Topic: xabi - thank you

[hoonin]

so obviously you want him to win things at real.

What's wrong with that if he did?

[Tom-D]

What's wrong with that if he did?

Because he said he isn't.

[MidMaestro]

Dear Xabi,

I hope May the 25th 2005 haunts you for the rest of your life.  You see that is what it's like when a team wins a competition through togetherness and a never say die attitude.  We won that competition because of three factors.  Firstly we had a manager that didn't understand when he was beat, he sucked in what could of been the worst day of his career and spat it out, took another roll of the dice.  Secondly we had heart, throughout the whole squad, from Traore to Gerrard.  We pulled together and gave the world the perfect example of what we are.  Thirdly it was because of all those people in the stand that probably thought we were beaten.  But of course they still sang as loud as they could, because we're one .

I hope you and your family are well in Madrid, you've always seemed like a great man, but I also hope that you realise LFC are a one of a kind.  You'll look around the Bernabeu and you'll miss us.  When things are tough, just as they were for a couple of seasons here, you'll look for friends, look for support and you won't get that.

You can't build anything at Madrid, they just don't have the same ethics.  You've gone now and we'll both move on.  Another player may grab the mantle you've left behind and it will be his name we'll be chanting.  We'll move on to better things, things we've earned, and we'll stand together as we've always done, as one.

[hoonin]

Because he said he isn't.

Isn't what?

[Tom-D]

Isn't what?

Supporting real.

[Fordy]

Really dont understand this line of thought today. As i said earlier its now clear the protracted nature of all this was not to do with Alonso. Everyone involved knew he wanted to leave back in May so how can Alonso be the one who "left it late"

Its also been stated by Rafa that his number 1 aim was to keep Alonso.

Mash stated he wanted to leave. Shall we just cave in a give in to him as well.

Bottom line is Alonso made his views pretty clear to Rafa, Rafa listened and try to sell the club again to Alonso at a guess saying that we're so close to winning the title, stay for at least a year etc etc. Alonso might of said I still want to leave. Rafa would of said fine then but on these terms and these terms only.

Gareth you can dress it up as much as you want they was no need for the transfer request. No need what so ever and for that reason for me he will always have a black mark against his name like Owen and Macca.

[lackynutz]

Best of luck to Xabi, still think he's made a big mistake. Hope he regrets it next may, when we win in Madrid!!

Agreed.  That would be a nice finish to the season too!

[hoonin]

Gareth you can dress it up as much as you want they was no need for the transfer request. No need what so ever and for that reason for me he will always have a black mark against his name like Owen and Macca.

Mate, I'm not dressing anything up. All I've done is emphasis what has been said today by 2 of the parties involved.

Beyond that people obviously make their own conclusions based on their own individual biases. For me, I'm ambivilent to Alonso now. He left the club and team moves on. What I do find ridiculous though are those that cast Alonso in the same light as Michael Owen.

[Shabby]

Some people seem to think that Alonso's world should have revolved around Liverpool.

No one knows why he left, but I'm sure he had good reasons even if it was purely because he just got married and the time was right to settle down at home.

[jckliew]

Xabi will be on the way to another club, next year.............R Madhouse changes players like you and i change our clothes.........

[lfc_bhoy]

Some people seem to think that Alonso's world should have revolved around Liverpool.

No one knows why he left, but I'm sure he had good reasons even if it was purely because he just got married and the time was right to settle down at home.

He said himself he was angling for a move last summer, so it could have just been professional boredom, which is disappointing considering how we're pushing for the league this year.

[tea_tree]

Puzzled by how idiotic some people are over this.

The man is an absolute class act. I don't begrudge him a single minute in that white kit and personally hope he wins La Liga with them. He's been a superb player for us and I appreciate his comments since he left. Would have been nice to hear something (anything!) similar from Arbeloa. Didn't slag Rafa off too despite the relationship clearly being strained.

I'm puzzled at how idiotic and intolerant some people are over this. Its almost as if its wrong to be unhappy that a key player in your team decided to leave when we were on the cusp of greatness. Why do people find it so hard to get it into their thick skulls? What is wrong with the fact that people do not want to express good luck to Alonso? There are equally valid reasons for not wanting to wish him luck and everyone should be entitled to express their opinion on this without the constant ridicule or censorship being attempted by some.

[hoonin]

He said himself he was angling for a move last summer

He did? When was that then?

[Libertina Warbeck]

I'm puzzled at how idiotic and intolerant some people are over this. Its almost as if its wrong to be unhappy that a key player in your team decided to leave when we were on the cusp of greatness. Why do people find it so hard to get it into their thick skulls? What is wrong with the fact that people do not want to express good luck to Alonso? There are equally valid reasons for not wanting to wish him luck and everyone should be entitled to express their opinion on this without the constant ridicule or censorship being attempted by some.

