Alonso & Gerrard - as good as it gets?

[Philby]

Agree with most of the above, although I reckon Smith is the kind of forward who'd serve Rafa well... not so much for the height, but for his workrate.

I'll be honest and say I've always liked Alan Smith as a player. Even in a sinking Leeds side he always put in 120% in terms of effort and can hold his head up high (unlike a lot of ex-Leeds players who were either rats leaving a sinking ship or mercenaries who didn't come anywhere near justifying their extortionate wages).

Smith's problem is that, for all his aggression & work-rate (and no little amount of ability), he won't score large amounts of goals and has let himself down badly a number of times in terms of discipline.

I think Rafa would value his work-rate, commitment and willingness to play out of position (I also think I remembered him playing out wide midfield for Leeds at various points) but I think that as a striker he'll always be a good (but not great) player and as a midfield holding player I genuinely think he'll struggle (esp. if he's expected to replace Keane).

Still one of the few United players I genuinely like and have respect for.

[Philby]

Personally I think Reina, Finnan, Carra, Alonso & Gerrard would genuinely improve united's starting 11. In the same way I think Heinze, Rooney, RVN, Ronaldo (if/when he starts to improve his final product) and Rio (mainly to inject some pace to our back 4) would improve the Liverpool side.

If anyone thinks theres a gulf in class between the two sides (and squads) I think they are either WUMs or misinformed.

As an aside, how many Pool or United players would improve Chelsea's first 11:

Gerrard for Essien

Rooney/RVN for Drogba

I'd struggle to make convinving arguments for anyone else in either squad.

[Sound]

Dearey me, and I've been trying to be polite. Listen boy, I'm a Utd fan, I'm not on here to score points off fans of other teams with snivelling platitudes about my secret grá for Thierry Henry or John Terry. There's the very odd issue in football which gains universal approval from all football fans (e.g. Best), the rest of the time we disagree. There's no need for rivalries between sets of fans to be bitter or nasty, I don't go out of my way to simply wind people up (well, in general) but I wouldn't have it any other way.

As for the specific (rather futile) debate over how many Pool players would get in the Utd side, I'd stick with my initial assessment, while others like Sissoko, Finnan or Reina would strengthen Utd's squad depth, they're no more valuable than Scholes (even Smith), Neville, Bardsley or Van Der Sar, so why would we take them?

Fair enough. Now you know why yerself, Fat Tom and LD get lumped in together.Next time this happens you can have no complaints. General Michael Collins is a Liverpool fan as am I. But when he is on here giving it the party line he gets short shrift from me because he is a fucking eejit no matter who he supports. There is a lesson there if you care to come out from under the Wes Brown commemorative duvet set long enough to see..

[ho chi feen]

There is a lesson there if you care to come out from under the Wes Brown commemorative duvet set long enough to see..

heh heh heh

[KolaKubes]

Personally I think Reina, Finnan, Carra, Alonso & Gerrard would genuinely improve united's starting 11.

I'd agree with the second three, other two are debatable.

Fair enough. Now you know why yerself, Fat Tom and LD get lumped in together.Next time this happens you can have no complaints. General Michael Collins is a Liverpool fan as am I. But when he is on here giving it the party line he gets short shrift from me because he is a fucking eejit no matter who he supports. There is a lesson there if you care to come out from under the Wes Brown commemorative duvet set long enough to see..

Jesus, it's like being back in Primary School being lectured at by one of the girls for traipsing mud into the classroom. Get over yourself will ya? I spent the last 15 years listening to Liverpool fans whining on about the relative merits of Rob Jones and Denny Irwin, Steve McManaman vs Ryan Giggs, Robbie Fowler vs Eric Cantona, Jamie Redknapp vs Paul Scholes, Mark Wright vs Gary Pallister etc etc. Time has a funny way of sorting out the wheat from the chaff doesn't it? I can fully appreciate what the likes of Carvalho, Cech, Gallas, Terry, Robben, Lampard (though he IS overrated), Essien, Makelele, Del Horno could do for this Utd side, I'm not all that blinkered, it's just that having being fortunate enough to witness some championship winning sides over the years at OT, I know damn well what top players and a top side look like and this Liverpool team haven't too many of the former and certainly aren't the latter.

Now go off and have another wank over your Istanbul DVD and thank your lucky stars that the moustachioed, bubble-permed man in the sky smiled upon you last year. It can't last.

