Momo and Masch

[Guest Anders Honoré]

One of the more encouraging things I took from this game was Momo and Masch's partnership in the centre of midfield. It's been pointed out before that momo only seem to be able to play with Xabi without ruining the balance of the team, but after a shaky first few minutes I thought he got better and better as the match wore on. The two of them looked well capable of distributing the ball from the centre. Momo will never be a Gerrard, but he can distribute it like he did today it is good enough for me. Also, it must be devastating for the opposition trying to piece anything together in midfield against a duo like that. Surely the main reason Tulouse had nothing in their locker whatsoever.

 

Lucas' cameo looked good as well. Seems like a strong lad.

[fred milne]

Both of them had great games. Sissoko looked like a different player compared with last March/April. The only caveat is that there was precious little pressure on the ball coming from Toulouse.

[Guest Ant]

Good Point

 

Very re-assured of how they worked well and it holds great promise in times where we may be without the likes of SG and XA...

Edited August 29, 2007 by Ant

[Molby]

It's because Masch is happy to sit deeper than Momo, make the interceptions Didi style wherever he can and ping it about Xabi style - he's like a hybrid of the two if you ask me

 

meantime, Momo tries to break up the play higher up the pitch and as he's so mobile and athletic and also because he has the comfort of Masch covering him, if he misses a tackle or gets caught up front then we can recover

 

I think it takes a bit more thinking about tactically when Gerrard is playing, in terms of covering for each other as they both like to roam a bit

[Rimbeux]

I agree it looked good, but I'd like to see them do it against a defensive 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 before I'm so sure of it. The oppo last night played a dodgy 3 at the back that they didn't really understand, leaving specifically Benny and Arbeloa two on one with their awol wingback with acres of open space and one of them always wide open in the oppo half. Picky I know, but it wasn't the same challenge (our usual one) two well drilled banks of four, many times even a four and a five, sitting behind the ball.

[McBain]

Dont think there's enough creativity in that pair. Especially at home

 

Rafa's idea, no, is to play Momo high up the pitch. This is his idea and it is clear. But it's not making the best use of his talents

[sean]

Mascherano should play every game, everytime we play. He is an absolute star.

[Romario]

I think Momo might have got freaked out when Masch arrived. Seems to have got used to the idea now and is looking better and better.

[Rich Gobey]

Momo is still little more than a wrecking-ball.

 

Loses it - wins it - loses it again.

 

Mascherano really is top class though.

[Huyton_Red]

We have an incredible array of talent in central midfield

 

Its amazing, every one of them is brilliant and its a sign of how far we have come that I think our fourth choice central midfielder would get a game at Chelsea or Utd, never mind our first choice

 

I am dead excited about Liverpool at the minute, I am forcing myself not to post a "Were gonna win the league" diatribe. The is an aura building up around us at the minute, we look like a team that will just steamroller anything that is put in its way

[fred milne]

Momo is still little more than a wrecking-ball.

He was more than that last night - a couple of sweeping cross-field passes and a cheeky back-heel. Toulouse were poor, though.

[McBain]

Mascherano really is top class though.

 

Deffo. We need to get him signed up proper

[Rich Gobey]

He was more than that last night - a couple of sweeping cross-field passes and a cheeky back-heel. Toulouse were poor, though.

 

He did lots of good things i agree, lots and lots of mistakes though.

[IgPig]

Don't think its a combination that will work too well against most teams.

Edited August 29, 2007 by Post Kuytal Glow

[Guest Anders Honoré]

He did lots of good things i agree, lots and lots of mistakes though.

 

he looked shaky to begin with, but I didn't see too many after that. the balls he gave away after that were mostly fairly difficult through balls.

[bazz]

We have an incredible array of talent in central midfield

 

Its amazing, every one of them is brilliant and its a sign of how far we have come that I think our fourth choice central midfielder would get a game at Chelsea or Utd, never mind our first choice

 

I am dead excited about Liverpool at the minute, I am forcing myself not to post a "Were gonna win the league" diatribe. The is an aura building up around us at the minute, we look like a team that will just steamroller anything that is put in its way

 

I agree with that.

 

Even Trevor Steven commenting on the game for TV3 in Ireland mentioned that there is a strong feeling around the club about this season.

 

But as someone said once, we have to take one game at a time.

[Eskimo]

Dont think there's enough creativity in that pair. Especially at home

 

Rafa's idea, no, is to play Momo high up the pitch. This is his idea and it is clear. But it's not making the best use of his talents

 

We all know Momo is a great "destroyer" but fair play to him his passing and link up play appear to have greatly improved in the last couple of games and he got involved in a fair number of our attacks...

[Rory Fitzgerald]

I think Sissoko has re-invented himself this year. There were signs of it in pre-season and so far he has been the one playing higher up the pitch when playing with Masch or Alonso.

 

Its this alone that makes me think we will not see a Gerrard/Momo CM partnership unless the others are injured.

[Stevie H]

Mascherano should play every game, everytime we play. He is an absolute star.

 

he's a freak. where does that pace come from when he's chasing players back and snapping at them?

[Knox_Harrington]

There were signs of it in pre-season and so far he has been the one playing higher up the pitch when playing with Masch or Alonso.

 

Its this alone that makes me think we will not see a Gerrard/Momo CM partnership unless the others are injured.

He's always played higher up the pitch than Alonso.

 

He's never started in a centre mid pair with Gerrard (or did he for one game last season when Alonso was injured?)

[RP]

Momo looked really p***ed off when he was subbed last night.

 

Nothing in it I'm sure, but it wasnoticable how annoyed he was to be the one getting pulled off.

 

 

 

[Stevie H]

Momo looked really p***ed off when he was subbed last night.

 

Nothing in it I'm sure, but it wasnoticable how annoyed he was to be the one getting pulled off.

he was enjoying himself. played well.

[Walrus]

Dont think there's enough creativity in that pair. Especially at home

 

Rafa's idea, no, is to play Momo high up the pitch. This is his idea and it is clear. But it's not making the best use of his talents

Hello Rafa

[DazzlaJ]

Masch is my Hero, a f***ing monster of a player

[mooks]

Deffo. We need to get him signed up proper

Ha ha! There were numerous posts on here just a month ago saying we had either signed him or had the first option on him at an agreed price. When I asked where this had come from I was told 'Everyone'