Xabi Alonso - the enigma

[Shaggy]

I'm really concerned about Alonso.

It took him a matter of months to become my favourite player - hence the username - and it appeared we had a Rolls Royce of a midfielder on our hands.

But it's not just not quite happened for him, has it?

If I'm being really honest with myself, I expected so much more. He's been here now for three or four seasons and I don't believe he's developed as much as he ought to have. He should be one of the league's very top midfielders. The fact of the matter is, if you ask a random group of football fans (non LFC) to name their ten best midfielders in the league, precious few, if any, would name Xabi.

Have other teams sussed him out? Given time and space Alonso can kill teams and initially he capitalised on the space afforded to him. Remember the Spurs and Norwich games at Anfield?

That was about as good as it got for Xabi. Sure, there's been plenty of other very good performances (Juventus away springs to mind) but on the whole I'm underwhelmed - and it hurts to say that.

It's too easy to nullify Xabi.

He cuts a frustrated figure at the moment and it's sad to see. In his defence he's just returned from a long-ish lay-off, but let's be honest...he's been miles below-par for too long.

I'm one of his biggest fans but I have to ask - how much longer do we tolerate this sort of under-achievement from one of our most gifted footballers?

[Howard_lfc]

I'm really concerned about Alonso.

It took him a matter of months to become my favourite player - hence the username - and it appeared we had a Rolls Royce of a midfielder on our hands.

But it's not just not quite happened for him, has it?

If I'm being really honest with myself, I expected so much more. He's been here now for three or four seasons and I don't believe he's developed as much as he ought to have. He should be one of the league's very top midfielders. The fact of the matter is, if you ask a random group of football fans (non LFC) to name their ten best midfielders in the league, precious few, if any, would name Xabi.

Have other teams sussed him out? Given time and space Alonso can kill teams and initially he capitalised on the space afforded to him. Remember the Spurs and Norwich games at Anfield?

That was about as good as it got for Xabi. Sure, there's been plenty of other very good performances (Juventus away springs to mind) but on the whole I'm underwhelmed - and it hurts to say that.

It's too easy to nullify Xabi.

He cuts a frustrated figure at the moment and it's sad to see. In his defence he's just returned from a long-ish lay-off, but let's be honest...he's been miles below-par for too long.

I'm one of his biggest fans but I have to ask - how much longer do we tolerate this sort of under-achievement from one of our most gifted footballers?

He's just come back after TWO injuries shaggy. Give the lad a chance.

Mods - please lock this thread immediately. !!!!

Shaggy - go and smoke some of your waccy baccy or something!

[Morph]

one of my biggest annoyances with alonso at the moment and i've noticed it at least a dozen times since he returned from injury, when he picks up the ball with his back to the oppo, he stands there as if he's in a world of his own deliberating with the ball, only for someone to come up behind him and take it off him.

He did it again today and I knew he was going to do it as soon as he received the ball, pissed me off big time, his passing is off but I expect that to come back with more match time.

He been out for a while, had two breaks in his foot, so i'm happy to give him time and see what happens. Although it does concern me a bit that he looked a bit shaky before the inury, however many credited him as a possible mom candidate in his brief appearance in the arsenal match, so lets see what happens.

[Shaggy]

He's just come back after TWO injuries shaggy. Give the lad a chance.

Mods - please lock this thread immediately. !!!!

Shaggy - go and smoke some of your waccy baccy or something!

I already quantified my comments about his recent form with a caveat that he's just come back from injury - but I also pointed out that his form hasn't been good enough for ages. Which it hasn't.

Unless you disagree?

"Give the lad a chance"?

He's had three and a half seasons and he's not doing it.

[Colemere]

Xabi has been a geat player, but if Mascher signs perminent and Rafa is still there next season, (lets not have the roll of the eyes by the so called insiders), Xabi could be on his way if an offer of £15million comes in.

[Joe King]

He is too slow, too weak, dwells for too long. Everything a player in the Premiership will be crucified for.

[Howard_lfc]

[QUOTE=ShaggyAlonso;886305]I already quantified my comments about his recent form with a caveat that he's just come back from injury - but I also pointed out that his form hasn't been good enough for ages. Which it hasn't.

Unless you disagree?

"Give the lad a chance"?

He's had three and a half seasons and he's not doing it.[/QUOTE]

Oh ok. I'm not gonna argue with you Shaggy. I'm done with the negativity today.

Tell you what - let's just have a ****in' straightener! That'll get rid of the frustraion out of both of us !!!

[stevie_gerrard_8]

I agree, but you need to take into account a number fo factors:
1) Teams know that if you stop Xabi, you stop Liverpool 'playing' football
2) Hes been out for a few months. He doesn't look match fit
3) The biigest reason. The lack of quality in attacking positions. He needs good movement infront of him and players to make runs. Once he's got that, Im sure he will boss the show.

