Alonso

[The Guv]

...I thought he had a decent game. Linked very well with Gerrard, was confident on the ball and always looked for openings when in possession.

 

I think his partnership with Gerrard in the middle, albeit not our most solid is certainly our most creative and poses the most problems offensively to the opposition team.

 

The dilemma for Rafa now is whether to sacrifice creativity for solidarity in the middle against Chelsea by bringing in Mascherano.

[ozziecazzie]

i'm with you on this one, but Xabi is definately a slow starter

[jariiiiiiiiiise]

...I thought he had a decent game. Linked very well with Gerrard, was confident on the ball and always looked for openings when in possession.

 

I think his partnership with Gerrard in the middle, albeit not our most solid is certainly our most creative and poses the most problems offensively to the opposition team.

 

The dilemma for Rafa now is whether to sacrifice creativity for solidarity in the middle against Chelsea by bringing in Mascherano.

 

I think Mascherano. is a cert to play if fit

[Swagger]

I think Mascherano. is a cert to play if fit

 

Not necessarily. Alonso was not up to his usual level yesterday, but he will be very important in dictating the play against the Chavs. I expect him to start, along with Benayoun on the right.

[Poolfrog]

Alonso had a very decent game. What you're overlooking is that a lot of idiots post on here and they must have a hate figure. Riise gets it no matter how he plays and also Alonso to a lesser extent.

[Stevie H]

i don't know where the criticism of him yesterday is coming from, he had a very good game, bossed it and never looked uncomfortable.

[Swipe]

For first half an hour or so Alonso barely got into the game, but by the end he and Gerrard (who was great) completely and utterly bossed the midfield.

 

Reo-Coker should watch the game again and see why he'll never be at SG's level.

[DonRafa]

...I thought he had a decent game. Linked very well with Gerrard, was confident on the ball and always looked for openings when in possession.

 

I think his partnership with Gerrard in the middle, albeit not our most solid is certainly our most creative and poses the most problems offensively to the opposition team.

 

The dilemma for Rafa now is whether to sacrifice creativity for solidarity in the middle against Chelsea by bringing in Mascherano.

 

I seem to recall Rafa saying earlier this year, something along the lines of we might have to sacrifice some solidity for greater creativity in midfield.

I'm all for that, I think its the only way we'll win the kind of games we drew last season. Yesterday's performance was an encouraging first step. The introduction of Babel, in particular, was a very positive move

[Andy Mac]

A certain poster on here, said to me in person, two seasons ago that he'd rather sell Gerrard than Alonso. I disagreed then, as do I know (obviously) Xabi, in my opinion, has a tendency to go missing in games. He had a poor 06/07 season. The upside is, when he becomes obvious he's a class above anyone else on the pitch. Yesterday, I thought he had a good game ( save for the occasional wayward pass) her looks leaner, too. If we are to win the league Xabi has to have a bigger impact, more often, in game

[Andy @ Allerton]

Was very happy myself with Alonso and Gerrard in the middle and I would pick those two players to start whenever possible - Gerrard might be the best midfielder at the club, but Alonso is the best passer. With more options to come and more understanding in the side as players get used to each other - I think these two would cause any teams problems. However its a massive bonus that we have the other midfielders available to us to stand in for suspensions, injuries and simple lack of form.

 

Once the wide men start clicking - we should be able to dynamically change the team from one game to the next while still retaining a very solid core.

[Mike]

i don't know where the criticism of him yesterday is coming from, he had a very good game, bossed it and never looked uncomfortable.

 

gave the ball away quite a lot

[Mascherano]

Alonso had a very decent game. What you're overlooking is that a lot of idiots post on here and they must have a hate figure. Riise gets it no matter how he plays and also Alonso to a lesser extent.

 

Utter s****. Alonso had a poor season over all last season and in yesterday's game I saw no sign that he is set to improve.

 

Hate figure indeed.

 

Everton fans say Arteta is a better player. Xabi's physical limitations and consistency levels are starting to make me wonder....

