Liverpool have undoubtedly suffered as a result of the dual loss of Sami Hyypia and Xabi Alonso over the summer, but which player does the club miss the most?
Sami Hyypia was my favourite Liverpool player for years; a superb footballer and a real gentleman, he embodied everything that was great about the club. Liverpool miss his imperious presence at the heart of the defence, especially his commanding aerial ability; organizational skills; leadership qualities and overall calming effect on the defence. As I’m sure many fans would agree, our defensive problems would not have been so acute if Sami was still at the club.
Xabi Alonso was another great ambassador for the club, both on and off the field. His ball retention skills, passing range, and ability to intelligently dictate the pace of play have been sorely missed this season. Xabi was the heartbeat of the team, and the effect of his absence has been exacerbated by the lack of a like-for-like replacement.
Jaimie Kanwar
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Sami Hyypia was my favourite Liverpool player for years; a superb footballer and a real gentleman, he embodied everything that was great about the club. Liverpool miss his imperious presence at the heart of the defence, especially his commanding aerial ability; organizational skills; leadership qualities and overall calming effect on the defence. As I’m sure many fans would agree, our defensive problems would not have been so acute if Sami was still at the club.
Xabi Alonso was another great ambassador for the club, both on and off the field. His ball retention skills, passing range, and ability to intelligently dictate the pace of play have been sorely missed this season. Xabi was the heartbeat of the team, and the effect of his absence has been exacerbated by the lack of a like-for-like replacement.
Jaimie Kanwar
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I voted for Hyypia. Reason, Xabi position could have been easily filled,
ReplyDeleteby dropping Gerrard back, and not playing the inept Lucas.
Benayoun could play in the hole, or play 2 strikers.
Hyypia is sorely missed at the back Both Carra & Skrtel Have had a nightmare start to the season, I think the loss of Hyypia's class and control is the main reason our season is virtually over.
Totally agree with you, Little Plum. As you say, Gerrard could've been put in midfield; Yossi could've played in the hole = problem solved. I argued that from the start of the season, but Rafa did not adapt, and look at where we are now.
ReplyDeleteThe defence has been the main problem this season, and Sami's brilliance would've helped us no end.
Alonso has badly missed, albeit Hypia is best in air when we suffered a lot after his resignment. Hypia assist you when there is corna and fine. But piece.
ReplyDeleteTo me Alonso could dictate the match as he want, he is supper star.
Sami gets my vote because he did it season after season. Alonso really only had an exceptional season 2008-2009 and that followed a very poor season 2007-2008 which must have been the reason Rafa tried to sell him and sign Barry. The season before was very mixed for him. i cant really ever remember Sami having a dip in form, and I do think that the money spent on signing the greek (cant spell his name I am not being rude) would have been better spent prolonging Hyypia,s LFC career. Although with his age he must have started to slow down even in training
ReplyDeleteCorrect.
ReplyDeleteLast season, Sami was fantastic; a prime example of this was the 4-1 victory over Man U at Old trafford. He had United's front line in his pocket.
ReplyDeleteAnd slowing down in training? he was rested all the time, so he probably has bags of energy. something that his current team, Bayer Leverkused are benefiting from.
Sami has started all but 1 of their games this season; Leverkusen are top of the league, have lost no games, and have the lowest number of goals conceded.
Sami's influence is there for all to see. It's not about age, it's about ability, and Sami was - and is - one of the best.
Benitez should've moved heaven and earth to keep him, but Sami wanted to leave; not because he wasn't getting enough games though. There is another reason, which I will suggest in an article soon.
Whilst Sami was excellent throughout his career, I think we miss Alonso more. His defensivess attributes were often overlooked by many. He was great at nicking balls of people and breaking up play, not quite Masch I will give you that!! We just miss some cut and thrudt in the middle of the park and I totally agree that Stevie should have been pushed back and Benny play in the hole.
ReplyDeleteoh hear we go!! What little nugget of information is exclusive to you surrounding Sami and him leaving?? Let me guess, Benitez's record inthe transfer market, his lack of man management skills perhaps??
Jim that last line is spot on, Jamiek can start off a great debate then spoil it with attacks on Rafa whilst maintaining there should be no blame attached to H and G. Its such a shame really.
ReplyDeletePerhaps every Red fan should unite and get behind H and G and Rafa and support all players (yes even Lucas) and lets see where we are at the end of the season. If we dont make the CL then maybe just maybe we need a change
Who said it was an exclusive? it will just be my opinion as to one of the reasons Sami left.
ReplyDeleteVoted Sami too. Just look up how he has played in Leverkusen. And last season at Old Trafford when he wasn't supposed to start the game. Then in a last minute he was to told that he is going to start the game and was brilliant.