Some of the comments on here (people telling Xabi to f-off and wishing all kinds of abominations on him, etc.) are just out of order. We can express our disappointment without being abusive.

But I understand what you're saying. It's like just because the player is universally liked and played in a CL winning team with us, we don't have the right to question his motives for leaving, or raise concerns about the way he left. Boggles the mind really, as this is a forum: an outlet for people to debate and express different types of opinions.

I for one am disappointed he put in a transfer request and left the way he did, esp. because he said he was not the type to "force" a move. He misled us there a bit, I'd say. He misled Rafa too, who obviously hoped for a long time that Xabi wouldn't force things through and he could get another year out of him. Then Xabi shows up in Madrid all smiles and ecstatic and saying this was what he's wanted for a long time, etc.  And I can't deny that I want to punch  the computer every time I see him being applauded by the RM boys, with Cristiano standing there with that smug look on his face. I'm disappointed with Xabi most of all because I think despite his age he would've been just as valuable (as in a 30 million pound player) if he'd stayed one more year and won the league with us. And for me his reasons for wanting to end his contract early just don't cut it.

Also it's impossible for me to wish good luck or success for Real Madrid, who are just like Manchester City, but only with a more illustrious, imperialistic history--as opposed to being nouveau riche on Arab money. Xabi has taken a step down career-wise, and only he and the fools in Madrid will deny that right now.

I still respect him as a person but...

[lfc_bhoy]

He did? When was that then?

The interview a few pages back.

When and how did you tell Liverpool that you wanted to leave?
I spoke to Rafa on several occasions last season, during the preseason and this summer. We knew there was a possibility so I immediately expressed my desire to return to Spanish football. In fact, when the season ended I spent several days training in Liverpool and I sat down with Rafa for two hours. We shared ideas and I told him I needed a change.

[red_mark1980]

Mate, I'm not dressing anything up. All I've done is emphasis what has been said today by 2 of the parties involved.

Beyond that people obviously make their own conclusions based on their own individual biases. For me, I'm ambivilent to Alonso now. He left the club and team moves on. What I do find ridiculous though are those that cast Alonso in the same light as Michael Owen.

A rational response, comparisons to Macmanamanamanamanaman and that Rat are stupid and not needed.
Did he run his contract down... did he say multiple times (in his final year or next to final year) he would sign a new contract and then fail to do so.. nope.

Did he decide after five years that he wanted to go to sunnier weather and stop hearing that fucking ra-fa benitez song.

So long Xabi, but the club is what matters, and yes I would say it if it was Gerrard, Torres or the Voroninator

[Des Lynam]

Not gonna thank him at all.

I can appreciate his class whilst at the club, but to be honest, we made him as a player. We gave him the platform to play in 2 European Cup finals and win his first major trophies here. Under Benitez he went from a promising and talented midfielder, to one of the very best in the game. Even when he had his poor run and through his injuries, we stayed loyal and he constantly had his name sung, week in, week out by an army of dedicated and loyal fans. We backed him to the hilt, even when it was in protest against our own manager! Not only that we've parted, with happiness it must be said, with £1000's of our hard earned money, to follow him around the world and sing his name.

I know for a fact how people have on numerous times helped him and his family settle in this city and how we took him in as one of our own.

So for him, to leave in the manner he did, to join a whores market at Real Madrid, does leave a bitter taste in the mouth.

I respect and admire him for his class on and off the field and also for the many, many great memories he's gave me as a fan over the years and yes, of course, it is sad to lose a player of his ability.

However, thank him?

Nah.

He's the one who should be thanking us.

[Redcap]

Also it's impossible for me to wish good luck or success for Real Madrid, who are just like Manchester City, but only with a more illustrious, imperialistic history--as opposed to being nouveau riche on Arab money. Xabi has taken a step down career-wise, and only he and the fools in Madrid will deny that right now.

I still respect him as a person but...

And this, is precisely why we should all wish him good luck. Because much as we love (d) him, and much as we might hate Madrid.. we're bigger than that. It's hard to avoid feeling disappointment and bitterness that comes with the realisation that a player we love (d) didn't feel quite the same about the club. But at the end of the day, most will acknowledge that he did not stab us in the back, but gave us the best possible chance to replace him with a player of Rafa's choosing.

Let's take a moment to be thankful for this blessing, however small it might seem at this moment. It's something we didn't get from Owen or McManaman.

And finally, let's have enough faith in Rafa that, given the funds he needed to replace Xabi, he has brought in someone that will carry on our momentum to number 19 this season.

[hoonin]

The interview a few pages back.

When and how did you tell Liverpool that you wanted to leave?
I spoke to Rafa on several occasions last season, during the preseason and this summer.

