The "Xabi Alonso" Effect

After watching most of this season I think we can all see that Steven has truly been out of sorts, he seems to be all over the place and from all accounts I feel like is trying to over extend himself which is causing his performances to suffer across the board. Evidence of this fact was the season Xabi Alonso emerged as a dominant midfielder and we finished 2nd. During that season Gerrard was loose, all over the place and basically running a muck all over the field sliding in for tackles, pushing forward and playing in a dominating central attacking midfielder role. During that season you could tell Xabi's presence in the back, his ability not only to hold the central midfield but also to fire the ball over every inch of the pitch gave Gerrard a confidence he has since lose with Xabi's departure.

Now that Xabi is gone Gerrard is trying to Xabi, and no one is taking up the mantle of being Gerrard. Do you think any of our current players could take up the mantle, or vice versa become the central midfielder Gerrard has faith in?

I don't see anyone on our squad with the resolve and fortitude to hold that position. Who would you like to see us bring in? Can we find a replacement? Or will Gerrard have to be Superman and play all over the pitch when we really need him in front of goal and not worrying what will happen if the ball gets behind him.

Thoughts?

Umm, Lucas is getting there.

Umm, Lucas is getting there.

Lucas is coming along in his passing game, still don't trust him around our own 18 yard box, he gives away far to many fouls. Xabi was a great defender as well when called upon. He was also quality at fishing balls that were cleared out and forcing them back out to the corners to make our attacks last longer.

Lucas is coming along in his passing game, still don't trust him around our own 18 yard box, he gives away far to many fouls. Xabi was a great defender as well when called upon. He was also quality at fishing balls that were cleared out and forcing them back out to the corners to make our attacks last longer.

Lucas had some quality games recently, not to forget that he fished a ball that was cleared out yesterday and passed it right to Torres who touched it into Maxi's direction for him to score.

Lucas had some quality games recently, not to forget that he fished a ball that was cleared out yesterday and passed it right to Torres who touched it into Maxi's direction for him to score.

He did and I am not knocking Lucas, to be honest when thinking this over I was thinking of Lucas as that player, but I don't know if Gerrard has the faith in him to not have to constantly in the back of his mind, okay how am I going to get back to defend if the ball gets out, where with a quality central midfielder he has enough time to access the counter attack and find where best he fits. Instead of what he does now which is runs directly for the ball because our backline has been shaky.

What Stevie needs is a manager who can give him instructions.

I think a lad called DANI PACHECO could do a good job running a muck

I can't think off the top of my head who is akin to Alonso's ilk, Pirlo is but he is knocking on the last time I looked, Michael Carrick is a poor mans version of Alonso but he'd still do a job as his style certainly puts him in the same mould as Alonso. We also have to remember whether Hodgson would opt for this style too, I couldn't see him NOT wanting a player of Alonso's calibre and style.

I personally think that while Gerrard is capable of being a WC player in almost every position on the pitch he isn't in my book the specialist that Xabi is in his position. Therefore I'd like either Gerrard playing alongside some like Alonso/Carrick/Pirlo (anyone else?) who sprays, dictates the tempo and pulls the strings from midfield while Stevie does his more box to box thing. Or, see Gerrard playing ahead of that pairing in behind Torres where he currently is. Lucas IMO has really come on and I am surprised because I had really written him off and he is becoming a bit of a favourite with me this season - where Lucas is concerned I'm swallowing vast chunks of humble pie.

If we were able to pair Lucas alongside a ball player we'd be fine, whilst leaving Gerrard maruading further forward, I'd love to see Roy make a cheeky bid for Xabi and get him back here, but I think Roy wants to stamp his own authority on the side and wouldn't contemplate replicating a Rafa side.

We will never know if Aquilani could have filled that role and Raul seems to play in a different position each week. Alonso was quite unique in that he played the game at very much his pace and on his terms we miss him very much and we certainly dont get as many free kicks anymore since he has gone.

Alonso was excellant for Liverpool, easily the best of his type in Europe. Irreplaceable

I said in summer of 2009, if Xabi stayed we'd win the league, but if he left we'd struggle to get 4th (never thought we'd miss out).  He stitched our performances together, linking defence and attack with awesome vision and passing ability.  You can't replace a player like that.  Still gutted that he has gone.

Lucas is improving and i think Shelvey could take up the mantle but we need them to step up now.

Ye dont have to replace Alonso with like for like. Molby/McMahon werent Souness but they were his replacements.Were a longtime rid of Alonso we shouldnt be still trying to find an answer to fill his role

Since he left we have been awful just a concidence or was he absolutely vital to the team, I believe the second part. He was extremely under rated while he was in England, the media never gave him any praise.

