Liverpool FC Forum

[ldhawan]

We cannot sell Xabi! There is nobody out there who can do what he does.

[Rafas-Y-Fronts]

We cannot sell Xabi! There is nobody out there who can do what he does.

Of course there is!

That is the whole point of having a scouting network.

If Rafa decides to sell Alonso he will already have other options in mind.

We will adapt our tactical approach slightly to accomodate Xabi's replacement and will probably buy a more mobile player and play slightly quicker pass and move football.

Controlling football matches is only effective if there is an end product to lots of possession.

Manchester United won the Premier League last season with a midfield nowhere near as good as ours or Chelsea's.

What they did was to get the ball forward as quickly as possible into the final third and ensure they were clinical enough in front of goal to win important matches.

[akumaface]

The only concern is it takes time to mesh as a team. We played so well towards the end of last season and now is starting all over again. It doesn;t matter who the replacement is. It will take time. If we in fact sell Alonso, whatever money we got wouldn't get us a replacement similar to Alonso ability. Alonso is so complete except he doesn't have speed. Hope it is not going to be a tough year.....

[devaney]

but ciggy, rafa said he never wanted to sell keane either. I think we have to take what rafa is saying with a pinch of salt. it will become clear who is doing what based on any pay out. if alonso asked to go his cntract will not be paid, if we are selling him against his will then his contract will be paid.

From what Ive heard its been Xabi and his agent thats been acting the goat this time and not Rafa, even Nanny said Xabi's agent has met with RM the last fortnight behind Rafa's back and he got wind of it. I cant imagine that would have gone down to well with Rafa either.

I suppose we will know within the next fortnight one way or the other because there is noway that this can drag on all summer its no good for the team and its no good for us to find a replacement at the last minute, ecspecially if Barry joins Arsenal.

Acting the goat? £35m and over £100k a week sounds quite serious to me!

Ok I'll play devils advocate and wait for the flack!

If we can get £35m for a 28 year old who's record has been very up and down then it is something that you can't dismiss.

Mascherano is similar! Just how many times a season do we really need him? When he hasn't played we haven't lost and he gives us nothing going forward other than allowing Gerrard the freedom to attack which I admit is important but surely a more rounded player could do the same. Mascha's eventual start to the season after his other commitments was very average at best. 

The number of killer balls from Mascha and Xabi are very few and far between. Goals are virtually none existent from the two of them. When Rafa had no choice but to play very entertaining attacking football and to play his best eleven we leaked goals. The four against Arsenal are a good example and Mascha was responsible for one of those.

[Fauxy]

We cannot sell Xabi! There is nobody out there who can do what he does.

We dont neccesarily need somebody that can do what he does, we can just go for a different type of player and change the midfield style a little bit.

[tubby]

I hope we draw Madrid again next season at some point. Would love to spank them and send them out of Europe again.

[Greavesie]

so long as Ronaldo puts Man U out first I'm all up for that mate

[Alex G.]

We cannot sell Xabi! There is nobody out there who can do what he does.

We dont neccesarily need somebody that can do what he does, we can just go for a different type of player and change the midfield style a little bit.

Someone with more attacking role 

[redbeergoggles]

The Telegraph this morning described Xabi as Liverpool's metronome ,I think that's an apt description for a player that literally makes our midfield tick .replacing him will certainly not be as easy as some suspect   

[taff]

I agree with that but we could get two really good players if the money is as ridiculous as is being discussed.  And this could increase our attacking options which was the Achilles heel last season

[LFC2007]

The Telegraph this morning described Xabi as Liverpool's metronome ,I think that's an apt description for a player that literally makes our midfield tick .replacing him will certainly not be as easy as some suspect

That's exactly what he is and if you look about the market there wouldn't appear to be many who can dictate the play as well as he can.

As an aside, If we could somehow get Essien I'd have him, simply because he's an outstanding all rounder.