Xabi Alonso

[saj]

Does anyone genuinely think he was "****e"? He was definitely not at his best and definitely underperformed by his own very high standards (mitigated by the bad broken ankle from Lampard)....I don't think anyone would disagree with that? Not "****e" obviously.

I can't remember the exact words people used but I can certainly recall people saying they wouldn't be too arsed if he left prior to his final season and how he was poor in his middle few seasons. I never saw it but maybe I was blinkered? I thought he was very consistent. I thought he was immense throughout his time here but in his final season, he really took his football to another level.

[Sarb]

I can't remember the exact words people used but I can certainly recall people saying they wouldn't be too arsed if he left prior to his final season and how he was poor in his middle few seasons. I never saw it but maybe I was blinkered? I thought he was very consistent. I thought he was immense throughout his time here but in his final season, he really took his football to another level.

Not wanting to turn this into a Rafa debate, but I think some of the re-writing of history on Xabi is related to the love for Rafa. I think if any other manager had sold him, they would be getting absolute pelters for it.

[dww]

I just think overall it was more complicated than was made out.

Alonso had a poor season by his standards and it had a bigger impact on the team than most other players under performance. Therefore something had to be done - in the end we better balanced the team AND Alonso's form picked up. If we had had the finances I think we would have kept Alonso and bought in backup/an alternative. We didn't so hard choices had to be made.

In the end the market made them for us as we got lowball bids for Alonso. Worked out pretty well for a season but IMO in the end his loss was inevitable one way or the other as we weren't in a position to kick on.

Overall Alonso was great for us. Rafa was great for us. Circumstances dictated that it was always to end badly for us and neither of those two should be judged by it IMO.

[Baracus]

Do People think that if the Rafa wanting Alonso out situation never developed and LFC were financially secure that Xabi would not have wanted to leave on his own accord sometime in the future especially as Real and other big clubs in Europe were constantly knocking?

I think he would have left.

[Tee]

Do People think that if the Rafa wanting Alonso out situation never developed that Xabi would not have wanted to leave on his own accord sometime in the future especially as Real and other big clubs in Europe were constantly knocking?

I think he would have left.

So do I. He said himself that after 5 years he felt it was the right time to return to Spain. Don't forget he had also been recently married so other factors come into it as well, such as starting a family.

At his age, with Real Madrid calling, it was simply an opportunity he could not pass up and I totally understand his decision.

[barnes10]

Xabi left despite being trusted and played all season by the same manager who previously thought it best we sold him. its not like rafa benched him for the final season is it. He played him, supported him and basically they patched up and got on with things like professionals do. I would expect xabi to hold/have held a serious grudge.

the reason he left was that we accepted a bid from a massive club and he endued up with a ridiculous pay rise due to who he was joining plus the tax advantage.

[cream]

Real Madrid came calling, fair ****s to him.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

'****e' is just a coverall word for 'Out of form' isnt it? If I say Gerrard has been ****e this season. It doesnt mean he is totally rubbish.

That's it mate, Alonso was fantastic for us but I've said it about him myself. "He was a bit **** that season" at the time. But I never literally meant **** I guess its just a phrase and easy to take literally.

[Patricks_Berger]

There's people in here saying Alonso dipped cos Fat Frank broke his ankle- that challenge happend in 2005 in Xabi's first season- I don't think it was the reason behind his performances in 07/08.

I think the story with Alonso is that he burst on to the scene in his first season with us and then, as is natural for a young player, his form was up & down. By the time of his last season, & subsequently at Real, he's reached an age/ stage in his development where he is capable of producing top performances consistently.

You can look at a lot of the players at the club now and say something similar- we have youngsters with talent capable of brilliant games but, typically, it's not until players hit their mid twenties that they can produce their best consistently.

[Patricks_Berger]

There's people in here saying Alonso dipped cos Fat Frank broke his ankle- that challenge happend in 2005 in Xabi's first season- I don't think it was the reason behind his performances in 07/08.

I think the story with Alonso is that he burst on to the scene in his first season with us and then, as is natural for a young player, his form was up & down. By the time of his last season, & subsequently at Real, he's reached an age/ stage in his development where he is capable of producing top performances consistently.

You can look at a lot of the players at the club now and say something similar- we have youngsters with talent capable of brilliant games but, typically, it's not until players hit their mid twenties that they can produce their best consistently.

Live to have Xabi's back btw but he'd be on a big money & I think a Masch/ Wanyama style cm is more of a priority.

[Shackanory]

i think he is exactly what we need..... he could be a Gary-Mac type signing but even better as he is about 4 or 5 years younger than when we signed G-M

Alonso would make Allen and Lucas play better..... and probably Gerrard too to be honest.....

I could see him going to someone like Arsenal, Spurs or even the fockin Scum and being their best player.....

I reckon if Mourinho goes to the prem this summer (Chelsea, Citeh or United) then he will try and bring Alonso with him.....

Not a chance. If Xabi comes back to the Prem, it'll only be to us. It's like Beckham and United. But in all honesty, I can't see him coming back. I'd ****ing love him to, because it'd be a massive boost to the side. Just imagine Stevie, Alonso and Suarez linking up, but can't see it happening. He's contracted until July 2014, so I think he'll see this contract out then retire.

[EwarWoo]

He's contracted until July 2014, so I think he'll see this contract out then retire.

Why one warth would he retire at 32?

[Fosterbloke]

Why would a rich person want more money to do something they love? If he's a Liverpool fan and has a Duck McScrooge vault of gold coins then why turn down a move due to wage demands?

[EwarWoo]

Because it's not just about money its about respect. I'm currently getting 150k respect tokens a week. I don't need the tokens but my fragile ego needs the respect they represent.

Footballers run on ego more than money imho. It's the only way the whole system can male.sense.

[Arn]

I believe myself that Xabi have told a few players that he want to join us in the summer and that Rodgers want to sign him but FSG is refusing to sign him. That is what all the we need experienced players is all about.

Rodgers and a few players using the media to put pressure on FSG to make the deal happen? Would never happen, would it.............

Real will most probably sell him in the summer because he is refusing to sign a new contract.

Could we get him for £10m-£15m? Most probably yes.