Chap in the Grauniad reckons we're keeping Alexis because of

[Peter]

Apparently we've little choice; he won't officially ask to leave and the cost of replacing him would be more than his price. Even if he goes for free next year, if he helps us get back into the Champions League immediately, it will've been worth it.

Damn all long-term financial thinking bástards; I thought it was because he was a great player!

They have to give the impression that they are prepared to keep him. They may even have to be prepared to keep him.

The problem is, he is a bit of a ****. Isn't he just going to be a problem all season?

A silly fee would probably be accepted. As Kyle Walker is worth 45 million plus, I don't even know what a silly fee is but it would have to be 60-70 million at least.

[Monty92]

They have to give the impression that they are prepared to keep him. They may even have to be prepared to keep him.

The problem is, he is a bit of a ****. Isn't he just going to be a problem all season?

A silly fee would probably be accepted. As Kyle Walker is worth 45 million plus, I don't even know what a silly fee is but it would have to be 60-70 million at least.

I feel like I'm on a different planet when it comes to the way people talk about Alexis. Yes, he showed a bit of a habit of getting in a huff last season, but his effort in every single game is absolutely unbelievable. He is a total monster in every single second of every single game. Even during his so-called bad period of the season his effort levels didn't drop.

Call me mad, but if that's petulance then I wish more of our players were petulant.

[redgunamo]

I feel like I'm on a different planet when it comes to the way people talk about Alexis. Yes, he showed a bit of a habit of getting in a huff last season, but his effort in every single game is absolutely unbelievable. He is a total monster in every single second of every single game. Even during his so-called bad period of the season his effort levels didn't drop.

Call me mad, but if that's petulance then I wish more of our players were petulant.

Well spoken, M. Beautifully put.

[Peter]

I feel like I'm on a different planet when it comes to the way people talk about Alexis. Yes, he showed a bit of a habit of getting in a huff last season, but his effort in every single game is absolutely unbelievable. He is a total monster in every single second of every single game. Even during his so-called bad period of the season his effort levels didn't drop.

Call me mad, but if that's petulance then I wish more of our players were petulant.

I would also imagine the lack of petulance among the rest of our players is one of the things that sets him off.

I wouldn't expect to see a lack of effort from him. It is more the effect his behaviour might have on others, as well as the constant media attention on the situation.

I would support the club keeping him but I don't think they will.

[Ash]

I feel like I'm on a different planet when it comes to the way people talk about Alexis. Yes, he showed a bit of a habit of getting in a huff last season, but his effort in every single game is absolutely unbelievable. He is a total monster in every single second of every single game. Even during his so-called bad period of the season his effort levels didn't drop.

Call me mad, but if that's petulance then I wish more of our players were petulant.

You speak as if the Alexis Out! crowd was a massive majority, when it isn't. Stillman wrote one of his typically balanced pieces giving both sides of the case the other week.

[redgunamo]

You speak as if the Alexis Out! crowd was a massive majority, when it isn't. Stillman wrote one of his typically balanced pieces giving both sides of the case the other week.

It seems to be at least a significant minority on the internets though #freeAlexis

[Ash]

It seems to be at least a significant minority on the internets though #freeAlexis

A former AWIMBer who is quite anti-Alexis claimed to me that Mesut actually covers more ground in a match, which I found hard to believe even though Mesut does run further than most people think.

I'll be pleased if Alexis plays for us for another year. Might even win us the league, and if we are playing better as a team he won't feel he has to do everything himself, which imo is the exact thing that polarises opinion about him.

[Burney]

A former AWIMBer who is quite anti-Alexis claimed to me that Mesut actually covers more ground in a match, which I found hard to believe even though Mesut does run further than most people think.

I'll be pleased if Alexis plays for us for another year. Might even win us the league, and if we are playing better as a team he won't feel he has to do everything himself, which imo is the exact thing that polarises opinion about him.

You've been talking to Nic, then? How is the old fella?

[Ash]

You've been talking to Nic, then? How is the old fella?

Not Nic in fact. Haven't seen him for years. Though maybe he's feeling quite vindicated amongst Alexis' more recent critics.

[Monty92]

A former AWIMBer who is quite anti-Alexis claimed to me that Mesut actually covers more ground in a match, which I found hard to believe even though Mesut does run further than most people think.

I'll be pleased if Alexis plays for us for another year. Might even win us the league, and if we are playing better as a team he won't feel he has to do everything himself, which imo is the exact thing that polarises opinion about him.

"Might even win us the league"?

Blimey, what a difference a couple of months of no football makes.