The latest addition to the Ze Liverbird "wall of text" article range will now include pictures and videos. Enjoy! Since Alonso left, we've lacked a certain flair in midfield. Alonso never really had silky skills, he didn't have any pace, he wasn't tall and he didn't score many goals. So what made him a good player? His vision, his long range shot and his passing. Passing success is very important, and he was very good at pin point passes long and short where he could dominate the game from midfield and start an attack. His long range shot is legendary. His vision would even better as he could make time and space in the middle and always find someone to pass it too. [video=youtube;xA57Hlkl1ZI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xA57Hlkl1ZI&feature=related[/video] There is no denying he brings something to the game. There has been a lot of talk about Rafa never really replacing Alonso in that department, we don't have someone who can control the midfield and pass away, and many would argue "What was Rafa thinking going after Barry?" We know now, he wasn't thinking a lot. But the loss of Alonso brought to the point that without someone who can pass the ball aswell as he can, we can't play our pass and move style. Lucas is a good passer of the ball, but he is a defensive midfielder by trade and will never reach Alonso heights. Gerrard controls play well, but we'll never see the technical passing that Alonso had, and he's always more prone to going further up the pitch than Alonso. Meireles is a bit closer, but again he's an attacking midfielder and we'll never see the pinpoint long range passes from him. Spearing is a workhorse, much like Kuyt, unfortunately his technical ability also seems to mirror Kuyt's. So what do we need in midfield? What are we missing that could fill the Alonso shaped hole? Suso. [video=youtube;oL3HfYN1jD4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oL3HfYN1jD4[/video] Compare the 2 videos and I'm sure you'll see Alonso in there somewhere. He's the creative spark we're missing and he's only 17. The one thing both of these players have in common is that they like to pass to the wings, because they're in space. This is why we need someone like Suso in midfield, and 2 wingers. Suso in midfield passes a long range effort to a winger, who runs it down the wing and whips in a cross either to the centre of the box which hits Andy and goes in, or the outside of the box where Gerrard lashes it in. It's something we need to make our play a bit more diverse. So... I'm backing Suso to take over the reigns in a few years time and become our "next Alonso."
Top post! really good videos to watch and enjoy also. Now to pick fault with it, alonso was a genius of a player but he was also part of our problem at that time. He was great playing against teams that attack you and leave space for other to run it but really lacked the drive and determination that you need against tight defensive teams. As for suso, I have seen him play live a few times and when he has hit passes I have wondered who on earth he was passing to until I saw the run once the ball reached its target. He has wonderful vision and good passing skills so lets just hope that he continues to develop, I think we may see a bit of him this season in some of our cup games etc.
How many long range attempts did he make? It seemed to me in his penultimate season he began by hitting row Z and by the end of the season had got it down to row C. He wasn't prolific at all. But two from his own half is certainly spectacular. I'd rather have Barry bundling in twice as many goals than a few pinpoint passes to the corner flag, which might or might not turn into goals. Alonso was a great player, especially for the fan-pleasing spectacularity but I will continue to question his beatifying. The sin was not Rafa replacing him, it was that we didn't just get Barry when Rafa wanted him without having to lose Alonso. It's odd that Rafa gets stick for upsetting Alonso but his best season was when he was upset.
I think Barry is soooo average. Alonso should have been replaced but I don't think Barry was the answer. I think Alonso's importance was only evident after he left, ala Makalele for Madrid.
I think Alonso was a great player, but I remember he had a couple of mediocre seasons as well. As for Suso, great vision, but credit also has to go to the off the ball running which made a lot of those passes work. However, very instructive vids- stuff I hadn't seen before. Thanks.
Think any team would be improved by having xabi in the side, whether its our most desperate need is another matter.
Top article. However.The key to a having a deep-lying play-maker is natural width.Its pointless having either without the other.I reckon we'll sign both this summer and that could be key to speeding up the process of getting back to our 2009 level and possibly beyond our 2009 level.
good vids thx - Suso looks promising. Lets hope Suarez is still about when he breaks through - that could be some combination!
Good post - I agree in that Suso will be a fantastic player and is exactly what we're after BUT only in a few years. I don't want to rush his development. We do need a more experienced play maker (maybe Ever Banega). Alonso started very well but then stuggled after a few seasons and then had a great final season. We need a player who is composed on the ball, enjoys possession and spread the ball. As mentioned above, spraying long balls is only good if you have people in space on the wings.
Great article, Suso has good vision, his long passing has the right accuracy and power, and all round good technical ability.
First team football doesn't always hamper development Gerrard and Owen (Spits!) showed that if you're good enough you're old enough. I am interested to see how Sterling and Suso perform in the pre season friendlies.
