Curtains for Emiliano Insua?
This summer promises to be a one of uncertainty at Anfield, as there is continued speculation surrounding the futures of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres and the uncertainty over Rafael Benitez’s future with the club. With Liverpool set to miss out on a Champions League place after yesterday’s draw with Fulham putting them six points adrift of fourth place Man City, who also have a game in hand, Liverpool need to reassess their transfer budget and prepare to spend big in the summer. One of the players who has been linked with a move away from Anfield is defender Emiliano Insua, who was linked with a £5 million move to Spain yesterday. Insua has come under immense critiscm this season for a string of sub-par performances, but does he have what it takes to make it at Liverpool or should he be shown the exit?
The 21 year old Argentine full back has been made a scapegoat for Liverpool’s poor form this season, after a number of high-profile errors, notably in the defeat to Manchester United and the defeat to Benfica in the first leg of their Europa League tie, to name a few. Insua’s lack of pace, timing, decision making and positional sense have come under scrutiny and been exposed numerous times this season. But it should be remembered that Insua is only 21, he is still raw and has not played much first-team football before this season. He has effectively been thrown in at the deep end this season because of Fabio Aurelio’s constant injury problems.
This season, Insua has been a regular for Liverpool, playing in 31 of the club’s 34 Premiership games and 41 games in all competitions, which is three times as many games as he has played in the last three seasons at Liverpool. While Insua loves to get forward and burst down the left wing, providing 5 assists for the team this season, it is his defensive game that has let him down so far. His tackling, decision making and positional play need a lot of work if he wants to keep his place in the Liverpool side next season. Rafael Benitez has defended Insua after so much criticism was aimed at the young defender, saying:
“It is not just one situation where you can point to someone. The team has to take care of the situation. We have to share the responsibility.”
With Fabio Aurelio set to depart in the summer, Liverpool are short of quality at the left back position and have been linked with a summer move for Lazio’s Aleksandar Kolarov in recent weeks. If Liverpool fail to land Kolarov or another left back, can Insua step up to the plate and start delivering for the club?
It’s important to remember that Insua is still only 21 and still possesses that potential that made him one of Liverpool’s top prospects up until a year ago. The youngster is improving all the time and working twice as hard to try and stop opposing wingers. Great decision making and positional sense is not an attribute that most full backs possess at 21 and it is something he can learn in time. Insua just needs the confidence from a few good games and a get a break from being persecuted by the media and we will see an improvement in his play, as the potential is still there for the youngster to be a good player. Insua may be better served as a back up next season to whoever Liverpool sign at left back, as he could play a few less games and develop his defensive attributes and all-r0und game. He could then directly learn from the new arrival and become a better player because of it.
This season has provided Insua with a lot of moments and mistakes he can learn from and has provided him with some key areas where he can improve his game. Hopefully, the Argentine defender can build on his performances and start delivering on that potential next season and he would be worth a lot more than £5 million in a few years time.
What do you think – should Liverpool keep Insua at Anfield or should they let him go?
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you know not so long ago, we were saying that ashley cole could attack well but was weak defensively and then we said evra could attack well but was weak defensively. theyve turned out pretty well havent they?
not saying that insua will necessarily be as good as those two, his overall speed is good but his acceleration from standing could prove to be his major downfall, but lets not forget his age and his potential. this injury he has could well be the break he needs and come summer he can work on his athleticism and maybe we’ll see a more complete player, if not, hes hardly cost the club much money has he?
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I think that we can all agree that Insua has been a weak link in the team this season, but he is surely a very promising player for the future. Due to Aurelio’s awful injury problems and Dossena’s inability to adapt to English football, Insua has played too much too early in his career, and it has been bad for both him and the team. However, what’s done is done. As a result of this season, he will surely improve a lot. He has the raw talent to be a fine player by the time he is 23-24. Let’s not forget that he only turned 21 on January.
I would love to see us sign a top class left back in the summer and have Insua as solid back up for the next two seasons or so.
We need to improve the squad in general, but selling Insua would not help. As it stands we need to bring in a first choice left back. If Insua were sold, we would need to bring in a back up too, as promising youngsters Chris Mavinga (18) and Robbie Threlfall (21) are far from ready to gamble on.
I feel that ideally the squad needs four players who can go into the first XI: centre back, left back, left wing, centre forward.
At CB, Agger is definitely the man to build the defence around. Carra has a few seasons left in him and a vital role to play at the club, but perhaps not in the first team. Skertl is solid, but not world class. Krgyiakos has done a fine job this year, but was always a stop-gap. I would love to see us go for the one the best young CBs around, who btw has said that he would love to play for us: Simon Kjaer from Palermo. He is only 21, but the Dane is pure class. Unfortunately, half of Europe wants him and he will cost at least 12M. Rangers 18 year old Danny Wilson is also on the radar, and could cost as little as 3M apparently. Also, we have Mikel San Jose making quite a splash on loan at Athletic Bilbao so that looks promising.
At left back, there is a classy Brazilian at Deportivo called Felipe who could do a fine job. Barca wanted him last sumer, but Depor wanted too much cash: 10M Euro (9M GBP).
Left wing has been a problem at the club for so long now, it is hard to recall the last time we had a consistent wide man on the left (Macca?) Riera is obviously on his bike and Babel, for all his potential, just doesn’t have the intelligence to fit Rafa’s system. Rumour has it that Joe Cole might be available for free (contract is up at Chelsea, nothing new signed yet), although seeing as we will be doing well to even get into the Europa League, why would he leave Chelsea and his native London? At Valencia there is a player that would be a fabulous signing for the wing, but is not Silva. Juan Mata is less of a name, but perhaps more of a talent. Playing as an attacking left winger, Mata has scored 29 goals in 102 goals over the past three seasons and is still only going to be 22 in the summer. He wouldn’t come cheap, possibly around the 15-20M mark, although Valencia are in big financial trouble (we know all about that, eh…). He is a bit small at 5ft7, but Messi is a fraction smaller and he isn’t bad.
Up front, even the sublime Fernando needs help. Milan Jovanović is coming in from Standard Leige. He has a fine record in Belguim of almost a goal every two games… but it is Belguim. Will he be another Voronin? We all hope not, and apparently Milan wanted him also. It is such a shame that Nemeth is on loan this year: he would have had his chance, and seems to me to have a touch of class, and better than Ngog. Pacheco looks like he could be great, but not for a couple of years yet. Cardozo from Benfica looked great in the recent ties, and at 6ft5 and with 50 goals in 79 games he could be a great signing. He cost Benfica 11M euro 3 years ago, so they would probably be looking for 20M+. Also, half of Europe might be after him.
So, IN: Kjaer (15M), Filipe Luis (9M), Mata (20M), Cardozo (20M): Total 64M. Some chance!
OUT: Dirk (10M) – he is a great guy, but limited on the field and we need to raise funds, Kyrgiakos (1M), Aurelio (contract is up), Babel (8M), Riera (4M), Degen (1M), El Zhar (1M). Total in: 25M.
That leaves us 39M short after sales. Oops.
Loans OUT (in England, in the Championship for example) for Ngog, Pacheco, Plessis, Nemeth, Spearing, Darby: basically all of the boys who are possibles for making it in the future, but have already had 2/3 years in the Reserves or are getting on.
Anyway, that’s my rather long-winded opinion!
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Cardozo? are u outta ur mind?
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I do think that Liverpool need to sign a quality left full-back, Taiwo from Marseille being my personal favorite, I still think Insua has a future in Liverpool.
It is better to leave Insua as a first team option than to bring someone who will play in his place but who might not be an improvment in that area.
Dont let Dossena happen agein!
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