Rafa Benitez appreciation

[Jazzmaster]

For me that is the most obvious lesson since the international break. Alonso is very important to us and does make us tick. I hope most (if not all) fans realise this.

Couldnt agree more. People have been saying that he hasnt reached the heights of this 2005 season, but i think its more because he, now more than before, is a real fulcrum of the team and he takes the responsibility of doing the simple things well - taking a pass and moving the ball around the pitch picking out the passes - this doesnt stand out because its not spectacular but it is as vital as any other element on the pitch.

[Lecter]

Couldnt agree more. People have been saying that he hasnt reached the heights of this 2005 season, but i think its more because he, now more than before, is a real fulcrum of the team and he takes the responsibility of doing the simple things well - taking a pass and moving the ball around the pitch picking out the passes - this doesnt stand out because its not spectacular but it is as vital as any other element on the pitch.

His influence on the team is huge but he now goes about his business quietly and efficiently with barely a notice by most of our support

Hes much like Whelan in the fact that when Ronnie played the fans often criticised him, it wasnt until he was gone that many people realised how important he actually was

[Tom]

100% agree, we've missed, his careful, probing passing football.

[red g]

His influence on the team is huge but he now goes about his business quietly and efficiently with barely a notice by most of our support

Hes much like Whelan in the fact that when Ronnie played the fans often criticised him, it wasnt until he was gone that many people realised how important he actually was

great point

[Pacman]

His influence on the team is huge but he now goes about his business quietly and efficiently with barely a notice by most of our support

Hes much like Whelan in the fact that when Ronnie played the fans often criticised him, it wasnt until he was gone that many people realised how important he actually was

[CAD]

Alonso might be underated by a lot of posters but with Gerrard/Mascher on form we are better balanced at CM imho.

[AFII]

His influence on the team is huge but he now goes about his business quietly and efficiently with barely a notice by most of our support

Hes much like Whelan in the fact that when Ronnie played the fans often criticised him, it wasnt until he was gone that many people realised how important he actually was

100% agree, we've missed, his careful, probing passing football.

Alonso has been played in a different position this season in some games, one step higher up the pitch. It will take a few games for him to get used to it and that is probably why he hasn't been up to his usual very high standard.

Give him a month or two when he is back and he will back to his high standard passing game again. His tackling and ball winning is still one of the best in the league.

[Skillz]

Couldnt agree more. People have been saying that he hasnt reached the heights of this 2005 season, but i think its more because he, now more than before, is a real fulcrum of the team and he takes the responsibility of doing the simple things well - taking a pass and moving the ball around the pitch picking out the passes - this doesnt stand out because its not spectacular but it is as vital as any other element on the pitch.

For me the problem seems to be that most forget that in his 1st season Hamann played behind him and he was afforded greater license to go forward and spray passes around. In his second season he played behind Hamann until the January window when Didi left ().

Xabi has had to change dramatacilly in his role to conform to Rafa's needs. He has done it very well, without complaint. World Class IMO and will continue to improve.

Still believe he and Stevie will be revered in time as a partnership.

[Skillz]

Alonso might be underated by a lot of posters but with Gerrard/Mascher on form we are better balanced at CM imho.

Fair enough. Its your opinion as you say but for me the last few games have shown me that Xabi is the heartbeat of the side. Masher is class, without doubt but he has looked very dodgy with his passing since Xabi has been out. He is getting the attention now and he is yet to deal with it.

Xabi on the other hand has quiet games, very rarely bad games. He is given special treatment from opposition and can still be effective.

[AFII]

I still wonders why Rafa isn't playing with five midfielders. Instead he uses a striker as an attacking midfielder. I would play with Mascherano, Alonso and Gerrard at the same time in the middle. Then we would boss the midfield against every team in the league, home and away.

[CAD]

Fair enough. Its your opinion as you say but for me the last few games have shown me that Xabi is the heartbeat of the side. Masher is class, without doubt but he has looked very dodgy with his passing since Xabi has been out. He is getting the attention now and he is yet to deal with it.

Xabi on the other hand has quiet games, very rarely bad games. He is given special treatment from opposition and can still be effective.

If the last couple of games has shown me anything it is just how depended we are of Gerrard. As soon as he under-performs we look absolutely horrendous. For me he is the heartbeat of our side. Torres adds charisma and Alonso a steady pulse but rarely a heartbeat. I can name two maybe three games where Alonso has been the heartbeat. First season against the Spurs at Anfield and the Everton game where Gerrard got the red card springs to mind.

