Liverpool FC Forum

by **account deleted by request** » Mon May 28, 2007 11:28 am

I think we would miss Alonso, but not as much as we missed having a prolific striker last season.Given the option of Alonso or a great striker (Eto'o) I would take the striker. At the moment I feel we only have 4 "untouchables", Reina, Carra, Gerrard, Mascherano(I don't think we could sell him anyway). Alonso falls into the second group, players I wouldnt "like " to sell.

by **aCe'** » Mon May 28, 2007 11:48 am

just wrote a big as.s reply but clicked back by mistake and is all gone...
ill make it brief...

- Xabi hasnt been consistent as many suggest... dips in forms... this season was nowhere near his best... and looked an average player at times...

- His abilities are unquestionable.. passing is second to none... but he doesnt make the most off his abilities... he is still developing as a footballer and cant see him being rotated constantly working in his favor... the smart decision for him would be to agree to a move to any of Readlmadrid,Barcelona, or even Juventus... where he would start week in week out... improve their squads and probably improve as a player...
I really expect him to shine if he signs for barcelona... to becaome the player he failed to become in liverpool... blame the tactics or whatever... he didnt offer much in the offensive end and didnt dictate the tempo as you would expect him to..

- with mascherano in the squad and gerrard bound to start in the centre of the park (reasonable assumption?) i think out of the 2 id play mascherano alongside the skipper more often than not to provide a better balance in the team...

- Alonso is a rank above anything we have bar Gerrard IN TERMS OF ABILITY... yet his overall contributions in the team have not been enough this season... His passing ability is rarely made of use when going forward and his positiona sense in the final third has been very very dissapointing to state the obvious...again...tactics or not...i shall never know !

- all in all... id be dissapointed if he leaves because i realize hes a great player to have in the squad....in a perfect world we'd keep him..sissoko..gerrard...mascherano...lucas...all of them... but this seems rather unfair to him, and i believe he realizes that he is an important stage in is career... BUT... i dont think we'd miss him as much if we had quality players in our squad in different positions (what we seem to be aiming to do) and makes no mistake about it.. Mascherano is QUALITY and fis in BRILLIANTLY !

by **bigmick** » Mon May 28, 2007 11:52 am

We'd definately miss Alonso in my opinion as he's one of our best players. That said, whether or not he should be allowed to leave largely depends upon our capability in the transfer market. If, for instance we need to sell Alonso in order to pay for Samuel Eto, or alternatively we can sign Darren Bent and keep Xabi, then I've got to be honest and say that the need for a really World Class striker would probably lead me to cash in on the Spaniard. He is after all one of the few players we have who would command a huge fee (in excess of fifteen million pounds, Gerrard and possibly Carragher are the only other two) and if we really need the cash, then out of the three he is the one who would appear to be most expendable to me.

My hope of course is that we will have the funds to stregthen in one position without the need to weaken in another, but if we haven't then somebody is going to have to make a very hard call indeed. One thing is for certain, we really could with a top class striker of the Henri/Eto level and if it comes down to it, we won't be selling Gerrard or Carragher to fund it.

by **aCe'** » Mon May 28, 2007 12:00 pm

s@int wrote:I think we would miss Alonso, but not as much as we missed having a prolific striker last season.Given the option of Alonso or a great striker (Eto'o) I would take the striker. At the moment I feel we only have 4 "untouchables", Reina, Carra, Gerrard, Mascherano(I don't think we could sell him anyway). Alonso falls into the second group, players I wouldnt "like " to sell.

agree with what you said but... to me.. atm... pennant seems pretty untouchable ! no ? we need what he offers in the right flank... wee seem lost when he doesnt start against many sides and are often calling for him to be brought in to give us that extra edge in the attacking front.. with Kewell injured... he was the only player in Liverpool Fc who could run at a guy... dribble past him.. and put a dangerous cross in !
Y he ddnt come up with more assists ? strikers with bad positioning (kuyt) our best options not starting regularly (crouch) pennant not given the chance when he had proven himself -for tactical reasons

-
he made a difference when he played and it was god to see him performing the way he did by the end of the season... how he missed out on that right wing slot for england with lennon injured i shall never know... would have personally put him ahead of lennon with regard to the form of the two at the final stages of the season.
if we dont sign a class right winger next season... and alonso does end up leaving... i expect pennant starting week in week out if hes fit...
to put it loud and clear... hes a better option in the right wing than gerrard is... and gerrard is needed in the center anyways!

by **RedorDead** » Mon May 28, 2007 12:06 pm

bigmick wrote:We'd definately miss Alonso in my opinion as he's one of our best players. That said, whether or not he should be allowed to leave largely depends upon our capability in the transfer market. If, for instance we need to sell Alonso in order to pay for Samuel Eto, or alternatively we can sign Darren Bent and keep Xabi, then I've got to be honest and say that the need for a really World Class striker would probably lead me to cash in on the Spaniard. He is after all one of the few players we have who would command a huge fee (in excess of fifteen million pounds, Gerrard and possibly Carragher are the only other two) and if we really need the cash, then out of the three he is the one who would appear to be most expendable to me.

