Xabi Alonso interview

[Mattshark]

Exactly what opportunity did Rafa have to recover from Aquilani exactly? In fact, how much of a chance was Aquilani given!

[Daniel 7]

Aquilani was a ridiculous situation. I remember reading we went in for him because we had credit notes from the sale of Riise, and we were only dealing with clubs we had credit notes with, hence Glen Johnson from Portsmouth (Peter Crouch credit notes). He was the nearest to a replacement we could get given that situation. We were trying to replace a totem of the team with no means financially to do it.

Purslow ****ed LFC over a lot more than Rafa's spat with Alonso (when nobody would touch him @ £15m remember).

Aquilani had no real chance. Again, Purslow playing football manager and deciding to ship him out on loan before he had a chance to establish himself put paid to him living up to being Alonso's replacement.

[Vermilion]

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[Craig_H]

Just watching this and seeing the team photo from just before one of the CL games in Alonso's last season...that was one hell of a side...

Pepe
Arbeloa
Aurelio
Carra
Agger
Kuyt
Riera
Mascherano
Alonso
Gerrard
Torres

In all honesty, and back at that moment in time - there was not a weak link anywhere in that team.

Formidable.

[Red_Polo]

Plenty of players there you'd have to say we could do better than, but the key is the spine of the team was ****ing rock solid. That's what we need to get back to.

[Kenneth]

As now, we were flakey at left mid. How many tries have we had at that position in the last decade?

[Craig_H]

Says he'll raise his son as a Liverpool fan

Plenty of players there you'd have to say we could do better than, but the key is the spine of the team was ****ing rock solid. That's what we need to get back to.

Could always do better, for sure. But as we know, no team has world class players everywhere. On balance though, and as a team unit, that was a formidable outfit IMO. Strong everywhere

[Kenneth]

Outfit

[Craig_H]

What are you laughing at, you weirdo?

The term 'outfit' is commonly used in reference to a football team. Bored on a sunday night, are you?

Cos i am

[Kenneth]

Very.

[Red_Polo]

We were a top, top team

[Craig_H]

I had a suspicion that someone would come wading in with that one

[Kenneth]

A top top outfit of course.

[Craig_H]

If you're that bored, switch on BB2 - last 40 mins of The Damned United, followed by the Clough documentary

[Kenneth]

I'm watching American Dad.