Xabi Alonso.......Respect

[lfc1394]

But we came 5th that year mate. His passing was a sight to behold but he was still rushed out the game by teams. And for all his great awareness he must be high on the list of players who lose the ball in possession. Maybe that's down to his position, but he takes his time to often for my liking when looking for that next 40 yard pass or 50 yard shot on goal.

Been much better this season mind.

I'd say our run in the CL and the injuries we suffered that season were the main factors for that.

Xabi's problem is that he is competing with a/ Steven Gerrard who is the best attacking midfielder in the world and b/ El Jefecito who is the best defensive midfielder in the world.

It's a tough contest, especially, if you lose form for 18 months.

yep, and it showed when Masch first came in, the game against Chelsea and the 2nd final, he was the better option for those games.

[Guest]

Where's Rage and Rashid by the way? I bet they must be waiting to pounce.

[Slinky Skills]

Where's Rage and Rashid by the way? I bet they must be waiting to pounce.

They'll be about soon no doubt. I like their input to topics, it makes it more interesting.

You guys love it anyway!

It's normally Fredo, Johhny and Harvey Birdman vs Craig H, Rashid and Sarb24. ****, how can I forget Rage!!

[Guest]

They'll be about soon no doubt. I like their input to topics, it makes it more interesting.

You guys love it anyway!

It's normally Fredo, Johhny and Harvey Birdman vs Craig H, Rashid and Sarb24. ****, how can I forget Rage!!

Johnny's no more; he's banned.

[slimbimjim]

Previously, I was of the impression that this is not the right league for him and that to prove he was the best, he would need to move to a more "sedate" league i.e. Spain / Italy. But I think our team is balanced enough now that the opposition cannot target Xabi for fear of making it easier for others e.g. Riera/Babel/Kuyt/Lucas/El Jefecito.

Much in the same way that AC Milan help Pirlo work so well. He is a slow player but his touch and passing are peerless and if you start to mark him closely then you have Kaka to worry about...

[blacky]

Big respect to Xabi. I had criticised him during the summer for his previous 2 seasons performances but so far this season he has raised his game bigtime and has been excellent. Long may it continue.

[Slinky Skills]

Johnny's no more; he's banned.

I could see that coming, gonna check the banner members news now.

[Cormack74]

I have to admit that I still harbor doubts about Xabi's ability to deliver when the opposition target him and close him down as soon as he gets the ball.

Decent player perhaps, but this is still the crux for me.

[dww]

I actually think that Xabi has managed to find an extra half yard of pace this season, he doesn't seem so one paced has he did last year - he's in the team on merit, long may it continue.

I'm not so sure about that. I think a combination of added movement from the rest of the team and an added enthusiasm compared to last season when injury seemed to take it's toll have helped him. I still think that against good teams we will struggle to accommodate him along with Gerrard and Kuyt in the same team to some degree.

I really love Xabi and I'm delighted that he is performing so well.

Just for Dhav: I still think that the swap for Barry would have been the right move. I do concede though that Alonso has exceeded my expectations for him this season.

[bobbyfallon]

xabi has just been on sky sports soccer am. teammates thingy

longest in the shower pepe
most skillful babel
most stupidest kuyt
biggest moaner carra
worst dressed carra
hardman skrtle
best dancer pennant

[barnes10]

Much in the same way that AC Milan help Pirlo work so well. He is a slow player but his touch and passing are peerless and if you start to mark him closely then you have Kaka to worry about...

agree with this view.

i think we have a lot more balance and genuine attacking threat around the park that teams can no longer say 'stop alonso passing and you stop liverpool' which is how it became in his second and third seasons.

hopefully he can stay on the boil and thrive now.

i belive rafa and him can easily have the chat where rafa says you've proved me wrong and they move on

[Imy]

Thank goodness Arsenal didnt sign him, he'd be ace in there team with so much movement and pace, he'd have been awesome alongside Fabregas.

[Rashid]

Superb footballer, a proper Liverpool player.

[Darkon]

I am happy Alonso is still with us, when in form he is one of the best passers in the world, and reads the game very well. He showed against PSV that he has a big workrate as well.

If he keeps up his current form, he will be a very important part of this season.

[Sarb]

The guy is class on the pitch and the ultimate professional off it. Never came out and had a moan even when he was being touted around (for whatever reason....that's not a dig at Rafa before anyone starts).

The few posters on here who wanted him to stay ahead of getting Barry are starting to be vindicated in their views.