Author Topic: Xabi Alonso  (Read 332762 times)

Offline tea_tree

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #160 on: September 1, 2009, 11:40:10 pm »
A broken legged Xabi is better than Lucas mate. The "Xabi was shit for 2 years" fact is a myth. He just wasn't as good as he could have been, indeed during those seasons when he was injured many were crying about the loss of form being due to Xabi being out. You can't have it both ways.

What a load of bollocks. Xabi was below par for 2 years. Anyone who is trying to claim he played at the same level last year as he did in the 2 previous seasons is lying to themselves. Also anyone who is claiming that our form improved simply because Alonso returned is lying to themselves because at the time it had more to do with a ball playing centreback (Skrtel and Agger) returning to the team and allowing the team to play higher up the pitch. The importance of Alonso in those 2 seasons was overstated and overrated.

At what he did on the pitch, Alonso was outstanding.  There is no escaping the fact that our performance is somewhat all over the place without him.  Not to say that we can't survive without him, but he is sorely missed at the moment.  And he always seemed to be a decent chap - always did the club proud in the way he carried himself.

Rafa clearly made a mistake with Xabi.  Let's accept that.  To do so would not detract from the fact that Rafa is an outstanding manager and the best man for the job.  I would be surprised if Rafa did not learn something from this episode, he is too intelligent not to.

Now let's move on.

Sorry not having that. Rafa did not make any mistake with the Alonso sitaution. As a manager who has given his all to the club you expect 100% professionalism from your players i.e. the same amount of committment you put into the club. Alonso clearly showed he wasn't as committed as the manager thought. Coupled with his average and below par performances it made sense for the manager to try and move him on. The fact that no one was willing to pay £16 million is a testament to the level of his performances at the time. Besides, despite the lies people tell, Xabi clearly has limitations and was not going to be suitable for the sort of role the manager had in mind for a CM in his teams. Also the fact that he significantly upped his game last season shows that the manager's decision was justified and was the wake up call he needed. Obviously Xabi was not intelligent enough to recognise that and chose to move on. Thats fine, but don't try and place blame on the manager for doing his job.

I find it laughable that the so called "most intelligent fans in the world" are lapping up the crap that Xabi is spouting and are ready to stick the knife in the back of their manager. At the end of the day the plain and simple truth of the matter is that he only decided to give his all for the cause when he saw that it would earn him a move. For that alone I've lost all respect for him as a person. He knew he wanted to leave before the end of the season and could have put a transfer request in but he tried to leave in a manner which made it look like the manager was forcing him out. He is a waste of space and can go and enjoy the stability of the Madrid managerial merry-go-round.
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Offline MHLC

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #161 on: September 1, 2009, 11:40:30 pm »
Should have kept his mouth shut abou last summer.

Keane hasn't gone on like this in the media. There is no point in Alonso trying this "poor me" in the press, because for many like me, it just will not wash.

Which just re-enforces my point about supporters judging a player person based on their own criteria, i.e. things they feel they understand.

Fuck the media. We use them as a stick to beat them with, not players who gave 5 years of unblemished service.

Offline James B

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #162 on: September 1, 2009, 11:41:28 pm »
Gareth Barry instead of Alonso! I still cringe at the thought.

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #163 on: September 1, 2009, 11:42:23 pm »
We had to sell him to buy new players

Otherwise known as no transfer money available

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Offline red_Mark1980

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #164 on: September 1, 2009, 11:49:11 pm »
Which just re-enforces my point about supporters judging a player person based on their own criteria, i.e. things they feel they understand.

Fuck the media. We use them as a stick to beat them with, not players who gave 5 years of unblemished service.

Im not doubting his time here - modern times he is one of the most talented players I've seen in a Liverpool shirt, all I'm saying is he should have kept his mouth shut. Sounds like unlike the Murhpys Alonso is bitter.... poor lad rafa tried to sell him. He played his heart out last season why??? Because he loved the club and was a great professional or because he was looking for a move?

Guess we'll never know

Offline deadlybuzz

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #165 on: September 1, 2009, 11:52:57 pm »

Only because Barry turned to City when Rafa thought he would come to us.

Had we got Barry for £12m when City did (during the Confeds cup?), he wouldn't have said a word about wanting to keep Xabi.

