Xabi Alonso appreciation thread

[Guest]

Of course we think that, we're Liverpool fans, but we have to accept the reality that not all players do.

Some do, i.e. Torres, but that's because he's also a fan himself as well as a player. But they're the exception.

For most of them it's just a great club to play at.

We're the greatest club, not financially but in terms of our whole history and especially because of our supporters. There's no other place like Anfield, not even the Bernabeu or the Camp Nou. This is a fact.

In a sense, as a club, we've over achieved throughout the years because financially we're not the richest but still, we've competed and beaten the richer clubs. Liverpool is not a posh place to live, in most places, and I don't mean that in a bad way, but for a continental player to come over here (like Torres) and love it here, speaks for itself. Not many of them want to leave the club.

Maybe Xabi felt betrayed as regards to what happened last year, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, maybe his relationship with Rafa was beyond a point of repair. Money is probably another reason, but let's not go into that.

He's Spanish anyway, so him going back to his country can be thought as natural.

[DannyMan2006]

Xabi Alonso is a professional footballer who happens to be Spanish.

He's leaving for a top Spanish club who will be paying him loads of money. I think everyone can see why he left. To expect total loyalty from a player who is neither a local lad or a Liverpool fan would be nothing short of foolish.

It's a shame to lose a top class player when we were so close to number 19, but that's life. We move on and hopefully we will be improved with the £30m transfer fee.

But if a player wants out, he can **** off as far as I'm concerned. If a club meets our valuation then that player should be sold.

[EwarWoo]

Xabi Alonso is a professional footballer who happens to be Spanish.

He's leaving for a top Spanish club who will be paying him loads of money. I think everyone can see why he left. To expect total loyalty from a player who is neither a local lad or a Liverpool fan would be nothing short of foolish.

It's a shame to lose a top class player when we were so close to number 19, but that's life. We move on and hopefully we will be improved with the £30m transfer fee.

Good post

But if a player wants out, he can **** off as far as I'm concerned. If a club meets our valuation then that player should be sold.

Went downhill fast

[DannyMan2006]

Went downhill fast

You'd rather we kept a player against his wishes?

Why would anyone want a player at LFC who doesn't want to be here?

As I have alreay said, it's a shame it came down to this situation. But there's no point crying over spilt milk. He demanded to leave the club to play for Real Madrid and he's been given his wish. Do you want me to thank him for it?

He had some great times and I appreciate what he did. I will applaud if he comes back to Anfield and I'm lucky enough to have a ticket. But that's it.

As I said, he can **** off as far as I'm concerned. By tomorrow he will no longer be a Liverpool player and I will have no reason anymore to support him. Had he stayed I would have kept my council and supported him just as much as I do Carra. But he's gone.

[EwarWoo]

I agree with most of what you're saying I just find the phrasing "he can **** off" disprespectful of the time he's put in with us.

[Icon]

Wonder if he'll be at Newcastle in 2 years...

[shelly]

Wonder if he'll be at Newcastle in 2 years...

Spot the similarities:
Both are players who played for Liverpool and were worshipped here. Both are/were world class and we were loath to lose both..
Both were players reaching their prime when they left.
Both have fathers as footballers - who played for a rival club that they themselves are a part of - (real vs. barca & liverpool vs. everton)
Both are "minority nationals" who chose a bigger "country" to play for..
Both had transfer sagas that dragged on forever and ever



BUT: It is in the differences that matter
One screwed us and was happy to leave for a slashed fee to join the "best"club in the world - the other stayed on the sidelines and let Rafa get on with getting the best fee for us

One was professional and gave his best shot everytime he got on the pitch, while the other looked like he couldn't be arsed for the last 6 months here

One is Spanish and wants to go home (albeit to Madrid for a Basque boy is a tad odd) whilst the other left home only to want back whining after a year.

One remained honest and did not give false reassurances to the fans - the other allegedly spent half his time whoring himself around Europe while reassuring fans contract talks were going well and gave the impression he would stay..

