31 Dec 2012

'There is a chance' - Reds hero who 'misses' LFC hints at Prem return.

I an interview in September, Nuri Sahin revealed that Xabi Alonso played a big part in persuading him to come to Anfield. The Turk also revealed that the Spaniard 'is still in love with Liverpool', and when asked yesterday about a possible return to Premier League, Alonso confirmed again that he would definitely consider it.

When asked about the possibility of a return to England, Alonso told reporters:

"I've no idea what will happen.

"I have not decided on my future. We will see what happens in the next few months.

"There is always a chance I could go back to the Premier League as I always enjoyed good times there"


I'm sure many Liverpool fans would love to see Alonso back at Anfield, and he is definitely open to a return to the club, as he revealed in an interview last summer:

"I think that in football so many things change. If circumstances arrived [for a return to Liverpool], then why not? I miss the lads, I miss the atmosphere at Melwood; it was a great place to work, and the scenario of Anfield is unbeatable.

"The special nights I have been privileged enough to live, those will be in my memory forever and they are difficult to compare anywhere in the world. At the moment I don't know what is going to happen, but it could be a possibility. Never say never"


In the same interview, Alonso also revealed that his biggest goal at Real Madrid was to win the La Liga title. He has now achieved that, which means he's won every major trophy out there. What better time to return to the club he loves so much, to work with a manager he respects? Said Alonso:

"I think that everyone is really optimistic about the new manager Brendan Rodgers. As a Liverpool fan it gives me hope for the future"

Jamie Carragher also misses Alonso's presence at Anfield. He told the ITV during Euro 2012:

"It just sickens me to see Alonso in the red of Spain and not the red of Liverpool. We'd love to have him back - he was a fantastic player at our club, and he's one of the top players at Euro 2012."

I think Liverpool fans have a tendency to romanticise Alonso's possible return without considering the reality. He is a world class midfielder, where would he fit in at Anfield?

* If Alonso was to be a regular starter, then either Lucas or (more likely) Joe Allen - Rodgers' golden boy - would surely have to make way?

* I think we can assume that Gerrard is always going to be in the team if he's fit, so that would leave Lucas, Allen, Sahin (assuming he stays), Shelvey, Alonso and Henderson fighting for two midfield spots. Arguably too much competition, which will inevitably leave one or two of them unhappy.

* A midfield three of Alonso/Gerrard/Lucas lacks pace and Premier League physicality. Same goes for Allen/Gerrard/Alonso.

* Both Gerrard and Alonso are in their 30s now, and as we've seen with the captain, his overall performance level has declined.

* Liverpool need at least one big, strong, athletic midfielder in the Diame/Toure mould, and if the club gets such a player, that will be even more competition in the middle of the field.

Alonso is a bona-fide world class midfielder with peerless experience, and I'd hate to see him return to Anfield and spend most of his time on the bench (due to squad rotation etc).

Having said that, Andrea Pirlo joined Juventus at the age of 32 and totally transformed the team, and Alonso is certainly capable of having a similar impact at Liverpool. And I would always have him in the team ahead of Allen, Shelvey, Henderson et al.

Alonso's contract with Real Madrid expires next summer, and if ever there was a player who would fit into Rodgers' football philosophy, it's Alonso. The question is, would FSG sanction a move for the Spaniard?

Jaimie Kanwar


70 comments:

  1. Allen can only dream of being Alonso's level even now. he started well, but has shown himself to be poor at covering and reading the game, and limited creatively. A year or two shadowing Xabi would be beneficial to both him and LFC, as for Rodgers, if he loves Allen's capability, he will be blown away by Alonso.

    People forget how many fouls Xabi won for us by thinking that much quicker on the ball. Think Gary Mac, Pirlo, or similar to see the impact a wise head could have on a teamof youngsters, they would learn so much in training.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lucas and Alonso in the middle would be great! Alonso works hard and has all the ability. Allen, Gerrard, Sterling and Suso to fight it out for the rest. Henderson and Shelvey should probably go out on loan for a year and get lots of game time, I see a future for them but they both need to improve, maybe offer them to Swansea. Whatever happens I think we can all agree the club has been in a steady decline since Alonso left and not just because of his football ability. 

    ReplyDelete
  3. Xabi would be great if we could get him. But not gonna happen as he will be direct competition for 15mil Allen.

