Breaking News: Liverpool agree fee with Real for Alonso

Parks lives wrote:

kas wrote:I don't understand why Benitez is going after Poulsen. He's a DM with absolutely none of the ability on the ball that Alonso had. It would basically be a Sissoko-Mascherano midfield again.

In Rafa we trust.

We have never played a Sissoko-Mascherano midfield.

Alonso was one of Rafa's first buys. Hence he believes a passer in the middle is crucial

Poulsen coming is just rumours.

We want 2 midfielders now anyway.


So stop making yourselves look foolish.

DS wrote:For Real point of view, for me they are expecting too much from Alonso, putting him behind players not at all famous for retaining ball, he is the one expected to control everything.
Decent signing for 30 m.

The key will be that Pellegrini uses a 4-2-3-1 formation, playing Alonso next to Lass Diarra. Alonso is certainly not defensively strong enough to play as a lone DM, especially in a team where the fullbacks are expected to provide the width (which is part of Pellegrini's system).

This will involve benching Raul of course, and we'll see if Pellegrini has the nerve to do that from the beginning.

Torrente, according to you, who will be playing where in the 4-2-3-1 that you mention? And considering that Alonso is a done deal

Torrente wrote:
The key will be that Pellegrini uses a 4-2-3-1 formation, playing Alonso next to Lass Diarra. Alonso is certainly not defensively strong enough to play as a lone DM, especially in a team where the fullbacks are expected to provide the width (which is part of Pellegrini's system).

This will involve benching Raul of course, and we'll see if Pellegrini has the nerve to do that from the beginning.

Edin Dzeko wrote:

L r dd wrote:

Messiah wrote:how will Liverpool manage, now that they have lost Alonso and masch is on his way to barca.

They're fucked and they know they are. Last year was a fluke season and they still won nothing. Carragher is a joke, Alonso is gone they have no real back up for Torres and Masch doesn't want to be there

The fluke was Man United winning the PL. If Liverpool will get Aquilani they will be fine. He's better then Xabi.

3 seasons in a row is not a fluke

Tarun wrote:Torrente, according to you, who will be playing where in the 4-2-3-1 that you mention? And considering that Alonso is a done deal

Torrente wrote:
The key will be that Pellegrini uses a 4-2-3-1 formation, playing Alonso next to Lass Diarra. Alonso is certainly not defensively strong enough to play as a lone DM, especially in a team where the fullbacks are expected to provide the width (which is part of Pellegrini's system).

This will involve benching Raul of course, and we'll see if Pellegrini has the nerve to do that from the beginning.

...............................Kodak.......................................

..........Ramos.................Albiol............Pepe...............Arbeloa/Marcelo......


....................................Lass.............Alonso.....................................


..............Ronaldo/Robben......................Kaka..........................Higuain/Granero


.......................................Benzema/Raul/Negredo.....................



I think that Pellegrini will give Marcelo a fair amount of chances in the Bernabeu, but in the away games and in CL games I expect Arbeloa to start. I'm not sure if Arbeloa is good enough offensively for Pellegrini's system but we'll see.

A potential surprise could be Granero finding himself in the starting lineup. He's been one of the best players in the pre-season so far and he's a much better ball retainer than Higuain, Sneijder, Robben, etc.

Granero is perfect to counter the directness of Ronaldo and Kaka. Plus Alonso will need the help to take care of the creative part of offensive third. Allthough Kaka will also be important in this but that formation is definitely best suited for us.

L r dd wrote:

Edin Dzeko wrote:

L r dd wrote:

Messiah wrote:how will Liverpool manage, now that they have lost Alonso and masch is on his way to barca.

They're fucked and they know they are. Last year was a fluke season and they still won nothing. Carragher is a joke, Alonso is gone they have no real back up for Torres and Masch doesn't want to be there

The fluke was Man United winning the PL. If Liverpool will get Aquilani they will be fine. He's better then Xabi.

3 seasons in a row is not a fluke

I never talked about the other 2 seasons. Just the last.

Edin Dzeko wrote:

L r dd wrote:

Edin Dzeko wrote:

L r dd wrote:

Messiah wrote:how will Liverpool manage, now that they have lost Alonso and masch is on his way to barca.

