Is alonso Depressed

[Spion kop]

Or any other explainations for his off pace performances so far this season, Shall we send him funny pictures to cheer him up?

[DonRafa]

Or any other explainations for his off pace performances so far this season, Shall we send him funny pictures to cheer him up?

 

Nah, he started slowly last season too. Just one of those player's that takes time to get started after the break.

Give him a few more games and he'll be fine

[Guest redmilky]

Shall we send him funny pictures to cheer him up?

?

[Chili Palmer]

Nah, he started slowly last season too. Just one of those player's that takes time to get started after the break.

Give him a few more games and he'll be fine

 

I think Rafa sees that as well, If Momo is fit for the derby I wouldn't be surprised if Alonso got another rest and is eased into the season and by xmas he will be playing every game.

[Knox_Harrington]

Alonso is doing what he did last season which is win his battles first and foremost.

[Chili Palmer]

[Ombudsam]

His heart's in Madrid

[Guest Kuzco]

His heart's in Madrid

 

Agreed

[Chili Palmer]

His heart's in Madrid

 

Do you really think so? I would be amazed if a smart man like him would want to go to that circus.

[Rimbeux]

Or any other explainations for his off pace performances so far this season, Shall we send him funny pictures to cheer him up?

 

 

Not being an athletic type, he will always take some games to get to full tlt, but is still a very capable operator. Will be scary whebn he is 100%

[hideNseek]

How can his heart be in Madrid when he said he loved it here?

[americanscouser]

think its just like last season as said above. he's always taken time to get into it. sure the world cup and starting preseason late isn't helping him as heavy legs do affect his passing game.

 

he started to adjust by october i think it was last year and it was pretty much xabi of old. would agree with as posted that he'll be slowly brought along once we're healthy in the middle of park.

 

all that said, still think that stevie and momo are the best choice for centre midfield.

[Chili Palmer]

 

all that said, still think that stevie and momo are the best choice for centre midfield.

 

 

I think that if we want to play a passing game, which we do, Alonso has to be in our best team. Just how Rafa fits all three world class midfielders in to his formation is a problem that I'm sure he will enjoy trying to solve!

[Rimbeux]

I think that if we want to play a passing game, which we do, Alonso has to be in our best team. Just how Rafa fits all three world class midfielders in to his formation is a problem that I'm sure he will enjoy trying to solve!

 

 

On the cash there

Edited August 26, 2006 by Rimbeux

[americanscouser]

there are so many permutations and systems that rafa shouldn't have much trouble finding a way to get all 3 games, but the only system where i think all 3 fit very well is a 4-4-2 where gerrard is on the right

 

only reason i say those two is that you sacrifice slightly xabi's passing range and ability by taking him off but gerrard is close in that respect, plus has far more mobility, penetration and finishing ability.

[Guest Kaizer]

I actually think Alonso gets some special attention form the opposition, they know how important he is to our game and if they are able to stop him they are able to stop our game from flowing.

[Ombudsam]

How can his heart be in Madrid when he said he loved it here?

 

I told my boss I was in work for the whole of today

[Chili Palmer]

there are so many permutations and systems that rafa shouldn't have much trouble finding a way to get all 3 games, but the only system where i think all 3 fit very well is a 4-4-2 where gerrard is on the right

 

only reason i say those two is that you sacrifice slightly xabi's passing range and ability by taking him off but gerrard is close in that respect, plus has far more mobility, penetration and finishing ability.

 

I think that you are right that if you want to play Stevie as a central midfielder you have to play him with Momo. I think dating back to Istanbul showed us that Stevie and Xabi are not well balanced as a midfield pair so as you say to play with all three the obvious solution is to push Stevie out to the right and I think we will see this a lot again this season, especially in the big games.

 

I told my boss I was in work for the whole of today

 

You mean...you...lied?

[Ronnie Whelan]

I actually think Alonso gets some special attention form the opposition, they know how important he is to our game and if they are able to stop him they are able to stop our game from flowing.

 

 

Last season maybe. From the handful of games we have played so far this season and from what i expect to happen from the players we have brought in, the opposition employing a tactic like this will leave them open to us getting them on the wings. WE still have to come round to this tactic, as evidenced by some of the moments in todays game, but once we do we are going to be difficult to stop. Whether its through the middle via Xabi/Stevie or from the wings.

[Stevie H]

he misses momo. sissoko makes the room for xabi to play in. in games where sissoko is not all over the midfield xabi will always look a little less effective than usual.

[Sion]

He needs a boyfriend

[jimmylibel]

only reason i say those two is that you sacrifice slightly xabi's passing range and ability by taking him off but gerrard is close in that respect, plus has far more mobility, penetration and finishing ability.

 

Don't agree with that. Xabi is the brain of the team. He probes the opposition, doesn't just pick off fantastic passes but pretty much always picks the right pass. He also is very underrated (including by our own fans) in terms of his defensive abilities. He is an expert at mopping up in front of the back, almost at Didi's level.

 

Gerrard is obviously a world class player but that is not part of his game.

 

Momo and Gerrard as a centre midfield pairing would leave the back four very exposed.

 

he misses momo. sissoko makes the room for xabi to play in. in games where sissoko is not all over the midfield xabi will always look a little less effective than usual.

 

Agree with that.

[owenthomas]

pretty much agree with that Jim, reckon Momo and Xabi in the middle is the better combo.. just let Stevie go and do what he does..

[Ronnie Whelan]

pretty much agree with that Jim, reckon Momo and Xabi in the middle is the better combo.. just let Stevie go and do what he does..

 

 

From RM?

[owenthomas]

erm.. i'd have to say yeah - with the licence to roam about though..

 

it's a difficult one cos i think that Momo helping out Xabi is the more 'balanced' (if you like).. Stevie's just all round class and so giving him licence to go out there and hurt teams is probably the best bet.. i honestly couldn't have imagined myself typing those words pre-Momo though..