The incredible Xabi Alonso thread 2009.

[spider-Neil]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=33578.msg913305#msg913305 date=1248774044]
This off season is microanalyzation central.

Reina
insua
agger
carragher
johnson
mascherano
alonso
riera
gerrard
kuyt
torres.

If alonso leaves we either play gerrard deeper and buy a forward (unlikely) or we buy a cm to replace Alonso and if we have the ching we get a spare striker and a 4th choice centre back.

Bench-cavalieri, babel, voronin, aurelio, lucas, yossi, (eg) distin.

We're talking ourself round in circles here. We're 9/10ths perfect as is.
[/quote]

when you post the team like that oncy it looks awesome. it's a pity alonso is fucking off.

 

[Billy Bollocks]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

Martinez is a young kid, and Aqualini is a crock.

Have to laugh at the stunning arrogance of Spider Neil. Like he was the only one who advocated Gerrard in a forward role. Regardless, the success of the current system doesn't mean he can't slot back into midfield and be just as effective, as he proved many time last season.

 

[Delinquent]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

Who would you suggest to replace Gerrard though? I think we risk doing more damage to our goal tally by trying to replace Gerrard as a forward than we do Alonso as a midfielder.

Like one or two others have said, I think it depends on who's available, and at what price.

 

[spider-Neil]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=Billy Bollocks link=topic=33578.msg913307#msg913307 date=1248774209]
Martinez is a young kid, and Aqualini is a crock.

Have to laugh at the stunning arrogance of Spider Neil. Like he was the only one who advocated Gerrard in a forward role. Regardless, the success of the current system doesn't mean he can't slot back into midfield and be just as effective, as he proved many time last season.
[/quote]

I took an almighty beating when I suggesting it so fuck it I'm going to be smug. anyway regardless who suggested it it's here it works, let's not fuck with it, (can't believe I'm going to say this) give lucas a go (ha ha) he has to fulfil his potential SOMETIME.

 

[spider-Neil]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=Delinquent link=topic=33578.msg913308#msg913308 date=1248774488]
Who would you suggest to replace Gerrard though? I think we risk doing more damage to our goal tally by trying to replace Gerrard as a forward than we do Alonso as a midfielder.

Like one or two others have said, I think it depends on who's available, and at what price.
[/quote]

a MASSIVE risk.

 

[Delinquent]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33578.msg913310#msg913310 date=1248774552]
[quote author=Delinquent link=topic=33578.msg913308#msg913308 date=1248774488]
Who would you suggest to replace Gerrard though? I think we risk doing more damage to our goal tally by trying to replace Gerrard as a forward than we do Alonso as a midfielder.

Like one or two others have said, I think it depends on who's available, and at what price.
[/quote]

a MASSIVE risk.
[/quote]

Thanks for clearing that up.

 

[spider-Neil]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=Delinquent link=topic=33578.msg913312#msg913312 date=1248774648]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33578.msg913310#msg913310 date=1248774552]
[quote author=Delinquent link=topic=33578.msg913308#msg913308 date=1248774488]
Who would you suggest to replace Gerrard though? I think we risk doing more damage to our goal tally by trying to replace Gerrard as a forward than we do Alonso as a midfielder.

Like one or two others have said, I think it depends on who's available, and at what price.
[/quote]

a MASSIVE risk.
[/quote]

Thanks for clearing that up.
[/quote]

*arnie voice*

no problemo

 

[singlerider]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=Anita link=topic=33578.msg912865#msg912865 date=1248704644]
Did I sound like Stu last summer?
[/quote]

Shit film

 

[Oncy]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=singlerider link=topic=33578.msg913321#msg913321 date=1248775059]
[quote author=Anita link=topic=33578.msg912865#msg912865 date=1248704644]
Did I sound like Stu last summer?
[/quote]

Shit film
[/quote]*Applauds*
how did i miss this opportunity.

 

[spider-Neil]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

you have to wonder if rafa didn't court barry if xabi would have concidered his options elsewhere

 

[Oncy]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33578.msg913324#msg913324 date=1248775136]
you have to wonder if rafa didn't court barry if xabi would have concidered his options elsewhere
[/quote]I dont think i do.

 

[Billy Bollocks]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33578.msg913324#msg913324 date=1248775136]
you have to wonder if rafa didn't court barry if xabi would have concidered his options elsewhere
[/quote]

Who cares.

 

[spider-Neil]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

true. water under the bridge now.

 

[gkmacca]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

Madrid are even worse than Chelsk now. Trying to buy a player under contract and complaining angrily if the price isn't 'suitable'! What astonishing arrogance. Alonso ought to realise he's joining the most charmless bunch of mercenaries around, and none of his mad fans can blame that on anyone but him.

 

[Billy Bollocks]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

It's all about money at the end of the day. Alonso is no different to any other greedy modern footballer, whose careers are controlled by their agents. All this stuff about falling out with Rafa is just background noise for us to disect. I hope he's happy when he's frozen out within a year after the new manager comes in.

 

[mark1975]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

Saying that Gerrard can do the same damage from a more withdrawn (and work demanding) role is clearly wrong, even the dreaded stats back that much up.

He's always had a more effective impact in terms of assists and goals from a more advanced position and his partnership with Torres is probably the best forward partnership in the league.

No one is disputing he could still be one of the best central midfielders around if he played there, but the crux of it is that he should be playing in the role that sees us get the best out of him and the players around him.

In simplistic terms:

----------Gerrard(10-15)--Masher(0-2)------------
-Kuyt(10-15)------?????????---------Riera-(5-10)
-----------------------Torres(15-20)------------------



----------????????????--Masher(0-2)---------------
-Kuyt(10-15)-----Gerrard(15-22)------Riera-(5-10)
----------------------Torres(20-30)---------------------

Of course that's dependant on who is brought in for either role, but the jist of it is based on what we know to be effective and productive.

