Think he could do with dropping for a few games and see how Emerson gets on In his place Alonso has looked quite far off the pace in recent weeks and is getting caught out of position time and time again.

I thought he was fine bar the Lacazette goal, which was a bit of a screamer. Showed more endeavour than most in the second half

Just not quick enough in a back four. Had the cover when we played 3 at the back and yesterday the first goal was down to not getting close enough to stop the shot and he also struggles to cut out through balls and crosses

7 hours ago, Spiller86 said:

I thought he was fine bar the Lacazette goal, which was a bit of a screamer. Showed more endeavour than most in the second half

I thought he was one of our best players tbh, but all that being said I wish we could see more of Emerson. 

2 minutes ago, Slojo said:

I thought he was one of our best players tbh, but all that being said I wish we could see more of Emerson. 

Couldn't have hurt to have 7 days of rest for a change... like you say, a little squad rotation might make a difference to some of these guys, no? 

1 minute ago, Skinnedy said:

Couldn't have hurt to have 7 days of rest for a change... like you say, a little squad rotation might make a difference to some of these guys, no? 

The same could be said about a lot of players, I think this is Sarri's biggest problem, he's playing the same players week in week out. 

It would be nice to see more players given a go, especially youngsters, what's even the risk at this point? 

Just now, Slojo said:

I think this is Sarri's biggest problem

you and me both brother...

On 20/01/2019 at 00:28, dan_cfc said:

Think he could do with dropping for a few games and see how Emerson gets on In his place Alonso has looked quite far off the pace in recent weeks and is getting caught out of position time and time again.

Been saying this for months now. Won't happen sadly.

Sell Emerson and there's no choice but to play Alonso every week, must be a clause in the new contract he just signed.

We were all worried about Alonso playing in a back four, if fans can see it why cant managers?.

Edited January 21, 20197 yr by jack_super_class

5 hours ago, jack_super_class said:

We were all worried about Alonso playing in a back four, if fans can see it why cant managers?.

I don't really consider Alonso a problem, the lack of rotation sure but I think he definitely has a place in this team. If he's a problem then he's definitely the least of them, he's literally one of our few players that will dare to attack. 

32 minutes ago, Slojo said:

I don't really consider Alonso a problem, the lack of rotation sure but I think he definitely has a place in this team. If he's a problem then he's definitely the least of them, he's literally one of our few players that will dare to attack. 

I think his lack of pace is a problem. Too often when we get caught in the counter, Alonso struggles to make up the ground and leaves us exposed. I know we cant make him faster and he is the best we have at the LB position in the squad, but if there is an opportunity to improve that position then we must.

Previous clubs in his time he’s played better as a wingback than as a Fullback 

35 minutes ago, Slojo said:

I don't really consider Alonso a problem, the lack of rotation sure but I think he definitely has a place in this team. If he's a problem then he's definitely the least of them, he's literally one of our few players that will dare to attack. 

He gets forward, but his crosses are pretty poor, he also underlaps instead if overlaps, so he ends up taking men into the area of the pitch where Willian and hazard want to cut inside. 

Maybe he runs inside because he doesn't have the pace or athleticism to to by line, and then get back in time to stop the counter. 

Recently on the ball he's been very sloppy aswell. 

Defensively I think he is doing okay, teams still target that side, but he has improved his 1v1 defending, and he is still a goal threat, he's been unlucky to have hit the post 4/5 times this season. 

I just think if you compare him to someone like Robertson, there is a massive room for improvement in full backs areas. Azpiliucueta has been underwhelming at right back as well, but unlike alonso, Azpiliucueta is generally pretty tidy on the ball, and he is great defensively.

I don't really think our players, Alonso included, have been overplayed this season. Too much tinkering and fans complain that the manager doesn't know his best 11, too little and he's not giving others a chance. Can't win! Emerson will possibly play the next two matches but I'm still to be convinced that he is anywhere near Alonso's level.

P.S. Alonso was one of the few who had some fight in them on Saturday.

8 minutes ago, big blue said:

I just think if you compare him to someone like Robertson, there is a massive room for improvement in full backs areas. 

TBF Robertson has been the outstanding LB in the league this season. That's not really fair. You could equally say "compare him to Shaw or Young, and we're well sorted at LB because at least we aren't being forced into playing either of those sh*thouses". 

In fact, the guy who said there isn't a worse player at any top 6 side, well, Utd are top 6 now, and literally every single one of their defenders is utter crap. The standout is Chris Smalling. That says it all. 

5 minutes ago, Ready Player One said:

TBF Robertson has been the outstanding LB in the league this season. That's not really fair. You could equally say "compare him to Shaw or Young, and we're well sorted at LB because at least we aren't being forced into playing either of those sh*thouses". 

In fact, the guy who said there isn't a worse player at any top 6 side, well, Utd are top 6 now, and literally every single one of their defenders is utter crap. The standout is Chris Smalling. That says it all. 

I don't think the comparison is unfair. Liverpool play a similar system, Robertson cost a similar amount to alonso, and we are aiming to be where Liverpool are currently. 

