Alonso - Poll

[willa1975]

While we certainly miss Alonso, we should be able to adjust...we simply haven't. We thumped United at OT last season without him, so we are certainly capable of good performances without Xabi.

The big thing for us, in my opinion, is that we're now lacking in depth at the CM position, and didn't strengthen any of the other areas in the squad that needed strengthening over the offseason. If Alonso stayed and Mascherano went, we'd be in the same situation.

[Shaggy]

Bull**** in my opinion. Footy can be more than a little unfair at times. Let's say we managed to put away one or two more chances than we have in certain games and have'nt shown some shockingly uncharactaristic defending at times. We'd be tucked in a point or two off MU and everyone would be saying "Xabi ****ing who? He was **** anyway!!" People said for years we were a one man team. Then two years ago we became a two man team. Now we're **** 'cos we sold someone else altogether and that he was our key player. I don't get it.

We obviously miss Alonso - any team would - but it's myopic to look at things this way. There's a bigger picture and a lot of things have gone wrong.

[el matador]

if we had alonso in the middle with mascherano and johnson on the right we wouldnt have lost 4 league games and a champions league game.

5 losses in 11 or 12 games is pretty shocking for a liverpool side. Its all down to alonso's loss and the fact that his replacement was always going to miss the first 2 months of the season.

Even with aquilani in the side, we will still be fragile as i dont think his defending is any better than lucas'. However, we will be a lot better going forward.

[Exiled_red]

We obviously miss Alonso - any team would - but it's myopic to look at things this way. There's a bigger picture and a lot of things have gone wrong.

[FatTony]

Its the beachballs fault, not Alonso's.


Bad beachball!

[Tee]

I think our biggest problem is the team/squad does not seem as close to each other as in the past. Just my take on things judging from the player's body language this season.

Losing Xabi was/is a massive blow but Rafa has dealt with it by signing Aquilani. You live and die by these big decisions and Aquilani could still be a shining light for the remainder of our season, because if he hits the ground running he will give the whole place the huge exact lift desperately needs. If he looks out of sorts in the first few games things could go the other way... testing times ahead.

[lickedlollipop]

bitchball!

[RedSince1964]

We obviously miss Alonso - any team would - but it's myopic to look at things this way. There's a bigger picture and a lot of things have gone wrong.

I concur bud

[Dhav]

Good thread. I think we will really find out when Aquilani comes in. Right now I think selling Alonso has proved disastrous.

[Darkon]

I do think selling Alonso has cost us quite a bit so far this season. His passing ability and vision of play is just something neither lucas or mascher have. The only player capable of doing the job alonso did right now is Gerrard, but he is kept up front with Torres (which is working well if they have decent support further back). Perhaps Aquilani can take his place - and I hope he can do it quicker than anyone can really expect him to.

But the thing is that even if we had Alonso in our squad and no Aquilani, what would have happened if Alonso got injured? We would be in the same situation we are in now. Lets face it, the problem is not so much whether we have Alonso or Aquilani in our squad, the problem is that our depth is worringly thin and we don't have a playmaker in backup unless Gerrard is pulled back.

With 1 injury to our normally starting CM, we have none that can step up - the same goes with many other positions. The only places we are really well covered is central defence and our left side.

[MrMichael]

We obviously miss Alonso - any team would - but it's myopic to look at things this way. There's a bigger picture and a lot of things have gone wrong.

We quite obviously miss him, as much because nobody has replaced him (until Aquilani is fit). However, people are also forgetting the points over the last few years where we put in appauling displays when he was in the side. Having Alonso now would not have guaranteed we wouldn't have lost those games, however much people might like it to be as simple as that.

The issue for me is, as Darkon says above, our lack of genuine quality options in certain positions, and especially players who are capable of dominating or changing a game, and creating play.

[dww]

I actually think the biggest problem is the lack of his leadership rather than his playing qualities. the way we have previously played requires patience and a willingness to keep the ball probing for weaknesses and to look for breaks when they are on. This season we are far to panicy looking when things are against us and don't look to have the direction we had in midfield.

I think it is as much a feeling around the team/squad as anything and that almost as important as Alonso in a way was Sami - just the feeling of having experienced heads like that around can make a big difference. We look like a young team at the minute with players needing to learn to take responsibility. The ones we have that can are either inclined to a more heart over head approach or are in goal which is a real shame.