mascherano

[Stevie H]

best slide tackler since mark lawrenson. he's a quick little f***er and times his challenges beautifully.

[sean]

best slide tackler since mark lawrenson. he's a quick little f***er and times his challenges beautifully.

 

 

He's pure quality is the lad. Lost count the number of times he chased back after someone and actually got the ball back.

[Leo No.8]

best slide tackler since mark lawrenson. he's a quick little f***er and times his challenges beautifully.

 

I think Rafa will have trouble leaving Mascherano out on a regular basis.

 

The pleasant headache he has brought upon himself is that Masch, Alonso and Gerrard all of a level that they demand selection for every game with just the odd rest to keep them fresh, without even considering Sissoko and Lucas.

 

It's not workable for me, I can see Momo leaving in January.

Edited August 16, 2007 by Leo No.8

[floyd]

Rafa has got an absolute diamond on his hands.

[McBain]

He's very different to Xabi but right now i'd have him ahead of him in almost every game

[Mike]

hes a very clever player. that run with the ball towards the end of the game all the way to their penalty area, drawing the inevitable foul was perfection.

[Leo No.8]

hes a very clever player. that run with the ball towards the end of the game all the way to their penalty area, drawing the inevitable foul was perfection.

 

Would you go as far as to say it was 'Hamann-esque', worthy of the master of the crumple?

[Mike]

Rafa has got an absolute diamond on his hands.

 

[Mike]

Would you go as far as to say it was 'Hamann-esque', worthy of the master of the crumple?

absolutely, but ive never seen the kaiser run that far without sparking one up

[_00_deathscar]

absolutely, but ive never seen the kaiser run that far without sparking one up

 

Milan in the final in 05.

[Mike]

Milan in the final in 05.

 

yeah, and did he or did he not have a fag in his hand?

[honourablegeorge]

Be real nice if that new-found knack of scoring made the leap from Copa America to the League too.

 

I still worry that the deal won't become permanent though.

[Stevie H]

hes a very clever player. that run with the ball towards the end of the game all the way to their penalty area, drawing the inevitable foul was perfection.

yep, and the one in the first half where he ran from the halfway line, got past two of them and nearly got in behind. he's not just a destroyer is he?

[MFletcher]

I think Rafa will have trouble leaving Mascherano out on a regular basis.

 

The pleasant headache he has brought upon himself is that Masch, Alonso and Gerrard all of a level that they demand selection for every game with just the odd rest to keep them fresh, without even considering Sissoko and Lucas.

It's not workable for me, I can see Momo leaving in January.

 

I agree with that.

 

I thought Momo was excellent in 05-06, but when Masch came in he put his abilities in perspective. Masch can do everything that Momo can - as well as dribble, pass over distance etc. etc.

 

Momo has real potential, but you have to wonder if he'll really be happy with sub appearances. I can't see him getting in ahead of Stevie, Xabi or Masch at present.

[floyd]

Pure Cubic Zirconia

[Huyton_Red]

He was outstanding yesterday, as he was for a lot of games towards the end of last season, including the champions league final when he marked kaka out of the game

 

He is a brilliant player who is getting better and better as he settles down

 

If you are only picking two then it is gerrard and mascerano every time for me

[Stevie H]

If you are only picking two then it is gerrard and mascerano every time for me

that depends entirely on who we're playing. some opponents, xabi and gerrard will be a far better pairing.

[Falconhoof]

There's no rush to sell Momo in january is there ?

 

He's a valuable part of the squad. An injury to Gerrard, Mascherano or Alonso (god forbid) and you'd be relying on the other 2 to play every game. Assuming Lucas is to be eased into the squad very slowly then we'll need Momo to rest and rotate the other midfielders when they get knocks.

[Guest Snorky]

Don't forget Mascherano is on loan, and we may not pursue a permanent signature. Also the player may not want to sign permanently. Talk of Momo leaving is totally premature especially after him signing a new deal recently.

[_00_deathscar]

If you are only picking two then it is gerrard and mascerano every time for me

 

You're being very short sighted there.

 

As Stev(i)e H said, it depends on the opponents. In a rough/scrap game (that is not to say Xabi can't handle himself), where we need to stop them whilst offering a threat through the middle, that pair is perfect (Chelsea semi 2nd leg).

 

Most games however, Xabi must play - simply because as I said in the Xabi thread, we lack fluency in midfield and in our passing when Xabi isn't playing. Neither Gerrard nor Mascherano are decent, nevermind effective, metronomes as Xabi is.

[Boca]

Momo was excellent when he came on yesterday. He's 22 years old and will only improve. He's just signed a new long term contract. Can't see Rafa selling him and I presume he got assurances about playing time from the manager, otherwise he wouldn't have signed for four more years.

[alias75]

Theres also the counter argument that we signed Sissoko on a new long contract so that we get his proper value if he is sold rather than having to sell him with only a year left on his contract.

 

Rafa obviously rates Mascherano very highly after going to all that trouble to sign him and then selecting him for the CL final so you have to assume we intend to make it permanent, that'll probably mean Sissoko goes but with him signed for another 4 years we'll get a good fee for him.

[Senrab_nhoj]

absolutely, but ive never seen the kaiser run that far without sparking one up

 

The big difference for me was that the kaiser never ever got airborne, feet firmly entrenched when in crumple zone mode... Masch had clear air......

 

[Benitez]

The Hamann Crumple was a thing of beauty

 

One of the best ones was when we played Arsenal, and he won a free kick deep in our half, and it led to Mellor's goal, it was great! So subtle.

 

And Mascher is indeed some player. I worry though that we won't pursue his signing beyond the loan, due to either price, or the messing about and trouble involved with who the fec owns him. And this is the reason for signing Lucas - preparing for next season and beyond.

[_00_deathscar]

yeah, and did he or did he not have a fag in his hand?

 

Think he took the liberty of one after drawing the foul