The incredible Xabi Alonso thread 2009.

[Rosco]

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

[quote author=FoxForceFive link=topic=33578.msg912235#msg912235 date=1248564324]
[quote author=Sheik Yerbouti link=topic=33578.msg912172#msg912172 date=1248550183]
Brian Reade is ace.
[/quote]

And a bloody great bloke in real life too, shared a pint with him on many an occasion.
[/quote]

Good to hear.

He's the only reason why anyone should ever buy the Mirror.

 

[Spionkop69]

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

He IS the only reason I buy the Mirror.

 

[gkmacca]

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

He's proof you can still be a good writer, with a conscience, on a tabloid. Bascombe ought to take a few steps back and reflect on his sad Faustian fate.

 

[Judge Jules]

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

[quote author=ctlovesred link=topic=33578.msg912222#msg912222 date=1248561244]
[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=33578.msg912197#msg912197 date=1248553008]
Superb stuff. Real are so far up themselves, it's unreal. They are genuinely amazed that we've had the cheek not to accept any old deal they tried to palm off on us. Well, go fuck yourselves, senores, and slip those bastard agents a length too while you're at it.
[/quote]

Did someone hijack JJ's login or does the fact that he's posting on the 113th page of this thread get his goat extra much?
[/quote]

Oops. How embarrassing. ;D

Not a temperate or charitable post, I'll admit, old friend. It's just that Real Madrid's attitude, (a) in its own right and (b) aimed at Liverpool Football Club, one of the few which has earned a mention in the same breath as them, bugs the living daylights out of me.

 

[TheBunnyman]

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

[quote author=Fabio Alrighty-o link=topic=33578.msg912171#msg912171 date=1248550101]
Rafa Benitez is right to get all Godfather with Real Madrid over Xabi Alonso


By Brian Reade 25/07/2009


Real Madrid's sporting director Miguel Pardeza is livid.

He "cannot understand" why Liverpool are asking £35million or "more than we are willing to pay" for Xavi Alonso.

Well, it might just be that Alonso has years left on his contract. Or that Real have distorted transfer fees out of all proportion, are desperate to sign a top Spanish player and Pardeza himself admits there is no one else on the market with Alonso's playmaking skills.

But I'd like to think Rafa Benitez might deliver Senator Pat Geary's speech from Godfather II, when Michael Corleone asked why his family should have to pay more than they want to in a deal.

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"Because I intend to squeeze you. I don't like your kind of people. I don't like to see you come here with your oily hair, dressed up in those silk suits, trying to pass yourselves off as decent. I'll do business with you, but the fact is I despise your masquerade, the dishonest way you pose yourself and your whole freakin' family."

If so, he'll speak for everyone in football.

[/quote]

Hmm, I was on Michael's side against the Senator though. Hypocritical racist fuck.

 

[Ryan]

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

[quote author=gkmacca link=topic=33578.msg912259#msg912259 date=1248593447]
He's proof you can still be a good writer, with a conscience, on a tabloid. Bascombe ought to take a few steps back and reflect on his sad Faustian fate.
[/quote]

To an extent, yes.

But Macca, Reade's in the rather easier position of being an analyst. It's not his job to 'break the news' but to comment on it, something he of course does very well.

Bascombe's position is a shit one whiever way you look at it. The second he left the relative comfort of 'The Echo', he knew that he was going to be another tabloid 'Scoop' journo derided for getting just about everything wrong.

 

[gkmacca]

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

Well, Reade served his time doing 'news' and did it well. Bascombe doesn't get flak - apart from us - for getting it wrong, because most non-LFC fans don't remember what he writes from one week to the next, and he also relies on the 'unexpected development' get-out card to excuse every big prediction that goes wrong. I don't even mind the mistakes, it's the bitter personal vendettas he pursues that irritate me.

 

[Peatcheo]

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

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=33578.msg912549#msg912549 date=1248640557]
[quote author=gkmacca link=topic=33578.msg912259#msg912259 date=1248593447]
He's proof you can still be a good writer, with a conscience, on a tabloid. Bascombe ought to take a few steps back and reflect on his sad Faustian fate.
[/quote]

To an extent, yes.

But Macca, Reade's in the rather easier position of being an analyst. It's not his job to 'break the news' but to comment on it, something he of course does very well.

Bascombe's position is a shit one whiever way you look at it. The second he left the relative comfort of 'The Echo', he knew that he was going to be another tabloid 'Scoop' journo derided for getting just about everything wrong.
[/quote]

Tony Barrett is moving to the Times, but has been told his position as the clubs favoured journalist is safe, the club made their lawyers look over his contract and they made the times improve the offer, which they did. He will be reporting the whole of the north west.

