Masch

[DazzlaJ]

Starting to find his form nicely again. Been outstanding last 3 games.

[johngibo YPC]

Haloween unleashes the Monster Masch

[Leo No.8]

Even when he's out of form (as he had been up until the last couple of weeks) Mascherano will always be a crowd pleaser for his incredible work rate and tackling.

 

However when he's confident and passes the ball like he did last night and you ally that to all those ball winning attributes, I'd go as far as to say he looks like the best player in the world in his position.

 

Confidence is just such a massive thing; anyone who watched Mascher in the past knows he's a great passer of the ball but he started giving it away far too often at the same time as many of our players seemed to lose their form around a month ago.

 

Since the derby he has regained his confidence on the ball and last night he was passing it with the outside of the foot, doing dragbacks, waiting for the right pass even when he was under pressure and being involved further forward. He absolutely ran the game from start to finish.

 

He wants to stay, clearly loves it here and we need to sign Mascherano long term as quickly as possible. When you have a player who possesses attributes which mean he could get into any team in the world, you have to keep hold of that player.

 

Particularly considering his age I could see him being generally regarded as the best in the world somewhere like Barca, Madrid, Inter or Milan and it would kill me to see him go.

 

You can bet all those clubs have their eyes on him, and I'm sure MSI won't actively discourage any interest so we need to get things tied up if it is at all possible.

Edited November 7, 2007 by Leo No.8

[RedHarvest]

His passing was Xabilike at times last night,,that's what he's capable of when he's confident and there's movement ahead of him,,he's pure class. Really hope we sort out his transfer in the summer.

[Rimbeux]

Wise words Leo

[alias75]

Even when he's out of form (as he had been up until the last couple of weeks) Mascherano will always be a crowd pleaser for his incredible work rate and tackling.

 

However when he's confident and passes the ball like he did last night and you ally that to all those ball winning attributes, I'd go as far as to say he looks like the best player in the world in his position.

 

Confidence is just such a massive thing; anyone who watched Mascher in the past knows he's a great passer of the ball but he started giving it away far too often at the same time as many of our players seemed to lose their form around a month ago.

 

Since the derby he has regained his confidence on the ball and last night he was passing it with the outside of the foot, doing dragbacks, waiting for the right pass even when he was under pressure and being involved further forward. He absolutely ran the game from start to finish.

 

He wants to stay, clearly loves it here and we need to sign Mascherano long term as quickly as possible. When you have a player who possesses attributes which mean he could get into any team in the world, you have to keep hold of that player.

 

Particularly considering his age I could see him being generally regarded as the best in the world somewhere like Barca, Madrid, Inter or Milan and it would kill me to see him go.

 

You can bet all those clubs have their eyes on him, and I'm sure MSI won't actively discourage any interest so we need to get things tied up if it is at all possible.

 

Agree with all of that hes quickly becoming my favourite player to watch, it tells you everything that in an 8-0 win a defensive ball wining midfielder can be a contender for MOM. His form wasnt great which coincided with the team playing poorly but the last 3 or 4 games hes been top class, as you say even when hes not on top form he's always trying and usually in the right place at the right time, and when hes on form and passing it well theres no one better in that position.

 

Really hope we sign him, all the noises from the player have been positive, and hes just the type of player we need in the team, someone that plays like its 0-0 even when we're cruising and allows players like Stevie, Benayun, Babel to attack knowing hes there covering for them.

 

Think him and Alonso would make a great partnership and allow us to have a fluid attacking 4 knowing those 2 very clever players are there plugging the gaps.

[Guest petelfc]

Just shows what an influential player he can be when the movement of the team is good. He needs players buzzing around him and creating space.

[Dee]

we really need to keep him here

[fred milne]

Think him and Alonso would make a great partnership.

With the exception of the CL Semi 1st leg at Stamford Bridge last season when Mascherano was below par, Mascherano and Alonso have looked a great pairing everytime they've played together.

[Puskas]

It says a lot when Voronin's played a blinder and Benayoun's scored three, but I think Masch was MOM. Some of his passing was fantastic - Xabiesque. The one that started the move for Gerrards goal, and the pass to find Benayoun for the last - both top class. He completely bossed the midfield, set the tempo for everyone and gave Gerrard the license to get forward. Fantastic player.

[_00_deathscar]

I like the fact that he's picking up the Xabi dragback to make space.

[floyd the barber]

im still shocked that elisha doesnt rate him....

 

very strange......

[Zoob]

He's such a good tackler and reader of the game, but last night showed us what we've already seen when he's played for a confident Argentina side - when we're passing and moving as we did last night (and as Argentina often do) he helps our game incredibly because he has such a good football brain, and when people are making good runs, he is able to select and execute passes almost as well as Alonso. I can't actually remember him mis-placing a pass last night.

[The_Adder]

im still shocked that elisha doesnt rate him....

 

very strange......

 

Probably the best Central partnership = Xabi & Masch, that doesnt include Stevie.

 

Although I'd obviously play him every single game.

[D.Boon]

Superb last night in every way.

[vish]

im still shocked that elisha doesnt rate him....

 

very strange......

 

why do you hold Elisha's views in greater esteem than any other muppet on here??

[floyd the barber]

why do you hold Elisha's views in greater esteem than any other muppet on here??

 

i agree...im shocked i feel this way too

[johngibo YPC]

im still shocked that elisha doesnt rate him....

 

very strange......

 

He said he played well last night, for what its worth

[Guest PaulMcC]

He was brilliant last night.

 

MOM.

[growler]

personally, our first team midfield is Kewell, Masch, alonso, Gerrard

[Mono]

personally, our first team midfield is Kewell, Masch, alonso, Gerrard

 

Ah ballls... if that's the case we need a new bloody song... took long enough to learn the "best midfield...." one

[mathewbet1]

He loves sliding tackles cant remember a player who does so many without (usually) getting booked, all about timing i supose. Keep up the good form Masch!

[mooks]

I have been saying for some time now that Masch is our best player - so needless to say I agree with all the praise he is belatedly getting.

 

One thing no-one seems to have mentioned is that Masch turns up to play week in, week out. Flies to Argentina, comes back to play two days later in the Derby, 90 minutes game after game, yet still looks fresh as a daisy.

 

I didn't know there were players like him in the modern age.

[Cunny]

Kia Joorabchian is on The Times football podcast this week.

He says Liverpool have first option with him or MSI to buy Javier at the end of the season but the player can still refuse.

So, it would appear that Mascherano has the final say.

 

When asked about Barca's reported interest, he just said that many clubs are interested in Mascherano.

[The Hitman]

We need to f***ing sort out signing him,he's boss.

Would be a huuuuge mistake to let him go.Not signing him would be unforgiveable.