[ho chi feen]

Jesus, it's like being back in Primary School being lectured at by one of the girls for traipsing mud into the classroom. Get over yourself will ya? I spent the last 15 years listening to Liverpool fans whining on about the relative merits of Rob Jones and Denny Irwin, Steve McManaman vs Ryan Giggs, Robbie Fowler vs Eric Cantona, Jamie Redknapp vs Paul Scholes, Mark Wright vs Gary Pallister etc etc. Time has a funny way of sorting out the wheat from the chaff doesn't it?

The worst was this lad I used to go to school with who used to insist that Don Hutchison was better than Ryan Giggs. Other gems would be Redknapp V Keane, and Scales & Babb over Bruce and Pally. Then of course, there's the mate who'd insist on telling all and sundry that Frode Kippe, Diarra and Jean-Marc Ferri were the next Maldini/Zidane/Roberto Carlos... heh heh heh

[Sound]

Jesus, it's like being back in Primary School being lectured at by one of the girls for traipsing mud into the classroom. Get over yourself will ya? I spent the last 15 years listening to Liverpool fans whining on about the relative merits of Rob Jones and Denny Irwin, Steve McManaman vs Ryan Giggs, Robbie Fowler vs Eric Cantona, Jamie Redknapp vs Paul Scholes, Mark Wright vs Gary Pallister etc etc. Time has a funny way of sorting out the wheat from the chaff doesn't it? I can fully appreciate what the likes of Carvalho, Cech, Gallas, Terry, Robben, Lampard (though he IS overrated), Essien, Makelele, Del Horno could do for this Utd side, I'm not all that blinkered, it's just that having being fortunate enough to witness some championship winning sides over the years at OT, I know damn well what top players and a top side look like and this Liverpool team haven't too many of the former and certainly aren't the latter.

Now go off and have another wank over your Istanbul DVD and thank your lucky stars that the moustachioed, bubble-permed man in the sky smiled upon you last year. It can't last.

WHOOSH!

[KolaKubes]

The worst was this lad I used to go to school with who used to insist that Don Hutchison was better than Ryan Giggs. Other gems would be Redknapp V Keane, and Scales & Babb over Bruce and Pally. Then of course, there's the mate who'd insist on telling all and sundry that Frode Kippe, Diarra and Jean-Marc Ferri were the next Maldini/Zidane/Roberto Carlos... heh heh heh

Ah, more quality stuff. All clubs have em (just look on redcafe) but Irish pool fans of the late 80s/90s vintage were very entertaining.

[shammy feen]

**Cough**

[Jim Comic]

Alonso was stretched off today in the 41st minute after falling awkwardly with no player near him and he may now be a doubt for next Satuday's FA Cup Final.

[STEVIEG]

Jose's dream midfielders are indeed hard to tell apart

http://i3.tinypic.com/16bkqd5.jpg

[Philby]

It's not that hard really lad.

One of them was his country's best player at the world cup (scoring more goals than any of his teammates despite being largely played out of position) & the other seemed to think that the world cup was a month-long audition to be an american football place-kicker.

http://www.peoplesrepublico fcork.com/~peoplesr/forums/D:\Documents and Settings\phwalsh\Loc al Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\I5 WHYUR9\lampard-sit[1].jpg

[shammy feen]

But Ballack has been brilliant Philby....????;)

[Philby]

But Ballack has been brilliant Philby....????;)

You've lost me there lad.

[shammy feen]

You've lost me there lad.

José's all-new dream midfielder....get it?

[emurf]

José's all-new dream midfielder....get it?
I don't see ballack in that pic.

[Philby]

José's all-new dream midfielder....get it?
Ballack is a great player, far better than Lampard. The only thing standing between him and a very successful stint in English football is how Jose chooses to use him and potentially the pace of English football (it won't suit him but he's good enough to overcome it)

[comred]

ballack is here for the money...he doesn't care if he gets picked to play centre mid or left back in the changing room.

[shammy feen]

Bump.

[ho chi feen]

I think we all know that Roy at his marauding best is effectively gone. The Keane we are left with is a more calm, experienced player but he will really struggle against the pace, power & ability (both of whom are more skilfull players than roy) of Gerrard & Alonso.

Don't think that ever transpired in the manner you called it, Philby.

[Sound]

Don't think that ever transpired in the manner you called it, Philby.

Yup.

The boy Roy should have watched out for that reknowned hard man Luis Garcia.

[ho chi feen]

Yup.

The boy Roy should have watched out for that reknowned hard man Luis Garcia.

Heh heh heh, of all the people to end his premiership career for him, eh?

