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Xabi sent off last night - Blessing in disguise?
Posted:
Sun Sep 09, 2007 10:41 amby Well Red
Right, there aren't many topics to discuss over an international break, however one thing of interest was that Xabi got sent off last night for Spain against Iceland. It happened after about half an hour and was for what appeared to be a stamp... straight red to boot.
Now, as much as I don't condone this behaviour in any way - I'll be as disappointed as anyone if I find out that he did stamp on the Iceland player - could it be that this is a blessing in disguise for us? People say we have strength in depth and whilst I agree with that, Alonso is still one of the first names on the team sheet if he is sully fit as far as I'm concerned. This suspension which he'll serve (presumably for three Int'l matches) means he'll probably be returning to Melwood today and be 100% fit for the next game away to Pompey, as well as not travelling out during the next international break!
call me cynical, or call me a diehard Kopite - but this suits us!
/discuss 
PS. if anyone can find a video of the "stamp" anywhere out there, then please post a link!
Posted:
Sun Sep 09, 2007 11:03 amby Sabre
Well I can see no disadvantages on this for Liverpool, and it's indeed good for the club. This is only bad for the player
Alonso might be punnished by Aragones for this, and this will make Alonso trying harder to come back to the national squad, so it really doesn't affect negatively the club.
Posted:
Sun Sep 09, 2007 11:04 amby Well Red
I'm guessing you saw the match Sabre. Was it a stamp? 
Posted:
Sun Sep 09, 2007 11:14 amby Sabre
Yes it was, he can't be too proud about that but this things happen from time to time in football.
I wanted to add that in the big picture, I consider good for Liverpool to have internationals. Just because he is international, Alonso has more value in the market, which ultimately is good for the club.
Posted:
Sun Sep 09, 2007 12:09 pmby aCe'
Unacceptable regardless of how you look at it really…
Would have been fuming if he had done that in a Liverpool game…
He most definitely will find it difficult to get back in that Spanish starting 11 now with players like Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Albelda, Guti, Baraja, Senna, and even De la pena all pushing for a spot in the central midfield position…. Wouldn’t blame aragones if he throws xabi out of the squad really… cant say he doesn’t have adequate cover !
As for Liverpool… iv said it before and ill say it again… mascherano ahead of xabi any day of the week… brilliant passer and talented player but still think mascherano is the better player of the two…
Posted:
Sun Sep 09, 2007 12:45 pmby Lando_Griffin
aCe' wrote:Unacceptable regardless of how you look at it really…
Would have been fuming if he had done that in a Liverpool game…
He most definitely will find it difficult to get back in that Spanish starting 11 now with players like Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Albelda, Guti, Baraja, Senna, and even De la pena all pushing for a spot in the central midfield position…. Wouldn’t blame aragones if he throws xabi out of the squad really… cant say he doesn’t have adequate cover !
As for Liverpool… iv said it before and ill say it again… mascherano ahead of xabi any day of the week… brilliant passer and talented player but still think mascherano is the better player of the two…
And I still think you're an idiot. 
Posted:
Sun Sep 09, 2007 12:59 pmby aCe'
Lando_Griffin wrote:aCe' wrote:Unacceptable regardless of how you look at it really…
Would have been fuming if he had done that in a Liverpool game…
He most definitely will find it difficult to get back in that Spanish starting 11 now with players like Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Albelda, Guti, Baraja, Senna, and even De la pena all pushing for a spot in the central midfield position…. Wouldn’t blame aragones if he throws xabi out of the squad really… cant say he doesn’t have adequate cover !
As for Liverpool… iv said it before and ill say it again… mascherano ahead of xabi any day of the week… brilliant passer and talented player but still think mascherano is the better player of the two…
And I still think you're an idiot.
hah...
well you know best .
Posted:
Sun Sep 09, 2007 1:29 pmby Sabre
aCe' wrote:Unacceptable regardless of how you look at it really…
Would have been fuming if he had done that in a Liverpool game…
He most definitely will find it difficult to get back in that Spanish starting 11 now with players like Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Albelda, Guti, Baraja, Senna, and even De la pena all pushing for a spot in the central midfield position…. Wouldn’t blame aragones if he throws xabi out of the squad really… cant say he doesn’t have adequate cover !
As for Liverpool… iv said it before and ill say it again… mascherano ahead of xabi any day of the week… brilliant passer and talented player but still think mascherano is the better player of the two…
I don't know how Iniesta, Fabregas can be compared as midfielders as their role is totally different.
Albelda is the man that competes with Xavi and he's already 30. Alonso will be punished as in he might not start in the starting eleven the next games, but De la Peña? Senna? do you live in the past?
Posted:
Sun Sep 09, 2007 1:52 pmby LFC2007
Lando_Griffin wrote:aCe' wrote:Unacceptable regardless of how you look at it really…
Would have been fuming if he had done that in a Liverpool game…
He most definitely will find it difficult to get back in that Spanish starting 11 now with players like Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Albelda, Guti, Baraja, Senna, and even De la pena all pushing for a spot in the central midfield position…. Wouldn’t blame aragones if he throws xabi out of the squad really… cant say he doesn’t have adequate cover !
