6 Nov 2009

Why was XABI ALONSO banned from publishing a goodbye letter to Liverpool's fans?

It has been revealed that Xabi Alonso may have been prevented from writing an open-letter to Liverpool's fans when he left the club. Given the Spaniard's contribution to the club, I find this to be very disappointing.

Both John Arne Riise and Luis Garcia wrote open letters to Liverpool fans when they left the club, both of which were published on the official Liverpool FC website.

Alonso was recently interviewed by 'The Times', in which the following was stated:

"This is when the conversation turned to Benítez, with whom his relationship changed perceptibly during the 2007-08 campaign...it was an acrimonious split, but even if his name has become taboo around Anfield — it was not his choice that he did not publish an open letter to the supporters on the club’s website, as John Arne Riise and Luis García had upon leaving".

Clearly, the implication here is that Alonso wanted to publish an open letter but was not allowed to do so. Why?

Is it fair to stop a player saying their goodbyes just because they wanted to leave the club? Sounds like internal club politics at play here, which is a shame.

Despite this, Alonso was, as always, the epitome of class with his comments about the club, and offered public support to the beleaguered Rafa Benitez:

“I still have great respect for him [Benitez]. I’m very grateful to him for the five great years I had at Liverpool. Of course the situation isn’t the best right now, but he knows how to turn it around. It’s not the Liverpool way to sack a manager after a few bad results early in the season. He is the right man for the club. It wouldn’t be a good decision to change the manager. He’s a great manager.”


I for one would've liked to have seen a letter from Alonso. Such humble displays are rare in the modern game, and in my view, it's this kind of thing that sets Liverpool apart from other clubs.

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91 comments:

  1. when was the last positive article you wrote!  where is your proof? again more lies and muck raking from a second rate site,  call yourself a fan? everyting that comes from this site is bile, just try and write something constructive, you never now you might be able to do it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. No quotes from Alonso in that particular part of the article, so you'd have to trust Oliver Kay that he's not just making it up.

    The implication from Kay is that the club prevented Alonso from publishing an open letter, but nowhere is that explicitly stated. Perhaps Alonso's agent thought it was a bad idea, or his wife?

    Without facts all of this is just supposition.

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  3. Of course, I agree.  Oliver kay is not going to make it up, is he?  and if it was his wife or Agent stopping him, I dout it would ever have been raised at all.  Why would they?  The only reason it has been raised - and compared to Riise and Garcia - is because the club must have prevented him from doing so.  In any event, this is worthy of discussion.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Last time I wrote something positive?  Oooh, let's see:

    Me praising Rafa after the Sunderland defeat:      
    http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2009/10/bravo-why-rafa-benitez-should-be.html      
         
    Me highlighting how Liverpool had won the title after losing 4 of the first 9 league games in the past:      
    http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2009/10/revealed-how-liverpool-actually-won.html      
         
    Me arguing that Liverpool would rise from the ashes and mount a title challenge this season:      
    http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2009/10/rising-from-ashes-10-ways-to-save.html      
         
    Me arguing that Liverpool would be fine without Gerrard and Torres:      
    http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2009/10/gerrard-and-torres-injured-liverpool.html      
         
    Me arguing again that Liverpool could beat United without Gerrard and Torres:      
    http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2009/10/liverpool-v-man-united-442-or-4231.html      
         
    Me highlighting the weaknesses of United's central defensive pairing:      
    http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2009/10/video-lets-hope-rio-ferdinand-makes.html      
         
    Me stating the following in my interview with Rebublik of Mancunia (prior to the United game:      
         
    "Liverpool will beat United.  It's almost guaranteed if you ask me".      
         
    http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2009/10/view-from-enemy-interview-with-republic.html      
         
    In the same interview, me stating the following about Benitez:      
         
    <span>"Rafa will not be sacked, nor should he be. Liverpool have never sacked a manager mid-season and the club is not going to start now, especially after last season’s 2nd place finish".</span>      
         
    http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2009/10/view-from-enemy-interview-with-republic.html      
         
    Me continually posting positive articles from other writers about Rafa:      
    http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2009/10/rafa-benitez-high-stakes-adrenalin.html      
         
    http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2009/10/rafa-benitez-man-who-came-in-from-cold.html    
       
    Me highlighting 18 reasons to be postive about LFC:    
    http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2009/10/18-reasons-to-be-positive-about.html  

    This notion that I only post critical stuff is a complete myth, but it doesn't suit the agendas of those who argue tha to acknowledge the huge volume of positive stuff that gets posted on this site.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Frankly, I don't believe that Xabi loved our club that much.
    If he did, he wouldn,t have asked for a transfer just because Rafa tried to sell him last year.
    He would,ve worked hard and shown the manager that trying to sell him was wrong; and stayed!
    Luckily for us, he did work hard, which helped us get a great fee for him.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hold on a second - Alonso was dropped from Liverpool because he wanted to be at the birth of his first child - FACT.

