Liverpool FC Forum

[bunglemark2]

Nowt on LFC.tv about all of this.....not surprisingly.....I reckon if it was there, that'd be that

[Dundalk]

There wont be anything on the official site until the deal is done and dusted

It will be last place to have the news up

[account deleted by request]

God knows what Rafa's been up to Saint.

I can't figure the man out at all.

Me neither Misty.

and it has been suggested that the paperwork was prepared at least a month in advance.

This bit can only have been included to put Alonso in a bad light.

[Greavesie]

Latest From Balague



Alonso Transfer Request Confirmed - and Denied

Following today`s press reports that Xabi Alonso has handed in a written transfer request; we have been inundated with questions from fans asking if this is true...


In response, I can only say that this is a very complicated situation and I am hearing conflicting versions of events: the player`s entourage are denying that Xabi Alonso has handed in a transfer request; while on the other hand, Liverpool Football Club insists that a transfer request was submitted to the club last night, and it has been suggested that the paperwork was prepared at least a month in advance.


I am of the opinion that the decision to make this public knowledge represents an attempt to speed up the negotiations while simultaneously making it known that it is the player who wants to leave.


As has been widely reported, Rafa Benitez had effectively placed a 48 hour deadline on the deal and it is apparent that Liverpool want this matter resolved once and for all, today, so that they can plan for life with, or without, Alonso from tomorrow. However, Real Madrid – or should we say Florentino Perez – may stubbornly refuse to be seen to pressured into reacting to any ultimatum and, furthermore, the Spanish club are encountering difficulties in offloading players to raise funds and free up space in an overloaded squad.

On the other hand, it is possible that a fee could be agreed today and that Liverpool accept an immediate first instalment with subsequent payments made at a later date covering the total amount.


The ball has now been placed in Real Madrid`s court and it is impossible to second guess what their next move will be. It is evident that at least one party wants the matter resolved today, but whether or not they get their wish remains to be seen...

Pretty strange goings on there mate. Is it just Rafa trying to come across as the innocent party or do you think there is more to it?

this is looking a bit like the Gerrard-Chelsea fiasco 

[SouthCoastShankly]

Latest From Balague



Alonso Transfer Request Confirmed - and Denied

Following today`s press reports that Xabi Alonso has handed in a written transfer request; we have been inundated with questions from fans asking if this is true...


In response, I can only say that this is a very complicated situation and I am hearing conflicting versions of events: the player`s entourage are denying that Xabi Alonso has handed in a transfer request; while on the other hand, Liverpool Football Club insists that a transfer request was submitted to the club last night, and it has been suggested that the paperwork was prepared at least a month in advance.


I am of the opinion that the decision to make this public knowledge represents an attempt to speed up the negotiations while simultaneously making it known that it is the player who wants to leave.


As has been widely reported, Rafa Benitez had effectively placed a 48 hour deadline on the deal and it is apparent that Liverpool want this matter resolved once and for all, today, so that they can plan for life with, or without, Alonso from tomorrow. However, Real Madrid – or should we say Florentino Perez – may stubbornly refuse to be seen to pressured into reacting to any ultimatum and, furthermore, the Spanish club are encountering difficulties in offloading players to raise funds and free up space in an overloaded squad.

On the other hand, it is possible that a fee could be agreed today and that Liverpool accept an immediate first instalment with subsequent payments made at a later date covering the total amount.


The ball has now been placed in Real Madrid`s court and it is impossible to second guess what their next move will be. It is evident that at least one party wants the matter resolved today, but whether or not they get their wish remains to be seen...

Pretty strange goings on there mate. Is it just Rafa trying to come across as the innocent party or do you think there is more to it?

this is looking a bit like the Gerrard-Chelsea fiasco 

Hopefully a last minute u-turn from Alonso then.

[al_cud]

So what do we do now then? Play lucas? Or Steve into midfield? Which means a new striker. Or we try and let Babel go up top with Torres.

as it stands today i'd play lucas against spurs. dropping gerrard back isn't the answer. him and mascherano aren't a good central midfield partnership.

^ Looney.

Like a previous post I made. Spearing is better than Lucas, so play him and develop some new talent.

I don't think he's anywhere near as talented as Lucas personally. I don't think that necessarily has to mean there isn't a career at Liverpool for him though.

He's also a better right back than central midfielder anyway so the argument is somewhat irrelevant.