As for Liverpool… iv said it before and ill say it again… mascherano ahead of xabi any day of the week… brilliant passer and talented player but still think mascherano is the better player of the two…
And I still think you're an idiot.
Posted:
Sun Sep 09, 2007 2:15 pmby RedBlood
i hope he gets banned and stays fresh and fit for us
Posted:
Sun Sep 09, 2007 3:36 pmby aCe'
Sabre wrote:aCe' wrote:Unacceptable regardless of how you look at it really…
Would have been fuming if he had done that in a Liverpool game…
He most definitely will find it difficult to get back in that Spanish starting 11 now with players like Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Albelda, Guti, Baraja, Senna, and even De la pena all pushing for a spot in the central midfield position…. Wouldn’t blame aragones if he throws xabi out of the squad really… cant say he doesn’t have adequate cover !
As for Liverpool… iv said it before and ill say it again… mascherano ahead of xabi any day of the week… brilliant passer and talented player but still think mascherano is the better player of the two…
I don't know how Iniesta, Fabregas can be compared as midfielders as their role is totally different.
Albelda is the man that competes with Xavi and he's already 30. Alonso will be punished as in he might not start in the starting eleven the next games, but De la Peña? Senna? do you live in the past?
well look at it however it is you want to...
but with 2 forwards and 4 defenders you have 4 midfielders... atleast one of them a winger (joaquin, silva...etc) other positions can be filld up with one of Albelda (aragones fav.) Fabregas, Xavi, Iniesta, Guti or Xabi... and thats if Silva(vicente) isnt playing.
de la pena is a brilliant footballer ud think u being a spaniard ud notice if it wasnt for his recent injury id expect him to have been in the squad after having a brilliant season last year..
Posted:
Sun Sep 09, 2007 3:53 pmby Sabre
well look at it however it is you want to...
but with 2 forwards and 4 defenders you have 4 midfielders... atleast one of them a winger (joaquin, silva...etc) other positions can be filld up with one of Albelda (aragones fav.) Fabregas, Xavi, Iniesta, Guti or Xabi... and thats if Silva(vicente) isnt playing.
No manager would play 2 strikers, an attacking player like Silva, and then combinations of players like Iniesta-Guti-Xavi or Joaquin. You have to recover balls and you need some strenght in real football, so I foresee a bright future for Xabi no matter how much you want to underrate our player. The real competition is among the playes that have an attacking profile and that's why men like Arteta still haven't got a chance to play a friendly for Spain.
Albelda is the only player who's an alternative to Alonso right now. He's tough tackling and has experience and he has been Aragones' right hand many years, not only in the international stage. Even so, Aragones has played Alonso quite much in the world cup and other games, and he's being alternating the two players depending on the game. Under any other coach, I think Alonso would be first choice as far as I can hear to football men here.
de la pena is a brilliant footballer ud think u being a spaniard ud notice if it wasnt for his recent injury id expect him to have been in the squad after having a brilliant season last year..
De la Peña is a well known player. As well known as known since 1991 or something when he started to appear in the lower spanish international squad. Way before he became famous after a promising start in his home club Barcelona. Small defensive work, accurate last and deep passes when he has the day, unnoticed many weeks in tough games. He has quality, but he has a hell to make it back to the spanish squad for the same reasons Arteta's never got a chance. Fabregas, Iniesta, and Xabi are on front of him for that role, and the latter might have some troubles to make it into the team in the near future, I reckon.
Football is more than a dribling or a last pass, you also need complete footballers, in which things like height, strength and positioning are important and that's why Alonso will make it to the national squad, and that's why Alonso is playing in Liverpool and De la Peña in R.C.D. Espanyol. Says it all really. To complement this mentioned important attributes Alonso has a good long ball and range efforts, and is a good free-kick and corner taker, so I think his CV is quite complete to make it in almost any squad.
Posted:
Sun Sep 09, 2007 3:55 pmby Alonso14
Xabi needed to add a nasty streak to he's game. He is way to nice, start crunching into players from now on. Show we can play pretty football but if need be we can bruise are way to a scrappy win aswell.
Posted:
Sun Sep 09, 2007 3:58 pmby Lando_Griffin
aCe' wrote:Lando_Griffin wrote:aCe' wrote:Unacceptable regardless of how you look at it really…
Would have been fuming if he had done that in a Liverpool game…
He most definitely will find it difficult to get back in that Spanish starting 11 now with players like Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Albelda, Guti, Baraja, Senna, and even De la pena all pushing for a spot in the central midfield position…. Wouldn’t blame aragones if he throws xabi out of the squad really… cant say he doesn’t have adequate cover !
As for Liverpool… iv said it before and ill say it again… mascherano ahead of xabi any day of the week… brilliant passer and talented player but still think mascherano is the better player of the two…
And I still think you're an idiot.
hah...
well you know best .
Correct.
Posted:
Sun Sep 09, 2007 3:58 pmby MightyLFC
Yes he is to nice