    Then when Liverpool showed they needed him Benitez had to start choosing him, Alonso played really well then he got injured. Benitez then refused to let him play when he got fit and so Alonso didnt get enough games - FACT.

    That was two seasons ago. Then beginning of last season Alonso found out through newspapers that Benitez was trying to sell him - Benitez never ever spoke to him - FACT.

    Benitez in the end didnt manage to buy Barry, so he had to keep Alonso. Now fit, alonso showed just what a great player he is. He WAS the best player for Liverpool last season.

    Benitez mistreated him due to the birth of Alonso's first son, then didnt support Alonso through injury. Then tried to sell him behind his back. Despite all this Alonso has shown his class by NEVER dissing Liverpool, or even dissing Benitez. Alonso is a class act, Benitez is rude, miserable man who has no chance of motivating a team to win the Premiership.

    Benitez has treated Reira similarly, dropped for the begining of the season for personal reasons - nothing to do with football reasons. Also why is it that Benitez has favourites who he NEVER disses (Lucas, Kuyt, Voronin - even when they play terribly) yet he disses people like Babel. Favouritism is a weakness in football, and Benitez plays his favourites even when they dont deserve to be played and never drops them. So to summarise, Benitez has no class, he puts HIS agenda before whats good for Liverpool and no way can anyone question Alonso's integrity.

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  7. Was Sami Hyypiä prevented from writing an open letter to the fans, or perhaps Didi Hamann? We didn't see a letter from either of those Anfield stalwarts when they left.

    If Kay can't (or won't) back up his claim with direct quotes from Alonso, then it's just more newspaper fluff.

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  8. it s in the papers , so it must be true and now that I know, I think my support for beniteza and liverpool is going down, NOT
    Jamie lad do you to any matches, if so, tell me where you sit, I like to see you if you are really a liverpool fan .....if you are please try to be a bit more useful for the club that you support.    
    you are clearly have a investigative mind and search for loads of information on websites and papers but almost are all pretty negative and not important to most of the fans. 

    ReplyDelete
  9. Jamie any person who wants to publish an open letter can do so and use any medium to do it- it doesn't have to be our official site. How many times does one pick up a paper when someone is "opening their hearts". If Alonso dead genuinely barred by the Liverpool hierarchy then he would have used other means. I suspect the people who probably persuaded him not to were his new employers in Madrid. It would have been both embarrasing to them if Xabi had professed the warmth he has for Liverpool and may have wound up his new fans.

    I suspect there's nothing to this throwaway line in the Kay article.

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  10. damn shame if true, my fave liverpool player since fowler (the first). I still wouldnt put it past alonso making a return, his time in marid so far hasnt been great. More of a captain than Gerrad IMO.

    ReplyDelete
  11. <span>"Oliver kay is not going to make it up, is he?". Thats right journalists are a paragon of honesty and truth. Ever heard of a newspaper called the " SUN" Jaimie. 
    </span>

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  12. As is the nature of this website please show us the evidence about the issues you claim are FACT? Also, please provide the details of the personal reasons Reira has been dropped for and when he has 'dissed' Babel?

    You are filling in gaps about Benitez that suit your own agenda which is mostly fuelled by media hype. If you read Alonso's quotes you'll see he has nothing but professional respect for Benitez, yes they weren't best mates, but that would not be a healthy working relationship. As far as I can tell Benitez keeps a healthy distance from all his players (his supposed 'favourites' included).

    ReplyDelete
  13. The Times is not The S*n, is it?

    Why would he make it up?  What possible motivation is there?  I think it's obvious that Alonso stated that he was prevented from publishing a letter on the club's website and Oliver kay paraphrased.

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  14. You say yourself in your own words you "think its obvious", you didnt say you know. The title of this article must then be conjecture and not fact. No matter what you read into Kay's article, you have said you dont know if Alonso was prevented from publishing a letter to the fans. Stick to the FACTS Jaimie. First rule of good journalism and Rafa.

