Nice little stat box in the link below, where it shows that Alonso's and Lucas' pass rates were pretty much the same but that Xabi's passing was more progressive and forward driven. Hardly a surprise I know.
Link to article
Photograph: Juan Medina/Reuters
Xabi Alonso's laser-precise passes were missed during Liverpool's defeat by Spurs.
In selling Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid Rafael Benítez has effectively flipped a key trip switch inside Liverpool's electrical control box. But just as ill-advised throwing of the trips is capable of plunging a house into darkness, an inspired flick of a finger can succeed in bathing hitherto dark corners in welcome light.
What Liverpool fans – and, possibly, in private, Benítez – are not quite sure about is whether the manager has short-circuited this season's title challenge or ingeniously upped the team's power voltage.
While pessimists claim Sunday's defeat by Tottenham emphasises that selling Alonso was a mistake which could conceivably hurt Anfield's inhabitants more than even Cristiano Ronaldo's exit may damage Manchester United, the "in Rafa we trust" brigade sees method in this apparent madness.
by Guardian Chalkboards Against Tottenham Lucas', above, passes were lateral rather than piercing. Against Chelsea, last season, Alonso hit forward passes and dominated further up the pitch
Such optimists argue that deploying Javier Mascherano and Alonso together behind Liverpool's front four was counter-productive and that while the Argentinian needed to stay deep and hold, Alonso did not escape his own half sufficiently and, moreover, lacked pace.
Indeed Benítez's most craven apologists are given to wryly reflecting: "Xabi got good at scoring those spectacular goals from inside his own half because he rarely got out of it."
The theory is that Alberto Aquilani, Alonso's currently injured replacement, is capable of defensive work when necessary but will prove an infinitely more dynamic, higher-scoring, box-to-box type figure.
The Italian, who is not expected to make his debut after his transfer from Roma until late next month, is supposed to be the perfect riposte to those who wondered why Liverpool didn't have a Frank Lampard in their ranks. However, the tactical rewiring of Liverpool's service to Steven Gerrard demanded by Alonso's exit may not be straightforward.
Liverpool's captain benefited immensely from the Spaniard's exceptional vision, passing range and consummate technical ability. Now there is concern that, just as Lampard and Gerrard have experienced a sometimes uneasy on-field relationship for England, Aquilani's forward forays may cramp his style.
Tellingly the former Liverpool midfielder Jan Molby – who, spare tyre apart, could be described as something of a prototype Alonso – feels that those laser-precise deliveries from Real's £30m signing choreographed the performances of several of his team-mates.
"Alonso was the one who directed the tempo of play," said Molby. "That ability to spot a pass, to give Gerrard a split-second extra on the ball before doing his stuff will be a big loss to Steven.
"Although Fernando Torres and Steven are Liverpool's two key players, Alonso was just behind them. The team will miss him a lot. He was a crucial part of Liverpool's directional play."
Few would argue the statement that Alonso is a top-drawer playmaker, second to none at accurately and swiftly switching the direction of attack, thereby confounding opponents by altering the entire emphasis of play in a millisecond. Few players share his vision and knack of reading the nuances of the game's complex geometry. Allied to stellar technique, such mental gifts shape and control matches.
The 27-year-old is also capable of scoring sublime free-kicks and long-range screamers from open play. Even so, Benítez will point out that Alonso only averaged three league goals a season and during the past three Premier League campaigns has provided direct assists for four, none and two goals.
No matter that Alonso boasted an overflowing trove of "indirect assists" and is clearly an infinitely more penetrative passer than his comparatively crab-like understudy Lucas, Benítez clearly does not subscribe to the view that "two out of three ain't bad". In other words, the Spaniard's wonderful visionary passing and midfield anchoring capacity are arguably betrayed by an inadequate engine and inability to accelerate between boxes.
Peter Reid believes such an assessment is too harsh. The former Everton and England midfielder is an interested Liverpool watcher. "Liverpool will definitely miss Alonso," he said. "His lack of pace didn't bother me – no player moves faster than the ball and few passed it better than Xabi. He's clever enough to make the ball do the work.
"Many people would say Liverpool's bigger problems were on the wings rather than in central midfield but I honestly don't believe Rafa really wanted to sell Alonso, it was probably more a case of Liverpool needing the money and Xabi being desperate to join Real Madrid. Aquilani's very good and he's certainly quicker and likely to score more goals but his injury record worries me."
