I hope Alonso was watching closely

[BillobShaisley]

They should be rotated in spells rather than every game IMO, when one has a slightly off day/injury, swap. Then wait for the next slightly below par performance/knock. They are both cracking players, but IMO when class is too close to differentiate then you have to go with the form player in a big match or make sure they are both sharp with some rotation in the smaller games.

[Nic83]

'in the red corner we have xavier 'dont cry for me' masherano and in the er, other red corner we have xabi 'halfway line' alonso

'ladies and gentlemen LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLEEEEEEEEE!!!!!'

take your bets who will partner gerrard when he returns

It will be rotated Neil. We all know how Rafa likes to play different partnerships to counter different opposition. He will do this both up top, and in the centre of the midfield. Sometimes Xavi and Stevi, sometimes Masher and Stevie and so on. Sometimes we will also have 3 of them playing with Gerrard off Torres. I would think Xavi Alonso will play most games, after Stevie though with Masher and Sissoko playing a close amount to eachother.

[paulcooper4]

'in the red corner we have xavier 'dont cry for me' masherano and in the er, other red corner we have xabi 'halfway line' alonso

'ladies and gentlemen LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLEEEEEEEEE!!!!!'

take your bets who will partner gerrard when he returns

It`s Javier

[paulcooper4]

It will be rotated Neil. We all know how Rafa likes to play different partnerships to counter different opposition. He will do this both up top, and in the centre of the midfield. Sometimes Xavi and stevi, sometimes masher and Stevie and so on. Sometimes we will also have 3 of them playing with gerrard off Torres. I would Xavi Alonso would play most games, after Stevie though with Masher and Sissoko playing a close amount to eachother.

It`s Xabi

[Nic83]

Haha, Neil calling Masher "Xavier" has totally ****ed up my head!

You are right Poops. I mean Coops.

[Nic83]

Pronounced "chabbi"

[spider-neil]

It will be rotated Neil. We all know how Rafa likes to play different partnerships to counter different opposition. He will do this both up top, and in the centre of the midfield. Sometimes Xavi and Stevi, sometimes Masher and Stevie and so on. Sometimes we will also have 3 of them playing with Gerrard off Torres. I would think Xavi Alonso will play most games, after Stevie though with Masher and Sissoko playing a close amount to eachother.

been impressed with gerrard as a 'second striker'?

[Gazzla]

been impressed with gerrard as a 'second striker'?

I haven't

[Nic83]

been impressed with gerrard as a 'second striker'?

Nope. But I know rafa will play him there for a few matches.

For me I'd have Crouchy partnering Torres most matches.

[thesilverfoxlfc]

Notice the way Stevie wasnt playing on saturday and Xabi comes to the fore, he was running the show.

We dont get the true Xabi when he plays with Stevie

[dww]

been impressed with gerrard as a 'second striker'?

It will be a could be a much changed role now we have the option of playing Benayoun, Babel and Torres. Last season when he played it off Kuyt or Crouch it was always going to be about possesion as we had no one running past the striker (especially as Garcia was injured) now that has changed.

[JPK]

Alonso hit a pass in the first half the other day and it looked so simple but very few players could do it.Babel was on the right and Xabi threaded a beautifully weighted ball to him with his left leg.It was pure vision.
You would have to see it in the highlights again to appreciate it.
The guys I was watching the game with all straight away said how class it was.I love watching the guy.Genius ball player

[kemm1]

Alonso hit a pass in the first half the other day and it looked so simple but very few players could do it.Babel was on the right and Xabi threaded a beautifully weighted ball to him with his left leg.It was pure vision.
You would have to see it in the highlights again to appreciate it.
The guys I was watching the game with all straight away said how class it was.I love watching the guy.Genius ball player

Agreed

[Fiddy]

Nope. But I know rafa will play him there for a few matches.

For me I'd have Crouchy partnering Torres most matches.

Have those two actually played together yet?

[Fiddy]

Notice the way Stevie wasnt playing on saturday and Xabi comes to the fore, he was running the show.

We dont get the true Xabi when he plays with Stevie

As I said earlier...

our CM pairing needs to be one of:

Stevie or Xabi

with

Masher or Momo

to provide the best balance in the team