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The incredible Xabi Alonso thread 2009.

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

[quote author=Anita link=topic=33578.msg881387#msg881387 date=1244035222]
Only a moron would be happy seeing Gerrard playing wide.
[/quote]

He never did play wide in any real sense anyway. He might have lined up there at the start of a game but his best work ALWAYS involved him coming inside, which in turn meant we had naff all threat down the wing itself for much of the time. As a team we weren't handing out 4-1 thrashings to the Mancs at Old Toilet in those days either.

The pattern we've got now works tremendously well. It continues to amaze me how lightly too many posters still take the idea of breaking it up. Rafa used to take a lot of stick - largely deserved, I might add - for tinkering too much. FFS let's not get back to that now.
 
Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=Pesam link=topic=33578.msg881396#msg881396 date=1244035892]
[quote author=Anita link=topic=33578.msg881391#msg881391 date=1244035396]
[quote author=Pesam link=topic=33578.msg881390#msg881390 date=1244035344]
[quote author=Anita link=topic=33578.msg881369#msg881369 date=1244034335]
[quote author=Pesam link=topic=33578.msg881353#msg881353 date=1244032857]
Silva is significantly better than our current options on the left.


[/quote]

I'd agree with that. However, we don't know how he's gonna settle in the premiership. So you're talking about sacrificing a pr oven quality and key player, tampering with the heart of the team to accommodate a position which we're currently average in.

That maths doesn't add up for anyone.
[/quote]

Anita I'm beginning to think that you'd miss these annual Alonso threads if they weren't here. I think you may have a form of Stockholm Syndrome - you seem devoted to these threads even though you despise them. I on the other hand still have a chance to "escape" and am leaving this thread until the Alonso saga is concluded.

I will leave a trail of breadcrumbs for you to follow but expect to see you immersed in this thread for all eternity (or at least mid-August).
[/quote]

Nooo, don't leave! I'll miss you!
[/quote]

{but alas there was no one there to hear her plaintive plea}
[/quote]

Aha, oh but you're wrong, because Alonso is still here, so my cries are not in vain! 😉
 
Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=33578.msg881399#msg881399 date=1244036082]
[quote author=Anita link=topic=33578.msg881387#msg881387 date=1244035222]
Only a moron would be happy seeing Gerrard playing wide.
[/quote]

He never did play wide in any real sense anyway. He might have lined up there at the start of a game but his best work ALWAYS involved him coming inside, which in turn meant we had naff all threat down the wing itself for much of the time. As a team we weren't handing out 4-1 thrashings to the Mancs at Old Toilet in those days either.

The pattern we've got now works tremendously well. It continues to amaze me how lightly too many posters still take the idea of breaking it up. Rafa used to take a lot of stick - largely deserved, I might add - for tinkering too much. FFS let's not get back to that now.
[/quote]

England have played him wide and we have played in on the right of the three, which of course isn't the same as playing on the wing. And of course he's still played well, that's because he's Steven Gerrard and he's one of the best players in the world. So where ever he plays he will show that. But him at his best is in the middle of the park.

I totally agree with you JJ, this lets him play in the middle with all the freedom, and he's awesome playing there.

Like I've said a few times, if we're to stand a chance in the league next year we cannot mess with the spine of that 4231, especially the key partnerships of Gerrard and Torres and Alonso and Mascherano.
 
Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[size=12pt]Manchester City ready to swoop on Liverpool's Xabi Alonso
[/size]
By David Maddock 5/06/2009

Manchester City are ready to take advantage of an Anfield feud to snatch midfielder Xabi Alonso.

Alonso has had an icy relationship with fellow Spaniard Rafa Benitez, ever since Liverpool boss Benitez tried to sell him last summer.

Now, the Mirror can reveal that Alonso heads the list of players wanted by the super-rich Manchester club, and manager Mark Hughes even placed him ahead of Gareth Barry as a target.

The City boss wants the pair to form the fulcrum of his midfield, and he is ready to capitalise on a breakdown of the relationship between Alonso and his boss to try to tempt him with a £20million bid.

Alonso lost faith in Benitez when he tried to sell him behind his back last summer, and when it seemed the same would happen at the end of this season, he resolved to find himself another club.

There has already been contact from Real Madrid, and while – contrary to reports – there has yet to be a concrete bid from the Bernabeu, it seems certain they will follow up interest with an offer in the region of £18m.

