Liverpool FC Forum

[Sabre]

Yeh thats what Im saying Sabre, I don't think Alonso will stay because Rafa still wants to sell him for the right price.

GYBS, I wouldn't mind Xavi, but its unrealistic, he would be perfect with Gerrard.

As long as it's the RIGHT price, I trust Rafa would bring someone to improve the squad, which is the point.

But I'd be fuming mate if while Everton pays a lot of money for Bellaini, we'd sell Alonso cheaply when big teams are interested.

I couldn't find you the interview. It was in the paper edition, but I can't find it in the online edition.

Basically he comments the differences between Spain and England, and the differences in the Spain squad and Liverpool, both great squads, says Alonso, with different styles. He says he's comfortable in both.

He once again talks highly of the club and the city. He says he has grown as a player, but as a person aswell. And he says that he's very comfortable playing there.

He's asked for the latest rumour of Real Madrid, and he has answered that "there was something in it's moment, but don't ask me about that, we're in the middle of the season and that things are not even considered".

As for the Barcelona interest, well, Alonso suits well their game, and Txiki Begiristain (Barcelona's sport director is from San Sebastian) praises Alonso's game every time he has the chance.

Barcelona would prefer Alonso over a technically limited player like Barry, the stuff he does is less useful here. Here you have to think fast and be very good technically. Barcelona has traditionally played slow paced players to start the play, you only have to remember Guardiola, Koeman or Schuster, none of which were fast. Plus, there's the link with his father (1), I guess they're serious candidates

I wouldn't like him ending in Spain until he retires in his former club (a possibility he has admitted he'd like). I wouldn't like him in Barcelona because Barcelona doesn't pay a lot of money. I don't care where Alonso goes, I just want that either he stays or we receive silly money even if he goes to Russia.

If Rafa doesn't want Alonso because he thinks someone else is more useful for the English league, fair enough, in Rafa I trust. BUT DON'T SELL ALONSO CHEAPLY. NO-ONE SELLS CHEAPLY. Ask the former club of Bellaini!


(1) Alonso's father was stronger, hard rock, not fast, but more limited technically, he was the typical solid holding midfielder.

(2) As for Alonso's replacement, we have Mascherano, a great defensive midfielder. So I'd expect a decent sub for him, a Barry, or a younger Hamman would be more than enough having the ARgie with us.

[metalhead]

Its Fellani mate

Yeh, I would agree with you, but I do hope alonso keeps up his current form and let Benitez think twice about selling him though, he looks class in every game this season. We have Masch yes, but I do think we can get a playmaker that can suite us too, maybe another Deco or Xavi or scholes, playmakers that would compliment Gerrard in the middle. That would be great.

[Sabre]

Fellani

You know, I don't think Rafa would sell Alonso for a poor season. I mean, it's strange to give a player a 5 year contract, ant at the end of next season selling him because he's done a poor season.

I suspect, that the reasons to sell Alonso are more tactical, that is, I see for instance Rafa thinking that Barry could be more useful for us, but I don't see him selling because of a poor season. It's a bit unbalanced to go from offering 5 year contract and talk praises to selling him the next season. Even if we accept (the dogma) of a very poor season.

(Similarly, I don't think Rafa sold Sissoko because he played poorly for some months)

[metalhead]

I do think that he sold sissoko because he thought it was a right choice (he knew he wasn't better than mascherano) and mascherano was doing really well, so it restricted sissoko from playing.

I do think, that maybe Rafa thought he would want another class midfielder that would offer more consistancy, which Alonso in the past two seasons hasn't showed because of his injuries or other problems, and Barry fit that bill, he was consistant and playing his best football with Aston Villa, plus he is a class player. However, with Alonso showing his good form now, maybe it it wil re-evaluate Benitez's plan, because Xabi is showing some consistancy he showed in his first 2 seasons. 

[Sabre]

Maybe. But Rafa is very stubborn... I think that if an idea settles in his mind, it's difficult to remove it.

[account deleted by request]

I do think that he sold sissoko because he thought it was a right choice (he knew he wasn't better than mascherano) and mascherano was doing really well, so it restricted sissoko from playing.

I do think, that maybe Rafa thought he would want another class midfielder that would offer more consistancy, which Alonso in the past two seasons hasn't showed because of his injuries or other problems, and Barry fit that bill, he was consistant and playing his best football with Aston Villa, plus he is a class player. However, with Alonso showing his good form now, maybe it it wil re-evaluate Benitez's plan, because Xabi is showing some consistancy he showed in his first 2 seasons. 

Barry creates a lot actually, he is very underated on here by some people, but I think that boat has probably already sailed. Few rumours going around that we are after Gourcuff off Milan (Another Zidane)who may bring in the creativity we need in the final third.

[metalhead]

Maybe. But Rafa is very stubborn... I think that if an idea settles in his mind, it's difficult to remove it.

True.. but anything can change.

[metalhead]

I do think that he sold sissoko because he thought it was a right choice (he knew he wasn't better than mascherano) and mascherano was doing really well, so it restricted sissoko from playing.

I do think, that maybe Rafa thought he would want another class midfielder that would offer more consistancy, which Alonso in the past two seasons hasn't showed because of his injuries or other problems, and Barry fit that bill, he was consistant and playing his best football with Aston Villa, plus he is a class player. However, with Alonso showing his good form now, maybe it it wil re-evaluate Benitez's plan, because Xabi is showing some consistancy he showed in his first 2 seasons. 

