Xabi Alonso and our lack of goals

[bazza76]

I think that is wrong. Roy Keane was a much more disciplined player. He may well have been given a role akin to that Scholes plays at times or perhaps even that played by Carrick at United last season, where the emphasis is on getting the ball upfield quickly and they are not asked to do the traditional holding role of shielding the defence per se. Another analogy would be the way Vieira played with Silva or Petit - asked to move the ball from attack to defence but with someone there to do the more disciplined job.

Gerrard is a good tackler and has great energy but he is a much more attacking player than Keane ever was.

OK, then put it this way.
If I was to give Gerrard a central midfield role in the team, it would be in the role that Sissoko plays, not Alonso's role. I think alot of people if forced to play him in central midfield, not that they would take much forcing, would do the same.
But it is kind of getting away from the point, the point I was trying to make is that he could be a more disciplined midfield player, if given the chance to play the role regularly enough, it is just common sense to me.

[Lecter]

OK, then put it this way.
If I was to give Gerrard a central midfield role in the team, it would be in the role that Sissoko plays, not Alonso's role. I think alot of people if forced to play him in central midfield, not that they would take much forcing, would do the same.
But it is kind of getting away from the point, the point I was trying to make is that he could be a more disciplined midfield player, if given the chance to play the role regularly enough, it is just common sense to me.

Taking your "common sense" to the extreme Biscan should have also learned to become a centrehalf when Houllier played him there

[bazza76]

Taking your "common sense" to the extreme Biscan should have also learned to become a centrehalf when Houllier played him there

Yes it is true, the more Biscan is played there, the better he will become at playing the role. But you say, Biscan should have learned to be a centre half, are you talking Liverpool standard, if so, the chap just doesn't have the ability or time on his side to be a Liverpool standard player or at least a regular.

[Nic83]

Just a quick statement in response to some posts I have read:

An "out of form" Alonso is still one of the best midfielders in the premiership. An in form Alonso is a weapon of destruction.

[Nic83]

Well, I agree. Xabi is an important player. But that's not what is up for debate here.

The issue at hand is whether the sun rises out of Alonso's ass and slowly moves high above Anfield, only to pop up his backside when the game is over.

I saying that it doesn't.

The keyplayer and biggest culprit when it comes the the current lack of form, is Gerrard. He has simply been abysmal since the injury. If he can't get the engine going for us this season, then none of us is going to any finals. Forget about it. I can't even begin to remember the last time I saw him play this badly for 5 games in a row.

With or without Alonso? I really doubt that it would have made any diff given Gerrards form. You could play Makelele at his best or whatever, it still wouldn't have changed anything.

That's my take on it.

Well actually the issue is whether or not we create more, play better more fluent football and score more when xabi is in the team.

[Nic83]

On the subject of gerrard on the right, IMO when he's out there he doesn't get to do what he's best at: Makink driving bursting runs into the box or backing up the play and unleashing a strike of the Olympiakos calibre. Also his presence is sorely missed in the middle where he is the one who takes the game by the scruff for us and drives us on. Can't do that from the right.

[Nic83]

I don't think it's only down to missing Alonso. We are missing our only central defender that can carry the ball out of the defense.

Good point

[Nic83]

Coincidence. We've played superbly without him before and won/lost games. We've also played badly without him and won/lost games. You're putting too much emphasis/hope on the return of 1 player is all I'm trying to say. On your planet, the return of 1 player is going to make all the difference - in the real world, it isn't as simple as that. The whole team has been poor for a while, even when the mighty alonso was playing. A few decent results against poor opposition has hidden that fact.

depends ont he player and in this case, it is!

[carheex]

depends ont he player and in this case, it is!

I see your still delusional about Alonso.

[Sarb]

I see your still delusional about Alonso.

What Midfielders in the Premiership are better than Xabi then?

[peekay]

Just a quick statement in response to some posts I have read:

An "out of form" Alonso is still one of the best midfielders in the premiership. An in form Alonso is a weapon of destruction.

Alonso's peak performance may not be as high as Gerrards peak performance, but he has the highest worst form performance in our team, if that makes any sense. Even when he has a bad game he keeps the game ticking by taking the ball out of defenders and making short and simple passes.

[CAD]

McDermott & Ray Kennedy pulled towards the middle also didnt stop them effecting the game

Highway stayed on the wing, didn't stop him effecting the game...I mean, what's the point?

I'm not saying that Gerrard can't effect the game from RM. I'm saying it hurts the balance and that the good sides can take advantage of us too easily when Steven roams as a RM. I don't understand why people would think that might be the solution.

Either he's at CM or he's on a free in a 4-5-1.

[CAD]

Well actually the issue is whether or not we create more, play better more fluent football and score more when xabi is in the team.

I could have been but it evolved into a "the sun is shining out his ass" thread.

Originally Posted by Nic83
An "out of form" Alonso is still one of the best midfielders in the premiership. An in form Alonso is a weapon of destruction.

[redlancer]

xabi is one of thoose "worth the entrance fee" players -
you can watch him doing his job as much on the ball as off it.

and IMO his ideal partner is Masser, with Stevie having a free role.

Stevie does lack positional awareness defensivly and team minded.

As has been said Stevie is like Mcmahon but can't help feel he yet to be as good a Mcmahon.
We get him pulling back a game from nowhere but we shouldn't be putting ourselves into that position

[tomasjj]

I could have been but it evolved into a "the sun is shining out his ass" thread.

Originally Posted by Nic83
An "out of form" Alonso is still one of the best midfielders in the premiership. An in form Alonso is a weapon of destruction.

Can you see the sun from where you are at, up SGs arse then fella?