It was a vain attempt to keep hold of Xabi.

No.... an ITK had said back in May that Barry was still in Rafa's plans, it was because of this that there would possibly be less playing time for Xabi (in a world cup year) that made his final decision to leave once he found out about it during the supposed "showdown" talk between him and Rafa.

Had Alonso handed in a transfer request and was sold to Madrid for a pittance sum of around £15m-£20m back in June, we probably could have had Barry, Rafa's obvious number 1 target.

So if Rafa had absolutely no chance in getting Barry, why flog Alonso off anyway? Because their relationship was only "professional"?

Barry wasn't going to wait around this summer and well, City came knocking at the door whilst we had Alonso humming and hawing to the press about "not being unemployed whatever happens to him" during the pointless Confederations Cup.
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Offline Red_Rich

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #166 on: September 1, 2009, 11:56:30 pm »
Gareth Barry instead of Alonso! I still cringe at the thought.


Well, now we've got Lucas in his place - how does that compare?
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Offline Red_Rich

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #167 on: September 1, 2009, 11:58:52 pm »
No.... an ITK had said back in May that Barry was still in Rafa's plans, it was because of this that there would possibly be less playing time for Xabi (in a world cup year) that made his final decision to leave once he found out about it during the supposed "showdown" talk between him and Rafa.

Had Alonso handed in a transfer request and was sold to Madrid for a pittance sum of around £15m-£20m back in June, we probably could have had Barry, Rafa's obvious number 1 target.

So if Rafa had absolutely no chance in getting Barry, why flog Alonso off anyway? Because their relationship was only "professional"?

Barry wasn't going to wait around this summer and well, City came knocking at the door whilst we had Alonso humming and hawing to the press about "not being unemployed whatever happens to him" during the pointless Confederations Cup.



Because Xabi had told Rafa he wanted out back in April/early May.
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Offline red_Mark1980

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #168 on: September 1, 2009, 11:58:59 pm »
Well, now we've got Lucas in his place - how does that compare?

Given Lucas wants to be at Liverpool and is turning out for us and putting in some great displays  - I'd say pretty well.

I'd take that over someone playing for that joke in Madrid allday.

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #169 on: September 2, 2009, 12:00:18 am »

Well, now we've got Lucas in his place - how does that compare?

With Barry?
Hardly fair to try and make comparisons with a 28 year old player who has over 360 appearances
in the premier league and was former long-term captain of his club and 22 year old Lucas Leiva
who has barely made a half century of appearances for us, many of whom as sub and at times
not in his favoured position.
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Offline James B

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #170 on: September 2, 2009, 12:00:40 am »

Well, now we've got Lucas in his place - how does that compare?

Pretty shite in comparison to Alonso's greatness.

Offline LF

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #171 on: September 2, 2009, 12:02:29 am »
Oh, really?  Please elaborate.

Much has been spoken about his relationship with Rafa after the Barry thing but in the interview he alludes he had a proper working relationship with Rafa last season. Seems to me Rafa was willing to work over their relationship but media portrayal of Rafa over this continues to be that of the unattached boss.

Secondly what happened over the Barry thing and deterioration in the relationship is of everyday life and are deal with people all over the world from all walks of life. What happened the season before last may have been hurtful to Alonso as he was getting stick from fans as well the Barry thing but let's not forget last season either where he was universally praised as a great player by fans or Rafa wanting to keep hold of him this season. He is a professional and it does seem an excess to me that he can be willing to not work with Rafa over what happened. Things like this can be talked over (the interview suggests they did) and also taking into fact Rafa this season wanted to keep hold of him. A lot of people suggest that Rafa looking to ship him for funds hurt him but a year later can we not say the same and say look Rafa has learned and say it shows he values Alonso and wants him to stay but everyone ignores that.

On the whole I do understand Alonso could leave over this, but while he is not wrong to leave the club it does not make it a right that he left us from the point of view as a Liverpool fan.  He could have stayed but he chose to leave and that's what important. People are giving too much emphasis on the Barry thing. It happened in the past but Alonso's decision to leave came at a time when Rafa showed he valued him as a player for the team and was wanting to keep him here. It's often ignored that. Like I said imagining myself as him, I can consider that he had his reasons to leave but let's face it, he did what he felt was right for him. His transfer wasn't right for Liverpool.  No amount of money could get a player to fit into his spot seamlessly ( maybe Aquilani will but in our most important season he left us in uncertainty) into our team and Rafa had worked long and hard to build a good team which challenged for the title. My sympathies lies clearly with Rafa, the manager of our team and not Alonso the ex player.

