The incredible Xabi Alonso thread 2009.

[mark1975]

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

[quote author=keniget link=topic=33578.msg873602#msg873602 date=1243165632]
[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.
[/quote]

Spot on Keni.

 

[SaintGeorge67]

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

Well I'm happy for him to be sold if we got Barry and Tevez as our team would be better in my opinion, so yes then.

 

[the count]

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

During the course of last summer's transfer window I seem to recall that the vast majority of posters on here ( bar obviously Anita and one or two others) were completly in favour of Alonso being sold and replaced by Barry. The argument went along the lines that Alonso had played poorly for the previous two seasons and Barry was a better player who being left footed would bring better balance to the midfield. Well as we all know it didn't happen.

Now there seems to be an element of revisionism going on and suddenly Rafa is a cunt for mistreating Xabi so badly last year. Now Rafa may well be a cunt, and frankly I don't care if he is, but I think he is getting hammered for doing something that most people agreed with last year.

For the record I really hope that Xabi stays as he appears to have so many of the qualities that I admire in a player and a person and he has been a cornerstone of our good form this season. However, if he wants to leave and he does move on then we to will hopefully move on too. If it is a case of swapping Alonso for Barry and Tevez/Silva then worst case scenario I don't think we will be significently worse of as a team and will probably be better as a squad.

 

[HC]

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

Assuming we'll get both Tevez and Barry, which most people seemed to be, you'd have to be a little bit mad to not want to trade Alonso for the pair plus a few million.

We'll have a far better team for it. I don't think Tevez will be here come start of next season though.

 

[jason]

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

[quote author=keniget link=topic=33578.msg873602#msg873602 date=1243165632]
[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.
[/quote]

But that sort of cold detatched outlook is the very reason some on here think he's going. So saying If he want's to go himself I'm happy with that. He's being pushed out I'm not happy with that. Is a perfectly reasonable stance

 

[foureyes]

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

[quote author=the count link=topic=33578.msg873605#msg873605 date=1243166712]
During the course of last summer's transfer window I seem to recall that the vast majority of posters on here ( bar obviously Anita and one or two others) were completly in favour of Alonso being sold and replaced by Barry. The argument went along the lines that Alonso had played poorly for the previous two seasons and Barry was a better player who being left footed would bring better balance to the midfield. Well as we all know it didn't happen.

Now there seems to be an element of revisionism going on and suddenly Rafa is a cunt for mistreating Xabi so badly last year. Now Rafa may well be a cunt, and frankly I don't care if he is, but I think he is getting hammered for doing something that most people agreed with last year.

For the record I really hope that Xabi stays as he appears to have so many of the qualities that I admire in a player and a person and he has been a cornerstone of our good form this season. However, if he wants to leave and he does move on then we to will hopefully move on too. If it is a case of swapping Alonso for Barry and Tevez/Silva then worst case scenario I don't think we will be significently worse of as a team and will probably be better as a squad.
[/quote]

I think the point is that many people have a problem with us selling our best players. Last year, Xabi was far from just that. His return to form is what has altered many people's opinions from last year. And rightly so. Of course you'd want to get rid of a player that had been average for two seasons and who frankly, at times didn't seem bothered. But why sell one of your best players? Which is what Xabi has now become once again.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

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

But Benitez doesn't want to sell him does he? Alonso wants to go and as the price seems right, Benitez must see it as an opportunity to cash in.

 

[the count]

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

[quote author=foureyes link=topic=33578.msg873608#msg873608 date=1243167308]
[quote author=the count link=topic=33578.msg873605#msg873605 date=1243166712]
During the course of last summer's transfer window I seem to recall that the vast majority of posters on here ( bar obviously Anita and one or two others) were completly in favour of Alonso being sold and replaced by Barry. The argument went along the lines that Alonso had played poorly for the previous two seasons and Barry was a better player who being left footed would bring better balance to the midfield. Well as we all know it didn't happen.

