Author Topic: Xabi Alonso (Read 335683 times)

LFC when it suits · « **Reply #3120 on:** February 18, 2013, 10:38:20 am »

Quote from: El Lobo on February 18, 2013, 10:27:22 am

What rubbish.

Didn't Sami leave the summer that Xabi went? Arbeloa and Benayoun too?

Xabi was an important part of the side, clearly. Thats why we got £30 million for him. But to say he was the difference between us being a top team and a mid table team? Nah, not having that. Too much happened between the end of the 08/09 season and us becoming a mid table team to lay all of that at one single player leaving. What about Torres drop in form and eventual departure?

We lost Xabi, Masch, Torres, Sami, Arbeloa, Babel, Riera and Yossi in the space of 18 months and I think only Arbeloa was adequately replaced. We replaced probably our best CB with a greek journeyman, we replaced Masch with a Danish journeyman, we replaced Torres with a Geordie lump, we replaced Xabi with an injury prone luxury player, we got rid of a winger in Riera and replaced him with Joe Cole, Yossi for Maxi I guess is like for like. But on the whole, we downgraded a huge portion of the team. Not just Xabi.

We lost Arbeloa and Yossi that season. Arbeloa was replaced adequetly with Johnson. As you said, we had Maxi covered for Benayoun. Xabi was the only player that we didn't adequerly replace and he was the most important cog in the team as he controled the game and allowed the others to shine IMO. Suddenly all the other top class players we had lost form when Xabi wasn't pulling the strings.

Most of the key players that you mentioned we lost, left after the 09/10 season where we finished 7th. Xabi was the only key component of the team that was not replaced when we dropped from 2nd to 7th.

Losing Xabi was the biggest factor in our decline from 2nd to 7th because we didn't have anyone to replace him. No onme could do his job. Eventually, Lucas matured into the great player he is and he replaced Alonso, but that took atleast a year for that to happen. Lucas really struggled to fill Alonso's boots in that 09/10 season and it took until the begining of 2011 for us to get a midfield that actually worked again with Lucas and Spearing as a double pivot.

El Lobo · « **Reply #3121 on:** February 18, 2013, 10:40:51 am »

Quote from: LFC_4_life on February 18, 2013, 10:38:20 am

Most of the key players that you mentioned we lost, left after the 09/10 season where we finished 7th. Xabi was the only key component of the team that was not replaced when we dropped from 2nd to 7th.

LFC when it suits · « **Reply #3122 on:** February 18, 2013, 10:45:40 am »

Quote from: El Lobo on February 18, 2013, 10:40:51 am

We had Agger, Skrtel and Carra. Sami wasn't starting every game in his last season anyway. We lost an experienced dresing room leader who made 19 appearances that season in all compeitions. It's hard to tell how much that affected us on the pitch though as he wasn't playign regularly.

007.lankyguy · « **Reply #3123 on:** February 18, 2013, 10:48:07 am »

Alonso wanted to move back to Spain as early as 2007 (according to Brian Reade). The summer of 2008, Xabi hadn't been up to his standard for a couple of seasons and Barry had probably been better than him and was also a more versatile option. Being tied in with the Inter Milan incident, Rafa decided, quite logically, Barry was a better option. The deal didn't come off and then Xabi put in a fantastic season in 08/09 and then decided to make a transfer request.

Looking back, it was a mistake by Rafa but it's easy to see why it was made. Barry was playing better than Xabi in 2008.

El Lobo · « **Reply #3124 on:** February 18, 2013, 10:51:46 am »

I think we saw from his final appearance how highly he was regarded by his team-mates and how important he was.

I don't disagree that Xabi leaving and not being replaced was a huge blow to the team, but I don't agree that his leaving was the only thing between mid-table and being a top team. For me we haven't even come close to replacing Xabi, Masch and Sami and those are the big three factors, on the pitch, which have seen the decline.

