Liverpool FC Forum

by **Toffeehater** » Sun Jun 01, 2008 6:01 am

Number 9 wrote:
woof woof ! wrote:
banana wrote:They have no transfer money for him and he must sell his most valuable players to survive. So he had to choose between:

Gerrard 18 million

Gerrard, £18 million ?

Is this a typo or are you taking the p'iss ?

Its not a typo he always talks sh'ite!!

by **Sabre** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 11:16 pm

Thanks to Nanny red, I've got this quotes of Rafa, which I'll translate. News on Alonso. Source, El Confidencial, a decent paper.

When he was asked about the respect manager gets in England, he answers "This is one of the biggest differences between both countries".

He doesn't plan to return to Spain soon "I still have two years of contract, and if we manage to win the league, the fans and the owners won't let me go".

Benitez explained that he has not much contact with Juande Ramos because he lives in London. "We talk by phone from time to time, and we also do it when we play against each other like in the last match. We get along well, he's a good coach who has a great squad. They'll be contenders to get an European place next season".

He also overruled the rumours concerning an Alonso move to Juve

"Right now, that's not feasible, because he's a very important player to us, and as we speak, there's not offer nor agreement on the matter".

Well, I don't know if Xabi shall move, but at least making some bid war and making it appear a bit difficult is the least I expected.

by **red37** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 12:23 am

Lets hope he stays.

by **JBM** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 5:14 am

Bamaga man wrote:Well if Rafa did sign a quality striker in the mould of David Villa, he'd obviously have to opt for two up front (most of the time). But I dont think that would automatically mean we'd revert to a 4-4-2 again. I saw Sabres Spanish formation in the Euro thread and this line-up could well be a possibilty.

Reina

Finnan Carra Skertel Dossena
/Agger
Mascha

Babel Gerrard Barry
/Kuyt
Torres New striker

But then again that formation looks a bit to cavalier for a pragmatic manager.

Without a doubt we need another striker, particulary with Crouch leaving, I'am very suprised Liverpool aren't trying for David Trezeguet as part of the Alonso deal who has been made availible by Juventus after Amauri's arrival. Even if we dont play two up front there simply isn't backup for Torres.

by **crazyhorse** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 1:18 am

I have heard Villa is available at 14 million.

by **taff** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 2:05 am

Villa for 14 million would be great

If we have to sell Alonso to buy then we are up the creek and the paddles broken. What amazes me is the way Mash has become a saint and Alonso has lost form the truth is in the middle somewhere. Alonso is a class act, both him and Agger were missed when they were injured. Alonso gives us a different perspective on the game that no other player in the club is capable of doing, this is my take on things if he stays and I hope he does

Rafas play is moving for us to be based from defence, from Riise, Hypia Carra and Finan we are moving to players who are more comfortable on the ball and give us more options in attack, hence the recent acquisitions in the club. I think we need Carra still for the PL but the acquisition of Skrtel is the probably the beginning of the end for him although we are a long way off that. Its still our habit of wacking the ball up that destroys the game of an Alonso type player. We desperately need a class winger I would go for the left although Barry is capable of being a good player on the flank and he also covers the middle.

Now Alonso is targeted as he is the playmaker and as much as I love Mash he does not do this role as effectively although compared to Momo he is better at it although Momo was magnificent in being destructive. If the two new fullbacks with Aurelio and Arbeloa extend the wide option then the Alonso role sees him gaining more space and with SG and Torres and even a Villa type player he would be devestating, give him wide options as well and I cant think of anybody else in the PL I would rather see pinging the ball about. However with hypia and Carra in defence this becomes harder as the attack from the back tends to be floated balls into space, but reintroduce Agger with Carra and Mash providing the defencive coverage then our game takes on a different dimension

Given our money situation I would sacrifice Crouch as his main weakness is mobility although I wouldnt complain if he stayed. Riise thansk for service and I genuinely mean that but your time is up. Kuyt and Babel are good players and support well although Kuyt has to upp his goal tally next season in all seriousness. So if we get Barry for 15 million and Dossena for 7 million which we should be able to afford then selling Crouch and Riise and Carson should give us funds for a Villa or hopefully Villa and somebody else, at the end of the day the Championship teams coming up have 60 million to spend as Sunderland proved last season. We should have more money with our league placing and CL run.

