Xabi Alonso

[nazo]

Anything below 10mil and i'll take him.

 

[kamikaze80]

There's no doubting Xabi's virtues - range, strength, technique. However he doesn't cover alot of space, and isn't very active in midfield pressing like Flamini was. Arguably our midfield game would become more passive with a player who prefers to 'sit in' like Xabi. I wouldn't call him lazy, that'd be like calling Pirlo lazy. They operate in a certain area of the pitch. Personally I like us as a high pressing team, it allows us to win the ball higher up the pitch and break. If I had to choose I'd prefer Barry - Alonso's technique leaves him in the shade, but Barry's workrate, intensity, and mobility would be arguably more useful in our current midfield.

100% correct and if you look at the good clubs, they are all going towards midfielders who can press and harry (united with anderson and hargreaves, chelsea with ballack and essien) and it looks like rafa is realising this as well. teams with static midfielders just get pounced on. thats why pirlo is so overrated now, its why we utterly dominated milan's midfield. they looked like complete **** against us, and they were. juve did well to get poulsen instead of xabi alonso - cheaper and covers more ground.

and at the end of the day, every person in this thread who wants alonso or barry has to answer the 15m question: why would you pay 15m extra to go from flamini to alonso/barry? i just dont believe wenger is that stupid when his transfer policy is so frugal.

 

[banduan]

Isn't he another walking sicknote?

 

[arsenalfc0719]

I'd much rather Barry. Alonso is too static, doesn't suit Fabregas's game, is worse defensively and would offer much less balance than Barry would to our midfield. Alonso would add another dimension to our play, something that I'm very against and I don't think we need. Also, I know this is of no importance, but I've never liked him as a person.

 

[Anzac]

What was Alonso like before he went to LFC???
Reason I ask is I have a sneaking suspicion that he became somewhat stifled at LFC due to the role he was asked to play. I see him more as being a defensive minded MC as opposed to being a genuine DM, which is the role he was asked to play at LFC.

 

[Macho]

Isn't he another walking sicknote?

Yes. Which is why the enthusiasm for his tranfer to Arsenal is puzzling.
For me he personifies everything we don't need at the moment.

 

[banduan]

Isn't he another walking sicknote?

Yes. Which is why the enthusiasm for his tranfer to Arsenal is puzzling.
For me he personifies everything we don't need at the moment.

It's bloody bizarre is what it is. Just take the Barry and swap on Hoytey/Djorou/wotsisname/andtheotherbloke if needed.

 

[EMIR8_SOLDIER]

Id do a marathon to birmingham 3 times to give them Senderos but just like Brucey I dont think MON is stupid enough to want to take him

MON does like Hoyte and always wanted him as his first choice right back so he doesn fit into his plans and with villa still looking for one to replace Mellberg he may consider the potential swap plus money we may offer if you believe reports

 

[CrazyInLoveWithArsenal]

Linked with Inter

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3838058,00.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 58,00.html</a>

 

[stuart]

I dunno if it's been mentioned but his agent was quoted on skysports saying we'd made contact with Liverpool. Read it yesterday hidden in the Arsenal section of the sky website

 

[EMIR8_SOLDIER]

I dunno Stu, I know you talk the truth mate but you got to some evidence.

 

[-Shaun-]

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11670_3825590,00.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 90,00.html</a>

Is that the one Stu?

 

[EMIR8_SOLDIER]

But that was a few days ago as I remember when his agent said that. Nevertheless, I Think that was the article Stu was on about, cheers Shaun

 

[GoonerGurjit]

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/tm_method=full%26objectID=20673283%26siteID=93463-name_page.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">www.people.co.uk/sport/football/tm_meth ... _page.html</a>

 

[irishgunnerz]

A source close to Alonso said: “If the decision was down to Xabi, he would make the move because Arsenal’s style is perfect for him.”

A two week old quote sadly

 

[banduan]

Does he shoot when faced with an open goal from 6 inches out or pass it back to Eboue? That is the ultimate test

He'll shoot with an open goal from 60 yards, as Newcastle and Luton found out

Hardly ever gets in such a position anyways due to his role.

But yeah, another long range shooter would do us some good.

 

[GoonerGurjit]

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.liverpoolway.co.uk/forum/news/66140-exclusive-gunners-target-alonso.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">www.liverpoolway.co.uk/forum/news/66140 ... lonso.html</a>

 

[Macho]

Reading their forum, they really don't want to get rid of him. I don't see why they are so cut up about it, he hasn't done anything for a while.
I would rather Barry over Alonso personally.

Another injury prone, passive midfielder whos good at passing? Have enough of those here thanks.

I wish this rumor would go away.

 

[illmatik]

Yes please, there is a reason why Liverpool fans are pissed to see him go if it happens

 

[GoonerGurjit]

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_3906412,00.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_3906412,00.html</a>