Alonso or Aquilani? Only time will tell who is the better catalyst for Liverpool's finely calibrated electromagnetic system. But most managers will tell you games are invariably won and lost in midfield.
Photograph: Juan Medina/Reuters
Xabi Alonso's laser-precise passes were missed during Liverpool's defeat by Spurs.
In selling Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid Rafael Benítez has effectively flipped a key trip switch inside Liverpool's electrical control box. But just as ill-advised throwing of the trips is capable of plunging a house into darkness, an inspired flick of a finger can succeed in bathing hitherto dark corners in welcome light.
What Liverpool fans – and, possibly, in private, Benítez – are not quite sure about is whether the manager has short-circuited this season's title challenge or ingeniously upped the team's power voltage.
While pessimists claim Sunday's defeat by Tottenham emphasises that selling Alonso was a mistake which could conceivably hurt Anfield's inhabitants more than even Cristiano Ronaldo's exit may damage Manchester United, the "in Rafa we trust" brigade sees method in this apparent madness.
by Guardian Chalkboards Against Tottenham Lucas', above, passes were lateral rather than piercing. Against Chelsea, last season, Alonso hit forward passes and dominated further up the pitch
Such optimists argue that deploying Javier Mascherano and Alonso together behind Liverpool's front four was counter-productive and that while the Argentinian needed to stay deep and hold, Alonso did not escape his own half sufficiently and, moreover, lacked pace.
Indeed Benítez's most craven apologists are given to wryly reflecting: "Xabi got good at scoring those spectacular goals from inside his own half because he rarely got out of it."
The theory is that Alberto Aquilani, Alonso's currently injured replacement, is capable of defensive work when necessary but will prove an infinitely more dynamic, higher-scoring, box-to-box type figure.
The Italian, who is not expected to make his debut after his transfer from Roma until late next month, is supposed to be the perfect riposte to those who wondered why Liverpool didn't have a Frank Lampard in their ranks. However, the tactical rewiring of Liverpool's service to Steven Gerrard demanded by Alonso's exit may not be straightforward.
Liverpool's captain benefited immensely from the Spaniard's exceptional vision, passing range and consummate technical ability. Now there is concern that, just as Lampard and Gerrard have experienced a sometimes uneasy on-field relationship for England, Aquilani's forward forays may cramp his style.
Tellingly the former Liverpool midfielder Jan Molby – who, spare tyre apart, could be described as something of a prototype Alonso – feels that those laser-precise deliveries from Real's £30m signing choreographed the performances of several of his team-mates.
"Alonso was the one who directed the tempo of play," said Molby. "That ability to spot a pass, to give Gerrard a split-second extra on the ball before doing his stuff will be a big loss to Steven.
"Although Fernando Torres and Steven are Liverpool's two key players, Alonso was just behind them. The team will miss him a lot. He was a crucial part of Liverpool's directional play."
Few would argue the statement that Alonso is a top-drawer playmaker, second to none at accurately and swiftly switching the direction of attack, thereby confounding opponents by altering the entire emphasis of play in a millisecond. Few players share his vision and knack of reading the nuances of the game's complex geometry. Allied to stellar technique, such mental gifts shape and control matches.
The 27-year-old is also capable of scoring sublime free-kicks and long-range screamers from open play. Even so, Benítez will point out that Alonso only averaged three league goals a season and during the past three Premier League campaigns has provided direct assists for four, none and two goals.
No matter that Alonso boasted an overflowing trove of "indirect assists" and is clearly an infinitely more penetrative passer than his comparatively crab-like understudy Lucas, Benítez clearly does not subscribe to the view that "two out of three ain't bad". In other words, the Spaniard's wonderful visionary passing and midfield anchoring capacity are arguably betrayed by an inadequate engine and inability to accelerate between boxes.
Peter Reid believes such an assessment is too harsh. The former Everton and England midfielder is an interested Liverpool watcher. "Liverpool will definitely miss Alonso," he said. "His lack of pace didn't bother me – no player moves faster than the ball and few passed it better than Xabi. He's clever enough to make the ball do the work.
"Many people would say Liverpool's bigger problems were on the wings rather than in central midfield but I honestly don't believe Rafa really wanted to sell Alonso, it was probably more a case of Liverpool needing the money and Xabi being desperate to join Real Madrid. Aquilani's very good and he's certainly quicker and likely to score more goals but his injury record worries me."
Alonso or Aquilani? Only time will tell who is the better catalyst for Liverpool's finely calibrated electromagnetic system. But most managers will tell you games are invariably won and lost in midfield.
Comment