Now there seems to be an element of revisionism going on and suddenly Rafa is a cunt for mistreating Xabi so badly last year. Now Rafa may well be a cunt, and frankly I don't care if he is, but I think he is getting hammered for doing something that most people agreed with last year.



For the record I really hope that Xabi stays as he appears to have so many of the qualities that I admire in a player and a person and he has been a cornerstone of our good form this season. However, if he wants to leave and he does move on then we to will hopefully move on too. If it is a case of swapping Alonso for Barry and Tevez/Silva then worst case scenario I don't think we will be significently worse of as a team and will probably be better as a squad.
[/quote]

I think the point is that many people have a problem with us selling our best players. Last year, Xabi was far from just that. His return to form is what has altered many people's opinions from last year. And rightly so. Of course you'd want to get rid of a player that had been average for two seasons and who frankly, at times didn't seem bothered. But why sell one of your best players? Which is what Xabi has now become once again.
[/quote]

I thought that the whole article was on Xabi wanting to quit?

I doubt if there are very many on here now who want to see him go but if he wants out I am not sure if it is in the clubs best interests to try to hold on to him.

 

[Squiggles]

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

If Xabi really is determined to leave, the fact is we should be looking for £20M plus, and he's worth every penny.

And to all those saying 'Xabi wants to leave so what's the problem?", stop looking at this in isolation; he wants to leave because of how Rafael Benitez treated him last year. Even after "two shit years" - which isn't strictly true at all - no player, and especially such a servent, deserved to be whored around Europe while his replacement, Barry, was been so publicly targeted.

I presumed he had gotten over it, and I still hold out hope that this 'exclusive' is complete bollocks, but there's an awful lot of smoke flying around at the moment so I'm not confident.

Regardless of what happens though, Xabi should be highly praised for equalling his best season for Liverpool under such circumstances - it shows what an ultimate professional and man Xabi Alonso is.

 

[Rafiagra]

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

Maybe the Barry issue was the kick up the arse Xabi needed, rather than a millstone round his neck.

 

[the count]

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

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=33578.msg873614#msg873614 date=1243168660]
If Xabi really is determined to leave, the fact is we should be looking for £20M plus, and he's worth every penny.

And to all those saying 'Xabi wants to leave so what's the problem?", stop looking at this in isolation; he wants to leave because of how Rafael Benitez treated him last year. Even after "two shit years" - which isn't strictly true at all - no player, and especially such a servent, deserved to be whored around Europe while his replacement, Barry, was been so publicly targeted.
I presumed he had gotten over it, and I still hold out hope that this 'exclusive' is complete bollocks, but there's an awful lot of smoke flying around at the moment so I'm not confident.

Regardless of what happens though, Xabi should be highly praised for equalling his best season for Liverpool under such circumstances - it shows what an ultimate professional and man Xabi Alonso is.



[/quote]

I do agree with the point highlighted but it needed to be made last summer before Xabi returned to form. You may well have took this position last year but for many on here to do so now is in my view more than a tad hypocritical.

 

[Squiggles]

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

Last year I wasn't particularly disgusted with the idea of trading Barry for Alonso, I wasn't strongly for, nor against the idea. But whatever peoples individual stance, most people will agree that the manner in which we conducted ourselves throughout this saga was disgraceful, and it looks like we're now paying the price.

 

[rebel23]

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

end of the day you got to trust the manager, the man who's been in football 20+ years. fact is if we can get class elsewhere i doubt it would be a big miss though I do think we'd be better off keeping him just because it would make us a much stronger squad to cope with 3 games a week which we dont cope well with and because of that I hope he is considering using Gerrard in midfield more.

