Marcos Alonso

[manpe 10,861]

Those crosses he gave to Costa and Moses were sublime, he put them up on silver platter for them, just take it and score... but Costa hit the keeper and Moses hit the post. He gave the one to Moses with his right foot as well. He made both of them look effortless, but we as Chelsea fans have learned to appreciate simple things like that after years of suffering watching Bosingwa and Ivanovic hit the first man. On another day he could have had two great assists to add to his goal and be a genuine contender for motm. I had very low expectations of him after Fiorentina fans were happy to get rid of him, but he is actually an immense player for us.

3:00 and 5:15

 

[Barbara 15,149]

Let me be more accurate on my view of him - so you know what it means, big wall post.

I think he does well in the attack for us. Crosses aren't simple things to do and he has some good crosses on him, as pointed out the chances he created for Moses at the end of the first half and for Costa in the second. The cross for Moses was Cesc esque, a cross and a through ball all in one. You can't ignore his vision to do it, it was clear to me he wasn't aiming Costa because in two other occasions during the match he aimed the running guy coming in, not the one already in the box (in the vid above at 3:27, and the ball for Costa on 5:15). So he's a FB with vision and that's not so easy to find.So if I were to rate his crosses, I'd give him a solid 7.5.

He moves well in the attack as well, and he makes a good partnership with Eden, better than the any other FB/WB we had since Eden is here imo because might as he want, Azpili is a monster, but he isn't that impressive supporting an attacker. He does the basic well, but I think Alonso does it way better. So attack link up I'd give him another 7.

Now the biggest concern regarding a FB/WB in a physical league such as the PL is always going to be defensive skills and while I think he lacks some, I also believe we should give him time to adapt. He seems a little bit gangly or clumsy, but I think it's because of his tall stature and thin built. At first it might look like he's easily bullied, but he isn't because he won't give up the ball easily. There were at least two fouls the referee called yesterday where he was shoved on the pitch and still he tried and completed the pass - one of them in the second he could have set up a good attack but the referee was too anxious to call the foul. That's the mark of a player that will not let someone get the ball away from him easily. But talking about his ability to bully opponents and not be bullied, I think he can improve on that, of course, and he isn't a strong guy by any standards, but he isn't as bad as people make him out to be. I do believe that's the area he has more room for improvement, but he's young, he's new at the league we must not make the same mistake José did with Luis, we must cut him some slack and allow him time to adapt and improve. EPL is always going to be a tough league for foreign defenders to adapt.

Also in another brilliant move by Conte, instead of having the guy that might be prone to mistakes being protected, like Luiz, once again our master decides to do the opposite and makes the guy that needs protection the guy who actually protects other. It's a brilliant move. If someone isn't good enough for whatever reasons to be the reference in defense instead of bringing half a team to protect those guys (like we've seen Mourinho and others before him do it to Ivanovic, Cahill, Cesc, Mata and others millions times), Conte capitalizes on their limited ability to defend, so instead of offering support for those guys, Conte made those guys the ones that offer support. When Alonso is defending Cahill isn't that far away. We all know Cahill's limitations and I don't deny any of them, quite the opposite, but he is used to the league, so Conte put an experienced player behind Alonso to eventually cover his messes in case he fails to mark his man properly.

I just have ONE huge problem with Alonso's defending and is exactly the same thing Cahill masters at: he backs away from players instead of closing the gap and tackling them. More than once I was momentarily mistaken thinking it was Cahill executing the backing when it was actually Alonso himself. I don't know if that's fixable, but we have an Italian managing the team, so if it's possible to fix, Conte is just the right man to do it.

So when h is static I give his defending a 6, but when he's in the run, because of his tendency to run backwards and back away, I give him a 4.5 with som concerns but because of the formation, he will rarely be in this position, so I don't think it's something that will cost us much at the moment.

So let's give the lad some time for him to grow as a player, to adapt better to the league and to mature his game. Let's not forget defenders normally take more time to become their best version of themselves because rarely they are technical like Luiz for example or just natural skilled like Terry. Most of them take time to learn how to defend properly and that's the good thing about defending, it's easier to learn than attacking because it relies less on technique imo. A disciplined defender can be amazing even if he isn't a gifted one. I think Alonso can be the man for the job, while being aware he isn't anything special, but incredibly useful and if he continues his development and doesn't stagnate maybe he can be even more than that.

[Kieran. 6,317]

How are people complaining about his defensive skills when we literally haven't conceded ONE goal with him in the side. 

[Hybrid Angel 2,130]

I think this lad is immensely talented. It's his technique and passing ability that impresses me the most. He also can and will get past opposition players. You can never go wrong with this type of player. 

I'm glad the board and Antonio are investing in players like him. Enough of a squad that can't even do the basics; ball control, one-touch passing, etc. 

[Polo7 3,496]

1 hour ago, Kieran. said:

How are people complaining about his defensive skills when we literally haven't conceded ONE goal with him in the side. 

Hey! Its my right to complain about something....anything!! 

Really didnt like the tie Conte was wearing.... 

[Jase 43,479]

3 minutes ago, Polo7 said:

Really didnt like the tie Conte was wearing.... 