But I can also draw a fine line and while I don't think it was wrong for Alonso to leave considering everything, from all things looked on as Liverpool it was not exactly a right in my books either. I don't have hard feelings but I simply cannot accept that people are blaming Rafa for this. Like I said in my original post, he is not to blame. Alonso's decision, Alonso's party. It's not wrong for him but it's not right for us.


Offline MHLC

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #172 on: September 2, 2009, 12:03:12 am »
Pretty shite in comparison to Alonso's greatness.

He's 22 and has played less than 50 league games for us. Alonso is, what, 29?

You need to be a bit more rational if you're going to compare 2 players at markedly different points in their career.

Offline red_Mark1980

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #173 on: September 2, 2009, 12:03:25 am »
Alonso thread turns into another bashing of Lucas..sigh.. closes door and switches light off

Offline tea_tree

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #174 on: September 2, 2009, 12:03:53 am »
No.... an ITK had said back in May that Barry was still in Rafa's plans, it was because of this that there would possibly be less playing time for Xabi (in a world cup year) that made his final decision to leave once he found out about it during the supposed "showdown" talk between him and Rafa.

Had Alonso handed in a transfer request and was sold to Madrid for a pittance sum of around £15m-£20m back in June, we probably could have had Barry, Rafa's obvious number 1 target.

So if Rafa had absolutely no chance in getting Barry, why flog Alonso off anyway? Because their relationship was only "professional"?

Barry wasn't going to wait around this summer and well, City came knocking at the door whilst we had Alonso humming and hawing to the press about "not being unemployed whatever happens to him" during the pointless Confederations Cup.


I guess the ITK read Rafa's mind ::)

How on earth does Alonso handing in a transfer request mean we would have got less? That makes no logical sense at all. He handed in a transfer request and we still got the amount we wanted. Bizzare
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Offline James B

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #175 on: September 2, 2009, 12:05:09 am »
He's 22 and has played less than 50 league games for us. Alonso is, what, 29?

You need to be a bit more rational if you're going to compare 2 players at markedly different points in their career.

I was asked to compare them so I did.

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #176 on: September 2, 2009, 12:06:03 am »
He's an ex player now, so stop all getting wound up. And anyone who wants to use Xabi's comments to have a dig at Lucas needs to shut the fuck up too. He's a current player, not a Real Madrid player for fucks sake. Show some fucking loyalty you gobshites.
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Offline MHLC

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #177 on: September 2, 2009, 12:06:53 am »
I was asked to compare them so I did.

That wasn't a comparison, it was a conclusion.

What aspects of each player did you compare?

Offline BazC

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #178 on: September 2, 2009, 12:07:18 am »
That leapt out Baz. If you can point me to where you said that about him when he was still a Red I'll say 'fair play'. Even if it's just in 1 post out of 100s.

I might have done actually, by alluding to him being 'specialist'.

Thing is, he was highly specialist. Don't get me wrong, he was one of my favourite players, one of those who I thought was 'untouchable' and of course, I thought he was truly world class.

But Rafa did want him out.

By 'limited' I meant in terms of ability- he wasn't directly involved in attack, and that showed against certain opposition. Maybe that's what Rafa wanted to see. One of the standout quotes from Rafa in recent times for me is when he talks about the 2 holding CMs. He said that for one of them it was not only necessary, but obligatory to join the attackers. That quote stuck with me (and it was long before Xabi was linked away). Xabi wasn't that player, and nor was Masch.

Lucas, and maybe (hopefully) Aquilani are.

As I said though- I wish he was still around, but I did say pretty early on (before he was definitely going) that maybe him going meant 'progress' in the long run.
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Offline James B

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #179 on: September 2, 2009, 12:08:03 am »
What aspects of each player did you compare?

Ability.

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #180 on: September 2, 2009, 12:09:06 am »
The majority of blame for Alonso's departure lies with Rafa.
.

Well let's fucking hope so. Because if it wasn't then this club is fucked.

