Robbie Keane - would you have him back?

[Guest Numero Veinticinco]

I'll give the same answer to Keane now as I gave before he joined the first time: no thanks. Decent player, but the wrong player. Don't want him here, especially after last time.

[William_Ulsterman]

two words, NO and NEVER! are you fucking loco?

 

Ive never seen a more sulky moaning bastard to pull on the red shirt even when things were going his way. He used to depress the fuck out of me watching him.

 

also, Alonso used to regularly clock up 20% more distance covered per game than anyone else, even Kuyt. Go figure.

[dennis tooth]

We didn't buy an alternative to Torres for 20million, we bought a player at considerable cost for a forward partnership, not to "lead the line on his own". When he started scoring, he was dropped. We are 13th today, so we're not in any position to turn down decent forwards available at bargain prices.

 

You don't know anything why we bought the players, stop chatting again.

 

He was no use to us as he couldn't fill in for when Torres wasn't available, he played shite every minute he was on the pitch. He needed us to drop Gerrard back to accomodate him and never even looked like linking with Torres. He is not a decent forward, he can't even get a game at Spurs. He couldn't get a game at Leeds, or at Inter, he failed near everywhere he went bar the odd purple patch. He isn't even a hard worker and stuck out like a prolapse, he's not a bargain, he's a very mediocre boy. Theres a reason he is going cheap and it's not cos Harry is feeling generous.

Go and read what Ferguson said about him, he said he wouldn't pay £500,000 for him and that was when he was at his prime. Sorry it may offend you as an Irish man but he's a bit shite.

[The Dude Abides]

Barry wasn't bought to replace Alonso, he was bought to change the way we played, to become more dynamic and athletic.

 

Ahahahaaaaaaaaaaaa!!

[silverlining]

Ahahahaaaaaaaaaaaa!!

 

 

He's a terrible poster isn't he?

 

TERRIBLE.

[Eire-Scouse]

No! He's fucking useless, I wouldn't have him in my way!!!

[rubble-rouser]

NO!

 

And whoever's resonsible for the Tony Mowbray's son tag, step forward for your rep. Can't get that Beatles song outof my head now ... "Born a Poor Young Copuntry Boy, Tony Mowbray's son ..."

[Gym Beglin]

Busquets the natural athlete?

United's Alonso = Carrick. And latter-day Scholes. Except Alonso's better.

.

 

Ha. Ha ha ha...HA haha, HAHA HA HA HAAAA :lol:

 

Alonso is nothing, and I mean NOTHING, like Scholes. Nor is Carrick, who only plays in United's first team because Hargreaves is fucked.

Go on, who is Chelsea's version of Alonso then? Lampard? Essien?

Arsenal's? Is it Fabregas or is it Song? Because they're both identical to Alonso them two, you buttery cunt stick.

 

Alonso is such a limited defensive midfielder, or central midfielder. Real Madrid bought him because he is Spanish and is a classy passer of the ball. But what in real terms has he done for them? Handful of assists per season, yes, is that worth £30m? 50/50 ball, Essien vs Alonso, who's winning that 9 times out of ten?

Aerial ball, who's going to win the header between Alonso and Fletcher?

20 yards out, Fabregas or Alonso, which one are you putting money on to score the goal?

 

Guaranteed, Mourinho will replace Alonso in the Summer if given half a chance. As talented as he is with the ball at his feet, you have to remember that the average footballer only touches the ball for about 2 minutes or less during a game. Alonso's strengths off the ball, for the other 88 minutes of the game, are very much questionable in an elite team.

 

But hey, if everyone understood football then we'd all be involved professionally in the game wouldn't we. I'm fine with 99.9% of football fans disagreeing with me on this one.

Xabi Prieto, Borja Valero both have more assists than Alonso in La Liga this season, playing from similar positions.

Alonso has as many assists as Xavi this season, except Xavi has scored 3 goals and Alonso only 1.

Alonso has 4 assists this season, only 1 more than most other central mids in the division, despite the obvious advantage of having superior players around him.

In fact, Alonso only had 5 assists in the WHOLE of last season, as opposed to Xavi's 14. Valero and Banega with almost twice as many as Alonso as well.

