Mascherano vs Hamann

[épieur]

Something I am curious as to what other reds think about. When Masch was here, he was often talked about as probably the best defensive midfielder in the world and Didi I felt never really got the same kind of accolade. With a few years of hindsight, it's probably a bit easier to evaluate.

 

Personally, I think Didi was easily the better player. Defensively, there was not much between them. What Masch had in mobility, Didi made up for in positioning. And I think Didi was far superior in his use of the ball than Masch. On his good day, he could dominate midfields completely, even though he had spells where his use of the ball was rather negative. And that's beside the fact that he was here longer and probably a fair bit more instrumental to the side than masch ever became (though he played his part in The Best Midfield In The World™).

[surf]

masch for speed, mobility and probably tackling. hamann for everything else. depends on who you play them with. in the current team i'd have hamann before masch

Edited March 28, 2012 by surf

[yellow jumper]

hamman will be remembered as the greater liverpool player, obviously. he won more, he played more and we saw his best years. he was also better technically.

 

mascherano hasn't even finished his career yet. but in the wider reckoning he'll probably end up being better regarded simply for turning out for this barca side regularly. not to mention that he's helping to redefine a position.

[The Hitman]

What position is that?Makeshift centre half?

[FirstDescent]

With Alonso id have Mash, with Gerrard centraly id have Hamann.

[goodrobotusses]

I love Didi more than most and never got the clamour from some to have him replaced with somebody more attacking during GH's tenure, but Masch was a better player. Masch's positional play is vastly underrated (see: how we threw the '07 CL final by subbing him off) but he had the advantage of being able to cover more ground and play in more positions than Didi.

 

Both legends though.

[charlie clown]

I think Masch is better at the stuff he does well but Didi was a better all round better player. I'd much rather go out for a beer with Didi than Masch.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Whatever people's preferences are, any team would be blessed to have either in their line-up in the role of 'the more defensively minded midfielder'.

 

I have a love of defensive midfielders in that I have only ever had 4 names on the back of my shirt, Gerrard (No. 17, not 8), Hamann, Mascherano and Biscan (what a guy, what a player).

 

Mascherano had plenty of speed and tenacity. His positional sense was fine and his distribution was more adventurous than Hamann. His qualities are highlighted even more given that he compliments RB as he did in the Merseyside derby and now manages to play CB for Barca though I would not trust in that position if he was in a team that didnt have as much possession as Barca and was under more pressure.

 

Hamann did have great positional sense and he treasured possession of the ball. He would play possession football and back up the play and keep possession ticking over when players turned back to find a team-mate. His marksmanship was obviously better than Mascherano's with his free-kicks, penalties and long range efforts. He also had the 'Didi-crumple'

 

I love Didi and he contributed more to LFC than Mascherano. However, if I was to take either in their pomp for the DM role, I would go for Mascherano over Did and whilst its only just, its Mascherano.

[Epic Swindle]

Hamman, comfortably. Had more to his game.

[Benzo-13]

Love both but Mascherano edges it.

Destroying machine.

[fred milne]

hamman will be remembered as the greater liverpool player, obviously. he won more, he played more and we saw his best years. he was also better technically.

 

mascherano hasn't even finished his career yet. but in the wider reckoning he'll probably end up being better regarded simply for turning out for this barca side regularly. not to mention that he's helping to redefine a position.

Good assessment.

[goodrobotusses]

Hamman, comfortably. Had more to his game.

How so, aside from shooting ability?

[Epic Swindle]

How so, aside from shooting ability?

 

Positional awareness, vision, passing, composure. Masch is a great modern destroyer and covers more ground but Didi had more of a rounded game. I think Didi would suit this Barca side more than Masch, who is effectively being used as a sweeper.

Edited March 28, 2012 by Epic Swindle

[yellow jumper]

i'm not really interested in using one to belittle the other, but mascherano's been barcelona's best centre half this season. and he's more than a sweeper. he's an aggressive ball winner and passer out from the back. he's one of the most tactically switched on and adaptable defensive footballers in the world. and capable of changing games in an attacking sense because of it.

[goodrobotusses]

Positional awareness, vision, passing, composure. Masch is a great modern destroyer and covers more ground but Didi had more of a rounded game. I think Didi would suit this Barca side more than Masch, who is effectively being used as a sweeper.

Fair enough. Don't agree, but fair enough.

[Hassony]

As much as i love didi, Mascherano was a better player

[anfield11]

As much as i love didi, Mascherano was a better player

 

 

Agree very much. Only thing I'd add is that Didi loves us more than Masch I think.

[Beardsley]

For a night on the town, Didi every night.

[Stevie H]

I'd much rather go out for a beer with Didi than Masch.

 

this is not getting enough attention in this thread.

[Chili Palmer]

I went for Masch but its a tough one, they were/are both masters in that position.

[Fastardo]

Masch always seemed to be trying really hard. For Didi it was effortless.

[Chewie]

25 May 2005

 

Didi Hamann

 

shirley this answers it?

 

Chewie

[Stevie H]

still slightly irks me that this role became known as the 'makelele role'. one of them w*nky modern football misnomers like free-kicks being in 'beckham territory'.

[Gunga Din]

i think Hamann was the better player. he was a smarter player, a more canny player than Masch will ever be. He was a better passer and better reader of the game, and the best player at winning freekicks the modern game has ever seen.

[dl2009]

Two contrasting approaches to performing the same function:

 

Masch: Energetic, effervescent, very aggressive, played higher up the pitch.

Didi: Far more positionally aware, played a calmer game, didn't need to make last ditch tackles as he knew exactly where to be and when, always available for a pass, had more authority when driving forward.

 

Both were exceptional for us, but I'd opt for Didi as he was consistently capable of playing lots of incisive passes when he won possession of the ball, whereas Masch's passing could be erratic and he'd lay the ball of to Xabi to make things tick (who wouldn't, frankly?).

 

And the clincher? The Did crumple.