Xabi - still got it

[dee]

Why the fuck is he retiring. He never was the world's best midfielder, nor the best in Spain, not even for Liverpool. However, there have been very few that have played with such consistency at the very highest level for so long. He is still an essential part of a powerful Bayern team and without him they will lose something special, just as we did.

He would still walk back into our team.

 

[gkmacca]

Then walk about a bit. I've never got the obsession with him, unless it's some gay/beardy angle. Really good player, sulked off when we needed him, enjoyed himself. Good for him elsewhere, but boo hoo, who gives a toss?

 

[mom]

Nah I couldn't see him waking back into our team. Always rated him, but at his age in our system? Not sure about that.

 

[RedStar]

No way he has the legs to play in Klopps team. He was always one paced even at his best.

 

[JohnnyRocket]

I'd put him in ahead of Pirlo at the base of my midfield in my lifetime 11. Majestic footballer. Less showman-like and has more to his all round game. And more consistent.

 

[RedStar]

I'd put him in ahead of Pirlo at the base of my midfield in my lifetime 11. Majestic footballer. Less showman-like and has more to his all round game. And more consistent.

More consistent than Pirlo? Don't know about that. Pirlo was world class for about 15 years.

 

[Red Bird]

And to think Benitez wanted to shift him for Barry 🙄. Some of those passes, forward and penetrating and not the sideways and backwards routine, were simply outstanding.

 

[moron]

And to think Benitez wanted to shift him for Barry 🙄. Some of those passes, forward and penetrating and not the sideways and backwards routine, were simply outstanding.

Maybe rafa wanted someone faster in midfield.

 

[Red Bird]

Maybe rafa wanted someone faster in midfield.

Yes, he probably did. To what end, though? He had Mascherano and Lucas. Yet, at the other end of the field, we only had Torres.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Moans quite a bit at the ref, like all the Bayern bitches, though ... Besides that, world class player.

 

[manwithnoname]

Maybe rafa wanted someone faster in midfield.

What, like Gareth Barry? He's about as quick as coastal erosion.

 

[manwithnoname]

No way he has the legs to play in Klopps team. He was always one paced even at his best.

Have you seen Nuri Sahin play?

 

[Pesam]

In fairness Alonso was up against a CM of Xhaka and Coquelin last night, they'd make Lucas look half decent. If we were really interested in Xhaka (as rumoured) we really dodged a bullet.

 

[manwithnoname]

In fairness Alonso was up against a CM of Xhaka and Coquelin last night, they'd make Lucas look half decent. If we were really interested in Xhaka (as rumoured) we really dodged a bullet.

With all the red and yellow cards at Borussia (where he was very highly regarded and they do seem to have missed him, especially with his departure coinciding with a downturn in form of Dahoud) I thought he was just a massive fan of getting stuck in, but some of his challenges look like he just isn't actually very good at tackling.

 

[Pesam]

With all the red and yellow cards at Borussia (where he was very highly regarded and they do seem to have missed him, especially with his departure coinciding with a downturn in form of Dahoud) I thought he was just a massive fan of getting stuck in, but some of his challenges look like he just isn't actually very good at tackling.

Even when he isn't giving away free kicks and receiving cards he just doesn't seem like a particularly good footballer. I never saw him at Borussia but saw all 3 of his games during the Euro's and was surprised how poor he was. I figured the Euro's were just an aberration and he would show his true form in the EPL but I've seen him 10 or 11 times now and I reckon he's just a dud.

 

[manwithnoname]

Even when he isn't giving away free kicks and receiving cards he just doesn't seem like a particularly good footballer. I never saw him at Borussia but saw all 3 of his games during the Euro's and was surprised how poor he was. I figured the Euro's were just an aberration and he would show his true form in the EPL but I've seen him 10 or 11 times now and I reckon he's just a dud.

Yeah, let's hope so!

 

[Ryan]

In fairness Alonso was up against a CM of Xhaka and Coquelin last night, they'd make Lucas look half decent. If we were really interested in Xhaka (as rumoured) we really dodged a bullet.

Saw something on twitter that pruported Coquelin to have played 7 passes, and laid 0 tackles whilst playing in central midfield for 78 minutes last night.

That's a fair achievement to run around on a football pitch and do that little. He must have actively avoided the ball the useless cunt.

 

[manwithnoname]

Saw something on twitter that pruported Coquelin to have played 7 passes, and laid 0 tackles whilst playing in central midfield for 78 minutes last night.

That's a fair achievement to run around on a football pitch and do that little. He must have actively avoided the ball the useless cunt.

Zero tackles when he is purportedly a tough-tackling defensive midfielder

Amazing

 

[LarryHagman]

Maybe rafa wanted someone faster in midfield.

No, he wanted Gareth Barry.

 

[dantes]

No, he wanted Gareth Barry.

He needed a backhanded slap and a new assistant manager.

 

[binomial]

Imagine losing 2 key leaders in your side at the end of 1 season in Alonso and Lahm.

I know they still have a great team regardless but it won't be the same Bayern that's for sure.

 

[RolandG]

Xabi as a coach is a good option. Let's get him 🙂