Alonso and Garcia signings confirmed

[Suss]

From the official site:

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N145758040820-1810.htm

Alonso to wear 14, and Garcia to wear 10.

[Quake_scouser]

From the official site:

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N145758040820-1810.htm

Alonso to wear 14, and Garcia to wear 10.

Excellent news! I think we will be able to look back on this day as a great one for the club. I think the squad is ready to go through to the January transfer window.

[655321]

This is fantastic news.

[kopiteinkc]

This is excellent news. Two strong players from all accounts. I am glad we have the versatility of Garcia as that covers the forwards as well as midfield.

Alonso and Gerrard in the middle sounds fantastic.

Interesting that Garcia gets number 10. I thought Baros might get that. Maybe cos the numbers have already been submitted. Anyway I hope all these Spanish lads can settle in. All but one speaks English apparently and Benitez and his coaching staff are taking daily English lessons.

Time to move forward, not look back ....

[Lanky134]

Stig's gonna be pissed that someone else is wearing Veggy's number.

[augie]

It will no doubt be several weeks before the side is running on all cylinders, but I'm excited at the prospect of the attacking football we should be capable of playing!

[Bilbao2Brooklyn]

You guys got a wonderful player with Xabi. I hope he preforms well.

But please, please, please, dont call him a spaniard. He is Basque.

Just as a scot is not an englishman or vice versa. Thanks.

[lgsshedden]

First post.
Some thoughts on what the acquisitions of Alonso, Garcia. Nunez and Josemi mean and the implications for some of the present squad:

1. the team is upgraded in talent and much more capable of playing the kind of flowing soccer Valencia used to beat us. Everyone concedes the gap between fourth and the top three was big last year and that a change from the long ball feed to Owen was needed. Quickly, Benitez has acted to change the club's approach and now he has added the key players necessary for his tactics to be implemented.

2. Finnan is done if Spurs or anyone wants to buy him: no big losss IMO, as he was exposed defensively and limited as a RM. Josemi strengthens a real weakness in the defence and allows Carragher to move to CB where his lack of pace will not show as much.

3. Diao could follow Finnan out, as he's bumped behind Hamann and Biscan as back up to Alonso. Didi will have his career extended by going to back up and might come in for Gerrard late in games to save Stevie's legs over the season, Biscan gives good versitile cover.

4. Kewell has until Nunez is fit to show his "true" i.e. Leeds form -- he needs to get aggresive and attack the defense more instead of pouting. Nunez being hurt will mean Garcia playing on the right until Nunez becomes available and then Harry could lose his place and/or become front cover for Baros and Cisse. Of course, Warnock could also work his way into a place on LM too. Similarly, FSP has that same time window to show he can do more than he's shown this year so far.

5. Bottom line: the new signings add talent and skill in their own right, but they also remove some blights from last year and add needed depth for the squad for some players to prove their worth rather than just expecting a place due to lack of quality competition. They also mean Benitez can stamp his vision on things quicker.

[royalstilton]

You guys got a wonderful player with Xabi. I hope he preforms well.

But please, please, please, dont call him a spaniard. He is Basque.

Just as a scot is not an englishman or vice versa. Thanks.

---

and how is his name pronounced? Hahvee? Shahbee?

[Bilbao2Brooklyn]

---

and how is his name pronounced? Hahvee? Shahbee?I say Hahvee

[Bjornebye]

Stig's gonna be pissed that someone else is wearing Veggy's number.

:)

Stig

[kopiteinkc]

First post.
Some thoughts on what the acquisitions of Alonso, Garcia. Nunez and Josemi mean and the implications for some of the present squad:

1. the team is upgraded in talent and much more capable of playing the kind of flowing soccer Valencia used to beat us. Everyone concedes the gap between fourth and the top three was big last year and that a change from the long ball feed to Owen was needed. Quickly, Benitez has acted to change the club's approach and now he has added the key players necessary for his tactics to be implemented.

2. Finnan is done if Spurs or anyone wants to buy him: no big losss IMO, as he was exposed defensively and limited as a RM. Josemi strengthens a real weakness in the defence and allows Carragher to move to CB where his lack of pace will not show as much.

3. Diao could follow Finnan out, as he's bumped behind Hamann and Biscan as back up to Alonso. Didi will have his career extended by going to back up and might come in for Gerrard late in games to save Stevie's legs over the season, Biscan gives good versitile cover.

4. Kewell has until Nunez is fit to show his "true" i.e. Leeds form -- he needs to get aggresive and attack the defense more instead of pouting. Nunez being hurt will mean Garcia playing on the right until Nunez becomes available and then Harry could lose his place and/or become front cover for Baros and Cisse. Of course, Warnock could also work his way into a place on LM too. Similarly, FSP has that same time window to show he can do more than he's shown this year so far.

5. Bottom line: the new signings add talent and skill in their own right, but they also remove some blights from last year and add needed depth for the squad for some players to prove their worth rather than just expecting a place due to lack of quality competition. They also mean Benitez can stamp his vision on things quicker.


It's posts like this that keep me coming back to BigSoccer. An intelligent well written post from a newbie. Thanks lgsshedden, keep posting of this quality and you'll be a very welcome addition around here.

[kopiteinkc]

You guys got a wonderful player with Xabi. I hope he preforms well.

But please, please, please, dont call him a spaniard. He is Basque.

Just as a scot is not an englishman or vice versa. Thanks.

Thanks for that. I am ignorant on these matters.

I assume Garcia, Josemi and Nunez are Spaniards and not Basque?????

[liverbird]

Thanks for that. I am ignorant on these matters.

I assume Garcia, Josemi and Nunez are Spaniards and not Basque?????

I think so but Garcia could be Catalan playing for Barca. And that would be like being Irish. So really the best thing is to say that they are from the Iberian Peninsula. :cool:

[Gabbage]

I think so but Garcia could be Catalan playing for Barca. And that would be like being Irish. So really the best thing is to say that they are from the Iberian Peninsula. :cool:

Garcia was born in Badalona -- anybody know where that is?

EDIT: It appears that Badalona is actually IN Barcelona, so it's very likely that Garcia is Catalonian.

[Anomaly385]

yep. Garcia is a Catalonian. Where as the other two are Castillians right? .... As long as they score goals, they could be from Mars for all I care.

[Warren_S]

You guys got a wonderful player with Xabi. I hope he preforms well.

But please, please, please, dont call him a spaniard. He is Basque.

Just as a scot is not an englishman or vice versa. Thanks.

Thanks, I hope Alonso plays as well for us as he has with Real Sociadad.

[twh3]

game on! I am thrilled to have 2 players who seem very excited to don the Red kit and make our side champions. I am optimistic they will add positve, forward attacking play to our side. I believe in Rafa!

[dmar]

You can call Garcia and Xabi Spaniards as well... after all, they play in the Spanish league, don't they? And Zabi plays for the Spanish NT. Just not all of the Catalans and Basques are equally nationalist, so maybe you should ask them how they feel.

Excuse the semi-OT.

[Bilbao2Brooklyn]

You can call Garcia and Xabi Spaniards as well... after all, they play in the Spanish league, don't they? And Zabi plays for the Spanish NT. Just not all of the Catalans and Basques are equally nationalist, so maybe you should ask them how they feel.

Excuse the semi-OT.Xabi ever play for the Basque National team? there you probably find your answer.


this is not the forum for this issue, I apologize to you liverpool fans.