Mascherano wants to quit West Ham

[Morph]

Yeah but he's leaving WH because he's not getting enough football. He'll come to us, and...erm...not get enough football.

Does he think he'll play much at Anfield? Because he wont really.

Why do you think this tho? Rafa isn't going to buy him for him not to play is he?

Sissoko is out for at least another good month yet anyway, so he's got a month (hopefully) to show us what he can do.

This seems quite similar to the Agger deal, a youngster in and around the 6m region. It took Agger the 6 months to settle in, so maybe we shouldn't be expecting immediate things from him anyway, but I'm sure Rafa will have made this clear to him, if the transfer is in fact going to happen.

[Neil Young]

the Argentine Football Association, a powerful voice within Fifa, is willing to lobby on Mascherano's behalf.

Of course, it's in their interests too, we all overlooked them.

[Guest]

lobby ... lobby ... lobby

[Craig_H]

Why do you think this tho? Rafa isn't going to buy him for him not to play is he?

Sissoko is out for at least another good month yet anyway, so he's got a month (hopefully) to show us what he can do.

This seems quite similar to the Agger deal, a youngster in and around the 6m region. It took Agger the 6 months to settle in, so maybe we shouldn't be expecting immediate things from him anyway, but I'm sure Rafa will have made this clear to him, if the transfer is in fact going to happen.

Difference with Agger is that Hyypia is nearing the end of his career.

Alonso, Gerrard and Sissoko arent.

And Rafa adores Alonso, so i cant see him being benched. JM will get a few mins here and there, with the odd cuptie and easy home game. Cant see him playing regular 1st team football with us. It's a simple mathematical equation, 2 CM places, 4 CMs. Obviously someone's gonna miss out.

[Guest]

Difference with Agger is that Hyypia is nearing the end of his career.

Alonso, Gerrard and Sissoko arent.

And Rafa adores Alonso, so i cant see him being benched. JM will get a few mins here and there, with the odd cuptie and easy home game. Cant see him playing regular 1st team football with us. It's a simple mathematical equation, 2 CM places, 4 CMs. Obviously someone's gonna miss out.

Rotation is the name of the game. Replacing top class players with other equally top class players.

[Craig_H]

Rotation is the name of the game. Replacing top class players with other equally top class players.

Yes, to a point.

But players like Gerrard and Alonso are hardly rotated much.

And even so, if JM is going to play via the rotation policy, it just backs up the point that he wont play regularly. If he signs, (and is allowed to play), i'd see him playing something like 10-15 games between signing and the end of the season.

[Guest]

Yes, to a point.

But players like Gerrard and Alonso are hardly rotated much.

And even so, if JM is going to play via the rotation policy, it just backs up the point that he wont play regularly. If he signs, (and is allowed to play), i'd see him playing something like 10-15 games between signing and the end of the season.

Ok, we should sell Momo and Bolo and not sign Mascherano. Ship out the likes of Gonzo or Aurelio and bring back the one and only, Harry Kewell.

[Craig_H]

Ok, we should sell Momo and Bolo and not sign Mascherano. Ship out the likes of Gonzo or Aurelio and bring back the one and only, Harry Kewell.

Where did i say that?

Stop being a feckwit.

[Neil Young]

Ok, we should sell Momo and Bolo and not sign Mascherano. Ship out the likes of Gonzo or Aurelio and bring back the one and only, Harry Kewell.

Where did i say that?

Stop being a feckwit.

You're demanding the impossible there.

[Lecter]

Yes, to a point.

But players like Gerrard and Alonso are hardly rotated much.

And even so, if JM is going to play via the rotation policy, it just backs up the point that he wont play regularly. If he signs, (and is allowed to play), i'd see him playing something like 10-15 games between signing and the end of the season.

I agree hes only going to be a back up player unless we are gonna cash in on Xabi in the summer

Personally I'd go for Barton ahead of Mascherano but with it being an initial loan deal its understandable why we are looking at Mascherano

[Craig_H]

I agree hes only going to be a back up player unless we are gonna cash in on Xabi in the summer

Personally I'd go for Barton ahead of Mascherano but with it being an initial loan deal its understandable why we are looking at Mascherano

Agree with that.

Dont get me wrong, i'd quite like to see JM signed, i'm not slating him as a player. Just dont see it making much sense from his own point of view. Does he really think the LFC midfield is going to be easier to break into than the WHU one? He cant be that silly.

[Red Chilli]

Does he really think the LFC midfield is going to be easier to break into than the WHU one? He cant be that silly.

I think it's pretty clear he just wants more money, it's bog all to do with football.

[Red_Polo]

Chilli, no offence and correct me if I'm wrong, but you're coming across as though all your opinions of the guy are based on the fact he is South American and hasn't played much for West Ham. That is completely unfair. He and Tevez have been naive IMO, they have been used by others and messed around.

That's not to say they haven't sulked, maybe they have, but the situation they find themselves in now is largely because they were used as pawns in a bigger game by their owner, and events have since conspired to worsen the situation - namely the arrivals of a new chairman and manager.

I too wonder when the guy would play, and I would hate to see Gerrard have to play out wide again, but the bottom line for me is that I know Mascherano is a fantastic player and Rafa wants him. That's enough for me to stop questioning whether we should sign him on a loan deal. We'd be getting a top quality player that Rafa wants, giving us more possibilities.

[Morph]

Agree with that.

Dont get me wrong, i'd quite like to see JM signed, i'm not slating him as a player. Just dont see it making much sense from his own point of view. Does he really think the LFC midfield is going to be easier to break into than the WHU one? He cant be that silly.

Thing is how many games did bolo play before he was injured? and he was fourth choice, he will get games, just like Sissoko got games when he came over.

I think you're underestimating the impact this lad could have, and not really sure what your issue is with really.

We get 4 quality CM's to watch, Rafa get's 4 quality CM's to choose from, Mascherano gets to come to LFC (don't forget it's only a loan) and see if he can make it big in one of Europes top 16 teams.

In a way he's lucky to even be able to come to another team with all the Fifa regulations and what not.

[Guest]

Agree with that.

Dont get me wrong, i'd quite like to see JM signed, i'm not slating him as a player. Just dont see it making much sense from his own point of view. Does he really think the LFC midfield is going to be easier to break into than the WHU one? He cant be that silly.

He's probably confident of his ability of dethroning Alonso in CM. That's competition buddy.