A thread about a man named Xabi

[Guest Ulysses Everett McGill]

Being reported as £30m + £4m add on's.

If true Very well done Christian Purslow & Rafa.

 

If that's correct, then that's only a million less than what they were asking for

 

Not bad work at all

 

This link with Poulsen, I seem to remember us being linked with Forlan before we signed Torres

[philyhamann]

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[MLB]

He wanted to move, he got the move, I'm glad it's all sorted and we can move on and replace him. No idea who we should sign though I know all the CM experts have their favourites. I thought that Defour looked good so he might be a decent option, especially as he's young enough to develop and probably wouldn't cost megabucks. Poulsen I've not seen much of but at 29 would have to be a stop gap (which is not really what we need right now.)

[MLB]

Oh, and Purslow and Rafa have done well here. They've managed to bring in twice what the player was worth only a year ago. Very good work.

[Dicko]

If that's correct, then that's only a million less than what they were asking for

 

Not bad work at all

 

This link with Poulsen, I seem to remember us being linked with Forlan before we signed Torres

 

Indeed this was Rafa's first big test, looks like he's handled it very well indeed.

One can't be too happy because of the calibre of player we have lost, but if there is a silver lining that would be it.

[RedKnight]

And with that, I'm cutting this thread loose.

 

[YOUTUBE]bIaYfLkpCdg&autoplay=1[/YOUTUBE]

[RoboRiise]

Well I'm still fucked if I know what Xabi was on about with this talk of being forced out.

 

If he means that he didn't feel confident that he was wanted after last summer's shenanigans, I'd be surprised because since then he played well last season and Rafa didn't seem to be looking for reason to sell him this summer - the events of twelve months ago should be water under the bridge for both of them.

 

If he wasn't referring to last summer's events, I hope some kind of explanation leaks out eventually because I'm genuinely mystified - did he flirt with Real Madrid's interest this summer and find himself out on a limb with the club because of it? Was Rafa actually trying to sell him behind his back? Was his agent touting him about for a move and everything got out of hand? I guess we'll never know the truth unless both parties speak about it at some point in the future and both tell the same story because otherwise we still won't know which one to believe.

 

As far as the fee and the available money is concerned, there are usually two reason that a fee remains undisclosed. The first is that one party got bummed and doesn't want to announce it to the world, the other is that the selling club don't want the market to be aware of how much cash they have to spend. Both could apply here, or it could be that Rafa bent over and his old mates at Franco's club agreed not to reveal the full extent of the penetration. Even looking at the cash we now spend won't answer that one way of the other, although I'm sure the speculation will be as frantic and vehement as usual from both of the entrenched camps.

 

As far as this season is concerned though, you can file all that under interesting but unimportant. We need to focus on bringing in some quality and fast.

 

 

Edit: RedKnight out-autoplays the autoplayers. Great moments in history.

[Redexile]

Sorry to see him go.Here's hoping we sign somebody with his skills and el nino's pace.We can all dream.

[Guest Numero Veinticinco]

He was shit anyway. Never did anything good. Did I say he was shit?

 

Yeah. That's right. Shit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*sob*

[Hazel Motes]

Roma fan I know (not of Italian descent but still one who have followed them for many years) says we'd be lucky to get Aquialini for under £20M, since Roma has had higher bids than that during the recent years - from Milan and Chelsea among others. My friend also claims that the best thing with Aquaman is that he never ever plays a bad game, he's always into the matches 100%. He's gutted to see him leave, after Roma's had high hopes for him for so long.

[Closer To God]

Have to say I'm disappointed that TLW did not honor Xabi's departure with a "Server Overload". Poor form.

Just did. Great form! Gotta love this site.

[Code]

Talking of Arteta this is his twitter for today.

 

Hahaha thats superb, sign him up!

[Dr.Filth]

Relieved that the situation has been seemingly resolved, gutted at the way it's turned out.

 

I don't believe that this couldn't not have been resolved if they'd both been willing to compromise a little, but c'est la vie

 

Hope the move makes him happy, although I hope they win fuck all

 

Boss player, boss memories

 

Sums up exactly how I feel.