    ReplyDelete
  15. you are anti benitez or anti lfc (by extension) because you are obviously trying to apportion blame for an incident which has been given no credence by anyone bar oliver kay ( and as much as i trust the times, without direct quotes relating to this issue and not misplaced or misconstrued quotes this cant be given any real acknowledgement) you forget that benitez was forced (by the owners) into a sell to buy position and this is the only reason alonso was ever allowed to leave. have you not looked at the quotes - more recent and directly from alonso where he pays respects to lfc and benitez and praises him as a manager! i think xabi didnt publish a letter partly due to media whores looking for a spat. xabi is a grown up and realised the move wasnt personal but purely economic. jaimie you are not an lfc fan as all fans still love and respect xabi and do not hold rafa responsible for his departure. again this site uses skewed 'facts'

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  16. Bren - what exactly are you saying here? 

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  17. You are spot on about Benitez falling out with Alonso over the Inter Milan game.
    Alonso had played in all three matches before the Inter one.
    After Inter, while he played in our next match on the 15th of March against Reading, he didn't play again until our next match against Man U.
    Benitez was obviously trying to punish him by wearing him out until he got injured as he played 10 (2 as sub) of our remaining 13 games.
    Missing Arsenal away, Birmingham away, and Tottenham away, and considering the importance of the matches either side of Arsenal and Birmingham, not the actions of a man with a vendetta.
    but I'm sure your other "FACT"s are better researched and completely valid.

    ReplyDelete
  18. oliver kay is paraphrased but not alonso...shambolic journalism!!! no one can prevent anyone writing an open letter...you are able to air your frankly ridiculous opinions and facts without any problem so why wouldnt alonso?? its not obvious alonso stated anything! you again believe you can read between the lines when there are none, you can read and infer when no ones even said anything? jaimie from my reading of your posts, youre not an expert on english and definitely not psychic

    ReplyDelete
  19. Of course the title is cojecture - how many times must I explain this point: this is an OPINION site.  Did I state anywhere in the article that it was fact? No.  If I'm stating something as a fact I will say so, as I have done in the transfer fee articles published over the last two days.

    And odn't lecture me on what is and is not 'good journalism'. I am a fan with an opinioin.  This is not the BBC - I do not haqve to stick to the facts or be impartial.

    ReplyDelete
  20. The sooner LFC supporters stop coming to this site, the sooner the Fascist Jamie Kanwar changes this blog and reverts to his sorry life. We have your number , you will be out of business soon. This is what happens when a lawyer turns to a writer and a football critic. A deathrow inmate selling icecream.

    ReplyDelete
  21. That's it for you, Bren.  You are now banned.  You keep posting stuff that contain derogatory comments.  I've given you chance after chance and you just can't stop your childish tendencies from shining through.  The comment policy (linlk on the right) is clear: this site is for adult, civilised debate, not lowest common denominator slanging matches.

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  22. <span>"I do not have to stick to the facts or be impartial."

    </span>
    Thats right Jamie and you dont stick to the facts and your not impartial. 

    ReplyDelete
  23. TYPICAL JAMIE KANWAR!  GET A LIFE MATE!  GO SUPPORT YOUR TEAM...MAN URE! CAUSE THATS WHAT YOU ARE!

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  24. If you publish an article and present it as fact when it cannot be substantiated, then don't complain or moan that you have to explain yourself...and retort that it is 'obvioulsy conjecture'. 


    ReplyDelete
  25. <span>"I do not have to stick to the facts or be impartial."</span>

    Thats right Jaimie, and you dont stick to the facts and your not impartial.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hmmm.  Please illustrate how I presented the article as fact.

    ReplyDelete
  27. <span>I do not have to stick to the facts or be impartial.

    Thats right Jaimie, and you dont stick to the facts and your not impartial.</span>

    ReplyDelete
  28. <span>
    <span>"I do not have to stick to the facts or be impartial. "
     
    Thats right Jaimie, and you dont stick to the facts and your not impartial.</span>


    </span>

    ReplyDelete
  29. <span><span>I do not have to stick to the facts or be impartial. 
     
    Thats right Jaimie, and you dont stick to the facts and your not impartial.</span>

    <span>Read more: http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2009/11/why-was-xabi-alonso-banned-from-writing.html?#ixzz0W5eQvcNr</span></span>

    ReplyDelete
  30. Jaimie you keep removing my article about "facts and impartiality"

    <span><span>I do not have to stick to the facts or be impartial. 
     
