Xabi Alonso ... The Hunt for a Metronome/DL Playmaker

[dwonder]

Without trying to over- flog our deficiencies in the pivot, it has remain one of our weakest links in recent times and it will be safe to say that if we can get the vexatious position sorted out, Sir Alex and Mancini will be looking over there collective backs with greater fear and trepidation than they currently do now.

We have been linked to a lot of players in the pivot as DM, Registas, DLP, B2B player etc. The Fellainis' Benats' Modrics' Vidals' etc. We should however note that  while any of this players would do a job for us, they will come at very high cost to us also due to the fact that the selling club would have a upper hand in negotiations and knowing we really need this players. we would be hung out to dry.

There is one player however we've mostly overlooked who would do the job perfectly and come at little or no cost to us. Enter XABI ALONSO.

He is in the last legs of his contract at Real, has indicated that he is not willing to sign an extension and is scarily good in his position, ability to dictate play and put in a solid defensive shift. Imagine him with the DLP role and Mikel providing defensive cover. the fact that he is also a competent defender when the need arises also should be stressed.

The only negative is that he will be turning to 33 later this year, but Xabi ( if we can lay our hands on him on a 2 year deal) is the business. He alone might also holds the key to re-fire Torres with those superb balls from deep (remember Luiz's ball against Rubin). Before anyone compares Xabi with Lampard age -wise let please note that  we are talking about someone whose whole life has been in te DLP role note a CAM trying to learn the role and chances are he will ask for less than Lampard currently earns.

If Xabi is available, we should try make a play for him. Yes he is 32 going 33. If we can offer him a 2 year deal, we can loan out KDB for one more season and bring him in to learn for the maestro for a year before taking over.

Ladies and Gentlemen..... I present XABI ALONSO

[Teritus]

I agree that this is exactly the sort of player that we need. I would prefer someone like Gundogan or Verratti, but would also give KDB or Josh a shot there.

[ForeverCarefree]

Basically I see no way the club are going to sign a 32 year old.

 

Recent transfer activity has been focused on signing players under the age of 24 with the exception of Ba who was signed as a replacement for Sturridge.

 

I'm not questioning Alonso's talent but it just won't happen, not when you have the likes of KDB and Romeu waiting to come into the team already.

 

If we do sign a new midfielder when Lampard leaves at the end of the season, I expect they will be 10 years younger that Xabi. 

[Remodez]

More likely he would go back to Liverpool than join us, especially if we don't make the top 4. 

[ForeverCarefree]

More likely he would go back to Liverpool than join us, especially if we don't make the top 4. 

 

 

Think positive! 

[Uno]

We do need that type of player but not him. We need to get the liverpool out of our club not bring more in. Also at his age how long would he give us? Frank is a better player and the board are looking to get rid because of his age and wages so it wouldnt make any sense what so ever to bring in Alonso.

[ForeverCarefree]

I still think Oscar could do the job of dropping deeper and dictating play from there. 

[Remodez]

Think positive! 

I'm pretty confident we will finish in the Top 4 actually, I was just saying if we didn't then there's no incentive for him to pick us over Liverpool. If he wanted money he would stay at Madrid while winning more than he probably would with us. 

[ForeverCarefree]

I'm pretty confident we will finish in the Top 4 actually, I was just saying if we didn't then there's no incentive for him to pick us over Liverpool. If he wanted money he would stay at Madrid while winning more than he probably would with us. 

 

I don't see him playing for anyone in England besides Liverpool in truth and I'm fairly sure he said as much after he left... If Madrid do release him I can imagine him signing for another team in Spain such as Valencia or even Malaga.  

[Teritus]

I still think Oscar could do the job of dropping deeper and dictating play from there. 

 

Maybe, if he can get some bit better defensively. Both him and KDB can turn into that type of player, but with time.

[ForeverCarefree]

Maybe, if he can get some bit better defensively. Both him and KDB can turn into that type of player, but with time.

 

He's done okay defensively this season I think and he's a lot stronger than he looks, I rarely see him shoved off the ball. 

 

It's a big "if" I know but if Jose did come back to the club I think he could instill the defensive discipline into Oscar's game to make him a better player and suited to the deeper role in the team.

 

At times I think Oscar looks lost and wasted out wide in the team but can imagine he could dictate play quite well in one of the holding roles, I know he is Number 10 for Brazil but at 21 nothing is set in stone with regards to his playing position. 

[Remodez]

I don't see him playing for anyone in England besides Liverpool in truth and I'm fairly sure he said as much after he left... If Madrid do release him I can imagine him signing for another team in Spain such as Valencia or even Malaga.  

It's either going to be back to Sociedad, who are doing very well at the moment and are on course for an european spot or back to Liverpool I think. Would be surprised if he ended up anywhere else.

Edited April 8, 2013 by Remodez

[Celery1989]

I agree that this is exactly the sort of player that we need. I would prefer someone like Gundogan or Verratti, but would also give KDB or Josh a shot there.

 

^This^.

 

I think KDB could eventually be brilliant in that role.

[Damo810]

We do need that type of player but not him. We need to get the liverpool out of our club not bring more in. Also at his age how long would he give us? Frank is a better player and the board are looking to get rid because of his age and wages so it wouldnt make any sense what so ever to bring in Alonso.