Since he left we have been awful just a concidence or was he absolutely vital to the team, I believe the second part.

It is no coincidence.  Alonso was the conductor of the team, making us work in harmony now we just have eleven people strumming away independently.

ALONSO will always be missed by LFC...but at the moment what we should do is get Aquilani back or get someone like  Jenas or Modric into the team or atleast get a manager who can influence the team with his own ideology... woy hasnt got any idea about LIVERPOOL, and he also has got no methods or tactical solutions of his own... he is trying to apply certain methods which certainly does not do any good to us at all... lets all just sit and pray things go our way soon... LFC ALWAYS

We have 1 player who looks like a MKII - Suso, the guy is going to be the business....

However I agree with Brian78 - we shouldnt still be looking to replace him, it was a long time ago now!

Lucas is coming along in his passing game, still don't trust him around our own 18 yard box, he gives away far to many fouls.

how many free kicks has Lucas given away in dangerous positions in the league all season?

2 against Man City, that's all by my count

We have 1 player who looks like a MKII - Suso, the guy is going to be the business....

However I agree with Brian78 - we shouldnt still be looking to replace him, it was a long time ago now!

You could argue by the same token, Arsenal are still trying to replace Viera.  They haven't won anything since he left.

I don't think we need to replace him per se, but we need someone with some passing range that brings everyone into the game.  I know Gerrard likes to think it's him, but I don't feel it is.  Gerrard is better getting forward.  My vote would go to Aquilani.  Showed some real promise at the tail end of last season.

Ye dont have to replace Alonso with like for like. Molby/McMahon werent Souness but they were his replacements.Were a longtime rid of Alonso we shouldnt be still trying to find an answer to fill his role

I don't think we need to replace him like for like either but we have truly been missing a dominant central midfielder. Gerrard has found a home playing behind Torres and excels there. With no central midfielder or consistent wing play behind/next to him to dictate play he then comes further and further back leaving Torres on an island to dig holes and build sand castles.

Steven Gerrard is a complete player and therefore capable of taking up this role, but probably not to an extend Xabi did.

I've said it before and I will say it again. The Gerrard-Torres partnership excelled and the whole team benefited is because of the presence and abilities of Xabi. It's no coincidence that our team's performances on the pitch have dropped ever since that Spanish midfield masetro left the club. With someone as reliable as Xabi at the back, Gerrard was given the free role and he had no pressure. It was evident last season also that our team played better attackingly when Aquilani and Gerrard were on the pitch.

Alonso's gone and he won't be back anytime soon or even at all. The only players I'd put in the same bracket as him are Xavi and Fabregas and there's no way we're going to get any of them. We can minimise his loss by placing Gerrard back in the centre and have Cole in the hole. Why?

Firstly, Stevie can spot passes and space and he was probably our mini playmaker before Alonso arrived in 2004. After Alonso's departure, in various occasions, Gerrard, who started the game in the hole, had to drop back deep just to retrieve the ball because it's not coming to him when he's behind Torres due to the negative pairing in the centre. When Gerrard comes deep, Torres is all alone up top and we can't hoof the ball to him and expect him to take on 3-4 players at one go.

Secondly, Cole can't do much on the wings. He can play there but he's more dangerous in the centre, IMO. After all, it was his passes from the centre that led to Babel's goal against Trabzonspor and to the penalty against United. Even his first goal came as a result of his free role.

I don't believe that where people say Gerrard and Meireles can't be paired together because neither are good defensively. Well, neither Lucas nor Poulsen are hardly better than them at that.

I always had massive man love for Xabi. Without a doubt one of Benitez's best signings. And for what, 12.5 million, wasn't it? But as is the case with a lot of our players and managers, he never really got the respect he deserved in England, especially from other fans who didn't watch him week in week out. I've rarely seen a player as calm and composed on the ball as Alonso, and obviously his passing range was superb. We haven't replaced him yet and it shows. Trying to play the 4-2-3-1 formation only works best with excellent passers of the ball at the CM positions, because without them the players higher up the pitch just don't get the service needed to perform. Xabi provided that service constantly and though Lucas has shown promise, he's nowhere near Xabi's league just yet.

Jonjo Shelvery is one to consider I think, and although Suso seems to have consummate talent, I'm not sure if he's fitted to the CM/CDM position? Seems a little short on the physicality to play centre mid.

I want to see Shelvey given a chance to prove his worth next to Meireles.  Raul is an all action midfielder who can pick a pass and put in a tackle.  Shelvey's best quality is his distribution, which I think with time could match that of Alonso.  He doesn't have the same calmness and composure that Alonso has, but he is only 19.  Also, I think that his desire to prove himself could be a massive plus as he will buzz around the pitch and put his foot in when needed.