7 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Going to throw it out there, I think he's been the 2nd best left back in the league this season behind Danny Rose. 

Personally I think he's been an astute signing and has performed really well in his first season at the club. 

 

 

I'd go along with this, i think the general apathy towards him is he's not Roberto Carlos or Dany alves, but he has done a tremendous job for us, and i think the saying does everything well and nothing spectacular (although i'd like to see him behind a few more set peices) sums him up, and is that not what you want from you're full back? 

1 minute ago, barak81 said:

 

 

I'd go along with this, i think the general apathy towards him is he's not Roberto Carlos or Dany alves, but he has done a tremendous job for us, and i think the saying does everything well and nothing spectacular (although i'd like to see him behind a few more set peices) sums him up, and is that not what you want from you're full back? 

I think that's bullsh!t to be honest.  No one was ever slating Dave when he came into the team.  And he displaced a big name in Ashley Cole in doing so

15 minutes ago, Van Butsen said:

I think that's bullsh!t to be honest.  No one was ever slating Dave when he came into the team.  And he displaced a big name in Ashley Cole in doing so

Not really, he was signed by robbie but only really came in to the team under Benitez who moved Ivan to center back in place of JT and Dave came in on the right, He is probably the best one v one defender in the league and on the right offered a very decent option going forward. Amazing player. But even if he wasn't there was enough resentment towards Benitez (rightly so) at the time that i think he could have stuck me up front and no one would have noticed. Dave was switched to leftback by Jose when it became clear that cole was passed it and that became more obvious with daves defensive performances but we where always unbalanced, always playing with a gap so to speak because we basically sacrificed any attacking intent from the left back. Alonso is not in the same league as Dave defensively, but as i said, he makes us a much more balanced team and is pretty damd good in the air which gives us an out ball on either side. 

1 minute ago, barak81 said:

Not really, he was signed by robbie but only really came in to the team under Benitez who moved Ivan to center back in place of JT and Dave came in on the right, He is probably the best one v one defender in the league and on the right offered a very decent option going forward. Amazing player. But even if he wasn't there was enough resentment towards Benitez (rightly so) at the time that i think he could have stuck me up front and no one would have noticed. Dave was switched to leftback by Jose when it became clear that cole was passed it and that became more obvious with daves defensive performances but we where always unbalanced, always playing with a gap so to speak because we basically sacrificed any attacking intent from the left back. Alonso is not in the same league as Dave defensively, but as i said, he makes us a much more balanced team and is pretty damd good in the air which gives us an out ball on either side. 

Benitez took the heat off Dave then.  He was good for something

Alonso works in our system.  I suspect there are upgrades out there, I think in the likes of Jay Da Silva in the youth ranks we have a raw but promising option.  What Alonso (and Moses) give us are an "out ball", they both hug the touchlines and give great width in all our attacking play.  Moses is better going forward than Alonso.  Alonso is better defensively, but is no Dave or Ash.  Our standing in the league suggest they're doing OK though.

I'd say there are doing a bit better than 'OK' tbh. Look at the players we have had in the past in those positions and we have not been in such a great place in the league.

I get they are not big names and don't do stepover's or nutmeg opponents but what they do possess is traits that are vital to how Conte plays his football which in turn is vital to our success.

Alonso and Moses are in their first full season with the club and have adapted to it like ducks to water...Look at the goals both have scored and impact they have had in several games this season.

I know some people will never be satisfied with them as they are not high profile names but I'd rather have players who are a good fit to the side and who complement our style than a big name who might not even take to our system half as well as Alonso.

Edited February 6, 20179 yr by Chelsbear

Alonso is good but he is dispensable. Maybe few more matches and he will settle in.

3 minutes ago, Tibbers said:

Alonso is good but he is dispensable. Maybe few more matches and he will settle in.

I had to check and doublecheck to see if this wasn't posted in October.

22 minutes ago, Tibbers said:

Alonso is good but he is dispensable. Maybe few more matches and he will settle in.

