Liverpool FC Forum

[heimdall]

The point of giving a player a 5 year contract before selling him is surely to up his price isn't it?

[bigmick]

I don't think we will sell Xabi. If we do though, all this "enjoying football again" stuff is nonsense. How can a bloke not enjoy playing for that Liverpool team the way they are now?

If Xabi does want away, it'll be absolutely nothing to do with that. I also FWIW don't think it'll be because he still feels hurt by last Summer. If he does still feel hurt by that, and he has performed as well as he has over the last year, then feck me he is superhuman and the best professional in history.

No, I think if he wants away it will be for a much more boring reason. He's probably got a Spanish wife or girlfriend, I know they've just had a youngster, and they probably want that youngster to be brought up in Spain, go to a Spanish school, see more of Nana and Grandad etc. It is the most natural thing thing in the World to feel like that (believe me I know) and no doubt lots of foriegn footballers who play in England wrestle with the same connundrum on a daily basis. I hope he wants to stay, and I think he will stay, but if he leaves because of this last reason then the fans will respect his decision.

He's been the best midfielder in the team this season, which has been our best team for 20 seasons. He's been absolutely 100% the utter model professional throughout his Liverpool career, sometimes with excuses for it not to be so should he choose to use them. He seems like a lovely fella, is a great pro and a fantastic player. Like I say, I hop he stays but whatever he does, he has done enough to be talked about as an Anfield great IMHO.

[Sabre]

No, I think if he wants away it will be for a much more boring reason. He's probably got a Spanish wife or girlfriend, I know they've just had a youngster, and they probably want that youngster to be brought up in Spain, go to a Spanish school, see more of Nana and Grandad etc. It is the most natural thing thing in the World to feel like that (believe me I know) and no doubt lots of foriegn footballers who play in England wrestle with the same connundrum on a daily basis. I hope he wants to stay, and I think he will stay, but if he leaves because of this last reason then the fans will respect his decision.

Yes, the truth is that sometimes we seek conspiracies and strange reasons but human aspects like that have a lot of importance and that theory is very valid and I'd say even very likely.

I never liked the look of that Nagore anyway. She looks what we call here, a bit Sergeant. I think that in Xabi's house she's the one wearing the trousers, if you see what I mean.

[Reg]

Agree Mick but why would anyone want to miss out on the glory of next season... surely no-one would voluntarily get off the boat now.

[bigmick]

No, I think if he wants away it will be for a much more boring reason. He's probably got a Spanish wife or girlfriend, I know they've just had a youngster, and they probably want that youngster to be brought up in Spain, go to a Spanish school, see more of Nana and Grandad etc. It is the most natural thing thing in the World to feel like that (believe me I know) and no doubt lots of foriegn footballers who play in England wrestle with the same connundrum on a daily basis. I hope he wants to stay, and I think he will stay, but if he leaves because of this last reason then the fans will respect his decision.

Yes, the truth is that sometimes we seek conspiracies and strange reasons but human aspects like that have a lot of importance and that theory is very valid and I'd say even very likely.

I never liked the look of that Nagore anyway. She looks what we call here, a bit Sergeant. I think that in Xabi's house she's the one wearing the trousers, if you see what I mean.

I do know what you mean Sabes, and Xabi looks like the sort of fella who'd just go along with it for a quiet life (don't we all). He probably doesn't know what the remote control for the telly looks like.

[Ciggy]

ballague on talk sport
Said the personality split with rafa and Xabi has come to a head and he's off.



Please say it isnt so.

[Sabre]

I guess that if Balague says it it's pretty official 

Well at least Xabi and Rafa were professional enough to set their differences aside during this season. Keane should have done the same.

At least I'd like Xabi Alonso paying a last service for the club and I hope he won't push Rafa to lower the price.

Gutted here. It's always especial to see a townmate playing for a legendary club you love, but I'm gutted especially in the football sense, I really expected and planned Xabi being a very important part in the assault for the title next season.

[JC_81]

ballague on talk sport
Said the personality split with rafa and Xabi has come to a head and he's off.



Please say it isnt so.

Disappointing indeed.

Had hoped Alonso would stay, but if he wants to go let him go. No player is bigger than the club.  Fair play to him for knuckling down and performing superbly this season even though he may not have been happy behind the scenes, good professional and has probably added 10 million to the transfer fee we could receive for him compared with last summer.  To think he was left out of the opening game of the season in favour of Plessis, shows how much his form improved over the season.

[112-1077774096]

The Liverpool manager has also re-iterated he does not want to sell Xabi Alonso, insisting that funds for transfers can instead be raised by offloading Anfield's fringe players and those out on loan.

