Gerrard devastated at Alonso loss....

[Terrier]

Steven Gerrard was "devastated'' when Xabi Alonso left Liverpool and believes the club's current troubles are evidence of the size of the hole Alonso has left in Rafael Benitez's engine room.



Liverpool captain Gerrard, who is currently injured, forged a good understanding with Alonso in midfield and paid him perhaps the biggest compliment by suggesting Alonso's absence has been the "difference in us from last year".

Alonso moved on to Real Madrid in the summer, since when Liverpool have struggled for form in the Premier League and Champions League. It was a move which hit Gerrard hard.

"Devastated, yeah. Devastated. But there was nothing I could do about it,'' he told FourFourTwo magazine. "Xabi said a long time ago that he wanted another chapter in his career and finally he got it and his team-mates and the coaches couldn't stand in his way. We just have to say thanks and move forward without him.''

Liverpool recouped around £30million for 27-year-old Alonso, and spent most of that on bringing replacement Alberto Aquilani to Anfield from Roma. Aquilani missed the first two months of the season due to injury and Liverpool have already lost seven matches.

Gerrard knew it would take Liverpool time to adapt to life without Alonso, who in a deep-lying playmaker role had a vital duty in Benitez's team.

Gerrard said: "It's always going to be different when you lose one of the best players in the world - and people are finally realising that's what he is, on the back of his form for Real Madrid and the difference in us from last year.

"We've got other midfielders here doing a good job but it will take a while before Alonso's out of our system because he was such a top player.''


---------------------------



How's Xabi doing at Madrid? I don't watch much Spanish football. He's been sort of outshadowed by Ronaldo, Kaka and co in the few games I've seen of Madrid this season.

 

[themn]

That's it, SACK RAFA !

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

How long is a long time ago?

 

[Terrier]

[quote author=themn link=topic=36932.msg978486#msg978486 date=1257340669]
That's it, SACK RAFA !
[/quote]


Do Gerrard's comments put to bed any long standing arguments?

 

[themn]

[quote author=Terrier link=topic=36932.msg978488#msg978488 date=1257340762]
[quote author=themn link=topic=36932.msg978486#msg978486 date=1257340669]
That's it, SACK RAFA !
[/quote]


Do Gerrard's comments put to bed any long standing arguments?


[/quote]

Yes.

No.

SACK RAFA !

 

[Wizardry]

I actually thought Xabi seemed to be having as much trouble dealing with a new team as we've had in dealing with his absence.

Have to agree that losing Alonso would create a huge hole in any team and we really have struggled without him thus far. Aquilani has some huge boots to fill.

 

[Wizardry]

[quote author=Gerry_A_Trick link=topic=36932.msg978487#msg978487 date=1257340716]
How long is a long time ago?
[/quote]

Heh, was going to ask that but I don't think the answer will chnge our position.

The Xabi who hugged Gerrard in the middle of the pitch after we beat Chelsea in the CL semi had no interest in leaving; nor did the player who helped us to 82 points in the EPL for our highest point tally and third in the league.

It was the Xabi who got the cold shoulder after putting family first and the one who was nearly disposed of before putting in arguably his best season wearing a Liverpool shirt who looked set on leaving.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

[quote author=Wizardry link=topic=36932.msg978491#msg978491 date=1257340946]
I actually thought Xabi seemed to be having as much trouble dealing with a new team as we've had in dealing with his absence.[/quote]

I've watched most of his game and again, besides a few beautiful passes (I think he has 2 assists), he's looked out of place and has struggled. He doesn't get as much of a chacne to dictate play as they have one Kaka and seems to not really have a role on the team.

As I've said before, I can see him selling him next year ... He's not what they need to be honest unless they change their formation.

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

I think Xabi, was never going to stay with us forever, and his relationship with Rafa probably pushed him to move maybe a season, or at most two, seasons before he wanted to go. He was always going to go sometime. Like Torres will too, and probably Reina.

 

[Terrier]

[quote author=LeTallecWiz link=topic=36932.msg978501#msg978501 date=1257341482]
[quote author=Wizardry link=topic=36932.msg978491#msg978491 date=1257340946]
I actually thought Xabi seemed to be having as much trouble dealing with a new team as we've had in dealing with his absence.[/quote]

I've watched most of his game and again, besides a few beautiful passes (I think he has 2 assists), he's looked out of place and has struggled. He doesn't get as much of a chacne to dictate play as they have one Kaka and seems to not really have a role on the team.