I think it's being done for financial reasons more than anything

 

[spider-Neil]

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

[quote author=keniget link=topic=33578.msg873602#msg873602 date=1243165632]
[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.
[/quote]


I'm not 'happy' for xabi to be sold but at the same time if he is and we improve as a team ultimately that's all I care about. people were up in arm about the sale of owen but I KNEW we'd improve as a team with the player brought in with the money from his sale (ironically xabi and also garcia) I can see the same thig happening again, us losing a good player but improving as a team. the team is ultimately all I care about.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

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

[quote author=rebel23 link=topic=33578.msg873628#msg873628 date=1243170942]

end of the day you got to trust the manager, the man who's been in football 20+ years.

I think it's being done for financial reasons more than anything


[/quote]

Alonso is asking for a transfer Rebel.

 

[rebel23]

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

[quote author=Sheik Yerbouti link=topic=33578.msg873630#msg873630 date=1243171055]
[quote author=rebel23 link=topic=33578.msg873628#msg873628 date=1243170942]

end of the day you got to trust the manager, the man who's been in football 20+ years.

I think it's being done for financial reasons more than anything


[/quote]

Alonso is asking for a transfer Rebel.
[/quote]

I don't believe that to be honest, he is not the type to kick up a fuss, he is a total pro and I reckon he doesn't want to leave but others do and have for a while though I doubt Xabi is going to be arsed if it means he goes to Real Madrid and effectively gets a payrise

 

[Tinto]

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

[quote author=the count link=topic=33578.msg873623#msg873623 date=1243169854]
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=33578.msg873614#msg873614 date=1243168660]
If Xabi really is determined to leave, the fact is we should be looking for £20M plus, and he's worth every penny.

And to all those saying 'Xabi wants to leave so what's the problem?", stop looking at this in isolation; he wants to leave because of how Rafael Benitez treated him last year. Even after "two shit years" - which isn't strictly true at all - no player, and especially such a servent, deserved to be whored around Europe while his replacement, Barry, was been so publicly targeted.
I presumed he had gotten over it, and I still hold out hope that this 'exclusive' is complete bollocks, but there's an awful lot of smoke flying around at the moment so I'm not confident.

Regardless of what happens though, Xabi should be highly praised for equalling his best season for Liverpool under such circumstances - it shows what an ultimate professional and man Xabi Alonso is.



[/quote]

I do agree with the point highlighted but it needed to be made last summer before Xabi returned to form. You may well have took this position last year but for many on here to do so now is in my view more than a tad hypocritical.
[/quote]

I don't really agree with the point highlighted despite being a Xabi fan. If a manager wants rid off a player that has been underperforming for two seasons, I don't see anything wrong with that.

It ended up being conducted in that way because nobody wanted Xabi at £14m despite that price being an absolute bargain for a player of his talent. This just shows how much his formed had dipped in the previous two seasons. If anything, Xabi's form this season shows how much he was short changing us in the previous two and perhaps as fans Liverpool FC we should be painting him as the villain of the piece rather than Rafa.

However, I like Xabi and I'm not going to think the worst of him. If Xabi does decide to go, it would be sad and a real shame but let's hope we get his true value in the transfer fee rather than that knocked down price we would have got last summer.

 

[spider-Neil]

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

[quote author=Sheik Yerbouti link=topic=33578.msg873630#msg873630 date=1243171055]
[quote author=rebel23 link=topic=33578.msg873628#msg873628 date=1243170942]

end of the day you got to trust the manager, the man who's been in football 20+ years.

I think it's being done for financial reasons more than anything


[/quote]

Alonso is asking for a transfer Rebel.
[/quote]

do you know that for sure or is that from CB article?

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

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

[quote author=Skullflower link=topic=33578.msg873332#msg873332 date=1243117328]
By CHRIS BASCOMBE, 23/05/2009
XABI ALONSO has stunned Liverpool by admitting he wants to quit Anfield.


The Spanish midfielder is ready to hand in a written transfer request.

[/quote]

Old news.

If Bascombe was any further behind the times he'd be in a different century.

I could write his stories for him months in advance.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

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

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33578.msg873643#msg873643 date=1243171998]
[quote author=Sheik Yerbouti link=topic=33578.msg873630#msg873630 date=1243171055]
[quote author=rebel23 link=topic=33578.msg873628#msg873628 date=1243170942]

end of the day you got to trust the manager, the man who's been in football 20+ years.

