Rafa Benitez tells Xabi Alonso: Step things up

[Guest]

Our defense mostly hoofs the ball past Xabi when Agger isn't playing and that means that Xabi won't see the ball that much, instead he will be playing as a ball chasing central midfielder to get the ball back and that isn't his strength. Our rubbish off the ball movement don't exactly help either.

That is one thing Rafa should have pointed out before he clamped down on Xabi, the other players don't give him a fair chance.

Our biggest problem is that we play without any organization and our movement off the ball is rubbish, not that any single player isn't delivering.

We play rubbish as a team.

I think our movement is too predictable and we lack efficiency from the wings. We don't have a proper player running at players (bar Pennant who does that) and who can deliver from the wings on a regular basis.

And with Stevie developing attacks from the middle and being our main attacking outlet, defenses just keep plugging up the middle therefore blocking our main providers of goals, Torres and Stevie.

If the wingers do their role properly, it allows them to keep on top of their fullbacks, negating them as an attacking force, and keeping them busy defensively for most of the match. It virtually eliminates 2 defensive minded players from the opposing team if this pressure is kept during the match. Add to that movement from our main strikers, it pulls a defense apart. That's what United do.

Basically, we need more players with the ability to run with the ball at speed.

What do we have ? Pennant, Gerrard, Torres maybe Babel. Kewell doesn't do that anymore. Pennant is inconsistent and I don't think he's that efficient. He normally has a dominant game against lesser teams but can't exert the same influence against the better teams.

It's simple, we need better ball players in attack.

[Jazzmaster]

If he's going to carry on rotating it would be good to see Xabi play in matches at home or games where we should be attacking more in as Xabi is a more attacking player than Mascherano

Yes agreed. I dont necessarily think we need the holding midfielder at home where we should be attack, rather than defence, minded.

I think rafa is correct in putting his criticism out there in relation to xabi. For a player with such ability he has been sub-standard for a long while now. I am encouraged by the way rafa seems to be cracking the whip a bit more these days. Its the only way with most of these footballers.

[Guest]

Yes agreed. I dont necessarily think we need the holding midfielder at home where we should be attack, rather than defence, minded.

I think rafa is correct in putting his criticism out there in relation to xabi. For a player with such ability he has been sub-standard for a long while now. I am encouraged by the way rafa seems to be cracking the whip a bit more these days. Its the only way with most of these footballers.

Mate it's not about playing a holding midfielder or not. It's about dominating games and killing off teams. We 'control' games but we haven't got the guile in attack to pick off tight defenses. Having another attacking central midfielder won't change much.

[Dhav]

I think they should play together. Gerrard should be played in a more advanced role. For me the balance in the team is wrong at the minute to achieve Rafa's style of controlling football. To be fair the form of Xabi and Lucas has been unspectacular which hasn't made if easy for Rafa to push Gerrard out of his coveted CM position.

At least until the end of the season Alonso will have to fight for his place if he wants any football so he should knuckle down and get on with it.

This is what I'd like to see as well.

[Skillz]

Our defense mostly hoofs the ball past Xabi when Agger isn't playing and that means that Xabi won't see the ball that much, instead he will be playing as a ball chasing central midfielder to get the ball back and that isn't his strength. Our rubbish off the ball movement don't exactly help either.

That is one thing Rafa should have pointed out before he clamped down on Xabi, the other players don't give him a fair chance.

Our biggest problem is that we play without any organization and our movement off the ball is rubbish, not that any single player isn't delivering.

We play rubbish as a team.

Agger plays = Alonso more of the ball= better team performance

IMO

[Jazzmaster]

Mate it's not about playing a holding midfielder or not. It's about dominating games and killing off teams. We 'control' games but we haven't got the guile in attack to pick off tight defenses. Having another attacking central midfielder won't change much.

Oh im only too aware of our problems at the moment. I meant my post to be more considered in terms of the future when our attacking threat is visible from more players than just torres & gerrard.

At the moment you are correct in that we cannot break teams down who come to anfield purely to defend, and masch is there to break down the inevitable counter attacks that ensue.

[AFII]

Oh im only too aware of our problems at the moment. I meant my post to be more considered in terms of the future when our attacking threat is visible from more players than just torres & gerrard.

At the moment you are correct in that we cannot break teams down who come to anfield purely to defend, and masch is there to break down the inevitable counter attacks that ensue,

We need a holding midfielder to protect Sami's lack of pace.

[Guest]

Agger plays = Alonso more of the ball= better team performance

IMO

I've seen Agger lumping it up in no man's land a fair few times to be fair mate. Just to emphasize that maybe why we're having problems building from the back properly, is because some of our forward players aren't providing an option off the ball.

[Armchairkopite]

Xabi seems like a real pro, i'm backing him to rediscover his best form. We need Agger back so badly its untrue.

[Skillz]

I've seen Agger lumping it up in no man's land a fair few times to be fair mate. Just to emphasize that maybe why we're having problems building from the back properly, is because some of our forward players aren't providing an option off the ball.

I would argue it is a combination of

a) our defenders not very confident on the ball; and

b) our midfielders not presenting for the ball.

Thats why Agger and Alonso together add so much. Thanks for helping me make my point.

[Parm]

fair comment, quality player but needs to keep his game and standards up for us.

[tomasjj]

Next year

-----xabi----Mash----
------Aguero/Aimar---
Gerrard--------Babel
------Torres-------

??????? The playmaker role is one we need bably for Rafa's system to work IMO.

Many variations of course, especially if Rafa is still here and I hope he is.

To get the 4231 to work, the playmaker is what we miss.

[Skillz]

To get the 4231 to work, the playmaker is what we miss.

Thanks Tomas, glad I have one with me!

[kev776]

Some players need an arm around their shoulder (Marky), some will respond better to a kick up the backside. Several players could do with some kicks, maybe this is what people like to call man management...

Rafa is not fit enough to do the kicking that is required to wake those dozy *******s up.

[CAD]

We do need a playmaker but Alonso isn't it.