Hoodfella wrote:SouthCoastShankly wrote:Hoodfella wrote:stu_the_red wrote:Also, why thedid he drop Alonso, our second best player for one of the hardest games we'll play all season?
I dont know the reasoning behind playing Djimi, but I would hazard a guess on Alonso.
I think he looked at the game, and the threat of it being a very physical one (not that he cant hold his own!) and as I think he sees Alonso as the 'Key' to our team and the tempo that he wants us to play at (which of course further makes you think, 'Why'!) that he wanted to save or rest him, and not risk him getting injured.
I have noticed, that if Rafa is going to rest one of our two key players (Xabi/Stevie) he tends to rest Xabi first and foremost.
Which in my mind, tells its own story!
Tells what story?? Because you can take it either way. Either Rafa rests Alonso more because its too risky to leave out Gerrard or that he rests Alonso because he values Alonsos fitness more?
I think the former, Gerrard is different that Alonso is so many ways but the biggest difference is creating goals Gerrards recent run in form and scoring goals proves to me that he is more important player than Alonso. Thats why IMO Rafa rests Alonso more often than Gerrard
Fair enough, thats how you see it, but I call it the other way.
I think Rafa knows SG is physically stronger and seems to have a bit better stamina than Xabi, and thats the reason (IMO) that he can get to rest Alonso and keep him fresh. Because although Xabi is almost completely adjusted to the Prem, he has come froma slower league in La Liga, and also the way he plays the game, he makes the ball do the work, which is quite the opposite to the swashbuckling Gerrard's style.
But I think that when it comes to big games, if there is one person RAFA (not me, Rafa) wouldnt want to be without, it is Alonso.
Now to the majority of us, this would be sacrilege, and we would want Gerrard as that person. But as we have seen, Rafa is different and isnt one for going with the crowd...Simple example, the purchase of Crouch.
In my heart of hearts, I really believe that although Rafa works his teams in to exactly that, 'TEAMS' and units within that team, I think he feels Xabi is key to this. Ie; He links between the defence and midfield with fluidity, yet still gets stuck in, and has the real handy (spanish) habit of breaking up play (when needed!) but without getting booked. This again will go unnoticed by some.
I mean, you may not agree with my opinion, everyman to their own and all that, but when you take into account the poor showing without Alonso in the first half and then the complete change in the second half and the equaliser coming from an absolute sublime pinpoint pass to little Luis, I think there is reason behind Rafa tending to rest him more...To kep him safe.
This is not a one off, it happened at Fulham last season (I was there, he was just TOO GOOD that day!) and as soon as he was injured by Fat Frank, surprise surprise, our all round form was poor.
Then when he comes back into the fore, we look solid again, with a definitive tempo to the team and balance.
For me its no coincidence that we play best when Xabi plays.
And I think Rafa knows this too.
Now we all sing the praises of Gerrard and his versatility and also humility playing down the right, but would he be able to play there (considering he is a driving force type centre mid) if we didnt have Alonso.
Yesterday, is evidence that it would not be able to happen, and WORK, without Alonso sitting in the middle.
Personally, I dont think Xabi gets as much praise as he should at times, and this is simply becuase as I said above, he makes the ball do all the work, and makes simple things look like kids play, and hard things look simple!!
And guess what, thats what Rafa tends to like isnt it?
Great post Hoodfella. I think you've summed up Alonso and what he brings to the team very well. We are fortunate to have a player of his class, especially at his age.
I was one who used to say that Alonso is our most important player. This post gets me thinking about that again.
Personally I think that Gerrard can play a similar role if Alonso is unavailable or rested. Alonso and Gerrard are different players, and Alonso is better in the role you describe, but Gerrard can fill that role if needed. That was Rafa's mistake at Bolton, not playing Gerrard in the middle when Alonso was missing.
