Athletico Madrid to bid for Xabi?

[El Jefecito]

I'd say we're in a position now where come transfer market its only the odd player we need to go for and if he costs a lot maybe we can go for it.

That's kinda what I'm hoping for.

[Spionkop69]

No quotes...

Was about to say the same thing. They (the writer) are pissing in the wind.

[Red Chilli]

I hear what kopdan is saying about midfielders weighing in with goals but I think there is definitely space for an Alonso in the team. He's such a great passer but is also competitive and tackles back. It is possible to be successful with a Gerrard/Alonso partnership, look at McMahon and Molby. A similar style of players but Gerrard is better than McMahon and Alonso has more attributes than Molby.
The key is the players who they are playing with, we need attacking wingers who are a threat, we're too easy to play against at the moment. We also need better strikers but I have high hopes for Kuyt.
I wouldn't sell Alonso, I'd change the way we play to accomodate Gerrard and Alonso.

[Diego]

if our forwards were scoring goals and our wingers delivering then we'd have no problem with xabi only scoring the odd goal, i think xabi is a vital part in out team for the future, has a lot of heart, doesn't give up and doesn't **** around, defensively he's great, reads the the game better than most and when we have a propper squad imagine how his passes will do us wonders...

[friedk]

Xabi is one of the most important members of our squad imo; and recently he has looked great; to sell him would be a huge mistake

[redlancer]

if our forwards were scoring goals and our wingers delivering then we'd have no problem with xabi only scoring the odd goal, i think xabi is a vital part in out team for the future, has a lot of heart, doesn't give up and doesn't **** around, defensively he's great, reads the the game better than most and when we have a propper squad imagine how his passes will do us wonders...

its like saying get rid of Carra 1 goal every blue moon.

Alonso gets a lot of shots in from outside the box, we can't have everyone running into it.
Then again the odd wide player or striker would be a start

[The_weatherman]

He's spent £80m.

If we hadnt spent things like £14m on Cisse (not rafa's signing, granted), £14m on Crouch and Pennant, £6m on Bellamy, £11m on Alonso, £6m on Morientes and £12m on Reina & Sissoko then i'd agree we havent had cash to spent. That alone is £63m.

I'm not saying they're all duds, but clearly we have had cash to spend.

No way has Rafa spent 80m net. He has always had to sell to buy, so he would have to sell like four players to buy one superstar, not smart IMO. Cisse should be left out of this also. I have to correct me though, he has bought for 78m and sold for 36m, which leaves him with roughly 15m each summer net spending. Given the rebuilding job he faced I think he´s done superb.

[Tee]

The frustrating thing with Alonso is that when he does get around the box (opposition) he can be lethal. He needs to do it more.

It would be interesting to see how much ground the midfielders cover in each game - anyone?

[ronan]

personally i think the problem is still the same one as we had last yr
we have no decent wingers at the club
i.e.
ones who will a. get by players
b.
whip in decent crosses
and c.
chip in with their fair share of goals

nothing wrong with alonso ,half of europe would bite our hands for him
and and its a big and,hes still only just gone 25, hes about to start coming into his prime

[Diego]

i recon he doesn't cover that much ground tbh, he likes the view from the midfield, and can read the game from there, crouch, sissoko and gerrard cover the most ground in our team...

[AFII]

I would sell Momo before I even thought of selling Alonso.

Alonso is our BEST tackler and ball winner.

[fatistuta]

I'm not saying sell him just yet. BUT we do need to score goals from elsewhere in my opinion as Xabi and Momo are not really that much of a threat. What we need is 2 wingers scoring goals.

People always rave about Henry being everything at Arsenal, but they aint the same without goal threat of Ljunberg and Pires.
ManUre also with Ronaldo and Giggs.

We do need scoring wingers.

But I'd never sell Alonso.

[Mumsafan]

According to today's gossip column on the BBC today - Athletico Madrid are preparing a £14 swoop for Liverpool's Xabi Alonso.

If a bid was placed I'm sure Rafa wouldn't allow him to go.

They can feck off

[Howard_lfc]

I would sell Momo before I even thought of selling Alonso.

Alonso is our BEST tackler and ball winner.

You're confusing Xabi and Momo here I think.
Xabi is good - but not as effective as Momo.
Just watch when the opposition midfield has the ball - have a look to see who's the first man out to meet them - and force them to play sideways instead of forward. Momo is the ball winner - xabi is the ball player IMO and in Rafa's opinion as well.

[Doc_Piptorious]

We need a Scholes type of a midfielder. One who has a short intelligent game. Thing is Xabi is capable of doing that but he's less mobile and doesn't possess Scholes goalscoring ability.

The same Scholes who has scored the same amount of goals this season as Xabi?