They're fucked and they know they are. Last year was a fluke season and they still won nothing. Carragher is a joke, Alonso is gone they have no real back up for Torres and Masch doesn't want to be there

The fluke was Man United winning the PL. If Liverpool will get Aquilani they will be fine. He's better then Xabi.

3 seasons in a row is not a fluke

I never talked about the other 2 seasons. Just the last.

Do you know what fluke means?

Without wanting to go over old ground in this thread.

Man Utd did better in EVERY competition than Liverpool despite having to off during the season and play some other tournament across the world.

How the fuck is this a fluke

I don't think you can fluke a championship, no way. However there is such a thing as a more deserving champion and I think many felt Liverpool deserved it more or were better last year. Either it ain't for much use really unless Liverpool actually win something this year.

When did Arbeloa become a left-back?

Super De La Red wrote:I don't think you can fluke a championship, no way. However there is such a thing as a more deserving champion and I think many felt Liverpool deserved it more or were better last year. Either it ain't for much use really unless Liverpool actually win something this year.

Why do people think this? they didn't before the 1-4 result. Simple fact is Man Utd came from miles behind got the lead easily then relaxed. Liverpool had a burst of form where they scored lots of goals and people thought they deserved the league, nope not the case

Allez les rouges wrote:When did Arbeloa become a left-back?

He had the operation last week.

debaser wrote:

Allez les rouges wrote:When did Arbeloa become a left-back?

He had the operation last week.

@ Allez
Real Madrid signed him with that intention as I see it allthough he will likely also be used to cover for Sergio Ramos when needed. I don't think he will be tied to any one position but used whenever is needed because there will be games where a defensive full back isn't needed like against the minnows and then there will be games against the big teams where Marcelo for example can't be trusted.

Lrd
I thought it before the 4-1 result and im sure others did aswell. Liverpool just seemed better,wanted it more, but gave away a lot of stupid points. Like I said that doesn't mean Man Utd didn't deserve it that year, because they did, just that if Liverpool would have won people would have been more likely to say it was the deserved winner.

You can compare it a bit to Sevilla in 06/07 where I think they were a bit like Liverpool but in the end Real came in and won it. Same thing applies here because while Real did deserve it, Sevilla deserved it more imo and I think many thought this way but in the end it was the winning mentality that pushed it in Man Utds and Real Madrids favour and that deserves respect aswell. No reason to let it bother you because you have the trophy while Liverpool might have the plaudits but I know thing Liverpool fans would prefer to have.

"wanted it more, but gave away a lot of stupid points."

Do you realise just how much of a walking contradiction you are?

Super De La Red wrote:

debaser wrote:

Allez les rouges wrote:When did Arbeloa become a left-back?

He had the operation last week.

@ Allez
Real Madrid signed him with that intention as I see it allthough he will likely also be used to cover for Sergio Ramos when needed. I don't think he will be tied to any one position but used whenever is needed because there will be games where a defensive full back isn't needed like against the minnows and then there will be games against the big teams where Marcelo for example can't be trusted.

Lrd
I thought it before the 4-1 result and im sure others did aswell. Liverpool just seemed better,wanted it more, but gave away a lot of stupid points. Like I said that doesn't mean Man Utd didn't deserve it that year, because they did, just that if Liverpool would have won people would have been more likely to say it was the deserved winner.

You can compare it a bit to Sevilla in 06/07 where I think they were a bit like Liverpool but in the end Real came in and won it. Same thing applies here because while Real did deserve it, Sevilla deserved it more imo and I think many thought this way but in the end it was the winning mentality that pushed it in Man Utds and Real Madrids favour and that deserves respect aswell. No reason to let it bother you because you have the trophy while Liverpool might have the plaudits but I know thing Liverpool fans would prefer to have.

Cheers Super, just still find it confusing to say the least that a club like Real need a left-back and go out and buy a right-back...

Thought maybe they got confused with Aurelio...

Parks lives wrote:"wanted it more, but gave away a lot of stupid points."

Do you realise just how much of a walking contradiction you are?

I know what he meant, United looked like they were sleepwalking through a lot of the season, winning 2-1 without turning up often thanks to the refs. Liverpool had many more memorable games and comebacks, United only woke up when Liverpool retook the lead in the home straight.

Parks lives wrote:"wanted it more, but gave away a lot of stupid points."