<pedant>
So not last summer then.
</pedant>

[farawayred]

I have to hand it to the guy... First, I have always rated him highly for his professionalism; I've written at length about that. Then I got upset with newspapers reports linking him to Real. Then it was the dismissal stage. Then it was the disbelief... In the end, Xabi came out and said that he has made his mind months ago. Benitez and the club knew about that. Xabi didn't screw the club, didn't twist their arm. He held on to his conviction, waited patiently for the matter to get resolved, for Liverpool to get a fair amount of dough for his transfer, and walked on with his head high.

Thank you Xabi for you unconditional professionalism, for that penalty in Istanbul, and for the majestic performances in a red shirt! YNWA.

[Libertina Warbeck]

He's the one who should be thanking us.

agreed.

btw here's Friday's Marca front page (Wondering how much longer they're going to milk it for):
http://estaticos02.marca.com/multimedia/primeras/09/08/g0807.jpg

Caption reads: Completing the move was a nightmare...It's an idiomatic expression and that's the best way I can translate it. But basically he's saying it looked really bleak at one point because there were so many options. "But here I am" it says.

Smaller captions read: "Adapting the philosophy of Liverpool will bring character to the team" ;Madrid has laid all the foundations this year; "I like what I see in front of me in the team"; Kaka is unique/on another level from other players

[lfc_bhoy]

<pedant>
So not last summer then.
</pedant>

 , I suppose you could interpret it that way as well.  Still that's the bit of the interview that bothered me the most.  We got an offer from Juve, Xabi apparently was fine with leaving, we put in a bid for Barry as a replacement, and Xabi for some reason came out squeaky clean in the whole affair.

[WorldChampions]

Xabi... Thank you for everything. Going to Real Madrid is a sour note to end on, but you're still one of my favourite players.

Spot on. I think he should be captain at real

[Redcap]

, I suppose you could interpret it that way as well.  Still that's the bit of the interview that bothered me the most.  We got an offer from Juve, Xabi apparently was fine with leaving, we put in a bid for Barry as a replacement, and Xabi for some reason came out squeaky clean in the whole affair.

You don't really know that's how things happened though, do you? There seems to be a heck of a lot of revisionism in that account.

From what I can remember Rafa wanted Barry a great deal and was more than prepared to sell Xabi to fund the purchase. The fact that we received a bid from Juve make it follow that we were just bidding for Barry as a replacement.

Actually, it seems that what he said was that he had talked to Rafa during the season about a move, after the Barry debacle.

Bah. It's all in the past now anyway. Let's please just move on from this as soon as possible eh?

[Des Lynam]

Spot on. I think he should be captain at real

Ahead of Raul? Casillas? Or even Guti?

Don't think so.

[macca888]

I just feel like I've got a Mrs Merton style question stuck in my head:

"So Xabi, what was it that first tempted you to put in a transfer request to the Billionaire Spanish team who pay massive fucking signing on fees and salaries, who change their players more than fucking Liz Taylor changes her husbands but slightly less than Jordan changes whose cock she's sucking, from the team that beat them in a European Cup Final and demolished them 5 - 0 in the Champions League last year?"


Liked Alonso a lot. He's gone. Ta ra. Wanted him to stay. He didn't. His loss. Someone else will win the medals he should have with us. I'm over it. WE'RE STILL GONNA WIN THE FUCKING LEAGUE THOUGH!!

[Red_Isle_Chap]

Liked Alonso a lot. He's gone. Ta ra. Wanted him to stay. He didn't. His loss. Someone else will win the medals he should have with us. I'm over it. WE'RE STILL GONNA WIN THE FUCKING LEAGUE THOUGH!!

Exactly how I feel mate, move on lads and ladesses

[MidwestWool]

Xabi will be on the way to another club, next year.............R Madhouse changes players like you and i change our clothes.........

I change clothes everyday, not every year..

[Redcap]

I get the sense Xabi will stay at Real for the length of his contract and maybe finish his career by returning to Sociedad.

Don't see him being the type of player they'd move on so easily.

[theCanadian]

It's weird that he's all of a sudden only a few miles away from me, just after he's left us.

[keithcun]

Thanks for clearing that up Xabi. Oh wait...

So why didn't he put it in writing when he asked to leave in  May? Give me one good reason?

Like others has said, he didn't want to play for us, so he can fuck off.

[PJLFC1]

Not gonna thank him at all.

I can appreciate his class whilst at the club, but to be honest, we made him as a player. We gave him the platform to play in 2 European Cup finals and win his first major trophies here. Under Benitez he went from a promising and talented midfielder, to one of the very best in the game. Even when he had his poor run and through his injuries, we stayed loyal and he constantly had his name sung, week in, week out by an army of dedicated and loyal fans. We backed him to the hilt, even when it was in protest against our own manager! Not only that we've parted, with happiness it must be said, with £1000's of our hard earned money, to follow him around the world and sing his name.

