Liverpool FC Forum

[stmichael]

Just a couple of points I wanted to make about Xabi, given that many fans have pointed out that he hasn't hit top gear yet. Hell we even had people suggesting he should be dropped before Sissoko got injured in midweek. For what it's worth, I thought Alonso was excellent against Haifa although he did struggle somewhat on Saturday.

However nobody should worry because the guy's got a habit of starting the season slowly and then improving with games. One disadvantage he has, compared to Gerrard and Sissoko is he's not a natural athlete so it does take time for him to get his full match fitness back. He started slowly last year too, despite scoring a couple of early goals. By the time we got to October/November, in the midst of our first undefeated streak, he was back to his best. Take the two assists away at Sunderland as an example.

I don't accept that he's playing that badly at all. He's added so much more to his game now, not just (usually) superb passing. I think he's improved physically and a lot of his defensive work goes unappreciated. He quietly does a lot of vital work in the middle (like keeping Reo-Coker quiet in Sats. match) that seems to go unnoticed by many. For anybody who doubts the defensive side to his game need only look at his performance away at Juventus or against Chelsea in the Champions League.

Yes, some of his passes are going astray, but no more than Stevie G's, for instance. The fluent passing will come as he gets fitter, and more matches under his belt. I suppose we've just come to expect so much from the guy, but he'll be back firing on all cylinders for the trip across the park in two weeks. After Gerrard got sent of at Anfield last season, Alonso ran the show for 75 minutes. More of the same will do nicely in two weeks.

[onizukaeikichi]

i agree this guy is class, i just hope to see him hitting 40 yards balls into the opponent's half and let gonzales or pennant to chase, we should make use of our speedy players better.

[stmichael]

I was saying in the West Ham thread that I don't think we've let Xabi dictate the play enough in the last two games like we normally do. The fact is, we almost seen uncertain how to play with width because we're unaccustomed to it. On Saturday the ball kept going wide to the likes of Pennant straight from the defence, which wasn't making the best uses of our strengths in the centre of midfield.

[onizukaeikichi]

yea the ball's   are too concentrated to the wingers, i think if we pass the ball to xabi and let him spread it to left/right it would be more effective.

[HacksawJimDuggin]

Think we call this "teething problems" (i.e. adjusting to a new style of play with new players) and that Xabi, like the others, is becoming accustomed to this. He is class and is a KEY part of our squad/team. [B]

[andypool2285]

yes im not sure? when he signed and he came on he was everwere ?  last  seasons he wasnt at his best i dont no if rafa told him to do job in the middle of the park but hes defo not the same player we signed none of them super 40 yards that ripe defences to piece . Hes my best player and it kill me to say this cos he do nothing wrong but it been  a different xabi hope people can see were im coming from

[Bad Bob]

Good points St. Mike...especially about Xabi's unsung defensive qualities in the middle.  I can't count the number of games last season where I saw someone in red flying into a tackle deep in our own territory, winning the ball and nullfiying the threat.  I kept sitting there waiting for the player to get up and see the familiar number 23 on the back but, in many cases, who pops up from the turf? Xabi!  Alonso's tackling, tracking and positional soundness are a big part of his game.  He's not just some dillatant passing specialist who offers next to nothing else.  Alonso will get back to his imperious best in the next few weeks and people will be singing his praises once more.

[Sabre]

tracking and positional soundness are a big part of his game

Yes that's big part of his game. Thanks to Liverpool Football CLub. Those has been  the aspects in which I've seen the biggest evolution since he came here. He has known to improve his tackling and positioning up there in Liverpool. I know this player since he was... mmm, 19. He always had good long range shots, then developed his wide range passes, but defensively he has evolved there. The mate that has written before me (andypool) can be quiet: there are things, like riding a bicycle and touch, that are not forgotten. You know how to do it or you don't.

It's true the point that he's not a natural athlete. And it's also true he uses to have slow starts. I disagree he had a bad season yesteryear (If I understood correctly). Not at all. I don't think he'll need much more than a month to be in his best form.

[Cool Hand Luke]

Alonso is doing that unappreciated role of sitting and allowing others to surge forward. Defensively he is probably better than both Sissoko and Gerrard so its only natural he does it. I don’t think he has been nearly as bad as some people have made out but agree he hasn’t hit top gear, but who has?

Good point about him not being a natural athlete thus needing more time to get fit and sharp. Last season he started slowly as well but once he got going he was consistently one of the best players on the pitch for us. He suffered from January until about March time, he looked very tired and his form dropped badly, he then spent 2 weeks out of the team and when he came back he was fabulous, was one of our best players in the last 2 months of the season.

The only way for him to gain fitness and form is to play games, it’s only a matter of time before he hits top form.

My worry is that he isn’t fully recovered from that ankle injury which he picked up at the end of last year. I think it may hamper him and we will seriously regret not doing more to hang on to Hamann. Hopefully I am wrong and he is over it and he will have an excellent season.

[dawson99]

He does a similar thing for spain when its him and xavi. he is unspoken a bit but we all know his class and all other clubs know that technically the guy is a gifted genius

[aCe']

Alonso is doing that unappreciated role of sitting and allowing others to surge forward. Defensively he is probably better than both Sissoko and Gerrard so its only natural he does it.

he is ?!

[Sabre]

I have seen few players, and I've seen a decent number of matches that tackle so cleanly as Gerrard does, I like a lot how he does that. If I was to dribble a player, I'd rather want to dribble Xabi rather than Gerrard, if you see what I mean.

But we wouldn't see his best in the role Xabi is doing right now, you can remember the world cup if you want to know why. Alonso's positioning is the best of the lot.

[Scottbot]

I can't count the number of games last season where I saw someone in red flying into a tackle deep in our own territory, winning the ball and nullfiying the threat.  I kept sitting there waiting for the player to get up and see the familiar number 23 on the back but, in many cases, who pops up from the turf? Xabi!  Alonso's tackling, tracking and positional soundness are a big part of his game.

I've done the same thing myself many times. Even if Xabi did not have the range of passing and attacking ability we have seen from him he would still be able to command a place in the team as a quality defensive midfielder. I couldn't believe the Opta stats for last season which showed Alonso made the 2nd most tackles in the league.

[onizukaeikichi]

cool hand luke, i think sissoko and gerrard > alonso in terms of defending

xabi has the upper hand in passing > sissoko
a bit over in terms of accurancy of gerrard

[Sabre]

Sissoko is the kind of player many fans like because he runs a lot of Km in a match . Xabi Alonso saves some Km by staying where he should (1) . Both Gerrard's and Alonso's tackling are better than the one of Sissoko, in timing, we have discussed his timing several times before, and how could that cost us a red card sometimes.

Don't get me wrong I like Sissoko a lot, but if I was to play a man on front of defence, I'd play Alonso or a man like Hamman last year. Hamman was one of those who didn't have to run a lot neither to stay where he must.

Sabre

(1) Unlike his brother Mikel. He is the opposite, runs a lot, but has no positioning nor tackling. I have discussed dozens of times with old men in RS ground because they appreciated how much he runs. Fortunately this year he's not playing that position but upper in the field.