 

So I ask you, exactly what is it that Alonso does so much better than everyone else?

Don't get personal, it's a sure sign that you're unable to bring anything to the table.

[looneylen2]

Well I am not sure about this....Well give it a go....but yeah...but no...but !!!

[rubble-rouser]

Ha. Ha ha ha...HA haha, HAHA HA HA HAAAA :lol:

 

Alonso is nothing, and I mean NOTHING, like Scholes. Nor is Carrick, who only plays in United's first team because Hargreaves is fucked.

Go on, who is Chelsea's version of Alonso then? Lampard? Essien?

Arsenal's? Is it Fabregas or is it Song? Because they're both identical to Alonso them two, you buttery cunt stick.

 

Alonso is such a limited defensive midfielder, or central midfielder. Real Madrid bought him because he is Spanish and is a classy passer of the ball. But what in real terms has he done for them? Handful of assists per season, yes, is that worth £30m? 50/50 ball, Essien vs Alonso, who's winning that 9 times out of ten?

Aerial ball, who's going to win the header between Alonso and Fletcher?

20 yards out, Fabregas or Alonso, which one are you putting money on to score the goal?

 

Guaranteed, Mourinho will replace Alonso in the Summer if given half a chance. As talented as he is with the ball at his feet, you have to remember that the average footballer only touches the ball for about 2 minutes or less during a game. Alonso's strengths off the ball, for the other 88 minutes of the game, are very much questionable in an elite team.

 

But hey, if everyone understood football then we'd all be involved professionally in the game wouldn't we. I'm fine with 99.9% of football fans disagreeing with me on this one.

Xabi Prieto, Borja Valero both have more assists than Alonso in La Liga this season, playing from similar positions.

Alonso has as many assists as Xavi this season, except Xavi has scored 3 goals and Alonso only 1.

Alonso has 4 assists this season, only 1 more than most other central mids in the division, despite the obvious advantage of having superior players around him.

In fact, Alonso only had 5 assists in the WHOLE of last season, as opposed to Xavi's 14. Valero and Banega with almost twice as many as Alonso as well.

 

So I ask you, exactly what is it that Alonso does so much better than everyone else?

Don't get personal, it's a sure sign that you're unable to bring anything to the table.

 

WUM? Sinatra?

 

I don't think anyone's saying that you can't succeed as a team without an Alonso figure, just that what he offeres (in the right team) is very difefrent to many other midfielders. Personally I'd take Alonso over Fabregas form 20 yards. I woudln't want him competing for headers with Fletcher.

 

I'm going to ignore the 'stat' about only having 2 minutes on the ball as it's not worth dignifying.

 

Xabi's greatest strength was not only to act as the 'hub' (which is thr similarity with scholes) but the ability to play simple, effective, forward passes into the feet of forwards and other midfielders. He spends a lot of time doing other stuff - sideqways passes and raking balls, gathering thr ball from defenders etc, but for me his greatest strength inthe 08/09 season was his ability to ping a simple pass to feet, at pace andto do it early - you'd often think he was going to look up and thake his time on the ball whereas in fact he woudln't need to look up as he already knew where everyone was and catch the opposition napping by playing a perfect pass.

[ben48]

NO!.

[dennis tooth]

Ha. Ha ha ha...HA haha, HAHA HA HA HAAAA :lol:

 

Alonso is nothing, and I mean NOTHING, like Scholes. Nor is Carrick, who only plays in United's first team because Hargreaves is fucked.

Go on, who is Chelsea's version of Alonso then? Lampard? Essien?

Arsenal's? Is it Fabregas or is it Song? Because they're both identical to Alonso them two, you buttery cunt stick.

 

Alonso is such a limited defensive midfielder, or central midfielder. Real Madrid bought him because he is Spanish and is a classy passer of the ball. But what in real terms has he done for them? Handful of assists per season, yes, is that worth £30m? 50/50 ball, Essien vs Alonso, who's winning that 9 times out of ten?

Aerial ball, who's going to win the header between Alonso and Fletcher?

20 yards out, Fabregas or Alonso, which one are you putting money on to score the goal?

