Brilliant response from Alonso after being out of the team for a while. A totally different player in this system.

On 17/12/2019 at 14:12, RIP Mourinho said:

Doubt it, blokes finished. 

Tbh that performance Alonso just gave is better than any performance I've seen from Emerson this season. Even though Alonso is a liability in a back 4 and defensively, he at least offers soemthing going forward, even without pace. 

32 minutes ago, Slojo said:

Tbh that performance Alonso just gave is better than any performance I've seen from Emerson this season. Even though Alonso is a liability in a back 4 and defensively, he at least offers soemthing going forward, even without pace. 

Unpopular opinion but I'd rather keep Alonso as back up to a new LB than Emerson.

Just now, Argo said:

Unpopular opinion but I'd rather keep Alonso as back up to a new LB than Emerson.

i agree if we are going to role out a wing back system from time to time.  It gives us better versatility keeping alonso, although i still wouldnt want to see him in a back 4 too often.

On 17/12/2019 at 14:12, RIP Mourinho said:

Doubt it, blokes finished. 

Fantastic day for Willian and a very good day for Alonso = a very bad day for Mourinho and RIP Mourinho.

A good weekend for Alonso.

First, Chilwell got absolutely roasted by Mahrez yesterday, and then Marcus follows up with a great performance.

We are now played 6 won 6 this season in the PL when Alonso starts.

11 minutes ago, Argo said:

Unpopular opinion but I'd rather keep Alonso as back up to a new LB than Emerson.

After seeing enough of Emerson now, I would agree. I was desperate for Emerson to get some game time when Alonso was struggling last season, I just wanted to know if Emerson was good enough. Well, he's played a fair amount since and he's not been able to step up. He doesn't have games like Alonso did today, his performances are forgettable. Emerson is a 6/10 performance type of player. He doesn't do much wrong, he doesn't much right, he just drifts through games without really doing much at all.  

Edited December 22, 20196 yr by Scott Harris

9 minutes ago, just said:

Fantastic day for Willian and a very good day for Alonso = a very bad day for Mourinho and RIP Mourinho.

Tbf you can't exactly talk, you also have your own agendas and refuse to give certain players credit where it's due. 

14 minutes ago, Argo said:

Unpopular opinion but I'd rather keep Alonso as back up to a new LB than Emerson.

I don't know, Alonso has some absolute howlers also. But he also has games like this that turn your head, and his stats are very very good. Whereas Emerson is very passive.

1 minute ago, Slojo said:

I don't know, Alonso has some absolute howlers also. But he also has games like this that turn your head, and his stats are very very good. Whereas Emerson is very passive.

I think Alonso is a better asset against teams that sit back, Emerson wouldn't know end product if it slapped him in the face.

For example, Marcos in the box last week against Bournemouth we win the game.

Play him in this system and he just works, he's not been playing for ages and he just comes back into it like nothing happened.

Unpopular opinion but I'd rather keep Alonso as back up to a new LB than Emerson.

For someone who wanted Emerson to play more fully agree, I put Alonso ahead of him. When Alonso has good cover he is world class at Wing Back, big powerful which we need at corners and always a threat at the other end and he was the one making that run that gave us the penalty.

I don’t see Emerson making that run or getting in that position.....

1 minute ago, Argo said:

I think Alonso is a better asset against teams that sit back, Emerson wouldn't know end product if it slapped him in the face.

For example, Marcos in the box last week against Bournemouth we win the game.

That header was absolutely disgusting. 

17 minutes ago, Slojo said:

Tbf you can't exactly talk, you also have your own agendas and refuse to give certain players credit where it's due. 

Like who?

I'll give you Luiz though. 

Edited December 22, 20196 yr by just

You can't deny Alonso has his highs and lows but he has something about him. Something i never see from Emerson. 

As others pointed out he gives us versatility with playing a back three when needed. I would keep Alonso for back up at least. You know i have a soft spot for just seeing him drive forward like a striker but also bc of the very harsh criticism he gets here. Sometimes fair sometimes just a scape goat. 

