Xabi Alonso

[Bus-Conductor]

I can't believe Benitez is prepared to let Alonso go. Personally I'dd sell Gerrard before letting this fella go. Gerrard will give you one exceptional game every 6.

Alonso just keeps the ball moving game after game, always making himself available, rarely wasting the ball. Gerrard spend half his time whacking the ball 50 yards to no ****. Benitez doesn't trust Gerrard with a regular central midfield spot, so I can't understand why he'd part with one of the top 3 CM's in the country.

Him and Carrick are very similar except Alonso is even better. I'd fucking love him at spurs next to Palacios.

 

[Krafty]

I would be very surprised if they did sell Alonso, but I can kind of see where Rafa is coming from.

When they play the top teams they have a very good team. They are strong defensively, dont over-reach themselves and can counter quickly and effectively. This was the basis of their win against Utd at Old Trafford.

However, they drew a lot of games at Anfield and I think playing Gerard, Alonso and Mascherano was a cause of that. Against teams that come for a point, 5-5-0, you need one of your two central midfielders to get into the box - this man is gerard, not Alonso.

Maybe he thinks 30 odd million is worth it, get someone who can pass the ball nearly as well as Alonso but will get forward. If they could get Aquilani for 10-15 mill it would be a very good move. However, I would rather keep Alonso and get a proper striker to play with Torres (or a proper right winger and move Kuyt upfront)

As Ted DiBiase, the million dollar man, said, everybody has a price. Everybody is gonna pay. Because the million dollar man always gets his way mwahahaha (money money money money moneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey)

 

[deselina]

why bother with a player that doesn't want to play for your team anymore? i can understand bayern since ribery is their best player by far but xabi is no gerrard or torres.

 

[Green Valley]

Where does it say that Liverpool are selling him, and to whom?

 

[deselina]

Where does it say that Liverpool are selling him, and to whom?

madrid are interested and since then alonso practically demands a move to the bernabeu.

arsenal have slapped a 40m pounds price tag on fabregas meanwhile and all the worlds best players are about to sign for either barcelona or madrid, or so it seems.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

I thought he was arguably Liverpool's best and most influential player last season. His brain and feet work very quickly, his passing and understanding of the rhythm and flow of the game is better than almost anyone I have seen in Premiership. There are few ways to stop him dictating the pace of the game.

In fact 7 (yes 7!) players were red carded last season for challenges directly on Alonso in the league. That is 1 in 5 games his speed of thought and feet gives Liverpool a man advantage. I think Liverpool would be crazy to let him go and if he does they should be demanding more than the £40m that Arsenal want for Fabregas, because he is a better and more influential player.

 

[donny1013]

Alonso has every right to want to move to Real as Benitez made it perfectly clear he was prepared to replace him with Barry last summer, so glad he didn't end up Woolwich though. Then he has an amazing season and the Spanish waiter wants to keep him.

 

[SpurSince57]

One of the stumbling-blocks to the Barry deal was that Alonso really likes Liverpool and doesn't want to leave (the city as well as the club). Madrid is obviously more appealing than Brum, though.

 

[mil1lion]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_5461272,00.html

Alonso 'requests transfer'

Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has edged closer to Real Madrid after handing in a transfer request at Anfield, according to reports.

The Spain international has been at the centre of a long-running transfer saga as La Liga giants Madrid have made no secret of their desire to secure a deal.

Liverpool have refused to budge from an asking price for Alonso in the region of £30million, which has stalled any potential move to the Bernabeu.

But the Reds may now be prepared to allow the former Real Sociedad star to leave following accounts he has submitted a written transfer request to the club's hierarchy.

Speculation suggests a deal will be struck with Madrid within the next couple of days for a fee reported to be in the region of £25m.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has maintained he does not want to sell Alonso, but the midfielder is said to have been angered by his manager's apparent desire to sell in order to finance an unsuccessful pursuit of Gareth Barry last summer.

The Reds signed Alonso for £10.5m in 2004, shortly after Benitez arrived on Merseyside, and the 27-year-old helped secure the famous UEFA Champions League final success over AC Milan in his debut season.

Bad news for Liverpool this. But i guess it serves them right after their persuit of Barry and Keane last summer.

 

[kcmei]

seems pool are in a little trouble with the 2 spanish giants tapping up their defense midfielders. I guess you gotta blame the city...both players seem to detest living in it

 

[jay_els]

One of the stumbling-blocks to the Barry deal was that Alonso really likes Liverpool and doesn't want to leave (the city as well as the club). Madrid is obviously more appealing than Brum, though.

Alonso was never going to live in Brum, why would he want to live in Brum?

 

[jay_els]

And to say Gerrard only has one good game out of every 6 is insane! The most complete all round midfielder there is in the game today. True world class.

 

[donny1013]

Yet more quality leaving the EPL. Bet the scousers are really happy hearing that Cattermole is being lined up to replace the cultured Spanish midfielder.

 

[jay_els]

Yet more quality leaving the EPL.

Can only be good news for us when quality is being stripped from the top 4, and this is the just the beginning.

 

[donny1013]

Can only be good news for us when quality is being stripped from the top 4, and this is the just the beginning.

Valid point. I just think it's a shame that the EPL is beginning to lose some of it's superstars. It is definately in part, down to the strength of the Euro but also La Liga is now the place to be.

 

[Goldman]

Yet more quality leaving the EPL. Bet the scousers are really happy hearing that Cattermole is being lined up to replace the cultured Spanish midfielder.

This could be due to the whole 6+5 rule, forcing Liverpool to invest in some young english talent.

 

[donny1013]

This could be due to the whole 6+5 rule, forcing Liverpool to invest in some young english talent.

They had agent Barry Silkman on SSN earlier and he was saying it is now more likely to be a 4+7. He also said about the EU laws which might see this ruling not even materialise. It could be very detrimental to the EPL if this happens, foreign players such as Ronaldo, Henry's, Zola's along the years have lit up the EPL. If there are English players that are good enough then they will surely make it. I think the rule should actually be for teams youth sides as if you look at Liverpool's or Chelski's they are packed with foreign youngsters.

 

[Kendall]

Alonso was never going to live in Brum, why would he want to live in Brum?

Liverpool tried to use Alonso as a makeweight occording to reports last summer.

 

[Kendall]

They had agent Barry Silkman on SSN earlier and he was saying it is now more likely to be a 4+7. He also said about the EU laws which might see this ruling not even materialise. It could be very detrimental to the EPL if this happens, foreign players such as Ronaldo, Henry's, Zola's along the years have lit up the EPL. If there are English players that are good enough then they will surely make it. I think the rule should actually be for teams youth sides as if you look at Liverpool's or Chelski's they are packed with foreign youngsters.

I don't really see how they could get away with it to be honest. It's discrimination and simply not likely to get passed in this country. There will be legal action and appeals taking place all over the shop.

 

[Kyras]

Replacing Alonso with Cattermole would be like replacing a Bentley Continental GT with a Hyundai Accent Coupé 1.3i.

Rafa needs a proper replacement in the Carrick mould if he sells Alonso.