    Thats right Jaimie, and you dont stick to the facts and your not impartial.</span>

    <span>Read more: http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2009/11/why-was-xabi-alonso-banned-from-writing.html?#ixzz0W5eQvcNr</span></span>

    ReplyDelete
  31. Guest - post that one more time and I will ban you.  You are clogging up the thread with pointless comments.

    ReplyDelete
  32. J kanwar you are an utter cretin - just as bad as the guy you just banned.
    i actually can't believe how childish you are.
    Your sh*t-stirring 'news articles' are really getting tedious

    ReplyDelete
  33. Jaimie. Wouldnt wish to " CLOG UP THE THREAD WITH POINTLESS COMMENTS ". Im going to ban myself and save you the trouble.

    ReplyDelete
  34. The opening title doesn't ask whether he was banned, by inference it states he was banned.

    Why was XABI ALONSO banned from publishing a goodbye letter to Liverpool's fans?

    ReplyDelete
  35. To the detractors blaming Rafa for the departure of Alonso:
    Alonso quote "'When I heard about the new Real Madrid project, I knew I wanted to be a part of it".
    "'Rafa is a fantastic manager and also a fantastic person who understands management and how to motivate players, 'We still have a warm relationship and I think he respects my decision to try new challenges".

    Whether he was prevented from writing an open letter isn't clear, maybe it's because if the above is what he was gonna say then maybe he thought better of it.

    ReplyDelete
  36. I don't see anywhere in the article that quotes Alonso as being "banned" from writing a letter.
    The headline "Why was Alonso banned......" is misleading and mischevious, something that is usally integral in the majority of articles Kanwar writes.
    I did notice quotes stating Alonso wanted to join the Madrid revolution and that he had a very warm relationship with Rafa so I can't see how he would be "banned".

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  37. If this is what MUST have happened y didn't the author of the article just say so. WHy dance around the issue?

    ReplyDelete
  38. An opinion site that asks posters for FACTS when opposing ur opinion. Can't have it both ways JK

    ReplyDelete
  39. this is a fantastic article, its great to see someone reflecting on xabis all to short but graceful time with us,nothing short of a class act in every way.Nice to see ou picked up on his humility as well, after what has been clearly a fractured relationship,this has indeared the man even more to me now.Xabi should of had his letter, he is one of the few players in recent years in a red shirt who have truly merited a spot over arguably any time period.I love xabi and hope for a unlikely return someday.
    Aquliani will prove to be a great replacement however, all fickle fans to be shot at dawn benitez is the only man IN RAFA WE TRUST. Great piece !

    ReplyDelete
  40. I think the more pertinent questions is not so much why Alonso was "banned" (if indeed he was) but by whom
    Jamie in your article you have have assumed this to be as a consequence of "internal club politics".
    As I said above, and as others have, it could be various people close to him such as his agent or his new employers.

    ReplyDelete
  41. i see we're back to deleting comments. I suppose it was done inadvertently.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Why was he banned then? Do you know the answer?  I do. Hicks and Gillet  - they own the Liverpool website. 

    ReplyDelete
  43. Facts people fact. If you're going to challenge Mr. Kanwar's opinion u better have FACTS. Again I ask, If it was so wouldn't the author attribute the quote to Mr Alonso in stead of providing his interpretation?

    ReplyDelete
  44. You keep posting snide comments that have nothing to do with the issue in the posts.  Read the comment policy and read the amendment in the 'sitenews' section.  I'm no longer going to justify myself when people post snide remarks.  the comments will ust be deleted.  if people like it, tough luck.  Stick to debating the issues then we won't have a problem.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Hasan, I don't know where you got your "FACTS" but most if not all  are way off target! It is quite clear you have not got an ounce of a clue with the rubbish you have spouted. I quite frankly cannot be arsed disecting every "point" you have made because it is simply not worth it, anyone with half a brain will agree. Your point about Reira sums your rant up as utter pooh! Reira has been injured, so unless Rafa injured him then how can it be personal.

    ReplyDelete
  46. The Times is not the Scum but it's owned by the same pr*ck,Murdoch and his pieces of toilet paper never print lies do they!

    ReplyDelete
  47. Jaimie I like reading your articles, however I don't see the point of this one. I have to agree with alot that others have said, there is no proof that Alonso was banned. He has gone and thats that, who cares if he was banned or not there is nothing we can do about it anyway. There is alot more important things for us to worry about than this, this just about stiring the shit! I am more interested in BANNING VORONIN from EVERYTHING.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Why do you insist on capitalising player names in your headlines?