My hope of course is that we will have the funds to stregthen in one position without the need to weaken in another, but if we haven't then somebody is going to have to make a very hard call indeed. One thing is for certain, we really could with a top class striker of the Henri/Eto level and if it comes down to it, we won't be selling Gerrard or Carragher to fund it.

That post really sums up what I was trying to say.....for me the overwhelming need is for a truly top striker, not a Bellamy, Bent or Defoe but a truly lethal finisher of the calibre of Owen in his peak, Henry or van Nistlerooy.
I do not want to see Xabi leave, I truly am a very big fan, but if he is to be offered as part ex for Eto'o for example then I would be more excited at what was to come from Eto'o then lamenting over the loss of Alonso.

by **Sabre** » Mon May 28, 2007 12:08 pm

Well some posters think that a situation without Alonso and a world class striker might be better.

My opinion is that LFC has already been in that situation, with Gerrard, and Carraguer, and Owen.

Enough said about that. Personally I think that striker is a important position, so is the holding midfielder. And personally I think LFC must think bigger and wishing to bring as many quality players as possible, and keep their good players.

If it's true that Juventus or Barcelona want SIssoko, then that kind of player will give us a decent money aswell, and he's replaceable. But the likes of Carraguer, Reina, Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano? please don't.

If I was an Alonso supporter I'd say féck off to everybody and someone else will appreciate the player. But if I have to give an opinion that thinks in the good of LFC, I must say keep all the good players we have. MONEY SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE, now we have new owners, should it?

by **dawson99** » Mon May 28, 2007 12:12 pm

wed cope without but we are not a selling club. players should aspire to play for us. if alonso wants to go thats one thing, but to sell him when he doesnt is compeltely pointless if you ask me.

by **Sabre** » Mon May 28, 2007 12:17 pm

Agreed Dawson. If Alonso is tempted to go to Barcelona, then I'd personally say "féck off" to him the next time I see him.

I really hope he APPRECIATES the club he has made him famous in Europe and has brougth him to the national squad. But the club should want to keep their best playerSS.

by **66-1112520797** » Mon May 28, 2007 12:19 pm

My opinion is that LFC has already been in that situation, with Gerrard, and Carraguer, and Owen.

Enough said about that

But we didnt have Benitez as our manager. Enough said about that.

wed cope without but we are not a selling club. players should aspire to play for us. if alonso wants to go thats one thing, but to sell him when he doesnt is compeltely pointless if you ask me.

I'd agree with that mate.

by **Sabre** » Mon May 28, 2007 12:23 pm

I meant no disrespect to Carra and Steve. Steve is world class, the best player of LFC, and Carra is a legend. But they cannot win all by themselves. They need to be surrounded by great players too, and a good manager of course.

by **account deleted by request** » Mon May 28, 2007 12:23 pm

Sabre wrote:Well some posters think that a situation without Alonso and a world class striker might be better.

My opinion is that LFC has already been in that situation, with Gerrard, and Carraguer, and Owen.

Enough said about that. Personally I think that striker is a important position, so is the holding midfielder. And personally I think LFC must think bigger and wishing to bring as many quality players as possible, and keep their good players.

If it's true that Juventus or Barcelona want SIssoko, then that kind of player will give us a decent money aswell, and he's replaceable. But the likes of Carraguer, Reina, Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano? please don't.

If I was an Alonso supporter I'd say féck off to everybody and someone else will appreciate the player. But if I have to give an opinion that thinks in the good of LFC, I must say keep all the good players we have. MONEY SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE, now we have new owners, should it?

Money is always an "issue" even for Chelsea, and I don't think we are going to see Gillette and Hicks acting like Abramovich. Its a balancing act even though we are "not a selling club", sometimes you have to make sacrifices where you are strongest, to improve in areas where you are weaker. If we had 5 top quality strikers and only 3 midfielders maybe we would be selling a striker to get a good midfielder. As the situation is reversed we may have to sell a midfield player to get a better striker.

