The incredible Xabi Alonso thread 2009.

[Fallon]

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

He has also created stories out of thin air by rehashing old quotes and links to suit his needs. He can be right (as can all sports journalists on occasion) and this may yet be on the level, but it remains to be seen.

 

[Rosco]

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

[quote author=Fallon link=topic=33578.msg873513#msg873513 date=1243158040]
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=33578.msg873477#msg873477 date=1243154548]
[quote author=Fallon link=topic=33578.msg873441#msg873441 date=1243130521]
[quote author=Avmenon link=topic=33578.msg873438#msg873438 date=1243128176]
Still hoping its a bullshit story tho 🙁
[/quote]

Although it ties in with what has been said by a few people, I wouldn't believe a word that Bascombe or that shig rag says.
[/quote]

There's always one.
[/quote]

Sod off Rosco. The mods have been right before and the mods have been wrong before, they don't sway my opinion on this subject one way or the other, and Bascombe certainly doesn't as all he cares about nowadays in sensationalist headlines.
[/quote]

Lot's of people dismissed his last few exclusives too Fallon. SImply because it's him and the NOTW.

More often than not he ends up being right.

 

[Fallon]

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

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=33578.msg873519#msg873519 date=1243158345]
[quote author=Fallon link=topic=33578.msg873513#msg873513 date=1243158040]
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=33578.msg873477#msg873477 date=1243154548]
[quote author=Fallon link=topic=33578.msg873441#msg873441 date=1243130521]
[quote author=Avmenon link=topic=33578.msg873438#msg873438 date=1243128176]
Still hoping its a bullshit story tho 🙁
[/quote]

Although it ties in with what has been said by a few people, I wouldn't believe a word that Bascombe or that shig rag says.
[/quote]

There's always one.
[/quote]

Sod off Rosco. The mods have been right before and the mods have been wrong before, they don't sway my opinion on this subject one way or the other, and Bascombe certainly doesn't as all he cares about nowadays in sensationalist headlines.
[/quote]

Lot's of people dismissed his last few exclusives too Fallon. SImply because it's him and the NOTW.

More often than not he ends up being right.
[/quote]

If you take his career as a whole into account then yes I suppose you are right, however since he has been tied to daily deadlines his record has been patchy at best. He burnt a lot of bridges when he joined that paper.

 

[Rosco]

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

What has he got wrong since he joined the NOTW ?

 

[spider-Neil]

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

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=33578.msg873519#msg873519 date=1243158345]
[quote author=Fallon link=topic=33578.msg873513#msg873513 date=1243158040]
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=33578.msg873477#msg873477 date=1243154548]
[quote author=Fallon link=topic=33578.msg873441#msg873441 date=1243130521]
[quote author=Avmenon link=topic=33578.msg873438#msg873438 date=1243128176]
Still hoping its a bullshit story tho 🙁
[/quote]

Although it ties in with what has been said by a few people, I wouldn't believe a word that Bascombe or that shig rag says.
[/quote]

There's always one.
[/quote]

Sod off Rosco. The mods have been right before and the mods have been wrong before, they don't sway my opinion on this subject one way or the other, and Bascombe certainly doesn't as all he cares about nowadays in sensationalist headlines.
[/quote]

Lot's of people dismissed his last few exclusives too Fallon. SImply because it's him and the NOTW.

More often than not he ends up being right.
[/quote]

I'll bite, other than the rafa appointment what has CB got right in ages?

 

[Rosco]

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

Keane being sold was the last one that the masses rubbished Spidey.

 

[spider-Neil]

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

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=33578.msg873537#msg873537 date=1243160281]
Keane being sold was the last one that the masses rubbished Spidey.


[/quote]

hardly an 'exclusive' though was it? anyone with eyes could have seen that one coming.

 

[Rosco]

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

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33578.msg873538#msg873538 date=1243160476]
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=33578.msg873537#msg873537 date=1243160281]
Keane being sold was the last one that the masses rubbished Spidey.


[/quote]

hardly an 'exclusive' though was it? anyone with eyes could have seen that one coming.
[/quote]

I'm not getting into this Spidey, nobody believed him at the time.

If a load of clueless bellends want to think Bascombe knows nothing, then go right ahead. Be my guest.

 

[spider-Neil]

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

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=33578.msg873542#msg873542 date=1243160718]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33578.msg873538#msg873538 date=1243160476]
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=33578.msg873537#msg873537 date=1243160281]
Keane being sold was the last one that the masses rubbished Spidey.


[/quote]

hardly an 'exclusive' though was it? anyone with eyes could have seen that one coming.
[/quote]

I'm not getting into this Spidey, nobody believed him at the time.

