Selling Xabi Alonso

[carrsim]

Its not about players being good or even great players, its about getting players who fit into the system that Rafa wants to play.

and so what has happened during rafa's reign to make you think that xabi is not absolutely essential to the way rafa wants to play?

was it that he was identified as rafa's key signing when he arrived?
was it the moving of our most explosive talent to right wing?
was it the purchase of a big mobile bodyguard to look after him and do the running for him?
was it the release of a liverpool legend who wouldn't get games any more?

you may or may not agree with some of those decisions by rafa but its clear that in the managers mind xabi leaving will not be on the agenda- unless xabi himself decides he wants to go back to spain at some point.

i personally think that we pass the ball better when he is in the team on thew whole. he hasn't been great so far this season for whatever reasons but he is a great player and to be honest we don't have too many of them, so all this talk- even hypothetical- is at best absolute bollox frankly

[Craig_H]

Why is it bollox? It's people's opinions, does the fact that they dont concur with your own make them bollox?

Or is it because they dont apparently concur with Rafa's? Because plenty didnt want Pennant, and dont want him playing for us now. Yet Rafa still bought him and plays him. So are those who dont rate Pennant also talking bollox?

[AFII]

Agree Bob.

I think people misunderstand and think i want Alonso sold, or that i dont rate him. Neither is true.

What i want however, is for us to field the best TEAM.

Gerrard needs to play central for me, and Sissoko is fast becoming our 2nd most important player, after Stevie. Both of them are crucial.

For Alonso to also feature in the first team, it means a change of system and i'm not sure if Rafa's likely to do that. The best solution would be to find a system that combines the three of them, but how likely that is, i'm not too sure.

I think that Rafa will play 4-5-1 after he has signed a good enough right winger and when Kewell is fit again.

-----------------Alonso----Sissoko
Alves?------------------Gerrard-----------Kewell
-----------------------Kuyt

Alonso, Sissoko and Gerrard would play as central midfielders.

[Craig_H]

I think that Rafa will play 4-5-1 after he has signed a good enough right winger and when Kewell is fit again.

-----------------Alonso----Sissoko
Alves?------------------Gerrard-----------Kewell
-----------------------Kuyt

Alonso, Sissoko and Gerrard would play as central midfielders.

With good wingers, that system could be lethal. Gerrard free to bomb forward, knowing there's protection behind him. As you've rightly stated, it's crucial that quality wingers are brought in, as without them, the system would fail.

[livvy145]

I think that Rafa will play 4-5-1 after he has signed a good enough right winger and when Kewell is fit again.

-----------------Alonso----Sissoko
Alves?------------------Gerrard-----------Kewell
-----------------------Kuyt

Alonso, Sissoko and Gerrard would play as central midfielders.

I reckon with only one year left on his contract (come Summer), Kewell will be sold. I also don't believe we will sign Alves.

[AFII]

If Rafa gets the money to sign Alves then he will do that.

Alves want to join us if he leaves Sevilla and he will leave Sevilla if they miss out on the CL.

He turned down Barcelona and Real last summer because he wanted a move to us. When we backed out of any deal then Real could make their offer of £5m plus Cicinho which was accepted but didn't go through because Cicinho didn't want a move to Sevilla.

[livvy145]

If Rafa gets the money to sign Alves then he will do that.

Alves want to join us if he leaves Sevilla and he will leave Sevilla if they miss out on the CL.

He turned down Barcelona and Real last summer because he wanted a move to us. When we backed out of any deal then Real could make their offer of £5m plus Cicinho which was accepted but didn't go through because Cicinho didn't want a move to Sevilla.

You seem to forget that the majority of the money that was set aside for Alves was paid out on Pennant. Where are we going to get the better part of £10-15M for a right sided player when in most people's opinion, we need a defensive midfielder and cover for right back?

[AFII]

From a takeover.

[livvy145]

From a takeover.

Of course, silly me.

[Fiddy]

I'd sell him for 20 million and buy Cahill for 15 million leaving us with 5 million to spend on Matthew Upson

[AFII]

From a takeover.

Of course, silly me.

It looks like a takeover will happen so of course it's silly me.

Everyone knows that I'm the most silly member here.

[livvy145]

It looks like a takeover will happen so of course it's silly me.

That's what I said.

[Fiddy]

That's what I said.

Didn't you actually say 'silly me' as in 'silly Livvy'?

Forgive the Clove, he's very sensitive

[tomasjj]

I suspect Sissoko and Gerrard in a 442 will leave the defense too exposed in the middle.
I don't want us to sell any of them, as they are all class and all three offer us something different in terms of midfield quality.

[Craig_H]

I suspect Sissoko and Gerrard in a 442 will leave the defense too exposed in the middle.
I don't want us to sell any of them, as they are all class and all three offer us something different in terms of midfield quality.

So you'd drop one of them then?