Changing style without Alonso

[carheex]

The biggest problem with the sale of Alonso seems to be who to replace him with. There aren't many players who perform his role or who can perform it as well. My solution is this:

Sell Alonso and Arbeloa to Madrid for 20m plus Huntelaar, snap up silva with the cash and line up as follows:


Reina

johnson...carragher...agger...insua

kuyt...gerrard...mascherano...silva

huntelaar...torres

There's your premiership winners 2009/10!


As for the mascherano issue - he's too good to let go. I'd rather we kept him and lost him for nothing in a few years time. Pairing him with gerrard (whilst SG) is still at his prime is our best chance of winning the prem.

[Shaggy]

There aren't many players who perform his role or who can perform it as well.

Forgive me if I'm mistaken but I thought you were of the opinion Alonso was '****' and/or a one-season wonder?

[FatTony]

Its a big risk breaking up the best partnership in the premiership (Torres/Gerrard).

Huntelaar didn't make it at RM, what makes you think he'll do it here?

[carheex]

Forgive me if I'm mistaken but I thought you were of the opinion Alonso was '****' and/or a one-season wonder?

Never mind that for a minute.

[Gray]

£20m + Huntelaar!!! and the rest

[carheex]

£20m + Huntelaar!!! and the rest

You're either undervaluing KJH or over valuing XA. Huntelaar is a proven international at a top european club. Despite a stop/start campaign with madrid last year his goal return actually wasn't too bad. It would give us more formation flexibility:

In a 4-4-2 formation he is easily good enough to partner Torres (unlike kuyt, ngog, voronin etc)
In a 4-2-3-1 he could be back up to Torres (although this is going to be a problem as Xabi has one foot out of the door already and to stick with that formation is going to be a problem)


Essentially, there are more decent forwards available than there are midfielders who perform the same duties as Alonso, so a change in formation PLUS a p/x with Madrid will ensure our team is strong and we get best value for money from alonso.

[red g]

You're either undervaluing KJH or over valuing XA. Huntelaar is a proven international at a top european club. Despite a stop/start campaign with madrid last year his goal return actually wasn't too bad. It would give us more formation flexibility:

In a 4-4-2 formation he is easily good enough to partner Torres (unlike kuyt, ngog, voronin etc)
In a 4-2-3-1 he could be back up to Torres (although this is going to be a problem as Xabi has one foot out of the door already and to stick with that formation is going to be a problem)


Essentially, there are more decent forwards available than there are midfielders who perform the same duties as Alonso, so a change in formation PLUS a p/x with Madrid will ensure our team is strong and we get best value for money from alonso.

stuttgarts bid that was agreed was 18m euro.....

so actually 20m + Huntelaar would be about right.

I would prefer 25m + negredo though

[Vermilion]

Forgive me if I'm mistaken but I thought you were of the opinion Alonso was '****' and/or a one-season wonder?

Never mind that for a minute.

[SimonNo7]

The biggest problem with the sale of Alonso seems to be who to replace him with. There aren't many players who perform his role or who can perform it as well. My solution is this:

Sell Alonso and Arbeloa to Madrid for 20m plus Huntelaar, snap up silva with the cash and line up as follows:


Reina

johnson...carragher...agger...insua

kuyt...gerrard...mascherano...silva

huntelaar...torres

There's your premiership winners 2009/10!


As for the mascherano issue - he's too good to let go. I'd rather we kept him and lost him for nothing in a few years time. Pairing him with gerrard (whilst SG) is still at his prime is our best chance of winning the prem.

Personally and IMO Gerrard to CM would be a massive mistake. Whilst he can quite obviously play there, to me RM or just behind the striker are his best positions. He has had his most productive seasons, when you talk about number of goals scored, when he has played in either of these positions.

[Guest]

This is a strange post by an ever stranger poster.

[squaddie]

I wouldnt say the Alonso situation could be resolved with a formation change....... were left with little other option really.

[Montana]

You can't afford to break up the Torres/Gerrard partnership, the best in the league. I honestly believe that if these two are fit most of the season we can win the league this season at a canter.

I trust Rafa will get the Alonso situation right. If he stays then great but if he goes then Silva and Aquilani would make up for the loss in terms of creativity but also add more goals.

The defence does worry me a little just in case we lose Agger to injury as well as Skrtel.

[dww]

Personally and IMO Gerrard to CM would be a massive mistake. Whilst he can quite obviously play there, to me RM or just behind the striker are his best positions. He has had his most productive seasons, when you talk about number of goals scored, when he has played in either of these positions.

[Ste1986]

bring back robbie fowler

[carheex]

bring back robbie fowler

and Rushie?