 

[spider-Neil]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=33578.msg913352#msg913352 date=1248776987]
Saying that Gerrard can do the same damage from a more withdrawn (and work demanding) role is clearly wrong, even the dreaded stats back that much up.

He's always had a more effective impact in terms of assists and goals from a more advanced position and his partnership with Torres is probably the best forward partnership in the league.

No one is disputing he could still be one of the best central midfielders around if he played there, but the crux of it is that he should be playing in the role that sees us get the best out of him and the players around him.

In simplistic terms:

----------Gerrard(10-15)--Masher(0-2)------------
-Kuyt(10-15)------?????????---------Riera-(5-10)
-----------------------Torres(15-20)------------------



----------????????????--Masher(0-2)---------------
-Kuyt(10-15)-----Gerrard(15-22)------Riera-(5-10)
----------------------Torres(20-30)---------------------

Of course that's dependant on who is brought in for either role, but the jist of it is based on what we know to be effective and productive.
[/quote]

you have wide players in double figures, as well we all know this is clearly impossible. 😉

 

[mark1975]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

Heh.. Was probably being a bit optimistic there with Masher though 😉

 

[keniget]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

Gerrard has shown that he can still keep up his stats from CM, I'm not worried about that. We can replace his goals up front with another player who will score 10-15. The risk is largely in adapting the system from having two holding midfielders to one etc.

Anyways, we need another striker as things stand. If we replace Alonso with another striker, that just means we're one midfielder short.

If Gerrard got injured, we'd be left Lucas and Masher, which is nowhere near good enough and could well put us out of the running.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

I know Stevie is the bestest player in the world, but it does seem that forming a CM partnership with him in it has proven to be difficult in the past.

I hope we keep him where he is now, and buy another player to fill the gap left by Alonso.

 

[Billy Bollocks]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

I always thought the Gerrard/Alonso combo was vastly underrated. We certainly wasn't any less defensively solid, and the clean sheets back that up.

It's been said before, but it all depends on what players are available doesn't it. If we sell Xabi we could end up shelling out all of that fee for a suitable replacement, leaving us short to improve other attacking positions, which really defeats the object of letting him go, even if he wants to.

Personally, I think it's too late in the day to be letting any of our key players go and I'd tell him he's staying, but Rafa might have other plans. It's difficult for him because we're so fucking skint.

 

[Oncy]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=keniget link=topic=33578.msg913399#msg913399 date=1248779050]
Gerrard has shown that he can still keep up his stats from CM, I'm not worried about that. We can replace his goals up front with another player who will score 10-15. The risk is largely in adapting the system from having two holding midfielders to one etc.

Anyways, we need another striker as things stand. If we replace Alonso with another striker, that just means we're one midfielder short.

If Gerrard got injured, we'd be left Lucas and Masher, which is nowhere near good enough and could well put us out of the running.
[/quote]Agger would be terrific there. Not that we'd ever play him there. Although stranger things have happened (aurelio).

 

[mark1975]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=Billy Bollocks link=topic=33578.msg913411#msg913411 date=1248779695]
I always thought the Gerrard/Alonso combo was vastly underrated. We certainly wasn't any less defensively solid, and the clean sheets back that up.

It's been said before, but it all depends on what players are available doesn't it. If we sell Xabi we could end up shelling out all of that fee for a suitable replacement, leaving us short to improve other attacking positions, which really defeats the object of letting him go, even if he wants to.

Personally, I think it's too late in the day to be letting any of our key players go and I'd tell him he's staying, but Rafa might have other plans. It's difficult for him because we're so fucking skint.
[/quote]

We got steam rolled by a few big sides though using them as a partnership, notably United, Arsenal and Milan in the final.

 

[Billy Bollocks]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

Milan were unstoppable in that first half and would have done the same to any side. There were a few teething problems, like any partnership, but they also dominated many games and we played much better and fluid football.

 

[keniget]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

I'm not sure about Agger - he likes time on the ball and his passing can still be very iffy. Either way, we don't want to rely on playing our defenders in the middle any more than we want to pin all our hopes on Gerrard staying fit all season long.

If Alonso goes, we have to buy another central midfielder.

 

[Mystic]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

I've always like the idea of Javi Martinez, i've never seen him play, don't even know what he looks like, but i like the idea of him.

 

[Squiggles]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

It's because his name is equally swanky as Xabi Alonso.

Important box ticked

 

[spider-Neil]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=keniget link=topic=33578.msg913399#msg913399 date=1248779050]
Gerrard has shown that he can still keep up his stats from CM,

[/quote]

he can? when was the last time gerrard played for a sustained period in CM? in fact gerrard has rarely played in CM under rafa*, rafa even partnered momo with alonso rather than move gerrard there. if gerrard moved back into CM I can see him dominating the midfield but I can't see him scoring anywhere near as much as he does as a forward.

*someone going to post stats of loads of games here gerrard has started in the center of midfield under rafa.

sidenote:
remember the ridiculously gobby rednapp and gray going on about gerrard playing out of position almost every game, they've gone a bit quiet on that front haven't they?

 

[keniget]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33578.msg913441#msg913441 date=1248780479]
*someone going to post stats of loads of games here gerrard has started in the center of midfield under rafa.
[/quote]

I like how you now anticipate being proven wrong, but still don't let it deter you from making sweeping statements.

I like you spidey, but you don't do yourself any favours at times.

 

[LadyRed]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=33578.msg913438#msg913438 date=1248780369]
It's because his name is equally swanky as Xabi Alonso.

Important box ticked
[/quote]

It is a great name.