Seems bizarre to critique a player by saying we don't need to improve in that position because he's better than a player from a team that is below us in the league. 

May aswell keep playing morata since he's better than sorloth. 

It wasn't me who said alonso was the worse player in the top 6. It was a dumb post that contained a really poor choice of words, so id rather you quote them on that, not me.

 

 

I like alonso but I am not convinced with him in this current formation  He looked much more effective in Conte's formation

19 hours ago, big blue said:

I don't think the comparison is unfair.

It is, because it's based on one guy being in the form of his life. Alonso was in the team of the year last year, and no-one was talking about Robertson. 

19 hours ago, big blue said:

Seems bizarre to critique a player by saying we don't need to improve in that position because he's better than a player from a team that is below us in the league. 

Not what I said though. I said it would be equally unfair. It would be the diametric opposite. Neither would be balanced. 

19 hours ago, big blue said:

It wasn't me who said alonso was the worse player in the top 6. It was a dumb post that contained a really poor choice of words, so id rather you quote them on that, not me.

Never said it was you. Keep your hair on. 

15 minutes ago, Ready Player One said:

It is, because it's based on one guy being in the form of his life. Alonso was in the team of the year last year, and no-one was talking about Robertson. 

Not what I said though. I said it would be equally unfair. It would be the diametric opposite. Neither would be balanced. 

Never said it was you. Keep your hair on. 

So who would be a fair comparison then in your opinion. Robertson has been getting good reviews for the last 18 months or so. He was part of a Liverpool side that reached the champions league final. 

Alonso played left wing back last season. No one is questioning his perfomances at left wing back, although I think like the rest of the side his form dipped in the second half of the season. 

I think it's telling that even after alonso's best season in his career when we won the league, Conte was still keen on spending big on Alex sandro.

Good player, just not top drawer. 

20 hours ago, big blue said:

he also underlaps instead if overlaps, so he ends up taking men into the area of the pitch where Willian and hazard want to cut inside. 

Maybe he runs inside because he doesn't have the pace or athleticism to to by line, and then get back in time to stop the counter. 

I’ve always thought the underlap thing was a tactical instruction. He does it way too often for it not to be encouraged because it’s such an odd thing for a fullback to do. 

I assumed it’s because he’s so good in the air and has pretty decent close control and finishing that he’s actually a pretty big threat if you can get the ball to him in the opposition penalty area. 

Or maybe he’s just a goal hanger... who knows. 

18 minutes ago, big blue said:

Good player, just not top drawer. 

TBF, I agree with this. 

So rather than get into a conversation that is casting wistful glances at oppo FBs, I'll compare him to Ivanovic. Good player, got important goals, added height to the side (and right now, we are a very small side), but lacked a yard of pace and got caught out sometimes because of it. 

We could upgrade, sure, but he's good enough, and managers aren't generally breaking the bank for FBs (Conte and anyone with a blank chequebook excepted) so we should probably get used to him. Especially as he is on £150k a week or whatever. Even if we wanted rid, I have no idea who would match those wages. 

My theory is that the club gave him a new 5 year deal because they were expecting Real or Barca to come calling, and a player on a long contract =a bigger fee ...

5 minutes ago, Ready Player One said:

TBF, I agree with this. 

So rather than get into a conversation that is casting wistful glances at oppo FBs, I'll compare him to Ivanovic. Good player, got important goals, added height to the side (and right now, we are a very small side), but lacked a yard of pace and got caught out sometimes because of it. 

We could upgrade, sure, but he's good enough, and managers aren't generally breaking the bank for FBs (Conte and anyone with a blank chequebook excepted) so we should probably get used to him. Especially as he is on £150k a week or whatever. Even if we wanted rid, I have no idea who would match those wages. 

Ivanovic was very good defensively though, he only started to look vulnerable in his last couple of seasons. 

I wish alonso was as good as a prime Ivanovic to be honest. 

 

hi.. been reading this forum over the last few weeks since my original forum cfcnet is a little slow these days - adding my two cents to this.

Interestingly Alonso conitnues to devide opinion as a FB everywhere. i am firmly in the camp of we need an upgrade especially if Sarri will continue to set up his team in the way he does.

Alonso has been suspect positionally in this system with his current role. to compound matters he does not have the pace to recover or skill hold the ball, its not rocket science why most our attacks come from that side. In Sarri's current system the winger closes down the FB, the striker occupies the furthest CB and the one in possession is closed down by  a midfield player. In the attacks on our left that has meant that Alonso has to make a decision in which either he is supposed to position himself so the ball doesnot reach the opposition forward or mark him out. Currently he is doing none - exposing Luiz who has then been making rash challenges (remember goals against Utd, Spurs, Arsenal ) etc..

Finally all of this can be forgotten but in a team where we dont have the height and crosses from deep wont work he needs to overlap and contribute more effectively in the offensive phase which again he insnt able to do. In this system i think given a chance Emerson has better odds of succeeding.