LFC when it suits · « **Reply #3125 on:** February 18, 2013, 10:55:51 am »

Quote from: lankyguy007 on February 18, 2013, 10:48:07 am

Alonso wanted to move back to Spain as early as 2007 (according to Brian Reade). The summer of 2008, Xabi hadn't been up to his standard for a couple of seasons and Barry had probably been better than him and was also a more versatile option. Being tied in with the Inter Milan incident, Rafa decided, quite logically, Barry was a better option. The deal didn't come off and then Xabi put in a fantastic season in 08/09 and then decided to make a transfer request.

Looking back, it was a mistake by Rafa but it's easy to see why it was made. Barry was playing better than Xabi in 2008.

Xabi was out with injury for spells in the 07 and 08 seasons. There was a spell from January 08 until May 08 where he was excellent coming up to the summer where Rafa tried to offload him.

It was a mistake in hindsight, but the manager should be allowed to ship out whoever he wants if he wants an upgrade. But unless Xabi is lying, that choice afftect his decision to leave.

AB LFC · « **Reply #3126 on:** February 18, 2013, 10:58:55 am »

Has more quality than 95% of our squad right now, would take him back in an instant, regardless of how he left. He still has passion for the club and wants to play, which is more than can be said for some of the other shite we've had recently ahem Joe Cole

himynameisntmark · « **Reply #3127 on:** February 18, 2013, 11:03:39 am »

Quote from: lankyguy007 on February 18, 2013, 10:48:07 am

Alonso wanted to move back to Spain as early as 2007 (according to Brian Reade). The summer of 2008, Xabi hadn't been up to his standard for a couple of seasons and Barry had probably been better than him and was also a more versatile option. Being tied in with the Inter Milan incident, Rafa decided, quite logically, Barry was a better option. The deal didn't come off and then Xabi put in a fantastic season in 08/09 and then decided to make a transfer request.

Looking back, it was a mistake by Rafa but it's easy to see why it was made. Barry was playing better than Xabi in 2008.

Bingo, I've also read in Rafas book that the homegrown rule the Premier League brought in would of seriously hurt our squad, therefore bringing in Barry would of at least given us depth and versatility as well as a homegrown player

SP · « **Reply #3128 on:** February 18, 2013, 11:03:58 am »

Nothing ever happens, nothing happens at all
The needle returns to the start of the song
And we all sing along like before
And we'll all be lonely tonight and lonely tomorrow

RedRedTom · « **Reply #3129 on:** November 21, 2014, 11:30:30 pm »

I really enjoyed this. Even if it is on the Daily Fascist's website.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2844035/XABI-ALONSO-MEETS-JAMIE-CARRAGHER-devastated-miss-Liverpool-return.html

He talks about positioning and tactics and so on in the article, you look at the type of player he is, the game intelligence he possesses and the managers he's worked for and you don't have much trouble imagining him as a fantastic manager in the future, maybe one day he'll manage us. Wouldn't that be something.

Kopenhagen · « **Reply #3130 on:** November 22, 2014, 03:12:55 am »

Great read.

child-in-time · « **Reply #3131 on:** November 25, 2014, 08:58:34 am »

Xabi is 33 today

Latenight Surfer · « **Reply #3132 on:** November 25, 2014, 10:02:25 am »

I couldn't find a Xabi Alonso thread and thought I'd create one as today is his birthday.

Happy Birthday Alonso.

A banner I found while googling.. made by a fellow RAWKite.. thanks to you.

http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=83385.0

Sir Psycho Sexy · « **Reply #3133 on:** November 25, 2014, 10:26:54 am »

One of the best midfielder of this era I'd say. Still tearing things up at Bayern right now.

Tomaldinho · « **Reply #3134 on:** November 25, 2014, 10:31:18 am »

Quote from: Sir Psycho Sexy on November 25, 2014, 10:26:54 am

One of the best midfielder of this era I'd say. Still tearing things up at Bayern right now.

Except now he's a centre back... sort of

Latenight Surfer · « **Reply #3135 on:** November 25, 2014, 10:47:05 am »

Sorry about it mods... I couldn't think of this earlier.

Circa1892 · « **Reply #3136 on:** November 25, 2014, 08:26:14 pm »

Birthday goal!