Barry creates a lot actually, he is very underated on here by some people, but I think that boat has probably already sailed. Few rumours going around that we are after Gourcuff off Milan (Another Zidane)who may bring in the creativity we need in the final third.

Yeh, Barry is a fantastic footballer, When he played against us this season, I thought he was one of the best players on the field that day, even though both teams played poorley.

Gourcuff? never seen him properly, but I don't buy that New Zidane thing anymore because every time we get a player its either he is the new patrick viera or new owen.. and he turns out to be sh!te 

[Sabre]

Now I've paid more attention to Barry, because of Liverpool, I think he's a good footballer indeed. And I can see how he'd help this team as a regular starter.

That said, when I said he's a technically limited player I just meant that, in Spanish football that aspect is more important, just like pace is more important in England. Technical aspect of the game is just one aspect of the game.

I'd be happy to have Barry here

What I don't understand about him is how the hell the board didn't stretch a bit and fulfilled Rafa's wishes. It should have been done, IMHO.

[account deleted by request]

I do think that he sold sissoko because he thought it was a right choice (he knew he wasn't better than mascherano) and mascherano was doing really well, so it restricted sissoko from playing.

I do think, that maybe Rafa thought he would want another class midfielder that would offer more consistancy, which Alonso in the past two seasons hasn't showed because of his injuries or other problems, and Barry fit that bill, he was consistant and playing his best football with Aston Villa, plus he is a class player. However, with Alonso showing his good form now, maybe it it wil re-evaluate Benitez's plan, because Xabi is showing some consistancy he showed in his first 2 seasons. 

Barry creates a lot actually, he is very underated on here by some people, but I think that boat has probably already sailed. Few rumours going around that we are after Gourcuff off Milan (Another Zidane)who may bring in the creativity we need in the final third.

Yeh, Barry is a fantastic footballer, When he played against us this season, I thought he was one of the best players on the field that day, even though both teams played poorley.

Gourcuff? never seen him properly, but I don't buy that New Zidane thing anymore because every time we get a player its either he is the new patrick viera or new owen.. and he turns out to be sh!te 

He's French and has flair .... New Zidane. He's French and tackles ...... new Vierra 

I can't see there being much movement till the summer anyway. Unless its for a Right winger.....everything else will probably have to wait.

Gourcuff, can't say I had ever heard of him till yesterday!

[JC_81]

Gourcuff was brought to Milan a few years ago as a highly rated talent, but hasn't really lived up to his billing.  Have seen him play only once or twice but he has never really caught the eye.

[Sabre]

Yeh thats what Im saying Sabre, I don't think Alonso will stay because Rafa still wants to sell him for the right price.

GYBS, I wouldn't mind Xavi, but its unrealistic, he would be perfect with Gerrard.

Oh definatly dont think we would get him . Dont think pirlo would be much use cause he needs time and space and thats something you dont see much of in prem

Well, the player of this topic isn't fast, he's slow. But he has proven he can do well enough to be decent. I don't think I'm overpraising him if I say that.

Just a thought. I admire English football. As a fan, I enjoy more watching a premiership game, than a La Liga game.

I admire it more a number of reasons, and not only passion. These days very good football is being played in England, it's the best league in the world right now, as you could see in the CL last season.

But, admitting all that happily, isn't it a dogma, or a cliche talking about the pace and the rythm?

I mean, meanwhile we talk about the pace and the rythm of the premiership GBYS, we see more and more foreigners adapting to it. Why? Because there's money in England. And the best players are going there or to Spain if they hate cold. And good players, I mean the really good ones, adapt no matter if they're pacy or not.

It's true that the Italians hadn't shown a lot of things in England until now. But what about the Spanish mate? what did the Spanish show in England until a FEW years ago? Next to nothing. Ferrer, Ivan Campo... bah, decent players.

But when the good ones come, they adapt well. I wouldn't write off Pirlo because he's not the paciest player in the world.

[metalhead]

I think Pirlo is also an excellent footballer. Many people would disagree with me, but he is similar to Alonso in terms of vision and passing, very intelligent footballer and a set piece expert. However, defencively I'm not convinced, not a great tackler like Mascha or even Alonso for that matter.

[account deleted by request]

I think Pirlo is also an excellent footballer. Many people would disagree with me, but he is similar to Alonso in terms of vision and passing, very intelligent footballer and a set piece expert. However, defencively I'm not convinced, not a great tackler like Mascha or even Alonso for that matter.

Which is why they have Gattuso. I used to watch Pirlo years ago (when Italian football was on tv every week) He was an attacking midfielder for a while, but was too slow, so they now play him as a deep lying playmaker. Still a very creative player and great passer but like you say needs someone to wipe his a$$ defensively.

[Fo Dne]

I do think that he sold sissoko because he thought it was a right choice (he knew he wasn't better than mascherano) and mascherano was doing really well, so it restricted sissoko from playing.

I do think, that maybe Rafa thought he would want another class midfielder that would offer more consistancy, which Alonso in the past two seasons hasn't showed because of his injuries or other problems, and Barry fit that bill, he was consistant and playing his best football with Aston Villa, plus he is a class player. However, with Alonso showing his good form now, maybe it it wil re-evaluate Benitez's plan, because Xabi is showing some consistancy he showed in his first 2 seasons. 

Barry creates a lot actually, he is very underated on here by some people, but I think that boat has probably already sailed. Few rumours going around that we are after Gourcuff off Milan (Another Zidane)who may bring in the creativity we need in the final third.

Decent player but no where near Zidane's class. Daft comparrison.

Not going to improve us either and wouldn't bring the balance we need.