I think it's being done for financial reasons more than anything


[/quote]

Alonso is asking for a transfer Rebel.
[/quote]

do you know that for sure or is that from CB article?
[/quote]

Giz 30 quid and I'll tell yer.

 

[foureyes]

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

[quote author=the count link=topic=33578.msg873612#msg873612 date=1243167735]
[quote author=foureyes link=topic=33578.msg873608#msg873608 date=1243167308]
[quote author=the count link=topic=33578.msg873605#msg873605 date=1243166712]
During the course of last summer's transfer window I seem to recall that the vast majority of posters on here ( bar obviously Anita and one or two others) were completly in favour of Alonso being sold and replaced by Barry. The argument went along the lines that Alonso had played poorly for the previous two seasons and Barry was a better player who being left footed would bring better balance to the midfield. Well as we all know it didn't happen.

Now there seems to be an element of revisionism going on and suddenly Rafa is a cunt for mistreating Xabi so badly last year. Now Rafa may well be a cunt, and frankly I don't care if he is, but I think he is getting hammered for doing something that most people agreed with last year.



For the record I really hope that Xabi stays as he appears to have so many of the qualities that I admire in a player and a person and he has been a cornerstone of our good form this season. However, if he wants to leave and he does move on then we to will hopefully move on too. If it is a case of swapping Alonso for Barry and Tevez/Silva then worst case scenario I don't think we will be significently worse of as a team and will probably be better as a squad.
[/quote]

I think the point is that many people have a problem with us selling our best players. Last year, Xabi was far from just that. His return to form is what has altered many people's opinions from last year. And rightly so. Of course you'd want to get rid of a player that had been average for two seasons and who frankly, at times didn't seem bothered. But why sell one of your best players? Which is what Xabi has now become once again.
[/quote]

I thought that the whole article was on Xabi wanting to quit?

I doubt if there are very many on here now who want to see him go but if he wants out I am not sure if it is in the clubs best interests to try to hold on to him.
[/quote]

i was just pointing out that it's fair for people to change their minds on whether Xabi should be sold or not and that just because folks thought it was ok last year, doesn't mean it is this time around due to the way he's turned his performances around.

 

[the count]

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

[quote author=foureyes link=topic=33578.msg873653#msg873653 date=1243172867]

i was just pointing out that it's fair for people to change their minds on whether Xabi should be sold or not and that just because folks thought it was ok last year, doesn't mean it is this time around due to the way he's turned his performances around.
[/quote]

Yep, it is people'e perogative to change their view on a player and his value to the club (Dirk Kuyt anyone)
but I am taking issue with that luxury not being extended to the manager.
He is being lambasted for his treatment of a player in last summer's transfer window, that the majority here didn't bat an eye lid at, at the time.

 

[Avmenon]

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

[quote author=the count link=topic=33578.msg873695#msg873695 date=1243175881]
[quote author=foureyes link=topic=33578.msg873653#msg873653 date=1243172867]

i was just pointing out that it's fair for people to change their minds on whether Xabi should be sold or not and that just because folks thought it was ok last year, doesn't mean it is this time around due to the way he's turned his performances around.
[/quote]

Yep, it is people'e perogative to change their view on a player and his value to the club (Dirk Kuyt anyone)
but I am taking issue with that luxury not being extended to the manager.
He is being lambasted for his treatment of a player in last summer's transfer window, that the majority here didn't bat an eye lid at, at the time.
[/quote]

That's exactly why it's too late to say anything about it now.

It was a major fuck-up, but one which wsan't too surprising at the time.

