Xabi Alonso - the enigma

[Howard_lfc]

The off the ball movement is the most important thing in todays football when everything goes in 100 mph.

We don't have mobile enough players or clever enough players to do that in a good enough way upfront. Torres and Kewell are the only ones.

That is one reason to why Kewell is so important for us even if he isn't 100%. He makes those clever runs and is almost available for a pass.

I think you're describing a different Kewell than Our Harry AF.

[sinbad]

Post all the silly smilies you like. When was the last time you saw him have a really great game and stamp his mark on the midfield?

Everton at home two seasons ago?

Gotta agree with you there. Must be two yrs since the last time he made one of those Molbyesque killer passes.

[AFII]

I think you're describing a different Kewell than Our Harry AF.

He is almost available for a pass, the problem is that he isn't as good keeping the ball anymore.

[Alpha]

I've made my views on Alonso clear in other threads and I don't want to go over old ground.

All I will say is that I no longer see him as a key player for us.

It might be that Xabi suffers from a lack of movement ahead of him, or that his form will return when he is match-fit, or that he needs more intelligent players around him.

But solving all those problems won't necessarily make him more mobile, more difficult to deny time and space or more suited to any brand other than possession football.

I'm sorry to say, I think we have seen the best of Alonso in a Liverpool shirt because he has been well and truly found out. It doesn't take a tactical genius to instruct his players to deny Xabi Alonso time on the ball and it doesn't take footballers of outstanding quality to carry out those instructions. At any level of premiership football, that sort of thing is meat and drink.

I'm past making excuses for him and finding compromises. I still see Xabi playing a role for us, probably in Europe and I certainly don't want to sell him. But for me, he is now our third choice central midfielder and if that means he has to spend more time sitting on the bench, so be it.

[Howard_lfc]

He is almost available for a pass, the problem is that he isn't as good keeping the ball anymore.

You're baffling me today mate.

Let's all have a good nites kip and resume tomorrow. No doubt the sunday papers will have it in for us. And frankly I don't blame them,

[AFII]

I've made my views on Alonso clear in other threads and I don't want to go over old ground.

All I will say is that I no longer see him as a key player for us.

It might be that Xabi suffers from a lack of movement ahead of him, or that his form will return when he is match-fit, or that he needs more intelligent players around him.

But solving all those problems won't necessarily make him more mobile, more difficult to deny time and space or more suited to any brand other than possession football.

I'm sorry to say, I think we have seen the best of Alonso in a Liverpool shirt because he has been well and truly found out. It doesn't take a tactical genius to instruct his players to deny Xabi Alonso time on the ball and it doesn't take footballers of outstanding quality to carry out those instructions. At any level of premiership football, that sort of thing is meat and drink.

I'm past making excuses for him and finding compromises. I still see Xabi playing a role for us, probably in Europe and I certainly don't want to sell him. But for me, he is now our third choice central midfielder and if that means he has to spend more time sitting on the bench, so be it.

Sorry Alpha but I had to agree with you. I hope that you will forgive me.

[Shaggy]

I've made my views on Alonso clear in other threads and I don't want to go over old ground.

All I will say is that I no longer see him as a key player for us.

It might be that Xabi suffers from a lack of movement ahead of him, or that his form will return when he is match-fit, or that he needs more intelligent players around him.

But solving all those problems won't necessarily make him more mobile, more difficult to deny time and space or more suited to any brand other than possession football.

I'm sorry to say, I think we have seen the best of Alonso in a Liverpool shirt because he has been well and truly found out. It doesn't take a tactical genius to instruct his players to deny Xabi Alonso time on the ball and it doesn't take footballers of outstanding quality to carry out those instructions. At any level of premiership football, that sort of thing is meat and drink.

I'm past making excuses for him and finding compromises. I still see Xabi playing a role for us, probably in Europe and I certainly don't want to sell him. But for me, he is now our third choice central midfielder and if that means he has to spend more time sitting on the bench, so be it.

So it's not just me then.

Good post mate, though I hope he proves us wrong.

[tomasjj]

Sorry Alpha but I had to agree with you. I hope that you will forgive me.

Oh...the poisoned chalice that is AFII.

[Howard_lfc]

I've made my views on Alonso clear in other threads and I don't want to go over old ground.

All I will say is that I no longer see him as a key player for us.

It might be that Xabi suffers from a lack of movement ahead of him, or that his form will return when he is match-fit, or that he needs more intelligent players around him.

But solving all those problems won't necessarily make him more mobile, more difficult to deny time and space or more suited to any brand other than possession football.

I'm sorry to say, I think we have seen the best of Alonso in a Liverpool shirt because he has been well and truly found out. It doesn't take a tactical genius to instruct his players to deny Xabi Alonso time on the ball and it doesn't take footballers of outstanding quality to carry out those instructions. At any level of premiership football, that sort of thing is meat and drink.

I'm past making excuses for him and finding compromises. I still see Xabi playing a role for us, probably in Europe and I certainly don't want to sell him. But for me, he is now our third choice central midfielder and if that means he has to spend more time sitting on the bench, so be it.

Sorry Alpha, we're talking about Xabi Alonso in this thread not Eric Meijer.

I believe your post to be thoroughly disrespectful.

[Alpha]

Sorry Alpha but I had to agree with you. I hope that you will forgive me.

Okay, just this once.

But don't let it happen again.

[Alpha]

So it's not just me then.

Good post mate, though I hope he proves us wrong.

[Alpha]

Sorry Alpha, we're talking about Xabi Alonso in this thread not Eric Meijer.

I believe your post to be thoroughly disrespectful.

Fair enough. I can't defend myself though unless you elaborate.

[Howard_lfc]

Fair enough. I can't defend myself though unless you elaborate.

You speak as if Xabi is a one-trick pony - who can be 'found out' by anybody with half a football brain.
In that case then - the people of Real Madrid (if the papers are to be believed) would like to spend around £20m on a player of limited ability who hasn't got the intelligence to counter players who are marking him tightly. Nevermind all his caps for Spain either eh? I mean what would the spanish know about football eh?

Please don't come back and quote me with more rafa quotes - tell me what YOU think. We can all research the media if we have the time or the inclincation.

[Slinky Skills]

I love this forum. It's good to read people's contrasting views on topics....love it.

[AFII]

You speak as if Xabi is a one-trick pony - who can be 'found out' by anybody with half a football brain.
In that case then - the people of Real Madrid (if the papers are to be believed) would like to spend around £20m on a player of limited ability who hasn't got the intelligence to counter players who are marking him tightly. Nevermind all his caps for Spain either eh? I mean what would the spanish know about football eh?

Please don't come back and quote me with more rafa quotes - tell me what YOU think. We can all research the media if we have the time or the inclincation.

You have a lot more space to work with in Spain. The pace isn't as high as in the PL. The players get more time to decide what to do with the ball.