Again its not always about selling your worst midfield player, but sometimes its better to sell a player on a high contract, or who's contract is running down, or doesn't fit in with your team, or who may be homesick etc etc.

by **66-1112520797** » Mon May 28, 2007 12:24 pm

Sabre wrote:I meant no disrespect to Carra and Steve. Steve is world class, the best player of LFC, and Carra is a legend. But they cannot win all by themselves. They need to be surrounded by great players too, and a good manager of course.

I know you meant no disrespect, and I agree with what you've just said.

by **RedorDead** » Mon May 28, 2007 12:27 pm

Sabre wrote:I meant no disrespect to Carra and Steve. Steve is world class, the best player of LFC, and Carra is a legend. But they cannot win all by themselves. They need to be surrounded by great players too, and a good manager of course.

And they would also need world class strikers to put the ball in the back of the net, something we havn't had for three seasons now. Kuyt and Crouch are great "second" strikers but we need that deadly finisher to make a serious assault on the premiership.
For me Gerrard in the middle is better paired with Mascherano or Sissoko then he would be with Alonso and I personally would always pick Gerrard over Alonso to start in the middle, so that said would it not be worth swapping Alonso and a few quid for Eto'o who could truly make a difference?

by **bigmick** » Mon May 28, 2007 12:29 pm

Well as I said in my post Sabes, I hope money isn't an issue and if so I would keep our very best players, of which Alonso is one. If however, the Americans turn round and say the kitty can stretch to say £25 million, then we probably are going to need to get some money in through sales.

As you point out, Sissoko if it is true he is being watched by some of the biggest clubs in the land (and it probably is as he is the most destructive ball-winning midfield player around) may fetch double figures of millions, and this may bridge the gap.

Similarly, Bellamy would seem to be on his way and would probably command a fee similar to which we paid for him, so there would be another 6-7 million, alternatively or as well as Crouch who would probably fetch 10-12 in the close season, so there are other options. Alonso though remains an option, particularly if we need the funds to allow us to pick up a really top-class striker.

One last thing, the Carragher/Gerrard/Owen argument doesn't really stack up to be honest. Liverpool were managed by Houllier then and were vastly inferior to Rafa's team of today, not in the same class. Carragher was not a regular starter at centre-back (credit to Rafa for bringing that about) and the three of them were surrounded by abject mediocrity. In no way shape or form could you have put an argument forward at that time which suggested we were a player or two away from making a challenge, as most do now.

Ultimately it's all a question of balance really. Clearly the midfield is by a distance the strogest area of the squad, and if it's necessary to weaken that a little in order to significantly strengthen elsewhere, then we may have to amke a hard decision with one or two midfielders. We can't after all play 3-6-1 very often.

The money issue is an interesting one, as the squad is numerically light in a couple of not so obvious areas which urgently need addressing and which will cost plenty of money. Obviously we need a new goalkeeper as an undertudy to Reina if Carson is to be sold and that other gadgy is the best we've got in reserve. Similarly, even if Hyppia stays we look to me like we need another centre back (how Rafa must wish now that he had recieved the prompt backing from the board he needed when he wanted to sign Vidic, what a miss that has proved to be). Given we are going to build a new stadium, I for one think it's unlikely these blokes are going to stick in £50 million or something, so unfortunately something may have to give.

by **66-1112520797** » Mon May 28, 2007 12:31 pm

RedorDead wrote:
Sabre wrote:I meant no disrespect to Carra and Steve. Steve is world class, the best player of LFC, and Carra is a legend. But they cannot win all by themselves. They need to be surrounded by great players too, and a good manager of course.

And they would also need world class strikers to put the ball in the back of the net, something we havn't had for three seasons now. Kuyt and Crouch are great "second" strikers but we need that deadly finisher to make a serious assault on the premiership.
For me Gerrard in the middle is better paired with Mascherano or Sissoko then he would be with Alonso and I personally would always pick Gerrard over Alonso to start in the middle, so that said would it not be worth swapping Alonso and a few quid for Eto'o who could truly make a difference?

I dont think Kuyt is what we need either but thats another tangent altogether. I'd rather keep Xabi than Kuyt.

I dont think Bellamy is what we need either, I'd only hang on to Crouch personally. Fowler, Kuyt and Bellamy could all go in my book.

Our strikers are the weakest link in the team.

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