Steven Gerrard

[Vermilion]

Is he for real re Alonso? He wanted to go to Real. No one called Ferguson stupid for selling Ronaldo. And also, like **** he'd still be here. We sell our best players, it's what we do. As if someone of Xabi's level would still be here. We were lucky to have him for five or six years in the first place.

[Dalglish]

Negotiating by text is another sign of how far behind the times FSG are. It should be What's App or Snapchat ffs.

[G]

The bit he appears to have had a problem with was us selling Xabi, not that some players go to Real Madrid.

Yeah but he seems to ignore that we probably had little choice in the matter, much like Bayern. Player wants to leave, he usually does as we've seen often enough. He's just using it as an excuse to have a pop at Rafa. Anyway, not a point worth labouring over

[Kenneth]

Agreed, but I can't help feeling that his words are being dismissed as daft a bit too easily. We all build of a very simplified conceptual view of how football works, how players think, how transfers work, how clubs are run, who's godly and who's a cunt, what motivates people etc etc. It's simple because there is only so much information available about it, and much of it comes from journalists who themselves try and sell a simple narrative that enables them to sell speculation and half arsed analysis.

We're happy because although (and because) it's simplistic, things tend to pan out in line with our 'what football is and how it works' concept. 'Yey, playing a diamond was the answer all along, I'm a football genius'. We're happy with simple narratives, to the point where, if someone who personally knows the minutia of the details we don't and has personal relationships with the actors involved says something that doesn't fit our narrative then we immediately defend our deficiency by dismissing it out right. Even if the someone is one of the biggest legends and best players ever to play for the club.

But as you say, not a point worth labouring over

[S-RED]

It was Alonso who during the previous season complained about the tax he had to pay on his salary playing in England; add that to RM wanting you & its a no brainer. Totally unfair to blame RAFA for him leaving

[RichC]

The attempted signing of Barry did not help matters

[vlahka]

On Xabi, Rafa tried to bin him off the year previous to Juventus.

Lets not forget he tried to replace him with Barry around that same time. Its no wonder Alonso left. I pretty much stopped investing myself in Benitez around that time as Alonso was my favourite player. And to unsettle him as he did infuriated me to no end. To think Alonso just woke up one morning and wanted to leave liverpool after everything that had happened on the field is a little bit naive.

[McDermotX]

Xabi responded very well though....in any case, putting aside all the rumours and heresay, Barry never came to Liverpool and Xabi made his choice. He was a big boy, he'd already been with us 5 years, just had a baby, in and out of the first XI for a quality Spain side, some concerns over tax and all of a sudden had arguably the biggest side in the world looking at signing him.

Some people may look to draw some conclusion absolving Xabi of the decision, but it really doesn't stand up.

[Vermilion]

Whatever went on, i wholeheartedly believe Xabi would have left for Madrid anyway.

Just as i do that Gerrard would have joined Chelsea but for winning the CL a few weeks earlier.

[vlahka]

Whatever went on, i wholeheartedly believe Xabi would have left for Madrid anyway.

Just as i do that Gerrard would have joined Chelsea but for winning the CL a few weeks earlier.

Probably. I dont mind when players decide to leave. Its when they're pushed a little is what ends up irking me so. Since the chelsea thing, I was never a huge fan of gerrard after that. Liverpool captain wanting to go to chelsea. Sickened me.

[fah-q]

To be fair Xabi wasn't pulling up trees the season before Rafa wanted to sell him. Much as I love Xabi he almost needed that kick up the arse it seems as he was outstanding the following season. Obviously playing for a move away ;-)

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

So all this texting and 'I'd love to play with you Stevie just not for Liverpool' stuff.. Did it actually help to sign anyone? I've only read that it failed. I see nothing wrong with the club aiming for targets like Kroos even if they're long shots and Stevie as captain and a big name should help out. This new book is gonna be bollocks and have most clubs pissing themselves at us isn't it?

[ntto]

So all this texting and 'I'd love to play with you Stevie just not for Liverpool' stuff.. Did it actually help to sign anyone? I've only read that it failed. I see nothing wrong with the club aiming for targets like Kroos even if they're long shots and Stevie as captain and a big name should help out. This new book is gonna be bollocks and have most clubs pissing themselves at us isn't it?

maybe all those people stevie text would have preferred a bit more love and a more personal approach like a phonecall.

same way stevie loves the personal touch in a manager

[The_weatherman]

maybe all those people stevie text would have preferred a bit more love and a more personal approach like a phonecall.

same way stevie loves the personal touch in a manager

I think we have hard time selling the club and texting like that seems a bit cringy. Is this common practice though? In our case the manager probably doesn't have the pull for the biggest names but it seems weird having players texting each other to see if they wanna play.

[Muddled]

I think we have hard time selling the club and texting like that seems a bit cringy. Is this common practice though? In our case the manager probably doesn't have the pull for the biggest names but it seems weird having players texting each other to see if they wanna play.

I really don't think our recruitment policy is based purely on Gerrard sending texts. It will have happened before Rodgers, so dressing it up as a dig at Rodgers' 'pulling power' is weak.

We'll have interest in several players and I'm confident negotiations between clubs officials will have been opened. Gerrard sending a text (I can see why he wouldn't call) as club captain will be a tool used to see how much time the club spends on negotiations or how much effort they put into a deal.