 

[Ryan]

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

[quote author=gkmacca link=topic=33578.msg912554#msg912554 date=1248641054]
Well, Reade served his time doing 'news' and did it well. Bascombe doesn't get flak - apart from us - for getting it wrong, because most non-LFC fans don't remember what he writes from one week to the next, and he also relies on the 'unexpected development' get-out card to excuse every big prediction that goes wrong. I don't even mind the mistakes, it's the bitter personal vendettas he pursues that irritate me.
[/quote]

True enough I suppose.

 

[gkmacca]

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

The Times looks as if it's going to be a fairly sympathetic place, what with a Red as sports editor and Rudd and Barrett as writers.

 

[Ryan]

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

[quote author=gkmacca link=topic=33578.msg912558#msg912558 date=1248641255]
The Times looks as if it's going to be a fairly sympathetic place, what with a Red as sports editor and Rudd and Barrett as writers.
[/quote]

Their online site is an embarassment though.

They've looked at the attention, clicks and awards that GUOnline has got, and decided insteadof properly challengeing it, and doing something about their own online effort, they just conjure any rumour/transfer and piece of gossip they can possibly come up with out of nowhere. NEVER do they get anything right, and I can't quite believe the powers that be at the newspaper are happy to let the site continue down that route.

 

[ctlovesred]

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

[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=33578.msg912331#msg912331 date=1248608133]
[quote author=ctlovesred link=topic=33578.msg912222#msg912222 date=1248561244]
[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=33578.msg912197#msg912197 date=1248553008]
Superb stuff. Real are so far up themselves, it's unreal. They are genuinely amazed that we've had the cheek not to accept any old deal they tried to palm off on us. Well, go fuck yourselves, senores, and slip those bastard agents a length too while you're at it.
[/quote]

Did someone hijack JJ's login or does the fact that he's posting on the 113th page of this thread get his goat extra much?
[/quote]

Oops. How embarrassing. ;D

Not a temperate or charitable post, I'll admit, old friend. It's just that Real Madrid's attitude, (a) in its own right and (b) aimed at Liverpool Football Club, one of the few which has earned a mention in the same breath as them, bugs the living daylights out of me.
[/quote]

I'm hardly the one to judge of course, your honor. this is why i avoid these eternal transfer saga threads - simply too frustrating.

 

[jan]

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

The drama continues

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11669_5454921,00.html

Rafa Benitez remained tight-lipped when quizzed on whether his side's 5-0 defeat of Singapore on Sunday represented Xabi Alonso's last appearance in a Liverpool shirt.

The Spanish midfielder, publically courted by Real Madrid all summer, came on for the final 13 minutes for his first pre-season appearance.

Benitez has repeatedly stated his intent to keep Alonso at Anfield but when asked if the player would still be in England next season, he felt the question would be better directed at the 27-year-old.

"It's a question that you have to ask him," he said.

"Honestly, we've been talking about this for two months but I think that it is a question for him and not for us.

"He has three years on his contract and we know he is a great player - that's why we signed him and renewed his contract. So you have to ask him."

 

[KingDing]

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

Sky Sports regular and Spanish smoothie Guilleme Balague - apparently quite close chums with Rafa Benitez - has been writing on his website, and he believes Xabi Alonso will stay at Liverpool.


He wrote: "I explained on the site last Sunday that the meetings between Benitez and Alonso last week would be pivotal, and it is apparent that Real Madrid have been expecting Xabi to apply pressure on Liverpool to force through a move - perhaps even hoping he would make a public declaration of a desire to leave.


"That has not happened and - after speaking with Liverpool sources over the last few days - the feeling at Anfield is that Xabi Alonso will be a Liverpool player next season."

 

[Paddy]

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

Ballague loves covering all the possible angles. Then when there is an eventual outcome he will point back to his original piece. "See I told you he would stay". Yeah you forgot about the few atricles about him wanting to leave too you bellend.

 

[Billy Bollocks]

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

The bottom line is he doesn't go anywhere unless they pay our valuation. I was confident that wouldn't happen and Xabi would stay until that Ballague article. The guy is the kiss of death for transfers.

 

[spider-Neil]

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

if it means xabi stays at anfield this season then fuck silva, who cares.

 

[LadyRed]

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

Last week I was convinced he would go, but now the denial is back. Seeing him play and talk about what 'we' need to do next season, I've allowed myself to believe he's gonna stay.

Please Xabi!

 

[mark1975]

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

This might be a rather naive and simplistic viewpoint, but hear me out..

We all know Alonso was miffed about last Summer and the Confeds cup was probably badly timed this year, going away with the Spanish squad, surrounded by the Spanish media while uncertainty surrounded his own future. Madrid spending big and spending well on two of the best players in the World, of course he's going to be attracted.

Now he's back in behind closed doors at Liverpool though, with words in his ear from the Spanish lads and other players at the club like Carra and Gerrard, is it inconceivable that he could be talked around into staying? He's his own man, and by all accounts he keeps things close to his chest and judging by recent reports, he doesn't want to leave on bad terms with the fans, so in a sense he is stuck in a delicate situation.

