• You may have to login or register before you can post and view our exclusive members only forums.
    To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Mascherano to sign a new contract this week?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Alonso is a great footballer, but i just don't get the commotion. Fair enough ILD metronome is simplistic description of his job, but the main fault i have with it is that hes not the be all and end all. A player who can get the ball and pass it on are 10 penny. Maybe not with as much class and guile, but there are some who are more than capable to do that job whilst actually getting on the score sheet more. Or assisting more. OR MOVING MORE! Sneijder is a perfect exmple. Van der vaart. Aqulani, de rossi, defour. Even in our own league there are players who can tick over and get involved more. Mark Noble, Carrick, Even Bently could be alright in that role.Xabi is special, but if us winning the league is dependent on a player who doesn't assist, score or track back particularly well.

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=34708.msg907452#msg907452 date=1247832418]
yessss...alonso is a one trick pony and we should have got rid years ago.
gracious.
[/quote]

Sensationalist! Should've got rid when he was shite! Wouldn't have 50 threads for him all totaling infinate pages!!
 
This thread's descended into farce. Probably our best player from last year is suddenly shit coz he wants off? Do me a favour. Sound like Utd fans when they realised Ronaldo was off.
 
[quote author=LarryHagman link=topic=34708.msg907460#msg907460 date=1247833119]
This thread's descended into farce. Probably our best player from last year is suddenly shit coz he wants off? Do me a favour. Sound like Utd fans when they realised Ronaldo was off.
[/quote]

Well people are not saying he is shit, what they are saying though is that he is replaceable, without it affecting out title ambitions
 
[quote author=Asim link=topic=34708.msg907461#msg907461 date=1247833301]
[quote author=LarryHagman link=topic=34708.msg907460#msg907460 date=1247833119]
This thread's descended into farce. Probably our best player from last year is suddenly shit coz he wants off? Do me a favour. Sound like Utd fans when they realised Ronaldo was off.
[/quote]

Well people are not saying he is shit, what they are saying though is that he is replaceable, without it affecting out title ambitions
[/quote]

Either Larry H can't read or he is an attention-seeker.
 
[quote author=LarryHagman link=topic=34708.msg907460#msg907460 date=1247833119]

This thread's descended into farce. Probably our best player from last year is suddenly shit coz he wants off? Do me a favour. Sound like Utd fans when they realised Ronaldo was off.


[/quote]

He's not shit. Who said he was? Just because he was ONE of our best players this season doesn't grant him a glorious tearfest when he goes, or people should watch match of the days from this season , tugging on themselves, softly saying "why did you leave?". The point this thread has turned into is, why the commotion? Yes he was good but he wasn't a match winner. Whats to say we might have won the league if we played someone else who could score more? Or put through more killer passes. Yes alonso could pass but they all weren't leading to goalscoring opportunities.
 
[quote author=Pesam link=topic=34708.msg907463#msg907463 date=1247833383]
[quote author=Asim link=topic=34708.msg907461#msg907461 date=1247833301]
[quote author=LarryHagman link=topic=34708.msg907460#msg907460 date=1247833119]
This thread's descended into farce. Probably our best player from last year is suddenly shit coz he wants off? Do me a favour. Sound like Utd fans when they realised Ronaldo was off.
[/quote]

Well people are not saying he is shit, what they are saying though is that he is replaceable, without it affecting out title ambitions
[/quote]

Either Larry H can't read or he is an attention-seeker.
[/quote]

You're half right, I don't read your posts.
 
[quote author=LarryHagman link=topic=34708.msg907460#msg907460 date=1247833119]

This thread's descended into farce. Probably our best player from last year is suddenly shit coz he wants off? Do me a favour. Sound like Utd fans when they realised Ronaldo was off.


[/quote]

nobody is saying he is shit, what I read people saying is, "Xabi is a fantastic, but limited player" and maybe the things we need now are the things he is limited at.
 
yea i'm sure lucas can play there.

alonso going will mean we will probably have to change/tweak our formation from a 4231 to a 4141. a ball playing centre back like agger will be far more important than ever. masch can't distribute like alonso.

and i'd still rather we sold masch than alonso
 
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=34708.msg907452#msg907452 date=1247832418]
yessss...alonso is a one trick pony and we should have got rid years ago.
gracious.
[/quote]

what a crock of shit!!!
 
