Liverpool FC Forum

[Lando_Griffin]

Alonso all the way for me I'm afraid.

[sundy]

Alonso on his day is by far the more complete player,but at the moment masch is the better.

Still go for alonso first

[megabomberman]

I think the macsher is beginning to develop some attacking instincts guys, I see him driving forward with the ball a lot more lately and when liverpool were really flowing just before christmas it was often gerrard who was sitting back deep allowing macsh to surge forward, he's only 23 and we even saw his best attempt on gaol against sunderland at the weekend, I think he's the best bet now and for the future too, xabi just can't run!!

[TwelthMan]

Masch is twice the player of Alonso and consistent! Alonso's passing is seriously overrated - he has a tendancy to do a bit of a Momo and inexplicably pass to the opposition

[god_bless_john_houlding]

Masch is twice the player of Alonso and consistent! Alonso's passing is seriously overrated - he has a tendancy to do a bit of a Momo and inexplicably pass to the opposition

I'd take Alonso's passing over Mascheranho's anyday. Mascheranho is more the Sissoko type who can't pass all that well.

[ConnO'var]

If you compare the 2 of them in in their own right without context to team or current form, I would pick Alonso though the race would be close.

Not considering form but taking into account the current LFC team needs (ie a partner for Stevie).... then it would have to be Mascherano.

Taking current form and plugging it into the equation..... NO CONTEST...... Mascherano every time.

So if it means that we can keep only one, then Mascherano would be my choice.

[bigmick]

Yes there is currently no comparison, Masherano is much the better option of the two if you were to select only one of them. If we are going to stick with the idea of playing Gerrard in the centre, then Alonso should be sold off in the Summer IMHO as it appears we aren't a rich enough club to have players worth in excess of ten million pounds who aren't going to play regularly. Spending the money on genuine first team players has to be the way to go from now on.

If on the other hand we were to move Gerrard out to the right (which has always been my preferred option and I note with interest that it is once again becoming the majority view) then I would keep Alonso. If he were to come close to recapturing his form of the first season he was at the club he would be a "must start" as he is very adept at giving Gerrard the ball in the final third where he can do most damage. At his best, he is obviously as good a passer of a football in the Premiership. If however the form we have seen from him over the last couple of seasons (with occasional exceptions) is as good as it gets, he can rotate with Lucas as Masherano's partner.

Alonso's form over the last couple of seasons is much like rotation in that many fans remain in staunch denial over what they are seeing. Rafa does it not just with rotation, but with the importance of Kuyt too. Thanfully though even he (Rafa) seems to be prepared to believe his own eyes as far as Xabi is concerned, and although I like Alonso very much in the way he conducts himself and in his professional outlook, his form over the last couple of seasons has been light years away from his form in his first season. It just seems futile to me in denying the glaringly obvious. Rafa has apparently seen it too, and as I've said many times it is more that teams have found a way to counter Xabi and that he hasn't managed to find an answer, rather than him actually deteriorating as a player. The worry of course is that given his lack of mobility, the answer may actually be beyond him. For once though I totally agree with the way the manager has handled the situation, Xabi cannot continue to do what he has been doing over the last couple of seasons and expect to play every week. He needs to come well and truly out of the pocket and impose himself much more to be effective.

[66-1112520797]

Still Mascha for me its a no brainer.

Whether or not Alonso is a more complete player I'm not so sure now.

Defensively Mascha wins it hands down for me, no question.

He's much quicker and not as sluggish as Alonso.

He is in actual fact a very good passer of the ball, maybe just short on Alonso but tbph I cannot think of anything else Alonso maybe better on. Yes maybe dictating the tempo of the play, but Gerrard IS able to do that as he was showing when he was pulling the strings in Midfield, Gerrard and Xabi dont work anyhow.

Mascha drives the team forward more in an attacking sense he's shown he's willing to go past players and get to the by-line. For a defensive midfielder thats pretty good iMO.

Has much more stamina, is much fitter and is a better tackler.

Note: To BM, I dont see the majority of people wanting Gerrard back to the right, and even if thats true IMHO their wrong and so are you. We'll never get the best out of Gerrard there, nd all to often he either goes missingh or becomes isolated. Thats been discussed over and over agin on here, plus I wouldnt alter the midfield to allow Alonso back in, its way to negative for my liking you need a central midfiled player willing and capable of bombing on ... Maybe Lucas, but never a Mascha and Alonso parthership through the middle it lacks ideas, creativity and penetration through the middle.

[bigmick]

Note: To BM, I dont see the majority of people wanting Gerrard back to the right, and even if thats true IMHO their wrong and so are you.

I like your style Bamaga, they're wrong and so are you 

[JoeTerp]

but what if it meant a Gerrard Mascha Lucas LM set up then would you be keen?

would be be against it becuase you dont rate Lucas? You rate Pennant very high? you don't think gerrard can cut it on the right ? or are you from the school of thought you have to play your best player in their best position?

[account deleted by request]

I am happy with Gerrard playing Right wing or CM, he has shown that he can cope with either position, I don't like him swopping and changing positions game to game though. Give him a position for the season and play him there, and you will reap the benefits.

Mascherano and Alonso are both great players, but I think Mascherano is more suited to the EPL. Alonso is perhaps better able to cope in Europe than in the frantic pace of the prem.

TBH I can't really understand how there can still be any doubts in peoples minds. Mascherano is turning in great performances week in week out, Alonso has a good game every now and then, but in the main Alonso's relying more and more on the unseen or unsung part of his game.

Time to move on forget any hope of Alonso ever hitting the dizzy heights of years ago and concentrate in getting the best out of Mascherano, Gerrard and Lucas. Maybe we could try Xabi as a sweeper?








Have you got a broom for him Bamaga



Just a joke so don't go sulking Sabre

[JoeTerp]

We tried Alonso at CB in a friendly earlier this year, he didn't look half bad

[RedBlood]

I think its a no-brainer aswell but as ive said be4 i think alonso should be given a pre-season behind him coz be4 injury he was lookin like the old xabi

but if we were tight with funds & think with the main problems being on the wings & upfront even at fullback i think alonso with crouch is r best saleable assist

[Sean]

The pace of the premiership makes it difficult for Xabi to impose himself in midfield.  I reckon Xabi would make a great sweeper.  He has great vision and tremendous passing ability and would be as good as Beckenbauer in the sweeper role.

[god_bless_john_houlding]

Being a huge fan of Lucas which I am, I'd love to see him given a real run in the side, in his rightful central midfield position, along side Gerrard of course. So if that means both Alonso and Mascheranho miss out, then so be it, if they don't like it they know where the door is and we know where the bank is to cash in on the minimum 10 million we'd get for either.