Now hopefully that Benitex's job is safe I think our attentions need to change to Mascherano to ensure that we sign him, coz it would be a huge disappointment if we didn't and I think this is a possibility
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just basically telling us stuff we already know here:
From The Sunday Times
December 1, 2007
Mascherano at centre of storm
Jonathan Northcroft
He gets it. He gives it. He covers. He tackles. Keep it tidy, keep it clean. Javier Mascherano is Liverpool’s dustpan and brush. From the first minute, when he chased down a counter-attack, Mascherano’s fastidiousness was indispensable in Wednesday’s match against Porto. It is curious he, whose game is so much about sweeping up, should be involved in so much off-field mess.
West Ham’s breach of rules on third-party ownership in signing Mascherano and Carlos Tevez led to a jumble of hearings and writs that threatened to subsume last season’s Premier League. Now the midfielder is at the centre of Liverpool’s disarray. Rafael Benitez ignited it when he started campaigning to turn Mascherano’s “loan” at Anfield into a permanent stay. He spoke to the player and began pressuring Rick Parry, George Gillett and Tom Hicks to do a deal with Kia Joorabchian, the businessman who fronts the companies that own Mascherano’s playing rights. Benitez’s feelings were noted but he was told it would be dealt with on his bosses’ timescale. When Spanish feet began stamping, there was a less polite message: butt out.
Mascherano’s situation exemplifies the fault line between Liverpool’s manager and the men who own and run the club. You only have to look at Benitez in his technical area, standing up and sitting down, his hands jerking to know he is a fretter and fiddler who wants things now. Hicks and Gillett, corporate veterans for whom Liverpool are just one of myriad business interests, are used to playing the long game. Parry, by nature, is methodical. These traits seem to make clear that as long as Mascherano’s status is uncertain, tension will exist between a manager who is desperate to claim him and the men who are prepared to wait.
When Mascherano joined from West Ham last January it was on the basis that he would be Liverpool’s player for 18 months, after which he would become a free agent again, control reverting to Global Soccer Agencies and Mystere Services, who Joorabchian represents. During the 18-month period, Liverpool have first option on buying Mascherano outright, for a price thought to have been mooted at ¤25m (£17.8m). The view of Hicks, Gillett and Parry is that with the “loan” not up until May there is little sense in paying now and that Liverpool’s bargaining position might well be stronger if they deal nearer its expiry. Benitez’s paranoia is because of the interest a top player always attracts. Real Madrid, among others, have been courting Mascherano’s owners.
Amid all this there is a committed footballer, who at 23 already feels he and his family have been shunted around too much, who loves Benitez and the Kop and who has taken to English football. But until Liverpool or another club release him from third-party bonds, Mascherano’s future is not Mascherano’s to decide.
He is understood to have already agreed the salary and other personal terms on which he would continue at Anfield. Hicks and Gillett do not arrive in Liverpool for a fortnight and Benitez has been told there will be no major movement on transfers or player contracts until then. Presuming Benitez can make up with the Americans, it is up to him to pitch for a deal to secure Mascherano. “It’s very important for me Rafa stays. He gave me a great opportunity,” the player said. Would he change his mind about staying if Benitez left? “I don’t know.”Thomas Hicks Senior -
Originally posted by wildman View Post
It remains to be seen just how safe Rafa's job is in the long term.
Whilst hopefully this latest problem has been sorted we've yet to see how things pan out not only in January but next summer.
Masher will be crucial in all this. we all know he wants to stay, we all know Rafa wants him to stay. If he does stay then it would be a massive lift as he's a class act. If he doesn't not only will it be a maasive blow it would also signal the fact that Rafa is very much playing 2nd fiddle to H&G & Parry.AKA Heighway No9Comment
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I am expecting some sales in Janurary. I think Rafa will have to be happy with a defender and signing mascherano permanently. Which in not a bud transfer winodws work when you consider mascher's quality. Before I didn't think Riise would be going in Janurary, now I am thinking he might be, him along with Carson, maybe even Momo too.Originally posted by Sir Bob View Post
Personally, I think our new owners will see Rafa's outburst as the last warning. I don't think Rafa will get the sack. But you never know in football. If results start turning bad. Personally. I think we are on the brink of something great under Rafa, lots of new youth potential, a huge squad, a wide variety of players who seem to be understanding Rafa's football philosophy more and more with each passing game.
All in all, I am still very optimistic, and to be honest, if they sack Rafa, I will never forgive them, it would be an absolute crime.Bill shankly to Tommy Smith after he'd turned up for training with a bandaged knee:
'Take that poof bandage off, and what do you mean YOUR knee, it's LIVERPOOL'S knee !'
"Sorry, boss, I should have kept my legs together," said Lawrence. "No, Tommy, your mother should have kept her legs together!," replied Shankly.
* After Tommy Lawrence had let in a fluke goal between his legsComment
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Mascherano is the lamp Rafa want.
Who knows what will happen if he don't get it?Just believe and you never know what will happen.
According to Benitez it's important not simply to go out to win but to go out prepared to win, which means players have to put in the same level of work on a daily basis. Anything else is unacceptable.
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it'll be a bit dark and he'll bump into his sissoko? i mean tableOriginally posted by AFII View PostThomas Hicks SeniorComment
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His performance on wednesday spoke for itself. I don't go to all the european games, but was at this one. He just didn't stop. It's not just his workrate, he frightens opponents. He gets a few tough challenges in, maybe a booking, but he lays his marker down. No-one wants to **** with him, and he makes opponents make errors because of this.
You can take your Carricks, Hargreaves et al and shove them up your arse. I'm struggling to think of anyone who matches him when he's on his game.That's the one...Comment
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Originally posted by Robster007 View Post
He's a special player who would walk into any side in the world.Comment
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Get him, Rafa!!
El Jefecito is boss.--== Because the gang and the government is no different ==--Comment
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According to the Express the yanks are ready to sanction the deal:-
The Americans are ready to boost their relationship with Benitez by approving the £17m signing of loan star Javier Mascherano in January.White liquid in a bottle = Milk
Purslow = C*ntComment
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Lets ****ing hope so!Originally posted by Dhavlos View Post
AND that the proper stadium is sorted...not that soupbowl!--== Because the gang and the government is no different ==--Comment
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Similar to the Times story in the Telegraph too, if anyone's interested
Last edited by Shanks65; 02-12-07, 04:47 AM.Comment
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Would be great if that quote in the Express rung true.
I'm not sure how long Rafa would hang around for if H&G let Mascherano slip through the net.
And if Rafa moaned about not getting him, then H&G would have him out pretty quickly.Comment
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why does that story insist that torres cost 26.5m when rafa even mentioned this in his bolton PC?Originally posted by Shanks65 View Post
and he spent no where near 100m UD Dollars this summer.
it would be a really well done piece other than things that are obviously just sensational bollox to spice up a story that doesn't even need it"At a football club, there's a holy trinity - the players, the manager and the supporters. Directors don't come into it. They are only there to sign the cheques"Comment
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