Liverpool FC Forum

[Toffeehater]

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

and that was a friendly mate ... WWe'll be like chelsea , playing essein in defence

Masch is better then alonso defensively , he's quicker , he reads the game better , he get solid tackles in , All masch needs  to work on is his shot and passing , One which alonso excels in , sad to say his passing and shooting have become sluggish now . Masch and gerrard would be my and most of our prefered central midfield pairing . WIt masch around , gerrard can attack but with alonso , he doesn't know whether to attack or defend . Alonso is a central midfielder not a DMC unlike masch

[redhayesy]

Very very difficult but if I was pushed to choose.


Maschereno for me.

He's total quality.

good to see yer back doddy! please, please, mate
get the oppo thread back again,i"m sure i speak for
alot of the people on here, as for the poll sorry
to sit on the fence here i say keep both, & play them
to their strenghs ie -depending on the game also
if we are home or away, cl games etc, imho
i regard both players in the highest esteme
both have vital roles maschereno is made for
the cl, alonso for his ability to unlock defences
with the killer pass. both total quality

[RedBlood]

Interesting comment above about Alonso and the strength in his legs. While watching Argentina in the recent copa, i noticed Mascherano came in for some stick from a few 'hefty' tackles by the opposition...the lad gets up and gets on with it more often than not (Likewise Alonso). But look at the girth of Mascherano's Calves next time - they are unbelievably well built.

gay 

where's gay lad?  im on about his physical stature.

loool thats even more gay

u bi gay bod

i would play themboth as there both world cass

on current form i would pick mascherano but when alonso gets his form back it would be a difficult choice
there both world classmso make room for them both and give steve a free role or play him on the right

[The_Rock]

Sell alonso only if...(and a BIG IF)....:

1)We buy a world class winger with that money
or
2)We buy a world class striker with that money

If rafa buys 2 or 3 squad players....then i rather we keep alonso.

[Big Niall]

The Alonso of two years ago would suit our needs more than Masch so he would get the nod from me, but he seems to lost form for a long time now. I'd love to seem back to his old self. As we have no right wingers   we could then have an inform Alonso and Masch in the middle and SG on the right - sell some of the dross - pennant, gonzales, kewell etc

[god_bless_john_houlding]

The Alonso of two years ago would suit our needs more than Masch so he would get the nod from me, but he seems to lost form for a long time now. I'd love to seem back to his old self. As we have no right wingers   we could then have an inform Alonso and Masch in the middle and SG on the right - sell some of the dross - pennant, gonzales, kewell etc

gonzalez, hasn't he already gone?

I don't agree with selling Pennant, he's a good player and a natural winger. Gerrard is likely to drift here, there and everywhere so it's still playing without a right winger. Left wing we need a top out and out winger unless Leto or any of the kids are going to be given a go.

[europian-kings]

since alonso arrivr here i have had in name of all my shirts home and away.
but after watching machcherano he too has become a favourite of mine.
alonso scores goals and is a player deffo worthy of a starting eleven place, but me being a defensive midfielder myself mascherano has become a bit of an idol for me so i have gone with mash.

[66-1112520797]

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?

I am from the school of thought that you play your best players in their best positions. For instance I dont see shoving Carra over to full back a very good idea to give Skertel a game. Play them together and drop Sammi, but dont push yor best center half over jist to accomodate somebody else.

Same with Gerrard, people on here still suggest he is better on the right. He isnt, his best position is in the center of midfield. A similar circumstance to that of Jamie Carragher, I wouldnt bring Alonso back in alongside Mascha for two reasons. The first being why should our best player be sacrificed out wide to accomodate somebody else. The second being that Alonso and Mascha are to negative IMO, thus there wouldnt be any imputus from the center of midfield to get forward and score.
I believe you need a balance their in midfield, the one Mascha and Gerrard perfectly have at the minute.

For the record I dont rate Pennant "very high" he's a decent player, who has put in some good performances recently and before his injury. I would rate him "very high" if he were to add goals to his game, thats his biggest dissapointment IMO.

I would much prefer though Pennant got a game on the right and Gerrard in the center than, Alonso in the center and Gerrard on the right. Pennant still has those mazy runs and does go about his work willingly. Its a shame because Pennant is a great provider from wide and likes to whip in crosses, but unfortunately with Crouch not getting the opportunites he should be getting, the prospect of Pennant putting them on a plate for Crouch (though he isnt the best header of the ball, but still an aerial threat to some extent) make this link up dead in the water.

