Xabi Alonso appreciation thread

[Roboklopp]

(Apart from the obviously.)

Wierd paedo readio 1 DJ according to my mate opposite. Dont listen to radio see. It is wank.

[-V-]

He was the player everyone trusted. Anytime a player in our team was lost and wasn't sure what to do there was a simple answer- Give it to Xabi he will know what to do

Sad to see such a talented, elegant footballer leave but im not one for sentiment in football. Move on and spend our £40m on 2 top class players please

[carheex]

You're right that he wasn't consistent for the best part of 2 years but he's still a world class player. I don't think Madrid are fools to pay £35m for him, more than double his value last season. He's simply a very rare breed of midfielder. Players like him don't grow on trees.

Let's just say that if we got anywhere near 30m for him then we've done very well from the deal. I'm not sure real even need him though - they have 3 other players of a similar ilk (gago, de la red, diarra) who are easily as good, if not better.
I'm surprised we haven't got a better deal by going for a px to be honest.

[Guest]

Let's just say that if we got anywhere near 30m for him then we've done very well from the deal. I'm not sure real even need him though - they have 3 other players of a similar ilk (gago, de la red, diarra) who are easily as good, if not better.
I'm surprised we haven't got a better deal by going for a px to be honest.

I think it's going to be a 'great deal' only if we can sign David Villa, pair him with Torres and put Gerrard back in central midfield. Gerrard is 29 now and has the maturity to go back there and control games, added to that his undoubted ability to score goals from anywhere. That would be a fantastic piece of business. It's not going to happen though.

[Guest]

And Carheex, having £30m in the bank doesn't mean anything. We have to go out there and buy what's best for us, and this option will really improve our team IMO. Replacing Xabi with Aquilani doesn't fill me with great confidence because the guys seems to be injury prone and there hasn't been a long list of Italian players being successful in the premiership before, maybe Di Matteo the only one coming close to that.

[Guest]

Big Jan speaks.

[RPAS]

Lets be realistic about this;

1. Xabi & Rafa's personal relationship was gone to ****e - no amount of professionalism can bring back a broken bond like that & sooner or later it would explode and damage the team.

2. The reported £30m fee is huge; finally with Parry gone we might actually get players worth if they go.

3. Rafa wanted rid of Xabi last Summer; this was on the back of Xabi essentially going through the motions for the previous 2 years.

4. I don't think I'm going out on a limb here when I say that having Macherano beside Xabi made his job a hell of a lot easier and basically made him look a lot better than previously - it's no con-incidence that Xabi's best season in the last 4 came when Mascherano was beside him.

5. This may be slightly critical as he was asked to play deeper than with Spain but his goals ratio is very poor.

6. Xabi wanted to go, he handed in a transfer request.

7. Sooner or later all the players from overseas will want to go back to their homeland especially when families with young children are involved (on this note I would be amazed if we have Mascherano after next Summer). At some stage even Torres will want to go; Riena will want to play for Athletico etc etc

Xabi was exceptional for his first two seasons and his last but he was poor for 2 years; he is by all accounts a top bloke and liked by all BUT he has no relationship with Rafa; he asked to go and we got a huge fee for him. Given this and the above we have made the best of this situation and in my view if we use the some of the cash to buy a steady replacement and more for a world class forward we will be better off.

[dww]

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.

He was great for periods while he was here and he always tried and was respectful to the fans. It's a shame that so many people seem desperate to have some one to attack.

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.

I agree that no one is to blame but I don't really think there has been any indication that Alonso has been a big baby either. He had lost his position as the managers go to player and that is bound to make you feel less secure at a club and an exceptional opportunity came along and he took it. He doesn't to my mind seem to have played any games and has allowed us to pretty much negotiate a high fee with a free hand.

[ufc43]

A Major loss

Alonso was different class. He will be badly missed. If he wasnt ****ed around last season he would still be a Liverpool player. I wish him the best of luck at Real.

Looks like we will be seeing more of Lucas now.

Bye Bye Alonso and thanks for the memories.

[carheex]

Lets be realistic about this;

1. Xabi & Rafa's personal relationship was gone to ****e - no amount of professionalism can bring back a broken bond like that & sooner or later it would explode and damage the team.

2. The reported £30m fee is huge; finally with Parry gone we might actually get players worth if they go.

3. Rafa wanted rid of Xabi last Summer; this was on the back of Xabi essentially going through the motions for the previous 2 years.

4. I don't think I'm going out on a limb here when I say that having Macherano beside Xabi made his job a hell of a lot easier and basically made him look a lot better than previously - it's no con-incidence that Xabi's best season in the last 4 came when Mascherano was beside him.

5. This may be slightly critical as he was asked to play deeper than with Spain but his goals ratio is very poor.

6. Xabi wanted to go, he handed in a transfer request.

7. Sooner or later all the players from overseas will want to go back to their homeland especially when families with young children are involved (on this note I would be amazed if we have Mascherano after next Summer). At some stage even Torres will want to go; Riena will want to play for Athletico etc etc

Xabi was exceptional for his first two seasons and his last but he was poor for 2 years; he is by all accounts a top bloke and liked by all BUT he has no relationship with Rafa; he asked to go and we got a huge fee for him. Given this and the above we have made the best of this situation and in my view if we use the some of the cash to buy a steady replacement and more for a world class forward we will be better off.

Wise words.

[EwarWoo]

7. Sooner or later all the players from overseas will want to go back to their homeland especially when families with young children are involved (on this note I would be amazed if we have Mascherano after next Summer). At some stage even Torres will want to go; Riena will want to play for Athletico etc etc

Torrea? Leave?

Wash your bloody mouth out!

[red g]

Torrea? Leave?

Wash your bloody mouth out!

Torres and Riena have to be lifers

[Roboklopp]

Torres and Riena have to be lifters

[EwarWoo]

Torres and Riena have to be lifers

Not sure about Reina. I think if Rafa ever left he'd follow him.

Torres on the other hand as all the appearances of living his dream right now. He doesn't want money or a Spanish glamour club, he just always dreamt of playing for us.

Can't see Torres leaving until he's won everything he can with us multiple times or when he's close to retirement, and I think he'll then go back to Athletico, he seems the type.

[el matador]

Im really sorry to see him go and we will miss him terribly.

On a personal level, alonso was a favourite of mine with his solid and dependable play combined with sublime talent. He was one of our leaders on and off the pitch. He participated in one of the greatest nights of my life in may 2005 and for that I will never forget him.

Should go down as a great player for liverpool who always gave his all and produced at the highest level of the game.

i hate real madrid with a passion and have done for years but I cant bring myself to hate Xabi.

Its a sad day for liverpool football club.