There's a lot of soft talk about Rafa's man management being shite because he doesn't put his arms round players shoulders and give them a hug. Sorry but that isn't his job and I don't think it should be.

Rafa is 100% focused on Liverpool Football Club and expects his players to be the same. When he decided to off-load Xabi last season to pay for Barry it was his choice. At that point, with a particular vision for the team in mind, he decided it was the right thing to do. Strapped for cash (I for one still don't know the full story about the Barry/Xabi and Keane deals) he had few options. In those circumstances, can someone explain how it was bad man-management? He expected the deal to go through so his concern was for the incoming player, not Xabi. You might say it was bad football management, that Barry for Alonso was a bad footballing decision (though how the fuck anyone can be sure of that I don't know), but how the fuck can it be bad man-management?...

So the deal fell through and from what Xabi himself says, it seems he decided before the start of last season that he was off this summer. He then has the best season in a red shirt for a few years, some peoples player of the year. For who?... for Liverpool?... for his team-mates?.. for the fans?... or for himself?... none of us really know. Only Xabi knows what the truth is.

Come the transfer window and Xabi already knows Real want him and has decided to make the move. Perez is back at Madrid and the transfer market is in over-drive after the ridiculous Ronaldo and Kaka deals. I'd guess that Rafa knew that Xabi had made his mind up as well so the dance began...

Manchester City come in with their bags of cash for Barry, closing off that option. Whether Rafa still wanted him or not was irrelevant. He needed to sell before he could buy.

Xabi says "it's out of his hands"... he'd be happy to stay at Liverpool or move... (which may or may not be true) knowing full well his agent, Real Madrid and the Spanish press are working overtime to pressurise Liverpool into letting him go for the lowest possible fee. Rafa on the other hand has two options: keep hold of Xabi (probably not going to happen) in which case he needs to make sure he says loud and clear that he wants Xabi to stay... or he needs to get the best possible price and look around for a possible replacement, in which case he needs to make sure he says loud and clear that he really wants Xabi to stay.

And so it goes...

Rafa's a professional and so is Xabi. Buying and selling players is part of a manager's job and being sold is part of a footballer's life. Some of the nonsense spouted on here about "revenge" and hurt feelings is soft as shite. Xabi gets his "revenge" by having a brilliant season, helping us to 2nd in the league and doubling his transfer value. I wish someone would take that kind of revenge on me.

So yeah... it's Rafa's fault. It's Rafa's fault that he tried to improve the team in his own way... the way he's improved it year on year since he took over from Ged. It's Rafa's fault that after the deal fell through Xabi played a blinder. Maybe it's Rafa's appalling man-management that has created a team with such spirit, a team that plays to the ninetieth minute and beyond, a team that will never say die.

Rafa isn't perfect and he's not beyond criticism. But he's one of the top ten managers in the game and we're lucky to have him. I'd love to have seen what he could have done with the money he was promised. I'd also like to see him treated with the respect he deserves.

So cheerio Xabi, thanks for the kind words about us and thanks for five good years. Now what's the team for Burnley...
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Offline AlanK

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #181 on: September 2, 2009, 12:10:01 am »
He's an ex player now, so stop all getting wound up. And anyone who wants to use Xabi's comments to have a dig at Lucas needs to shut the fuck up too. He's a current player, not a Real Madrid player for fucks sake. Show some fucking loyalty you gobshites.

That's it in a nutshell. As a fan my loyalty is to the club and the manager, not to any player who doesn't realise he's playing for the greatest club in the world.

Offline MHLC

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #182 on: September 2, 2009, 12:10:14 am »
Ability.

Right. Well that clears that one up then.

Offline red_Mark1980

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #183 on: September 2, 2009, 12:19:14 am »
What Alan_F said - expressed what I felt but could never come up with
« Last Edit: September 2, 2009, 12:22:17 am by red_mark1980 »

Offline AlanK

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #184 on: September 2, 2009, 12:21:14 am »
 
What Alan said - expressed what I felt but could never come up with
Thanks Mark  :P

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #185 on: September 2, 2009, 12:21:55 am »
So, it DOES come down to bad man-management afterall.

How is it bad man-management ?!

