Mascherano

I know, I recall making a response to it. It looks like bracketing Alonso in with our top performers didn't have the desired impact, eh? In any event, it's my opinion above, not Rafa's.

It only took Chelsea 50 seconds to close Xabi down yesterday and tackle for possession. I think that Xabi is a good player but that Mascherano displays signs of being a truly world class player in the near future.

I agree with this. 1. Gerrard. f***ing boss. 2. Torres. Impressive goal and is now inside JT's head. 3. Arbeloa. Really impressive player. Consistently good.

He got inside Terry's mind. JT was worried. I really like him. I think that he has a way to go before he is at full match fitness. When he has that I think he could be special. Great signing boss!

Who are you refering to? I hope it's one of your friends.

He said that we could have sold him for a "tidy sum". If he knows that much, I'd be interested to hear more.

How much exactly were they offering? How much would we have accepted? Why didn't they offer more? Was their offer too small because of Xabi's form last season? If Rafa was to buy a squad replacement, who would that have been and how much money would we have wanted to spend? Just a few questions there, Mike. And a link, if you would be so good. Full facts lad, full facts. I would hate to think that you were talking s***e, just to accuse me of talking s***e.

The words are indeed simplistic but so to is the theory. Thankfully, Rafa is an intelligent man. Mascherano is a stopper but he contributes many other qualities. Playing qualities AND consistency. Just to make it clear though, I'm happy that we have Xabi in the squad.

Great detective smilie Gary. Go investigate how long Mascherano has been at the club.

Perhaps you disagree with the point that Rafa will say what he wants you to hear, Woodsyla? Such is his reputation for giving straight answers to the media.... Mike said, "i don't think you're all that BUT" Xabi is a part of the squad Mike. I think Tom Hicks would have major concerns about Rafa allowing his contract to run down. Wages increase all the time. It's not like Xabi is a reserve team player. If we sell him at any point we will now get a sensible transfer fee. The phone is ringing Mike, its your wake up call.

Maybe Rafa hoped to improve Xabi's confidence levels by bracketing him in with our best performers. However, Rafa has his own agenda and will say what he wants you to hear. Thats a very basic level of interpretation from such a hardened forumite, Steve. Almost naive. Link?

I can't tell you Rafa's policy on that one, Fred. Can you help, Elisha?

1. Why not the opening fixture of the season? Copa America. 2. Because Mascherano's contract issues will be relevant at the end of this season and Xabi's contract was running down. Whatever my opinion on being first choice, we shouldn't let a player we spent over £10M on have his contract run down. "The others" you mention include Momo, another "absolute priority". Can I clear anything else up for you, Fred?

Anny wrote..." erm he played in the final the really important game no???" I said that Mascherano played the semi AND continued with that form (great form) in the final. Did I say that Xabi was not in the final? Perhaps you confused yourself? If I had forgotten however, I would submit that it was because he was relatively ineffective, although I didn't forget, as you can now see, old man. Mascher was brilliant today wasn't he?

Agree with that.

I think you'll be flabbergasted. CL semi was as an indication. Mascherano continued that form against Milan. Its no shame to be back up to Mascherano.

I'll let the other posters continue with their points. My point is that I did miss Xabi when we didn't have Mascherano. We are better with Mascherano in the side and I think that Rafa agrees with me. He was fantastic in the CL semi -v- Chelsea and he was my MOM in the final. Rafa could have had Xabi in. Nothing would please me more than to see Xabi return to the form of his first full season. Someone else said earlier that Xabi would be great at Barca and I agree with that. He would have more time to do what he can be very good at. I am NOT saying that he is s****, far from it. He is capable but the premiership is not where he can excel long term.

Sorry, I'm not an emoticon expert. I'll try to post more and gradually, with your assistance, I will endeavour to improve.

One man's Revisionist s**** is another man's forum law which is unpopularly being challenged. I recommend that you have some time away from the forum before you develop unhealthy side effects. You guys do seem to post alot. For the record, I don't see Riise as a scapegoat. I don't critisise him. He is part of a very successful defensive unit and has been VITAL to us in europe. I never wrote that Xabi hides. There are too many for me to quote, but the consensus appears to be that Xabi looks poor/would improve if we had better wingers/people like Garcia making wonderful runs. Claiming revisionism, whilst the defend Xabi from what is only a debate lobby dishes up reasoning like that! We have better at the club, certainly until we get all those players making intelligent runs.

I see alot of teams in the prem trying to get physical in the centre to shut him out of the game and its a reasonably successful ploy. But maybe he has under performed for ages generally because of issues unrelated to that, eh? He is not as effective as Mascherano at breaking up play and he needs time on the ball to spray balls around accurately. He has had less time on the ball. Am I wrong? Perhaps he's been doing great, consistently?

I think we can agree that Xabi is capable of things that Arteta is not, but what do you think about Arteta's consistency? I think that Xabi could be a really good player, its just that he is not going to be great in the premiership. He is too slow and apart from one or two games, he is pushed around to easily. He is capable of a good tackle but he is not capable of influencing games consistently, when push comes to shove, as they tend to do in England..

I felt that we were better at the end CL games with Mascherano and Gerrard. Maybe that was the case before Mascherano joined but not now.

Thats me told. Be brave and tell me why.

Utter s****. Alonso had a poor season over all last season and in yesterday's game I saw no sign that he is set to improve. Hate figure indeed. Everton fans say Arteta is a better player. Xabi's physical limitations and consistency levels are starting to make me wonder....

Steve GERRARD Jamie Carragher Pepe Reina Special mention to Xabi. He stank the place out. Mascherano to be back ASAP please.