Those fans in Thailand certainly made their feelings clear to Xabi Alonso on the issue of whether they wanted him to stay at Liverpool or not.
And they were right in urging him to make a decision. But what they don’t realise is, it doesn’t matter what he says either way.
If he stays, great. He proved last season that he can rise above all the transfer talk and deliver top class performances.
If he goes? Well, all I would say is, if you’re going to go, go now.
The disruption caused by Alonso’s departure can be minimal but only if the saga isn’t allowed to drag on, certainly not into the new season.
The last thing Rafael Benitez needs is the type of scenario Arsenal had for years with Patrick Vieira, one of those tedious ‘is he, isn’t he?’ situations.
If Real Madrid want him so much then and the player wants to join them, the deal should be pushed through as soon as possible.
Because I don’t think selling Alonso will have a detrimental effect on any potential title challenge for next season.
The existing players won’t be affected. They have the confidence and belief that they can challenge Manchester United and will carry that into the new campaign regardless.
Selling Alonso might give the supporters a bit of a headache on how the manager replaces him – but I actually think it gives Benitez the opportunity to make his side a more potent attacking threat.
I know Benitez has previously denied interest in David Villa but this player, or someone of his ilk, would be ideal I think, once the money from any sale of Alonso is being splashed around the market.
I see absolutely no problem with Steven Gerrard dropping a hit deeper to allow a top quality striker – especially one with Villa’s understanding of Torres’s game – to add more firepower.
It’s all very well asking Gerrard to play as the back-up forward to Torres, but what happens if the Spaniard’s injury problems resurface?
Who have Liverpool currently got who can have the same impact?
Benitez might be happy with the form being shown by some of his squad strikers in this pre- season, but then David Ngog proved last year that it doesn’t necessarily translate into the real business. Krisztian Nemeth might have looked good in scoring twice the other day but this was a friendly.
It wasn’t ultra competitive and the opposition was sub-standard anyway, so it doesn’t mean he’s ready.
And if Benitez is so pleased to have “one of the best players in the German League” back in his squad, why did he let Andriy Voronin go in the first place? Because he can’t cut it, that’s why.
So I would say, let Alonso go now, take the money and, while there’s still plenty of time, spend it on someone who can turn those draws – so costly in last season’s final analysis – into victories.
Alonso might be the best passer at the club but even he hasn’t got the attacking prowess to be a genuine match-winner.
So it’s time to cash in and get someone who is.
And they were right in urging him to make a decision. But what they don’t realise is, it doesn’t matter what he says either way.
If he stays, great. He proved last season that he can rise above all the transfer talk and deliver top class performances.
If he goes? Well, all I would say is, if you’re going to go, go now.
The disruption caused by Alonso’s departure can be minimal but only if the saga isn’t allowed to drag on, certainly not into the new season.
The last thing Rafael Benitez needs is the type of scenario Arsenal had for years with Patrick Vieira, one of those tedious ‘is he, isn’t he?’ situations.
If Real Madrid want him so much then and the player wants to join them, the deal should be pushed through as soon as possible.
Because I don’t think selling Alonso will have a detrimental effect on any potential title challenge for next season.
The existing players won’t be affected. They have the confidence and belief that they can challenge Manchester United and will carry that into the new campaign regardless.
Selling Alonso might give the supporters a bit of a headache on how the manager replaces him – but I actually think it gives Benitez the opportunity to make his side a more potent attacking threat.
I know Benitez has previously denied interest in David Villa but this player, or someone of his ilk, would be ideal I think, once the money from any sale of Alonso is being splashed around the market.
I see absolutely no problem with Steven Gerrard dropping a hit deeper to allow a top quality striker – especially one with Villa’s understanding of Torres’s game – to add more firepower.
It’s all very well asking Gerrard to play as the back-up forward to Torres, but what happens if the Spaniard’s injury problems resurface?
Who have Liverpool currently got who can have the same impact?
Benitez might be happy with the form being shown by some of his squad strikers in this pre- season, but then David Ngog proved last year that it doesn’t necessarily translate into the real business. Krisztian Nemeth might have looked good in scoring twice the other day but this was a friendly.
It wasn’t ultra competitive and the opposition was sub-standard anyway, so it doesn’t mean he’s ready.
And if Benitez is so pleased to have “one of the best players in the German League” back in his squad, why did he let Andriy Voronin go in the first place? Because he can’t cut it, that’s why.
So I would say, let Alonso go now, take the money and, while there’s still plenty of time, spend it on someone who can turn those draws – so costly in last season’s final analysis – into victories.
Alonso might be the best passer at the club but even he hasn’t got the attacking prowess to be a genuine match-winner.
So it’s time to cash in and get someone who is.
No comments:
Post a Comment