Benitez has admitted to a ''private'' conversation with Alonso's agent, but said: ''Xabi is not for sale, we want to keep the key players here. The spine of the team.

''We will want to sell other players, maybe those who are out on loan. We do not want to sell key players.''

Ok... I believe rafa has done enough to dispel these rumours... how many times does the man need to deny?

exactly the same noises he made while selling keane, rafa is not exactly forthcoming with the truth in these situations

[oreilly]

gutted[B]

[bigmick]

Well if the problem is simply one of "clash of personality", then it simply doesn't have to be so that therefore the player must leave. Xabi was like Rafa's son when he signed, his eyes and ears on the pitch very much in the ascendency in terms of who the manager trusted, even over Gerrard, so what has gone wrong? Obviously there's the carry-on last Summer, where I don't think even Rafa's staunchest admirers would pretend that he necessarily behaved at his best, but what else?

My point is, whatever has happened behind the scenes is the same as what happens down the delivery depot, down the warehouse, in the factoiry etc every week. From there, people either p!ss off in their seperate directions (or at least one of them does), they tolerate each other and get on with it, they go out and hammered together (much my favoured solution) ot they go outside and kick the sh!t out of each other which tends to put things into perspective as well. It doesn't have to be the first option.

Now assuming that at his age even despite his bouncer goatee Rafa wouldn't fancy a bit of fisticuffs with a professional footballer, (albeit one as outwardly placid as Xabi), that still leaves two other options other than Xabi leaving.

Surely from a culture which so ancient, so civilised, so rich and steeped in a tradition of long casual dinners overlooking the scorched terrain, they must be able to find it in themselves to have a chat about it. Perhaps a bottle of Rioja or two, some Patatas Bravas or whatever the feck it's called (you know that tomatoey potato stuff that you always end up ordering three portions of in the Tapas bar on your annual visit). Perhaps some marinated olives, a bit of mmm mmm and nodding your head as the other bloke is apologising and the olive oil is dripping down your chin. By the time the seafood course comes round, everyone will be loosening up. Rafa's missus will be telling Xabi's old woman about his little habits, he'll be denying it and they'll be laughing. The kids will be fecking around climbing the apple trees, and when Rafa suggests he and Xabi take a walk and a talk, all will be good.

The manager can put an arm on Xabi's shoulder, not metaphorically but literally, and tell him he wrong last Summer but everyone makes mistakes. He can ask Xabi where else on planet Earth would he rather be next Summer, than still plying his trade at Liverpool. He could ask him what he thinks it'll like to parade the Premiership trophy around a lush Anfield, in front of 45000 adoring fans, the majority of whom are long past singing and are now in floods of tears.

We have the opportunity to change the course of football history he could tell him. To put the stick into the spokes (cheers Bob) of the Mancs and their attempts to dominate not just football matches, but football in general, and to emerge triumphant. The long suffering people of Liverpool could at last have their day in the sun, and he could help provide it. Whatever it is that's eating Xabi, nothing is bigger than this.

Don't leave us now fella, we've got a title to win and we need you (that's me saying that bit).

[Bad Bob]

Don't leave us now fella, we've got a title to win and we need you (that's me saying that bit).

I'll be absolutely gutted if he goes and I hope to God there's nothing to all of these rumours.  No player's above the team, of course, and we can't be trying to hold onto a player that wants to leave but, having come so close this season and looking to kick on next season, losing a player of Xabi's calibre is some seriously bad juju. 

[Reg]

Rafa has to improve his man management.... its not acceptable to lose key players over a personality difference. Its a team effort ffs.

If true its mighty disappointing as we'll have to buy a great player to replace him, simply to stand still. Not good.

[SupitsJonF]

Don't leave us now fella, we've got a title to win and we need you (that's me saying that bit).

I'll be absolutely gutted if he goes and I hope to God there's nothing to all of these rumours.  No player's above the team, of course, and we can't be trying to hold onto a player that wants to leave but, having come so close this season and looking to kick on next season, losing a player of Xabi's calibre is some seriously bad juju. 

Is the manager though?  We are losing a world class player because he is stubborn.  (If the rumors are true, of course).  I know he just signed a new contract, but taking 2 steps backward then trying to jump way ahead from there is very stupid and risky.  Yeah, it might work, or we can be 2 steps back.

The real thing is we most likely wont double United and Chelsea, so I'd rather keep this goal machine squad together.  (second half of the season ).

[Reg]

I cant recall any past great Liverpool manager losing players for this reason, losing key players is not teh way to move forward.