Xabi Alonso interview

[Craig_H]

Rafa tried to sell Alonso for 16m. There were no takers. Arsenal made a last ditch 14m bid. Barry was rated at 18m'ish.

Never in a million years would Rafa have got Barry + another 6-8m player.

Add to that, Plessis. Damien Plessis played the first half against Sunderland and Xabi was benched. Plessis was so abysmal that we had to get Xabi on for 2nd half.

Try to hazard a guess as to who provided the assist for the only goal in that game.

Not before City were interested, he wasnt.

[Shaggy]

If there ever was a hyperbole this was it

"way below par" and "often ineffective"

Absolutely not. Do you honestly dispute that he was below par? He had some good games but for the most part he was near invisible and/or gave the ball away much more than usual.

Bear in mind I'm a ****ing huge fan and named myself (on here) after him. My favourite player, he was. I started a thread in the midst of his poor form, called something like 'Xabi Alonso - the enigma'. Read that thread...people were tearing their hair out over him. He was way below his best.

[destinydude]

Not before City were interested, he wasnt.

Still remember M'ONsaying the standard paying rate for English international midfielders was 18m as hargreaves and Carrick both costed 18m.

We'd possibly have gotten him for 12m as his contract was almost up but still there was no way Alonso was going for 20m esp when we struggled to find takers for 14m/16m.

[Craig_H]

He was below par, by his own excellent standard.

In the same was that Gerrard hasnt been 'poor' this season, he's just not been upto his usual superhuman level, Alonso was below his usual excellent level - that's still better than most.

[destinydude]

He was below par, by his own excellent standard.

In the same was that Gerrard hasnt been 'poor' this season, he's just not been upto his usual superhuman level, Alonso was below his usual excellent level - that's still better than most.

As I said he was a lot better in the 2nd half of the 07-08 season and he dominated the midfield against Chelsea in the SF home game in the UCL and looked classy as ever

[Craig_H]

Still remember M'ONsaying the standard paying rate for English international midfielders was 18m as hargreaves and Carrick both costed 18m.

We'd possibly have gotten him for 12m as his contract was almost up but still there was no way Alonso was going for 20m esp when we struggled to find takers for 14m/16m.

Well no, but Rafa would've been banking on that and when it wasnt going to happen, rejected the inferior offers and decided not to sell. Then alonso had a superb season and the decision to keep him was cemented - until he decided that he wanted out.

[destinydude]

Absolutely not. Do you honestly dispute that he was below par? He had some good games but for the most part he was near invisible and/or gave the ball away much more than usual.

Bear in mind I'm a ****ing huge fan and named myself (on here) after him. My favourite player, he was. I started a thread in the midst of his poor form, called something like 'Xabi Alonso - the enigma'. Read that thread...people were tearing their hair out over him. He was way below his best.

Aye. I remember how poor he was. Most of long range shots ended up in row Z but still 'two ineffective' seasons is something I don't agree with.

You don't get to a UCL final with one of your CM's having an 'way below par, ineffective season'.

The 07-08 season, he was injured for most part in the first half when he was actually looking v good. Remember teh two goals against the mighty Derby

Sadly he was injured and we tried to get him back a bit too early and his injury worsened. In the 2nd half of the season, he was more than good.

[destinydude]

Well no, but Rafa would've been banking on that and when it wasnt going to happen, rejected the inferior offers and decided not to sell. Then alonso had a superb season and the decision to keep him was cemented - until he decided that he wanted out.

He was going to be out regardless of what happened. If RM comes calling for a Spanish player there's only outcome really.

I really don't 'blame' Rafa per se for his exit but the whole thing was handled so unprofessionally.

[Shaggy]

Like I said he had good games, but was far too erratic for two seasons.

Here's the original thread at the time. I hate reading my own posts back, it's cringeworthy, but there's some great debate in this thread and - although there were people with differing views - you can see how many people were totally dissatisfied with him at the time.

http://www.est1892.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=45864&highlight=enigma

[Craig_H]

They were dissatisfied because they knew his usual level of performance and he was slipping below it. But he still wasnt that bad.

[Craig_H]

Hot Carl

[destinydude]

Like I said he had good games, but was far too erratic for two seasons.

Here's the original thread at the time. I hate reading my own posts back, it's cringeworthy, but there's some great debate in this thread and - although there were people with differing views - you can see how many people were totally dissatisfied with him at the time.

http://www.est1892.co.uk/forums/show...ghlight=enigma

Aye. I don't want to go through the whole thread but as I said I was on a different forum back then and there was a split too with most saying they'd be happy to keep him as he was showing signs of improvement.

[Shaggy]

Have a read. He had too many **** games and plenty wanted to sell him. Including Pablo

[Shaggy]

Hot Carl

[destinydude]

Have a read. He had too many **** games and plenty wanted to sell him. Including Pablo

Well spur of the moment and all that

As I said always been his fan and always had belief in him. I know how 'bad' he was in certain games but on the whole he was okayish esp if you look at how bad Kuyt was in the same 07-08 season.