I just think there's a slight glimmer of hope there that he will stay, and if he does it could be Gerrard-esque where he'll never look back and he'll stay pretty much for good.

If Xabi wants to play alongside two of the World's best players for the next few years, he should stay at Liverpool.

 

[Billy Bollocks]

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

I think he's desperate to go but it's just not in his nature to kick up a fuss. It's getting to the stage now though where we need to make a stand. Either tell him he's staying or sell him below our valuation so we can bring in a replacment. I'd do the former.

 

[rage]

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

If the valuation is met he'll be gone. That's the only thing stopping this deal.

 

[Mors]

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

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33578.msg912665#msg912665 date=1248686621]
if it means xabi stays at anfield this season then fuck silva, who cares.
[/quote]

That's all very good and well if Xabi performs like he did last season. What about if he turns it on like the 2 seasons previous to that? He'll be back in the 10-15mill bracket with 2yrs left on his contract.

 

[TheBunnyman]

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

[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=33578.msg912669#msg912669 date=1248686976]
This might be a rather naive and simplistic viewpoint, but hear me out..

We all know Alonso was miffed about last Summer and the Confeds cup was probably badly timed this year, going away with the Spanish squad, surrounded by the Spanish media while uncertainty surrounded his own future. Madrid spending big and spending well on two of the best players in the World, of course he's going to be attracted.

Now he's back in behind closed doors at Liverpool though, with words in his ear from the Spanish lads and other players at the club like Carra and Gerrard, is it inconceivable that he could be talked around into staying? He's his own man, and by all accounts he keeps things close to his chest and judging by recent reports, he doesn't want to leave on bad terms with the fans, so in a sense he is stuck in a delicate situation.

I just think there's a slight glimmer of hope there that he will stay, and if he does it could be Gerrard-esque where he'll never look back and he'll stay pretty much for good.

If Xabi wants to play alongside two of the World's best players for the next few years, he should stay at Liverpool.
[/quote]

Doesn't seem naive or simplistic at all, Mark. He must know the Real fans will never love him the way we do. I still hope he stays.

 

[mark1975]

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

It's such a rollercoaster situation. I was hoping for a Summer of two big quality additions. Instead it's been a Summer of speculation over Alonso.

So after all that hope that we would fine tune the side, the best thing that can come out of this transfer window is the Alonso situation being resolved.

 

[LadyRed]

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

I don't think he'd be too bothered about how much the Madrid fans love him, he doesn't strike me as the kind of player that needs to adulation, like someone like Ronaldo. I think the respect of his manager and colleagues is much more important to someone like him.

 

[mark1975]

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

[quote author=Anita link=topic=33578.msg912683#msg912683 date=1248688107]
I don't think he'd be too bothered about how much the Madrid fans love him, he doesn't strike me as the kind of player that needs to adulation, like someone like Ronaldo. I think the respect of his manager and colleagues is much more important to someone like him.
[/quote]

Well that's a big risk where Madrid is concerned, given their record with managers and players.

 

[ibromurph]

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

If Alonso and Mascher stay we should be looking to offer them new 4 years contracts asap, else when/if Madrid/Barca come knocking again next summer, we'll be in a weaker position.

 

[LadyRed]

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

[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=33578.msg912684#msg912684 date=1248688375]
[quote author=Anita link=topic=33578.msg912683#msg912683 date=1248688107]
I don't think he'd be too bothered about how much the Madrid fans love him, he doesn't strike me as the kind of player that needs to adulation, like someone like Ronaldo. I think the respect of his manager and colleagues is much more important to someone like him.
[/quote]

Well that's a big risk where Madrid is concerned, given their record with managers and players.
[/quote]

Indeed.

And they all seem oblivious to it, they're just blinded by the glamour of Madrid.

 

[Biggus Dickus]

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

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=33578.msg912559#msg912559 date=1248641489]
Their online site is an embarassment though.

They've looked at the attention, clicks and awards that GUOnline has got, and decided insteadof properly challengeing it, and doing something about their own online effort, they just conjure any rumour/transfer and piece of gossip they can possibly come up with out of nowhere. NEVER do they get anything right, and I can't quite believe the powers that be at the newspaper are happy to let the site continue down that route.
[/quote]

Very true Ryan. The future of printed press is under severe pressure and there is a internet war on for 'hits'. Seeing the Times attitude online this past season is a great example.

 

[Biggus Dickus]

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

[quote author=ibromurph link=topic=33578.msg912685#msg912685 date=1248688388]
If Alonso and Mascher stay we should be looking to offer them new 4 years contracts asap, else when/if Madrid/Barca come knocking again next summer, we'll be in a weaker position.
[/quote]

No offense but that is ridiculous. The day we allow players to fuck us around in the press via their agents and reward them with contracts 'ASAP' should never arrive. If they stay and play well this season we should offer them a contract then and only then.

PS Feb/Mar 2010