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  49. Isn't Oli kay a red? Times football editor Tony Evans is definitely a red..he would presumably have given the article the go-ahead. Tony Barret works for the Times, another big red. It's one paper that tends to support Benitez(cascarino apart). All this snidey commenting just because a journalist dares to suggest something that might not reflect well on the club or Rafa..i find it pathetic the depths our fans stoop to at times. It's just embarassing.

    ReplyDelete
  50. ok JK........a journalist interviews someone and one of the juicy tidbits from the interview isn't quoted directly? If ur a journalist and Alonso said that to u wouldn't u quote him directly? Wouldn't a direct quote enhance the article more.

    Secondly - many a time  keep asking for facts behind ppls opinion........what facts are u using to make such a definitive statement in the headline for the article?

    Its not soooo much that they are snide comments but rather proof of the double standard u apply to urself and then the posters on ur site.  Having debate is fine but many ah time ppl have pevented valid arguements and instead of absorbing and analyzing u seem to just dismiss them bcuz they differ from ur views. 

    ReplyDelete
  51. There is no double standard. I will discuss any issue with anyone as long as it's done in the right way.  As soon as people resort to name-calling and/or snide comments, that's it. Even if 70% of their post is valid argument, I'll still delete if they end it with derogatory comments.  It's nothing to do with being offended - it's the principle of it. I'm only interested in discussiong/debating with people who can argue in a civll manner.

    The double standard here comes from you: if I post something and everyone disagrees and argues against me then it's okay. According to your logic, they are not 'absorbing and analysing'.   If I defend my opinion, then all of a suddent I'm 'dismissing' people?!  Nonsense.  I'm doing the same as those who argue against me.

    That's the nature of debate: one side against the other.  It's adversarial by it's very natiure; and it's perfectly fine when done in the proper manner.

    ReplyDelete
  52. Yes - since this is cleary an opinion site, the headline is opinion, i.e. my opinion is that Alonso was prevented from having a letter published on the official site by internal politics. What should I do - post a headline like this:

    'Why was Alonso banned from publishing a goodbye letter (By the way, this is title constitutes my opinion)'

    You're just nitpicking.

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  53. Why would his agent tell him not?  What credible reason is there? 

    Why would Madrid stop him from doing that?  Again, what credible reason is there?  Why didn't Roma and Atletico Madrid stop Riise and Garcia?

    What would've happened if Alonso had defied Madrid - would they have cancelled his transfer?!  Come on, be serious.

    A short note thanking lFC fans for their support is not controversial at all.  Why do you have such a hard time accepting that maybe someone at the club wouldn't allow the official site to publish his letter?!  Someone with a grudge against the player, maybe?  Someone who has a history of freezing pkayers out when they defy him/go against him. 

    Is this beyond the realm of possibility?

    But no - we can't have anything said against Saint Rafa Benitez, the deity of FC.  He is perfect and never makes mistakes.

    ReplyDelete
  54. If he really wanted to a goodbye letter to the fans, he could've done it. It may not have appeared on the official website, but he surely could've released a press statement. 

    ReplyDelete
  55. Correction: If he really wanted to *write* a goodbye letter

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  56. from dave at liverpool way
    "
    Of course they'd have been willing to print it, but they weren't given the option as until recently Alonso was still giving LFC the benefit of the doubt that they would print it. I know of at least two journalists who were aware of the letter several weeks ago, but both were told by Xabi not to mention it because he was still hoping that the club would use it.

    He sent it in August just after he left, and when it didn't go on he tried ringing Rafa, but he wasn't answering his phone. He then rang another senior figure at the club and was told that it would go on, but they hadn't had a chance to use it as they'd had so much stuff to put on (clearly bullshit as there's been two international breaks where they've had fuck all of any note to put on).

    I don't know if Alonso told Olly Kay about it, or if Kay knew anyway (I've known about it for weeks, and lots of other people definitely knew - former team-mates, friends of Alonso, staff at lfc.tv, journalists etc), but the way that was worded by Kay was odd.

    "It wasn't Alonso's decision not to publish a letter" Of course it wasn't, he's hardly going to send a letter to lfctv but say 'here you go, a letter to the fans, but don't print it' is he?!?!

    Alonso should have just sent it to the Echo when the website didn't run it, but maybe after a few months he felt there was no point anymore, I don't know.