You must be the one and only fan who has used the word talented and Lucas in the same sentence.

Mental. Your credentials as a fan with a valid opinion is now damaged.

i agree with stmicheal with lucas being better. i also don't think spearing will make it at this level, hope im wrong of course. i just think people rate him so high around town because he is a local lad.

i think (hope) lucas could improve alot this year.

[account deleted by request]

Worst mistake Rafa ever made getting rid of Parry. This could have all been fkn Parry's  fault and everyone else could have walked away smiling.

[REDTILLDEAD]

So what do we do now then? Play lucas? Or Steve into midfield? Which means a new striker. Or we try and let Babel go up top with Torres.

as it stands today i'd play lucas against spurs. dropping gerrard back isn't the answer. him and mascherano aren't a good central midfield partnership.

^ Looney.

Like a previous post I made. Spearing is better than Lucas, so play him and develop some new talent.

I don't think he's anywhere near as talented as Lucas personally. I don't think that necessarily has to mean there isn't a career at Liverpool for him though.

He's also a better right back than central midfielder anyway so the argument is somewhat irrelevant.

You must be the one and only fan who has used the word talented and Lucas in the same sentence.

Mental. Your credentials as a fan with a valid opinion is now damaged.

i agree with stmicheal with lucas being better. i also don't think spearing will make it at this level, hope im wrong of course. i just think people rate him so high around town because he is a local lad.

i think (hope) lucas could improve alot this year.

FFS....lucas improve??....lucas should be fukked right off! along with a few others.

[Reg]

In Lucas I trust.    He came on in leaps and bounds in the second half of last season. Give the lad a chance and its 10% of the stadium money straight away in the bank.

[Bad Bob]

If its a case that Liverpool have released the news that he handed in a transfer (which it looks like) then its Rafa trying not be the bad one in all of this. He know Alonso is a fans fav and I suppose the pressure is all on Alonso now and it makes it look like he is really pushing to get away from the club. The truth about it is though that if the 2 clubs had have agreed a fee then Xabi would be gone weeks ago. Its all about the fee and has been for a long time, its just coming to a head now, at last!

Spot on, mate.  I reckon Alonso made his desire to leave clear to Benitez as far back as the end of the season (didn't Bascombe suggest as much?) and since then it's completely been about the price.  It would certainly explain why neither Xabi nor Rafa have been exactly forthcoming when asked to comment on Alonso's future at Liverpool and why each have been keen to put the ball in the other's court when questioned by the press (the ubiquitous "you'll have to ask him" comments).  With the respective valuations so far apart, neither could afford to say anything definitive and risk looking like a mug if a deal couldn't be hammered out.

For their part, Madrid seem to have decided that because Xabi wants the move, we'll have no choice but to sell him for the price they're comfortable with and so have tried to do their usual poking and prodding through the media.  Unfortunately for them, Rafa has held fairly firm with his price.  But, with time marching on now there's a need for a firm resolution, which will no doubt require both clubs to compromise a little on their valuations.  IMO, by forcing Alonso to hand in a transfer request, Rafa is sending the message to supporters that we must sell him and that paves the way for accepting a lower offer.  I just hope the ultimate fee is closer to our valuation than theirs and that Rafa has someone practically waiting in the wings to sign on the back of this.  The last thing we need is a long drawn out pursuit of Aquilani or Cambiasso or Silva or whoever.  The clock to both the start of the season and the close of the transfer window is ticking...

[Reg]

I agree Bob, Rafa, Alonso, Real have been going thru the motions for the last month, its been down to money since the beginning hence Alonso hasnt felt the need to open his mouth.

[REDTILLDEAD]

In Lucas I trust.    He came on in leaps and bounds in the second half of last season. Give the lad a chance and its 10% of the stadium money straight away in the bank.

What planet are you living on?...god help us if we have to rely on Lucas....he will never be any better than he is now....and thats !........99% of LFC fans think the same. 

[Reg]

Well thank g@d there is 1% who have the ability to think differently.

[bunglemark2]

Who knows ? Maybe this WILL be a good season for Lucas ? God only knows, last year he had more stinkers than not.....I'm optimistic about him this season, and I think HE himself knows it's make or break this year....

[REDTILLDEAD]

Well thank g@d there is 1% who have the ability to think differently.

Mmm...you mean who think Irrationally!....well thank god there's not many of them.