[Howard_lfc]

I already quantified my comments about his recent form with a caveat that he's just come back from injury - but I also pointed out that his form hasn't been good enough for ages. Which it hasn't.

Unless you disagree?

"Give the lad a chance"?

He's had three and a half seasons and he's not doing it.

**** it. Everybody on here almost going down on Masher these days but the results with him in the middle rather than Xabi have been very poor.

So shall we get rid of him as well?

[Rafa Shankly]

He's just come back after TWO injuries shaggy. Give the lad a chance.

Mods - please lock this thread immediately. !!!!

Shaggy - go and smoke some of your waccy baccy or something!

is there any chance that we can actually say whats on our mind without some sap looking for the thread to be locked,its getting tiresome.

for what its worth,we need xabi fully fit,he tends to get to many injuries.

[Shaggy]

[QUOTE=Howard_lfc;886313]

I already quantified my comments about his recent form with a caveat that he's just come back from injury - but I also pointed out that his form hasn't been good enough for ages. Which it hasn't.

Unless you disagree?

"Give the lad a chance"?

He's had three and a half seasons and he's not doing it.[/QUOTE]

Oh ok. I'm not gonna argue with you Shaggy. I'm done with the negativity today.

Tell you what - let's just have a ****in' straightener! That'll get rid of the frustraion out of both of us !!!

I'm not being wilfully negative for the fricken sake of it. I love Alonso and I'm concerned that we're not getting the best out of him. There's a world class central midfielder in there somewhere but we're not seeing him.

I agree, but you need to take into account a number fo factors:
1) Teams know that if you stop Xabi, you stop Liverpool 'playing' football
2) Hes been out for a few months. He doesn't look match fit
3) The biigest reason. The lack of quality in attacking positions. He needs good movement infront of him and players to make runs. Once he's got that, Im sure he will boss the show.

Yep.

Point 3 is so very true. I'd hate to sell him, especially to a team like Barca, because you just know that, in a team with more movement and fluidity, he would really thrive.

For us, he's easy to nullify as people get in his face and, to compound the problem, our movement is often non-existent.

[shanklyn]

I'm really concerned about Alonso.

It took him a matter of months to become my favourite player - hence the username - and it appeared we had a Rolls Royce of a midfielder on our hands.

But it's not just not quite happened for him, has it?

If I'm being really honest with myself, I expected so much more. He's been here now for three or four seasons and I don't believe he's developed as much as he ought to have. He should be one of the league's very top midfielders. The fact of the matter is, if you ask a random group of football fans (non LFC) to name their ten best midfielders in the league, precious few, if any, would name Xabi.

Have other teams sussed him out? Given time and space Alonso can kill teams and initially he capitalised on the space afforded to him. Remember the Spurs and Norwich games at Anfield?

That was about as good as it got for Xabi. Sure, there's been plenty of other very good performances (Juventus away springs to mind) but on the whole I'm underwhelmed - and it hurts to say that.

It's too easy to nullify Xabi.

He cuts a frustrated figure at the moment and it's sad to see. In his defence he's just returned from a long-ish lay-off, but let's be honest...he's been miles below-par for too long.

I'm one of his biggest fans but I have to ask - how much longer do we tolerate this sort of under-achievement from one of our most gifted footballers?

That Spurs game at Anfield was the best display of passing I have ever seen in the flesh, it was unreal.

[Shaggy]

**** it. Everybody on here almost going down on Masher these days but the results with him in the middle rather than Xabi have been very poor.

So shall we get rid of him as well?

Bizarre thing to say.

Mascherano is playing well. You seem to have something against the lad but virtually everybody else can see what he gives us. Results haven't been great but you and I both know that he is not a problem.

[Howard_lfc]

is there any chance that we can actually say whats on our mind without some sap looking for the thread to be locked,its getting tiresome.

for what its worth,we need xabi fully fit,he tends to get to many injuries.

'Some sap'? you cheeker ****er.

I'll say what's on my mind mate - I THINK WE SHOULD LAY OFF SLAGGING XABI. He deserves better than that in my opinion. There's enough negativity on here already without looking to pin the blame on Xabi when there are people who are far more culpable.

FWIW my comment to lock the thread was tongue in cheek anyway. :whatever:

[Shaggy]

'Some sap'? you cheeker ****er.

I'll say what's on my mind mate - I THINK WE SHOULD LAY OFF SLAGGING XABI. He deserves better than that in my opinion. There's enough negativity on here already without looking to pin the blame on Xabi when there are people who are far more culpable.

FWIW my comment to lock the thread was tongue in cheek anyway. :whatever:

Who the **** is looking to "pin the blame on Xabi"?????????

I'm asking are we getting the best out of him, and if not why not.