If a load of clueless bellends want to think Bascombe knows nothing, then go right ahead. Be my guest.
[/quote]

my opinion of CB is (based on my observations) he is very hit and miss, so whilst he may be spot on its also possible he is wide of the mark so I will wait and see what happens.
I will add that xabi is easily one of my favorite players (the neil hex strikes again) but if he is shipped out with a 'competant' replacement brought in with the difference (and that difference may be substantial) used to bring in a world class attacking player then I think ultimately we will be better off and this is coming from a person who thinks alonso is our player of the season.

 

[Rosco]

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

Two things - Bascombe is always correct on big exclusives like this.

We don't improve by selling Xabi.

As the sensible people on here have said many times, we could sell a load of players who've made fuck all difference to our team this season in order to fund a move for a "world class attacking talent" , by the way Tevez isn't world class.

 

[spider-Neil]

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

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=33578.msg873547#msg873547 date=1243161224]
Two things - Bascombe is always correct on big exclusives like this.

We don't improve by selling Xabi.

As the sensible people on here have said many times, we could sell a load of players who've made fuck all difference to our team this season in order to fund a move for a "world class attacking talent" , by the way Tevez isn't world class.
[/quote]

ros, I know what we 'could' do but that irrelavent to what we 'will' do. beyond the first team the only player I think will bring in anything LIKE a decent return is babel, if we are desparate to get rid of our secend string why is it people think someone else will be desparate to snap them up.
each to their own but I think a drop in quality in CM but a huge jump in quality in the attacking third will improve us as a team, a cursary glance at manu's midfield v their attack will tell you that.

lastly, is tevez world class? personally I think he is, certainly when I think of the qulaity attackers in world football his name (imho) is in the top 10.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

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

We can improve even if we sell Xabi.

If the money generated is added to our kitty and we buy 2 quality attacking players + Barry and Johnson, then we'd be a stronger team.

 

[Biggus Dickus]

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

[quote author=FoxForceFive link=topic=33578.msg873496#msg873496 date=1243156158]
[quote author=Biggus Dickus link=topic=33578.msg873491#msg873491 date=1243155389]
If they don't want to be here they should tell Rafa or hand in a transfer request.
[/quote]

There's a major difference between not getting on with your boss & wanting to change employer. I've not got on with many a manager of mine & not wanted to leave the job.
[/quote]

I know and there would be others in our squad that do not get along with Rafa. The choice is Xabi's though and it appears (if true) he has made his. The others are prepared to put up with their differences with Rafa. It's not like Xabi was being left out of the team or anything.

TBH the whole thing doesn't make much sense so I'm staying out of this until we know exactly whats going on.

 

[gkmacca]

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

Hacks on Sky this morning, urging Barry not to go to Anfield because of Benitez's rotation policy: 'Look at Mascherano,' one of them says. 'He keeps being left out the team'. Their knowledge of the club is mind-bogglingly tiny.



P.S. If the NOTW sports editor had thought Bascombe's exclusive was a really big story it wouldn't have been relegated to a side column.

 

[Fallon]

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

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=33578.msg873533#msg873533 date=1243160125]
What has he got wrong since he joined the NOTW ?


[/quote]

If I was that arsed Rosco I could easily go back through his past articles and show you several examples from before and after the Keane story which he has go wrong/wrote stories based on mere rumours. I am not going to bother though as I am almost positive it won't make a difference to your opinion of this story or CB, also I could give a shit what you choose to believe or not.

 

[Fallon]

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

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=33578.msg873547#msg873547 date=1243161224]
Bascombe is always correct on big exclusives like this.


[/quote]

Ok, I was the tiniest bit arsed when I saw this. Behold, the infallible Chris Bascombe;

Rafa will be axed: Mourinho tops Kop list

EXCLUSIVE by Chris Bascombe

RAFA BENITEZ will be sacked following his latest tirade against Liverpool owner Tom Hicks.

And former Kop hate-figure Jose Mourinho is the shock front runner to replace him.

Liverpool's American owners were already preparing to ditch the Spanish boss (left) after tiring of the constant behind-the-scenes bickering but this week's developments have sealed his fate.

It's now a matter of when not if the Spanish boss leaves Anfield and that's expected to be sooner rather than later.

Despite his epic Anfield bust-ups while at Stamford Bridge, Mourinho tops a wanted list already being assembled by the owners.

An approach will be made once Benitez's departure is confirmed.

The Portuguese boss may have his enemies on Merseyside, but he's recognised as one of the best and most sought after coaches in Europe.

Benitez showed no sign of ducking a fight with his hierarchy following yesterday's 3-0 win over Newcastle, despite knowing his job was on the line.

"It's clear Mr Hicks wants the best for the club. So do I," he said.

"We have been here for a long time and we know what the passion of football means and what the transfer market in Europe means.