[quote author=cochyn link=topic=34708.msg907468#msg907468 date=1247833677]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=34708.msg907452#msg907452 date=1247832418]
yessss...alonso is a one trick pony and we should have got rid years ago.
gracious.
[/quote]

what a crock of shit!!!
[/quote]
Whoosh?
 
[quote author=rage link=topic=34708.msg907467#msg907467 date=1247833600]
yea i'm sure lucas can play there.

alonso going will mean we will probably have to change/tweak our formation from a 4231 to a 4141. a ball playing centre back like agger will be far more important than ever. masch can't distribute like alonso.

and i'd still rather we sold masch than alonso
[/quote]

I really can't see Benitez giving up on two holding midfielders.
 
This place (or perhaps it's Internet discussions in general) has a terrible way of tempting normally sensible people to polarise discussions. Why do so many threads have to turn into an exchange of OTT exaggerations, like this one's becoming?

As far as the real question goes, Xabi will be very, very hard to replace IMO. "Get it and give it" is only a fraction of the story. You have to be available in the right areas, control the ball instantly and hit the right one out of numerous different pass options time after time to be as good at it as Xabi is. A number of good players have been mentioned as replacement options, but most of them aren't really similar to him in style. I'm not saying it can't be done, but I am saying it won't be at all easy.
 
[quote author=Asim link=topic=34708.msg907461#msg907461 date=1247833301]
[quote author=LarryHagman link=topic=34708.msg907460#msg907460 date=1247833119]
This thread's descended into farce. Probably our best player from last year is suddenly shit coz he wants off? Do me a favour. Sound like Utd fans when they realised Ronaldo was off.
[/quote]

Well people are not saying he is shit, what they are saying though is that he is replaceable, without it affecting out title ambitions
[/quote]

Which is my stance too.

Last year , like many others, I was up to bite Juve's hand off at £15m, so we thought he was replaceable then, as he is now.

The difference last season was that he did not have to play as a pairing with Gerrard very often, which gave Xabi more space, that partnership just does not work. In fact as a great a player as Gerrard is everyone finds it difficult in a midfield pairing with him.

The thing is how are we going to have any opposition players dismissed without Xabi on the pitch?

Anyway, don't worry it was Rafa's intention all along. Ever since the pregnancy issue.

I shall be sorry to see him go, nice guy, great pro, but it will be for the greater good - hopefully



regards
 
[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=34708.msg907473#msg907473 date=1247833911]
This place (or perhaps it's Internet discussions in general) has a terrible way of tempting normally sensible people to polarise discussions. Why do so many threads have to turn into an exchange of OTT exaggerations, like this one's becoming?

As far as the real question goes, Xabi will be very, very hard to replace IMO. "Get it and give it" is only a fraction of the story. You have to be available in the right areas, control the ball instantly and hit the right one out of numerous different pass options time after time to be as good at it as Xabi is. A number of good players have been mentioned as replacement options, but most of them aren't really similar to him in style. I'm not saying it can't be done, but I am saying it won't be at all easy.
[/quote]

But the point is you don't need to replace him with someone who plays the same way. You don't NEED to have a designated playmaker, you can play a 4231 with simple pass and move to advance the team as a unit and then play the simple pass into the forwards. It's not better or worse just a different emphasis.
 
[quote author=drizzt link=topic=34708.msg907479#msg907479 date=1247834383]
[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=34708.msg907473#msg907473 date=1247833911]
This place (or perhaps it's Internet discussions in general) has a terrible way of tempting normally sensible people to polarise discussions. Why do so many threads have to turn into an exchange of OTT exaggerations, like this one's becoming?

As far as the real question goes, Xabi will be very, very hard to replace IMO. "Get it and give it" is only a fraction of the story. You have to be available in the right areas, control the ball instantly and hit the right one out of numerous different pass options time after time to be as good at it as Xabi is. A number of good players have been mentioned as replacement options, but most of them aren't really similar to him in style. I'm not saying it can't be done, but I am saying it won't be at all easy.
[/quote]

But the point is you don't need to replace him with someone who plays the same way. You don't NEED to have a designated playmaker, you can play a 4231 with simple pass and move to advance the team as a unit and then play the simple pass into the forwards. It's not better or worse just a different emphasis.
[/quote]
Exactly, don't need an exact like for like. Plenty of top teams around Europe don't have the passing of Alonso but seemed to have done well. As long we get a top midfielder then we should be ok, might improve us. For 20 million I trust Rafa to deliever. No idea who that top midfielder might be though 😉
 
[quote author=drizzt link=topic=34708.msg907450#msg907450 date=1247832230]
Mate he has 27 yes [size=10pt]TWENTY SEVEN[/size] assists. Xabi doesn't have that in his whole career.
[/quote]

Are you illiterate?
 
