Xabi Alonso Thread

[Tomo 21,751]

11 hours ago, Pizy said:

I’ve said it before but I get the impression that those in the club LOVE Sanchez and rate him much higher than any of us supporters do. I would be genuinely, pleasantly surprised if we sold him. 

Problem is, he at the annoying reverse sweet spot (for want of a better word) where we need an upgrade for titles but can do a lot worse (as we've found out twice).

[Pizy 19,310]

37 minutes ago, Tomo said:

Problem is, he at the annoying reverse sweet spot (for want of a better word) where we need an upgrade for titles but can do a lot worse (as we've found out twice).

Yep. That’s kind of my worry if we throw Penders into the fire too early. He may be super talented and the next Courtois but what if he comes in and makes even more mistakes than Sanchez because he’s so young?

We’re in kind of a tricky place with keepers. We go sign a world class, super expensive keeper and that’s curtains for Penders’ chances here after we spent a huge amount of money on. We stick with Sanchez and we’re never going to be a truly top side. We put Penders in straight away and we risk him producing howlers as he’s getting up to speed.

 

[Blue Armour 4,745]

20 hours ago, Fulham Broadway said:

My mates son playing up front for Sunday league is way better than Delap

But can he barge into players like a tractor?

[maxlev 56]

I am glad we now have what I consider as an experienced coach who plays attacking style of football far more than delightfully counting how many passes his players make before remembering that goals win matches. Good attacking play will bring out the best from this squad even as it is but I did like him to do a total clearout of our center backs. Only Colwill and Achempong should be considered to stay while they bring in 2 too level experienced quality cb. We kind of lack creativity as we don't have skillful ball carriers. Our players tend to lose possession easily when under pressure except Joa Pedro who has really improved on this. Delap, Guiu, should be sold. Let's bring in another top striker like Laurato Martinez or Osimhen. With the right signings, only 4 or 5 incomings can set us up as title contenders. 1 or 2 experienced quality centerback (s), 1 ball carrying creative central midfielder, 1 top class winger, 1 top class striker.  

[Special Juan 28,821]

8 hours ago, Pizy said:

Yep. That’s kind of my worry if we throw Penders into the fire too early. He may be super talented and the next Courtois but what if he comes in and makes even more mistakes than Sanchez because he’s so young?

We’re in kind of a tricky place with keepers. We go sign a world class, super expensive keeper and that’s curtains for Penders’ chances here after we spent a huge amount of money on. We stick with Sanchez and we’re never going to be a truly top side. We put Penders in straight away and we risk him producing howlers as he’s getting up to speed.

 

Simple, buy Maignan and bring back Penders, Maignan won't cost the earth, gives us a quality keeper and can teach Penders everything he knows.

[Fulham Broadway 17,782]

3 hours ago, maxlev said:

I am glad we now have what I consider as an experienced coach who plays attacking style of football far more than delightfully counting how many passes his players make before remembering that goals win matches. Good attacking play will bring out the best from this squad even as it is but I did like him to do a total clearout of our center backs. Only Colwill and Achempong should be considered to stay while they bring in 2 too level experienced quality cb. We kind of lack creativity as we don't have skillful ball carriers. Our players tend to lose possession easily when under pressure except Joa Pedro who has really improved on this. Delap, Guiu, should be sold. Let's bring in another top striker like Laurato Martinez or Osimhen. With the right signings, only 4 or 5 incomings can set us up as title contenders. 1 or 2 experienced quality centerback (s), 1 ball carrying creative central midfielder, 1 top class winger, 1 top class striker.  

yes, people forget that defenders need to also be creatives, they can set the rythym of play from the back

[maxlev 56]

5 minutes ago, Fulham Broadway said:

yes, people forget that defenders need to also be creatives, they can set the rythym of play from the back

Exactly 

[Reddish-Blue 2,691]

4 hours ago, maxlev said:

Only Colwill and Achempong should be considered to stay while they bring in 2 too level experienced quality cb.

Hato hasn't done too much wrong of recent times for a young CB/LB who's still learning and developing. 

Between Reece, Colwill, Hato you have a starting base for the backline but we need reinforcements badly. 

I fear that keeping Josh here would be ruining his development, at his age, he needs regular games, not bench warming duties.   He should have been on loan somewhere in the PL this season. 

[Reddish-Blue 2,691]

2 hours ago, Special Juan said:

Simple, buy Maignan and bring back Penders, Maignan won't cost the earth, gives us a quality keeper and can teach Penders everything he knows.

Knowing Joe Shields he'd be on the phone to City asking for Trafford's price. 

[Reddish-Blue 2,691]

11 hours ago, Tomo said:

Problem is, he at the annoying reverse sweet spot (for want of a better word) where we need an upgrade for titles but can do a lot worse (as we've found out twice).

To think this all started with the Courtois - Kepa shit show

Petrovic - Sanchez was interesting because you could see some potential in Petrovic and Bournemouth took that chance. 

[Tomo 21,751]

25 minutes ago, Reddish-Blue said:

To think this all started with the Courtois - Kepa shit show

Petrovic - Sanchez was interesting because you could see some potential in Petrovic and Bournemouth took that chance. 

Maybe in hindsight it was more Pochs system causing this but I honestly thought Petrovic was really bad for us and the advanced data backed that up.

I think the desperation for anyone but Sanchez caused it to go under the radar, similar to the ageing Ivanovic/Baba Rahman situation.

[Mhsc 1,150]

Slowly letting myself get excited about Xabi, albeit I worry that expectations are a little too high for him with the way the media are talking about him (as if we've appointed Prime Jose).

If we go and sign 2 top CBs and a GK then I might actually get excited for a new era. If we don't, its just more of the same shit with a new coach, the ceiling will always be low.

[Pizy 19,310]

3 hours ago, Special Juan said:

Simple, buy Maignan and bring back Penders, Maignan won't cost the earth, gives us a quality keeper and can teach Penders everything he knows.

That would be cool in theory but top keepers can play at their best level well into their 30’s and Maignan is only 30. If he were to come here and perform amazingly then Penders is locked out for at least a few years.

I think what I would probably do is just take the risk and make Penders our #1 this summer. What I think will actually happen is the club will convince Alonso to give Sanchez one more season before Penders takes the job after another Strasbourg season of development.