Say what? Sorry but Frank Lampard is nothing on him. Especially in DM position. Blue.Tinted.Glasses.

 

Brings everything we need to the table, the sort of player we hope KdB will grow into. As the OP suggested, we could do alot worse than getting him on a 2 year deal. He doesn't base his game off tireless running. 

 

BTW, he's 31 turning 32 in November, according to Wiki. Could easily play until he's 35/36.

[ishangodbole]

Say what? Sorry but Frank Lampard is nothing on him. Especially in DM position. Blue.Tinted.Glasses.

 

Brings everything we need to the table, the sort of player we hope KdB will grow into. As the OP suggested, we could do alot worse than getting him on a 2 year deal. He doesn't base his game off tireless running. 

 

BTW, he's 31 turning 32 in November, according to Wiki. Could easily play until he's 35/36.

 

Agreed.

[Uno]

LOL how often in the Roman era have we had a player play to the age of 35/36?

[Nibs]

It's laughable or maybe not thinking about it.

 

Folk are crying out about how youth doesn't get a chance at Chelsea and how we have 21 players or so out on loan and then some actually think it would be a good idea to sign a 32 year old and one who used to play for that lot.

 

Give me strength.

[Uno]

Well said Nibs

[CunningStunt]

A sub-26 year old Xavi Alonso and I'd be with you. As it is I'd prefer to try to bring Chalobah or KDB into the first team. Currently the double pivot is our major weakness (apart from strikers) but we've seen plenty of sides win major trophies with glaring weaknesses. A striker (and manager) is the only absolute necessity in the summer imo. 

[Damo810]

LOL how often in the Roman era have we had a player play to the age of 35/36?

How many Alonso-esque playmakers have we had? Look at Pirlo, 33 and I doubt he plans on retiring this year. Still world class, among the best Cm's out there. His game isn't based off running, look at Scholes, 38 years old..

 

 

 

It's laughable or maybe not thinking about it.

 

Folk are crying out about how youth doesn't get a chance at Chelsea and how we have 21 players or so out on loan and then some actually think it would be a good idea to sign a 32 year old and one who used to play for that lot.

 

Give me strength.

What youth do we have in that area of the pitch? All I see is

1)Josh

2)Chalobah

3)KdB

 

1)Needs another loan or two, thats if he is ever to make it.

2)Would add back-up this year, but a loan move would be ideal.

3)Can cover in various positions and add some competition for DM. Even with Alonso in the squad, he would get plenty of game time.

 

I still doubt KdB's defensive abilities. He's still adjusting to a deeper, more central role. Even at Werder he isn't burdened with the sort of responsibility he would have here at DM.

 

21 players has been bandied about a lot recently, I have probably said it as much as others. But when you take out the ones who's never make it here, the ones who are ready but have their positions already taken and the ones who are more than likely past it and being sold this summer, your left with quite a small about. Probably 8 or so, if the majority of those 8 are happy with squad roles within the next few years..

 

We'd be quite strong in Dm with the addition of Alonso, as we'd have a DM, box to box midfielder and a regista-esque playmaker, all of which can put in a defensive shift. Romeu to provide general cover and if you keep KdB in the squad you can have him in any of the 5 position up for grabs from DM to AM..

 

Quality player for the money, but it does seem likely he;s going back to liverpool.

Edited April 8, 2013 by Damo810

[Samdwich]

Didn't realise he wasn't signing an extension with Madrid. Exactly the type of player we need to sit alongside Ramires - defensively handy enough to cover for Ramires going forward, and excellent at bringing the ball out of defence. But then I think we have players like Romeu/KDB/McEachran (or even Oscar) who should be phased into that position over the next year or two - problem is that of those, only Romeu is defensively solid enough to play alongside Ramires at the moment, the others would require a more defensive player next to them.

[timetowaste]

The talk about Josh here is laughable, he had a good start to the season (in the Championship) then eventually struggled to even get into the Middlesbrough starting 11 at times (again, this is in the Championship), yet some of you want to put him into the midfield of a team that wants to challenge for the title.

[Nibs]

The talk about Josh here is laughable, he had a good start to the season (in the Championship) then eventually struggled to even get into the Middlesbrough starting 11 at times (again, this is in the Championship), yet some of you want to put him into the midfield of a team that wants to challenge for the title.

 

Some of us rely on actually watching him - both at Boro and for England U 21's, rather than just notice from reports whether he has played or not. 

 

He is still a quality player who is too good for the Championship and needs to be given the chance. He could easily be rotated with the likes of Oscar and Ramires (who have also struggled at times this season, but get given  leeway 'cos they're from Brazil!)

[Jonty]

Too old but there doesn't seem to be many young people that can do the job. Hopefully our scouts have been looking for the next great player in that role, I don't know enough of all the foreign leagues to recommend any hidden gems.

[Uno]

You say we've never had a player like Alonso so we should sign him at 33 and keep him for the next 5 years. Well let me put this to you, we have never had a player like Drogba before and we let him go. We have never had a player like Cole before and he has only been give a 1 year deal. Our second highest goal scorer of all time is being let go at the end of this season, we have never and will never again have a player like Frank. So its clear to see that it doesnt matter to the powers that be who you are or what you have done for this club, they do not want old players on the books.