Alonso: I am staying

[Kurt]

Originally Posted by MLB

I would sell him anyway if we get a decent offer. People who go on about how good he is are deluding themselves. He hasn't been good in at least two seasons.

I look at it the same way.

I have come to the conclusion that Xabi is a player we can manage without. He has really underperformed for some time and can be replaced. For all his brilliant passing ability, he rarely manage to use it in good effect for the team, and is really not offering us much going forward, and his dwelling on the ball and lack of mobility too often leave us vulnerable and exposed in defence.

Im not surprised he played well against Chelsea though as he seems to have developed a real hatred ( and rightly so ) for the cheating scumbags from London. But he cant maintain that level of agression week out week in.

The Xabi we got to know in his first season here was undropable, but he has never managed to reach that level again, and how many seasons can we accept him underperforming?

Like the decision to sell Fowler ( as painful as it was ) proved to be a wise decision, i believe selling Xabi (As painful as it may turn out to be aswell-he is such a loveable fella )while he still has a high market value also will prove to be a wise move.

[bobhorse]

Originally Posted by aarongroves103

people go on about alonso and how good a passer of the ball he is but he offers nothing in attack...

when was the last time he A) Scored B) had an assist?

Dont get me wrong, i think alonso is a cracking player, well, he was in the frist season but unfortunaly teams have worked him out. With him and mascherano our only attacking threat comes from torres through gerrard and so natrually we become predictable.

In the first season he seemed to get so much time on the ball, but now teams tend to close him down from making that killer pass ie against spurs in his first seasons.

He sits far to deep to be an attacking threat... if we get an offer of 12 million + i wouldnt be upset to see him leave.

That could be put towards some quality wingers which as its been repeated so many times, i what we desperately need.

Quite clearly rafa has confidence in young Lucas and im sure next season he'll begin to shine.

You could say the same thing about Carra and likewise that might be unfair the fact Alonso gets a shirt means he is doing the role that Rafa has asked him to perform and that role might not be to score goals

And Harry Kewell seems to have had a good run at the club for a man who's role it is to do both the thinks you state at the club and yet ?

[aarongroves103]

Originally Posted by bobhorse

You could say the same thing about Carra and likewise that might be unfair the fact Alonso gets a shirt means he is doing the role that Rafa has asked him to perform and that role might not be to score goals

And Harry Kewell seems to have had a good run at the club for a man who's role it is to do both the thinks you state at the club and yet ?

Yeah, i take you're point - you could apply that to a lot of the squad but come on.. you can't say that Pennant, Xabi, Lucas, MAscherano, Carra at al dont score/create opportunities because of the role that rafa sets them.

How many times do you see jermaine cut inside and get into a decent scoring opportunity...

Xabi has never offered anything in attack. Sad, but true.

it wouldnt bother me if carra never scored again - the guys an immense player, hugely underrated by the english media and its only when you watch him week in week out that you begin to realise just how good he is.

[Rashid]

The same clowns were backing Rafa with "Xabi is out, he is crucial". hang your heads in shame lads.

[aarongroves103]

whats your point?

[Crazyhorse7778]

Xabi's game really isn't about goals or assists, although they do help, his main role is to dictate the tempo and to quickly give the possession to Gerrard in space so he can then play the killer pass, usually to Torres.

I'm over-simplifying it, but you get the jist.

[Newport]

Originally Posted by Crazyhorse7778

Xabi's game really isn't about goals or assists, although they do help, his main role is to dictate the tempo and to quickly give the possession to Gerrard in space so he can then play the killer pass, usually to Torres.

I'm over-simplifying it, but you get the jist.

Yep, he's the oil in our engine. Without him it stops running right.

[Glen C]

I'd sell alonso in a heartbeat. He had one amazing season and he's in general very average and has yet to repeat the first season consistently. He can't handle being closed down and holds onto the ball sometimes for too long and sometimes get caught in possession just outside our box(happened again at stamford bridge). He's too slow, and not very mobile and he's just started doing a lot of sideway passing. We need someone who's stronger, faster and more mobile, and that player isn't alonso.

[Ged B]

Originally Posted by Section_31

He's a class player but he's also one of our most sellable assets, I don't think he'll have much say in the final outcome to be quite frank.

He's got loads of ability, but I can't remember the last time he was my man of the match, and he hasn't been himself for 18 months plus.

And if you've got any pretentions at all of becoming a great side, you simply can't afford to carry passangers.

Spot on that.
There's no doubt Xabi is a very talented footballer but he has underachieved for the past two years as far as i'm concerned.
He needs to get back to the form of his first season and hold that form longterm, otherwise the option of cashing in on him whilst his value is still high will become a valid one.

[bossy]

I for one am proud to call myself a fan of Alonso's.

[Scouse Missionary]

At his best, with time and space to pick his pass, then he is phenomenal. But he hasn't been at his best for 18 months, he constantly wears an expression that appears unhappy, and other teams close him down quickly because he lacks pace. On Wed night there were a number of occasions when he was caught in possession in areas that were very dangerous for us. If he stays, he really needs to get his head together. He needs the type of talking to Usher gave Didi after his initial spell. Remember how poor Didi was for the first 8-12 months? Then he knuckled down and became indispensible. We need a similar improvement from Xabi.

[El Rojo]

Dunno what to make of this one.

He's a fantastic professional and a cracking lad, but I just don't know if he has a part to play in a genuine title challenge.

That said, I'd have even more reservations over Barry.

[aws]

I don't want him to go but I'll believe he's staying when he's still here after the window has closed.

[cochcaer]

He's underperformed for some time, but Barry filling his shoes wouldn't fill me with optimism. I'd rather see Plessis and Spearing promoted and strengthen the flanks.

[Strontium Dog]

I love Xabi but his lack of pace is a problem we've never really solved.

[Crazyhorse7778]

Originally Posted by Strontium Dog

I love Xabi but his lack of pace is a problem we've never really solved.

Barry wouldn't solve this problem either, as he is about one notch quicker than Xabi.

[xabi the red]

I blame the premiership more than xabi.

[Moo]

I've not taken the Barry link too seriously, although I probably should.
As I said earlier I'd let Xabi go if we have to sell to buy, but not replace him with Barry. The money should be spent elsewhere.

[Carra_is_legend]

Originally Posted by Strontium Dog

I love Xabi but his lack of pace is a problem we've never really solved.

If we have enough pace in the flanks and defence, lack of pace in the middle will hardly matter.

[john23liverpool]

I used to think Xabi was a superb player for us but he just hasnt been doing the business the last couple of years. Before you all start getting on my back, look at the facts.

Premier league
Alonso - played 16, scored 2, assists 1.
Lucas - played 11, scored 0, assists 5.
Barry - played 35, scored 8, assists 10.

This isnt good enough from xabi in my opinion. one assist? for a player with his passing capabilities that is a joke really. I am a fan of Xabi's in general, he was amazing when he first came, but on this form he just isnt good enough to play for liverpool if we want to move up the table next season unless he improves.

Even shit players like david dunn has more assists than alonso with 6, and tom huddelstone has more with 7.