Alonso is more than capable of doing a solid defensive job against the dross of the Premier League
Word. Fuck sakes, Michael Carrick manages it.
What people aren't quite grasping is that if Alonso is there next to a Barry... we're going to have a
lot of the ball. More so than usual. If we have a lot of the ball then their one up front is going to become extremely isolated - especially if we play Skrtel and Agger at the back, who have the pace to isolate him.
How do people think United get by defending with so few 'defenders'? If you've got the ball then the other team hasn't, and you're not going to be under pressure. If you've got the pace to move higher up the pitch then their one outlet is going to become extremely isolated (and irritated). Especially so if he's against two quick centrebacks, because he'll really struggle to be able to find the space to run into with the ball to allow the others to get up in support. In other words, he loses the ball quickly, we get the ball back and with Xabi playing a holding role, we're not down a player who doesn't contribute to the attack.
... And this is all without mentioning that Xabi is a bloody good tackler, fantastic at reading the game and all that stops him from being the best 'holding' midfielder in the world is a lack of athleticism. When people get goal side of him he'll struggle to recover, unlike Masch. But, if you've got pace at the back, you're less concerned about that because you're not terrified of a striker running at Agger or Skrtel and exposing them for pace. Same thing happens at United - on those rare occasions Carrick isn't enough, whoever gets in behind him still has to deal with two extremely physical centrebacks, one of which is lightning and the other of which is only really bested by rapid strikers when it comes to pace.