Good Xabi interview in today's Guardian

[heighway]

Nice piece with Xabi today in The Guardian where he compares the footballing cultures of England and Spain. Comes across as just the kind of thoughtful and perceptive sort of player you'd expect. Here

Edited November 12, 2011 by heighway

[Molby]

gutted

 

 

one of Rafa's 2 big mistakes

[épieur]

Perhaps it would have been better if we had never met and fallen in love at all...

[Molby]

Perhaps it would have been better if we had never met and fallen in love at all...

 

that is exactly right

 

I think that of all 3 Spanish men in my life

[épieur]

"The past doesn't count in terms of results but in terms of approach it does" - Very true words. And explains a lot of why those jammy mancs can keep winning titles.

[Sion]

gutted

 

 

one of Rafa's 2 big mistakes

 

But signing him in the first place was one of his masterstrokes.

[Benzo-13]

But signing him in the first place was one of his masterstrokes.

Yep. What a player.

Real going after Vieira really worked for us there!

[Molby]

But signing him in the first place was one of his masterstrokes.

 

one of many

 

employing him in a specialised position was another

[Clay Davis]

But signing him in the first place was one of his masterstrokes.

You often post what i'm thinking. Think we have similar footy opinions to be honest.

 

Agreed with a lot of the food stuff in the Genny too, but didn't wanna admit it and get lynched. But i'll say it here. Bananas ARE f***ing horrible.

 

I think Xabi is the best in his position in world football. Not only that but he's a boss bloke too. I remember Gary Neville saying on Sky that he thinks Liverpool fans are loving it under Kenny at the moment because we've cleared out some of the foreigners and brought in British players that we can identify with more. I've heard a few people say it since, as is what usually happens when something crap has been on Sky Sports, but I don't agree at all. I identified much more with players like Alonso, Garcia, Torres (ahem), Reina, Mascherano than I do with the likes of Adam, Carroll and Downing. We as fans identify with quality players who get us, it doesn't matter two ticks where they're from - same goes for managers. Alonso got us.

[_00_deathscar]

Was it Gary Gillespie that said on LFCTV that Adam was already better than Alonso?

[abc]

I think Xabi is the best in his position in world football. Not only that but he's a boss bloke too. I remember Gary Neville saying on Sky that he thinks Liverpool fans are loving it under Kenny at the moment because we've cleared out some of the foreigners and brought in British players that we can identify with more. I've heard a few people say it since, as is what usually happens when something crap has been on Sky Sports, but I don't agree at all. I identified much more with players like Alonso, Garcia, Torres (ahem), Reina, Mascherano than I do with the likes of Adam, Carroll and Downing. We as fans identify with quality players who get us, it doesn't matter two ticks where they're from - same goes for managers. Alonso got us.

 

This identity thing is a load of bull - trust Neville to get it wrong about Liverpool eh (I too heard him say that then - and duly shouted at the telly in response).

 

Under Souness/Evans we lost our way despite having loads of British players at the time. We were used to success - was a loose defence and lack of bottle (despite the pretty football under Evans) our 'identity'?

 

Houllier won the 3 trophies and gave us our pride back with a mix of foreign and British talent - winning trophies is our identity.

 

Rafa brought us no.5 and made us a team to fear in the CL - and did so with the likes of Alonso, Garcia, Reina, Mascherano, Kuyt, Torres and Reina: talented players who played with passion for the club no less - being one of the best teams in Europe is our identity.

 

When Kenny came home our 'identity' was returned: because it was robbed from us when that fraud was in charge, and having the King back in his rightful place made it even more special.

 

Was it Gary Gillespie that said on LFCTV that Adam was already better than Alonso?

 

Yup. McAteer (who is sound and certainly nowhere near as thick as he's made out to be) was very kind in his reply but you could see he was holding it back big time...

[Clay Davis]

This identity thing is a load of bull - trust Neville to get it wrong about Liverpool eh (I too heard him say that then - and duly shouted at the telly in response).

 

Under Souness/Evans we lost our way despite having loads of British players at the time. We were used to success - was a loose defence and lack of bottle (despite the pretty football under Evans) our 'identity'?

 

Houllier won the 3 trophies and gave us our pride back with a mix of foreign and British talent - winning trophies is our identity.

 

Rafa brought us no.5 and made us a team to fear in the CL - and did so with the likes of Alonso, Garcia, Reina, Mascherano, Kuyt, Torres and Reina: talented players who played with passion for the club no less - being one of the best teams in Europe is our identity.

 

When Kenny came home our 'identity' was returned: because it was robbed from us when that fraud was in charge, and having the King back in his rightful place made it even more special.

Absolutely.