A good bit of analysis.
And Martin Skrtel is out for at least two weeks with a cracked mandible. Which leaves Rafa Benitez with few options other than to start 18 year old Daniel Ayala as Daniel Agger is still out with an injury. Unless he can sign up Ryan Shawcross or Michael Turner in time.
Already pundits are writing off Liverpool's chances which might be a bit premature but they make some compelling points.
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This page contains a single entry by Shourin Roy published on August 18, 2009 6:20 AM.
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The fact that Benitez was desperate to offload Xabi Alonso last season in order to sign Barry, the fact that he said of Aquilani "For the final pass, Aquilani has more accuracy than Xabi."
suggests he felt he needed more from a central midfielder then merely passing the ball to his more creative team-mates.
Mehdi, I think you read too much into the assist numbers. Its not that really. Alonso's usefulness is that he reads the game and provides the important link up between Mascherano and Gerrard. So yes, he may have fewer direct assists but he does usually begin the move that lead to goal threats/ goals. Having said that I don't know why Benitex paid so much for Aquilani who has not played for 6 months and might not recover fully from his surgery.
Xabi Alonso's reputation is ill deserved. In terms of importance to Liverpool he was way down the pecking order behind Gerrard, Torres, Mascherano, Carragher, Reina and Kuyt. He's Ray Wilkins/Jamie Redknapp i.e. a square passing merchant. 3 accurate 50 yard passes every season doesn't change that, Beckham and Pirlo can do that in one game. 13 goals and 17 assists in 141 league games for Liverpool is absolutely pathetic. It should be obvious why Benitez was so desperate to sign the far more productive Barry who in addition to scoring and creating far more goals is also a vastly superior tackler. Benitez would have been laughing all the way to the bank after fleecing Real Madrid to the tune of €35 million had he not blown €20 on the most injury prone player in Italy, Alberto Aquilani.
Good thread, great great blog this is.
Pool seems to be struggling really. The midfield was not right for me. Stevei G and Torres seems to be too isolated and the gap between them and the back 5 (including Masch) was too far.
Lucas really is not the man to replace Alonso. Seems like Rafa really got it wrong this time round.
Do think Pool missed the boat last season, not winning the league. They are never going to replicate the double over both Man Utd and Chelsea this season.
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Spot on mate... I don't think people will realize how important Alonso was until well into the season. I believe that signing Alonso was a must for Madrid if they wanted to achieve anything. They need a guy that can put the ball in the right places.