Uh oh. Polo has caught the TermX syndrome!

[Polo7 3,496]

1 hour ago, Jason said:

Uh oh. Polo has caught the TermX syndrome!

All this time I thought it was the noro virus. 

[Muzchap 8,966]

12 hours ago, Mustafa said:

 

Completely disagree. I think he's got a peach of a left foot. Immense technique. The chance we had towards the end of 1st half where Pedro turned immaculately was all started with a Zidane esque touch from Marcos. If there's one thing you can't dispute is his technique in my opinion. Wouldn't be surprised if he pops in a free kick for us in the near future.. lad has got a class left foot

Hmm when I say technically - I'm referring to his overall game - not his 'technical' aspect of left foot.

he will make mistakes and cost goals - but hey, who doesn't

like I have said before- I really like him and love his work rate and attitude - I hope he spends some time with Dave who can help on all aspects of his defending  making him technically an overall better player

 

nice to to see a bargain perform well - between him and Azpi - absolute steal

 

[Captain Ahmed 528]

Guerrero

[OneMoSalah 8,776]

Was surprised we signed him but boy has he been excellent since coming into the team.

Moses is getting a huge amount of praise but I think Alonso has been even better, excellent engine, technically sound and has a great cross on him, always puts it in to great areas. I am also surprised how strong he is in the air (although he is 6ft or there about) because he has quite a slight build but he gets up well and you often see he has a similar role to what Ivanovic had for when we are playing out/at goalkicks, if we have to go long and play aerially to get a knock down, he is quite often a target and normally wins it. 

If he keeps playing well he could get a call up for Spain for the next international break next year I think, they've been experimenting with 3-4-3 in some matches and he could probably slot in at LB with ease in that team. 

[Despiadado.Maleante 1,046]

Can certainly improve on him tbh not too impressed

[Tomo 21,733]

He would be tragic in a flat back four (im talking Bosingwa tragic) but as a wing back we have enough cover for his defensive deficiencys. Still think we can upgrade in the long run tho.

[Magic Lamps 11,653]

59 minutes ago, Tomo said:

He would be tragic in a flat back four (im talking Bosingwa tragic) but as a wing back we have enough cover for his defensive deficiencys. Still think we can upgrade in the long run tho.

surely this is one position we can improve on. But he is a very competent player. He could be a bit more mobile and play the game at a higher temp but he is at an age where he can still develop.

btw Ashley Cole used to be a similarly frustrating finisher at times. 

Also we have Kenedy and Baba who will surely excel at this position too so I am not too fussed about the Lwb spot

[Jase 43,479]

Alonso has done alright so far but my god, he's tragically slow when you see him defend 1 v 1. City next week should be fun to watch.

[BoyBlue96 990]

Simply not good enough. Has done well so far but just not that level we need. He is so fucking slow and his shooting...my god its horrible. That chance against Tottenham....even I could shoot that call behind Lloris but Marcos couldn't. And I'm pissed like a rat 27/4 

 

 

Tldr: weak link in the team. Need a better left-wingback. 

[zakhov 253]

9 hours ago, BoyBlue96 said:

Simply not good enough. Has done well so far but just not that level we need. He is so fucking slow and his shooting...my god its horrible. That chance against Tottenham....even I could shoot that call behind Lloris but Marcos couldn't. And I'm pissed like a rat 27/4 

 

 

Tldr: weak link in the team. Need a better left-wingback. 

To be fair, he's done well and is part of the defense which has barely conceded at all since we changed to a back three.

He looks slow because he's tall and gangly, and most players outpacing him when 1 on 1 aren't exactly slouches. 

For me, he's done a great job given the fact that we've conceded less goals and he has contributed plenty in attacks. Unlike Iva who goes forward and always leaves a gap ( or chasm), Alonso makes it back in position and makes it difficult for opposition( even if they eventually best him for pace).

You can't judge him on that missed opportunity, it was on his weaker foot and we didn't buy him for his goalscoring prowess. 

[OneMoSalah 8,776]

Are the people who are criticising Alonso the same ones criticising Willian. Nobody can win at this club can they haha? I can't remember him putting a foot wrong in all honestly, it's not possible to win every 1v1 (well it could be but honestly find me a player with 100% defending in 1v1s) and I'm sure Alonso had created the joint top amount of chances in the match, or so they said on BT Sport.

[Tomo 21,733]

49 minutes ago, OneMoSalah said:

Are the people who are criticising Alonso the same ones criticising Willian. Nobody can win at this club can they haha? I can't remember him putting a foot wrong in all honestly, it's not possible to win every 1v1 (well it could be but honestly find me a player with 100% defending in 1v1s) and I'm sure Alonso had created the joint top amount of chances in the match, or so they said on BT Sport.

It's not that he gets beat it's the way he gets beat, so easy so many times. However as I've alluded to at wing back it isn't that big an issue because he is decent going forward and there's enough cover around, in a flat back four he would get regularly targeted and exposed.

Also Willian is what he is, a highly talented but inconsistent winger, he wasn't even better last season than his usual self he just looked it due to how bad the rest were.