    It's not a particularly big deal in the grand scheme of things, and doesn't make Benitez any better or worse a football manager, but as goatboy said, it is rather petty."

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  57. I'd like to read Xabi Alonso's goodbye letter aswell it's disgraceful that Benitez blocked it from being published. After everything he's done for Liverpool.

    ReplyDelete
  58. Jaime relax mate. I found your reply to my agent/Madrid suggestion very snidey with the "Saint Rafa" comment. There was no need for that.

    You have made several assumptions from a throwaway line in an otherwise incredibly positive article about the warmth Xabi has for the club and the respect he continues to have for Rafa.
    You make the following assumptions:
    (a) that he was "banned";
    (b) that it was "internal club politics" ( and now you've refined that to it being "St Rafa")

    The only basis for making such leaps in logic is your view that "St Rafa" is capable of freezing out players.

    In the same way I believe using my own reality of the world that his agent advised by Real Madrid may have said no because Madrid has a self-inflated view of itself and wouldn't like the idea of it's players expressing fondness for other clubs. The fact that Athletico and Roma allowed their players to write is neither here nor there. Different clubs have different policies.

    Now like you I have absolutely no basis for making this assumption other than my own prejudice about Real Madrid.

    And as I said before we are lucky enough to live in a time and a place that provides various mediums and the freedom to print whatever we want. If Liverpool or rather your rather snidey term "St Rafa" had banned him he could have printed his goodbye letter through other means (if indeed any of that Kay line is true). But Xabi didn't. Why didn't he? No one in the Liverpool hierarchy could have stopped him.

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  59. Jaimie:

    "Why would he make it up?  What possible motivation is there?  I think it's obvious that Alonso stated that he was prevented from publishing a letter on the club's website and Oliver kay paraphrased."

    Oliver Kay would never write anything that wasn't firmly based on the truth would he?

    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article5941582.ece

    Headline:

    "Rafael Benitez given £30m Liverpool war chest"

    Here's a revelation for you Jaimie, newspapers print lies in order to sell papers (shock, horror!), they're dying a death as people become more and more disillusioned with their monotonous stories and they know it.

    Reporters often cut & paste stories in order to conjure a better tale

    "Freddie Starr ate my hamster"

    Kate Winslet has just won a small fortune in damages relating to a story published that was completely fabricated!

    I really doubt LFC refused to publish a letter from Alonso to the fans, even so he could have given it to the ECHO or the POST to print instead which he didn't. I think it's time you stopped looking for conspiricies in order to float your blog.

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  60. Jaimie:

    "Why would he make it up?  What possible motivation is there?  I think it's obvious that Alonso stated that he was prevented from publishing a letter on the club's website and Oliver kay paraphrased."

    Oliver Kay would never write anything that wasn't firmly based on the truth would he?

    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article5941582.ece

    Headline:

    "Rafael Benitez given £30m Liverpool war chest"

    Here's a revelation for you Jaimie, newspapers print lies in order to sell papers (shock, horror!), they're dying a death as people become more and more disillusioned with their monotonous stories and they know it.

    Reporters often cut & paste stories in order to conjure a better tale

    "Freddie Starr ate my hamster"

    Kate Winslet has just won a small fortune in damages relating to a story published that was completely fabricated!

    I really doubt LFC refused to publish a letter from Alonso to the fans, even so he could have given it to the ECHO or the POST to print instead which he didn't. I think it's time you stopped looking for conspiricies in order to float your blog.

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  61. you are a bell end, all you do is make supposition and crap about the club when we're facing our most difficult period of recent times.

    dont call yourself a fan you're a wannabe jouno and by the style of your writing you're angling for a job with the daily mail.

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  62. In actual fact Jaimie you write like a lot of these journalists; sensationalist headlines designed to entice readers.

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  63. This was not about sensationalist headlines - it was a line in the actual article.

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  64. I know what you're saying but this is a completely differnt situation to something like 'Freddy Starr ate my hamster', and I'm sure you can see that.

    It's amazing - despite the fact it is one line in a positive article, people still are unwilling to accept anything that might shed a critical light on Benitez the great. 

    Complete head-in-the-sand denial.

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  65. A line in an article that was NOT attributed to Alonso himself.

    YOU have made the assumption that Rafa stopped him from releasing a letter, I didn't mention Rafa!

