Controversial LFC thread.

[Howard_lfc]

I'm going to open this thread with a controversial statement regarding Masher:
I wouldn't like to pay more that £10m for a holding midfielder player. And I certainly wouldn't go anywhere near the reported £17m for him. For that kind of money I would want somebody who can hold,tackle,pass,score,dictate games, set up goals and is in general an all rounder (Xabi,Pirlo). £17m to 'hold'? No thanks.

[Pablo]

He's more than just a holding player though, he can hold, tackle, pass and dictate play to some extent. Goal scoring has been his weakness so far, but neither Xabi nor Pirlo (the two players you mention) have been prolific either.

I think he is one of the top players in his position in the world so I dont think £17m is too unreasonable.

[homer1]

It's a very specialist position though mate and although you would like to get an all rounder, there are very few of the Chief's quality out there and certainly not available

I would pay the £17m without hesitation - he is so important to the way we play as the cover he provides will allow the likes of Stevie & Xabi to push on and make the most of their ability further up the field. If you play Momo for example beside either they know he will disappear and therefore have to limit their attacking runs, resulting in more hollywood style 50, 60 yard passes, many of which don't reach their target

Granted it is a lot of money but it's only the same as Carrick & Hargreaves - would you swap Mascherano for either of them? It's the market rate and how many times have we moaned that we have not paid the extra few million to get our top targets and used it as an excuse as to why we haven't achieved our goals??

One thing I will guarentee you, if we don't pay the £17m, there will be shortage of takers as most of the top clubs in Europe will happily do so.

[Catrin]

You make a valid point. However, I think Mascher is something of a rarity in that he has excellent technical ability and tactical awareness and yet he is willing to do the dirty work for the team. Years ago we had JB and Redknapp in midfield and neither of them really fancied the rough stuff. Paul Ince was brought in but he didn't have the passing ability and his effect on the team's play was detrimental. Mascher is exactly the type of player we needed then and which we haven't really had since Souness. (Before anyone says anything I know Steve McMahon was a great player for us but there is a gap in quality between him and the other two.)

[the rev leeroy brown]

i'd pay 17 million for mascherano as i beleive he is well woth it and if we want to win the premier league we will need him!

[Shaggy]

I understand your sentiments Les mate but it's the way of football now, huh.

United paid more for Carrick and Hargreaves, and he's better than either of them. In that sense, he'll be worth every penny.

[Red_Polo]

I can see where you're coming from Les. If we didn't already have him we'd be wanting to allocate funds with priority to other areas. But since we do have him, he's settled in well, and is clearly maturing into a pretty damn brilliant player, I just think it would be a big loss to let him go. A bird in hand is worth two in the bush and all that.

[red g]

He is awesome him, Xabi, Lucas and Gerrard and we dont have to think about our central midfield for 5 years

[AFII]

If you look at all the big clubs then you will discover that everyone of them has a brilliant holding midfielder.

That is a key position to stop the attacking midfielders from dictating the game.

[StevieG08]

Mascher is worth 17mil in todays market and i for one hope we make the deal permanent. He oozes class and still has a few years before he hits his peak.

[tomasjj]

I'm going to open this thread with a controversial statement regarding Masher:
I wouldn't like to pay more that £10m for a holding midfielder player. And I certainly wouldn't go anywhere near the reported £17m for him. For that kind of money I would want somebody who can hold,tackle,pass,score,dictate games, set up goals and is in general an all rounder (Xabi,Pirlo). £17m to 'hold'? No thanks.

I can see where you are coming from, mate.

However, it seems to me that the prices are inflated, and we would need to pay more than the 10 mill you mention. It is in fact a very specialised position, and also pivotal to the modern game - see Chavs and Makelele.

Also, Masch is very much in demand from top European Clubs, something which must be considered in this context. I am also sure that we could sell him later without much of a loss should we wish so, not that I reckon sell on value should really be our way of thinking primarily.

Masch is, since we already got Xabi, the kind of player we need more than a playmaker now that Der Kaiser has moved on.

[Trippendicular]

I can see where you're coming from Les. If we didn't already have him we'd be wanting to allocate funds with priority to other areas. But since we do have him, he's settled in well, and is clearly maturing into a pretty damn brilliant player, I just think it would be a big loss to let him go. A bird in hand is worth two in the bush and all that.

Yeah, I'd have hesitations about spending 17m on him if he was at another club and we were buying him from there, but he's been here for the best part of a year now, he's settled, knows the players and wants to stay and i don't think you can put a price on that kind of thing. I wouldn't spend 17m on another holding midfielder from another club (I don't think there are any better than Mascherano), but because he's been playing for us and fits the team, it's definitely worth it

[Joe King]

He's the Argentinian holding midfielder. With the Scum, they paid £18m for Hargreaves and Carrick and they warm up the bench for England and the Scum.

Mascherano is still very young and is a long term investment. He is the bite we need in the side. He is the ideal cover for Gerrard to burst through defences and cause trouble. The only weakness I would say is his passing. That is piss poor which is why Alonso is more preferred on this site than Chief but needless to say is the best at tracking, tackling, positioning, defending in his position in the world IMO

[akjs123]

I'm going to open this thread with a controversial statement regarding Masher:
I wouldn't like to pay more that £10m for a holding midfielder player. And I certainly wouldn't go anywhere near the reported £17m for him. For that kind of money I would want somebody who can hold,tackle,pass,score,dictate games, set up goals and is in general an all rounder (Xabi,Pirlo). £17m to 'hold'? No thanks.

Firstly, holding midfielders very rarely score goals. Xabi and Pirlo are deeplying playmakers, Xabi has excellent positioning sense to can play as a holding role while Pirlo isnt a holding player at all, he needs Gattuso to do all the dirty work.
Even then they dont score too many goals.
Secondly, with Momo possibly gone in January or summer, we need to have a ballwinning midfielder. And there have been clubs willing to pay over £10m for Momo only. And we all know Masch is a far superior player. Infact he is one of the best holding midfielders in the world. I cant think of any other who could keep Kaka in his pocket for a whole game. In big games, we would need a ballwinning midfielder (think Barca, Chelsea, Milan in CL last season and Arse this season) and we already have one who is happy and settled here, is loyal to the club and is one of the best in the world in his position. Even if £17m is a bit too much for him, its worth it.

[Red Chilli]

I think I agree with H. His passing has been woeful in a number of games this season, i want to see Xabi in that role.
Have we got room in the team for Xabi, Gerrard and Mascherano?

I don't think we have, I think the 2 defensive midfielders tactic has really hampered us this season and we lose the cohesion and the link between attack and midfield. The result is a lot of hoofing.

OK, Rafa will rotate them you say. Well 17 million for a holding midfielder who doesn't play every game. Plus you have to factor in the 1.5-2 million we've already paid for him.
Is it good value? I'm not convinced.