 

Guaranteed, Mourinho will replace Alonso in the Summer if given half a chance. As talented as he is with the ball at his feet, you have to remember that the average footballer only touches the ball for about 2 minutes or less during a game. Alonso's strengths off the ball, for the other 88 minutes of the game, are very much questionable in an elite team.

 

But hey, if everyone understood football then we'd all be involved professionally in the game wouldn't we. I'm fine with 99.9% of football fans disagreeing with me on this one.

Xabi Prieto, Borja Valero both have more assists than Alonso in La Liga this season, playing from similar positions.

Alonso has as many assists as Xavi this season, except Xavi has scored 3 goals and Alonso only 1.

Alonso has 4 assists this season, only 1 more than most other central mids in the division, despite the obvious advantage of having superior players around him.

In fact, Alonso only had 5 assists in the WHOLE of last season, as opposed to Xavi's 14. Valero and Banega with almost twice as many as Alonso as well.

 

So I ask you, exactly what is it that Alonso does so much better than everyone else?

Don't get personal, it's a sure sign that you're unable to bring anything to the table.

 

Where is Code when you need him, we need to just let the two of them have it out in a fight to the death for the honour of Alonso.

[Gym Beglin]

Just me and Rafa agree on this then.

[TheResonator]

Ahahahaaaaaaaaaaaa!!

 

I don't agree with most of his views on Alonso and I think the point is worded badly, but the gist is right.

 

During 07/08 we weren't terribly successful, and struggled when teams sat deep in front of us. Alonso hardly ever made runs into the box.

 

I think Rafa's vision was of 3 man midfield with a holding player, a mobile box-to-box midfielder with good passing range, and Gerrard. Xabi was a deep-lying playmaker. The 4-5-1 with Xabi in it worked a charm the year afterwards (08-09), but unfortunately Xabi left.

 

However, if you look at the player Benitez chose to replace him in Barry's absence - Aquilani - he is much more of a box-to-box player.

 

Not saying Benitez's theorem was right - there is far more evidence to the contrary - and Xabi Alonso is an excellent player. But I think the idea behind replacing him with Barry at the end of 07/08 was to bring in a midfielder with range who played more box-to-box than Xabi did.

[RoboRiise]

This thread leaves me with only two questions:

 

1) Who gave the drugs out?

 

2) Where's mine?

[Code]

Ha. Ha ha ha...HA haha, HAHA HA HA HAAAA :lol:

 

Alonso is nothing, and I mean NOTHING, like Scholes. Nor is Carrick, who only plays in United's first team because Hargreaves is fucked.

Go on, who is Chelsea's version of Alonso then? Lampard? Essien?

Arsenal's? Is it Fabregas or is it Song? Because they're both identical to Alonso them two, you buttery cunt stick.

 

Alonso is such a limited defensive midfielder, or central midfielder. Real Madrid bought him because he is Spanish and is a classy passer of the ball. But what in real terms has he done for them? Handful of assists per season, yes, is that worth £30m? 50/50 ball, Essien vs Alonso, who's winning that 9 times out of ten?

Aerial ball, who's going to win the header between Alonso and Fletcher?

20 yards out, Fabregas or Alonso, which one are you putting money on to score the goal?

 

Guaranteed, Mourinho will replace Alonso in the Summer if given half a chance. As talented as he is with the ball at his feet, you have to remember that the average footballer only touches the ball for about 2 minutes or less during a game. Alonso's strengths off the ball, for the other 88 minutes of the game, are very much questionable in an elite team.

 

But hey, if everyone understood football then we'd all be involved professionally in the game wouldn't we. I'm fine with 99.9% of football fans disagreeing with me on this one.

Xabi Prieto, Borja Valero both have more assists than Alonso in La Liga this season, playing from similar positions.

Alonso has as many assists as Xavi this season, except Xavi has scored 3 goals and Alonso only 1.

Alonso has 4 assists this season, only 1 more than most other central mids in the division, despite the obvious advantage of having superior players around him.

In fact, Alonso only had 5 assists in the WHOLE of last season, as opposed to Xavi's 14. Valero and Banega with almost twice as many as Alonso as well.

 

So I ask you, exactly what is it that Alonso does so much better than everyone else?

Don't get personal, it's a sure sign that you're unable to bring anything to the table.