But the politics at Anfield will prevent a swift conclusion to any deal, and that will allow City the chance to tempt Alonso with a massive deal.

After Benitez was heavily criticised for trying to sell Alonso last summer, the player has been his most consistent performer.

And the Anfield boss knows he would look bad if he blithely went ahead with a sale. Instead, canny Benitez wants Alonso to ask for a move, absolving him of all blame from the fans for the loss of such a popular player, but the midfielder is reluctant to do that, because he feels he has been forced out. Alonso’s first choice would still be a move back to Spain with either Madrid or Barcelona, who are also monitoring the situation, but City have the financial clout to make him think again.

They gave Barry a staggering contract worth almost £100,000 a week, and given their desire to land Alonso, they would be prepared to top anything Real could offer.

He and his family are happy in the north west of England, and until the end of the season he wanted to remain at Anfield, before tiring of the Kop politics.

Signing for City would allow him to stay where he is settled, and would also offer the huge incentive of a deal that could be worth in the region of an amazing £30m.

His departure though, will leave Benitez in a difficult situation. The Liverpool boss was caught napping by City over Barry, and he has no obvious alternative as a replacement for Alonso.

Benitez will have in the region of £50m to spend if he sells Alonso. He wants Valencia winger David Silva, and the rest of that figure will have to be diverted to a replacement in midfield, leaving little for a striker or the two defenders that are also on his wish-list
 
Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

The journo's must have a template for these stories now.

Man City swoop for ---------------.


Another story done.
 
Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=Skullflower link=topic=33578.msg882532#msg882532 date=1244155118]
[size=12pt]Manchester City ready to swoop on Liverpool's Xabi Alonso
[/size]
By David Maddock 5/06/2009

Manchester City are ready to take advantage of an Anfield feud to snatch midfielder Xabi Alonso.

Alonso has had an icy relationship with fellow Spaniard Rafa Benitez, ever since Liverpool boss Benitez tried to sell him last summer.

Now, the Mirror can reveal that Alonso heads the list of players wanted by the super-rich Manchester club, and manager Mark Hughes even placed him ahead of Gareth Barry as a target.

The City boss wants the pair to form the fulcrum of his midfield, and he is ready to capitalise on a breakdown of the relationship between Alonso and his boss to try to tempt him with a £20million bid.

Alonso lost faith in Benitez when he tried to sell him behind his back last summer, and when it seemed the same would happen at the end of this season, he resolved to find himself another club.

There has already been contact from Real Madrid, and while – contrary to reports – there has yet to be a concrete bid from the Bernabeu, it seems certain they will follow up interest with an offer in the region of £18m.

But the politics at Anfield will prevent a swift conclusion to any deal, and that will allow City the chance to tempt Alonso with a massive deal.

After Benitez was heavily criticised for trying to sell Alonso last summer, the player has been his most consistent performer.

And the Anfield boss knows he would look bad if he blithely went ahead with a sale. Instead, canny Benitez wants Alonso to ask for a move, absolving him of all blame from the fans for the loss of such a popular player, but the midfielder is reluctant to do that, because he feels he has been forced out. Alonso’s first choice would still be a move back to Spain with either Madrid or Barcelona, who are also monitoring the situation, but City have the financial clout to make him think again.

They gave Barry a staggering contract worth almost £100,000 a week, and given their desire to land Alonso, they would be prepared to top anything Real could offer.

He and his family are happy in the north west of England, and until the end of the season he wanted to remain at Anfield, before tiring of the Kop politics.

Signing for City would allow him to stay where he is settled, and would also offer the huge incentive of a deal that could be worth in the region of an amazing £30m.

His departure though, will leave Benitez in a difficult situation. The Liverpool boss was caught napping by City over Barry, and he has no obvious alternative as a replacement for Alonso.

Benitez will have in the region of £50m to spend if he sells Alonso. He wants Valencia winger David Silva, and the rest of that figure will have to be diverted to a replacement in midfield, leaving little for a striker or the two defenders that are also on his wish-list
[/quote]

A big fuck off to The Mirror, David Maddox, Man Shitey and Mark Pubes.

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

30m pounds for alonso? That's very tempting...But hell its City right? Ask for 40m and settle at 50m!
In seriousness, Rafa should be giving this deal a long look if alonso wants to go...
 
Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

Alonso won't go to city. Even if they offer fifty million and alonso wants to leave he'll go to Madrid even though their offer would be less.
 
Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=DCH link=topic=33578.msg882640#msg882640 date=1244185509]
30m pounds for alonso? That's very tempting...But hell its City right? Ask for 40m and settle at 50m!
In seriousness, Rafa should be giving this deal a long look if alonso wants to go...
[/quote]

The fee stated was £20m. The £30m figure is his wages for a 4/5 year contract.
 
Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

IF Alonso decided to go, he will go to Madrid. Citeh can fuck right off.
 
Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=Glock link=topic=33578.msg882684#msg882684 date=1244191652]
IF Alonso decided to go, he will go to Madrid. Citeh can fuck right off.
[/quote]

if alonso does decide to go I want him to go to who will pay the most money regardless of who they are.
 
Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33578.msg882690#msg882690 date=1244192247]
[quote author=Glock link=topic=33578.msg882684#msg882684 date=1244191652]
IF Alonso decided to go, he will go to Madrid. Citeh can fuck right off.
[/quote]

if alonso does decide to go I want him to go to who will pay the most money regardless of who they are.
[/quote]

Its not us to decide boy. Its his future, he decides. Citeh can offer us 100mil but if he says he wanted to go to Madrid, so Madrid will haggle for the fees. That has been the way it is for so long. So we should not get bullied by Madrid or any other clubs for that matter. He goes, ho choose where to go and we make a profit. That is all i care. Currently Madrid is the front runner to have him. So we have to act fast and sign a replacement.
 
Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=Glock link=topic=33578.msg882695#msg882695 date=1244192592]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33578.msg882690#msg882690 date=1244192247]
[quote author=Glock link=topic=33578.msg882684#msg882684 date=1244191652]
IF Alonso decided to go, he will go to Madrid. Citeh can fuck right off.
[/quote]

if alonso does decide to go I want him to go to who will pay the most money regardless of who they are.
[/quote]

Its not us to decide boy. Its his future, he decides. Citeh can offer us 100mil but if he says he wanted to go to Madrid, so Madrid will haggle for the fees. That has been the way it is for so long. So we should not get bullied by Madrid or any other clubs for that matter. He goes, ho choose where to go and we make a profit. That is all i care. Currently Madrid is the front runner to have him. So we have to act fast and sign a replacement.
[/quote]

I said that's what I'd want not what would necessarily happen.
the pisser with xabi leaving (if he left) is it would be a case of just using the money for attacking talent he'd also have to be replaced, unless we dropped gerrard back into CM, something I personally don't want to see.
 
Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33578.msg882708#msg882708 date=1244193399]
[quote author=Glock link=topic=33578.msg882695#msg882695 date=1244192592]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33578.msg882690#msg882690 date=1244192247]
[quote author=Glock link=topic=33578.msg882684#msg882684 date=1244191652]
IF Alonso decided to go, he will go to Madrid. Citeh can fuck right off.
[/quote]

if alonso does decide to go I want him to go to who will pay the most money regardless of who they are.
[/quote]

Its not us to decide boy. Its his future, he decides. Citeh can offer us 100mil but if he says he wanted to go to Madrid, so Madrid will haggle for the fees. That has been the way it is for so long. So we should not get bullied by Madrid or any other clubs for that matter. He goes, ho choose where to go and we make a profit. That is all i care. Currently Madrid is the front runner to have him. So we have to act fast and sign a replacement.
[/quote]

I said that's what I'd want not what would necessarily happen.
the pisser with xabi leaving (if he left) is it would be a case of just using the money for attacking talent he'd also have to be replaced, unless we dropped gerrard back into CM, something I personally don't want to see.
[/quote]

Get Hamsik to replace Alonso. Gerrard can play anywhere up front.
 
Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

From The Times:

Liverpool determined to keep hold of Xabi Alonso

Tony Evans, Football Editor; Ian King Deputy Business Editor

Liverpool are determined to hold on to Xabi Alonso despite the midfield player’s desire to move to Real Madrid. Sources at Anfield indicated that it would take a “mind-blowing†offer by the Spanish giants to prise the 27-year-old away from the club.

