Would you swap Xabi for Xavi?

[NIred1]

I would take Deco or Dos Santos instead.

Really? I do not rate him at all. People have a go at Pennant for not taking the defender on. Everytime I have seen Dos Santos he has got the ball ran a bit and then cut back and played it backwards. Now Iniesta is the man I would take.

[Jaymo]

i love xabi, i think hes a class act when hes on form, but i think that teams have noticed his weakness.. getting in his face, and not giving him that little bit of time on the ball. I wouldnt mind either way really if we signed Xavi, as he is a class act too.. but im just sitting on the fence here!

[stevie_gerrard_8]

Swap Dos Santos for Bojan and Im happy

[akjs123]

Xabi + cash for Ronaldinho please

[dww]

Ultimately to progress in the style Rafa plays I think we need both types of player in the team. For me Alonso is an exceptional deep playmaker and getting rid of him would leave a gap in the squad which would be very difficult to fill. The problem I guess is fitting both of them and Gerrard into the same team - although I have to say I like the idea of having the option of Xabi and Gerrard behind a subtle attacking midfield player.

We need to exand the options in our squad not lessen them. If I had to sacrifice someone to bring in a player like Xabi I would go with three experienced strikers in stead of four into next season and use some of our young players and/or Babel as cover.

[Fiddy]

Xabi Alonso is just out of form - when he gets his confidence and form back he will be one of the first names on our teamsheet. Why do we only have these debates when players are off form FFS. Shall we swap Torres for Villa?????????

That's the problem - he's probably been 'out of form' for over a year now, he's never reached the heights of the standards he set when he first arrived and used to light the place up. At the moment you wouldn't notice much difference between him and Michael Carrick

[Roboklopp]

He's been injured a ****ing season practically- give him a chance to regain a bit of form

[Ballykissdevil]

He was on Revisita La Liga last night talking about how happy he is at Barcelona and how he is delighted to have been made captain. This does not sound like an out of favour player to me.

[Pablo]

If I had to sacrifice someone to bring in a player like Xabi I would go with three experienced strikers in stead of four into next season and use some of our young players and/or Babel as cover.

The problem with selling a striker off instead of Alonso is that is neither Kuyt, Crouch or Voronin would fetch nearly the same price as Alonso would. In fact the three od them combined we probably only roughly equal the fee we would get for Xabi.

That is the main reason I would be willing to let Alonso leave for a good fee. It would provide around £15m+ to spend strenghtening areas of the team where we are weaker. For the greater good of the squad.

[Harv]

no thanks. He's very similar to Xabi. Likes time on the ball, and would get hussled off of it in the EPL.

Ronaldinho or Iniesta please

[Ballykissdevil]

no thanks. He's very similar to Xabi. Likes time on the ball, and would get hussled off of it in the EPL.

Ronaldinho or Iniesta please

The same Ronaldinho who will stand still and/or tie his laces to avoid making a tackle or trying to win a ball? (see Anfield game for evidence)

Iniesta, on the other hand...

[Harv]

The same Ronaldinho who will stand still and/or tie his laces to avoid making a tackle or trying to win a ball? (see Anfield game for evidence)

Iniesta, on the other hand...

Ronaldinho may wimp out of tackles.....but he is ****ing brilliant around the box.

We have no one on our team near him in terms of skill mate.

Iniesta is a cracking player

[dww]

The problem with selling a striker off instead of Alonso is that is neither Kuyt, Crouch or Voronin would fetch nearly the same price as Alonso would. In fact the three od them combined we probably only roughly equal the fee we would get for Xabi.

That is the main reason I would be willing to let Alonso leave for a good fee. It would provide around £15m+ to spend strenghtening areas of the team where we are weaker. For the greater good of the squad.

The difference for me is that selling Alonso off would weaken the team far more. If we can't buy one decent player without selling a major asset then we will have problems in the long term anway and would be as well trying to develop some of our youngsters.

I don't think that taking away the options in the one area where we are as strong as United is in any way a positive move.

[Pablo]

The difference for me is that selling Alonso off would weaken the team far more. If we can't buy one decent player without selling a major asset then we will have problems in the long term anway and would be as well trying to develop some of our youngsters.

I don't think that taking away the options in the one area where we are as strong as United is in any way a positive move.

Im not sure it would weaken us all that much, im really not. Only time would tell I suppose. I agree though if we had sufficient funds to strengthen without selling I would keep him, but he would be on the bench in the Premiership most games for me im afraid. I would play him more in Europe when the pace of the game is a little slower and keeping possession is key.

[dww]

Im not sure it would weaken us all that much, im really not. Only time would tell I suppose. I agree though if we had sufficient funds to strengthen without selling I would keep him, but he would be on the bench in the Premiership most games for me im afraid. I would play him more in Europe when the pace of the game is a little slower and keeping possession is key.

I think we play our best football when he is in the centre of our midfield. We control the game better (obviously this assumes him rediscovering his form). He'd be top of my list for the CM spots to be honest.