The incredible Xabi Alonso thread 2009.

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=Fallon link=topic=33578.msg879541#msg879541 date=1243808455]
Wow! It's hard to believe, but the daily mail becomes even more pathetic as the weeks go by.
[/quote]

The Daily Mail has been hard to believe for fucking decades.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

I've just been whooshed haven't I?

*Sits in corner and sticks dunce's hat on*

 

[peekay]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

22 million plus Heinze :-[

I would honestly take 20 million and no Heinze

 

[The_Prof]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

Man on street tells me

Xabi is going to stay for at least a year and then consider Real Madrid.

 

[Glock21]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

If Rafael sell Alonso and get Heinze in return, forget about the title next season. We need to get rid of Dossena, Aurelio, Babel, Degen and Lucas first.

 

[jimmy]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=Glock link=topic=33578.msg879615#msg879615 date=1243833635]
If Rafael sell Alonso and get Heinze in return, forget about the title next season. We need to get rid of Dossena, Aurelio, Babel, Degen and Lucas first.
[/quote]

Well Glock, you should tell that to Rafael in your next weekly dinner.

 

[Glock21]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=jimmy link=topic=33578.msg879618#msg879618 date=1243834085]
[quote author=Glock link=topic=33578.msg879615#msg879615 date=1243833635]
If Rafael sell Alonso and get Heinze in return, forget about the title next season. We need to get rid of Dossena, Aurelio, Babel, Degen and Lucas first.
[/quote]

Well Glock, you should tell that to Rafael in your next weekly dinner.
[/quote]

Rafael will say its all made up bollocks by the press.

 

[Roopy]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

Daily Mail HAHA.

The same paper that said Xavi was an average player only a few months ago 😱

 

[keniget]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33578.msg879487#msg879487 date=1243797372]
[quote author=keniget link=topic=33578.msg879473#msg879473 date=1243794544]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33578.msg879471#msg879471 date=1243794371]
just watched the rafa season review and when talking about alonso rafa said alonso's form had dipped from the first season but his level has again risen to to heights of his debut season (paraphrasing).
so there you have it from the mouth of the man who counts. he (rafa also said he doesn't need to sell to buy but even if he did there are players to sell before alonso.
[/quote]

There you have what exactly?

That he wasn't playing to the level he was in his first year? No shit.
[/quote]

that's what some people, amazingly have claimed
[/quote]

Not a single person has claimed that.

 

[mark1975]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=keniget link=topic=33578.msg879630#msg879630 date=1243835854]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33578.msg879487#msg879487 date=1243797372]
[quote author=keniget link=topic=33578.msg879473#msg879473 date=1243794544]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33578.msg879471#msg879471 date=1243794371]
just watched the rafa season review and when talking about alonso rafa said alonso's form had dipped from the first season but his level has again risen to to heights of his debut season (paraphrasing).
so there you have it from the mouth of the man who counts. he (rafa also said he doesn't need to sell to buy but even if he did there are players to sell before alonso.
[/quote]

There you have what exactly?

That he wasn't playing to the level he was in his first year? No shit.
[/quote]

that's what some people, amazingly have claimed
[/quote]

Not a single person has claimed that.
[/quote]

I don't really get your defense of Alonso over this Keni, he was poor for two seasons. It might not have all been down to the player, I think injury, a deeper position and a lack of width in the side might have hampered his ability a bit, but he was below the standards he set in his first season and he's only got back into similar form this year.

I don't think anyone's using it as a stick to beat Xabi with either, it's just a fair point that you could see where Rafa's discontent came from. He just handled it in a dreadful way.

 

[TheBunnyman]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

I've just read (in the Guardian) that Real are trying to sign Ronaldo, Ribery and Kaka. Presumably they're going to buy Xabi with the spare change left over from a billion euros?

 

[keniget]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

I think Kaka will be their headline buy this year with Ronaldo staying at Man Utd.

 

[TheBunnyman]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

This (from today's Guardian) suggests otherwise...

Real Madrid's pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo is essential for the club's image and financial interests, their president in waiting Florentino Pérez has said.

Pérez, the overwhelming favourite to regain the Real presidency this week, said the Spanish club should have bought Ronaldo in 2007 and said the signing of Manchester United's world player of the year was as essential as the purchase of David Beckham in 2003.

"Madrid should have bought Cristiano Ronaldo as Beckham's replacement two years ago," Pérez said in the Sunday Times as he outlined a vision for the club that would once again involve glamorous galáctico signings that could attract sizeable global commercial income.

"When Beckham arrived, our sponsors significantly raised their payments to us and we rescued the finances of the club. What happened in the last few years is that the club did not reinvest in the type of players to continue with that model. I want to put that right. If Cristiano Ronaldo comes in, we would have a Nike-endorsed player putting on an adidas shirt every week."

Pérez has already outlined plans to bring Kaka and Franck Ribéry to the Bernabéu from Milan and Bayern Munich respectively. Ronaldo himself was evasive about his future plans in the aftermath of United's Champions League final defeat by Barcelona in Rome.

 

[keniget]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

Heh hmmm, or maybe not...

I hope Ronaldo does go.

 

[DHSC]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

I wonder how the Real Madrid fans feel. Are they really that gullible to believe that Kaka, Ribery AND Ronaldo are going to join them this close season?

Would we believe Hicks if he was telling everyone that Villa, Silva, Ribery and Kaka would be joining us?

 

[keniget]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=DHSC link=topic=33578.msg879673#msg879673 date=1243846875]
I wonder how the Real Madrid fans feel. Are they really that gullible to believe that Kaka, Ribery AND Ronaldo are going to join them this close season?