If Rafa had the "funds" in the transfer window to purchase players - he wouldn't have to sell players to get players!  :wave
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Offline red_Mark1980

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #186 on: September 2, 2009, 12:23:32 am »
Thanks Mark  :P

Well done, you share the name with a mod who posted  :wave

Offline BazC

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #187 on: September 2, 2009, 12:23:39 am »
.................

So cheerio Xabi, thanks for the kind words about us and thanks for five good years. Now what's the team for Burnley...

Well said mate. Now, what IS the team for Burnley?! Aurelio back, hopefully no injuries from internationals... sorted.
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Offline deadlybuzz

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #188 on: September 2, 2009, 12:33:59 am »
I guess the ITK read Rafa's mind ::)

How on earth does Alonso handing in a transfer request mean we would have got less? That makes no logical sense at all. He handed in a transfer request and we still got the amount we wanted. Bizzare

Not sure if the itk reads people's minds let alone Rafa's but his post was more encouraging then what I was reading daily of journalists "sources" theories of showdowns, hatred, loyalty-bonuses etc.

I'm just going along with the theory that handing in a transfer request puts the buying club at an advantage and can knock the price down of the sale of a player. Well that's opposite reason of what most people are saying about Alonso delaying the transfer request into maintaining we had the advantage over Real.
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Offline deadlybuzz

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #189 on: September 2, 2009, 12:49:45 am »

Because Xabi had told Rafa he wanted out back in April/early May.

Sorry my point was that if Rafa hadn't gotten his 1st choice signing since his move to another club, why would he be thinking of trying to sell Xabi? We worked well as a team with Alonso in midfield the season before, there's no reason to whore Xabi on the transfer market.



Xabi made the decision to leave that is correct, but since Barry was sold to City before Real got their act together, you can imagine why Rafa wanted to keep a hold of both Masch and Alonso. Rafa was probably aware that Real was still lurking and that Xabi had his heart set on a move by that stage, Liverpool issued a statement of "make us an offer we can't refuse" whereas told Barca to back off and nothing would be accepted for Masch.


Oh and

What Alan_F said - expressed what I felt but could never come up with
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Offline offthemark

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #190 on: September 2, 2009, 12:57:15 am »
i dont think there is any other player who brings so much of controversy among the fans as xabi does!

Come on, he was our player, gave us great 5 years, great games, istanbul and chelsea, juve wins and lot of entertainment which is why he was here.
He still loves us n the club n everything, he wanted to move for many reasons.... so b it.

Cant we just wish him luck? I think he deserves that, no?
instead of saying that he is rival, lets beat his team..... blah blah. when we meet his team... then b it that ... ofcourse we have to beat them to progress in next round.

cant there b any thread like "alonso appreciation thread" like other players get when they leave the club.

seems like cashley gets more respect from arse fans than xabi gets from us....

yeah yeah YNWA!!!

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #191 on: September 2, 2009, 01:01:51 am »
Sorry Alan F but Rafa did not have to sell first to allow him to buy as before he ever sold Alonso or Arbeloa he shelled out 17m on Johnson.

It’s a tough one which is why Rafa is the man that makes decisions but once he knew Alonso was leaving in May he probably, may, who knows…..made Alonso’s replacement the priority. Considering how quick Barry deal was done maybe we should have went head first after him again as 10m plus a signing on fee of 3m – 5m would have sufficed and Rafa then would have had his #1 CM target in the squad. Of course he would have preferred to have kept Alonso so Barry was #2 and ultimately we ended up with our #3 choice in Aquaman. I hope he pans out and in fact he, Masch & Barry may have been the ideal step forward from Alonso’s departure.

Still love Alonso, he said his peace now while he kept quiet last summer when others including his manager were talking about his career to the press. He will be missed but I am sure we will reach new heights without him.
I have a simple philosophy: Fill what's empty. Empty what's full. Scratch where it itches. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi5-V75v-6I

Offline Cruiser

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #192 on: September 2, 2009, 01:03:19 am »
Don't get the whole Rafa is to 'blame' for Alonso's departure BS. Rafa had a long term vision for LFC by bringing in a versatile player in Barry who could also score goals from midfield which we lacked. It would have been a long term move that would strengthen us in the middle, opposed to Alonso who would have left us sooner or later anyway.

