Liverpool FC Forum

[aCe']

Totally agree... his presence is immense ! And with alonso passing them around and sissoko chasing it when we lose it, gerrard gets to play hhis best game if he's played alongside both ! i wouldnt fancy us leaving out sissoko in the bench as some suggested ! I know rafa bought Pennant and got Gonzales and all but sissoko would always be first team for me unless we sign someone absolutely brilliant and has to play . Gerrard/alonso are the only two in midfield now that know for sure that they are in the first 11 whenever fit.. with sissoko thats 3 !

[Macca]

Doesn't matter who Rafa decides to drop for certain games next season whether it be Momo, Pennant, Zenden, Xabi or Gerrard it just goes to show how strong we are at the moment in the midfield area and thats without replacing Hamman

Rafa loves his possibilities remember he likes to rotate a lot

[48-1119859832]

As brilliant as he is, at home against the likes of Aston Villa, Man City, Fulham and the rest of the 'not-good-enough-to-pass-through-us-&-not-strong-enough-to-frighten-us' sides he isn't really that much of an importance. We could go with Stevie, Chabby and two attacking wingers and still win the games quite comfortably.

StMike,I think you're getting a bit carried away here. You can't go into these "lesser" matches thinking it will be a walk over, hence the Fulham and Charlton results, not to mention the poor start we had against Boro and Spurs at the beginning of the season. Gerrard had his best season (in my book) on the right flank where he often drifted into the middle. Alonso's & Sissoko's partnership is superb and I don't think Rafa should take a gamble on the Gerrard & Alonso partnership, which lets face it, may not be tested enough, but it looks like the partnership of Lampard and Gerrard for England.

I think we should stick with the centre mid partnership that worked so well last season and leave Gerrard on the right flank, there's no point changing what doesn't need to be changed.

On a side note, I doubt Sissoko could come on and have the same impact Hamann did, but I suppose we shall see over the course of the season, now that we have a much larger squad.

[aCe']

As brilliant as he is, at home against the likes of Aston Villa, Man City, Fulham and the rest of the 'not-good-enough-to-pass-through-us-&-not-strong-enough-to-frighten-us' sides he isn't really that much of an importance. We could go with Stevie, Chabby and two attacking wingers and still win the games quite comfortably.

StMike,I think you're getting a bit carried away here. You can't go into these "lesser" matches thinking it will be a walk over, hence the Fulham and Charlton results, not to mention the poor start we had against Boro and Spurs at the beginning of the season. Gerrard had his best season (in my book) on the right flank where he often drifted into the middle. Alonso's & Sissoko's partnership is superb and I don't think Rafa should take a gamble on the Gerrard & Alonso partnership, which lets face it, may not be tested enough, but it looks like the partnership of Lampard and Gerrard for England.

I think we should stick with the centre mid partnership that worked so well last season and leave Gerrard on the right flank, there's no point changing what doesn't need to be changed.

On a side note, I doubt Sissoko could come on and have the same impact Hamann did, but I suppose we shall see over the course of the season, now that we have a much larger squad.

well said.... If we are to win the title, we need to beat the likes of AstonVilla and ManCity .. which i think arent as 'not good enough' as you seem to rate them ! For Rafa.. it has always been "dont concede" then "score"... not the other way around ! Xabi is a good footballer. not quite the best tackler ! Sissoko is a great tackler and his presence alongside Alonso only adds to Alonso's game ! if we put gerrard and alonso in centermidfield, we take away from gerrard's game a hell lot and from Alonso's too ! I see no point in doing that, i'd rather  we beat Fulham and ManCity (1-0) than battle our way through a (4-3) !

[Reinas No.1 Fan]

Garcia is just a waste of space anywhere on the field.

Thats come right out your mate.

Garcia has scored 25 goals in to seasons, most from playing in midfield (not his best position) or coming off the bench.

If we do not sign another striker, Garcia will be used in his proper position (supporting striker) alot more this season.

Dont get me wrong even tho he is Rafas signing and he is spanish i dont think he will start all the time, but saying that most of his goals last year he scored after coming on from the bench.