As I've said before, I can see him selling him next year ... He's not what they need to be honest unless they change their formation.
[/quote]


Shall we start a "Xabi's unsettled and wants to come home" rumour?

 

[Judge Jules]

I think it's right that Alonso would have gone eventually anyway. An increased risk of that happening is the flip side of signing non-English (or at least non-British) players. One can argue, and we did - sharply - on here, about where the balance of blame lies for the way the Rafa/Alonso relationship turned out, but there seems little point.

 

[Squiggles]

I'd have thought Madrid will hold onto Xabi for at least 2 years.

If it doens't work out for him there, he'll look to Italy I reckon.

 

[The Slugmonster]

[quote author=Gerry_A_Trick link=topic=36932.msg978503#msg978503 date=1257341604]
I think Xabi, was never going to stay with us forever, and his relationship with Rafa probably pushed him to move maybe a season, or at most two, seasons before he wanted to go. He was always going to go sometime. Like Torres will too, and probably Reina.
[/quote]

*Starts crying uncontrollably into cornflakes!!

 

[ZhaoYun]

He is simply right, losing Alonso and replace him with a sicknote is a sin...the aquaman better comes good.

 

[spider-Neil]

if you read between the lines gerrard is all but saying the CM is rubbish.
he uses the words 'doing a job', talk about damning with faint praise

 

[rebel23]

there is simply nothing you can do, like Benitez said Aquilani is here for 5 years not 5 months get him fit and we'll be humming again (I hope)

imagine him and Agger in the team, sadly our best players on the ball seem to be so injury prone including the captain

 

[aquaman4]

rebel supportive of rafa that's a good omen for today

 

[aquaman4]

[quote author=Gerry_A_Trick link=topic=36932.msg978503#msg978503 date=1257341604]
I think Xabi, was never going to stay with us forever, and his relationship with Rafa probably pushed him to move maybe a season, or at most two, seasons before he wanted to go. He was always going to go sometime. Like Torres will too, and probably Reina.
[/quote]


if torres and reina leave ten years from now we will wish them well in their future endeavors

 

[Roopy]

Alonso leaving still hurts.

There's a part of me that hates Alonso for leaving, but also another that understands his departure.

 

[Terrier]

[quote author=rebel23 link=topic=36932.msg978559#msg978559 date=1257344859]
there is simply nothing you can do, like Benitez said Aquilani is here for 5 years not 5 months get him fit and we'll be humming again (I hope)

imagine him and Agger in the team, sadly our best players on the ball seem to be so injury prone including the captain


[/quote]




Gerrard was injury prone at the beginning of his career, but over the last 5 years, he's been pretty much on call.

What are you on about?

 

[Rosco]

[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=36932.msg978510#msg978510 date=1257341993]
I think it's right that Alonso would have gone eventually anyway. An increased risk of that happening is the flip side of signing non-English (or at least non-British) players. One can argue, and we did - sharply - on here, about where the balance of blame lies for the way the Rafa/Alonso relationship turned out, but there seems little point.
[/quote]

One could also say that those people who criminally underrated Alonso should realise how silly they were now.

Even when Xabi was "shite for two years" we never were as bad as we currently are.

 

[manwithnoname]

Remember how many bellends denigrated alonso as 'a passer' we would hardly miss and at certain points the season before last, rabid cunts like Headwand actually claimed Lucunt should play *ahead* of Xabi, because he was 'shit' apparently

*cries*

 

[Rosco]

[quote author=Brendan link=topic=36932.msg978830#msg978830 date=1257364525]
Remember how many bellends denigrated alonso as 'a passer' we would hardly miss and at certain points the season before last, rabid cunts like Headwand actually claimed Lucunt should play *ahead* of Xabi, because he was 'shit' apparently

*cries*
[/quote]

And then David Prentice wrote an article about how we wouldn't miss Alonso based on fantasy football stats.

Stupid cunt

 

[manwithnoname]

Arghhhhhh!

I don't need you making me *more* angry!

 

[Rosco]

Completely off topic, but did you have any firewall issues today ?

 

[manwithnoname]

Yes, still not working, but I was given an email that outlined another option, which I haven't tried yet

Let you know how I get on, but it's very strange

 

[RolandG]

Don't worry Gerrard, you're in good company. Neets is still reeling! At the end of the day, Xabi wanted to go and the rest is history.

 

[keniget]

LOADS of people were going on about Agger still having to prove himself at this level or some shit as well in the last 18 months.

 

[LadyRed]

Me and you both Stevie.

 

[Ryan]

Doesn't Gerrard know that "all Xabi could do was pass. Nothing else."?

Someone should tell him.