Rafa's best team in his own mind...

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Alonso is the perfect footballer.

Nonsense.

[Nic83]

He is according to Redscouser. He may be even in his top 5.

Maybe Redscouser is Rafa?

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

I was always under the impression that Rafa picked his best 11 depending on the opposition.

[Sir Bob]

Against any team. Alonso is the perfect footballer. He is unreal.

I think Alonso is the most overated player we have. He's very decent but no more than that. He wouldn't get in my 1st 11, he's not got the class of either SG or Masher.

[Venton]

I think Alonso is the most overated player we have. He's very decent but no more than that. He wouldn't get in my 1st 11, he's not got the class of either SG or Masher.

He went off the boil for a bit, agreed. I think he is better than decent though. Do we have a better passer in midfield overall?

[marcus50bucks]

Maybe Redscouser is Rafa?

[Nic83]

He went off the boil for a bit, agreed. I think he is better than decent though. Do we have a better passer in midfield overall?

IMO, there's not a better passer in the world. Pirlo is on par.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

I think Alonso is the most overated player we have. He's very decent but no more than that. He wouldn't get in my 1st 11, he's not got the class of either SG or Masher.

Agree that he's overrated.

But I think it's borderline whether it's him or Mascherano in midfield.

Find it hilarious that people would shunt our best central midfielder back to the right to accomodate him.

[Nic83]

I think Alonso is the most overated player we have. He's very decent but no more than that. He wouldn't get in my 1st 11, he's not got the class of either SG or Masher.

He's not a player that people notice so much as other impact players like SG but the old cliche comes to mind: "You don't know what you've got till it's gone".

I think we have suffered greatly in his absense and if he'd been in the team we'd be right up there in the table IMO.

[Nic83]

Agree that he's overrated.

But I think it's borderline whether it's him or Mascherano in midfield.

Find it hilarious that people would shunt our best central midfielder back to the right to accomodate him.

I wouldn't. I'd bench the little terrier. Masher that is. I'd play all 3 in certain games.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

I wouldn't. I'd bench the little terrier. Masher that is. I'd play all 3 in certain games.

Problem is we don't have the forwards who fit that system.

Think we'll see a lot of Alonso and Mascherano in midfield, with Gerrard just in front and Torres up on his own from now on, especially away from home.

[Red_Al_77]

IMO, there's not a better passer in the world. Pirlo is on par.

That's a massive statement considering the quality of the players on view even in the El Classico game.

I think Rafa's best XI comes down to whether he views Gerrard as his strongest RW

[Nic83]

I actually think a lineup like this would be really strong:


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

Finnan----Agger--carra----Arbeloa

-------------Alonso---------------

--------Masher---Gerrard-------

-----Torres--------------Babel---
--------------Crouch-------------

[CincyRed]

Pepe
Finnan
Arbeloa
Carra
Agger
Masch
Alonso
Gerrard
Babel
Kewell
Torres

with the personnel we have this is my pick for our strongest XI. 4-2-3-1. Gerrard, Kewell, and Torres are really starting to show their understanding (match against the mancs aside) and Babel is turning into the player we hoped he'd be when we got him. The three can all slot in any of the positions in behind Torres and play as that second striker when needed. They are all clever and intelligent enough to create loads of space by their running and changing up markers. After a promising start I don't think YB has provided that extra flair going forward that we need. He makes great runs, but he invariably holds onto the ball much too long and ends up wasting the chance. He has shown little eye for the pass in his past 5-6 starts. I would also like to see Lucas get a run in the side but who knows how?

Wouldn't be surprised to see this side in Moscow either.

[Alpha]

IMO, there's not a better passer in the world. Pirlo is on par.

It is easy to forget the unbelievable range Alonso has because he hasn't shown it for such a long time. A couple of seasons ago, he used to give a passing masterclass every week.

He is a long way short of perfect though.

For the sake of the team, I would pick Masher ahead of Xabi because his skillset complements our captain better. In addition, while Masher's distribution is not as good as Alonso's, it is good to enough along with the energy and bite he contributes to more than compensate.

This is a generalisation though - there are teams against whom and circumstances in which Alonso should start.