Do you realise just how much of a walking contradiction you are?

Yes I knew that was going to sound stupid but I figured people knew were smart enough to know what I meant by saying that.

How am I a walking contradition.

L r dd wrote:

Edin Dzeko wrote:

L r dd wrote:

Edin Dzeko wrote:

L r dd wrote:

Messiah wrote:how will Liverpool manage, now that they have lost Alonso and masch is on his way to barca.

They're fucked and they know they are. Last year was a fluke season and they still won nothing. Carragher is a joke, Alonso is gone they have no real back up for Torres and Masch doesn't want to be there

The fluke was Man United winning the PL. If Liverpool will get Aquilani they will be fine. He's better then Xabi.

3 seasons in a row is not a fluke

I never talked about the other 2 seasons. Just the last.

Do you know what fluke means?

Without wanting to go over old ground in this thread.

Man Utd did better in EVERY competition than Liverpool despite having to off during the season and play some other tournament across the world.

How the fuck is this a fluke

1. In the PL Liverpool was better. United just had better luck against small teams. If Liverpool hadn't fucked up in some easy games they would have been champions.
2. In the CL Liverpool had to play Chelsea early on. Chelsea was the second strongest team in the competition after Barca.

I'm not counting the FA Cup or other cups because they're meaningless.

So it was a fluke because Liverpool was better then you last year but you won the title.

L r dd wrote:

Super De La Red wrote:I don't think you can fluke a championship, no way. However there is such a thing as a more deserving champion and I think many felt Liverpool deserved it more or were better last year. Either it ain't for much use really unless Liverpool actually win something this year.

Why do people think this? they didn't before the 1-4 result. Simple fact is Man Utd came from miles behind got the lead easily then relaxed. Liverpool had a burst of form where they scored lots of goals and people thought they deserved the league, nope not the case

You didn't came from miles behind. At one point you played fewer games then Liverpool that's why you where behind. Liverpool looked the strongest team from the start.

Allez les rouges wrote:

Super De La Red wrote:

debaser wrote:

Allez les rouges wrote:When did Arbeloa become a left-back?

He had the operation last week.

@ Allez
Real Madrid signed him with that intention as I see it allthough he will likely also be used to cover for Sergio Ramos when needed. I don't think he will be tied to any one position but used whenever is needed because there will be games where a defensive full back isn't needed like against the minnows and then there will be games against the big teams where Marcelo for example can't be trusted.

Lrd
I thought it before the 4-1 result and im sure others did aswell. Liverpool just seemed better,wanted it more, but gave away a lot of stupid points. Like I said that doesn't mean Man Utd didn't deserve it that year, because they did, just that if Liverpool would have won people would have been more likely to say it was the deserved winner.

You can compare it a bit to Sevilla in 06/07 where I think they were a bit like Liverpool but in the end Real came in and won it. Same thing applies here because while Real did deserve it, Sevilla deserved it more imo and I think many thought this way but in the end it was the winning mentality that pushed it in Man Utds and Real Madrids favour and that deserves respect aswell. No reason to let it bother you because you have the trophy while Liverpool might have the plaudits but I know thing Liverpool fans would prefer to have.

Cheers Super, just still find it confusing to say the least that a club like Real need a left-back and go out and buy a right-back...

Thought maybe they got confused with Aurelio...

You mean like we confused Gravesen with Carsley.

Indeed it doesn't make much sense because Pellegrini needs for his full backs to attack and Arbeloa neither attacks a lot or is able to do it effectively on the left back. There is also a poltical(in a sporting sense) agenda behind it. Arbeloa is a Real Madrid youth player and spanish which Perez promised but has sort of neglected in this transfer campaign. Arbeloa is part of Perez's new philosophy which consists of getting the best foreigners(Ronaldo,Kaka) along with the best spanish players(Alonso) plus having youth players(Granero and now Arbeloa).

Torrente wrote:

DS wrote:For Real point of view, for me they are expecting too much from Alonso, putting him behind players not at all famous for retaining ball, he is the one expected to control everything.
Decent signing for 30 m.

The key will be that Pellegrini uses a 4-2-3-1 formation, playing Alonso next to Lass Diarra. Alonso is certainly not defensively strong enough to play as a lone DM, especially in a team where the fullbacks are expected to provide the width (which is part of Pellegrini's system).

