Alonso

[Only1mboy]

I agree that Gerro had a bad game but in his defense he was played out of position and he admited it.but Alonso was in his favoured position and was it just me or was he highly uncomfortable on the ball was forced in a lot of errors and his only decent passes were bad towards Reina.

This is not a witch hunt but surely we need someone better playing next to Mascher next season Lucas is still getting blooded in and Plessis looks great but still young and extremly shot on experience,lets cash in on Alonso while we still can because at this rate we will not get a decent amout of money for him.

He has been a great servant but he might be the key to getting Ageuro.

We might not get someone with his range of passing but if we got someone quicker that could make space for himself skip past a player and then make a simple through ball or short pass e.g Fabregas ilk but not as attacking minded as he is ment to be an anchor next to mascher.

Any suggestions on if a player like that exists?

The closest one I know is Essien and he has been missused all season at Chelski.

But a Left Winger,Right Back and a Left Back are more inportant at the moment

Babel would need to play on the Right side next year to further his devepment he would also be a great alternative to Torres as he looks unbelieveable running at goal through the middle but he would need a player like Gerro behind him to spring open the killer pass in behind the defense.

Well done last night Babel

[Guest]

It's not because Xabi is not good enough, but his injury this season has put him a little back in terms of fitness. The game seemed to pass him by at the beginning, because it was played at a fabulous pace. As the game wore on he improved. I just think he still needs that little bit extra fitness to gain the level he had last season.

[Parr_Zee]

He did seem off the boil early in the game. He was better in the 2nd half though...spreading play nicely.

[Rich]

Probably rat-**** but I heard a rumour that this injury was much more serious than first thought and he needed a lot of cartilage to be removed, which might be affecting his athleticism.

He wasn't really at the races last night, apart from the first 15 minutes of the second half - saying that we really didn't have an outlet ball to play, other than punt to Crouch.

[lfc1394]

He still hits passes no one else can. I don't think he is anywhere near the top of his game, but even at 70% he is still a better player than most out there.

People slate him because he hasn't reached the high standards he set himself, but he is still class and I for one would be gutted if he left.

[tsb]

His passing was superb yesterday. He needs time on the ball, against premiership opposition, this is at a premium.

[Kenneth]

His passing was superb yesterday. He needs time on the ball, against premiership opposition, this is at a premium.

it really wasn't. Played far too many straight balls down the middle that went throught to the keeper/out for a GK. I can only remember one good longish range pass all night. He was sloppy in possession and looked way off the pace for most of the match.

[saveferris]

Xabi is a good player but he was very poor yesterday his distribution was average but the main concern was that he hung on to the ball for far too long close to our own area, enough for Arsenal players to close on him and tackle.

I think we will see Xabi back to his best in the new season and hope he stays.

[Morten_nogamst_Pedersen]

When playing teams like Arse y'day Xabi is way too slow IMO. Can't move his feet quick enough at all.

[frank the tank]

When playing teams like Arse y'day Xabi is way too slow IMO. Can't move his feet quick enough at all.

i would disagree with you there bud. There was one passage of play in the second half where arsenal were attacking and attacking. The ball kept being hoofed out to them when eventually Xabi got it and just calmed everything down... that is one of xabi alonso's best attributes - he can dictate the pace of the game so well.... i actually think that although he hasn't been at his best this season, he is getting better and better every week and i am oping that we see him back to his best next season. In one way, the euro championships could really hit us next season because i actually fancy spain to do very well and i'd feckin hate for xabi, el nino, reina or arbeloa take a knock over there.....

getting back to alonso though, he is a vital part of the liverpool engine room. When he plays well, then so do Liverpool.....

[Nic83]

Xabi = Legend

[Kenneth]

getting back to alonso though, he is a vital part of the liverpool engine room. When he plays well, then so do Liverpool.....

But we've played well at times this season when alonso hasn't. We don't NEED him.

[stevie_gerrard_8]

I thought he was very good last night. If you watch carefully, his off the ball movement is outstanding, and got us out of a lot of trouble.

The positive thing for me is that he was trying the harder more cute balls last night, which was what we need to see more off.

[Reece]

I thought he was very good last night. If you watch carefully, his off the ball movement is outstanding, and got us out of a lot of trouble.

The positive thing for me is that he was trying the harder more cute balls last night, which was what we need to see more off.

Defensively he put a bloody lot of work in. His passing on the other hand was abysmal. Not sure what has happened to him in this regard. Maybe he is concentrating to much on other aspects of his game and thus losing his passing edge.

[Kenneth]

I thought he was very good last night. If you watch carefully, his off the ball movement is outstanding, and got us out of a lot of trouble.

The positive thing for me is that he was trying the harder more cute balls last night, which was what we need to see more off.

Oddly, that's what I didn't think we needed for large parts of the game, it gave the ball to arsenal and wasted some good positions for us when we had crouch ready for the more simple stuff. That's why I called for Lucas after Torres scored, just to keep things simple and tight.