Mascherano

[Smith]

From what’s been said in the press over the summer, and from Rafa’s latest comments, it looks as Mascherano might be off next summer. Javier is a great player at what he does, one of the best, if not the best in the world. Losing him will be a major blow, and we will have to work hard to find a replacement. I’m sure we will, mind. Now, to my point; to me there’s a definite risk his heart will not be 100 % up for it this season. If he wanted to leave for Barcelona, I’m sure he still wants to go. Now I’m sure he’s a top pro, but I still feel quite concerned about this going into the season. For me, Xabi leaving was a blow. A Javier wanting away is another.

[meepins]

Sell him and get Lee Carsley - problem solved.

[NeilR]

From what’s been said in the press over the summer, and from Rafa’s latest comments, it looks as Mascherano might be off next summer. Javier is a great player at what he does, one of the best, if not the best in the world. Losing him will be a major blow, and we will have to work hard to find a replacement. I’m sure we will, mind. Now, to my point; to me there’s a definite risk his heart will not be 100 % up for it this season. If he wanted to leave for Barcelona, I’m sure he still wants to go. Now I’m sure he’s a top pro, but I still feel quite concerned about this going into the season. For me, Xabi leaving was a blow. A Javier wanting away is another.

 

I'm dissappointed to hear this confirmed by Rafa after what we have done for Maschs career. We saved him when he was rotting in West Ham, have developed his talents to the degree that he is now national captain, turned a blind eye and allowed him to go to the Olympics even though we knew it would impact us, and he stated at the start of last year that he owed us trophies. I'm not going to turn on him, especially if he knuckles down, but just dissappointed that after the club have done an awful lot for him he still had his head turned by Barca.

 

I can understand Xabi feeling agreeved the club tried to sell him last year, but Masch cant feel we've let him down. I suppose all we can do now is win the league and CL (twonking Barca on the way) and see how he feels after that!!!

[Romario]

From what’s been said in the press over the summer, and from Rafa’s latest comments, it looks as Mascherano might be off next summer. Javier is a great player at what he does, one of the best, if not the best in the world. Losing him will be a major blow, and we will have to work hard to find a replacement. I’m sure we will, mind. Now, to my point; to me there’s a definite risk his heart will not be 100 % up for it this season. If he wanted to leave for Barcelona, I’m sure he still wants to go. Now I’m sure he’s a top pro, but I still feel quite concerned about this going into the season. For me, Xabi leaving was a blow. A Javier wanting away is another.

Play him till he drops. Use whips if need be. It's world cup year he's gotta perform for us even if he's dreaming of Barca.

Bloody footballers.

[Leo No.8]

Anyone who's ever watched him play would know Mascherano isn't the type of player to give anything less than 100% when he steps out on the pitch, he's a little pitbull and energy and commitment are the biggest parts of his game.

 

After all the carry on with Xabi and him this summer I'd rather just forget about it; its time to look forward to the new season and worry about Mascherano if and when it comes up again next summer.

 

Barca may have different priorities next summer, loads of things may change over the coming season. Facts are he's here for this season, he will give his all when he's out on the pitch and that is that.

 

Can't people move on now its all over with for the time being?

Edited August 14, 2009 by Leo No.8

[Keita]

I'm dissappointed to hear this confirmed by Rafa after what we have done for Maschs career. We saved him when he was rotting in West Ham, have developed his talents to the degree that he is now national captain, turned a blind eye and allowed him to go to the Olympics even though we knew it would impact us, and he stated at the start of last year that he owed us trophies. I'm not going to turn on him, especially if he knuckles down, but just dissappointed that after the club have done an awful lot for him he still had his head turned by Barca.

 

I can understand Xabi feeling agreeved the club tried to sell him last year, but Masch cant feel we've let him down. I suppose all we can do now is win the league and CL (twonking Barca on the way) and see how he feels after that!!!

 

I dont believe that mate, if we hadnt of saved him from West Ham someone else would of.

[Swan Red]

what has Benitez said?

[Swipe]

what has Benitez said?

 

Clicky

[Swan Red]

thanks appreciated

[Zoob]

Anyone who's ever watched him play would know Mascherano isn't the type of player to give anything less than 100% when he steps out on the pitch, he's a little pitbull and energy and commitment are the biggest parts of his game.

 

After all the carry on with Xabi and him this summer I'd rather just forget about it; its time to look forward to the new season and worry about Mascherano if and when it comes up again next summer.

 

Barca may have different priorities next summer, loads of things may change over the coming season. Facts are he's here for this season, he will give his all when he's out on the pitch and that is that.

 

Can't people move on now its all over with for the time being?

 

Wot he said.

[DJS]

Barca now linked to Kompany.

[Flight]

He said: "We can always talk about the top four, but Manchester City are doing a very good job and have bought some excellent players. I can understand why Mr Ferguson at Manchester United is a little bit worried.

 

 

 

Love it. Bet the whisky nosed tramp is seething already.

[bobbyboulders]

I dont believe that mate, if we hadnt of saved him from West Ham someone else would of.