I know for a fact how people have on numerous times helped him and his family settle in this city and how we took him in as one of our own.

So for him, to leave in the manner he did, to join a whores market at Real Madrid, does leave a bitter taste in the mouth.

I respect and admire him for his class on and off the field and also for the many, many great memories he's gave me as a fan over the years and yes, of course, it is sad to lose a player of his ability.

However, thank him?

Nah.

He's the one who should be thanking us.

Couldnt agree more , well put Des

[PJLFC1]

Spot on. I think he should be captain at real

Dont care about the Real Madrid or the Captaincy or Alonso anymore to be honest as the one major factor is they aren't Liverpool and he doesn't play for Liverpool anymore !

[coct3au]

Beyond that people obviously make their own conclusions based on their own individual biases. For me, I'm ambivilent to Alonso now. He left the club and team moves on. What I do find ridiculous though are those that cast Alonso in the same light as Michael Owen.

At the risk of starting an immense and largely pointless discussion/flamewar - just wondering why you would find a comparison of Alonso and Owen "ridiculous"?

[Libertina Warbeck]

agreed.

btw here's Friday's Marca front page (Wondering how much longer they're going to milk it for):


Caption reads: Completing the move was a nightmare...It's an idiomatic expression and that's the best way I can translate it. But basically he's saying it looked really bleak at one point because there were so many obstacles. "But here I am" it says. Smaller captions read: "Adapting the philosophy of Liverpool will bring character to the team" ; Madrid has laid all the foundations this year; "I like what I see in front of me in the team"; Kaka is unique/on another level from other players

This is obviously the reason he wanted to go so badly: rubbing shoulders with Kaka 

[L6 Red]

Except Gerrard is better.

[MidwestWool]

At the risk of starting an immense and largely pointless discussion/flamewar - just wondering why you would find a comparison of Alonso and Owen "ridiculous"?

Do you really need an explanation?

And I was pleased to hear Xabi mention Kaka and not the greasy twat.

[coct3au]

Do you really need an explanation?

Well, yes. I think a neutral observer might struggle to see much difference. Unless I'm overlooking something obvious, hence the question.

[Libertina Warbeck]

Funny how they put Gerrard on their "must buy" list last year after the 4-0 chorreo at Anfield...until Torres shot down any delusions they might've had that they could get either him or Stevie 

Liverpool's Fernando Torres Tells Real Madrid To Forget About Signing Steven Gerrard

Trying to sign Steven Gerrard is a waste of time, according to Fernando Torres.

15 Mar 2009 11:05:51


CL: Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard, Inter Milan - Liverpool (PA)

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has warned Steven Gerrard’s many admirers that the skipper could never be persuaded to leave the club.
 
Media speculation is mounting that Real Madrid have made the midfielder their top transfer target and reports have even suggested that they are willing to offer £80 million for Gerrard.

However, Torres is adamant that his team-mate is going nowhere and that nothing could tempt him to leave Merseyside.

“There isn't a team in the world that Steven wouldn't get into - so yes, I am sure he has his admirers,” the striker told the Sunday Mirror.

“But there are some players who love their club so much that they won't leave no matter what money is thrown around.

“We saw Kaka stay at AC Milan and that was nice to see in these times.

“Like Stevie, Kaka is one of the best players and in the same way he loves Milan, Stevie loves Liverpool.

“It's not about how we would get him to stay, he would never leave.

“The fans love him, the manager loves him, and he is our captain. Trust me when I say he is going nowhere.”

Family Affair

Gerrard scored twice in midweek at Anfield as Rafael Benitez’s Reds sunk Real 4-0, and his display even meant that Madrid fans were singing the midfielder’s name at the end of the game.

Yet Torres insisted that this would not sway the England international whose heart belongs to the Kop.

The former Atletico Madrid man explained, “They may have been chanting his name, but nobody will chant his name louder than the Liverpool fans and I know the relationship he has with our supporters. They are his family.”

Torres also insisted that Gerrard is without doubt one of the greatest players in the world.

“He is the best player I have ever played with, and I have played with some great players with Spain and Liverpool,” added the Spaniard.

“He could easily be the best player in the world.”

Right Choice

The 24-year-old also took time out to pledge his future to Liverpool and insisted that the win over Real Madrid had vindicated his decision to join the Merseysiders.

“This is the reason why I came to Liverpool,” he added.

“I made it clear the only club I'd leave Atletico for was Liverpool and now I can see why.

“Tuesday was a statement we are not be taken lightly. We know the defeat of Madrid means nothing now. It doesn't matter who we draw now - there is no easy game - but there is serious belief in the Liverpool dressing room we can win a sixth European Cup.”

Gill Clark, Goal.com

[Twelfth Customer]

Thanks    (he says as he puts a fist through the window)