Sweet baby Jesus that's a terrible post, djilibobji like bad....

Indeed, for our system he works really well, but if we played 4 at the back like I thought we would be doing when we signed him, we really would slate him every game. He is not a defender. He's like Juan Vargas who had a really good time at Fiorentina too; clearly a wide midfielder, who's been squeezed into the defender role. Obviously leagues apart in terms of potential but, he's more Giggs than he is Ashley Cole. He likes to be forward. He likes to score. He likes to assist. Defending is probably a boring necessity to him that he'd rather do without. Regardless, his time here has already improved him, and he and we deserve credit for that. Whenever we end up moving him on, he'll really help his next club (I'd stake my life on him going to La Liga in a few seasons, probably Valencia.)

Wow, some people really do seem hard to please.

When we eventually move him on and talking about his potential club 

 

8 hours ago, Maksimov said:

I had to check and doublecheck to see if this wasn't posted in October.

Considering the fact that some Chelsea fans were less than pleased when we signed him, and also given the fact that you had people laughing at us for signing him, I'd say he hasn't done too badly. 

Alonso's been much better than I expected. He is one of the best headers of the ball. I mean he wins the headers on his flank with a very high percentage.

Sorry for Bellerins injury but that was man against a boy.

33 minutes ago, evissy said:

Alonso's been much better than I expected. He is one of the best headers of the ball. I mean he wins the headers on his flank with a very high percentage.

Sorry for Bellerins injury but that was man against a boy.

funny that you posted that. Peter Walton believed that it wasn't a foul & that Alonso shouldn't be penalized for showing more initiative getting to the ball

 

I don't understand why people are critical on Alonso . He has done everything he has been asked and he has added a aerial threat to team. People are very nostalgic about Ryan Bertanrd   he could be England 5th best left back after Rose, Baines, Shaw, Gibbs and people still praise him a lot and say Alsonso is limited 

2 minutes ago, Karlbadboy said:

I don't understand why people are critical on Alonso . He has done everything he has been asked and he has added a aerial threat to team. People are very nostalgic about Ryan Bertanrd   he could be England 5th best left back after Rose, Baines, Shaw, Gibbs and people still praise him a lot and say Alsonso is limited 

?

If I had to say anything  critical about him it is his final ball into the box....gets into excellent positions I don,t know what his assist stat are.... On the other hand his goals have been crucial.

His crossing is one of his strong points.......

18 minutes ago, Sapper245 said:

If I had to say anything  critical about him it is his final ball into the box....gets into excellent positions I don,t know what his assist stat are.... 

Alonso is doing just as well as anyone really when it comes to assists and chances created. 

I assume Willian's chances created stat is so high because he tends to take most pieces when he's on the pitch. 

I don't think he pulls up any trees at LB, but at wing back he's a different proposition. I don't think we've seen the best of him yet and reckon it's only a matter of time until he scores a worldy that Gareth Bale would be proud of. Honestly think what we paid is a bargain.

There's a reason a lot of people don't rate him and it's not because they've never heard of him and it's also not because they're forever unhappy.

It doesn't take Einstein to see he has limitations. 

That being said he's had some great moments and he deserves full credit for that, hes certainly giving it his all. I couldn't agree more on the man vs boy Bellerin incident.  Glad it was given and I would say that if it were the other way around as well.
 

He's not put a foot wrong, some of us didn't want him (me included) but I'm happy to swallow humble pie and say I was wrong. He's been solid as a rock for us and he's been improving every game. I'm not saying we can't get someone to compete with him, far from it we should but he's certainly been better than a lot are giving him credit for.

We could buy another LWB who is a better player, but he could be a worse player for the team, less capable of following Conte' plans to a T.

I think he can be a little vulnerable against top opposition but he is fast growing into a favourite of mine recently. 

Dont think we could have asked for anything more when we signed him. Overall he has been a good signing.