Alonso!

[redblood]

We sorely missed Alonso on Saturday. With Bham surrendering possession every time they crossed the half way line - Xabi would have been able to dictate the pace and the shape of the game far better than the feeble effort mustered by Stevie and Masher who were very poor (but thats another story).

Xabi would have taken the ball from Sami and hit quicker, more incisive passes and got the ball into the danger (wide) area's earlier than we managed on saturday - thus leaving the opposition less time to funnel back and regain their shape, 4-5-1.
The added benefit of Alonso running the game is that it frees up Stevie to do what he does best - attacking the knock downs and driving towards the opposition penalty area.

That's my two penneth anyway.

Yes well said.

[Robster007]

We sorely missed Alonso on Saturday. With Bham surrendering possession every time they crossed the half way line - Xabi would have been able to dictate the pace and the shape of the game far better than the feeble effort mustered by Stevie and Masher who were very poor (but thats another story).

Xabi would have taken the ball from Sami and hit quicker, more incisive passes and got the ball into the danger (wide) area's earlier than we managed on saturday - thus leaving the opposition less time to funnel back and regain their shape, 4-5-1.
The added benefit of Alonso running the game is that it frees up Stevie to do what he does best - attacking the knock downs and driving towards the opposition penalty area.

That's my two penneth anyway.

[Shaggy]

I agree with the sentiment of this post - Xabi is our metronome and he makes us tick - but in fairness he started at Portsmouth and we were **** then too while Xabi was really ****.

I'd love us to find a way of getting Xabi, Mascherano and Gerrard into the same side. The easy option would be Gerrard on the right but he seems to have decided to sulk every time he's asked to play there. He can be a major attacking threat coming from the right, but only if he's up for it. Pointless playing him there when all he does is sulk.

Another possibility would be Gerrard in a free role with Torres on his own up front, but SG's never really played well in that position.

[redblood]

I agree with the sentiment of this post - Xabi is our metronome and he makes us tick - but in fairness he started at Portsmouth and we were **** then too while Xabi was really ****.

I'd love us to find a way of getting Xabi, Mascherano and Gerrard into the same side. The easy option would be Gerrard on the right but he seems to have decided to sulk every time he's asked to play there. He can be a major attacking threat coming from the right, but only if he's up for it. Pointless playing him there when all he does is sulk.

Another possibility would be Gerrard in a free role with Torres on his own up front, but SG's never really played well in that position.

Or a 4-3-3 setup
With Mascher holding Xabi and Stevie pushing on and Babel Kuyt Torres up front.

[tomasjj]

Gerrard on the right.
You know it makes sense Gerrard just doesn't know it himself.
Alonso and Mash in the middle.
Babel on the right, some new left winger and Torres and Kuyt(until we get something even better...) up front.

[Shaggy]

Something like....?

--------------Reina-----------

Finnan----Carra---Agger----Arbeloa

----------Mascherano---------

------Gerrard----Alonso-------

Kuyt--------Torres------Babel

??

I wouldn't want Kuyt out there though, as the wide forward who tucks in without the ball. He has none of the attributes required for that role, IMO.

[The Erectile Banana]

I agree with the sentiment of this post - Xabi is our metronome and he makes us tick - but in fairness he started at Portsmouth and we were **** then too while Xabi was really ****.

I'd love us to find a way of getting Xabi, Mascherano and Gerrard into the same side. The easy option would be Gerrard on the right but he seems to have decided to sulk every time he's asked to play there. He can be a major attacking threat coming from the right, but only if he's up for it. Pointless playing him there when all he does is sulk.

Another possibility would be Gerrard in a free role with Torres on his own up front, but SG's never really played well in that position.

I often thought with the quality of our CMs we could play the AC Milan formation with Xabi and Masch as Pirlo and Gattusp and Stevie playing the Kaka role.

As you said though I'm not syure if that role really suits Gerrard. He does better playing wide right than he does as a second striker.

[Howard_lfc]

Gerrard on the right.
You know it makes sense Gerrard just doesn't know it himself.
Alonso and Mash in the middle.

Hey I agree with you Tommy.
Put it in your diary!

