Alonso

[lfcruleus]

He was better when Flamini went off, I dont think you realise how quick Arsenal CM pairing is, they were all over him and Masher in the first half hour which is why they dominated, I think the main reason we won last night was Flamini's injury, did us a major favour.

[Assassin]

I dont like knocking the players after a magnificent win.

But as there is a thread started on the subject......

The one thing that was really noticeable yesterday was Xabi's lack of pace, especially against a very mobile arsenal midfield. At times he looked like he was standing still

[Rich]

If you really wanted to lay into Alonso, you could also point out that he didn't have the pace to keep up with Diaby for his goal...

While I don't think Alonso is quite at the races; we have to accept his limitations, which is he isn't really an athlete.

[Nic83]

He's not there for pace. That's like saying Reina isn't fast. Who cares, Xabi is in the team mainly for his play making ability not to track bombing runs from opposition teams. Noone is perfect, if we want this argument, then we'd have to say Carra has no passing ability etc etc etc and they'd all be sold. Each player is in the team for a specif duty, no play has every attribute except maybe Gerrard!

[Assassin]

If you really wanted to lay into Alonso, you could also point out that he didn't have the pace to keep up with Diaby for his goal...

While I don't think Alonso is quite at the races; we have to accept his limitations, which is he isn't really an athlete.

He's not there for pace. That's like saying Reina isn't fast. Who cares, Xabi is in the team mainly for his play making ability not to track bombing runs from opposition teams. Noone is perfect, if we want this argument, then we'd have to say Carra has no passing ability etc etc etc and they'd all be sold. Each player is in the team for a specif duty, no play has every attribute except maybe Gerrard!

I didnt say he was there for pace, I merely pointed out his lack of it.

I hear what you are saying about his playmaking and passing, I fully agree with you.

My point is that Xabi due too his lack of pace isnt the best choice to be playing against a very mobile midfield.

Xabi is good, but at the end of the day if you are looking at players in the same mould, he is a poor mans Jan Molby

[Nic83]

I didnt say he was there for pace, I merely pointed out his lack of it.

I hear what you are saying about his playmaking and passing, I fully agree with you.

My point is that Xabi due too his lack of pace isnt the best choice to be playing against a very mobile midfield.

Xabi is good, but at the end of the day if you are looking at players in the same mould, he is a poor mans Jan Molby

That's a first on these forums

[Assassin]

That's a first on these forums

I have to say I found it very disturbing when I was writing it

[Nic83]

Hehe

[lfc1394]

I didnt say he was there for pace, I merely pointed out his lack of it.

I hear what you are saying about his playmaking and passing, I fully agree with you.

My point is that Xabi due too his lack of pace isnt the best choice to be playing against a very mobile midfield.

Xabi is good, but at the end of the day if you are looking at players in the same mould, he is a poor mans Jan Molby

People have very short memories, when he is on his game, he always makes that extra split second of time to get the ball to some one. It's a part of his game that has always impressed me. He is never been fast but his ability to hit left and right footed passes under pressure and tight marking is why he was so coveted. He had a bad injury, and was dropped for a quite a while after, he is not going to be back to his best after a handful of games.

[dww]

People have very short memories, when he is on his game, he always makes that extra split second of time to get the ball to some one. It's a part of his game that has always impressed me. He is never been fast but his ability to hit left and right footed passes under pressure and tight marking is why he was so coveted. He had a bad injury, and was dropped for a quite a while after, he is not going to be back to his best after a handful of games.

That is a very fair point but as has been seen with Arsenal in the last few years the art of a top manager is to tell if signs of a down turn in performance are short or long term and if the the later to ship a player out while his value remains high.

I love Alonso as a player but this season he has been playing below his level all this season.

[Only1mboy]

He was better when Flamini went off, I dont think you realise how quick Arsenal CM pairing is, they were all over him and Masher in the first half hour which is why they dominated, I think the main reason we won last night was Flamini's injury, did us a major favour.

I dont agree the main reason for wining was Flamini getting injured but Gilberto was **** and slow and thats why Alonso got better in the second half.

And when Gilberto came on and had more time he tried to lift the ball over the defense a couple of times and nothin came off.

He needs too much time on the ball to make anything happen and against the
the big teams he is just not good enough as they know how to nutrilise him.

[Kenneth]

We don't know if he'll regain his form completely. He's still worth a fair bit due to his international profile. I'd sell in the summer.

[Marky]

He worked his balls off and grew into the game in the 2nd half where his passing was good in the main.

He's getting there.

Just needs more games under his belt.

[Only1mboy]

We don't know if he'll regain his form completely. He's still worth a fair bit due to his international profile. I'd sell in the summer.

Hear hear

[Only1mboy]

He worked his balls off and grew into the game in the 2nd half where his passing was good in the main.

He's getting there.

Just needs more games under his belt.

They all worked thier balls off and like i said if Flamini had not come off he would have been **** the whole game.