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  66. Mr Kanwar there is no point highlighting links that indicate how you have written positive articles supporting Rafa. For every positive article you have written, there are probably 5 you have penned that are against him and are insidious to say the least. I have a sneaking suspicion that these so called positive articles are there to mask your inherent bias against the man. Please stop adding to the media pressure that already exists to destabalise our club.

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  67. Mr Kanwar there is no point highlighting links that indicate how you have written positive articles supporting Rafa. For every positive article you have written, there are probably 5 you have penned that are against him and are insidious to say the least. I have a sneaking suspicion that these so called positive articles are there to mask your inherent bias against the man. Please stop adding to the media pressure that already exists to destabalise our club.

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  68. Very nice of Xabi not to take this opportunity to have a pop at the manager, you how some more narrow minded and petty people would.

    Xabi is a classy guy, they had a falling out, the rights and wrongs are pretty common knowledge, but its life and it happens, Xabi could have sent something via the Post or the Echo, which would have been only too happy to print it, and in today's world of the internet (where any idiot can throw a site together and fire off broadsides to their hearts content) everyone would have got to see it.

    This is not a criticism of Xabi, like I said he is a classy guy and I wish him well.  It would have been easy for him to put the boot in or twist the knife, but he is too good for that, others should take note.

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  69. Jaimie I see that you edited my last post and deleted the opening line where I said that I found your "St Rafa" quip snidey. Double standards here mate? Not ok for others to make snide remarks but ok for you and then ok for you to completely delete the point when someone else points it out?

    Let's assume that you are right that Xabi was banned and that he was banned by Rafa do you not think that any journo and newspaper worthtgeir salt would have majored on that? In the current hysteria about our performances and the pressure on the team and manager a story which read "Rafa banned mefrom saying goodbye"would generate more sales than a relatively anodine story about a former player wishing his ex club well?

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  70. your viewsabout liverpool and article are total nonesense, Liverpool banned Alonso ot write a letter, listen to yourself, its just does not make sense. its not dictorship, Alonso free to do what he wants and the fact that he came out and defended Benitez shows where he stands concerning liverpool and Benitez and i just hope Jamaie, stops all his uselless fact or in thsi case fiction finding and write something to help the team.
    please answer me one question, Jamie, do you go to any matches to support Liverpool, or just spend oyur time browsing papers and internet ot attack the team, Club  and BENITEZ

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  71. why would liverpool ban him, you ask question why his agent told him not ot do it? answer the most abvious question. why would liverpool ban him writing his open letter?   

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  72. you see, you show your true colours by saying  people still are unwilling to accept anything that might shed a critical light on Benitez the great.  
    so who do you think should replace Benitez, the fact a so called fan like you who sit all day writes blogs with fictional finding against liverpool may not have anyone else in mind
    you are entitled to your opinion but people like you are no fan  

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  73. how do you know a letter was banned, just becasue jamie toild you so or it was in the papers,you assumed its true, sad really  

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  74. Read a proper website about Liverpool . Edited by Liverpool fans. Not this rubbish:

    http://robbohuyton.blogspot.com/2009/11/liverpool-fcs-off-field-crisis-spirit.html?

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  75. That wasn't snidey at all.  In any event, I wasn't addressing my comment to a person commenting on this site, was I? That is the difference.

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  76. I thought it was snidey. Here's the definition of "snide": <span>malicious derogatory; supercilious. I think p<span>utting someone down by calling them "St" in a pejorative way fits that definition.</span></span>
    And if the rule is now are that one can be snidey so long as its not to anyone on this site can I then call the useless turds that are our current owners useless turds?

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  77. You can call the owners whatever you like, but calling them 'turds' doesn't reflect very well on you to be honest. 

    Posts containing Snide/derogatory comments levelled at other posters, authors or the site will be deleted.

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  78. Thank you for bringing this to light, if you have contacts to the club, could you please try and pressure the club to allow Alonso to publish his letter. It is only fitting for a man who served the club so well and Instrumental to 2 trophies.

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  79. Well Jaimie I guess it's cos I'm no Saint....

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  80. Hi Jamie

    First time poster here. I honestly believe that if Xabi really wanted to publish a letter, there are literally dozens of sites that would have been happy to help him bring it to the fans. That is the only thing I have against your article it shows that maybe he didn't really want to publish a letter. That if it were so important to him, he would have made it happen.

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  81. Hi Ryan - thanks for your comment.  I apologise if it came across that way in the article; it wasn't meant to.