Florentino Pérez, the Real president, told The Times yesterday of his interest in Alonso. “Xabi is a magnificent Spanish player, so of course we’d love to have him,†Pérez said. “But everything would involve reaching an agreement with Rafael Benítez. It will need to be an agreement that is in the best interests of both clubs.â€

Liverpool made it clear yesterday that they have no intention of selling the Spain player, who has three years left on his contract. Alonso, however, has made it equally clear that he wants to move on. After the 3-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on the final day of the season last month, Alonso met Benítez, the Liverpool manager, to try to force the issue.

The Spaniard has been unsettled for some time, despite having a superb season. Before the Champions League qualifying match against Standard Liège in August, he was reluctant to play to avoid being cup-tied in Europe with any potential new club. However, Liverpool are adamant that they will resist any move for Alonso — Manchester City and Arsenal have also been linked with the player. Suggestions that £25 million would tempt Benítez to sell were laughed off as being “nowhere near†Liverpool’s valuation.

Benítez will be active in the transfer market despite Liverpool’s accounts revealing that the club’s profits failed to cover interest payments on debt last year. Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr, the club’s American owners, are almost certain to get an extension on their £350 million loan deal with Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Wachovia, due for repayment on July 24. RBS, which owns 75 per cent of the debt, is unconcerned by the reported loss of £43 million since most of it was due to “non-cash†write-downs in the value of players.

It is understood that the bank’s only reservation about the performance of the owners is their inability to finance a new stadium. The banks are encouraging Hicks and Gillett to look for new investment to push through the new ground.

RBS was reassured when Benítez and Fernando Torres signed extensions to their contracts in the closing weeks of the season. The Spanish pair’s commitment to the club was a significant factor in giving the Americans financial breathing space.
Click to expand...
 
Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

The Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez has admitted for the first time that he is interested in signing the Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso as part of a major summer overhaul of the Spanish giants' squad. The Brazilian playmaker Kaka is expected to finalise his world record-breaking move from Milan to Madrid today and Pérez has indicated that he would also be interested in adding the 27-year-old Alonso to the growing ranks of superstars at the Bernabéu.

"Xabi is a magnificent Spanish player, so of course we'd love to have him," Pérez told the Times. "But everything would involve reaching an agreement with [the Liverpool manager] Rafael Benítez. It will need to be an agreement that is in the best interests of both clubs."

Benítez has repeatedly expressed his intention to keep Alonso at Liverpool and the midfielder still has three years left on his current contract. But Alonso is also thought to be keen on a move to his native Spain and has previously sounded out Benítez about a transfer.

The Liverpool manager, however, named Alonso as a key member of the "spine" of his team and is likely to attempt to block any move for one of last season's best performers.

"We are working very hard to keep the spine of the team – that was always the idea," said Benítez in an interview with Liverpool's official magazine. "We have Pepe Reina as the No1 goalkeeper with Diego Cavalieri behind him, another good goalkeeper. Then we have [Martin] Skrtel, [Jamie] Carragher and [Daniel] Agger – three good centre-backs. Then you go to the midfield with Alonso, [Javier] Mascherano, Lucas and [Steven] Gerrard, with [Fernando] Torres up front and [David] Ngog, who is a very good prospect. We have a good squad that is still young, so hopefully we can improve further."

A possible fee of £22m has been reported for any potential transfer, although Liverpool – and Benítez in particular – are likely to value him much higher.
Click to expand...
 
Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

If Xabi wants to leave, I cannot fault him after how Rafa handled this past summer.

I somehow think it's only a matter of time (Sorry Neets).
 
Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=LeTallecWiz link=topic=33578.msg884007#msg884007 date=1244449647]
If Xabi wants to leave, I cannot fault him after how Rafa handled this past summer.

I somehow think it's only a matter of time (Sorry Neets).
[/quote]

and let that be a lesson that rafa hopefully learns from.

real in the end will do us over, the player wants to move, they want to buy him - it'll mean a lower fee than what he's worth and more importantly 2 steps backwards as far as our title challenge is concerned for next year. lucas i shit regardless of what some on here would like to believe and moving gerrard back into the middle as a permanent arrangement is a bad idea. barry has now gone - who exactly would we replace alonso with in a like for like ball spreader, tempo maker role?
 
Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

Does Xabi want to go to Real though? Personally I doubt it very much
 
Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

On the question of a transfer fee -whatever his feelings about Rafa, Xabi loves LFC. He's already said he won't play for another Prem side and I don't think he'll want to see us jiggered over money. As Jack says, it's by no means nailed on that he'll even go yet.