So I would 100% keep Alonso for the reasons stated and would even be happy with one big name signing alongside Barry, anything else would be a bonus, I would even welcome back Garcia as he is mad enough to give Torres some amazing service but not as a big name signing obviously more along the lines of 2 million tops. Voronin, well if he stays handy in League cup and emergencies but if he goes not bothered

What I think has let us down is top quality on the flanks and if we solve that with one or two signings then happy days but to sacrifice Alonso to do so would be like buying a lamp but cutting the leccy off

by **maguskwt** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 6:22 am

JBM wrote:
Bamaga man wrote:Well if Rafa did sign a quality striker in the mould of David Villa, he'd obviously have to opt for two up front (most of the time). But I dont think that would automatically mean we'd revert to a 4-4-2 again. I saw Sabres Spanish formation in the Euro thread and this line-up could well be a possibilty.

Reina

Finnan Carra Skertel Dossena
/Agger
Mascha

Babel Gerrard Barry
/Kuyt
Torres New striker

But then again that formation looks a bit to cavalier for a pragmatic manager.

Without a doubt we need another striker, particulary with Crouch leaving, I'am very suprised Liverpool aren't trying for David Trezeguet as part of the Alonso deal who has been made availible by Juventus after Amauri's arrival. Even if we dont play two up front there simply isn't backup for Torres.

I'd rather go for roque santa cruz than david trezeguet...

by **Owzat** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 6:55 am

crazyhorse wrote:I have heard Villa is available at 14 million.

If that's true then we won't be the only party interested.

by **SundanceKid** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 5:29 am

I don't think any of the top 3 clubs are dumb enough to just let another threatening Spanish striker come to Liverpool.

by **tubby** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 8:58 am

I think Villa himself has been quoted in the last few weeks as saying should he end up in Engand that Arsenal would be his preferred club. We wouldnt be able to spend that much on him anyway.

We should try for Aimar as surley he will be cheap given they got relegated.

by **Bad Bob** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 1:12 pm

Sabre might be able to find the original interview for this to verify if this is what Alonso is saying. If these quotes are accurate, though, it surely means he's off to Juventus. Expressing pride at being linked to a club makes it a dead cert that you're on the verge of signing with them. Gutted. :down:

-------------------
ALONSO PRIDE AT JUVE LINK
Posted 07/06/08 11:00
EmailPrintSave

Xabi Alonso admits he is flattered by Juventus' interest in him, amid speculation his switch from Liverpool to Turin could soon be completed.

The Liverpool midfielder is currently preparing for Spain's Euro 2008 bid against a backdrop of ongoing uncertainty over his future.

Earlier in the summer he rejected out of hand reports that have linked him with a return to Spain, with Real Madrid credited as holding a long-standing interest in his services.

But when quizzed on Juventus, who Liverpool are engaged in discussions with, Alonso conceded it would be an honour to wear the black and white.

"I know the Bianconeri follow me," he told the Gazzetta dello Sport from Spain's training camp.

"I know there has already been contact with Liverpool and my agent too.

"I can say that I am really proud to be linked with a strong and historical side like Juventus."

Alonso went on to his express his admiration for those players that stayed in Turin despite Juventus' demotion to Serie B for the part they played in a match-fixing scandal.

"I know what happened at Juve," he added.

"For this reason I have big respect for (Alessandro) Del Piero, (Gianluigi) Buffon, (Pavel) Nedved and (David) Trezeguet - big champions who had the courage to play in Serie B.

"This is something I like a lot. After four years in La Liga and four years in England, playing in Italy would be like completing my career."

LINK

by **Number 9** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 1:16 pm

I read that earlier and was thinking the same!
Looks like hes off for definate after the Euros!

by **NANNY RED** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 1:19 pm

Totaly and utterly Gutted

by **GOAT** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 1:56 pm

Well we are pretty overloaded in central midfield, if we could use the funds to get a great natural winger or a great striker then it would be useful

Not gareth fecking barry though, just a waste

by **Sabre** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 2:05 pm

I can't confirm those words come from Xabi, I don't find any quotes on him.

The only news this morning in Spain, is this, that Chelsea has joined the bid war for Alonso

http://www.marca.com/edicion....35.html

We'll see. I would find normal the first quotes as that's the kind of thing you'd tell to a Italian journo asking you about Juve. But the player already has told loud and clear what he wants: stay here.

I think Xabi is a quality player and his football mind is faster than most players. But then in John Craig's country they must have another grasp of what quality means, and that's fair enough.

If he has to go, I prefer he goes to Chelsea. The reason is simple, more money for Liverpool. Plus, nobody in the Alonso doubters brigade could be bothered, if he can me marked easily and cost free, fact that I've learned in this forum, then it wouldn't pose any kind of risk to Liverpool when it comes to football. So the best thing is to get as much money as we can.

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