If the propsed sale of Alonso to Juve rattled him and made him think about his future at LFC he needs to toughen up. In this business players will always be bargained with and Xabi shouldn't have used that to kop out. It didn't mean he should have just packed his bags when the fans that are so devoted to him and within a whisker of winning the league wanted him to stay. Ultimately we won't know whats going on behind the scenes but a move back home would have been on the cards eventually and Rafa knew this and had to think about the long term future of the club. The only thing is he didn't know (and neither did any of us) that Barry would turn out to be a mercenary let alone the developments at Mercenary City and all their cash.
If he retires I'll eat my fucking cock.

Great anti climax for those expecting jizzihno....

Offline deadlybuzz

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #193 on: September 2, 2009, 01:04:22 am »
seems like cashley gets more respect from arse fans than xabi gets from us....

Some of us may be in a mood about it all but ^ that above is ridiculous. Ashley Cole and respect from Arsenal supporters in the same sentence?!
« Last Edit: September 2, 2009, 01:06:14 am by deadlybuzz »
Ahh, pressing refresh and waiting for news... just like the bad old days.

Liverpool porn, this.

anyone who's negative can fuck off

Offline Walshy nMe®

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #194 on: September 2, 2009, 01:05:45 am »
Xabi was class first season, then once all the yard dogs got the measure of him plus his injuries, he has 2 poor seasons.  We couldn;t even get close to £16m for him.

He has a great season which has done wonders for us and we lose him for £30m.

Not being funny but we got a great deal. Yes Xabi is a fantastic player and someone we are going to miss, but who is to say that Aquilani's slightly more attacking game is not what we need to win points at home?

Offline jckliew

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #195 on: September 2, 2009, 01:27:41 am »
Don't get the whole Rafa is to 'blame' for Alonso's departure BS. Rafa had a long term vision for LFC by bringing in a versatile player in Barry who could also score goals from midfield which we lacked. It would have been a long term move that would strengthen us in the middle, opposed to Alonso who would have left us sooner or later anyway.

If the propsed sale of Alonso to Juve rattled him and made him think about his future at LFC he needs to toughen up. In this business players will always be bargained with and Xabi shouldn't have used that to kop out. It didn't mean he should have just packed his bags when the fans that are so devoted to him and within a whisker of winning the league wanted him to stay. Ultimately we won't know whats going on behind the scenes but a move back home would have been on the cards eventually and Rafa knew this and had to think about the long term future of the club. The only thing is he didn't know (and neither did any of us) that Barry would turn out to be a mercenary let alone the developments at Mercenary City and all their cash.

Dont blame the player when the manager wants him out. How do ya know he would have left anyway? Put yerself in his shoes as an employee...the actions of clubs/managers nowadays is one of the reasons why players have become mercernaries
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Offline MagicB8all

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #196 on: September 2, 2009, 01:28:33 am »
Xabi was class first season, then once all the yard dogs got the measure of him plus his injuries, he has 2 poor seasons.  We couldn;t even get close to £16m for him.

He has a great season which has done wonders for us and we lose him for £30m.

Not being funny but we got a great deal. Yes Xabi is a fantastic player and someone we are going to miss, but who is to say that Aquilani's slightly more attacking game is not what we need to win points at home?
we still thin in midfield and we need someone to link the defense with the attack and midfield
Goodbye & thank you Rafa. You've given us more than we ever had a right to expect from you and you stayed loyal and fought for us even when some of our own turned on you. I truly hope that you find somewhere with the support that you deserve & win everything in sight.

Offline tea_tree

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #197 on: September 2, 2009, 01:32:55 am »
Xabi makes convenient excuse to hide his money fuelled move to Madrid shocker ::)
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Offline offthemark

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #198 on: September 2, 2009, 01:35:33 am »
Xabi makes convenient excuse to hide his money fuelled move to Madrid shocker ::)

any player if they get more money than they r earning right now, will think twice about the offer, no?
dont give me the shite that gerrard n torres wont, cos they would . if they wudnt then why renew their contract every year ???

Offline jckliew

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Re: Xabi Alonso - new interview
« Reply #199 on: September 2, 2009, 01:37:59 am »
any player if they get more money than they r earning right now, will think twice about the offer, no?
dont give me the shite that gerrard n torres wont, cos they would . if they wudnt then why renew their contract every year ???

Right on! 
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