Liverpool FC Forum

by **Sabre** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 4:31 pm

Acknowledged Red37. In the previous post some I was doing some "remembering of positions I've read in newkit", as many members do, but it was not my intention to fuel any fire, I thought my football wind up was lighthearted and not insulting to anyone. I was targeting Ace' on that little football wind up due to a fairly recent discussion we had on Alonso. I apologise.

by **account deleted by request** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 4:35 pm

And I didn't mean BIGHEADED as a reference to the size of anyones head but to the size of their ego

by **Bad Bob** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 4:48 pm

It's ironic that one of our most mild-mannered and affable players sparks such heated discussion. What ever will we argue about if Xabi goes? (he asks naively!)

by **GYBS** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 4:52 pm

Lucas and Kuyt are still here Bob :;):

by **roberto green** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 4:59 pm

Bad Bob wrote: It's ironic that one of our most mild-mannered and affable players sparks such heated discussion. What ever will we argue about if Xabi goes? (he asks naively!)

If Scott Parker is good enough?

by **Bad Bob** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 5:12 pm

GYBS wrote:Lucas and Kuyt are still here Bob

Just had a look at Dundalk's forum index and Dirk's thread is on 121 pages, while Lucas's thread is only on page 58. Lots of growth opportunities there to fill the void in Xabi's absence.

by **Bad Bob** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 5:14 pm

roberto green wrote:
Bad Bob wrote::D It's ironic that one of our most mild-mannered and affable players sparks such heated discussion. What ever will we argue about if Xabi goes? (he asks naively!)

If Scott Parker is good enough?

Yup, that won looks a winner as well.

by **LFC2007** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 6:28 pm

For me, a game like Bolton away would sum up Alonso's attributional value quite well, first half in particular. Everything from his positioning and awareness, which includes the anticipation to receive and the foresight to deliver, to his technical ability - his first touch, turn, timing and weight of pass, were top-notch that day - it was an utterly majestic performance. If the option wasn't one, he retained it, went for the five-yarder and kept it ticking along, like he always does only this time he stepped in and probed more often. He was in a big way responsible for facilitating and crafting the move that led to the first goal - the Kuyt header. A classic example of the type of enabling work our midfield duo undertake, a more specific endorsement of Alonso than Masch on that particular occasion. So too was it the case for the second as he picked Nolan's pocket before laying Torres up for the assist to Gerrard.

On a more general level, he simply dictated the tempo with ease that day; he laid the foundations for our dominance and that is his essential function for us - along with Masch of course. His potential departure risks disrupting the harmony that has developed there and that's why any offer for his services cannot merely reflect his ability relative to other individuals; the centre of the park is the most crucial area of all - get it right there and 99% of the time we will not lose. Moreover, the fluidity such a midfield permits tends to open channels for attack, most not as direct as the slide rule pass you might expect from a Scholes dictating the play, but most are significant enough to enable time and space for a cross from wide - for Riera, or Kuyt - and merely finding these wide players in position with half a yard extra on their opponent has been the difference between a stifled attacking move and a fluid, clinically despatched goal. At other times it has served as the catalyst for lightning-quick counter-attacks. We really have struck an excellent balance between defensive solidity and attacking prowess, it now just needs adjustment, not an overhaul. Johnson's arrival will surely allow for a more fluid right-hand channel, another route that promises yet more attacking threat, though this time an even more direct, fluid one - and one Alonso would duly exploit.

Finally on Alonso the individual, it's his footballing acuity i.e. his reading of the game, and technical mastery set him apart from the sizeable majority of other top-flight midfielders, in my opinion.

by **GYBS** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 6:29 pm

Bad Bob wrote:
GYBS wrote:Lucas and Kuyt are still here Bob

Just had a look at Dundalk's forum index and Dirk's thread is on 121 pages, while Lucas's thread is only on page 58. Lots of growth opportunities there to fill the void in Xabi's absence.

