
Dundalk wrote:LFC2007 wrote:Good work Dundalk, what did you have to do to convince him?
A date with Nanny
bigmick wrote:I must admit I always thought talk of 35 million and the like for Alonso was more than a little optimistic. If it is the case that Madrid are prepared to go only as high as 27 million, it shows that while they are going a bit crazy they haven't completely lost their marbles which is a shame in some ways. Just a pity as far as the manager is concerned that nobody else was in for him, a bit of competition might have led to Rafa getting the fee he was looking for. At least from the clubs point of view it means that we are looking like we might well go into the new season with practically the same team as we had last time, which must give us a huge chance.
I've also always liked Ashley Young. I first touted him on here after I saw him bend in a 30 yard free kick for Watford in the Championship play off match at Selhurst Park. He was very obviously destined for much bigger and better things back then, and true to form O'Neill was prepared to pay good money for young British talent. My suspicion is that it will take more though than 20 million quid to get him now, and there may be better options elsewhere in terms of value for money.
bigmick wrote:Lando_Griffin wrote:bigmick wrote:Suicide watchI shouldn't worry too much, people make odd statements as they try and reconcile some of the previous stuff they've come out with against the current reality. It's a bit like when Alonso's form hadn't dipped by even 1% and then he came out last season and played out of his skin, looking like a completely different player. Lines in the sand were swiftly rubbed out and re-drawn as reality replaced fantasy. Now we have no chance of winning the league next season if Xabi is sold, none whatsoever. If we sold Gerrard or Torres I might go along with that, but top player though he is, selling Xabi isn't as much of a body blow.
As for Xabi's mates statements to Sabes about his relationship with Rafa, I wouldn't blame either man for that. They've been at Liverpool together for five seasons, and as I've said before anyone can get on anyones nerves over that period of time, it's just one of them things. In that time period, Xabi has got married and had kids, so whether or not he realises it he will have changed a huge amount as a person, both in his maturity and his outlook. He might well look back in ten years time and conclude that the breakup was actually more of his doing than Rafa's, but no matter these things happen.
The key obviously is what we do to replace him. I've seen the Scott Parker rumours, but feel sure that he is more in the mould of the "one out of four" midfielders than he is a direct replacement. As it is, if Xabi goes then we only have two credible midfielders unless we move Gerrard back, so we do need more cover there anyway.
Ultimately though, the most telling thing which has come out of the last couple of weeks is that for the manager, Alonso "didn't feature in his plans". Obviously we can only guess why that actually is, but mine would be that he wants a midfielder who gets forward more effectively, scores more goals and makes more goals. I haven't off the top of my head got any stand out suggestions for who is that player, but it seems fairly obvious that this is the way the manager sees things developing.
As for Xabi, i wish him all the best. He's been a wonderful professional, and in his last season showed just what a top player he has become.
Wake me up when you do, eh?A strange response to a general point and one of your better football posts. Forgive me though if I don't run with the whole waking up beside you fantasy thing, no offence and all that
bigmick wrote:I must admit I always thought talk of 35 million and the like for Alonso was more than a little optimistic. If it is the case that Madrid are prepared to go only as high as 27 million, it shows that while they are going a bit crazy they haven't completely lost their marbles which is a shame in some ways. Just a pity as far as the manager is concerned that nobody else was in for him, a bit of competition might have led to Rafa getting the fee he was looking for. At least from the clubs point of view it means that we are looking like we might well go into the new season with practically the same team as we had last time, which must give us a huge chance.
I've also always liked Ashley Young. I first touted him on here after I saw him bend in a 30 yard free kick for Watford in the Championship play off match at Selhurst Park. He was very obviously destined for much bigger and better things back then, and true to form O'Neill was prepared to pay good money for young British talent. My suspicion is that it will take more though than 20 million quid to get him now, and there may be better options elsewhere in terms of value for money.