    ReplyDelete
  4. When will Brendon Rodgers wake up to the blatantly obvious fact that goalscorers  not midfielders win points and games.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Texeira is not even in our squad - we are run by incompetants.

    ReplyDelete
  6. All i can say is right now this second we need a player of Alonso's ilk at the club.

     No disrespect to current sqaud but it would be nice to get back one of our world class players instead of them all playing for the top sides in La Liga.

     LFC was one of the most top quality sides in europe which is why we were scouted on a regular basis.

     Mourinho did'nt help cos when asked what he thought of Liverpool before playing us in the champion League he said in his own way of saying things "Liverpool... in europe they are a monster"

    Need to bring the fear back to Anfield.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Alonso's strength lies in his World Class Ability to provide a Killer Pass!!

    Besides Our Captain Marvelous (SG), who else splits a defence with an awesome match winning pass??

    What a fantastic role model for younger players such as Allen, Hendo and Shelvey!!

    If Pirlo can do it for Juve and Italy, then can so can Xabi!!

    ReplyDelete
  8.  As much as i admire alonso we are stacked in that dept...granted hes better than we have but we need other types of player....enriques injury has shown we lack real cover at Lb BECAUSE DOWNING FILLS IN....pepe is on his way out...and we are not awash with center backs ...the type of midfielder we need is a big athletic wardrobe with pace...i also think that to give rogers system a chance we need younger players who may buy into his ideas more and not have there own preformed opinion of how the game is played...i honestly think that when the older players like Gerrard are phased out they may adapt the system better...

    ReplyDelete
  9. Some of the goals alonso scored...ala luton etc will stick in the memory forever, fantastic player , would be a real mentor to some of our young lads :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. lucas gerrard alonso shelvey suarez sttuidge. stevie or shelvey out for sterling after 60 min.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Would love to have Alonso back at Anfield. Allen could learn a lot from him.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Barca have turned down a loan move for David Villa, they said they are only willing to sell, should we all put together our crimbo money to force the sale through Lol....

    ReplyDelete
  13. Yes age does seem to be catching up with Stevie and I agree his impact in games is declining. For this year, however, he's still the best midfielder we have. Him and Alonso could play very well with your strong holding midfielder behind them. They don't need pace because in total football, the ball does the running, not the players. Allen, Henderson and Shelvey should be their understudies. The bad news is for Lucas and Sahin. Now Sahin is going back to Madrid in the summer anyway considering the lack of playtime he's getting. Lucas, we all know he fought hard and he's a nice guy, has been injured a lot and is not the holding midfielder that someone like Mascherano is. Good squad player to have but second choice to your Diame type transfer. If Alonso returns, I think I'll be almost as happy as when Fowler came back.

    ReplyDelete
  14. For the long run, Gerrard could be quite a decent centre half imo...

    ReplyDelete
  15. Retro Thinking and False Dawns.
    Some of the very people on here stated that Charlie Adam was a replacement for Alonso then Allen.

    Alonso is NOT going to come back to Liverpool despite what we may want.
    We have to look TO THE FUTURE not the past for solutions, as well as our priorities.
    We need strikers and we need to off load the TOSH players bought by Dalglish in Henderson/Downing/Carroll.
    Then there shifting out Joe Cole.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Allen was an indulgence that we didnt need or could afford .... wat a waste of 15 mil ...........

    ReplyDelete
  17. lol Liverpool WONT pay 16 Mill for David Villa BUT paid 15 Mill for Allen Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha Joke manager

    ReplyDelete
  18.  If you think hendo is tosh you obviously haven't watched a game this season the kid is 22 and has a big price tag weighing him down....ps he played with same bug thats bedridden rogers against QPR ..SPOKE to two mates who went QPR AND THEY SAID HE got a standing ovation by the travelling reds fans when he came off such was his effort

    ReplyDelete
  19. Would be interesting to see him given a shot there in a so-called easier Europa game. 
    I always thought Stevie would make a world class modern right back in his younger days but understandably not now, as plenty of running to do up and down the flank for a full back. Modern full back position is kinda like the box-to-box CM position of the 90s, with the constant bombing up and down the pitch they have to do. 

