Alonso Vs Gerrard

[Milan_Milan]

Were we playing in the Spanish league, I'd be more inclined to agree. There you really do need a playmaker, like Xabi. In England its far more important to have someone with the allround skills (and physical attributes) of Gerrard IMO. The pace of the game being what it is here, a player who can defend and attack in the same period of play is a massive advantage, Xabi really can't do that as well. Of course at times we do play more like a Spanish side than an English one, with 2 defensive central midfielders and the main attacking threat coming from the flanks, rather than the centre of the field.

Short answer, I don't know. I'd be more inclined to drop Xabi than Stevie, if that's the question, but then recently I've been wondering whether we wouldn't be more successful in the league without him anyway, particularly away from home.

[red g]

they are both ace, simple as!! both will be in the red shirt for many years to come.

[NICKZS]

Hmmm. I know what Nic means and where he is coming from.

Gerrard is obviously a much more effective player. A better all round player. Not many would argue with that - not even me, and Xabi is my favourite player.

Alonso is the more gifted technically and is only more important insofar as making us tick - setting the tempo. Gerrard takes the bull by the horns and makes things happen in an altogether different manner to Xabi.

It's a bit pointless comparing one against the other - we're lucky to have to such great players but they need to start stamping their authority on games more regularly.

Correct. But I find that if Gerrard is not stamping his authority on the game, then he isn't really doing much else. Xabi controls the rhythm and tempo of the game regardless of whether he is setting the world alight or not on the day.

That said, there is no way you can belittle the influence of either player on our team, we would be lost without them both and I would really like to see them playing in a system that can accomodate them through the middle without sacrificing the balance of the team (Saturday wasn't the greatest demonstration of this, but I think with a bit of perserverence and adjustment that formation could be the answer).

[badpiggy]

reina
carragher hyppia agger
alonso mascherano
ribery gerrard alves
Villa Kuyt

2 strikers and an awesome team !!

that's a pretty exciting looking team!!!

i think that people are finally coming to accept that sg doesn't have the attributes to be a controller of a match - he does the unexpected/spectacular btu he seriously need someone like xabi to provide him with the ammo to do his thing. saying sg HAS TO BE IN CM is pointless because he doesn't do what CMs do - constantly dig the ball out, spread it, move forward cautiously always being available to take the ball and switch the play - current best example is sadly paul scholes. sg is great at the end of things not the beginning. xabi's got the passing game to crucify any team but it just hasn't really happened for him this season except in patches. don't think he has the **** games that some people make out though.

ps: funny how when it really comes down to it in terms of top class midfield play, momo doesn't get a mention...

[Sir Bob]

SG is clearly the better player of the 2. When he's on song, he's the best attacking midfielder in the world.

Alonso is completely different type of player of course and can't influence games in the same way. I've always thought alonso is a bit overated to be honest, as the views in this thread show. He's a very good player but no more than that, and certainly not at SG's level. Going forward he doesn't have the extra quality SG has. Alonso isn't an automatic choice for Spain and if I'm totally honest he's not as good as Fabregas, for example.

I'm not knocking Alonso here, he is a very good player. My point is that he's no more than very good whereas Gerard is exceptional.

[Bob]

SG is clearly the better player of the 2. When he's on song, he's the best attacking midfielder in the world.

Alonso is completely different type of player of course and can't influence games in the same way. I've always thought alonso is a bit overated to be honest, as the views in this thread show. He's a very good player but no more than that, and certainly not at SG's level. Going forward he doesn't have the extra quality SG has. Alonso isn't an automatic choice for Spain and if I'm totally honest he's not as good as Fabregas, for example.

I'm not knocking Alonso here, he is a very good player. My point is that he's no more than very good whereas Gerard is exceptional.

[Kopite_Colin]

Gerrard is much, much better than Alonso. He can do everything in a CM plus score goals which Alonso deoesn't do. Alonso's good, mind, but nowhere near Gerrard.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

SG is clearly the better player of the 2. When he's on song, he's the best attacking midfielder in the world.

Alonso is completely different type of player of course and can't influence games in the same way. I've always thought alonso is a bit overated to be honest, as the views in this thread show. He's a very good player but no more than that, and certainly not at SG's level. Going forward he doesn't have the extra quality SG has. Alonso isn't an automatic choice for Spain and if I'm totally honest he's not as good as Fabregas, for example.

I'm not knocking Alonso here, he is a very good player. My point is that he's no more than very good whereas Gerard is exceptional.

Spot on.

Gerrard V Alonso. Totally pointless discussion, they play for the same team!

[Fiddy]

---------Alonso---Mascherano
Alves---------Gerrard--------Ribery

We could get that midfield for around £30m.

It also shows that we can play all three of our great midfielders at the same time. Everyone of them is very important to the team.

Please AF, can we take a break from fantasy football just this once?

[Fiddy]

SG is clearly the better player of the 2. When he's on song, he's the best attacking midfielder in the world.

Alonso is completely different type of player of course and can't influence games in the same way. I've always thought alonso is a bit overated to be honest, as the views in this thread show. He's a very good player but no more than that, and certainly not at SG's level. Going forward he doesn't have the extra quality SG has. Alonso isn't an automatic choice for Spain and if I'm totally honest he's not as good as Fabregas, for example.

I'm not knocking Alonso here, he is a very good player. My point is that he's no more than very good whereas Gerard is exceptional.

Totally agree, although I'd take issue with the Fabregas point. At the end of the day I think they're too different to be compared really...but all you have to do is look at the figures bandied about in transfer rumours to see who's a bigger player.

Stevie: £35-40m
Xabi: £16-25m

[bazza76]

Gerrard is much, much better than Alonso. He can do everything in a CM plus score goals which Alonso deoesn't do. Alonso's good, mind, but nowhere near Gerrard.

I wouldnt say he doesnt score goals from midfield, i seem to remember he scored back to back goals fom his own half and in one game scring two from about a combined total of 100 yards
He does need to score mroe though

[El Jefecito]

Alonso, is better than Gerrard. Gerrard is an impact player, he turns up every so often and does the unexpected. Xabi is the general he run's EVERY game he plays in.

[vip]

Boh crucial to the team in their own unique ways, although I think it would be harder to replace Gerrard if he left than Alonso.

[carlton]

Difficult. Can anyone imagine Alonso coming up with the goal v Olympiacos, or the second half effor v AC Milan, or the screamer v West Ham? Gerrard for me because he has the ability to find something from nowhere and win a game off his own boot-literally

[Eth]

If Alonso doesn't play I worry about leaking goals and losing games - if Stevie doesn't play I worry about scoring goals. They're chalk and cheese in the attributes they bring to the team. In my team they would for part of an attacking 5 man midfield.