Liverpool FC Forum

[tubby]

Tony Evans said last night that the situation will be sorted out by the end of the week, Rafa will also make 1 signing by next week presumbly before we fly out to Asia, this new player is not Alonso's replacement.

So here we have Rafa's two mouthpieces Tony Barrett & Tony Evans telling us whats happening.

Who is he then? Probably a new teenage keeper who will amount to nothing. 

Regarding Lucas I think he will step up. He improved in the 2nd half of the season and I think that was down to the new training regime to make him stronger.

A bit worried though if Rafa hasn't already got a replacement for Xabi lined up.

[GYBS]

once again where is this he has made it known ? He hasnt made anything to known to anyone bar his wife and rafa i expect . Certainly not to any of this journos . Balague whatever his name was just saying on sky that xabi hasnt put in a request and this stuff from papers about xabi wanting it sorted quickly so his old club gets money is just rumours and rubbish started by people close to madrid to try and force liverpool . He basically stated that unless madrid match liverpools valuation xabi wont be going anywhere . So which journo do we believe ? I will stick to believing facts and will understand he is going when a fee is sorted and a deal is done - until then its just pure speculation by journos who claim to be in the know . So will wait until i hear what xabi himself says as opposed to what a journo says as most of the time they get it wrong .

[heimdall]

once again where is this he has made it known ? He hasnt made anything to known to anyone bar his wife and rafa i expect . Certainly not to any of this journos . Balague whatever his name was just saying on sky that xabi hasnt put in a request and this stuff from papers about xabi wanting it sorted quickly so his old club gets money is just rumours and rubbish started by people close to madrid to try and force liverpool . He basically stated that unless madrid match liverpools valuation xabi wont be going anywhere . So which journo do we believe ? I will stick to believing facts and will understand he is going when a fee is sorted and a deal is done - until then its just pure speculation by journos who claim to be in the know . So will wait until i hear what xabi himself says as opposed to what a journo says as most of the time they get it wrong .

?? Bit confused now, basically you are saying that you trust Ballague in the media but not the journos at the Liverpool echo.   

It is fairly certain that Xabi has had the chat with Rafa GYBS, now please just accept that as the truth then we can move on.

[maguskwt]

sometimes this thread goes nowhere does it?

[heimdall]

sometimes this thread goes nowhere does it?

Curious how it usually coincides with GYBS joining a thread. 

[GYBS]

once again where is this he has made it known ? He hasnt made anything to known to anyone bar his wife and rafa i expect . Certainly not to any of this journos . Balague whatever his name was just saying on sky that xabi hasnt put in a request and this stuff from papers about xabi wanting it sorted quickly so his old club gets money is just rumours and rubbish started by people close to madrid to try and force liverpool . He basically stated that unless madrid match liverpools valuation xabi wont be going anywhere . So which journo do we believe ? I will stick to believing facts and will understand he is going when a fee is sorted and a deal is done - until then its just pure speculation by journos who claim to be in the know . So will wait until i hear what xabi himself says as opposed to what a journo says as most of the time they get it wrong .

?? Bit confused now, basically you are saying that you trust Ballague in the media but not the journos at the Liverpool echo.   

It is fairly certain that Xabi has had the chat with Rafa GYBS, now please just accept that as the truth then we can move on.

suggest you go back and read the post again hiemdall , namely the areas where i asked which journo should we believe and mainly the point where i stated that i will believe xabi is going when he himself states as such and a transfer is done and dusted and not believe journos . How the hell you read that as trusting balague i will never know .

[ElNino9]

Liverpool Boss Rafa Benitez Asks For Xabi Alonso Transfer Request In Writing - Report

Xabi wants out, Rafa says prove it...

13 Jul 2009 23:21:55

Xabi Alonso's link with Real Madrid grows stronger by the day as reports surrounding the Spaniard's future at Liverpool continue to circulate.

British sources such as the Guardian and the Mail have said that Alonso has indeed vocalised his wish to become a Galactico under Florentino Perez, with Rafa Benitez adamant that the player must first hand in a formal transfer request.

The Reds boss has made it abundantly clear that, even if Alonso does request a transfer to La Liga, he is not for sale for a sum any lower than £35 million. However, Madrid have recently reduced their original offer, which is now said to be around the £25 million mark.