[KRobbo]

Also if it wasn't for garcia with his goals in the CL we might not be singing we won it 5 times, Garcia i think will be more used as a squad player coming of the bench and giving other players a rest and playing as a 2nd striker as also in midfield

[bigmick]

When you think it was only February this year that this topic was started, it just goes to show what absolutely unbelieveable progress the bloke has made. He did things today that many (including me) wouldn't have believed possible only six months ago.
I ask the question now. Is there a more destructive midfield player in the Premeirship today?

[ALONSO]

I have never seen a player with such energy. I think he should continue to be a first team regular imo he has made that center midfield spot his own. No I don't think there is a more destructive player in the premiership, he's only 21 too. I reckon he's gonna be an absolute legend.

[adamnbarrett]

When you think it was only February this year that this topic was started, it just goes to show what absolutely unbelieveable progress the bloke has made. He did things today that many (including me) wouldn't have believed possible only six months ago.
I ask the question now. Is there a more destructive midfield player in the Premeirship today?

The answer to that I think is no mick. With destructive midfielders of Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira headed out of the exit doors, Arsenal and Manure have not replaced their presence. I think the only players close to Momo is maybe Essien. Both players have got huge amounts of energy, don't jump out of tackles, strong, committed players.

I think players like this are harder and harder to come by. Manure have failed to replace Keane (I don't think carrick is the missing link), Arsenal have failed to replace Vieira (I don't think fabregas or Rosicky are the missing links). Even Real Madrid when they lost Makalele to Chelsea struggled and are IMO still struggling to find a replacement for him.

Momo may well be our key to the title this season.

[Jan Cuelemans]

I have never seen a player with such energy. I think he should continue to be a first team regular imo he has made that center midfield spot his own. No I don't think there is a more destructive player in the premiership, he's only 21 too. I reckon he's gonna be an absolute legend.

My thoughts as well.

At first I was very unsure about Sissoko but as he is getting used to the Premiership he is developing into a top quality player.

He could certainly be one of those players that is always mentioned when people look back over this era.

[RUSHIE#9]

I was a bit unsure of whether Momo would make the right sort of impact when we signed him. I'd seen a fair bit of him in sky's coverage of la liga and he did look a bit rough around the edges and he was prone to making some rash challenges and picking up quite a few cards. Now though he does look like he is progressing well. The fact that he ran the midfield today against the rent boys with their so-called world class midfield talent    shows that although still not the finished article we have got something very special on our hands.

[Bretc]

Sissoko was immense yesterday and I was realli impressed with the way he dominated the midfield against the likes of Ballack, Lampard and Essien. He was everywhere, chasing and closing players down. Never have I seen such an excellent midfield destroyer since the days of Viera and Keane. Sissoko has indeed improved leaps and bounds from last season, his ball control and passing have improved, and with his raw energy, speed and power, he is fast becoming the complete midfield hatchetman.

The best moment last night would have to be that tackle on Ballack. It was packed with power, precision and aggression! That was a great way to welcome the German captain to English football! Well done, Momo!

[SouthCoastShankly]

As people well know I have been a Sissoko advocate from the beginning, lest not forget the numerous Stu the red conversations where I argued that Sissoko could be as good if not better than Vieira. Love to think what he'd have to say now?

[bigmick]

I've mentioned it before but the one and only aspect of Momo's game which he is rubbish at is diving. If there were stats on it he would definately be at the top of the "proportion of dives which resulted in no free-kick" league. He never, ever gets a free-kick when he dives. He either needs to get one of the cuter players to give him a couple of lessons, or better still forget all about it altogether.

[SouthCoastShankly]

I think the community shield has started to show the balance of power between Alonso and Sissoko shifting. Last season Alonso would normally get the nod ahead of Sissoko when there was a selection problem. But I think this season you may see the opposite, not because Alonso is bad in any way, because now we have a right winger Gerrard will get pushed back in a central midfield role. And in my opinion Sissoko is a more natural partner for Gerrard than Alonso.