Mascherano

[Shaggy]

I think Mascherano will prove to be Rafa's most astute signing yet. A real coup.

[Craig_H]

I think Mascherano will prove to be Rafa's most astute signing yet. A real coup.

How dare you?

Fiddy will have you for saying that...and after just 3 games...

I despair, i really do...

[bazza76]

I think Mascherano will prove to be Rafa's most astute signing yet. A real coup.

I think Xabi will have that title

[cobrakai]

Hamann's game wasnt about passing with any great creativity though, he got involved, broke up play and kept it neat and tidy, unfussy. Like JM.

Only similarities between Mascherano and Hamman are the way they break up play, Mascherano has a much better range of passing than Hamman, as seen by his exquisite chip to Pennant which helped set up Crouch's third goal vs Arsenal.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

The coke-ead was right. Monster player indeed.

[AFII]

I have said that Mascherano is the best holding midfielder in the World and I still believe he is that, even better than Xavi or Pirlo.

Rafa have sorted out that position for a long time.

[Rich]

That was some performance again from him - pretty much faultless out there.

He is rapidly rising up the ranks of favourite status!

[Red_Al_77]

He's a very good player but he still has a lot to prove. No one could buy a free kick better than Didi and JM hasn't shown any goal threat whatsoever. He has started well but to compare him at such an early stage with someone as established as Didi is pointless IMO. JM is his own style of player. He's a lot quicker than Didi and we really haven't seen enough of him to judge his range of passing.

[Kopite_Colin]

Question is: he's now on a yellow. Does he play again before the final?

No need to play him at home in the QF.
Momo plays in the away leg against Chelsea / Valencia in the Semi?
? he may play in the home leg in the semi? (this is where we need to be careful)
then he's available for the final.

So in light of the above, it may be best to get his 2nd yellow out of the way in the QF 2nd leg, so he only misses the game that Momo would be ideal for (Chelsea / Valencia in the Semi). Masher loves a tackle so I can't see him not getting another yellow before the final if he plays in all the games. I'd be gutted if he wasn't available for the final.

[AFII]

So he should do the same as Kuyt did today? I believe he even smiled after he got booked.

[Kopite_Colin]

But he wasn't as canny as Kuyt. If he was going to do it, today was the day, but he couldn't leave us with 10 men. So maybe the trick is to get him booked at home in the QF.

[fowlen]

I was most impressed with JM again tonight.
In my humble opinion, we look a better team with him in it, and I'd pick him ahead of Sissoko anytime.
He may not cover as much ground as Momo, but he times his tackles better and distributes the ball far more effectively.

Tonight he shone, especially as Xabi (first half particularly) was poor.

[fowlen]

But he wasn't as canny as Kuyt. If he was going to do it, today was the day, but he couldn't leave us with 10 men. So maybe the trick is to get him booked at home in the QF.

Kuyt was indeed very canny...he knew exactly what he was doing....

[Fiddy]

I think Mascherano will prove to be Rafa's most astute signing yet. A real coup.

How dare you?

Fiddy will have you for saying that...and after just 3 games...

I despair, i really do...

No doubt you would have phrased that as just 'Mascherano will prove to be Rafa's most astute signing yet.'

See the difference...

[Fiddy]

Kuyt was indeed very canny...he knew exactly what he was doing....

Should give Bellamy a chance in the second leg to raise his asking price for Villa too