[Unrighteous]

Doesn`t matter what Rafa does. Some people will call for his head no matter what.

 

That's true, but this situation is going to make or break him.

[INTORRESTING]

30 and 4 is good money but this is a huge test for Rafa and i hope the Yanks don't make it harder for him.

 

A great player and his first and last year really were something special. Istanbul was immense and one of my best moments seeing that rebound get smashed in.

 

Good luck Xabi, stay healthy but i hope you aren't too upset when your mates show you up at your new home next May.

[kop]

If that's correct, then that's only a million less than what they were asking for

 

Not bad work at all

 

This link with Poulsen, I seem to remember us being linked with Forlan before we signed Torres

 

And that's our strenght now compared to Real negotiating Alonso. We are replacing him, but I'm pretty sure we have 2, 3 or even 4 alternatives. One of them might well be Rafa's clear first choice, but that's for him to know and the clubs we negotiate with not to. Alonso were Real's first and only choice and Rafa/Purslow could play hard ball. Roma, Juve and the rest can't do that in the same way. I too predict Poulsen to be either a netotiation card, or he is lined up as cover and not our main buy.

[WaltonRed]

UEM sums it up perfectly.

 

As for us actually playing hard ball it sends a message, you want our players you pay up.

 

Barca beware.

[AmerScouse]

i honestly do want to cry. alonso was a great servant to the club and i prefer not to let the last month or two stain my thoughts of him.

 

i always admired him as a footballer, precisely because he made up for a lack of athleticism and raw power with a superb footballing brain and a ridiculous amount of skill

 

i wish him luck and will still cheer for him when he plays for spain, but alas as a club footballer he is now dead to me.

 

does anyone know where i can get a poulsen liverpool home kit?

[Trumo]

OK now the deal's been done. It looks like standing our ground has paid off. Also, by declaring an undisclosed fee we'll be less likely to be held to ransom for any potential target(s). It's a shame he wanted to leave but after 5 years he probably felt it's the right time to go. Also, he won't have as much tax to pay, on top of a likely larger salary.

 

I wish Xabi all the best, except against us! If we do play Madrid, I'm sure we have the personnel to offer his a "friendly tackle" without getting a red card. Come to think of it, how many times will Madrid's opponents have a man sent off? They have a mix of diving cunts and players who invite the challenge.

 

I'd be surprised if Xabi fails the medical. They televise the whole shebang so wouldn't want that to happen.

[Red Nick]

Roma fan I know (not of Italian descent but still one who have followed them for many years) says we'd be lucky to get Aquialini for under £20M, since Roma has had higher bids than that during the recent years - from Milan and Chelsea among others. My friend also claims that the best thing with Aquaman is that he never ever plays a bad game, he's always into the matches 100%. He's gutted to see him leave, after Roma's had high hopes for him for so long.

 

The thing about Aqua is that he wont be able to play till September so we can play hard ball and wait right up until 31 August to sign him. Roma will have to sell to us because no on else is prepared to buy him until he is fit. Not sure we should be either but thats another debate for another time

[Redexile]

He wanted to go. I can wish him well but he's chosen a cunt of a club. I would like us to be the side that dumps them out of ther CL

[The Great Jacko]

Wasn't Poulsen very very highly rated in Spain before his move? I wasn't on TLW then I was on YNWA but some on there thought the sun shone out of his arse.

[SpeedyG]

He wanted to go. I can wish him well but he's chosen a cunt of a club. I would like us to be the side that dumps them out of ther CL

 

Let's face it, if he wanted to go home, he has a choice of two clubs and he'd have no chance getting into Barca's team, so it's a marriage of convenience as much as anything else.

[1892-LFCWasBorn]

This song sums up how I feel regarding the last few months of shitty speculation:

 

[YOUTUBE]J2yK-NUyAIY[/YOUTUBE]

[ToxtethTerror]

Let's face it, if he wanted to go home, he has a choice of two clubs and he'd have no chance getting into Barca's team, so it's a marriage of convenience as much as anything else.

 

You don't need to be "hard man" to be a great holding player in the Spanish League. I'd take Xabi over Toure in that Barca team.