:p

[Philby]

bump

Bump away lad. I stand by my point that there isn't a central midfield partnership in the world which can match Gerrard & Alonso for ability.

Don't think that ever transpired in the manner you called it, Philby.

True enough, Roy realised he was past it and was put out to pasture before he had a chance to go up against Gerrard & Alonso on a regular basis.

[STEVIEG]

Happy days

[shammy feen]

Bump away lad. I stand by my point that there isn't a central midfield partnership in the world which can match Gerrard & Alonso for ability.



http://www.rrbycresa.com/RedHat/db_1_b.jpg

Philby Yesterday.;)

[homer jay]

alonso is top tackler again so far this season in the actim index.

[Sound]

alonso is top tackler again so far this season in the actim index.

As the actress said to the bishop..

[Philby]

His tackling has improved quite a bit since coming to England. Where he usually gets caught out is where he leaves the opposition player get goal-side of him as he doesn't have a genuine burst of pace to catch up.

[STEVIEG]

alonso is top tackler again so far this season in the actim index.


Evra is a central defender in it too

John o'Shea got into the midfielder of the year on it last year!

It's a funny one (though i don't deny Alonso is a good tackler)

[STEVIEG]

Check this out it shows how dodgy stats are


Team of season so far

http://www.premierleague.co m/fapl.ra...mOfTheSea

[STEVIEG]

correct link

http://www.premierleague.co m/fapl.rac?command=for wardOnly&nextPage=teamOfTheSe ason

Sheva better than Vidic?
Yes indeed

[Philby]

Oh dear. Stevie doesn't do himself any favours with his costume for the christmas party. His bird definitely picked up that outfit!

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/8016/gerrardkz4.jpg

Here are the rest of the player...some of them are woeful costumes

http://www.redandwhitekop.c om/forum/index.php?topic=1331 31.1080

[wat_boy]

who is alonso suppose to be :confused:

[shammy feen]

Fernando Torres yesterday...

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/8016/gerrardkz4.jpg

[ho chi feen]

Bump.

[STEVIEG]

Alonso & Gerrard will become the most dynamic, powerful and effective central partnership since Vieira & Petit - if we can replicate their success I'll be a happy man.

Arsenal - & Edu

Chelski - /Smertin

Manyoo - & Miller/DJ DJ/Fletcher

Newcastle - Jenas & Butt


Alonso - "Not only is Benitez a great coach, he is a master of psychology.

"He can make the players become friends and he can help them perform to a higher level.

"I believe under Benitez our work will be excellent. I am convinced that this season the Reds can be considered to win the championship."



Bits from the first post which had be laughing out loud

Christ United were in a bad state midfield wise back then

and Alonso was only 37 points off:):):)

[STEVIEG]

The rafalution continues at pace.

We miss you, please come back

[STEVIEG]

Philby, not saying whether you're right or wrong about Alonso, but you really are the ultimate optimist.

Even back then, a voice of reason!

[STEVIEG]

Alonso had a massive impact on the pool yesterday and showed why himself & Gerrard are on a different plane to the likes of Diao.

Well ya got that one right!

[STEVIEG]

Actually i coudnt resist it. I just re-read the whole five pages and i cant believe the shit being spouted about how good Kewell is. Also Cisse may be fast but he's not exactly proved himself as the best striker in the world yet has he. And again, we reach the bottom line-dont dismiss the careers of Scholes/Keane till they are over. Cause when they are, they'll have left a stack of Premierships/Cups behind them and no matter what happens its unlikely that will ever happen to Gerrard/Alonso as long as they stay with Liverpool, who will do well to finish fourth this season.

Pretty accurate from 2004

[STEVIEG]

A lot will depend on the next copule of months and how Liverpool fair in Europe.

Ohhh little did i know Big ears was coming back to Merseyside!

[STEVIEG]

Liverpool will finish at least 4th this year and at a canter. I think Utd are going to be seriously worried about being forced into 4th place themselves once rafa has a chance to work his magic.

Heh heh heh 2004/2005

[STEVIEG]

I wish to fawk there was an anal pedantry forum. ;)





Catchphrase!

[STEVIEG]

The Xabi-Stevie love-in continues - I really think that these two are getting a hard on about the prospect of partnering eachother in centre midfield. With each players ability to dominate the rhythm of games, ping inch-perfect passes and tackle ferociously I can understand why....



Philby at his best!

[STEVIEG]

[color=indigo]
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard says he will leave Anfield if the club does not win the Premiership soon.

He said: "I can't wait three or four years for Liverpool to be turned into a title-winning team.

