Sabre wrote:Bamaga man wrote:Two years ago, during a devastatingly impressive introduction to English football, Alonso strode across the Anfield turf like a latter day Jan Molby.
His ability to dictate the tempo and direction of a match was one of the highlights of the season, switching play like a midfield metronome and firing rapier like passes into the tender underbelly of packed defences – like the wonderful pass from his own half at Roker Park, the piercing ball through to Luis Garcia against Bolton and the pass at The Hawthorns which sealed an impressive away win
They were among seven assists claimed by Alonso that season. This time round he has managed just one – in a Champions League qualifier on August 9 before the season proper had even kicked off.
The stats underline a diminishing influence Alonso has exerted on Liverpool’s fortunes – and that is reflected in the reaction to transfer speculation surrounding the midfielder.
I reckon David Prentice is another one like me who cannot see the " unsung " things Xabi does.
Indeed.
And if the local press spouts that kind of shíte, it's normal the readers also do it.
Don't get me wrong, in my town happens the same thing with the local press, and even worse. So does happen in Madrid, the local press said that Makelele wasn't the typical Real Madrid player, he lacked quality. They sold him. So don't take it as a criticism of Liverpool echo writer, but as a criticism to all journalists.
I'm ready to hear arguements against Alonso, but it must be serious. An assist requires 2 things, a final pass, and a goal. So it's interesting that less assist means diminishing what Alonso provides, especially when many people is saying that our strikers are not good enough.
It's also interesting that you evaluate the game of a holding midfielder deep-lying-playmaker with final pass stats. All that meanwhile many people admit Alonso is being played too deep by Rafa. No amount of tackles analysed, not good passes percentage analysed... ah well.
And of course, the defensive record of Liverpool F.C. has nothing to do with the holding midfielder deep-lying-playmaker, it's all up to the back four, and Reina.
Of one thing I'm certain. Xabi Alonso Olano was a worse player when he reached Liverpool Football Club. He was much more a naive player than he is now. His tackling was more weak and doubtful than it is now. Yet, the press and many fans think that younger Alonso was much a better player.
Which doesn't make much sense because his value in terms of pounds has doubled ever since he came. And big clubs are knocking the door of Liverpool Football Club. Somebody please explain me why's that.
Call me biased to the Basque player, but I'm having the same discussion in the local forums of Real Sociedad. In that forum I'm the defender of the Brazilians (Savio ex Madrid player is a superb player) and the Argentinians, not the local players. The local press there belittle the foreigners aswell once they're tired of their faces. It's just natural.
I hope LFC doesn't make the same mistake Real Madrid did with Makelele. If the ones taking decissions were hearing opinion's like Prentice's, then I can see why LFC hasn't been winning titles as much as I wished them to do so all this years.
It's a shame that David Prentice is paid money in a paper for writing that because to be honest I've read more serious criticism to Xabi Alonso in this very forum, for free.
Sabre come on, nobody is saying ' sell Xabi' nobody is saying he isnt class. But what some of are saying is; he hasnt had the best of seasons for us in a Red shirt. Even your mate Mick has acknowledged that.
I think the slight critisim that some of us handing out, could actually and bizarrely be taken as a complement for the Spaniard. I think over the last two seasons we've quicky gotten used to a consistent high level of ability shown by him. This season, earlier on and in the latter he has looked rather jaded in his performances. His body language, reads of a player who's lost his desire. I'm not saying he has, but thats how its looked to me. I maybe reading too much into it and probably am, but I do believe his performances have slightly suffered because of something, burnout perhaps ?
Anyway there is no doubt Xabi screens the defence excellently well. But when we're at home to teams like Man.C, Sheffield. U, Watford, Boro, Villa infact all the teams in the prem league apart from the top three. We (LFC) tend to 'push up'. The back four advance nearer the half way line, and when we're in possesion and building an attack (this season especially) not enough has gone through Alonso IMO. I'm not doubting his defensive play to teams like this, as we usually have the lions share of possesion. Also because we know the range of passing and shooting Xabi has in his locker, its a bit dissapointing IMO to see him not turn defence into attack quicker, or even become more offensive.
When we're struggling at home to Bolton and its 0-0 and we're desperately looking for a goal. Gerrards having a mare just say, I'd look to a player of Xabi's quality to pick a pass or have a shot or unlock somerthing. Thats what a "deep-lying-playmaker" does, Xabi in my book is a bit more than a holding midfielder. But this season nothing has worked like that for him, I know the wide men can be brought into the equation. But at times when the tempos needed to be upped with some slicker passing Xabi's slowed it down, things like that. I think on a whole our build up play is to lethargic and slow, not all of thats Alonso's fault, but he's the focal point of it all and should be able to dictate the game better and possibly quicker from his position.
It maybe a harsh critisim of him, but he's the kind of calibre of player that I'd expect can do this.
What I do think has gone against him at times is; oppossing teams I think have figured out to really give him less time on the ball. They've hussled him more and pressured him in possesion, I dont think he likes it, he likes the time and I think he got more of that last year on the ball.
and just don't care about the rossoneri craps. 