As for replacing him - yes, a tall order, but I'm reminded of the time when Rushy went to Juve. We wondered where our goals were going to come from, but we soon found out when the Aldo-Digger-Beardsley trio went into action. I'd sooner Xabi stayed, but we've filled bigger gaps before now.
 
Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=33578.msg884022#msg884022 date=1244451859]
On the question of a transfer fee -whatever his feelings about Rafa, Xabi loves LFC. He's already said he won't play for another Prem side and I don't think he'll want to see us jiggered over money. As Jack says, it's by no means nailed on that he'll even go yet.

As for replacing him - yes, a tall order, but I'm reminded of the time when Rushy went to Juve. We wondered where our goals were going to come from, but we soon found out when the Aldo-Digger-Beardsley trio went into action. I'd sooner Xabi stayed, but we've filled bigger gaps before now.
[/quote]

we have filled bigger gaps, but w filled them when we were successful with a winning mentality, a bit like utd have been - beckham left, rvn left etc - no worries, winning mentality etc. we don't have that yet.
 
Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

Much as I'd like him to stay, if he really wants to go so be it. We'd get a decent fee for him, be able to replace him with a younger model (potentially every bit as good), and have money over to contribute towards quality players for the flanks / back-up for Torres.

Moreover, for anyone to think that Xabi would only want to go because of last summer are most probably underestimating Xabi's maturity and character. It doesn't necessarily follow that because a poster is still smarting from Xabi's treatment, so is Xabi. It might just as well be that after 5 years he's ready to move on and return to his homeland (a likely long-term plan for a young Spanish player).
 
Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=Buddha link=topic=33578.msg884031#msg884031 date=1244453828]
Much as I'd like him to stay, if he really wants to go so be it. We'd get a decent fee for him, be able to replace him with a younger model (potentially every bit as good), and have money over to contribute towards quality players for the flanks / back-up for Torres.

Moreover, for anyone to think that Xabi would only want to go because of last summer are most probably underestimating Xabi's maturity and character. It doesn't necessarily follow that because a poster is still smarting from Xabi's treatment, so is Xabi. It might just as well be that after 5 years he's ready to move on and return to his homeland (a likely long-term plan for a young Spanish player).
[/quote]

i don't think he'd go just yet though, not with us this close to the premiership, i'd have thought he'd give it one more season but there is clearly truth in what you say. maybe rafa's treatment has put his decisions forward by a year or two
 
Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

'Ee's got a tongue in his head, ain't he? Xabi could quite easily make a comment and end this tiresome saga now, seeing as the club's been very clear about its position. I'm sick to death of the whole thing, and also the whiter than white treatment of one side and demonisation of the other.
 
Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=gkmacca link=topic=33578.msg884036#msg884036 date=1244454083]
'Ee's got a tongue in his head, ain't he? Xabi could quite easily make a comment and end this tiresome saga now, seeing as the club's been very clear about its position. I'm sick to death of the whole thing, and also the whiter than white treatment of one side and demonisation of the other.
[/quote]

maybe he understands the liverpool way better than others?
 
Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

Or maybe he's playing a political game that, given that he's in the box seat, is just as cynical as any of his so-called tormentors. The comments from the club could hardly be clearer.
 
Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=gkmacca link=topic=33578.msg884045#msg884045 date=1244454690]
Or maybe he's playing a political game that, given that he's in the box seat, is just as cynical as any of his so-called tormentors. The comments from the club could hardly be clearer.
[/quote]

yep they were pretty clear last summer as well
 
Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

Christ, it's what happens at clubs, particularly when we have owners like this and stretched budgets like this. The idea it was a unique case of dark forces threatening an angelic figure is really getting to be tiresome now. Liverpool managers before Benitez were just as ruthless. Players got on with things. Of course I didn't like it and of course I want Alonso to stay, but this cartoon morality on here is just getting silly.
 
Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=gkmacca link=topic=33578.msg884045#msg884045 date=1244454690]
Or maybe he's playing a political game that, given that he's in the box seat, is just as cynical as any of his so-called tormentors. The comments from the club could hardly be clearer.
[/quote]

Let's not get too dramatic about it though. We have an employer who wasn't as fond of an employee when their performance wasn't up to spec, and now that the performance has been exemplary, they are considering other offers and the shoe is on the other foot. That's just how it is. There is likely little loyalty on both sides, and that is just modern football.
 
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