[Chili Palmer]

Utter s****. Alonso had a poor season over all last season and in yesterday's game I saw no sign that he is set to improve.

 

Hate figure indeed.

 

Everton fans say Arteta is a better player. Xabi's physical limitations and consistency levels are starting to make me wonder....

 

Absolute rubbish, Xabi is the player Arteta wants to be.

 

I've said it before, all those who don't think Xabi should be in the team would have a terrible wake up call if he ever left.

[Mike]

Utter s****. Alonso had a poor season over all last season and in yesterday's game I saw no sign that he is set to improve.

 

Hate figure indeed.

 

Everton fans say Arteta is a better player. Xabi's physical limitations and consistency levels are starting to make me wonder....

 

no, that was utter s***.

[Mascherano]

no, that was utter s***.

 

 

Thats me told.

 

Be brave and tell me why.

[Gary Gekkaloys]

Utter s****. Alonso had a poor season over all last season and in yesterday's game I saw no sign that he is set to improve.

 

Hate figure indeed.

 

Everton fans say Arteta is a better player. Xabi's physical limitations and consistency levels are starting to make me wonder....

 

 

You don't say. In other news - Mascherano is a poor man's Carsley.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

Thats me told.

 

Be brave and tell me why.

 

because there's precious little correlation between that statement and how everyone else sees things.

 

Whenever we played without xabi last season our passing game suffered for it. The simple things he does so well is being vastly underestimated when he is not spraying 40 yard passes around.

Edited August 12, 2007 by Anders Honoré

[Swipe]

Thats me told.

 

Be brave and tell me why.

 

Cos Arteta could play to he's 50 and he won't be the player Alonso is.

 

He never will be and any suggestions otherwise are nonsense.

 

Ask Manc or Chelsea or Arsenal fans if they'd rather have Xabi or Arteta.

 

And I say that as someone who thinks Arteta is a decent player.

Edited August 12, 2007 by Swipe

[Sion]

If Alonso was in that s**** everton team, playing with such dire players, he'd look like the best player in the World. If Arteta was in our team, he'd look average.

[Stevie H]

Whenever we played without xabi last season our passing game suffered for it. The simple things he does so well is being vastly underestimated when he is not spraying 40 yard passes around.

spot on.

[Conor]

I thought he complemented Stevie superbly yesterday.. He did a lot of Donkey work and was really disciplined. Hence Stevie looking so impressive yesterday. I am not taking anything away from the plaudits Stevie is getting cause he was superb but all the hard work done by Xabi enabled Stevie to perform as he did. I thought Xabi controlled that area of the pitch perfectly. I do however feel that on these forums someone will always be seen as the scape goat regardless of the performance. It is human nature to give out about something.

[Mike S]

Utter s****. Alonso had a poor season over all last season and in yesterday's game I saw no sign that he is set to improve.

 

Hate figure indeed.

 

Everton fans say Arteta is a better player. Xabi's physical limitations and consistency levels are starting to make me wonder....

This is a really lazy comparison and shows how stupid everton fans are. They're different types of players - arteta would be a pathetic holding midfielder. Alonso would probably stuggle out wide.

 

I find it weird how Alonso's defensive/ball winning contributions are ignored just because he's a great passer. Even when his passing was off last season he still won his one on one battles pretty much every time he stepped on the pitch even against the top teams and the likes of scholes, fabregas, lampard, seedorf

[chiliking]

I have yet to see any midfielders who's owned Alonso. He might have had an off season, but still one of our better performers overall

[Mascherano]

because there's precious little correlation between that statement and how everyone else sees things.

 

Whenever we played without xabi last season our passing game suffered for it. The simple things he does so well is being vastly underestimated when he is not spraying 40 yard passes around.

 

I felt that we were better at the end CL games with Mascherano and Gerrard. Maybe that was the case before Mascherano joined but not now.

[John am Rhein]

Mascherano was f*cking IMMENSE at times.

 

I reckon Mascherano + Alonso could well be a winning combination.