Super-Xabi....

[Kev_81]

Always knew Parry was made for the director of football role Well pleased he stayed, he has been quality his season.

Barry is still decent though and would be a good squad man, We should go back in for him in Jan just to piss O'Neil off

[lfc1394]

Can I just get one 'fact' straight, it's that Xabi has been crap for 2 seasons.

Well he wasn't at his best the season before last fair enough, but Xabi at 70% is still 70% better then 80% of the CM's out there, and better then the other 20% 80% of the %

Any way last season he was injured for most of it, was awesome against arsenal when he first came back and then got injured again, and IMO why we drew that game. When he did finally return he was showing glimpses of getting back to his best.

So if anyone is going to say he was crap, it was for one season, not 2 thanks.

[Kenneth]

Fair do's but that is the going rate.

I don't think so. 18 for Bary is well above the going rate, hence nobody paid it.

[barnes10]

we wanted to sell xabi, buy barry and make a profit. that profit i believe was to pay even more than we did for riera.

this wasnt possible but it seems somehow we managed to get riera for about half what their president quoted in may.

i think we were offering about 28 mill for both barry and riera. villa were 3 mill over at 18 mill which ruled out the move for both.

we continued the negotiations with villa and espanyol over the summer but in the end our board vetoed barry at 18mill. meanwhile riera is digging his heels in, and we say to espanyol that without xabi going, we can only pay 8-9mill. they actually take it rather than keep an unhappy player on their books. riera seems to be a great bit of brinkmanship tbh.

xabi may be playing for a move, he may simply be benefitting from the fact that we now stretch teams a hell of a lot more than we used to (thanks to riera). he hasnt got any faster, he just has more time and space. those that realise that and try to get onto him quickly have been clumsy and got sent off. its clear teams mark him out as the key player to chase down rapidly and stop at all costs.

[Woobus]

was awesome against arsenal when he first came back and then got injured again, and IMO why we drew that game. When he did finally return he was showing glimpses of getting back to his best.

He was amazing that game even when not fully fit. Arsenal didnt have a shot on target until he was taken off, then bang they draw level. I doubt they would have scored if Xabi had of played the full 90 minutes.

[lfc1394]

He was amazing that game even when not fully fit. Arsenal didnt have a shot on target until he was taken off, then bang they draw level. I doubt they would have scored if Xabi had of played the full 90 minutes.

when people say he was crap last year it confuses the hell out of me

If Torres was to have one poor season would we want rid or Gerrard?

[JPK]

Barry was being bought to fill 3positions and Rafa said that over and over in his rants at the time. Centre mid, left wing and left back. We would not be top of the table now if we had him and no Xabi and Riera.
Put good technical players around Alonso, who want the ball and can retain possesion and you will see the best of him and that is what we are seeing now.
Keane and Riera always show for the ball and dont just give it straight back to the player it came from and that takes pressure off the likes of Xabi.

[Woobus]

Barry was being bought to fill 3positions and Rafa said that over and over in his rants at the time.

No he didnt, he said the person could play in 3 different positions. If he didnt plan on buying both Riera and Barry why did he put bids in for both of them round the same time?
With that reckoning he wouldnt have bought Dossena either as by your thinking Barry was going to play there as well. Barry is good but I doubt he could cover all 3 positions and we all know Rafa loves to have a big squad with lots of competition.

[Sarb]

****in hell, kicked off here big time and for once I wasn't involved.

For the record, there was never going to be a straight swap in terms of values for Barry and Xabi. And even when this was clear Rafa still pursued Barry at a price of £18m and there were rumours of a falling out because the Board wouldn't back his bid for Barry at £18m. Parry came out with the quotes as well regarding Barry not being worth £18m. Now he pursued Barry at that price, he wouldn't have bought Reira IMO. He would have been about £6m - £8m down on that deal based on what Xabi was going to be sold for, and there wouldn't have been a signing of both Barry and Reira. Reira was a fall back option

Fredo, tbh you were slating Xabi constantly on various threads in the summer when Rafa was after Barry. You just follow everything he does and that's it.

I was one of the ones slating Rafa in the Summer and for wanting that deal and I'll happily admit that. I'll also admit that I want him sacked if he doesn't win the title or get damn close this season. Also, I'll apologise if he wins us no. 19 this season and admit I was wrong.

But Fredo, you just try and justify yourself and say you were right with some right ridiculous statements and then come out with sarcastic replies to people like Rage. Even after the start of the season you were saying Alonso would get found out against most other teams in the Prem. Well he's just bossed the Chavs and quite a few other teams lately so admit you were wrong. Barry is nowhere near the class of an on-form Alonso. Any man worth his salt can see that. His poor season? Don't to a broken foot twice....forgive the guy for being in and out of form that season.

As far as I am aware no one wanted Rafa sacked this summer or after 5 games. The doubters said if he didn't mount a serious challenge this time he should go.

[Sarb]

No he didnt, he said the person could play in 3 different positions. If he didnt plan on buying both Riera and Barry why did he put bids in for both of them round the same time?
With that reckoning he wouldnt have bought Dossena either as by your thinking Barry was going to play there as well. Barry is good but I doubt he could cover all 3 positions and we all know Rafa loves to have a big squad with lots of competition.

Barry would have played in Reira's position IMO

[Woobus]

Barry would have played in Reira's position IMO

Who was going to play instead of Xabi then?

[Sarb]

Who was going to play instead of Xabi then?

Gerrard

[Neil Young]

Has anyone changed their mind yet?

[Sarb]

Has anyone changed their mind yet?

About?

[dww]

Has anyone changed their mind yet?

Sort of. I'm now pleased that Alonso has stayed in both heart and mind. At the start of the season I had to say I feared the worst after his form last year and him having such an unsettling summer.