    I agree that Xabi could've published it on another website, but LFC's official site is the most popular site worldwide for LFC fans.  Being able to publish it on the official site would've meant reaching the maximum number of fans. 

    Also, if he did publish the letter on a different site then people would ask *why* it wasn't published on the official site, which would raise even more questions.

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  82. Well done responding to my post. Instead of responding to the couple of questions I asked u chose to address the comment issue. Stick to the topic at hand which is the article.

    (Garvin)

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  83. Still don't see why this is such a big issue in your life Jaimie. With all due respect mate it's a closed issue. It's nonsensical, especially given that Liverpool's current issues are being aired so erroneously in the media, to highlight this story as a current issue. It's nitpicking that negatively affects the club and no true Liverpool fan wants that. I don't see Man United fans clamouring for a love letter from Ronaldo. And when Chelsea fans starting going thru Mourinho withdrawal symptoms the team went to pieces. We're a real club. Liverpool FC. Players come, players go. Xabi obviously still has a lot of respect for Rafa so why focus on the negative. Critical realism yes. Blinkered negativity no.

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  84. Don't exaggerate or anything.  'Big issue' in my life?!  I wrote an article.  It too about 10 minutes.  I didn't spend 6 months writing a book about it!

    Please explain who it 'negatively affects the club'.

    You also seem to ignore the positive things in the article.  And I did not focus on the negative; I highlighted something that deserved to be discussed.  Just because some people want to live in a bubble where everything is perfect doesn't mean we all should.

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  85. I think the reason is to prevent these farewell letters from becoming a needless rumour baiting tradition that causes discord within the club. In a situation where the transfer hasn't been as smooth as silk all that happens is one-eyed bloggers and 2nd rate anti-Liverpool journalists over analyse every line for perceived subtext and the club (the one that's bigger than the player) suffers. If I was trying to run a progressive football club I would do the same thing.

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  86. Okay...

    Please provide one example - just one - of any of the following:

    1. An open letter 'causing discord within the club'

    2. A 'one-eyed blogger/journalist over-analysing very line for perceived subtext.

    3. The club suffering as a result of point 2.

    You seem emphatic on these points so I'm guessing you have evidence to back them up, right?

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  87. I'm talking about the potential of them causing an issue for instance with an attention grabbing headline like 'WHY WAS XABI BANNED FROM WRITING A FAREWELL LETTER?' rather than 'WAS XABI BANNED FROM WRITING A FAREWELL LETTER?' or 'WHO CARES? WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE ON'. When a player or fan reads these type of articles there is a possibility there could be side picking and this would be worse if every player wrote letters sometimes in the heat of the moment. There's too much potential for issues to emerge. A press statement is good enough. Imagine if Adebayor demanded a bye bye letter. It worked well for mutual agreements like Riise and Garcia but not in every case. The one tradition I want at Liverpool is winning league titles. Farewell love letters could be an unnecessary distraction from this. No examples but is it worth becoming one?

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  88. It's not just the fact that you highlighted Jaimie, it's why. In the face of such an overwhelmingly positive article I'm just puzzled why this became the issue you wanted discussed. For a love letter???!!? He already stated his feelings at the Real Madrid conference. I just don't see why Liverpool fans would want more than that. It was a nice touch from Riise and Garcia but if it becomes yradotion soon enough we'll be demanding one from Voronin and Itandje. In the face of such a positive interview it just seems like a bit of a non-issue that anti LFC journos could use as a stick to demoralise the club and those players given the task of filling his position. I say let it go. Aquilani looks decent. Let's concentrate on players at the club or possibly to come that can help us win things. I'll criticise Rafa with the best of them but the inferences of this article seem odd when the player himself has spent most of the interview praising. The question is would life for Liverpool fans really be that much better with a love letter from Xabi?

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  89. supposition everywhere there hasan, it's all rumour & conjection you're posting.
    Favouritism (in football) is often bizarrely linked to ability.

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  90. I completely agree with Desy.

    Jaimie you've taken a very positive interview from Xabi Alonso in which he makes positive comments about his relationship with Rafa, picked the one slightly obscure comment (from the journalist - not attributed to Alonso) and zoned in on it for your article.

    You've then attempted to insinuate that Rafa had something to do with it (your comments about "St Rafa").

    You have ZERO evidence to suggest Alonso was "banned" from publishing a farewell letter to the Liverpool fans, you've made an assumption he was. The Title of your article is libellous and misleading as there is no proof to back it up.

    It's not critical realism, it's biased, capricious guess work.

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