Liverpool FC Forum

by **Simari** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 11:31 am

ConnO'var wrote:Fair point..... However, it should be taken into consideration that we have Momo as an example.... He'd lost confidence and form for us but we still managed to get 10 million quid (Wiki says 13 million Euros) for him..... which is a fair amount for a player which many of us had given up on.

..............................

The way this has been handled must be humiliating to such a talented and model professional such as himself. All the hullabaloo in the press and the effect it may have had on the player's psyche can't be good if he stays.

Momo is a disruptor and even after his injury played that role very well. He can't hold onto the ball though, and still has the same issues at Juve. He is much younger than Xabi, hence the price was acceptable.

As you mention, Xabi would suite Spain / Italy very well. However, he is 25 and has had a very average couple of years. Unlike Momo, he has neither contributed with telling passes nor goals from midfield. He has the talent but has not performed and his valuation fairly reflects that (12-14 mill pounds).

I do agree with your last comment - he is a true professional. I also believe his professionalism is what will help see him through the turbulent period in his career, and perhaps Rafa should give him one more year to re-discover his touch. If he doesn't deliver, he won't be worth more than 10mill pounds, but will go on to re-discover his form wherever he ends up.

by **Igor Zidane** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 11:32 am

Fo Dne wrote:
bigmick wrote:
puroresu wrote:
Red H wrote:how about this for a tough midfield GB JM XA SGno width but hard to play through.
no thanks. When teams ask us to break them down we struggle with no width.
Well we saw last season that while Alonso and Masherano as a central pairing does provide defensive solidity, the sight of the two of them playing the whole 90 minutes within ten paces of each other doesn't do a whole lot for us from an attacking sense. If (and FWIW despite what some of the people have apparently said on RAWK I think it's unlikely) Rafa still considers Xabi as part of his first choice central midfield pairing, then surely we are going to see Alonso encouraged to be much more expansive in his game. I've said it many times that I think he is very capable of providing that umbilical chord to the front men, if he stays and plays he desperately needs to develop his game, or be allowed so to do. Like I said though, I don't actually think it will happen. If we play 4-4-2, our midfield will be Barry, Masherano, Gerrard and Kuyt as a first choice combination, IMHO of course.

It would be a hell of a strong midfield.

What all the numbnutz and "pace, pace pacers" don't understand is how much ball rentention counts for breaking sides down aswell as other things. What some teams lack in quality they can make up for by keeping the ball. The fact is if you have four good midfielders like Xabi, Mascherano, Barry and Gerrard, they all know not to needlessly give the ball away and all of them are capable of making something happen should the oppurtunity arise.

The problems in the past have always stemmed from having a Babel, or Bennayoun or a Pennant in the side and being off form and everything breaking down with them giving the ball away. Having one player giving the ball away in games is extremely frustrating for yourself aswell as the rhythm of the side and it can cause alot of problems. Just as having one player playing a blinder can sometimes win you a game.

The fact is with those players in midfield we've got alot consistency and no weak link to give the ball away time and time again.

Agreed with that stu , just to add aswell that the ball retention upfront should be alot better with the addition of keane . This in itself will give the likes of Gerrard and barry and possible alonso and the two (supposed) attacking fullbacks a greater chance of breaking forward ,to create or take scoring situations .

by **66-1112520797** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 11:45 am

You need a bit more than ball retention in breaking teams down, movement helps too. With the ability to take a man on occasionally. That midfield does look strong though, probably stronger in its defensive duties than making something happen down the other end. I reckon it looks to one dimensional in that aspect.

by **Igor Zidane** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 12:12 pm

Bamaga man wrote:You need a bit more than ball retention in breaking teams down, movement helps too. With the ability to take a man on occasionally. That midfield does look strong though, probably stronger in its defensive duties than making something happen down the other end. I reckon it looks to one dimensional.

I think that's the idea of the midfield being abit more defensive . In theory anyway , it should allow the fullbacks to bomb forward and not worry about there defensive duties so much in the oppo's half ,because the cover is there from the midfield , this is where (in theory again ) the width is created to put balls in the box from wide areas.

and you can quote me on that.

by **66-1112520797** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 12:17 pm

Igor Zidane wrote:
Bamaga man wrote:You need a bit more than ball retention in breaking teams down, movement helps too. With the ability to take a man on occasionally. That midfield does look strong though, probably stronger in its defensive duties than making something happen down the other end. I reckon it looks to one dimensional.

I think that's the idea of the midfield being abit more defensive . In theory anyway , it should allow the fullbacks to bomb forward and not worry about there defensive duties so much in the oppo's half ,because the cover is there from the midfield , this is where (in theory again ) the width is created to put balls in the box from wide areas.

and you can quote me on that.

Okay Igor.

