Portsmouth game and as said above he didn't pull down any trees.

I wouldn't mind him playing infront of Insua on the left side occasionally though.

good post mate, however Imho he is a LB no more, we have strength in depth on the left side of midfield enough to not even consider this option, apart from his obvious injury history i still say that he is to inconsistant to try this as even on an occasional basis.

play him against burnley? for me no cause insua hasn't done alot wrong for me so i'd say let him keep his place an let aurelio fight for his place. to let him walk straight back into the side may dent insua's confidence, cause as i say unless insua deserves to be dropped through poor attitude, performances etc then leave him in the first team untill otherwise,with the CL coming up aswell there is no need to rush aurelio back anyway, his chance will come. why not give him a couple of ressy games more just to establish his full fitness first rather than have him on the bench if not picked for the burnley game.

by **Owzat** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 9:27 pm

maguskwt wrote:
Owzat wrote:In theory FBs should have the skills of a CM/DM, and vice versa, but it doesn't always work out. If Aurelio were fit, shouldn't he be our 1st choice LB? Not sure I'd want to go with converting players out of position more than Rafa usually does or we'll have AMs and CFs out wide, DMs at FB, CBs at FB, etc etc ie what happened last season and this

In theory? what theory is that?

CM's are in totally different situations than FB's... CM's have less space than FB's, they need to be able to hold the ball well. They need to be good on the ball. They need to be aware of what's happening on all 8 directions. They need to pass well. They need to be strong so that the opposition CM could not brush them off. They don't usually need to be that speedy. Imo good CM's need to be a good all-rounder. FB's are a more specialised position. Quite different IMO.

Full-backs need to have decent technique, to be able to tackle and should be good at link play and even passing and crossing. You've highlighted what a good CM needs to be, but completely disregarded the fact that good FBs shouldn't be brushed off the ball, shouldn't need yards of space, don't have to be that speedy, have to show awareness of players and the constraints of the sides of the pitch etc. Very few players do get time on the ball, space etc. Where they play should be determined by their strengths, not because they don't have other skills. That is one reason I worry about dropping Gerrard into a deeper role, I think he is at his best and can show his strengths more in his current role.

Or perhaps all those managers/coaches who've played FBs at DM and vice versa know less than you do..................... Funny how Aurelio has played in central midfield, so too Phil Neville and Mascherano and Hargreaves have played full-back to name a few examples off the top of my head of the two being interchanged. The Croat boss tried it on Wednesday, didn't really work but theory is sound (perhaps you've never heard of the expression "in theory", as in 'theoretically', but it is a common expression)

I remember a manc was as cynical of my opinion that maybe Wes Brown should play full-back, I get the last laugh though as not long after fergie was playing him there and he's been used there for England. Only relevant here in the fact that the manc knocked my 'theory' and then it was backed up by the manager he worships. Sometimes these things backfire bigtime, like when England have played CBs in midfield - King and Southgate?

by **Owzat** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 9:30 pm

redhayesy wrote:
stmichael wrote:No. Why is there an obsession with playing players out of position all of a sudden. I remember that Portsmouth game and as said above he didn't pull down any trees.

I wouldn't mind him playing infront of Insua on the left side occasionally though.

good post mate, however Imho he is a LB no more, we have strength in depth on the left side of midfield enough to not even consider this option, apart from his obvious injury history i still say that he is to inconsistant to try this as even on an occasional basis.

play him against burnley? for me no cause insua hasn't done alot wrong for me so i'd say let him keep his place an let aurelio fight for his place. to let him walk straight back into the side may dent insua's confidence, cause as i say unless insua deserves to be dropped through poor attitude, performances etc then leave him in the first team untill otherwise,with the CL coming up aswell there is no need to rush aurelio back anyway, his chance will come. why not give him a couple of ressy games more just to establish his full fitness first rather than have him on the bench if not picked for the burnley game.

I don't see the point in playing Aurelio in midfield against Burnley, we could change the team around a bit and leave out Mascherano and perhaps play two strikers with a lot more emphasis on winning the game, but even if Aurelio was a success it would only be against Burnley and no proof he could do a good job against better opposition. What odds he'd last the 90 mins anyway?

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