The New Manager Thread

[Lecter]

Guys, with the outstanding form he showed in his last season he was always going to attract interest. Fate had it that the 'Madrid Project' gathered pace and he quickly became a key target as he ticked all the right boxes.

Xabi would have found it impossible to turn them down because he knows he would never have had another opportunity like that.

Rafa, albeit inadvertently, sealed this fate and for Xabi I am sure it was an even sweeter way to prove Rafa's judgement wrong.

Xabi's career has been near perfectly managed in terms of his age and the clubs he has played for. He will probably get at least another good 2 seasons at Madrid by which time he will be 31 or so, and then he can make one final career move, or even stay at Madrid.

Sure Xabi loves Liverpool, the city and the club, but he knows he made the right move.

Agreed

I'll say again his missus and kid had moved back to Spain so it was always going to be a big draw for him irrespective of what happened regarding Gareth Barry

[carheex]

Your probably correct, but it's not all about 'the now', is it ?

It's more about "now" than the past.

[Taxi]

I love the way that the people who will not blame rafa for alonso leaving are arguing with pure speculation and disregarding the actual words of the man himself.

Did alonso ever say that he could not turn down a move to rm? No

Has he ever said that he'd already decided that he was going back to spain? No

Has he said that rafa's pursuit of barry made him consider his position at the club? Yes

No which argument actually has facts?

[Neil Young]

I love the way that the people who will not blame rafa for alonso leaving are arguing with pure speculation and disregarding the actual words of the man himself.

Did alonso ever say that he could not turn down a move to rm? No

Has he ever said that he'd already decided that he was going back to spain? No

Has he said that rafa's pursuit of barry made him consider his position at the club? Yes

No which argument actually has facts?

Neither.

[Fierce]

Neither.

I smell pedantry.......

[Neil Young]

Not really. I don't think Alonso's version of events is some kind of objective fact. My work involves weighing up people's opinions of why they think they do things. It's amazing how often it quite obviously doesn't add up, even though I don't doubt their sincerity when they tell me their viewpoint.

[Kenneth]

If I was Xabi, i would use the 'Barry thing' as an explanation of my move even if I had moved for money and glory. Worked on some people

[The Birdman]

Agreed

I'll say again his missus and kid had moved back to Spain so it was always going to be a big draw for him irrespective of what happened regarding Gareth Barry

Add in the fact he was bitching about the tax rate and the £ to euro exchange rate.

[JohnDoe]

Xabi would have left even if Rafa never tried to sell him, it ended up being convenient for him.

[Kenneth]

Xabi would have left even if Rafa never tried to sell him, it ended up being convenient for him.

FACT

[saj]

Xabi would have left even if Rafa never tried to sell him, it ended up being convenient for him.

Ha ha, no offence mate but that truly is a laughable post. How can you say that - can you read his mind? Watch the video I posted - it's as clear as day why he left. Those who still think he would have left even if the saga with Basrry had not occured are deluded. In the video he says he loves the city, the fans, the club and that his mind was made up that he wanted to leave when the club (or Rafa) tried to sell him. Rafa can and has done wrong - he will continue to do so. But I think his biggest mistake without a doubt was trying and then eventually offloading Alonso. What does Gareth Barry have over Alonso? He's about as good as an extremely off form Alonso.

High five Rafa - can't wait until you're gone.

[Craig_H]

Life is about taking gambles, sometimes they work, sometimes they won't. Aquilani needed more time but I don't think the fact that he isn't playing has broken our season.

The biggest irony of that comment, is that it goes against most of what our manager gets us to do ON the field.

[JohnDoe]

Ha ha, no offence mate but that truly is a laughable post. How can you say that - can you read his mind? Watch the video I posted - it's as clear as day why he left. Those who still think he would have left even if the saga with Basrry had not occured are deluded. In the video he says he loves the city, the fans, the club and that his mind was made up that he wanted to leave when the club (or Rafa) tried to sell him. Rafa can and has done wrong - he will continue to do so. But I think his biggest mistake without a doubt was trying and then eventually offloading Alonso. What does Gareth Barry have over Alonso? He's about as good as an extremely off form Alonso.

High five Rafa - can't wait until you're gone.

I'm not saying Rafa didn't make a mistake when he tried to sell him but you're underestimating the lure of Real Madrid for someone like Xabi. Back in his home country, playing for one of the two top clubs, being on astronomical wages (much higher than he was on here, with tax benefits as well), getting a last big contract (which he wouldn't have gotten had he stayed here) and living in a city just a bit more attractive than Liverpool, no disrespect.

He would have left either way.

[Woobus]

The fact is, Rafa ****ed up. He bought a crock who by the way, still feels pain in his ankle everyday. Again, Aquilani said this in an interview on Football focus.

Are you really trying to use an interview that happened over a month ago to claim he still has pain in his ankle everyday? Lol come on injuries improve over time, could still well be causing him pain but using an old interview proves nothing.

[Darkon]

Life is about taking gambles, sometimes they work, sometimes they won't. Aquilani needed more time but I don't think the fact that he isn't playing has broken our season.

All the major religions ARE wrong then!