"It's not a draft system. We have free players available now. I'm not talking about players that cost money.

"We need to talk to the agents now, if not we will lose targets. In the summer, the players will be more expensive. I have not been talking about spending but doing the opposite. We have brought money back. We brought in £26m this year and you can see the value of the squad.

"We had a meeting on the day of the Arsenal game which was really positive. After this, something changed."

They told me to be focused on coaching and training because Rick Parry will be looking after signing players."


Benitez won't walk away, adding: "I have passion for this club. The fans who were with me in Istanbul know what it means to me."

With no resignation on the horizon, Hicks (left) and Gillett are now ready to swing their axe regardless of Liverpool's league placing or Champions League progress.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

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

Well if you believe everything that Bascombe writes, then Rafa should have been sacked 3 times by now.

 

[Tinto]

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

[quote author=doctor_mac link=topic=33578.msg873457#msg873457 date=1243149105]

Football is a game where there isn't too much room for sentiment by managers.

The majority of posters on this site believed that selling Alonso wouldn't be a bad idea, despite the fact that he was a popular player. I know it's easy to paint Rafa as a cold and ruthless schemer, forcing the valiant and uber-red Alonso out the door for the temerity of wanting to be at the birth of his child, but the fact is that Alonso had just went through a couple of pretty flat seasons, and it was an area the manager wanted to improve. Of course, he, and everyone who thought it was time for Alonso to move on have egg on their faces after the season he's had, but it doesn't mean that the decision to find a buyer for Alonso last season is a good reason to call the coach a cunt, or for 'fuck Benitez' to become a mantra. The way Rafa 'treated' Alonso, was down to the fact that he wants to improve the squad. I'm sure he'd like to keep him now, but hey ho.

If Alonso wants to move then he goes with the affection of all reds, and let's hope he helps fund a cracking signing.
[/quote]

The best post written on this without a doubt.

It's very sad news about Xabi but it does seems as if it is his choice (if these stories are true).

 

[red_maradona]

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

[quote author=Tinto link=topic=33578.msg873578#msg873578 date=1243163373]
[quote author=doctor_mac link=topic=33578.msg873457#msg873457 date=1243149105]

Football is a game where there isn't too much room for sentiment by managers.

The majority of posters on this site believed that selling Alonso wouldn't be a bad idea, despite the fact that he was a popular player. I know it's easy to paint Rafa as a cold and ruthless schemer, forcing the valiant and uber-red Alonso out the door for the temerity of wanting to be at the birth of his child, but the fact is that Alonso had just went through a couple of pretty flat seasons, and it was an area the manager wanted to improve. Of course, he, and everyone who thought it was time for Alonso to move on have egg on their faces after the season he's had, but it doesn't mean that the decision to find a buyer for Alonso last season is a good reason to call the coach a cunt, or for 'fuck Benitez' to become a mantra. The way Rafa 'treated' Alonso, was down to the fact that he wants to improve the squad. I'm sure he'd like to keep him now, but hey ho.

If Alonso wants to move then he goes with the affection of all reds, and let's hope he helps fund a cracking signing.
[/quote]

The best post written on this without a doubt.

It's very sad news about Xabi but it does seems as if it is his choice (if these stories are true).


[/quote]

agree that was a good post

 

[Tinto]

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

[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=33578.msg873577#msg873577 date=1243163246]
Well if you believe everything that Bascombe writes, then Rafa should have been sacked 3 times by now.
[/quote]

CB's stories should be treated with a pinch of salt...

I think he got kind of lucky with the Keane sale as I do wonder if Defoe didn't get injured when he did, would Keane still be a Liverpool player now?

It didn't really make sense for Spurs to get Robbie back when they had Defoe, Bent and Pavlechenko already. So, it's possible that it was Spurs being desperate that caused the sale of Keane and Rafa just took a gamble because of the money that we would have saved.

 

[jason]

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

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33578.msg869519#msg869519 date=1242643512]
RAFA BENITEZ insists Xabi Alonso will remain at Anfield beyond this summer.

The 27-year-old’s future has been the subject of much speculation in recent weeks with Arsenal, Manchester City and Real Madrid all linked with a move for the Spaniard.

Alonso, who is fit to return to the squad for tomorrow’s clash at West Brom, has enjoyed an impressive campaign at the heart of Liverpool’s midfield.

And the Reds boss has ruled out sacrificing him to fund any squad rebuilding.

“Xabi has been doing really well this season,†Benitez said.

“He’s a key player for us and with him being fit again it will give us a different option in midfield.

“Xabi has been talking about how he wants to stay here and we certainly want to keep him so I don’t think there will be any problems.â€

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/live...at-anfield-says-rafa-benitez-100252-23635558/

[/quote]

So he's saying he wants to stay but going?

