Why Alonso is still around and more!

[RedReet]

I think his fax machine is broke.

[RedReet]

2 goals in 45 mins for Xabi.

[Sarb]

The guy is back in business. Form is temporary class is forever

[Dhav]

The guy is back in business. Form is temporary class is forever

Xabi

[Rashid]

Class.

[rage]

The guy is back in business. Form is temporary class is forever

**** premiership proven - xabi alonso

time to back down rafa and do whats best for the club and not your pride

[RedReet]

Fernando Torres did well by the goalline to lift the ball over his marker before laying it back to Liverpool club-mate Alonso, who volleyed home his second goal for his country from 10 yards out.

Spain added a third in injury-time to complete the scoring when winger Capel picked out fellow replacement Alonso at the far post and the midfielder gave Sorensen no chance with a clinical finish on the half-volley.

I pray that Xabi gets the chance to stay at least until Christmas. If he can remain injury free, I’m convinced he’ll prove his doubters wrong.

I don’t buy this ‘he’s been found out’ crap people keep saying. Xabi struggled a bit these past few years because of injuries, but even when he played well it went mainly unnoticed because he was asked to play a different , less glamorous role by Rafa.

It’s obvious what Barry would bring to the team, but surely not at the expense of Xabi?

[Dhav]

**** premiership proven - xabi alonso

time to back down rafa and do whats best for the club and not your pride

Spot on. Really wish Rafa would be big enough to put the personal issues aside and do what is best for the club.

[barnes10]

indeed. but why oh effing why is he so sh1t for us?

[dww]

Spot on. Really wish Rafa would be big enough to put the personal issues aside and do what is best for the club.

I think Xabi is going to stay as much by default as anything else. I think if we don't get Barry (who I think would bring more flexibility to the team) then he has to stay. I hope that he recovers his best form and that we find players that help him have/make room for his passing. I really don't think there are the players available for prices we can afford to do it though.

I think Rafa will probably be pragmatic about Alonso at least for this season but his best performances in the past have been as Rafa's 'remote control' out on the pitch. The trust has gone and I think in the long run his effectiveness will be reduced.

I guess there is always the possibility that freed from the tight tactical reign he might blossom to the heights of his first season but I doubt it.

[CAD]

Best Alonso game was the Fullham match by a mile. Then the Everton game where Gerrard got send off. imho of course

[dww]

Best Alonso game was the Fullham match by a mile. Then the Everton game where Gerrard got send off. imho of course

In a way I think that the Everton game sort of showed how a team based around Alonso can work. It also highlighted to a degree how difficult it is to accommodate him and Gerrard in the same team.

Ideally Gerrard would become more intelligent and things would all be good but as things are I think we have to long to medium term sacrifice one or the other.

[CAD]

In a way I think that the Everton game sort of showed how a team based around Alonso can work. It also highlighted to a degree how difficult it is to accommodate him and Gerrard in the same team.

Ideally Gerrard would become more intelligent and things would all be good but as things are I think we have to long to medium term sacrifice one or the other.

Think you're right. In my head Alonso/Gerrard as a combo should work, shouldn't it?

Alonso had it all that day against Everton. He dictated pace, was a playmaker and creative outled and there was Glenn Hoddle passes all over the final 1/3 and he played a beut in defense at the same time. But he was given space for some reason by the Bitters in the last half. Thing is, we were too easy to read last season with Alonso next to Mascher. Take his space and he crumbles everytime. Gerrard offers so much more because he's so versatile and adaptable plus he's a goalthreat. Intelligent, hmm, I think that Gerrard plays in a higher gear than Alonso. Less intelligent, I'm really not sure about that to be honest.

[dww]

Think you're right. In my head Alonso/Gerrard as a combo should work, shouldn't it?

Alonso had it all that day against Everton. He dictated pace, was a playmaker and creative outled and there was Glenn Hoddle passes all over the final 1/3 and he played a beut in defense at the same time. But he was given space for some reason by the Bitters in the last half. Thing is, we were too easy to read last season with Alonso next to Mascher. Take his space and he crumbles everytime. Gerrard offers so much more because he's so versatile and adaptable plus he's a goalthreat. Intelligent, hmm, I think that Gerrard plays in a higher gear than Alonso. Less intelligent, I'm really not sure about that to be honest.

I'm not sure I was directly making a comparison between the two in that I prefer Gerrard higher up the pitch. What I mean though is that Gerrard goes searching for the ball even when that is against the interests of the team. Prime example would be the United games last year - he always came back to get the ball and hence we he and anyone he layed the ball off to had no options. When last played on the right he had a tendency to do the same thing taking the freedom he was given and ending up too central or on the left and destrying the team shape and narrowing the options for his team mates. The comparison I would make would be with the runs made by the Spanish team mates of Xabi when he plays for them - I would say that their off the ball work is what marks them out as having footballing intelligence and is what I think Gerrard tends to lack.

[Johnny]

**** premiership proven - xabi alonso

time to back down rafa and do whats best for the club and not your pride

It`s feck all to do with pride.Rafa decided to cash in on Xabi while he still had a decent value.
Xabi then decided to reverse the form he was in and now some are creaming themselves that The Xabi we know can play "world C;ass" football has returned.
Maybe the threat of being sold gave Xabi the kick up the ass he deserved.
Well played Rafa.