Los Blancos coach, Manuel Pellegrini had this to say on the subject of the Spain international: "It is no mystery that we are interested, but it will not be easy."

Stephen Crawford, Goal.com

[Dundalk]

Stephen Crawford, Goal.com

[Liverpool KAIGELS]

Real Madrid themselves have not started putting their Dutch Contigent on the market . Those ba$tards can raise money for xabi there . Yet would not mind getting negredo , robben and drenthe + 15million for xabi hahahaha.

[ElNino9]

Gago, Negredo, Robben, Sneijder + £15m and you have a deal.

[tubby]

Stephen Crawford, Goal.com

That ones a bit old now mate here use this for a while. 

[Liverpool KAIGELS]

Stephen Crawford, Goal.com

That ones a bit old now mate here use this for a while. 

[Bad Bob]

The constant slagging off of xabi when he guy has not said a word and done nothing but be professional for us throughout his whole career with us - even when we were trying to flog him off . Also the fact that if he goes he will only play a handful of games and then go to fulham ?!?!? he would be a constant starter for madrid and a main player for them just like he is for the very successful current spanish team .

As bob asked has Xabi kicked you in the nuts lately or something to trigger this constant slating off him .

Explain to me how Alonso, after weeks and weeks of speculation, only now admitting to wanting a move is professional and honest please because I really don't get that bit, that is what is annoying me and it should be annoying you guys as well because it means he is costing us money but I guess that is all ok isn't it.

Fact is, mate, we have no idea when he made his feelings known to Rafa.  Just because Tony Barrett feels confident reporting it now doesn't mean Alonso's just recently made a decision.  As Mick's said, there's every chance Alonso had a word with Rafa at the very end of the season, before heading to South Africa.  In fact, didn't Bascombe suggest that he told Rafa he was off in the final week of the season, before the Spurs match?  I tend not to believe paper talk as a rule but there is a lot of smoke on this one for there not to be a fire and the story's been rumbling on for weeks.  In this case, it's certainly possible that Xabi asked for a move back in May, such has been the consistency of the 'Alonso to Madrid' rumours ever since.  Why then has Alonso been so cagey publicly?  I would think it's because Rafa has put a firm price on the transfer and he's aware that he may not be going anywhere if Madrid don't meet that valuation.  If I were the player in that circumstance, I'd keep schtum too.

[Ciggy]

This is from someone who was at Alonso's wedding on saturday.

Livbes on Today at 01:25:30 PM
Right guys.

What an amazing day, for a staunch Red, season ticket holder, to be in the church as a Red gets married, be driven to an exclusive golf club where you have an excellent 4 course meal, a free bar (Vintage champers galore) well it was the most surreal experience of my life, after Istanbul of course.

Having my name card on the table, speaking to Luis Garcia, Paco, Mikel Arteta (who only went to the wedding itself), meeting Xabi and Nagore, having them thank me for coming, and Xabi knowing my name, where i live, where my seat is in the ground, even what kind of work i do, then insist on giving me a cigar even after saying 3 times i dont smoke, putting his hands on both my shoulders and saying "Gareth, please take, just keep it as a memento" an amazing day in an amazing part of Spain.

The tough part was listening to many of his friends (some Sociedad players) singing Rafa's name, which i took as them taking the p!ss, and singing songs about going to live in Madrid. I managed to get a sly word or 2 in about looking forward to next season, he didn't exactly say i wont be there, but his face told me all i needed to know.

Another positive was meeting Luis Garcia. awesome man, he was loving how a fan got to go to a players wedding, saying Reds fans can blag there way into anything . Was talking about how he loves our fans so much, loves the city, woolton, sefton park, and how he was just out of contract with Atleti and was in talks with 3 teams in England, managed to get who out of him as well. He would walk back to Anfield he said but knew there would be no chance Rafa would want him. He also told me it looked and sounded like Xabi would end up in Madrid.

All still a bit strange, only had 2 hrs kip and only just got back so sorry if this doesn't read very well.

[Dundalk]

As Sabre said earlier, after being at the club for 5 years it seemed very strange that none of the squad were there