Xabi Alonso: the final piece of the Madrid puzzle?

After weeks of speculation, rumours and gossip Xabi Alonso finally completed his £30m move to Real Madrid to join the likes of Ronaldo, Kaka, Benzema, Arbeloa and Albiol as part of Galacticos II. This post is not going to criticize Florentino Pérez and his spending for this author believes that Madrid can spend money on whoever they like, it will instead pose the question; is Alonso the final piece to completing the Madrid team?

The proverbial mind games of Alex Ferguson have started already with his assertion that Liverpool won’t win the league, Man City are a small team and that Real Madrid are unbalanced. Unbalanced? Let us say, hypothetically, that the Madrid first team line up will look like this in 2009/10: Casillas, Ramos, Pepe, Albiol, Marcelo, Lassana Diarra, Alonso, Ronaldo, Kaka, Robben, Raul.

With perhaps the best goal keeper in the world Madrid have a safe pair of hands between the sticks. A marauding, powerful and athletic right back in Sergio Ramos and two towering central defenders in Pepe and new signing Albiol; the only defensive weakness is perhaps Marcelo who has that Roberto Carlos-esque defensive vulnerability about him. However with both defensive minded Miguel Torres and Arbeloa available to play at left back Madrid have good full back cover.

Onto the midfield and Diarra has that Makélélé look; small, versatile, defensive and energetic. Diarra does the job that so often goes unnoticed and unappreciated. Up on the wings, Ronaldo and Robben can both take defenders on, cut inside, create and score if need be; Kaka provides the creativity through the middle acting as a second striker sometimes and up front Raul can score. Indeed Raul was added as he is the captain however with Van Nistelrooy, Benzema, Higuain, and Negredo as cover their striking options appear limitless.

Where does Alonso fit in? Right beside Diarra. He will provide that deep laying playmaker that Pirlo so perfected in Serie A and run the game from the middle. Providing accurate and defensive splitting passes for the front 4 while also providing some extra defensive cover should Diarra be caught out.

Are Madrid unbalanced? Not by the looks of things; they have a strong defense, an efficient midfield and a creative attack. The question is not about the Galacticos II being unbalanced it is, can they play together?