AfricanBavarian · « **Reply #3137 on:** November 25, 2014, 08:35:13 pm »

Happy Birthday!

1892tillforever · « **Reply #3138 on:** November 25, 2014, 08:35:48 pm »

I miss the handsome devil

Hij · « **Reply #3139 on:** November 25, 2014, 08:36:06 pm »

Quote from: Circa1892 on November 25, 2014, 08:26:14 pm

Birthday goal!

Timbo's Goals · « **Reply #3140 on:** November 26, 2014, 09:40:22 am »

I'm not going to breath a single word about how much it still eats away at me when I reflect on the H&G reign and just how much Rafa was forced to sell off some of the great team he'd created in order to buy new players - especially Xabi [albeit Rafa's indignation re his father's funeral and Xabi's wedding clearly didn't help matters] - or how sad it made feel when I read Xabi's own recent comments that only bayern Munich were in for him in the summer and we didn't make so much as a tentative enquiry presumably because he didn't fit our profit-orientated recuitment profile.

I'll just keep it myself and suffer in silence.

Dubred · « **Reply #3141 on:** February 16, 2015, 02:10:34 pm »

One of my favourite ever players.

Love reading about him but at the same time sad that he's been gone from here for so long now!

Just a rolls royce of a player and by all accounts, 'maturing' even further with age.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11946/9716919/xabi-alonso-impressing-at-bayern-munich-under-pep-guardiola-and-eyeing-a-third-champions-league-medal

karl740 · « **Reply #3142 on:** February 17, 2015, 07:12:39 pm »

What position is he playing nowadays under pep at bayern. Still a CDM or has he to adapt with age?

AfricanBavarian · « **Reply #3143 on:** February 17, 2015, 08:37:50 pm »

Quote from: karl740 on February 17, 2015, 07:12:39 pm

What position is he playing nowadays under pep at bayern. Still a CDM or has he to adapt with age?

Still a CDM

Lone Star Red · « **Reply #3144 on:** February 19, 2015, 05:22:54 pm »

Apparently showing major signs of being a weak link in the Bayern midfield:

Link

AfricanBavarian · « **Reply #3145 on:** February 19, 2015, 05:44:44 pm »

His age is definitely catching up to him. I was afraid of this since this is the exact reason RM got rid of him. On counter attacks he is getting caught with his hands in his pants and committing stupid fouls.

Phil M · « **Reply #3146 on:** February 19, 2015, 05:56:31 pm »

Quote from: Lone Star Red on February 19, 2015, 05:22:54 pm

Apparently showing major signs of being a weak link in the Bayern midfield:

Link

That kit is boss.

Jimmy Two Times · « **Reply #3147 on:** February 19, 2015, 07:11:41 pm »

Quote from: Lone Star Red on February 19, 2015, 05:22:54 pm

Apparently showing major signs of being a weak link in the Bayern midfield:

Link

Except for the fact that he's been widely acknowledged as Bayern's most consistently superb player

Lone Star Red · « **Reply #3148 on:** February 19, 2015, 07:27:58 pm »

Quote from: Jimmy Two Times on February 19, 2015, 07:11:41 pm

Except for the fact that he's been widely acknowledged as Bayern's most consistently superb player

And now he's being found out in the current setup and targeted by other teams.

jackh · « **Reply #3149 on:** February 19, 2015, 10:24:00 pm »

Quote from: Lone Star Red on February 19, 2015, 05:22:54 pm

Apparently showing major signs of being a weak link in the Bayern midfield:

Link

Presumably playing a lot more than anticipated due to the absences of Javi Martinez and Thiago, too?

pinky · « **Reply #3150 on:** March 3, 2015, 10:16:29 am »

Quote from: jackh on February 19, 2015, 10:24:00 pm

Presumably playing a lot more than anticipated due to the absences of Javi Martinez and Thiago, too?

It was the same last season too. He's 33 years old, soon to be 34 and he was never the quickest player out there. His lack of mobilty he hides it partially with his huge defensive talent and technique but there is a point when there's not enough to compensate it.