Bad Bob wrote:Bam wrote:I think Mick has hit the nail largely on the head concerning Alonso moving out of the "pocket" more. Last season TBH I thought by and large he was dissapointing and TBH was pretty poor in the bulk of games. I can see a significant improvement in his game, he's more influential during a match now. His movement is more positive as oppossed to the kind of static positioning of last season. Which of course made him easier to press and nulify during a game and therefore becoming ineffective when in possession.
Whether or not Rafa looking to offload him, was the rocket up the @rse he needed to prove Rafa wrong I dont know. It looks as though its only had a positive effect on his game, and of course not being rotated in and out of fixtures willy nilly will only help to. But IMO he looks a little more adventurous in his play this year, and as said already to which Mick has pointed out is because he's moved out of the "pocket".
This may be an interesting addition to the Gerrard debate because, IMO, Alonso has looked to move out of the pocket more when partnered with Gerrard this season in a midfield 4. I can't recall how he did in his earlier partnerships with Masch but against Man City they looked, at times, to be back to playing within 10 feet of each other. Mick identified this as one of the problems with Alonso's game last season and it's especially apparent when we play 4-2-3-1 with Gerrard ahead of both Masch and Alonso. Perhaps this is a clear indication that 4-4-2 gets the most out of our central midfielders by giving them space to move into, even if it means that one of them has to be sat down. For me, Gerrard is nailed on barring injury or a truly disastrous dip in form. That leaves picking one from Masch and Alonso to partner him and I would give who ever's on form a run of games, while the other needs to work hard in training, bide his time and make a strong claim to be first choice when given a chance to play.
I dont mind either midfield the four or the five personally. As Alonso when played in the five certainly looks likehe's in his own "comfort" zone, sitting. With Gerrard playing ahead of both Mascha and Alonso, I personally think (and could be wrong of course) Xabi could find perhaps even more space as the oppo's midfield and defence will pick up Gerrard aswell as Torres. Both Gerrard and Nando would possibly make a little more room for Xabi to exploit as the oppo's tactical set-up would be to stop Gerrard and Torres first and foremost in their defensive quest. With them being pre-occupied with Nando and Gerrard Alonso may well be able to move inbetween the lines and cause added problems for their defence, baring of course it doesnt get to conjested.
But TBH I dont think its as neccesary in that formation for Alonso to do that (venture forward). Certainly though and like he has been showing in a flat 4 mid. He'll need to help out Gerrard more and as you say, be within 10-15 yards or so of his man more often than not. Whether that be defending or attacking, but Alonso has been a much more pivitol figure in games recently and if he's on form like you say he should remain in the team until Mascha or anyone else earns the right to be their.
