Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez
[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=33578.msg912832#msg912832 date=1248701958]
I don't think we've consistently seen the best of him, he's great in his role and what he does, but that in itself is a no-nonsense (if specialist) job.
I'm not trying to play him down, maybe I'm slightly underwhelmed because he's there to do the ugly work (and just that it seems), I just think that it's debatable whether he's done enough to earn a new contract right now after we pretty much salvaged his career 18 months ago, all on the back of him having his head turned by Barca.
Maybe it's a moral issue, I'm just finding it all a bit distasteful after how much indulgence and money we've invested in him.
Should we have to throw money his say to earn a little loyalty back?
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I see what you're saying Mark, and you're right in a sense that perhaps we shouldn't be seen to be rewarding an apparent "disloyal player".
But I guess that's where I'm a cynic. I would probably say, unfortunately, yes - throwing money his way would buy a little more loyalty. Perhaps it's not the weather of Spain that attracts him, but the wage packet.
You'll have some on here, typing furiously about how "players should want to play for the badge" but as I said above, I'm a cynic and believe if you're not from England let alone Liverpool, whilst you may understand and respect some of the club's traditions, you don't have to essentially 'love' the club to play or do well for us.
I guess I think of players as professionals. They're paid to play for us, respect the club's rules off the pitch and give their all on the pitch. After that, there's not much else. For me, player loyalty is a bit of a facade from a bygone era. Nowadays most players would leave the club they're at if they felt they were getting shortchanged on a contract, and there was more money elsewhere.