Number 9 wrote:bigmick wrote:I must admit I always thought talk of 35 million and the like for Alonso was more than a little optimistic. If it is the case that Madrid are prepared to go only as high as 27 million, it shows that while they are going a bit crazy they haven't completely lost their marbles which is a shame in some ways. Just a pity as far as the manager is concerned that nobody else was in for him, a bit of competition might have led to Rafa getting the fee he was looking for. At least from the clubs point of view it means that we are looking like we might well go into the new season with practically the same team as we had last time, which must give us a huge chance.
I've also always liked Ashley Young. I first touted him on here after I saw him bend in a 30 yard free kick for Watford in the Championship play off match at Selhurst Park. He was very obviously destined for much bigger and better things back then, and true to form O'Neill was prepared to pay good money for young British talent. My suspicion is that it will take more though than 20 million quid to get him now, and there may be better options elsewhere in terms of value for money.
I love the way you always believe rumours and big you up in the process!
"I first touted him"....I would advocate you to stop that,its like if rafa signs him it will be "yeah i said we should"But if we dont its like we missed out!
Well I told you he should later in the season..this was the missing part of the crux of the wheel,I always advocated the signing of him!
ADVOCATED...does anyone say that?Ever in real life?
Get off yer fuc'king high horse and get yer feet back down,Jesus Christ,the world will still spin with BigD'ick off it..it may even spin a little quicker..............I ADVOCATE A REALITY CHECK!!
bigmick wrote:Number 9 wrote:bigmick wrote:I must admit I always thought talk of 35 million and the like for Alonso was more than a little optimistic. If it is the case that Madrid are prepared to go only as high as 27 million, it shows that while they are going a bit crazy they haven't completely lost their marbles which is a shame in some ways. Just a pity as far as the manager is concerned that nobody else was in for him, a bit of competition might have led to Rafa getting the fee he was looking for. At least from the clubs point of view it means that we are looking like we might well go into the new season with practically the same team as we had last time, which must give us a huge chance.
I've also always liked Ashley Young. I first touted him on here after I saw him bend in a 30 yard free kick for Watford in the Championship play off match at Selhurst Park. He was very obviously destined for much bigger and better things back then, and true to form O'Neill was prepared to pay good money for young British talent. My suspicion is that it will take more though than 20 million quid to get him now, and there may be better options elsewhere in terms of value for money.
I love the way you always believe rumours and big you up in the process!
"I first touted him"....I would advocate you to stop that,its like if rafa signs him it will be "yeah i said we should"But if we dont its like we missed out!
Well I told you he should later in the season..this was the missing part of the crux of the wheel,I always advocated the signing of him!
ADVOCATED...does anyone say that?Ever in real life?
Get off yer fuc'king high horse and get yer feet back down,Jesus Christ,the world will still spin with BigD'ick off it..it may even spin a little quicker..............I ADVOCATE A REALITY CHECK!!
It's a fair one, my posting style does read "high horseish" sometimes, so apologies. I didn't say "advocate" though, I said "touted", as in "I think Ashley Young is a good player and would be well worth a look". I have used "advocated' on here before though no doubt so fair enough.
I'm not "believing' this particular rumour though as it happens. It's reported by Brascome and he writes for an unreliable rag, and besides which I don't think Rafa will buy Young when we've already got Riera to play in his position. We've got more pressing needs than that, and I would "advocate" looking to fill those first.
Fair point on the high horse though, I take it on board.
bigmick wrote:I must admit I always thought talk of 35 million and the like for Alonso was more than a little optimistic. If it is the case that Madrid are prepared to go only as high as 27 million, it shows that while they are going a bit crazy they haven't completely lost their marbles which is a shame in some ways. Just a pity as far as the manager is concerned that nobody else was in for him, a bit of competition might have led to Rafa getting the fee he was looking for. At least from the clubs point of view it means that we are looking like we might well go into the new season with practically the same team as we had last time, which must give us a huge chance.
I've also always liked Ashley Young. I first touted him on here after I saw him bend in a 30 yard free kick for Watford in the Championship play off match at Selhurst Park. He was very obviously destined for much bigger and better things back then, and true to form O'Neill was prepared to pay good money for young British talent. My suspicion is that it will take more though than 20 million quid to get him now, and there may be better options elsewhere in terms of value for money.
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