 

[Jürgen4PM]

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

[quote author=Tinto link=topic=33578.msg873581#msg873581 date=1243163613]
[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=33578.msg873577#msg873577 date=1243163246]
Well if you believe everything that Bascombe writes, then Rafa should have been sacked 3 times by now.
[/quote]

CB's stories should be treated with a pinch of salt...

I think he got kind of lucky with the Keane sale as I do wonder if Defoe didn't get injured when he did, would Keane still be a Liverpool player now?

It didn't really make sense for Spurs to get Robbie back when they had Defoe, Bent and Pavlechenko already. So, it's possible that it was Spurs being desperate that caused the sale of Keane and Rafa just took a gamble because of the money that we would have saved.
[/quote]


I think CB probably gets just as much wrong as he does right mate. So i find it a little unusual that some seem to take what he writes on us as fact.

 

[gkmacca]

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

Bascombe's trick, which he's over-using now that his contacts at the club are drying up, is to make some bold prediction and then, if it doesn't happen, he simply explains that some other factor intervened to change the outcome. There's no doubt this happens (that's why more sensible people make fewer bold predictions), but there's also little doubt that it also serves as an excuse to obscure when he's been talking absolute nonsense (and known it). It's like the 'Rafa WILL be sacked' stories he did - actually covered with so many ifs and buts it really had no substance at all. It's Bascombe's Faustian deal - a hack at the NOTW is like Santa Claus being told that Christmas must happen every week of the year: you HAVE to keep coming up with something rather than nothing,even when there's nothing (I was going to say 'nothing in your sack,' but I now realise how unwise the Santa Claus allusion was...).

 

[Tinto]

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

[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=33578.msg873587#msg873587 date=1243163955]
[quote author=Tinto link=topic=33578.msg873581#msg873581 date=1243163613]
[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=33578.msg873577#msg873577 date=1243163246]
Well if you believe everything that Bascombe writes, then Rafa should have been sacked 3 times by now.
[/quote]

CB's stories should be treated with a pinch of salt...

I think he got kind of lucky with the Keane sale as I do wonder if Defoe didn't get injured when he did, would Keane still be a Liverpool player now?

It didn't really make sense for Spurs to get Robbie back when they had Defoe, Bent and Pavlechenko already. So, it's possible that it was Spurs being desperate that caused the sale of Keane and Rafa just took a gamble because of the money that we would have saved.
[/quote]


I think CB probably gets just as much wrong as he does right mate. So i find it a little unusual that some seem to take what he writes on us as fact.




[/quote]

I think some people treat what he writes as fact because they believe he has some sort inside knowledge but I've not seen much evidence of that.

All his stories are just speculation and sometimes it proves to be correct, other times completely wrong.

So all in all, there's still much hope that Xabi will be staying.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

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

Macca has nailed it.

 

[Judge Jules]

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

Not for the first time either. Balague gets plenty of stick on here but Bascombe's no more trustworthy than he is.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

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

[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=33578.msg873594#msg873594 date=1243164546]
Not for the first time either. Balague gets plenty of stick on here but Bascombe's no more trustworthy than he is.
[/quote]

Ha.

So true JJ.

 

[foureyes]

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

Just because Xabi has put in a great performance this season, it does not mean that he has forgotten about the goings on last summer. If (and it's a big if) Xabi is still pissed at the way Rafa treated him after he didn't travel with the squad that one night and at the way that Rafa tried to offload him last summer, then of course he may still want out. Xabi had no choice but to stay this season, even though it looked nailed on that he was leaving. Just because he's been professional enough to put in a great performance this season, it does not mean that he and Rafa are fine and that they have both decided to forgive and forget.

I wouldn't be surprised at all to see him sold and soon.

 

[SaintGeorge67]

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

we couldn't survive without keegan. We did.
We couldn't survive without shankly. We did.

We couldn't survive without Owen. We did.


Alonso has been great this year but Its hardly the end of the world. If we got Barry and Tevez I really wouldn't mind at all.

 

[keniget]

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

[quote author=SaintGeorge67 link=topic=33578.msg873600#msg873600 date=1243165129]

we couldn't survive without keegan. We did.
We couldn't survive without shankly. We did.

We couldn't survive without Owen. We did.


Alonso has been great this year but Its hardly the end of the world. If we got Barry and Tevez I really wouldn't mind at all.
[/quote]

You're missing the point. It's not about "being okay" - of course we'll be okay. But if you can keep your best players, you should.

A whole load of people have been saying ideally I'd like him to stay, but I wouldn't mind and it'd be a good deal etc. To me that is nailing your colour to the mast - you're happy for Xabi to be sold. No need to dress it up.