[Joe King]

Xabi has been poor since he went for the World Cup. The season after the Champions League final, Sissoko and Xabi formed somewhat a formidable partnership of both defensive capabilities yet attacking solidarity. At that time, we were playing with Gerrard on the right. Whether this needs to be done again to get the best out of Xabi Alonso.......wait a second, we are sacrificing our best player in his best position for a midfielder who has been poor in the last season or so. Doesn't make sense. Steven needs to stay in the middle with Mascherano. They have a better balance in the middle than with Xabi. Xabi seems to be the player teams target to press because he gives the ball away so easily and can't make up the ground for it because he is god awfully slow. If Rafa got a good bid something over £11 million, he should consider it. Doubt that to happen though.

[carheex]

Xabi has been poor since he went for the World Cup. The season after the Champions League final, Sissoko and Xabi formed somewhat a formidable partnership of both defensive capabilities yet attacking solidarity. At that time, we were playing with Gerrard on the right. Whether this needs to be done again to get the best out of Xabi Alonso.......wait a second, we are sacrificing our best player in his best position for a midfielder who has been poor in the last season or so. Doesn't make sense. Steven needs to stay in the middle with Mascherano. They have a better balance in the middle than with Xabi. Xabi seems to be the player teams target to press because he gives the ball away so easily and can't make up the ground for it because he is god awfully slow. If Rafa got a good bid something over £11 million, he should consider it. Doubt that to happen though.

Very good post indeed. Maybe it's time Leiva was introduced to the first team proper.
Re: Gerrard on the right - I have a feeling he could be used on both wings quite a bit this season - the last 2 weeks have shown that none of our "wingers" are capable/consistent enough. Don't be surpised to see gerrad on the right and leto on the left....been doing well behind the scenes apparently, on the left wing.

[The Erectile Banana]

Very good post indeed. Maybe it's time Leiva was introduced to the first team proper.
Re: Gerrard on the right - I have a feeling he could be used on both wings quite a bit this season - the last 2 weeks have shown that none of our "wingers" are capable/consistent enough. Don't be surpised to see gerrad on the right and leto on the left....been doing well behind the scenes apparently, on the left wing.

Whatever about Gerrard on the right, where he has been highly effective before and no doubt will be again, he should never play on the left.

He is completely wasted whenever he plays there.

We've both enough wide players this summer - Babel, Benayoun and Leto.

Babel has shown promise so far and flashes of class.

Benayoun has played very little, Leto less so.

I don't understand how people are so quick to judge Yossi. How many games has he played in a Liverpool shirt? He has only started one Premiership game. Don't you think he deserves a bit more time before we write him off?

I think we should be giving these two a chance before sticking Gerrard back on the wing.

[Parm]

There are 4 truly TOP CLASS players in our squad.

1.Alonso
2.Gerrard
3.Carra
4.Torres

No particular order. we have some great players after that but not fantasy world 11'ers!

Reina and Agger I'd add to that list.

[Howard_lfc]

Xabi has been poor since he went for the World Cup. The season after the Champions League final, Sissoko and Xabi formed somewhat a formidable partnership of both defensive capabilities yet attacking solidarity. At that time, we were playing with Gerrard on the right. Whether this needs to be done again to get the best out of Xabi Alonso.......wait a second, we are sacrificing our best player in his best position for a midfielder who has been poor in the last season or so. Doesn't make sense. Steven needs to stay in the middle with Mascherano. They have a better balance in the middle than with Xabi. Xabi seems to be the player teams target to press because he gives the ball away so easily and can't make up the ground for it because he is god awfully slow. If Rafa got a good bid something over £11 million, he should consider it. Doubt that to happen though.

[cough] bollox [cough]

[Parm]

Something like....?

--------------Reina-----------

Finnan----Carra---Agger----Arbeloa

----------Mascherano---------

------Gerrard----Alonso-------

Kuyt--------Torres------Babel

??

I wouldn't want Kuyt out there though, as the wide forward who tucks in without the ball. He has none of the attributes required for that role, IMO.

now that is a good formation. Maybe add Yossi instead of kuyt and we could add some real width to the attack

[Parm]

[cough] bollox [cough]

just what I was thinking. Xabi seems to be the one who can take the ball and step away from the oppo into space and ping his passes about with ease.