    ReplyDelete
  20. I would happily swap Alonso for our entire midfield he alone would do a better job then Allen, Shelvey and Henderson combined, they are not even good enough to lace the great mans boots!

    ReplyDelete
  21. They was applauding the arrival of Lucas mate, Henderson had another above average game for him but was still far from great, and was also helped by the fact QPR's midfield was none existent, still you can only beat whats in front of you as they say and a win is a win, but if we got an offer of £8 million plus for Henderson I would rip their arm off.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Would love to see him back here but surely got to be a CL club that will snap him up, as he is more than good enough for that level still.

    I reckon Chelsea could do with him. The novelty of rash Luiz in the role will wear off and Mikel isn't all that. Xabi-Ramires in the middle could work very well.  Wonder if Rafa would take him, if he stayed at Chelsea and if Xabi would want to work with him again. 

    ReplyDelete
  23. ive never seen him 
    whats so special about him ?

    ReplyDelete
  24. alonso longs for the great nights at anfield well m8 so do we ,would like to see him back but will not happen  

    ReplyDelete
  25. and 12 million for borinni and sturridge 

    ReplyDelete
  26.  they may well have been jobsy i wasnt there im just going off what i was told

    ReplyDelete
  27. if you read between the lines hes hinting at Chelsea in my opinion....i dont know why we are even discussing this type of player anyway ...we are shopping for the allens and tom inces of  the world....thats not to disrespect them we just seem to be aiming for lower caliber players

    ReplyDelete
  28.  Gilstrap,

    I was there he put a shift in but in no way is he worthy of a starting 11.
    Additionaly FYI how many games has he been decent?
    Considering he was played all last season.
    Henderson is a journeyman nothing more.

    ReplyDelete
  29. i always wondered how he would suit playing at the back in 352  

    ReplyDelete
  30.  i think most fans would jobsy but its wishful thinking dont forget you can add sahin  lucas gerrard spearing and coady potentially so we have a lot of players vieing for 3 spots.....but we are woefully understrength in other positions

    ReplyDelete
  31. LFC must continue to maintain thier policy....Sometimes high profile players we can sign with bargain price or loan condition.Please prefer young talent with good potential to be shining soon.LFC much better seriously finding Steven Gerrard replacement.Leandro Damiao, Dries Merten, Christian Erikson and Tello is the list WANTED to joining LFC.We to add more Luis Suarez to reduce burden goal scoring.Only Suarez having high quality player of striker for LFC, others players never function very well and effective.Downing, Henderson and Joe Cole is underperforming players but still been using to playing for LFC.Suso and Sterling now look like drop the form maybe never satisfied salary issue yet.Shelvey and Coates much better for CDM but playing for wrong position.

    ReplyDelete
  32. we discuss the topics put before us...some of the players we are linked to would not touch us with a barge pole

    ReplyDelete
  33. what is your opinion of allen? interesting to find another opinion

    ReplyDelete
  34.  hes 22....most Cm only come of age at 25 onwards ( i have no facts to support this ) i just think he gets a rough ride....the price tag isnt his fault and he was played out of position all last year...he captains England u21  from Cm so he must have something

    ReplyDelete
  35. The manager apparently has full control of transfers so the lower calibre players are his choice, I really think he would be laughed at by some players who know how to win and know what its like to play under genuinely talented managers when he starts his pre game inspirational (in his own mind) team talk as I think I would laugh.. Because if they are anything at all like the ones shown in being Liverpool they are cringe worthy and some of the players look a little embarrassed in the programme 

    ReplyDelete
  36. Sahin is on loan and Spearing will hopefully not return, and if we brought Alonso back we could then rid ourselves of the likes of Shelvey and Henderson as they are average players at best, and Lucas would be a good squad member

    ReplyDelete
  37. henderson is growing with ever game imo,i like the fact he never moans and just wants to play hes not here for the money but because he wants to achieve,i rare exception to the rule in these times 

    ReplyDelete
  38. its not about the caliber of player,its about who rodgers can attract and i agree with you any world class player would think hes a imbosol, no player at lfc will come out and say it but when he leaves they might

    ReplyDelete
  39. I think thats why he goes for certain players ...in therory what rogers says makes sense ....but then again i could learn the same patter go in with a chalkboard and look like i know what im doing ...the big question and i mean big question is if you can do it in a way that inspires your players to buy into it and understand there roles....