 

[billypilgrimnz]

Been the first choice pick in a multi-million pound team week after week?

 

 

I'll pick holes in Alonso all day, lovely player but just totally unneccessary in the Premiership.

Show me Chelsea's Alonso. Show me United's Alonso.

 

Barry wasn't bought to replace Alonso, he was bought to change the way we played, to become more dynamic and athletic. What's the difference between Xavi and Xabi Alonso? About a hundred assists and 50 goals I think.

For Barca usually it's Busquets doing the breaking up, a natural athlete. For Madrid it's usually Lassana Diarra or Khedira doing the dirty work.

So, what does Xabi do exactly?

I've had this argument countless times, prove his worth to me, but make it tangible. Don't come up with this 'tempo' line, everything in the team can be measured.

 

You have to be a parody of a Rafa-loony. No-one is this stupid.

[billypilgrimnz]

Just me and Rafa agree on this then.

 

Probably why Rafa currently has no job, and everyone thinks you're a dick.

[BCM]

No No No No No No No No No No and finally FUCKING No, He's shit and cant play with Torres

[WrongIslander]

Put this thread out of its misery and the op with it.

 

I'd have Keane back for free playing for the min wage and that's it. Then we'd see how much of a Liverpool fan he really is and how good he could be in the trenches. Tommasi did it, so why not?

 

Xabi is a luxury player? Heard it all now. He provides the luxury of improving any side he plays for immensely.

[dennis tooth]

Come on code. You can do better than blankly staring at the blasphemer.

[VladimirIlyich]

Like a shot! Or Crouch or Pavlyuchenko.

[robslappa]

Ha. Ha ha ha...HA haha, HAHA HA HA HAAAA :lol:

 

Alonso is nothing, and I mean NOTHING, like Scholes. Nor is Carrick, who only plays in United's first team because Hargreaves is fucked.

Go on, who is Chelsea's version of Alonso then? Lampard? Essien?

Arsenal's? Is it Fabregas or is it Song? Because they're both identical to Alonso them two, you buttery cunt stick.

 

Alonso is such a limited defensive midfielder, or central midfielder. Real Madrid bought him because he is Spanish and is a classy passer of the ball. But what in real terms has he done for them? Handful of assists per season, yes, is that worth £30m? 50/50 ball, Essien vs Alonso, who's winning that 9 times out of ten?

Aerial ball, who's going to win the header between Alonso and Fletcher?

20 yards out, Fabregas or Alonso, which one are you putting money on to score the goal?

 

Guaranteed, Mourinho will replace Alonso in the Summer if given half a chance. As talented as he is with the ball at his feet, you have to remember that the average footballer only touches the ball for about 2 minutes or less during a game. Alonso's strengths off the ball, for the other 88 minutes of the game, are very much questionable in an elite team.

 

But hey, if everyone understood football then we'd all be involved professionally in the game wouldn't we. I'm fine with 99.9% of football fans disagreeing with me on this one.

Xabi Prieto, Borja Valero both have more assists than Alonso in La Liga this season, playing from similar positions.

Alonso has as many assists as Xavi this season, except Xavi has scored 3 goals and Alonso only 1.

Alonso has 4 assists this season, only 1 more than most other central mids in the division, despite the obvious advantage of having superior players around him.

In fact, Alonso only had 5 assists in the WHOLE of last season, as opposed to Xavi's 14. Valero and Banega with almost twice as many as Alonso as well.

 

So I ask you, exactly what is it that Alonso does so much better than everyone else?

Don't get personal, it's a sure sign that you're unable to bring anything to the table.

 

 

In a sea of wrongness, this is a tsunami.

[Jonny83]

I've thought of a good version of Alonso who plays for a title challenging team.

 

The player who played for us two years ago called Xabi Alonso.

 

We don't have to emulate Man Utd or Chelsea. Just beat* them. Like we did in his last season. Twice. Both.

 

*And I know Xabi didn't play in the 4-1, but his leaving fucked us, I don't see how anyone can say otherwise.

 

Anyway, have we signed Djimi Pornwank yet or what?!

Edited January 18, 2011 by Jonny83

[Arl arse]

This thread smells like my first piss in the morning.