Liverpool FC Forum

[Rush Job]

1. Do people think the fact that Alonso didn't start the game instead of Lucas made us more likely to win the game, less likely, or did it make absolutely no difference to our chances whatsoever?

I would have thought, having seen Lucas play, Alonso's influence - particularly in the form he's in - could only have given us a better chance of winning that game. At the very least with him in the side, I suspect we would have had more of the ball and greater control of the game, and that can only increase your chances of winning. After that, who knows - he may even have made some key passes like he's been doing recently. I was disappointed not to see him start, although I do recognise he played 90' in a pointless friendly mid-week. You would also have to say, if Lucas was going to get some kind of Premier League action this year, this would be one of the games he'd be most likely to get a start, it's just a shame he didn't seem arsed for most of it.

I though Masch got Alonso`s spot.
Alonso, Masch being our more defensive mids and Gerrard and Lucas being the more attacking.
So Lucas was in for SG.

[LFC2007]

Alonso was fit (perhaps tired), so he could have started instead of Lucas*. I wouldn't say Lucas offers a great deal more than Alonso in an attacking sense, in fact I wouldn't say he does at all, he offers something different and it isn't better than what Alonso offers. Maybe more incisive passing higher up the pitch and the ability to play one-two's, but he really didn't offer much - if anything - in an attacking sense against Fulham. He showed it in patches last season and did really well at times I thought, but he hasn't pushed on this season, he's regressed.

*If Lucas had performed better this season, fair enough, but he's been very poor generally speaking. Alonso on the other hand has been in some of the best form of his career, so, given both these observations, he ought to have started ahead of him, IMO.

[Dude Love]

ROTATION IS A BIT LIKE BIRDS, YE KNOW? YE MIGHT HAVE A TIDY LITTLE PIECE AND A FEW AUL BANGERS ON THE GO BUT YA GOTTA RESIST THE TEMPTATION OF STICKIN IT INTO THE TIDY PIECE EVERY WEEK CAUSE YA RUN THE RISK OF WEARIN HER OUT WITH TOO MUCH GOOD LOVIN (AT LEAST I DO) SO YA GAVE A FEW OF YER MINGERS A BIT OF AN AUL WHALLOP EVERY NOW AND AGAIN.

IN THAT REGARD I'D SAY RAFA IS VERY DUDE LIKE.

ROCK ON HOMBRE.

[Rush Job]

Alonso was fit (perhaps tired), so he could have started instead of Lucas*. I wouldn't say Lucas offers a great deal more than Alonso in an attacking sense, in fact I wouldn't say he does at all, he offers something different and it isn't better than what Alonso offers. Maybe more incisive passing higher up the pitch and the ability to play one-two's, but he really didn't offer much - if anything - in an attacking sense against Fulham. He showed it in patches last season and did really well at times I thought, but he hasn't pushed on this season, he's regressed.

*If Lucas had performed better this season, fair enough, but he's been very poor generally speaking. Alonso on the other hand has been in some of the best form of his career, so, given both these observations, he ought to have started ahead of him, IMO.

I dont dissagree mate but I think my comment still stands, I think Lucas took SG place as the more Attacking mid.
I dont think Rafa is to fond of Alonso and Masch together in a 442 and neither am I, they play well to close together and its often Masch whos the one to try and venture forward which isnt really his game, I think that was part of the reason we were in for Barry.
Im pretty sure in Rafas eyes atleast Lucas was in for Gerrard and Masch was in for Alonso.
You see the thing is Lucas is supposed to be an Attacking mid.

[Rush Job]

ROTATION IS A BIT LIKE BIRDS, YE KNOW? YE MIGHT HAVE A TIDY LITTLE PIECE AND A FEW AUL BANGERS ON THE GO BUT YA GOTTA RESIST THE TEMPTATION OF STICKIN IT INTO THE TIDY PIECE EVERY WEEK CAUSE YA RUN THE RISK OF WEARIN HER OUT WITH TOO MUCH GOOD LOVIN (AT LEAST I DO) SO YA GAVE A FEW OF YER MINGERS A BIT OF AN AUL WHALLOP EVERY NOW AND AGAIN.

IN THAT REGARD I'D SAY RAFA IS VERY DUDE LIKE.

ROCK ON HOMBRE.

You ban perfectly balanced and truly insightful posters like this but let idiots like heimdal run a mock.