[quote author=keniget link=topic=34708.msg907482#msg907482 date=1247834628]
[quote author=drizzt link=topic=34708.msg907450#msg907450 date=1247832230]
Mate he has 27 yes [size=10pt]TWENTY SEVEN[/size] assists. Xabi doesn't have that in his whole career.
[/quote]

Are you illiterate?
[/quote]

No but I couldn't let a comparison between Xabi and Xavi go without pointing out that there is a very real difference which relates exactly to the point that oncy was making even though you invented some arbitrary caveats to exclude that very real difference.
 
[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=34708.msg907473#msg907473 date=1247833911]
This place (or perhaps it's Internet discussions in general) has a terrible way of tempting normally sensible people to polarise discussions. Why do so many threads have to turn into an exchange of OTT exaggerations, like this one's becoming?
[/quote]

Listen, go sell your common sense somewhere else mate.
This thread is way beyond saving.
 
[quote author=keniget link=topic=34708.msg907404#msg907404 date=1247828499]


As I keep saying, I'm a massive Xabi fan - always have been - and will be gutted when he leaves. But hey, I agree, there is no point crying about it and if and when it happens, I'll be excited to see who we get in as a replacement. That is... unless we get a bad case of Downing Syndrome.
[/quote]

i think you need to re-read the definition of downing syndrome.



d8fec2c3cb25.jpg


today.
 
[quote author=drizzt link=topic=34708.msg907483#msg907483 date=1247834903]
[quote author=keniget link=topic=34708.msg907482#msg907482 date=1247834628]
[quote author=drizzt link=topic=34708.msg907450#msg907450 date=1247832230]
Mate he has 27 yes [size=10pt]TWENTY SEVEN[/size] assists. Xabi doesn't have that in his whole career.
[/quote]

Are you illiterate?
[/quote]

No but I couldn't let a comparison between Xabi and Xavi go without pointing out that there is a very real difference which relates exactly to the point that oncy was making even though you invented some arbitrary caveats to exclude that very real difference.
[/quote]

Funnily enough, I was searching for one of my posts the other day and came across our midfielder debate from a while back, which had you admitting in the end that you don't really know what you're talking about.

Not much has changed I see.

Arbitrary caveats that I 'invented', eh? Let's examine that point shall we.

1) Alonso is a holding midfielder. Xavi is not. True or False?

Alonso has taken Senna's role in the Spanish side. Alonso plays a holding role for us in a 4-2-3-1. Xavi doesn't really take on the role of a defensive midfielder in either side. True.

2) In the last couple years, Xavi has been asked to get forward more and this has benefitted his stats. True or False?

I watch a lot of Barca and you see Xavi in and around the box a lot more than you used, making late third man runs and so forth. This has been commented on by the commentators numerous times as well as others. True yet again.

3) If you go back a couple years, Xavi's stats are not too dissimilar to Alonso's. True or False?

Go and find out.

So what can we deduce from the above?

Well, Xavi plays a role that allows him more freedom to get involved at the end of moves and this in a more attacking formation. Furthermore, his TWENTY SEVEN assists have come in a ridiculous record season for Barca.

The comparison was made to illustrate that Xavi has always been about orchestrating his teams play whether he does it from deep or further up the field.
 
[quote author=Asim link=topic=34708.msg907505#msg907505 date=1247839825]
Fucking hell Keni, are you *that* bored?
[/quote]

Yes.
 
[quote author=keniget link=topic=34708.msg907504#msg907504 date=1247839767]
[quote author=drizzt link=topic=34708.msg907483#msg907483 date=1247834903]
[quote author=keniget link=topic=34708.msg907482#msg907482 date=1247834628]
[quote author=drizzt link=topic=34708.msg907450#msg907450 date=1247832230]
Mate he has 27 yes [size=10pt]TWENTY SEVEN[/size] assists. Xabi doesn't have that in his whole career.
[/quote]

Are you illiterate?
[/quote]

No but I couldn't let a comparison between Xabi and Xavi go without pointing out that there is a very real difference which relates exactly to the point that oncy was making even though you invented some arbitrary caveats to exclude that very real difference.
[/quote]

Funnily enough, I was searching for one of my posts the other day and came across our midfielder debate from a while back, which had you admitting in the end that you don't really know what you're talking about.