One is a champions league winner the other, who went away to win things, is not...

Gutted Xabi is leaving, questioning why he is going to Madrid of all the Spanish clubs... but usually when people leave they fall straight off my radar but that mere fact that I am even wondering the latter... ah well..I guess I can understand why he wants to go home.

Xabi.. Thank you for the fine memories - for the away leg against Juve, for the penalty in Istanbul, for those crazy goals from behind the halfway line..

Oh, and good luck: I think you need it. I hope you do well personally, and for Spain, and I hope your career does not plummet in the comical whirlpool that is Madrid. but I hope Madrid fails badly because I dislike many things they stand for.

[Rafael Benítez Maudes]

Great post. Xabi_is

Change it to defour_is

As that is who we should buy.
He'll prove 2 be as good as xabi 1 day,if rafa does the right thing and buys him

[Rafael Benítez Maudes]

Great post. Xabi_is

Change it to defour_is

As that is who we should buy.
He'll prove 2 be as good as xabi 1 day,if rafa does the right thing and buys him

[pondus]

Great post. Xabi_is

Change it to defour_is

As that is who we should buy.
He'll prove 2 be as good as xabi 1 day,if rafa does the right thing and buys him

[pondus]

Great post. Xabi_is

Change it to defour_is

As that is who we should buy.
He'll prove 2 be as good as xabi 1 day,if rafa does the right thing and buys him

[Rich]

Xabi has always come across as bright and articulate, so he knows exactly what he's in for at Real Madrid, to suggest otherwise is crazy.

Plus he's good enough to really help that team gel, so this talk of him ending up at Villareal in 12 months time is pathetically bitter.

We've had 5 years from him, we've sold him for something like 3 times what he cost us, so for that reason its a good deal all round.

We need to move on, thank Xabi for the service, and get in top class replacements to fill the void.

[Shaggy]

It's more Rafa's fault than Barry's.

I don’t really blame anyone, although I think Xabi has been a big baby about it.

He’d played poorly for two seasons and the manager looked to offload him and bring in someone else. Big deal. Why was Xabi surprised? Surely he knows how it works? He’d been pants for too long. Rafa was doing his job and made a decision – rightly or wrongly. Xabi needs to grow a pair, although it’s too late now anyway.

[Norbs]

Dear Xabi,

Close the ****ing door on your way out son. I couldn't care less that you've left, sorry it had to come to this. If you don't think that playing for Liverpool is the greatest honour you could recieve then that's your loss fella.

I hope you fail in Madrid because maybe then you will realise what you have left behind, a support who backed you fully on the pitch, no matter how well you played and a support who ended up affording you the sort of worship that only home grown players and legends of the club get.

Be happy being a spare part in the Real Madrid shirt selling scheme.

FWIW I will give you a cheer should you ever return and thank you for the sterling service you gave to the club. I thank you for the five years you gave. And I see the reasons you left and bear no ill feeling towards you.

But you no longer mean anything to me.

Adios

Nothing he achieves at Madrid could possibly come close to how he'd feel if we win the league this season. Sadly though, his departure makes winning it a little more difficult. I hope our owners appreciate that and sign 2/3 top quality players this week

[redlancer]

I don’t really blame anyone, although I think Xabi has been a big baby about it.

He’d played poorly for two seasons and the manager looked to offload him and bring in someone else. Big deal. Why was Xabi surprised? Surely he knows how it works? He’d been pants for too long. Rafa was doing his job and made a decision – rightly or wrongly. Xabi needs to grow a pair, although it’s too late now anyway.

It also looked liked Rafa wanted Barry in again this year.

It does look like the relationship between the 2 has broken down. Might be due to Alonso putting his family 1st that time.

DO you have to get on with your manager - no
But if you had got on very well and Alonso was the one Rafa spoke to during the game, once that goes its going to be difficult.

5 great years service and a player I always enjoyed watching live as on or off the ball you could see the class player he is.

I wish him well (unless against us) and can't understand anyone else not doing so.