 

Exactly, it wasn't an act of charity. It was hardly even a risk getting him on loan. Rafa was really astute to get in there before anyone else. It was obvious that he was a top player from his displays for Argentina, and was never going to be left to rot in West Ham's reserves. It would be great if it was his life's aspiration to play for us, but I suppose Spain / Barca are the more traditional home for argentiansuperstarfootballers.

 

He probably will be off at the end of the season, which is a shame cause he's great and will be tough to replace. Till then though, as long as he's crazily committed as ever, it'll be great watching him sprint into tackles for us.

[mick]

I think Rafa has given Masch a little gentle boot up the @rse by revealing what he has - (ie he was disappointed that he couldn't go) . Masch know now the fans will be watching him even closer so expect him to really step up and be even more determined than normal (if that's possible)

 

I have no worries about him this season.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Anyone who's ever watched him play would know Mascherano isn't the type of player to give anything less than 100% when he steps out on the pitch, he's a little pitbull and energy and commitment are the biggest parts of his game.

 

After all the carry on with Xabi and him this summer I'd rather just forget about it; its time to look forward to the new season and worry about Mascherano if and when it comes up again next summer.

 

Barca may have different priorities next summer, loads of things may change over the coming season. Facts are he's here for this season, he will give his all when he's out on the pitch and that is that.

 

Can't people move on now its all over with for the time being?

 

If Masch wants to leave all he has to do is look at Alonso, go out and put in a damn fine season.

 

And FWIW, transfer targets change so I dont expect to see Barca back next season.

[fyds]

I think Rafa has given Masch a little gentle boot up the @rse by revealing what he has - (ie he was disappointed that he couldn't go) . Masch know now the fans will be watching him even closer so expect him to really step up and be even more determined than normal (if that's possible)

 

I have no worries about him this season.

Quite - and I see nothing in Rafa's quotes that indicate he will be off next season either.

[floyd the barber]

not really mash`s fault though is it..

 

what can he do when his wife doesnt wanna be in liverpool......or actually cant..believe some imigration issues for her , is the cause of this.

[Magic8Ball]

not really mash`s fault though is it..

 

what can he do when his wife doesnt wanna be in liverpool......or actually cant..believe some imigration issues for her , is the cause of this.

I see the govt continues to help british football, first it taxes more than Spain, now it wont let footballer's wives in ....

[floyd the barber]

from sky sports..maybe a month or 2 ago..

 

 

 

Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano is keen to secure a move to Spain as he has grown 'tired of life in England', according to his agent.

 

The Argentina international is a reported target of Real Madrid and Barcelona, but the enforcer remains part of Reds manager Rafa Benitez's plans.

 

However, Mascherano's representative, Walter Tamer, has claimed the 25-year-old has grown unsettled in the Premier League and is eager to move abroad.

 

Tamer is quoted by Infobae.com as saying: "Barcelona is the easiest deal to set up as Javier wants to go to Spain. He is tired of life in England.

 

"His wife has not been given a permanent visa. She has to go through an odyssey each time she wants to go.

 

"Liverpool refuse to sell, this can be overcome with an extraordinary offer."

[guernseygareth]

wasn't that immigration thing exposed as a bit of a smokescreen - mascher has an italian ie eu passport?

[Rimbeux]

not really mash`s fault though is it..

 

what can he do when his wife doesnt wanna be in liverpool......or actually cant..believe some imigration issues for her , is the cause of this.

 

Dont buy that for a second, wife unsettled is the oldest line in the book of agency excuses to get the club to let the player go.

 

Not to turn this into a players not living in the real world thing, but footballers careers are such that they are well rewarded for a sometimes transient domestic life, and it's something many many people put up with for the sake of cash, be it working abroad or away from family for large amounts of time.

 

Like it or not, the names Barca and Real have turned the heads of Masch and Alonso and everything else is window dressing, spin and gossip, same story with Ronaldo. In this case Alonso pushed harder to move and Real were always more likely to match our valuation than Barca with Masch; from what Rafa has said it must have become a non-starter pretty quickly after his chats with Barca.

[Frosty Jack]

Dont buy that for a second, wife unsettled is the oldest line in the book of agency excuses to get the club to let the player go.

 

If she is being f***ed around by the ind, it isn't an excuse. it's perfectly reasonable.

however he's staying another season and that's that.

[schmuckdonald]

Rafa lit a fire under Alonso' ass last season, he'll do it to Masch this season.

[Rimbeux]

If she is being f***ed around by the ind, it isn't an excuse. it's perfectly reasonable.

however he's staying another season and that's that.

 

Depends what being f***ed about constitutes, is she being routinely picked up off the street and detained by the police questioning her right to remain, is she having problems being able to work over here, is she having to spend more time than she'd like at customs rather than walking straight through?

[RedBilledChough]

Depends what being f***ed about constitutes, is she being routinely picked up off the street and detained by the police questioning her right to remain, is she having problems being able to work over here, is she having to spend more time than she'd like at customs rather than walking straight through?

Probably the latter. If Masch has a EU passport he'd go through immigration on the nod whereas with an Argentine passport she'd be held up behind him. Can't see it would be more than a minor inconveniece but then again, we are talking footballers' wives here.