"It would mean a lot to me to be successful with Liverpool but it has got to be happening now for me.

"I want to see signs we can be genuine challengers next time. But if I do leave, I know some fans will understand and others will turn against me."

Gerrard, who turns 25 in the summer, believes new manager Rafael Benitez is getting Liverpool on the right track but feels progress has to move faster.

He added: "He [Benitez] is moving things in the right direction, but the leeway is going to have to be made up a bit sharpish.

"Hopefully I will have a big family by the time I'm 34 and I'd like to have a few medals to show my children. "It's a difficult situation, because the club means so much to me and I want to help get Liverpool back to the top. "That's why I didn't leave in the summer. I wanted to give the club a chance to be turned into a title-winning outfit, but time is not on my side."

[/size]

Gold

[STEVIEG]

I find this writing off of Cisse that some of you are doing truly staggering. The lad had a decent goal return until his injury, was improving with every game & was looking like developing a real understanding with his suppliers, Gerrard & Alonso. If he is right physically I've no doubt that he will prove all the dectractors wrong.


ouch

[STEVIEG]

Alan Green; As big as a prick as it gets?

Oh yes

[STEVIEG]

Could there be vindication for the longest thread on the sports forum. Get in there Philby lad!


Maybe, maybe not!

[STEVIEG]

Admit it lads, you love this thread. Go on, give it 5 stars!!

All the way!

[STEVIEG]

Is Alan Hansen taking the piss out of me? :-)

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40670000/jpg/_40670704_hansen_ala n_66x66.jpg (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4482672.stm) http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif Alan Hansen's column (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4482672.stm)

"Lampard and Gerrard are as good as it gets in midfield"



http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4482672.stm


Ha ha!

[STEVIEG]

Liverpool are playing great football these days lad. Loads of movement, great passing and above all it's effective. It shows how worried people are about their progress that they are resigned to lame criticism of their playing style because there's nothing else they can criticise. They are a team undoubtedly on the rise and led by a top-class manager.

December 2005

[STEVIEG]

they are steadily improving under Benitez and are very much in the race for second place. I can guarantee that Ferguson & Wenger are very much concerned about the progress being made by the european champions and consider then very much rivals for the right to be Chelsea's b1tch.

:)

[ho chi feen]

10 posts that shook the Kop!

[STEVIEG]

Fucking top class thread

The Kewell stuff at the start is unreal!

[Liathroidi Mor]

Jesus Stevie you really went for the jugular there reminding us Pool fans of all thr "false dawns" !!!!

[STEVIEG]

Jesus Stevie you really went for the jugular there reminding us Pool fans of all thr "false dawns" !!!!

well i had false dawns from around 1979 to 1993 so i know all about them

[AmadeusDC]

- the jury is still out on DJ DJ, Kleberson and Miller!

Apparently the jury never came back either...... :D

-AmadeusDC-

[STEVIEG]

Apparently the jury never came back either...... :D

-AmadeusDC-

Heh heh heh

Class!

[xvis]

24/12/05 I don't buy that argument, the Liverpool side has been in a far greater state of flux in recent seasons than United's. Reina, Alonso, Sissoko, Garcia & Crouch are all relatively recent signings at Liverpool and are all regular starters. Granted Arsenal have overhauled their side a fair bit in recent times and are feeling the effects (esp. the loss of Vieira).

If United finish ahead of Liverpool this year it will be as a result of them not having the distraction of European football as much as anything else. Fergie is under massive pressure to save face in his final season as united manager (imho) and will be absolutely gutted if he leaves United where he found them (looking upwards at the league at Liverpool)

Ordinary players - Fortune, Fletcher, O'Shea, JS Park, Smith...both sides are carrying some average players. fortunately for Liverpool they don't tend to make our first choice 11.

OUCH!



I say OUCH!



Anyone got any bandages?

[ho chi feen]

24/12/05

OUCH!



I say OUCH!



Anyone got any bandages?


OOOOOF!

[Rebelred]

These latest comments from Gerrard on the eve of a truly huge game are at best ill-timed, at worst disgraceful. He should be rallying the troops not pissing & moaning about how many medals he'll have to show his kids when he retires.

Thousands of people regularly pay a huge chunk of their weekly wage, give up time with their family & invest emotionally to watch you every week lad. You are getting paid extortionate wages to play the game you love with the club you love yet you miss no opportunity to remind us that if Rafa's Revolution stalls slightly you'll be off down to those cockney twats sooner than you can say "sell out".