12 minutes ago, Brutos said:

For someone who wanted Emerson to play more fully agree, I put Alonso ahead of him. When Alonso has good cover he is world class at Wing Back, big powerful which we need at corners and always a threat at the other end and he was the one making that run that gave us the penalty.

I don’t see Emerson making that run or getting in that position...

He's a very good wingback but hopeless defensively as a fullback. That's clear to everyone and has been for ages. I like the height he provides and his natural attacking instincts... Its a funny one. I expected him to be on his way out but they'll probably want to hold on to him now. 

6 minutes ago, just said:

Like who?

I'll give you Luiz though. 

Kovacic... He's been one of our best players this season and your only input on that was he's not as good as Essien. 

How's that any different to RIPMourinho not giving Willian credit? 

Alonso's dire performance in the Ajax game (you know, the one when we came back from 4-1 down, to the disgust of my entire office; you know which match I mean  ) had me thinking we'd seen the last of him in a blue shirt. Then up he pops and plays an excellent match.

Edited December 22, 20196 yr by Valerie

10 minutes ago, Slojo said:

Kovacic... He's been one of our best players this season and your only input on that was he's not as good as Essien. 

How's that any different to RIPMourinho not giving Willian credit? 

"I have already said that Kova is performing a million times better than he was at any time last season and I am glad he is in the squad. "

Taken from my last post in the Kova thread. I can see how that confused you, but translated that means I think he is having a very good season Slojo. 

And on Luiz......... I do rate him a lot more since he went to Arsenal. 

1 minute ago, just said:

"I have already said that Kova is performing a million times better than he was at any time last season and I am glad he is in the squad. "

Taken from my last post in the Kova thread. I can see how that confused you, but translated that means I think he is having a very good season Slojo. 

And on Luiz......... I do rate him a lot more since he went to Arsenal. 

Who's talking about Luiz? Nobody. And good, that's your only input about it, despite all the criticism last season and going into this one, you were still saying he's no Michael Essien as a lazy way to undermine him. 

But anyway that's pointless, I just think you having a pop at RIPMou is a bit hypocritical on your end given that the way you've been with Kovacic. 

9 minutes ago, Valerie said:

Alonso's dire performance in the Ajax game (you know, the one when we came back from 4-1 down, to the disgust of my entire office; you know which match I mean  ) had me thinking we'd seen the last of him in a blue shirt. Then up he pops and plays an excellent match.

Don't forget the United Cup game, god he was dreadful in that also. 

Fantastic day for Willian and a very good day for Alonso = a very bad day for Mourinho and RIP Mourinho.

Indeed. It just shows how good Alonso can be when played as a wing back in the way Conte did. Hard to believe Frank won't be sticking with that formation going forward which means we will see a lot more of Alonso. It suits Willian so much more as well.

15 minutes ago, Slojo said:

Who's talking about Luiz? Nobody. And good, that's your only input about it, despite all the criticism last season and going into this one, you were still saying he's no Michael Essien as a lazy way to undermine him. 

But anyway that's pointless, I just think you having a pop at RIPMou is a bit hypocritical on your end given that the way you've been with Kovacic. 

 

No Slojo, my point flew over your head. It was, (and still is), that our midfield, IMO, needs a physical presence like Essien. Neither Kante, Jorginho or Kovacic give us that. At the time I posted I would have left out Kova before Jorginho to fit that player in. See my post to dansubrosa on 1st December for reference. Now, based on current form, it would be Jorginho before Kova.

And, sorry. I forgot you don't like talking about Luiz now. Don't you think that's hypocritical too?  Like you trying to decide what is and isn't up for debate?

 

Edited December 22, 20196 yr by just

People are getting carried away, as usual. In a 3-5-2 where Alonso has more freedom going forward his defensive frailties aren't nearly as exposed. Put him in a 4-4-2 and all his flaws will be back on display.

Edited December 22, 20196 yr by abramovich

1 minute ago, abramovich said:

People are getting carried away, as usual. In a 3-5-2 where Alonso has more freedom going forward his defensive frailties aren't nearly as exposed. Put him in a 4-4-2 and all his flaws will be back on display.

Exactly the same as Luiz (apologies in advance to Slojo).