This will involve benching Raul of course, and we'll see if Pellegrini has the nerve to do that from the beginning.

Attacking fullbacks ?
Arebeloa couldnt attack as a RB, and you are expecting him to do it as a LB.
2ndly, Alonso is the only one in your whole line up who can keep possession, as much as like Lass he is more pgd, and that includes your defense, you will say Pepe but for me he is more a physically gifted CB rather than a technically gifted one.

Arbeloa isn't going to be a permament fixture at LB. Most probably Marcelo will play the home games, whilst Arbeloa plays in the CL because of his experience.

DS wrote:

Torrente wrote:

DS wrote:For Real point of view, for me they are expecting too much from Alonso, putting him behind players not at all famous for retaining ball, he is the one expected to control everything.
Decent signing for 30 m.

The key will be that Pellegrini uses a 4-2-3-1 formation, playing Alonso next to Lass Diarra. Alonso is certainly not defensively strong enough to play as a lone DM, especially in a team where the fullbacks are expected to provide the width (which is part of Pellegrini's system).

This will involve benching Raul of course, and we'll see if Pellegrini has the nerve to do that from the beginning.

Attacking fullbacks ?
Arebeloa couldnt attack as a RB, and you are expecting him to do it as a LB.
2ndly, Alonso is the only one in your whole line up who can keep possession, as much as like Lass he is more pgd, and that includes your defense, you will say Pepe but for me he is more a physically gifted CB rather than a technically gifted one.

Do you think he is mentally gifted?

Well I didnt know he was a hot head before that incident so cant comment, but he physically is up there with the best, he has pace, strength, height etc, even though for his physical attributes he isnt as dominant as should be (on the air and on the ground).
He definitely is lacking technically, is not that great reader of the game, isnt an organizer etc, doesnt keep the ball well.

Lacking techincally? Hmmm I would disagree, whilst he's not the best technically I think he's fairly good.

His reading of the game has improved, and doesn't make rash challenges trying to get infront of the attack when trying to win the ball. On the ball he's very gifted much like Carvalho; good touch, can run with the ball at his feet and pass it around quite well.

He's not an organiser, I think that's the thing lack lacking in our back four. Hopefully Casillas can make up for that by organising his defence.

TM wrote:Lacking techincally? Hmmm I would disagree, whilst he's not the best technically I think he's fairly good.

His reading of the game has improved, and doesn't make rash challenges trying to get infront of the attack when trying to win the ball. On the ball he's very gifted much like Carvalho; good touch, can run with the ball at his feet and pass it around quite well.

He's not an organiser, I think that's the thing lack lacking in our back four. Hopefully Casillas can make up for that by organising his defence.

Is different than providing an option for midfield or keeping possession.

Both really. He can pick the ball up and take the ball forward which is very useful on conterattacks, where Pepe usually ends up in the oppositions box . But he also knows when to keep it simple and pass it to the midfielders.

Pepe can still improve and if he does, I think he can eventually become one of the best CB's in the world.

Has alonso, every been a real organizer of the play, see Xavi or has he just always been a Dmed with a good range of passing

Messiah wrote:Has alonso, every been a real organizer of the play, see Xavi or has he just always been a Dmed with a good range of passing

I asked the same a few weeks ago, and the Real fans told me that he basically is all they need, the missing puzzle piece.

In regards to Liverpool, I think a 'proper' replacement would be easier to realise if a more attacking minded player than Alonso would be targeted. CMs/DMs who are good retainers and solid defensively (-> Alonso) are relatively rare, however, there are way more attacking midfielders who offer similar or even better retention. Mascherano offers more than enough defensive cover for a more attacking mided CM / AM, it all depends on Rafa, his willingness to take the risk of a more 'adventurous' style.

Alonso isn't a DM. Hence why Masherano played behind Alonso at Liverpool.

Alonso is a CM who can retain the ball very well and distribute the ball. Before Alonso we didnt have a single CM in the entire squad. We have the likes of Lass, Gago and M.Diarra who all are DM and can't pass the ball very well.

With Alonso in the team that will change we will have a player that can make the precise short passes and even 40 yard passes. More than anything I think it will bring balance to the XI, where you will have 5 defensive players and 4 attacking players. Alonso will the "inbetween"