 

[foureyes]

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

[quote author=the count link=topic=33578.msg873695#msg873695 date=1243175881]
[quote author=foureyes link=topic=33578.msg873653#msg873653 date=1243172867]

i was just pointing out that it's fair for people to change their minds on whether Xabi should be sold or not and that just because folks thought it was ok last year, doesn't mean it is this time around due to the way he's turned his performances around.
[/quote]

Yep, it is people'e perogative to change their view on a player and his value to the club (Dirk Kuyt anyone)
but I am taking issue with that luxury not being extended to the manager.
He is being lambasted for his treatment of a player in last summer's transfer window, that the majority here didn't bat an eye lid at, at the time.
[/quote]

I don't blame him for wanting to sell him then, but I think many will take issue with the way it was all handled. Some would argue that Xabi wasn't treated well. They may have a point, but then it was never going to look great for Xabi when we were actively trying to offload him.

 

[SaintGeorge67]

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

May have been mentioned, but Xabi wasn't playing very well (and please, no smart arses saying he was) the last 2 years. then when the idea of him being sold is banded about he has his best season in four.

I'll trust Rafa on this one.

 

[Rosco]

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

[quote author=SaintGeorge67 link=topic=33578.msg873753#msg873753 date=1243178401]
May have been mentioned, but Xabi wasn't playing very well (and please, no smart arses saying he was) the last 2 years. then when the idea of him being sold is banded about he has his best season in four.

I'll trust Rafa on this one.
[/quote]

The Xabi was rubbish for two years myth, is exactly that - a big fucking myth. Was he great ? No.

But he turned in a hell of a lot of consistently good performances during those two years. Tinto should be ashamed of himself after his post above.

Jan Molby nailed it months ago in the chat he and Xabi had. The better the players around him are the easier it is to play his game.

How can a good passer of the ball excel when nobody is willing to play wide and the strikers ahead of him have no pace or movement ?

P.S. - The Count - some of us were very very vocal when Rafa tried to make this mistake last season.

 

[Tinto]

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

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=33578.msg873859#msg873859 date=1243182243]
[quote author=SaintGeorge67 link=topic=33578.msg873753#msg873753 date=1243178401]
May have been mentioned, but Xabi wasn't playing very well (and please, no smart arses saying he was) the last 2 years. then when the idea of him being sold is banded about he has his best season in four.

I'll trust Rafa on this one.
[/quote]

The Xabi was rubbish for two years myth, is exactly that - a big fucking myth. Was he great ? No.

But he turned in a hell of a lot of consistently good performances during those two years. Tinto should be ashamed of himself after his post above.

Jan Molby nailed it months ago in the chat he and Xabi had. The better the players around him are the easier it is to play his game.

How can a good passer of the ball excel when nobody is willing to play wide and the strikers ahead of him have no pace or movement ?

P.S. - The Count - some of us were very very vocal when Rafa tried to make this mistake last season.
[/quote]

I'm not ashamed by my post at all... virtually all players are better when surrounded by better players not just Xabi. I've never subscribed to Xabi being absolutely rubbish for 2 seasons but in those two seasons he hasn't been as good nor as consistent as this current one. For a player of his ability, he was just above average at best.

It gets to a point when a player has to take responsibility for his own performances, and I think last Summer made Xabi look at himself as to why he was deemed surplus to requirements by Rafa and why nobody was really interested in taking him.

 

[Judge Jules]

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

Got to agree. "A hell of a lot of consistently good performances" are in the eye of the beholder, and - without having any axe to grind in respect of Xabi - I don't remember them. Wenger would have paid our asking-price for such a player, besides which we actually didn't start this season off playing particularly well as a team, but Xabi was on his game from day one, so I'm afraid the "other players around him" argument has limited relevance if any at all here.

 

[Rosco]

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

Xabi haters back out in force.

You can all be wrong together lads, enjoy.

This time next year don't come on here complaining about us going backwards though.

 

[Judge Jules]

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

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=33578.msg873940#msg873940 date=1243183394]
Xabi haters back out in force.

You can all be wrong together lads, enjoy.

This time next year don't come on here complaining about us going backwards though.
[/quote]

"Xabi haters" my dot. You're better than that, Ross.