If people would rather see Gerrard there (RM) than in the central position because he is better than anything we have got out wide, then surely the case of Rafa's buying in the transfer market should come into question.

It certainly does on the left anyway for me, he has tried Aurelio who IMO isnt good enough to play lft mid and of course is injury prone like arry Kewell. He has brought in Benayoun who again like Pennant is a decent run of the meal Premiership player but a LM Never. Same with the eleven million ponds spent of Ryan Babel who by all accounts is a striker ? Go figure.

So we have tried the round pegs in square holes for sometime now. Why not give Lucas ago their. I said before you play your best players in their best positions, Lucas though has got some way to go before he dislodges eith Gerrard or Mascha IMO. I'd give him the chance, and see as he is rated so highly on here, give him the 'Gerrard license to roam role' he could be quite capable of that. It was his first game their against Sunderland and he didnt have the best of games unsuprisingly, but I watched his movement off the ball and it did look very intelligent as he cut inside from out wide and picked up positions between their midfield and attack. Of course he is better on the ball than what we saw and that will help, and I think he'll help out his fullback (defensively) more than the like of Babel, Benayoun and Kewell would.

So I'd give him another go there for sure.

[Fowler_E7]

Still Alonso for me, has so much more to his game than Mascherano. Preferably id like to see Alonso, Mascherano and Gerrard all together somehow, maybe in a 4-3-3 as i think we have good players for that system, or possibly 4-4-2 with Gerrard on the right.

I just think with Gerrard and Mascherano its to stagnant sometimes as that system relys on Gerrard to do all the creating as Mascherano couldnt create or score a goal if he had a gun to his head. He's a great player but offers nothing going forward and cant do more than keep it simple really, but in certain games you need more, and with Alonso no matter how badly he maybe be playing he always makes something happen, by spreading the play, making through balls and balls in the box, relieving the pressure on Gerrard.

[Lando_Griffin]

In my opinion, we as a team are at our best when Alonso, Mascherano AND Gerrard are all on the pitch.

I see this as our best line-up, assuming everyone is fit:

                                               Reina

               Finnan            Carragher     Agger          Arbeloa

Gerrard                Alonso                        Mascherano                Kewell

                                     Crouch

                                                   Torres.


The only doubt for me is whether or not Crouch should keep Benayoun or Babel out of the team.

[Lando_Griffin]

But Alonso is still the better player.

[ConnO'var]

But Alonso is still the better player.

When both are on form..... I agree completely.

As said in a much earlier thread, I believe that Xabi was bought to build a team around..... as Rafa felt that Stevie may leave.

If Stevie had left, It's my belief that Rafa would have formulated a team around Xabi, with 2 defensive midfielders, 2 out and out wingers and an in-the hole 5th midfielder with a great big hulking centre forward.... a-la Valencia.

When that didn't happen, Rafa was left scratching his head on how to fit in Stevie into the system he preferred..... as he's neither a defensive midfielder, winger or creative attacking midfielder. Without a second holding midfielder, Rafa may be afraid to overcommit with 2 wingers as he may feel that his defense will not have adequate cover.

It's pure conjecture of course, but I think that this maybe what Rafa had envisaged when he 1st came.

                  Reina

Finnan    Carra    Agger    Aurelio

Simao*   Alonso  Masch*  Malouda*
               Garcia/Aimar*

              Drogba/Carew*

* - Indicates players of that mold.

[Toffeehater]

In my opinion, we as a team are at our best when Alonso, Mascherano AND Gerrard are all on the pitch.

I see this as our best line-up, assuming everyone is fit:

                                               Reina

               Finnan            Carragher     Agger          Arbeloa

Gerrard                Alonso                        Mascherano                Kewell

                                     Crouch

                                                   Torres.


The only doubt for me is whether or not Crouch should keep Benayoun or Babel out of the team.

We all know u're a big alonso fan and i want to ask u this , what has alonso done in his past 2 seasons to warrant himself a place in the starting line up?? He has had his chances and has not taken them??

[cavehill-reds]

Went for Alonso. For me he just shades it over Mascherano, although both have strong and weak points to thier game it makes it a hard choice

[66-1112520797]

But Alonso is still the better player.

No f.cuking way, not on your nelly.