Xabi Alonso

[Fiddy]

As we are playing now with Kuyt as an attacking midfielder then Rafa should drop Kuyt and play a five man midfield instead with Gerrard in Kuyts position.

-------------Reina
Finnan---Carra---Agger---Arbeloa
------------Mascherano
Pennant-------Alonso-----Kewell
----------Gerrard
------------------Torres

There is no point playing Xabi as the holding midfielder. He should play in the middle of the midfield as the playmaker he is. Gerrard is a better attacking midfielder than Kuyt.

Right now Rafa isn't using the team in the best possible way.

wrong...Stevie has always said he hates playing in that role. He's much better just in CM, where not only can he bomb forward but he can break up the play too. He basically hates any inkling of having to play with his back to goal

[Darth Marty]

I disagree with you AFII, its simply the wrong position for stevie, play masch yes, but currently has to be at the expense of xabi.

[thesilverfoxlfc]

I dont what has happened to him in the last two years, he started sluggish today and gently got himself into the game but no where near his form two years ago, where is the 40 yard pin point passing??????

He never gave the ball away before you could guarantee him having a 95% succesful passing stat at the end of each match. He doesnt impose himself on the game like he used to, he seems just to play second fiddle to Stevie.

In my opinion he doesnt enjoy playing with Stevie, if stevie isnt playing Xabi takes more of a role in the game and puts his print on the game more.

The Mash is too good to be on the bench and Momo isnt even getting anywhere near the first team, we have alot of luxuires this year

[red g]

I dont what has happened to him in the last two years, he started sluggish today and gently got himself into the game but no where near his form two years ago, where is the 40 yard pin point passing??????

He never gave the ball away before you could guarantee him having a 95% succesful passing stat at the end of each match. He doesnt impose himself on the game like he used to, he seems just to play second fiddle to Stevie.

In my opinion he doesnt enjoy playing with Stevie, if stevie isnt playing Xabi takes more of a role in the game and puts his print on the game more.

The Mash is too good to be on the bench and Momo isnt even getting anywhere near the first team, we have alot of luxuires this year

thats a great post, sums up my feelings to, Xabi was my favourite player when he came, just seems to not be stepping upto the plate

[thesilverfoxlfc]

thats a great post, sums up my feelings to, Xabi was my favourite player when he came, just seems to not be stepping upto the plate

He seems limited when playing with Stevie and doesnt have the freedom he craves whe Stevie isnt there.

He seems just to sit back nowadays no more of those long passes just short ones to Stevie or the wingers and then they run off with the ball, while he just hangs around in front of the back four.

If this is the way he's been told to play and if Rafa has transformed him into this type/style of player then its a mistake, he's got way more to offer then short passes and sitting in front of the back four.

[carrsim]

and yet we have absolutely dominated the 2 league games where they have played as the middle pair, creating excellent chances that fail to be taken, with our goalkeeper barely needing to make a save and only conceding via 2 ridiculous penalties thanks to 2 of our most consistent performers.

i thought he was below average today- he seemed to want too much time on the ball for me- but as a team we look solid and creative.

masher will be a great option - as he showed against milan- but at anfield we should always be that bit more positive and if xabi ups his game by 10% then it won't be an issue.

if the poor form continues for another game or 2 he may well get a rest

[Skillz]

I didn't think he was that bad actually. Infact he and Stevie seem to be forming a very effective partnership now that they are finally getting a run together. I admit that Alonso is not at his imperious best but he was still largely effective last night and against Villa. He managed to piss Lampard off last night to the point i thought Frank was going to get sent off.

I'd wait a little longer before making any definitive decisions about Xabi. I am sure he will get better very quickly.

[sean_lfc]

I didn't think he was that bad actually. Infact he and Stevie seem to be forming a very effective partnership now that they are finally getting a run together. I admit that Alonso is not at his imperious best but he was still largely effective last night and against Villa. He managed to piss Lampard off last night to the point i thought Frank was going to get sent off.

I'd wait a little longer before making any definitive decisions about Xabi. I am sure he will get better very quickly.

Exactly, it's only 2 games into the season, plus we have a more than able substitute in The Masch. I also can't wait to see Babel crash one in, that shot today was outrageous, had that gone in...!

[naitizeh]

Alonso was totally overshadowed by Gerrard in the first half. The latter was all-action, tackling, tracking back etc etc. I felt this gave the game too much of a frenetic pace, especially after going one goal up. All I remembered after Torres scored (fantastic goal btw!) is that we could not really dominate, as in really dictating the play, and crushing a really overawed Chelscum side in the first half...

Alonso would have been fantastic at that. Problem is Gerrard saw quite a bit of the ball, and whenever he gets it, it's always passing it quickly, too quickly sometimes. One goal up, slow it down. I still think Gerrard has some way to go especially in dictating the tempo of the game to suit the team.

BUT - I think both of them did and do play well together. And I will always have time for Alonso. He gets stuck in. He does not lose his cool. And if you realise, he'd always get marked out or double-teamed (and dare I say it, Gerrard does not - well at least not last night).

[cobain]

Yeah well, he was ****. As a matter of fact, silverfox summed up the facts pretty well:

I dont what has happened to him in the last two years, he started sluggish today and gently got himself into the game but no where near his form two years ago, where is the 40 yard pin point passing??????

He never gave the ball away before you could guarantee him having a 95% succesful passing stat at the end of each match. He doesnt impose himself on the game like he used to, he seems just to play second fiddle to Stevie.

In my opinion he doesnt enjoy playing with Stevie, if stevie isnt playing Xabi takes more of a role in the game and puts his print on the game more.

The Mash is too good to be on the bench and Momo isnt even getting anywhere near the first team, we have alot of luxuires this year

Couldn't agree more!

[alunevans]

I like Xabi, I really do, but as a long term central midfield partner for Steven Gerrard, for me it's Mascherano every single time.

I have to agree. Xabi lacks a bit of pace, and today lacked a lot of concentration. Masher is sharper, quicker, more ferocious in the tackle, and still has good distribution.

For all of Xabi's qualities I'd go with Masher too.

[kumz14]

I like Xabi, I really do, but as a long term central midfield partner for Steven Gerrard, for me it's Mascherano every single time.

totally agree.There were time where stevie was at the back of defense to save us. That is where xabi should be not stevie. Mascherano will give strength to our back four.

[tomasjj]

Yeah well, he was ****. As a matter of fact, silverfox summed up the facts pretty well:



Couldn't agree more!

Fair enough. I don't agree with any of you two.

If Xabi was **** last season, which I don't think he was - he was awesome at holding the team together, I raise you a Steven Gerrard, even if that is a bit of a crappy argument

I think opposition are paying more attention to Xabi, making his job worse.
Also, since we got Mascher, whom I think is a fantasitc player, quite a few on here start saying that Alonso must be benced....
Well, Mash is great, but him and Xabi have different qualities.
Last two PL games we have also done well with Xabi and SG in the middle.

Oh...**** it. I can't be arsed. First day at work after 3 weeks of holiday... h:

[CAD]

I like Xabi, I really do, but as a long term central midfield partner for Steven Gerrard, for me it's Mascherano every single time.

Anybody who knows **** all about football would be able to see that Mascher/Gerrard is our best combo

[tomasjj]

Anybody who knows **** all about football would be able to see that Mascher/Gerrard is our best combo

You saying Rafa knows **** all then?

Pretty confident this morning are we?