Alonso has been shoehorned into a HM role and has adapted surprisingly well. He has improved beyond believe off the ball. Obviously it has taken away from his game on the ball. That said Mascher is a natural HM and the role just suits him better. Alonso would flourish if he was given more freedom. In many ways he's "on the ball" game has been stagnating since he arrived. I'm not sure if Rafa really bought him to replace Hamann or if it just turned out that way in the 2005 season.

Does Alonso have the impact to play a creative CM against topsides with Mascher as HM in a 4-4-2? I seriously doubt it. I see Alonso as something of a one trick pony on the ball. Pass and move. He doesn't have the same moments of magic like Gerrard. If he has it's definitely on a lesser scale and rarely infront of goal. I know that the Newcastle goal was fine and all but I think most people understand what I mean by this.

I rate Alonso. I think he's best as a HM in a 4-4-2. He is too easy to shut down as a creative midfielder. I think he would be at his best in a 4-5-1 with very active wingers with Mascher as HM and Gerrard and him as creative midfielders. I would love to see us in a 3-5-2 at Anfield against the lesser sides with Mascher, Alonso and Gerrard as well.

Ok, look at me - I'm officially talking to myself.

[AFII]

I have already said that we should play 4-5-1 because that will fit the team best IMO.

We have excellent central midfielders but only one excellent striker. If you look at our strenghts then playing 4-5-1 is the most sensible one on paper.

We have excellent CM who is excellent on the ball and it's our second striker that usually slows down our game because they are not as good on the ball as our CM and Torres.

Sissoko also slows down our game because his first touch isn't good enough.

If we want to play a quick passing game then 4-5-1 is the key.

------------------Reina
Finnan------Carra-------Agger-----Arbeloa
------------------Mascherano
Benayoun----------Alonso---------Aurelio
-------------Gerrard
---------------------Torres

Only Carra in that team that hasn't excellent ball control and a great first touch. No wasted time to control the ball with a few extra touches.

[red g]

I have already said that we should play 4-5-1 because that will fit the team best IMO.

We have excellent central midfielders but only one excellent striker. If you look at our strenghts then playing 4-5-1 is the most sensible one on paper.

We have excellent CM who is excellent on the ball and it's our second striker that usually slows down our game because they are not as good on the ball as our CM and Torres.

Sissoko also slows down our game because his first touch isn't good enough.

If we want to play a quick passing game then 4-5-1 is the key.

------------------Reina
Finnan------Carra-------Agger-----Arbeloa
------------------Mascherano
Benayoun----------Alonso---------Aurelio
-------------Gerrard
---------------------Torres

Only Carra in that team that hasn't excellent ball control and a great first touch. No wasted time to control the ball with a few extra touches.

but you are not playing our best player to his strengths there. Although stevie may play better of torres than he has anyone else. Gerrard is best driving forward which he hasnt done playing of the forward

[CAD]

I have already said that we should play 4-5-1 because that will fit the team best IMO.

We have excellent central midfielders but only one excellent striker. If you look at our strenghts then playing 4-5-1 is the most sensible one on paper.

We have excellent CM who is excellent on the ball and it's our second striker that usually slows down our game because they are not as good on the ball as our CM and Torres.

Sissoko also slows down our game because his first touch isn't good enough.

If we want to play a quick passing game then 4-5-1 is the key.

------------------Reina
Finnan------Carra-------Agger-----Arbeloa
------------------Mascherano
Benayoun----------Alonso---------Aurelio
-------------Gerrard
---------------------Torres

Only Carra in that team that hasn't excellent ball control and a great first touch. No wasted time to control the ball with a few extra touches.

I think a 4-5-1 would probably be the best formation for Alonso. For LFC, with the current squad, I'm not so sure.

Yossi and Fabio just doesn't do it for me as wingers. Neither does Pennant ot Babel in a 4-5-1. Pennant on a good day is fine but he's like a box of chocolates. I would stay with the 4-4-2 formation and play Kuyt/Voronin next to Torres. I like Kuyt.

Sadly we don't have the playes to play an offensive 4-5-1 like the Scum. I think we are fine through the middle but the Fb and Wingers are nowhere near what we need to really dominate a game.

[El Jefecito]

If the last couple of games has shown me anything it is just how depended we are of Gerrard. As soon as he under-performs we look absolutely horrendous.

Yeah, we were really crap in the games when he was out weren't we