Welcome, Albert. Welcome back, Xabi.

[Nick Leeson]

As great as Riera has started playing in his own right, with his threatening runs and unexpected effort when he's been tracking back and getting stuck in; the most major positive it looks like he's brought is a contribution to the revival of Xabi Alonso.

 

With Riera now posing a decent threat down the left it looks like the opposing full-backs have now been finding it harder to come in and swamp the middle, in turn giving Xabi much more room to express himself and play like his did in his first 18 Months.

 

Thanks, Albert and thank God we never bought Gareth Barry.

[Gods back]

.

[Captain]

.

[hamstrung]

;

[Anubis]

;-

[bobhorse]

agree with all of that except the Barry bit that was a bit unfair on Barry and doesnt need to be on here

 

Now what if the Yanks tell Rafa that Alonso Kuyt or a another has to be sold in Jan

 

now is the time to find the extra money for that one extra player with class to add to what we have and push to land Our Trophy

[Nick Leeson]

It wasn't a knock at Barry personally, more pointing out that Barry at Xabi's expense hasn't turned out to necessarily be a step in the right direction. I've thought Xabi has been shit for 2 years now but this is more like the Xabi we all rated as one of the best in Europe. Just glad it's happened.

[Kevin D]

A lot of people owe the Xabi man an apology and I'm sure he accepts.

[RedKnight]

I never thought Barry was better than Xabi and I was in the minority that thought Alonso had been pretty good for the last two years.

[Skidfingers McGonical]

I never thought Barry was better than Xabi and I was in the minority that thought Alonso had been pretty good for the last two years.

 

I thought it would have been a good idea to get rid of Xabi for Barry. I love being proved wrong in cases like this.

[RedKnight]

I thought it would have been a good idea to get rid of Xabi for Barry. I love being proved wrong in cases like this.

 

And kudos for admitting it.

[bigredruss]

he's the key at the moment to why were so good. riera is fast proving to be a great buy, can't wait till he's 100% match fit

[Captain]

I love being proved wrong in cases like this.

 

You've not been proved wrong. We'll never know.

[Gods back]

I thought it would have been a good idea to get rid of Xabi for Barry. I love being proved wrong in cases like this.

 

You were"nt on your own.

 

I thought Xabis days were numbered but he" now producing the form of his first season.

 

Glad to be proved wrong.

[Walton Park]

Me too. I dont mind being proven wrong (unless its by the missus). The thing I have been impresses with is Alonso's aggression. He is having a better season than his first in my opinion.

 

And I also think if we dont build in January if we are in this position it will be a travesty.

[Red-Ed]

Me too - I have to say I thought Xabi had to go - I didn;t feel like he had performed for the last two seasons to the level I thought he was capable of and hence it was time for a change. Even when he'd started off well I thought he might have tailed off somewhat, but he hasn't. And it's great!

 

I really think Riera and Keane have had a lot to do with it as he seems to thrive surrounded by much greater technical players and the one touch stuff we were playing today is right up his street.

[Eiler]

Riera is fucking ace. Everytime he gets the ball I feel absolutely confident that he'll do something clever with it.

[Fugitive]

I'm going to blow my own trumpet and I don't care. I said he would be a good signing during the Summer and I'm being proved right.

 

I also said Dossena would be a good signing as well.

 

Ying and Yang.

[hamstrung]

I didn't want Xabi to go, nor do I think he's been rubbish for 2 years. I wouldn't have minded getting Barry but not at Alonso's expense.

 

Everyone's a winner.

[Eiler]

I didn't want Xabi to go, nor do I think he's been rubbish for 2 years. I wouldn't have minded getting Barry but not at Alonso's expense.

 

Everyone's a winner.

 

Juve?

[Torvald Utne]

I'm going to blow my own trumpet and I don't care. I said he would be a good signing during the Summer and I'm being proved right.

I also said Dossena would be a good signing as well.

 

Ying and Yang.

 

don't write him off yet...there's potential in that boy I tell ya

[Red Nick]

I never thought Barry was better than Xabi and I was in the minority that thought Alonso had been pretty good for the last two years.

 

I agree with you but I think most people miss the point in that if Barry had been bought we would be playing a different system now.

[Kevin D]

Fabio is a much better player than Dossena , no offence. I'm not mixing words , I thought selling Xabi and buying Barry was lunacy and even slightly perverse. Although I'm starting to suspect that Rafa is some kind of genuis and was just trying to get Alonso to play even more agressively with the Barry interest.

 

Agger deserves to be welcomed back too , he was ace.

[mattyq]

Xabi was under pressure and has upped his game. It's the Liverpool way

[Chocoholic]

Xabi has been immense this season. He will continue to do so and will be a major contributor to our title charge, with or without goals.