A fine player he might be but to be honest I'm not sure if his heart is in it & I really think he's coming out with these comments to slowly break the bond with the fans to enable the final break to be easier. If that's the case then we're better off cashing in on him in the summer & building a team around the likes of Alonso, Baros, Cisse & Le Tallec (if he takes the step up and fulfills his potential)



Gerrard issues honours ultimatum
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gifhttp://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40134000/jpg/_40134178_gerrardb20 3.jpg
Gerrard's career statistics (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/shared/bsp/hi/football/statistics/teams/l/liverpool/players/42671/html/profile1_hi.stm)
Liverpool v Olympiakos (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4068163.stm)

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard says he will leave Anfield if the club does not win the Premiership soon.

He said: "I can't wait three or four years for Liverpool to be turned into a title-winning team.

"It would mean a lot to me to be successful with Liverpool but it has got to be happening now for me.

"I want to see signs we can be genuine challengers next time. But if I do leave, I know some fans will understand and others will turn against me."

Gerrard, who turns 25 in the summer, believes new manager Rafael Benitez is getting Liverpool on the right track but feels progress has to move faster.

He added: "He [Benitez] is moving things in the right direction, but the leeway is going to have to be made up a bit sharpish.

"Hopefully I will have a big family by the time I'm 34 and I'd like to have a few medals to show my children. "It's a difficult situation, because the club means so much to me and I want to help get Liverpool back to the top. "That's why I didn't leave in the summer. I wanted to give the club a chance to be turned into a title-winning outfit, but time is not on my side."



;)

[Loftydog]

This thread....as good as it gets!

[ho chi feen]

Alonso & Gerrard - as good as it gets?

NOT, evidently.

Gareth Barry & Gerrard- as good as it gets?

:)

[ho chi feen]

Jaysus... from a key component of the best midfielder in EUROPE (tm), to unwanted nobody in the space of four seasons?

Some for from grace, that.

Poooooor Xabi... :(

[Rebelred]

Jaysus... from a key component of the best midfielder in EUROPE (tm), to unwanted nobody in the space of four seasons?

Some for from grace, that.

Poooooor Xabi... :(

was it ever graceful in the first place?

[shammy feen]

We miss you, please come back


Still got the Fernando Torres outfit?

[Langer Dan]

Just in time............

[Rebelred]

So Xabi has fcuked off to sunnier climbs and Stevie is still trying to shake off that groin injury it would seem. 5 years is a long time in football I suppose

[ho chi feen]

Thread title on this should have been ammended to 'Alonso and Masch' ages ago.

Anyway, bye bye thread!

[xvis]

18/8/2004


Alonso & Gerrard will become the most dynamic, powerful and effective central partnership since Vieira & Petit - if we can replicate their success I'll be a happy man. I'd think they match up pretty nicely to the other top teams' pairings:

Arsenal - Vieira & Edu

Chelski - Lampard & Makalele/Smertin

Manyoo - Keane & Miller/DJ DJ/Fletcher

Newcastle - Jenas & Butt


Alonso - "Not only is Benitez a great coach, he is a master of psychology.

"He can make the players become friends[!] and he can help them perform to a higher level. This is how he enabled Valencia to triumph in La Liga.

"I believe under Benitez our work will be excellent. I am convinced that this season the Reds can be considered to win the championship [!!]."

Alonso revealed that Real Madrid had also been interested in him but added - "When it came down to a choice between Madrid and Liverpool I chose Liverpool. They are the club that showed the biggest interest in me."


How time flies.

[STEVIEG]

Oldie but goodie

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard says he will leave Anfield if the club does not win the Premiership soon.

He said: "I can't wait three or four years for Liverpool to be turned into a title-winning team.

"It would mean a lot to me to be successful with Liverpool but it has got to be happening now for me.

"I want to see signs we can be genuine challengers next time. But if I do leave, I know some fans will understand and others will turn against me."

Gerrard, who turns 25 in the summer, believes new manager Rafael Benitez is getting Liverpool on the right track but feels progress has to move faster.

He added: "He [Benitez] is moving things in the right direction, but the leeway is going to have to be made up a bit sharpish.

"Hopefully I will have a big family by the time I'm 34 and I'd like to have a few medals to show my children. "It's a difficult situation, because the club means so much to me and I want to help get Liverpool back to the top. "That's why I didn't leave in the summer. I wanted to give the club a chance to be turned into a title-winning outfit, but time is not on my side."


Time for this cunt to retire and hand the name back i think