    ReplyDelete
  40. £16m is a lot for someone that age. I personally think he would be better for us than Sturridge +£4m in the bank, but there's no logic in comparing him with a 22 yr old midfielder.Completely different cases.

    Yet to see Allen consistently show £15m worth of value, but he's still young and will have a resale value, which Villa won't. Even if Allen ends up average, we can sell him in a few years for £8m or so based on even a pessimistic view of his abilities. That gives us a player for 3-4 years to act hopefully as understudy to a class midfielder, like Xabi or Sneijder ( maybe not those exact two) which will be value for £7m or so.

    Fed up of people comparing players we are after to people like Aguero  who was quite cheap for his ability. We don't have CL or the PL title challenge to offer.

    Henderson is willing, but still very limited. When do you think to yourself 'Oh good, it's gone to Henderson @ in the final third? Errr, never....

    ReplyDelete
  41.  but sahin is here till the year end and spaering says hes coming back...not ideal but at some point as a club we have to play the cards we are dealt and not wished we where dealt ...also alonso and gerrard are over 30 ..we need talent coming through who can play the 433 system

    ReplyDelete
  42. We have lots of cover at CB, Coates, Carra, Kelly , Wisdom, all play CB. Is Robbinson ready for LB esp going forward, considering our system relies on that ? Not convinced, so I agree we need a LB to keep Jose working for the spot, and let Robbo develop. Diame would be cheap and able to do a Sissoko type role

    ReplyDelete
  43. But that talent still needs experienced role models to help fulfil its potential and I cant think of many better role models in the game then Gerrard and Alonso, and they can both still play a bit :)

    ReplyDelete
  44. I would take Alsono back any day of the week. But I feel if he comes back to the EPL he would go to Chelsea, they got Torres, Rafa, and loads of his team mates there now. I also think Alsonos strong point was his long balls, which Rodgers isn`t into, so he would prob be a bit wasted playing for us, Alsono could pin a ball to a attackers feet from our own half, just can`t see BR liking that style.

    ReplyDelete
  45. I think people often forget both Henderson and Allens age, due to the amount paid for them. They are both young and often players don`t come into there own until 23 plus, just look at Lucas. Same for Carroll, while I don`t think his style fits us, we signed him too young. It is only good signing young players, if you sign them cheap, otherwise you will kill them off, by being hated on by the fans, and not being played. If Allen had cost 5mil, and same for Henderson people would give them time, they could come in from the bench, be loaned out etc, at 15mil plus, they had to be world class from day one, it was never gunna happen. I sometimes wonder who does are price dealings, and OMG they are shocking.

    ReplyDelete
  46.  HIS NAME SCORE BIG IN SCRABBLE

    ReplyDelete
  47. The bigger question is can Rodgers get players of genuine and proven quality to buy his salesman patter? I very much doubt it, he would be found out if such players came in..
    And if he inspires the players around the club at present it wont be too long before they realise he is out of his depth and most the things he says is rubbish, when you sit back and look at the things he has said and done it really is quite embarrassing I mean he used the 3 envelope trick... and used to constantly mention the footballing philosophy he instilled at Swansea.. its all other peoples work and tricks he takes credit for, he is clever though in how he words things and deflects any blame on himself for things that are his fault i.e certain team selections and the treatment of certain players 

    ReplyDelete
  48. agreed, but most of them passes were over the top, BR likes them along the ground. Don`t get me wrong, Alsono did some along the ground too, but we must remember Alsono had two poor seasons for us, and until he knew he was been sold, that was when he suddenly started playing good again like his first season. He is a awesome player, but we can be a bit rose tinted with him.

    ReplyDelete
  49. that isn`t strictly true, someone has to be able to get the ball up to them. I get what your saying, but every position is needed to score. The ball doesnt just end up at a strikers feet. Plus the way the mid works, can open spaces for the strikers to score more.

    ReplyDelete
  50. thats  our problem we are paying proven top international prices for prospects ....if we had bought carroll or hendo for 5/10m each everyone would be happy to have them same with Allen....what doesnt help allens cause is the 15m tag  and rogers talking him up as though hes marradonna...who are the bean counters at liverpool ...im still amazed reina is on 120g a week

    ReplyDelete
  51. They would never come out and say it, be funny if they did though lol

    ReplyDelete
  52. Mr. Zanatos, the number one reds commentator according to the polls! It is a honour my friend indeed!