Not much has changed I see.

Arbitrary caveats that I 'invented', eh? Let's examine that point shall we.

1) Alonso is a holding midfielder. Xavi is not. True or False?

Alonso has taken Senna's role in the Spanish side. Alonso plays a holding role for us in a 4-2-3-1. Xavi doesn't really take on the role of a defensive midfielder in either side. True.

2) In the last couple years, Xavi has been asked to get forward more and this has benefitted his stats. True or False?

I watch a lot of Barca and you see Xavi in and around the box a lot more than you used, making late third man runs and so forth. This has been commented on by the commentators numerous times as well as others. True yet again.

3) If you go back a couple years, Xavi's stats are not too dissimilar to Alonso's. True or False?

Go and find out.

So what can we deduce from the above?

Well, Xavi plays a role that allows him more freedom to get involved at the end of moves and this in a more attacking formation. Furthermore, his TWENTY SEVEN assists have come in a ridiculous record season for Barca.

The comparison was made to illustrate that Xavi has always been about orchestrating his teams play whether he does it from deep or further up the field.
[/quote]

Ive been through this shit with him already Keni, it's fucking pointless.
 
Funnily enough, I was searching for one of my posts the other day and came across our midfielder debate from a while back, which had you admitting in the end that you don't really know what you're talking about.

Not much has changed I see.

Arbitrary caveats that I 'invented', eh? Let's examine that point shall we.

1) Alonso is a holding midfielder. Xavi is not. True or False?

Alonso has taken Senna's role in the Spanish side. Alonso plays a holding role for us in a 4-2-3-1. Xavi doesn't really take on the role of a defensive midfielder in either side. True.

2) In the last couple years, Xavi has been asked to get forward more and this has benefitted his stats. True or False?

I watch a lot of Barca and you see Xavi in and around the box a lot more than you used, making late third man runs and so forth. This has been commented on by the commentators numerous times as well as others. True yet again.

3) If you go back a couple years, Xavi's stats are not too dissimilar to Alonso's. True or False?

Go and find out.

So what can we deduce from the above?

Well, Xavi plays a role that allows him more freedom to get involved at the end of moves and this in a more attacking formation. Furthermore, his TWENTY SEVEN assists have come in a ridiculous record season for Barca.

The comparison was made to illustrate that Xavi has always been about orchestrating his teams play whether he does it from deep or further up the field.
Has he taken Senna's role for Spain though, seems to have mainly been used as a backup but didn't watch many qualifiers so maybe he has played more than Senna. I think for Spain everytime I have seen them which hasn't been that many times this year, Senna and Xavi seems to work much better.
 
by the time xabi leaves the entire liverpool fanbase will have labelled him shit and will scratch their heads why/how he survived at anfield as long as he did.
 
Not one person has called him "shit".

I'll be sad to see him go, but I wasn't completely against the idea of replacing him last year with Barry, so I'm not now going to say he's irreplaceable because he's had a fine season. We may have to delicately change our system of play to accommodate a different type of CM, but that's achievable and part of football.

Too many Liverpool fans are hung-up on the 4-2-3-1 formation, IMO, and that's coming to force in all the Alonso threads.
 
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=34708.msg907518#msg907518 date=1247841453]
by the time xabi leaves the entire liverpool fanbase will have labelled him shit and will scratch their heads why/how he survived at anfield as long as he did.
[/quote]What a load of fucking cunt.

Xabi's fine, a top player. I have no problem with him. Most of his fans are cunts though.
 
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=34708.msg907521#msg907521 date=1247841886]
Too many Liverpool fans are hung-up on the 4-2-3-1 formation, IMO, and that's coming to force in all the Alonso threads.
[/quote]

That is perhaps true, but it does seem to be Rafa's preferred formation and he's already stated that Gerrard and Torres will continue to be his preferred 'strike partnership'. If that continues to be the case, we do need another midfielder.

I'm quite happy for that midfielder to be more attacking like Sneijder for example though.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom