Casillas said:
Maybe it isn't the time to say he is the best yet, but he's definitely got the potential to be the best.
I agree with you.
He is a great ball distributer. One of the best long ball passers in the world. However, definitely the best passer in the world? Maybe it goes a bit too far. One of the best ? Yes.
IMO Pirlo is as good as ball distributer, and he has better playmaking ability and more creativity. Pirlo is better than Alonso as a deep lying playmaker. I see Pirlo is better in the following areas.
1) ball controll
Take Liverpool vs Tottenham as example, Alonso lost ball easily a few time. He was only being pressed by one opponent player and he was in a good position to protect the ball, yet he failed. Pirlo , and Xavi both have better ball control than Alonso. I rarely see Pirlo lost a ball in such situation, i.e. in wide space, only pressed by one player.
2) one footed
It's safe to say Pirlo is a better both footed passer. It seems to me Alonso just doesn't like his left foot. There was a scene vs Tottenham, where he received a ball close to the left side of the box, it was perfect to cross with left foot, but he chose to pass with the outside of his right, and the quality of that pass was bad. In that situation, Pirlo will definitely cross with his left because he is comfortable with passing with both feet.
3) creative pass
Most of Alonso pass are purely distributing the ball, not many are defense splitting. How many assists does he have? Pirlo and he play at the same position, I think Pirlo has more dangerous pass, more end products.