Alvaro Arbeloa

[Puskas]

His first two starts for us are against Barcelona (!) and what's more playing out of position (!!). I can't imagine anyone doing any better over the first two games for their new club, he was excellent (apart from playing Gudjohnsen onside). I really enjoyed the leveller on Messi as well. He looks quick too.

 

I think he deserves a run of games at left back.

[Jonesy]

His first two starts for us are against Barcelona (!) and what's more playing out of position (!!). I can't imagine anyone doing any better over the first two games for their new club, he was excellent (apart from playing Gudjohnsen onside). I really enjoyed the leveller on Messi as well. He looks quick too.

 

I think he deserves a run of games at left back.

 

 

why? he wont be playing against messi every week! don't get me wrong the lad done well and all that

[ManxRed]

Looks quite shrewd too. Early days, but looking forward to seeing more of him.

[Boca]

why? he wont be playing against messi every week! don't get me wrong the lad done well and all that

 

Well he won't be up against anyone better than him, will he? It's not a bad shout.

[Chili Palmer]

I think he will play quite a bit at right back in the remaining league games, saving Finnan for the CL games.

[Jonesy]

Well he won't be up against anyone better than him, will he? It's not a bad shout.

 

 

that's as maybe but there are still some players in this league that actually go wide to get crosses in......instead of cutting inside!

[owenthomas]

i thought he was excellent again last night..

[Boca]

that's as maybe but there are still some players in this league that actually go wide to get crosses in......instead of cutting inside!

 

Messi took him on outside a couple of times last night and Arbeloa did very well, especially since he had that booking early on. He hasn't been tested by a natural winger yet but nothing in his two performances against Barca suggest he wouldn't be able to handle it.

[alias75]

Think we'll play 3 at the back a fair bit and with him and the other 3 CBs we have thats a very strong 4 to choose from.

[Spoone]

Messi took him on outside a couple of times last night and Arbeloa did very well, especially since he had that booking early on. He hasn't been tested by a natural winger yet but nothing in his two performances against Barca suggest he wouldn't be able to handle it.

 

Exactly, as a right footer he was suited to playing against Messi as messi likes to cut inside, if he came up against a touchline hugging winger who kept him on his left foot it'll be a different kettle of fish.

[Leo No.8]

Did exceptionally well again last night except for the goal where he should have stepped up.

 

He's got a bit of pace and looks very assured defensively and on the ball (I think we'll see more of his ability when he plays on his favoured side against less attack-minded opposition).

 

He also looks to have real heart - got stuck in, worked hard tracking Messi and did a bit of geeing up of the crowd for good measure. £2.8m - not surprised the Depor fans were so upset...

[fred milne]

Exactly, as a right footer he was suited to playing against Messi as messi likes to cut inside, if he came up against a touchline hugging winger who kept him on his left foot it'll be a different kettle of fish.

Not necessarily.

 

Back in the day, Carragher was an accomplished right-footed LB regardless of who he came up against.

Edited March 7, 2007 by fred milne

[DonRafa]

Did exceptionally well again last night except for the goal where he should have stepped up.

 

He's got a bit of pace and looks very assured defensively and on the ball (I think we'll see more of his ability when he plays on his favoured side against less attack-minded opposition).

 

He also looks to have real heart - got stuck in, worked hard tracking Messi and did a bit of geeing up of the crowd for good measure. £2.8m - not surprised the Depor fans were so upset...

 

Agree with all that. Looks a damn good buy

[Eskimo]

His first two starts for us are against Barcelona (!) and what's more playing out of position (!!). I can't imagine anyone doing any better over the first two games for their new club, he was excellent (apart from playing Gudjohnsen onside). I really enjoyed the leveller on Messi as well. He looks quick too.

 

I think he deserves a run of games at left back.

 

It was a master stroke to play him at LB against Barca and for good reason, but he's a CB/RB why play him out of position? I'd rather see Aurelio, a LB, get a run of games, he looked fairly good prior to his injury and he himself has said he's better suited to LB than LM.