^^ And you can quote me on that too.

by **account deleted by request** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 10:31 pm

Benitez keen to keep Alonso rather than let him leave Liverpool on the cheap

Last updated at 10:07 PM on 03rd August 2008

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez insists he would rather keep Xabi Alonso at Anfield this season than let him leave on the cheap.

Liverpool were hoping to raise £16million but Juventus, Inter Milan and Fenerbahce would not match that valuation for the Spain midfielder.

---------------------------------------------

After Alonso scored a penalty in Saturday's 4-0 win over Rangers, Benitez said: 'We don't want him to go unless it was a very good price.'

link

I am not sure if this is a good thing, or just another blow to the ones Alonso has already suffered.

by **puroresu** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 10:42 pm

s@int wrote:Benitez keen to keep Alonso rather than let him leave Liverpool on the cheap

Last updated at 10:07 PM on 03rd August 2008

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez insists he would rather keep Xabi Alonso at Anfield this season than let him leave on the cheap.

Liverpool were hoping to raise £16million but Juventus, Inter Milan and Fenerbahce would not match that valuation for the Spain midfielder.

---------------------------------------------

After Alonso scored a penalty in Saturday's 4-0 win over Rangers, Benitez said: 'We don't want him to go unless it was a very good price.'

link

I am not sure if this is a good thing, or just another blow to the ones Alonso has already suffered.

It's still telling the player that he isnt really wanted and it would of been nice if the Juve deal came off.

by **account deleted by request** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:33 am

Arsenal have set their sights on Xabi Alonso and have opened talks with Liverpool for the classy midfielder. Rafa Benitez has told Alonso he can leave, and clubs throughout Europe have been informed of his availability. Since a proposed switch to Juventus fell through earlier this summer only Turkish club Fenerbahce had shown any serious interest, but now Arsene Wenger has thrown his hat into the ring with a preliminary enquiry.

He was given short shrift by the Liverpool board, who are not keen to sell the Spanish playmaker to one of our main rivals and were also unimpressed with the London club’s paltry £10m valuation of the player. However, Benitez’s continued pursuit of Villa skipper Gareth Barry is giving Arsenal hope that a deal can be done.

Initially, Benitez sold the deal to his board by claiming he could move out Alonso and bring in Barry for a significant profit. Villa’s steadfast refusal to budge on their £18m valuation, plus expected interest in Alonso from Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid failing to materialise, has ensured that the reds will probably lose money if it goes ahead. American owners Gillett and Hicks asked Benitez to re-evaluate the merits of the deal, but Benitez insisted he still wanted Barry and the board re-entered talks with Villa early last week.

Villa broke off those talks in bizarre circumstances on Wednesday, when they put out a statement on their official website that the deal was off as they had imposed a 5pm completion deadline that Liverpool had failed to meet.

Since then, Liverpool have made no attempt to resurrect the deal, but Martin O’Neill’s comments yesterday evening where he appeared to have accepted defeat in his bid to keep Barry, have put the ball back in Liverpool’s court and Benitez will push for the deal to be completed as soon as possible.

Should that happen, it will leave the club needing to sell players to balance the books and Liverpool’s bargaining position on Alonso will be considerably weaker. Arsenal hope to capitalise on that by landing him in a cut price deal.

The player himself is desperate to remain on Merseyside, he is settled and happy in the area and is a popular figure amongst his team-mates and supporters. Alonso joined the reds in 2004 along with fellow Spaniards Luis Garcia, Antonio Nunez and Josemi, who have all since left the club.

Ripped from TLW

by **metalhead** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:45 am

I think its bollox S@int, it would be the most idiotic decision ever to sell Alonso to Arsenal

by **account deleted by request** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:50 am

I think the more interesting parts of the article are Hicks and Gillett's imput. Like most of us they seem to have reservations as to whether its a "good deal" or even really necessary.

by **metalhead** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:50 am

s@int wrote:I think the more interesting parts of the article are Hicks and Gillett's imput. Like most of us they seem to have reservations as to whether its a "good deal" or even really necessary.

How thoughful of them though :laugh:

by **Kharhaz** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:50 am

metalhead wrote:I think its bollox S@int, it would be the most idiotic decision ever to sell Alonso to Arsenal

Thats true, but many of us think it daft to pay over £20 million for Robbie Keane. And many of us think it daft to sell Alonso to buy Barry. We'll soon see.

by **metalhead** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:54 am

Not many thought paying 20m for Robbie Keane was daft though, because he was their best player and Tottenham aren't even top club.

But selling Alonso to another title contender is really daft.

by **Kharhaz** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:58 am

metalhead wrote:Not many thought paying 20m for Robbie Keane was daft though, because he was their best player and Tottenham aren't even top club.

But selling Alonso to another title contender is really daft.

But thats just it, he wasnt there best player. And like you say, they are not a top club. Glad we have the lad but at £20 million, we was robbed.

by **metalhead** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 1:07 am

Well, if we did sell Alonso for a cut price deal, then we were ripped off.

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