[Sabre]

I share the view of RJ about Lucas trying to fill the gap of Gerrard rather than the gap of Alonso.

I think though that Mascherano and Alonso might not be the best pairing in the world for a 4-4-2, but certainly better than most we might encounter. Go to tell the Tottenham manager if he liked to play both of them in a 4-4-2 and I think he'd be chuffed mate.

As for Big Mick's Three

1. Do people think the fact that Alonso didn't start the game instead of Lucas made us more likely to win the game, less likely, or did it make absolutely no difference to our chances whatsoever?

The answer is less likely yes, it would be the same answer if you asked Gerrard instead of Alonso. However, it should be more than enough. However, we know how football works and why is difficult to be rich betting on footie games, you never know.

2. Do people think the fact that Alonso didn't play the whole match but came on later on will render him sharper for the next few matches, sharper for the big matches at the end of the season, will lessen the chances of him getting injured in either the short or the long term, or will make no discernable difference whatsoever either short or long term to either his "sharpness" or his chances of getting injured?

The answer is no, but if you ask me if Alonso can sustain the amount of games including the mid-week games he's been playing so far, I'd say that he'd be close to need a rest or risk to low his football form if not injury.

I think that Rafa thought that Fulham game at home might be the proper game for that.

3. Do people think the fact that Lucas played in this match, will render him fitter, "sharper", more ready to step in just in case he is actually needed at some point in the season? Do they think he needs to play occasionally for his confidence?

Not play him for his confidence, play him because some players will need a rest sooner or later and he's the one to step in and try to show why he earns his wages.

That said, yes, I think that if someone plays the amount of competition games that Lucas and Benayoun are given, it will be more likely that they won't seem lost in the pitch as Plessis would after not appearing in almost all the season.

[stmichael]

leaving alonso out when gerrard is already out of the side was complete madness.

[JoeTerp]

maybe the question was not why Lucas instead of Alonso, maybe the question should have been why Mascherano instead of Alonso against Fulham at home?  Those were the players that were subbed for each other.

[Rush Job]

maybe the question was not why Lucas instead of Alonso, maybe the question should have been why Mascherano instead of Alonso against Fulham at home?  Those were the players that were subbed for each other.

Yes mate thats what I was "trying" to say.

[stmichael]

I read an article from Collymore the other day bleating on about how Liverpool will never win the league whilst Rafa continues to rotate, blah blah blah. I mean change the record will ya?

If anything its the lack of rotation thats starting to worry me, as the fringe players aren't getting a game and looking very rusty when they do as they have no form or confidence.

[Judge]

maybe the question was not why Lucas instead of Alonso, maybe the question should have been why Mascherano instead of Alonso against Fulham at home?  Those were the players that were subbed for each other.

Yes mate thats what I was "trying" to say.

instead of trying - say it then

[Sabre]

I read an article from Collymore the other day bleating on about how Liverpool will never win the league whilst Rafa continues to rotate, blah blah blah. I mean change the record will ya?

If anything its the lack of rotation thats starting to worry me, as the fringe players aren't getting a game and looking very rusty when they do as they have no form or confidence.

Collymore?

The same Stan Collymore that was in Oviedo and he missed several training sessions? The same Stan Collymore that they called him from the training session and he was sleeping at home?

Now he writes in the press telling the people how to win leagues?

[JBG]

I read an article from Collymore the other day bleating on about how Liverpool will never win the league whilst Rafa continues to rotate, blah blah blah. I mean change the record will ya?

If anything its the lack of rotation thats starting to worry me, as the fringe players aren't getting a game and looking very rusty when they do as they have no form or confidence.

Yes, Stan Collymore, the acclaimed football pundit. 

[Owzat]

I read an article from Collymore the other day bleating on about how Liverpool will never win the league whilst Rafa continues to rotate, blah blah blah. I mean change the record will ya?

If anything its the lack of rotation thats starting to worry me, as the fringe players aren't getting a game and looking very rusty when they do as they have no form or confidence.

Yes, Stan Collymore, the acclaimed football pundit. 

He's a bellend, loves "the villa" too much (you have to do that with a dulcet brum accent) and is overly critical of Liverpool to the extent you'd never think he played for us and played for the mancs instead. I guess it must float his boat that, while "the villa" have never won the league, neither have Liverpool. Perhaps he hates the thought of us winning it for that reason alone

I wish the media would stop finding pundits who played for Liverpool and villa - Saunders is another one.

[Judge]

and no stats!!