ReplyDeleteout of interest Jamie why have you edited my last comment does the truth hurt
ReplyDeleteNo - I'm sick of your whining and sniping. Comments under articles are for discussion of issues related to LFC; they are not for bitching about me. Continue with comments like that and I'll ban you. If you don't like this site, don't visit.
ReplyDeleteOuch the truth must hurt we are all allowed our opinion as long as we agree with yours you have proved to me exactly what I have always suspected you of. You are no more A Liverpool Fan than Alex Fergusson is. You can try and ban me or block me but you wont succeed. Idiot
ReplyDeleteI don't miss either. Both were great players for Liverpool but they both chose to go. Let's move on.
ReplyDeleteAsking this question of people it is possible to divide on two categories.
ReplyDeleteYes I very much love Sami but.Some fans consider that Liverpool is a command of defensive character and such should and beat. Yes who is final those think so consider that huge loss.I too see that come anthropo will not replace and still.It should seems to me that club to play with the big imagination of such players as Alonso and attacking football.It seemed to me that the club could leave all the same a situation having made good transfers but Rafa has resulted almost "dead" Aquilani in the left Alonso's place.So Alonso's leaving this the worst that has occurred lately to club.
Who says that by playing Gerrard further back and Yossi in the hole would have worked? Where is your PROOF Jamie?
ReplyDeleteAlso, lucas is not inept. From last look he is in the top rankings for tacklers and passers in the Premiership so far this season.
Do some research.
Additionally, Hyypia hardly played last season or the season before so how can he be anywhere near as big a miss?!
ReplyDeleteAnd who argue with that?! *DONT_KNOW*
ReplyDeleteJK, I don't agree with you at all. One of the reasons that Liverpool's defence is weakened this year is because of the absence of Xabi. Xabi, unlike Gerrard, actually will come back and fill in the holes in front of the defense. Now, he does the tackling skills of Javi, but he puts enough pressure and fills in the gaps to slow the counter attack and defense splitting balls. Also, please note that Liverpool had all those clean sheets last year without Sami. Finally, notice how Real's defense has all of a sudden stop leaking in goals since Xabi has arrived. Conincidence?
ReplyDeleteI disagree. While I believe Gerrard is a great player, I don't not believe that he is better than Xabi in the midfield. I think Rafa has found the best position for Gerrard. I believe Xabi has a better understanding in the midfield than Gerrard, and more importantly, has better tactical positioning. Now, I think Gerrard is a better overall player, but not in that position. I think Gerrard is better overall player than J. Terry, but do I think that Gerrard is a better defender? Absolutely not. Yes, I know that Gerrard was a DM initially, but that wasn't isn't his best position. Playing in the hole, with no defensive responsibilities is Gerrard's best position, not dictating the counter attack nor filling in the holes in front of the defense.
ReplyDeleteI disagree. While I believe Gerrard is a great player, I don't not believe that he is better than Xabi in the midfield. I think Rafa has found the best position for Gerrard. I believe Xabi has a better understanding in the midfield than Gerrard, and more importantly, has better tactical positioning. Now, I think Gerrard is a better overall player, but not in that position. I think Gerrard is better overall player than J. Terry, but do I think that Gerrard is a better defender? Absolutely not. Yes, I know that Gerrard was a DM initially, but that wasn't isn't his best position. Playing in the hole, with no defensive responsibilities is Gerrard's best position, not dictating the counter attack nor filling in the holes in front of the defense.
ReplyDeleteI disagree. While I believe Gerrard is a great player, I don't not believe that he is better than Xabi in the midfield. I think Rafa has found the best position for Gerrard. I believe Xabi has a better understanding in the midfield than Gerrard, and more importantly, has better tactical positioning. Now, I think Gerrard is a better overall player, but not in that position. I think Gerrard is better overall player than J. Terry, but do I think that Gerrard is a better defender? Absolutely not. Yes, I know that Gerrard was a DM initially, but that wasn't isn't his best position. Playing in the hole, with no defensive responsibilities is Gerrard's best position, not dictating the counter attack nor filling in the holes in front of the defense.
ReplyDeleteis the last post in english?
ReplyDeletewasn't the old trafford game his last start for the club, though? didn't do too badly without him for the rest of that season.
ReplyDeletehyypia was a great player, but he was never going to stay as 4th choice centre back. it would have been great to have him this season, but you can't forsee those kind of injury problems we've had.
part of the reason he went to germany is that it's a less physically demanding league. no way sami would have been able to start the same amount of games over here.
i think we've missed alonso more. shame he didn't go earlier in the summer, then raffa would have had time to maybe find a replacement who was fit, but such is life. hopefully aquilani can come in and provide a bit of dynamics to the midfield