Is our negativity down to...

[Guest Snorky]

Hear me out.

 

Mascherano is a great holding midfielder, but offers little going forward and is hardly ever going to be a regular goal scorer.

 

However, because Rafa is insisting that we buy him and the player desperate to stay....

 

...Is he getting more games than normal to prove a point ?

[Redkop]

I think he has because of Alonso not being available. I do wonder sometimes whether we 100% need Masch. Things haven't exactly improved since he's been getting a regular start...

[DarthVader]

Come on dude ! You blame Masch? It isn't Masch's fault if he doesn't have many forward thinking footballers around him.Who are the real forward thinking footballers we have? Gerrard, Babel and Torres.Yossi and Pennant is worth a mention but both are inconsistent.If you analyse yesterday's game why is it that that we move the ball 5 - 10 yards inside the opposition half and then we had to pass it 20 yards back to Sami or Carra?

Macsh plays the same role for us as he does for the Argies but the Argies have better ball players and are far more attack minded.

Just my thoughts.

[muleskinner]

We have defenders who can't pass, 'wingers' who aren't much of a goal threat and poor 2nd strikers. As for about the last 18 years we are 4-5 players short of a decent team. Mascherano, like Gerrard isn't part of the problem to my eyes. Agger coming back is a big lift providing he stays fit. Babel getting a run up front would help also, I believe.

[Ginu]

The problem is our attacking players, not Mascherano. If he was the problem, Argentina wouldn't be the force they are.

[abc]

He plays with passion. Not just in winning the ball back, but also when we're in search of a late goal he drives forward and makes plays happen. If you haven't noticed, the boy can pick out a pass too.

[DarthVader]

I don't understand why Rafa never plays his best team and always feel the need to make 4 to 5 changes from game to game.If we play our best team and and our best players we are bound to play better football and get better results.

I think our best 11 when fit and available are Reina;RisseCarra,Agger,Finnan;Kewell,Masch,Gerrard,Pennant;Babel,Torres.In my opinion this is the best 11 players at Liverpool for their respective positions,so PLAY THEM please Mr. Benitez.

 

Note:I know there are differing opinions among you and many of you think Riise is not worth a starting place because Aurelio is a better footballer.I would pick Aurelio above Riise but only problems is he is consistently hampered by injuries.

 

Opinions please.

[Guest Snorky]

Mascherano is not to blame, but I'm wondering if because he is getting a regular game part of the problem ? Is he getting special treatment ?

[Swagger]

Mascherano is not to blame, but I'm wondering if because he is getting a regular game part of the problem ? Is he getting special treatment ?

 

I don't think that he is getting special treatment. Alonso probably isn't fully fit yet.

[Guest chopper]

Mascherano is not to blame, but I'm wondering if because he is getting a regular game part of the problem ? Is he getting special treatment ?

 

 

I would imagine the reason he is getting a start every game is because he's a very good player, no?

[Guest dKing]

"We have defenders who can't pass, 'wingers' who aren't much of a goal threat and poor 2nd strikers. As for about the last 18 years we are 4-5 players short of a decent team. Mascherano, like Gerrard isn't part of the problem to my eyes. Agger coming back is a big lift providing he stays fit. Babel getting a run up front would help also, I believe. "

 

Agree with this.

 

"Mascherano is not to blame, but I'm wondering if because he is getting a regular game part of the problem ? Is he getting special treatment ?"

 

Nay be cause especially in the first half yesterday he was the only midfielder bustin his ass to get back when we lost possession of the ball (a million times)

at one stage he ran pass Arbeloa (jogging back)to get back to help out , special treatment ? No. Saving our asses ? May Be!

[Guest chopper]

"We have defenders who can't pass, 'wingers' who aren't much of a goal threat and poor 2nd strikers. As for about the last 18 years we are 4-5 players short of a decent team. Mascherano, like Gerrard isn't part of the problem to my eyes. Agger coming back is a big lift providing he stays fit. Babel getting a run up front would help also, I believe. "

 

Agree with this.

 

"Mascherano is not to blame, but I'm wondering if because he is getting a regular game part of the problem ? Is he getting special treatment ?"

 

Nay be cause especially in the first half yesterday he was the only midfielder bustin his ass to get back when we lost possession of the ball (a million times)

at one stage he ran pass Arbeloa (jogging back)to get back to help out , special treatment ? No. Saving our asses ? May Be!

 

 

He's definatley got passion which a lot of our players lack, be madness not to keep him.

[Hightown Phil]

If we had a left side, and centre forwards better than Voronin, Crouch and Kuyt, and the problem was still there, then maybe, but until that happens, I don't think we'll know.

 

For me, the negativity's down to not having good enough players going forward.

[kop205]

Yes, one of our few world class players is the problem.

[Hightown Phil]

Is he world class though?

 

He's very, very good. But world class? I'm not so sure.

[kop205]

Is he world class though?

 

He's very, very good. But world class? I'm not so sure.

 

I think he is, based on:

 

(a) my own observations of his performances

(b) the fact that I struggle to think of anyone who plays the role he does better

© his status within the Argentina side at such a young age.

 

I'd be happy for him to play every week. The problems are with those around him.

[Guest dKing]

"He's very, very good. But world class? I'm not so sure."

 

you may debate that if you like but he's not the problem , which is what we are talking about

[John am Rhein]

I think Mascherano should be one of the first names on the team sheet. It's Alonso who seems to be under achieving more and more.

[libero]

.

 

Opinions please.

 

Stop reading the gutter press

[_00_deathscar]

The problem is our attacking players, not Mascherano. If he was the problem, Argentina wouldn't be the force they are.

 

What exactly has this 'force' won then?

[surf]

It's hardly Masch's fault that Riise, Gerrard, Benny and Voronin provided nothing yesterday.

[Hieronymus Bosch]

How can picking our most consistent player of late be a problem? He's doing his job (and more), but most of the others aren't doing theirs.

[alias75]

Mascherano ist the problem, look at Utd they play with Carrick / Anderson / Hargreaves none of whom score or create much, doesnt stop them scoring plenty. The obvious problem isnt Mascherano (or playing a holding midfielder) its obviously the lack of quality in our attacking players.

 

Even teams like Brazil play with holding midfielders that don't contribute to their attacking play much (like Dunga or Gilberto) Mascherano is one of the few players that can hold his head up in recent weeks.

 

The problem is we lack quality in our 2nd forward and attacking midfielders i also think more attack minded fullbacks with better quality would make a big difference.

[Guest ziggystardust]

Hear me out.

 

Mascherano is a great holding midfielder, but offers little going forward and is hardly ever going to be a regular goal scorer.

 

However, because Rafa is insisting that we buy him and the player desperate to stay....

 

...Is he getting more games than normal to prove a point ?

 

 

your a joke, if we were playing masch and momo then you may have a point. the mascher constantly drives us on atm and he is the true leader on the pitch whenever he plays

[MFletcher]

Mascherano is one of the few players who seems to give a crap. He's sprinting around to cover gaps in our defence, trying to drive forward when we need to score, taking responsibility.

 

"Special treatment" my a***. He's being played all the time because he is a magnificent player.

 

What a ridiculous thread.

 

Who would you rather have in central midfield? Flamini? Carrick? Makelele? Mikel? They don't score either.

 

The idea that every single player in the team has to contribute goals to the team is ridiculous. Alonso will only score about three Premier League goals a season and those three are hardly going to make a difference in the long run. I wonder whether people actually understand the game sometimes.

 

Mascherano is not the problem. Our problem is a lack of contribution from attacking players bar Gerrard and Torres.

 

I despair sometimes.

Edited January 13, 2008 by MFletcher