Are we mugs?

[rudedog]

After the way he was treated last year I can understand his decision. I really didn't like his comments about his finances though, especially in this climate.

Why though? Would you be happy if the tax man took an extra 30% from your wages? I certainly wouldn't and don't see why footballers should be any different.

[FatTony]

Why though? Would you be happy if the tax man took an extra 30% from your wages? I certainly wouldn't and don't see why footballers should be any different.

Are you serious?

30% of my wages mean I can't pay the bills and would lose my house, its not even comparable.

[Matt]

Why though? Would you be happy if the tax man took an extra 30% from your wages? I certainly wouldn't and don't see why footballers should be any different.

Are you serious?

30% of my wages mean I can't pay the bills and would lose my house, its not even comparable.

I don't think anyone would be happy getting 30% lobbed off their wages but at the same time I hope Alonso wasn't expecting the average fan to be too sympathetic.

A footballer complaining about money is never going to go down well with, or seem like a legitimate excuse to any fan.

[rudedog]

Are you serious?

30% of my wages mean I can't pay the bills and would lose my house, its not even comparable.

Of course its comparable - in this country you can live on benefit and still lead a life of relative luxury.

[Guest]

Then Mascherano simply has to tell his agent to shut his gob off or tell him to **** himself if stories like that are not attributed to him.

[tbounce]

Many think he's beyond reproach but, when Gerrard was out drinking after the Newcastle game, and behaving in a manner befitting a thug, did he think he may be about to ruin our greatest chance of winning the league in 20 years? Shouldn't he abstain from booze during the season and concentrate WHOLLY on playing football or are Liverpool just his employer?

They're all as bad as each other, in different ways but then you reap what you sow. Blame high wages, blame agents and blame Bosman

I agree with you 100% mate. If this had happened with any other player they would have been hung out tro dry, but because it is Gerrard it is somehow ok. Inevitably people will say "ph he's 28, is only doing what every 28 year old does and should be given free reign. Sorry, but very few 28 year olds "earn" £100,000 + per week and, if, as a professional athlete you do, you should forfeit som,e of the things normal 28 year olds do - such as going out drinking on a Sunday night.

Another argument is that our next game he was due to play was only against Preston, and that was 5 days later, but again the argument doesnt wash for me.

To Tony. Great post and really sorry to hear about your circumstances. I am in an almost identical situation. A mate of mine was too but recently got sorted out. Hopefully you and I will too. Good luck mate.

[cumbriankop]

if i move to dubai to do my job and get really well paid but have the chance to come home as it happens for more cash - despite clients liking me - i'm not a prick to go back to my home country for more money. i moved for my career, and despite liking where i am, the chance (with a new family) to move home is important. especially if my wife, the mother of my children is unhappy where i work currently.

not greedy, just human

[qabiri]

If its not greedy and just human then why not declare they want to go?
Why all the subterfuge,why all the open deceit "Its not up to me" scenario when clearly it is.
I think that's what fans find hard to take,why try to get loyalty payments in your contract when its obvious you loyalty lies elsewhere?

[tbounce]

A couple of further points having now read the thread in full. Alonso is complaining about 30% due to currency fluctuations. Whenever he signed his latest deal the Euro was much weaker against the pound than it now is, and so from his perspective (I assume being Spanish in his mind he converts everything to Euros the way we, when on holiday, convert prices from the locval currency into GBP to allow us to understand pricing) he has experienced a big drop in salary. That is not the tax man's fault. In as far as anyone can be blamed responsibility for that lies at the door of Brown, Darling and the Monetary Policy Committee.

I very much fall into the camp whicvh would wish Xabi good luck. I would love him to stay, but the nature of signiong foreign players is that they will at some stage return home. In any event they will never have the loyalty of a locally produced player. In my opinion Rafa treated Xabi very badly, firstly by refusing to let Xabi delay his departure to join up the squad for the Inter second leg despite his girlfriend was due to give birth that day to their first child. If that was your boss how would you feel? Secondly by hawking him around Europe last season and desperately trying to get rid of him to get Barry in ( a player not fit to lace Alonso's boots by the way). After all that Xabi could have been forgiven for letting his head drop but instead he stays and gives us the season of his life.

Thirdly having given the season of his life Raf still tries to get Barry in (who else could that be for but Alonso? Certainly not Mascherano, Lucas or Aurelio). After all of that, beinmg offered a return home to the biggest club in the world after 5 years loyal service to us, it is not unexpected that he will avail of the opportunity. He owes us nothing.

Mascherano on the other hand is a disgrace. We rescued him from West Ham's reserves where Hayden Mullins was getting on ahead of him and made him the best player in his position in the world, and his country's captain. His agent would not be making these noises and comments without his client's consent. If, somehow that happened then his client would sternly rebuke him and it wouldnt happen again. the fact it eeps happening suggests that the sentiments are from Mascherano but he doesnt have the balls to say it publicly.

Rant over!

[qabiri]

According to your logic then Rafa should of left when Parry and Gillette talked to Klinsman about replacing him.

[tbounce]

According to your logic then Rafa should of left when Parry and Gillette talked to Klinsman about replacing him.

No actually its not, and if you read the thread that's obvious. My logic is that had Rafa left at that point we couldnt have blamed him for doing so.

[EwarWoo]

If its not greedy and just human then why not declare they want to go?

It's called not burning your bridges. Kind of like when you go for a job interview telling your boss you have to go to the dentist.

Why all the subterfuge,why all the open deceit "Its not up to me" scenario when clearly it is.

Clearly it's not, they don't set their own price or if clubs are willing to meet that.

[qabiri]

Look i personally have no problem with them if they are not committed to us and want to leave,what i take issue with is the conniving way both are trying to do it.
The last person who did this is no playing for the scum and deserves everything he gets.
Be honest and man up and say what you want.

Incidentally Real themselves have said there are not many players on earth that they can go for who can do what Alonso does then how in all honesty can they expect to get a player like that on the cheap when its their fault they blew their wad on a snake like Ronaldo?
If we let this happen again it makes us look like we do not know what we are doing.

[tbounce]

Look i personally have no problem with them if they are not committed to us and want to leave,what i take issue with is the conniving way both are trying to do it.
The last person who did this is no playing for the scum and deserves everything he gets.
Be honest and man up and say what you want.

Incidentally Real themselves have said there are not many players on earth that they can go for who can do what Alonso does then how in all honesty can they expect to get a player like that on the cheap when its their fault they blew their wad on a snake like Ronaldo?
If we let this happen again it makes us look like we do not know what we are doing.

[ronanm]

A couple of further points having now read the thread in full. Alonso is complaining about 30% due to currency fluctuations. Whenever he signed his latest deal the Euro was much weaker against the pound than it now is, and so from his perspective (I assume being Spanish in his mind he converts everything to Euros the way we, when on holiday, convert prices from the locval currency into GBP to allow us to understand pricing) he has experienced a big drop in salary. That is not the tax man's fault. In as far as anyone can be blamed responsibility for that lies at the door of Brown, Darling and the Monetary Policy Committee.


Rant over!

Yes, I was a bit surprised when he highlighted that. Obviously currency movements are a concern, but given the cash these guys are on you begin to wonder how f*cking removed from reality they all are. Also, in Spain, the government (lobbied by Real Madrid) recently introduced tax law which means "top" players are skilled artisans or something, meaning they are subject to an incredibly low tax rate. Being unemployed, I look forward to the day when players wages are reduced to some sort of normality. Everyone else is expected to take pay drops etc in this economic climate but, if anything, players are becoming even more greedy.