Xabi Alonso - A premiership central midfielder?

[lfc4ever]

Xabi worried by 'negative' Reds

By Chris Stanton - Created on 19 Nov 2006

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=429791&CPID=8&clid=14&lid=3&title=Xabi+worried+by+

Xabi Alonso believes the doom and gloom engulfing Liverpool has
already all but scuppered their hopes of competing for the Premiership title.

Another below par performance from The Reds in a goalless draw at
Middlesbrough on Saturday evening means the team trail leaders
Manchester United by 16 points after just 13 matches.

A run of just two points from 21 available away from home has left
their title hopes hanging by a thread.

Alonso admits he would be able to see a light at the end of the
tunnel, were it not for the negativity pervading the Anfield dressing room.

"The fight for the title is getting more and more difficult for us,"
said Alonso.

"Not just because of the points difference but because of the
atmosphere I see at the club.

"I see pessimism and in that respect it is going to be very hard to come back.

"We can't put three straight wins together and are unable to transmit
the spirit of Europe to league games.

"I don't know if it is something psychological but we are very annoyed."

[Nic83]

Pennant WAS the best crosser in the prem last season. He had the most successful crosses(in a **** team to boot). The fact that nothing came of a lot of these was no fault of his, it was the fault of the ****e birmingham had up front who couldn't find the back of the net.

As for Momo, yes, i'd have him playing in a lot of the tougher matches(mainly away) but i'd play most games with Xabi and Stevie in the centre.

[lfc4ever]

Pennant WAS the best crosser in the prem last season. He had the most successful crosses(in a **** team to boot). The fact that nothing came of a lot of these was no fault of his, it was the fault of the ****e birmingham had up front who couldn't find the back of the net.

As for Momo, yes, i'd have him playing in a lot of the tougher matches(mainly away) but i'd play most games with Xabi and Stevie in the centre.

But Rafa is not doing that, Momo, Xabi & SG are undroppable, and it isn't working, and we are soft through the middle, easy to penetrate and the opposition are two thirds up the pitch before we realise we have a problem, and in reverse we are **** at going through the middle to front.

We were called a Subbeteo football team yesterday by Merson, all stood there waiting for something to happen like little directionless plastic dummies.

[Red_Polo]

We all have an opinion, he might have put in the most tackles for us, but we are **** and in comparison with the other top d/c/m the end result was what? and he is in no way world class away from home in the PL, I would take momo over Xabi in front of the back four any day, and stats suggested Pennant was the best crosser, suffice it to say stats are not what wins matches, we have a choice to make, SG gets in the way of Xabi (mostly), so who do we build the team round to give maximum support to?

Sorry, but people fawning over Xabi all the time need to look long and hard at what the other d/c/m in other top PL teams bring to the table, Xabi looks **** in a **** team, looks great in a great team, so what is the balance, I would prefer a grifter that gets in yer face rather than a killer passer when on the defensive.

OK, let's take Carrick shall we. Not as good a passer as Xabi. Nowhere near as good at winning the ball. Hasn't quite got his technique either. But he has players in front of him endlessly and confidently making runs both short and long, he has an array of options when he looks up. That makes him look like a good player, and tbf he is a good player.

But Xabi is better in all departments excepting a bit of pace and possibly heading - in any case he is better at most of the main attributes you look for in a player for that position. If he had the same movement ahead of him as Carrick then he would look so much better. And of coruse Rafa doesn't drop him, for starters he's the best we have in that position even in this form, and secondly Rafa probably doesn't expect the poor movement to continue quite as it has done.

[paulcooper4]

Xabi is **** hot. I dont understand why we are asking if he is premiership standard... wtf fella

[FutureRedStar]

Alonso is a world class player. If he's still at Sociedad, Madrid, Man U, Chelsea, Barca, Milan would have snap him up instantly.

We were lucky to get Alonso early, Madrid was already expressing their interest!!

[NICKZS]

OK, let's take Carrick shall we. Not as good a passer as Xabi. Nowhere near as good at winning the ball. Hasn't quite got his technique either. But he has players in front of him endlessly and confidently making runs both short and long, he has an array of options when he looks up. That makes him look like a good player, and tbf he is a good player.

But Xabi is better in all departments excepting a bit of pace and possibly heading - in any case he is better at most of the main attributes you look for in a player for that position. If he had the same movement ahead of him as Carrick then he would look so much better. And of coruse Rafa doesn't drop him, for starters he's the best we have in that position even in this form, and secondly Rafa probably doesn't expect the poor movement to continue quite as it has done.

Is correct.

[JRC]

It seems Xabi could start to become the latest victim of the "SG - Centre Mid or Wide" debate that the media seems keen to hype up (which is not to deny that there deserves to be genuine debate, it's the presentation of it that bugs me).

At least one paper made XA MOM on Saturday, others went, as they usually do, for Stevie - to be expected once he started CM, however he performed. This morning, however, F365 is having a real go at Xabi, slating him for Saturday, bigging up Stevie, and virtually blaming Xabi - and Rafa's faith in him - for Stevie's lack of form, eventual desire to leave etc..

As I haven't seen anything of the game, I can't judge on the relative performances, but this seems more than a little overstated. Neither are at the top of their game at the moment, but if anything, I'd say Xabi was ahead of Steve in recovering it. I don't believe there is anything tactically or personally that suggests that they cannot work together well, nor enough at the moment to say one or other should be dropped - as there are no better options.

Ateotd, we need - and can expect - both to be performing well to be the team we want to be.

[Redspin]

Someone like Nolan or Barton is a more effective "English" central midfielder than Alonso. I like XA a lot, but unless it's un Europe i just feel he is far far to ineffective away from home in the league.

If he was more effective let's be honest we'd have scored a goal from open play in one of our away league games this year. Dent that fact!

Now I know that (a) you're taking the piss or (b) know nothing.

Nolan and Barton are journeymen midfielders who have found their natural level at their respective clubs. Alonso is a vastly superior player in every respect

[CAD]

Alonso - great passer of the ball. Too easy to shut down. A bit one-dimensional. Can't carry the ball forward and doesn't score enough. A great player when he is given the room and time.

I would sell for 12 or even 10 mill£ and look for a DM who compliments SG better.

[NICKZS]

Alonso - great passer of the ball. Too easy to shut down. A bit one-dimensional. Can't carry the ball forward and doesn't score enough. A great player when he is given the room and time.
I would sell for 12 or even 10 mill£ and look for a DM who compliments SG better.

Which, in effect, is exactly why he should be partnered by Momo who is able to win him the ball and allows him to find space. I think there is a case for a 5 man midfield, or a formation using wing backs (Riise on the left and Alves on the right would have been mouth-watering). Alonso is one of the most natural passers of the ball I have ever seen, and I genuinely mean that, giving him a very rare and valuable talent. He is a major asset to our team and when he is off colour we noticeably miss him. He could be a legend at this club