    I would not say those 2 seasons were poor however, merely educational in becoming the player Real Madrid coughed up £30m for!

    I cannot understand how Rafa wanted to replace him with Barry? Agreed it gave Xabi a kick up the backside, but Barry is not fit enough to lace Xabi's boots!

    His goal from the half way line remains fresh in the mind, enamouring skill and finesse!

    ReplyDelete
  53. For the second sentence- the answer is DOWNING!

    ReplyDelete
  54. There is a feeling of melancholy about Xabi joining Chelsea, (God forbid)! I don't know about you, but it makes me sick to see Rafa and Torres in blue!!

    ReplyDelete
  55. i find there are a lot  similarities between steve macalren and rogers both seemed well coached on interviews and appearance...i used to work in the employment industry and a lot of the terms & phrases  rogers uses are out of the how to impress your employer handbook hes always calm well presented and is never critical of his employers in either objective or aim...i hope he turns out to be a footballing sage and not some guy whose had a good life coach        

    ReplyDelete
  56. I get what you mean exactly, but I fear it will be the latter of the 2 :(

    ReplyDelete
  57. As Alonso has said himself, 'never say never'. What a welcome he would get if he returned.

    ReplyDelete
  58. Nice to meet you too. I`ve been suffering with the sick bug, so my posts will be less on the next update lol.

    I still think he is better than anything we have right now, just think he did go off the boil a bit. I can understand why Rafa wanted to change him, as at the time he had gone off a bit, its true poor wasn`t the right choice of words from me, but he wasn`t on form. Man City seemed to also think Barry was good, so there must be something in him.

    We will never know the real reasons for wanting to replace him, maybe he had asked to go??? 

    ReplyDelete
  59. I completely agree Gilstrap. I can though understand why a manager might talk up his player, he knows him better than us, and he might feel he isnt performing, but knowing the player, means he knows he needs a boast, not a negative. All people are different, or he just doesn`t want his own signing to look a flop lol.

    With all the hype over the money ball idea (which I still don`t think works in football as it suggests you buy to sell later, not a winning model imo) I don`t get why we kept paying so much.

    I think one of the problems with transfers of young players is you pay over the odds for what they might become, but very few do. It would seem to make more sense to buy proven now, and use the academy to make the next stars. 

    The only young ones who are still cheap are the 15/16 years. Once you go above that unless your signing a unknown which in football often means no good you will pay a premium (yes unknowns do get found, but normally by clubs who arent expected to win things, so can take the risks of it not working out as if they finish mid table there fans wont cry out for new owners).

    ReplyDelete
  60. Yeah my thoughts were if he comes he will go to Chelsea

    ReplyDelete
  61. Lolalolalola!! The poor guy had a great game against Fulham I believe, (about bloody time) then he seems to have disappeared again!!

    ReplyDelete
  62. haha, that one made me smile when im ill, thank you Orme :-)

    ReplyDelete
  63. Splitting match winning assist, great one, half of a goal assist- unfortunately Downing is the only one that comes to mind...

    ReplyDelete
  64. That was my intention, though it is true...

    ReplyDelete
  65. Henderson is getting better, he is still very young, and doesn`t look to bad. Is he ready right now? No. The problem with modern football is everyone thinks every player should be a super star by 21, but it just don`t happen like that, yes we killed them by paying to much.

    ReplyDelete
  66. lets hope its Liverpool not Chelsea!!
    young players like allen Henderson shelvey could learn a lot from him.

    ReplyDelete
  67. Don't forget - according to many, if not for the players not finishing off his passes, Downing would have had more assists than credited now! It's not his fault!

    ReplyDelete
  68. Would love to see him back but don't think BR will want him, regardless of how close he is to a player suited for his 'system'. Alonso in means Allen out.

    ReplyDelete
  69. I know- I actually rate him as a player, both him and AC, it's just that two of them were unlucky as partners, plus price tags, plus injuries, plus our situation at the time... Don't know are you being sarcastic, but I believe it...

    ReplyDelete
  70. funny ? can you imagine carra rippping into him lol

    ReplyDelete