Would we believe Hicks if he was telling everyone that Villa, Silva, Ribery and Kaka would be joining us?
[/quote]

I don't know - they've more than likely not forgotten players like Zidane, Figo and Ronaldo joining them for world record fees.

 

[DHSC]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

Did they join in the same season?

I can't remember.

Maybe we should get Perez to take over our club. Fuck Real.

 

[manwithnoname]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

Gullible?

The last time this bloke was president he promised - and delivered - Figo and Zidane amongst a host of ther 'galacticos'

 

[TheBunnyman]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=DHSC link=topic=33578.msg879678#msg879678 date=1243847164]
Did they join in the same season?

I can't remember.

Maybe we should get Perez to take over our club. Fuck Real.
[/quote]

No. One galactico per season was the going rate.

I think getting Ronaldo, Ribery and Kaka in a single summer might prove even beyond Perez's means.

 

[LadyRed]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

Well, if the main reason for Xabi considering leaving was Rafa not wanting him at the club. I think Rafa's done enough this year in letting it be known that he wants Xabi to stay and that he is a part of his future plans.

Hopefully that will be enough for Alonso.

 

[Y1]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=Anita link=topic=33578.msg879859#msg879859 date=1243858699]
Well, if the main reason for Xabi considering leaving was Rafa not wanting him at the club. I think Rafa's done enough this year in letting it be known that he wants Xabi to stay and that he is a part of his future plans.

Hopefully that will be enough for Alonso.
[/quote]

You tell him girl.

 

[MaschedUp]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

Liverpool FC deny Xabi Alonso is on his way to Real Madrid

Jun 1 2009 by Philip Kirkbride, Liverpool Echo

LIVERPOOL moved swiftly today to emphatically deny Xabi Alonso is on his way to Madrid in a £22m deal.

Reports in Spain claimed the star midfielder was on his way to the Bernabeau but Reds boss Rafa Benitez dismissed the claims as rubbish.

Florentinto Perez, who is taking up a second stint as Real President, has been campaigning to bring Alonso in.

It has even been claimed Gabriel Heinze – who Benitez had hoped to sign from Manchester United two years ago – could finally be set to join Liverpool as part of the Alonso deal.

But Benitez today remained insistent he does not want to sell his 27-year-old playmaker, brought in to Anfield as his first signing in 2004 for £11m.

The Reds boss said: "The situation is clear, we do not want to sell our best players and that includes Xabi.

"He had a very good season for us and can be an important player in the future.

“There is no agreement with Real and we want him to be part of our plans going forward.

"Xabi himself told our club magazine only two weeks ago that he was looking forward to his sixth season as a Liverpool player.

“Why should he want to leave now?"

Benitez added: "Xabi's agent came to see me recently to talk about the future.

“It was a surprise for me and I pointed out to him there were three years left on Xabi's contract.

"I asked him if the player was happy in Liverpool and he said yes. It was a short meeting."

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/live...onso-is-on-his-way-to-madrid-100252-23759149/

 

[rage]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

so it was a surprise for rafa after touting the poor lad to everyone and anyone last season that alonso's agent wanted to meet. gotta laugh?

 

[LadyRed]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=rage link=topic=33578.msg879994#msg879994 date=1243870703]
so it was a surprise for rafa after touting the poor lad to everyone and anyone last season that alonso's agent wanted to meet. gotta laugh?
[/quote]

Exactly. Rafa's such a divvy sometimes.

 

[jimmy]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

This thread has been going in cycles, Anita.
Last summer on the back of two not-so-very-good years Rafa thought that he could and should find someone better than Xabi. This summer on the back of a very-good (actually excellent) season, Rafa thinks that Xabi is what LFC needs going forward.
It's pretty clear and simple. He's looking for the right players for the success of this club. He may make mistakes during his term as club manager, but then we all make mistakes. He might have involved some personal matters into it, but he has now made it clear that he wants Xabi to stay. That's what is important.
(and for the record - if by the end of this summer he has sold Xabi after all and managed to get a good fee for him, which he used for strengthening the team then that's his job).

 

[gkmacca]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

The whole thing has twisted something fairly prosaic into some devious-sounding saga of personal conspiracies and vendettas. Managers and players tend to be pragmatists, not paragons of consistency. They react as they feel they need to react to each set of circumstances. I can't really see the justification for turning this into a moral maze discussion.

 

[Hansern]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

For what its worth, Balague is certain Xabi will leave in the coming weeks. He apperantly had a talk with his friend Perez. 25 mill was the quoted transfer fee.

 

[Mors]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=Hansern link=topic=33578.msg880031#msg880031 date=1243879528]
For what its worth, Balague is certain Xabi will leave in the coming weeks. He apperantly had a talk with his friend Perez. 25 mill was the quoted transfer fee.
[/quote]

I'll take that thank you very much

 

[gkmacca]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

For what it's worth, Ballague ISN'T certain. He qualified the report thus:

Lets be clear... I have NOT said that "Xabi Alonso is definately going to Madrid" as you have written it. What I have written is that he is a target, that Benitez is aware of the interest and that perhaps this 'could' happen...and that I am under the impression that it could happen rather quickly.

No more no less than that. Not 100% and not definitely going to happen. No transfer, including those mentioned here, is ever 100% until it has happened.

 

[Rafiagra]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

After the season we have had and considering the influence Alonso has had on it, it would be madness to let him go and break up what we know works.

There are obvious deficiencies and it is these which must be addressed through our transfers this summer, not replacing established proven quality.