 

Oh and the boy done well

[Reggie]

He likes a dive too.

[DonRafa]

He likes a dive too.

 

 

Don't we all, dearie, don't we all

 

[Puskas]

It was a master stroke to play him at LB against Barca and for good reason, but he's a CB/RB why play him out of position? I'd rather see Aurelio, a LB, get a run of games, he looked fairly good prior to his injury and he himself has said he's better suited to LB than LM.

I think he should get a run because based on the evidence of the games against Barca (which is admittedly not that much yet) he looks like the best LB at the club, and LB has been the weakest part of our defense all season. Like fred says:

Back in the day, Carragher was an accomplished right-footed LB regardless of who he came up against.

I just think it might be worth giving him a run there, although Aurelio would be a fair shout as well - assuming he can stay fit.

[Eskimo]

I think he should get a run because based on the evidence of the games against Barca (which is admittedly not that much yet) he looks like the best LB at the club, and LB has been the weakest part of our defense all season. Like fred says:

 

I just think it might be worth giving him a run there, although Aurelio would be a fair shout as well - assuming he can stay fit.

 

So what your saying is take Carra out of the middle and play him at LB, or possibly give Aurelio a run at LB, his preferred position. Then again on the back of two games Arbeloa looks like the best LB at the club, despite the fact that he's a CB/RB, so he should play LB....

[fred milne]

So what your saying is take Carra out of the middle and play him at LB

I don't think he's saying that at all.

Edited March 7, 2007 by fred milne

[Eskimo]

I don't think he's saying that at all.

 

I just think it might be worth giving him a run there, although Aurelio would be a fair shout as well - assuming he can stay fit.

[fred milne]

I thought it pretty clear that he meant giving Arbeloa a run at LB, not Carra.

[Bootle Buck]

For the lad to play a big part in the two games against Barca without ever playing the game for the club was Superb. He looked like he had played there for years. He gets stuck in for a very slight lad too.

 

I would like to see Stevie Finnan given a rest and let him play RB.

[Puskas]

So what your saying is take Carra out of the middle and play him at LB, or possibly give Aurelio a run at LB, his preferred position. Then again on the back of two games Arbeloa looks like the best LB at the club, despite the fact that he's a CB/RB, so he should play LB....

No Eskimo, we were talking about the left back position. There's no way Arbeloa will displace any of Finnan, Carra or Agger (unless one of them is rested), the only weak spot in our defense is left back and I think we should be considering Arbeloa for a run as our left back (as you said Aurelio could also possibly get a run at left back... if he could stay fit for 5 minutes in a row).

 

The only reason I mentioned Carra is because (as fred said) he's a right footer who did a great job for us in the past at left back, and Arbeloa looks like he can use either foot anyway, so I think it's worth considering.

[JonShar]

He likes a dive too.

 

Don't think that's true at all.

 

Once in each Barcelona game he WON a free kick - dinked the ball forward right before contact with the defender, and got cut down because of it. Reminded me of ol' Didi he did.

[Eskimo]

No Eskimo, we were talking about the left back position. There's no way Arbeloa will displace any of Finnan, Carra or Agger (unless one of them is rested), the only weak spot in our defense is left back and I think we should be considering Arbeloa for a run as our left back (as you said Aurelio could also possibly get a run at left back... if he could stay fit for 5 minutes in a row).

 

The only reason I mentioned Carra is because (as fred said) he's a right footer who did a great job for us in the past at left back, and Arbeloa looks like he can use either foot anyway, so I think it's worth considering.

 

Sorry my mistake mate (re Carra that is), however I still disagree re Arbeloa at LB I just don't see the point, yes he's handy as cover should we need it, but I would sooner stick with Aurelio and Riise, the former would be my preferred choice.

 

We struggle enough as it is in terms of crossing and a right footed player on the left isn't going to help IMHO.