Xabi has done well to overtake Kuyt but im sure kuyt will catch up once the season starts

by **Bammo** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 6:55 pm

Most Kuyt related comments occur in the match day threads...usually why isn't he subbed yet? followed by silence when he scores the last minute winner :laugh:

has Alonso been put into a press conference in asia yet?

by **Bad Bob** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 7:11 pm

Bammo wrote:Most Kuyt related comments occur in the match day threads...usually why isn't he subbed yet? followed by silence when he scores the last minute winner

has Alonso been put into a press conference in asia yet?

No...Rafa's keeping him bound and gagged in his hotel room closet.

by **kopite_1232002** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 7:16 pm

Bad Bob wrote:
Bammo wrote:Most Kuyt related comments occur in the match day threads...usually why isn't he subbed yet? followed by silence when he scores the last minute winner

has Alonso been put into a press conference in asia yet?

No...Rafa's keeping him bound and gagged in his hotel room closet.

lol funny stuff

by **Bad Bob** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 7:17 pm

LFC2007 wrote:For me, a game like Bolton away would sum up Alonso's attributional value quite well, first half in particular. Everything from his positioning and awareness, which includes the anticipation to receive and the foresight to deliver, to his technical ability - his first touch, turn, timing and weight of pass, were top-notch that day - it was an utterly majestic performance. If the option wasn't one, he retained it, went for the five-yarder and kept it ticking along, like he always does only this time he stepped in and probed more often. He was in a big way responsible for facilitating and crafting the move that led to the first goal - the Kuyt header. A classic example of the type of enabling work our midfield duo undertake, a more specific endorsement of Alonso than Masch on that particular occasion. So too was it the case for the second as he picked Nolan's pocket before laying Torres up for the assist to Gerrard.

On a more general level, he simply dictated the tempo with ease that day; he laid the foundations for our dominance and that is his essential function for us - along with Masch of course. His potential departure risks disrupting the harmony that has developed there and that's why any offer for his services cannot merely reflect his ability relative to other individuals; the centre of the park is the most crucial area of all - get it right there and 99% of the time we will not lose. Moreover, the fluidity such a midfield permits tends to open channels for attack, most not as direct as the slide rule pass you might expect from a Scholes dictating the play, but most are significant enough to enable time and space for a cross from wide - for Riera, or Kuyt - and merely finding these wide players in position with half a yard extra on their opponent has been the difference between a stifled attacking move and a fluid, clinically despatched goal. At other times it has served as the catalyst for lightning-quick counter-attacks. We really have struck an excellent balance between defensive solidity and attacking prowess, it now just needs adjustment, not an overhaul. Johnson's arrival will surely allow for a more fluid right-hand channel, another route that promises yet more attacking threat, though this time an even more direct, fluid one - and one Alonso would duly exploit.

Finally on Alonso the individual, it's his footballing acuity i.e. his reading of the game, and technical mastery set him apart from the sizeable majority of other top-flight midfielders, in my opinion.

Good post, mate. I've highlighted the part that relates back to what I was gesturing at earlier. Now, I appreciate when Xabi delivers those raking crossfield balls from a sheer aesthetic point of view--it's a thing of beauty in its own right--but I appreciate them even more for their role in switching play and giving our wide players more time and space on the ball. It doesn't always lead to goals (and some might argue it doesn't often enough) but it provides a platform for a potential goal-scoring opportunity. For that reason, it would be a shame to lose Xabi just as Johnson is arriving, as I think that combination could be the key to unlocking a few miserly defenses.

by **heimdall** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 8:26 pm

GYBS wrote:
Bad Bob wrote:
GYBS wrote:Lucas and Kuyt are still here Bob

Just had a look at Dundalk's forum index and Dirk's thread is on 121 pages, while Lucas's thread is only on page 58. Lots of growth opportunities there to fill the void in Xabi's absence.

Xabi has done well to overtake Kuyt but im sure kuyt will catch up once the season starts

If Kuyt was dithering over a move then I'm sure he's be on plenty more pages, anyway if you ad up all the posts about Kuyt then I bet it adds up to a hell of a lot more than the posts about Xabi and Lucas isn't important enough to write about, I do hope he improves next season though.

by **ElNino9** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 8:38 pm

We need him to improve coz we don't have the funds to keep buying average players.

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