RE: Alonso

Dont sell him Rafa, last season we got 7 red cards in our favour via Alonso (7x3 = 21 points!)

Posted by: squirrel32 | July 11, 2009 5:26 PM

It's so funny to see Liverpool whine that 27 million is cheeky when Rafa tried to dump him for 18 mill just the year before. If the player is set to leave he will, no coach will keep someone who's heart is set on another team.

Posted by: Ahmad | July 11, 2009 5:39 PM

Ahmad, I don't think you'd find many real Reds were delighted at the prospect of him leaving first time around.

And now he's produced the form we all know he's capable of, the threat of his departure is even more difficult to comprehend.

Posted by: Editor Dan | July 11, 2009 5:56 PM

You were gonna sell him for less last summer.

Posted by: bert | July 11, 2009 6:07 PM

Proof, if ever it were needed, that no one actually reads other people's comments :D

Posted by: Editor Dan | July 11, 2009 6:09 PM

Ahmed - Rafa, never said he wanted to sell, he said he would listen to offers and would only sell for a figure in his head. No one met that figure, we kept a player, whom by his own high standards had a poor season. However, Xabi is back to how well we know he can play - nothing short of £30 is a piss take. your really saying Ronaldo is double the player? No chance. So much press speculation and false claims leads to wools over reacting. We're the only top 4 side who has not sold, and are improving our side imo - Southern fairies and manc loving press - are lapping this up. We dont need to sell, we dont have nearly 1 billion of debt ala united \ chavs...

Posted by: Jamesie | July 11, 2009 6:19 PM

Ahmad.

Beginning of last season Alonso's value was around £18m. Coupled with some fantastic displays and "Man of the Match" awards, the clubs valuation of him rightly increased to what we now value him at around £35m.

What is the problem or do you think that a players value cannot go rise or fall based on displays during the season?

Posted by: Mez | July 11, 2009 6:23 PM

Yes, I agree that everyone has forgot that Real Madrid have spent exhorbitantly, and do not want to pay the fair asking price on a player that is one of the rarest commodity in this position at the moment.
Alonso is a class act; talent like his is rare to find, therefore Madrid should meet the asking price or buzz off for good!!!!

Posted by: Nigel | July 11, 2009 7:20 PM

Rafa needs to come to his senses - fast.

Alonso is irreplaceable in terms of the way Liverpool play. How much would it take to replace his passing ability? How many other players can deliver the ball to Liverpool's (relatively new) wide players? Now there's Johnson to overlap Kuyt, there'll be extra reason to value Xabi's precision. Rafa should tell Real to shove their 30M. And at the same time he should stop chastising him for lack of loyalty. Rafa is weak in one area of man-management - he needs to learn to recognise which kind of player needs an arm around the shoulder and a confidence boost. Xabi is such a player - and actually so too was Penant. But there's one exit this season that we can all feel good about.

Posted by: redrocket | July 11, 2009 8:37 PM

Ahmad, there's a small matter of a 3 year contract that Xabi is still tied to... with having 3 years left, it gives Rafa much more bargaining power if he decides to negoatiate with another club...

Besides, we have the best midfield in England and one of the best in Europe at the moment, so why would Rafa want to break it up?

Posted by: Si | July 12, 2009 7:51 AM

If it wasn't for Real Madrid over spending the market wouldn't be so ridiculous and Alonso would be worth 35mil pounds. But now, if Ronaldo 80m, Kaka 52m, offers for Torres 65m - of course Xabi should be more expensive than 35m...

Posted by: MB LFC | July 12, 2009 11:28 AM

Business is business but....pre-season training underway and no sign of a replacement in the wings, it seems unlikely Alonso will be sold. If we had to re-shuffle things we could bring Stevie back into a passing midfield role but then who partners Torres? Owen has gone to the dark side and we've struggled with any other alternatives last season. Nope, my money says he's staying.So expect to read he's been sold tomorrow then :)

Posted by: Topredman | July 12, 2009 1:36 PM

When Real's new president, florentino perez was elected he promised to bring the best players both spanish and international. He also described Xabi as the 'best passer of the ball in europe'. Now surely £35mil for a player he holds in such hi regard is pocket change when compared with the other signings he has made. Xabi IS THAT good, but as rafa said no one knew him before signing for us and he has 3 yrs on his contract. I love the guy and would hate to see him go, but if and only if Xabi asks to leave, Real should pay £35mil if not more. Personally i think £25mil plus Van der vaart or schneider would be terrific business. We could then play a 4-3-3 with Gerrard, masch and the players we would receive in part ex. Then use the £25mil on a striker, Huntelaar would be great back up for nando as he can play upfront on his own. Anyway enough fantasy football talk, Xabi and Masch should pledge there allegiance to the mighty reds!!!!

Posted by: Dr Jones | July 12, 2009 3:01 PM

A. has given 5 good years to the Reds in England; He is 28 years old and has the chance to go back to his home country, to one of the top teams and maybe even win their tenth champions league in their own stadium while playing besides some of the best players in the world, the same year of the world cup which he has a chance to win with Spain. How dare he wants to go? He must be crazy? what is he thinking? Come on people, is it that hard to see why? When a player has his heart elsewhere is better to let him go, who wants a girlfriend that's thinking of another guy while with you?...

Posted by: Coqui | July 14, 2009 2:14 AM

Hi mate, i don't know if you are still going to keep the blog going, but if you do, contact me and we'll do a link swap
Adam

Posted by: Adam | December 12, 2009 2:04 PM