Post match v Reading

[AFII]

If it enables Xabi to get forward and 'playmake' further up the park, then yeah, i'd have no qualms with that on the odd occasion.

My biggest issue with CM is that ONE of them MUST have a goal threat. I've said it for years, but if we play 2 CMs and neither of them get into the box or ahead of the strikers, it's woeful.

Not if it allows Stevie to play in his best position and bang in goal after goal.

Stevie's best position is a free attacking position but then we need to play with two other central midfielders to cover for him when he don't track back.

[Lecter]

I like Mascherano but hes a pure holding player, he sits wins possession then gives the ball simply, he cant knock 40 or 50 yard killer passes thats not his game. Thats not to say hes a poor player on the contrary hes exceptional at what he does

So alongside him you need footballers who can effect the game. Saturday we had Gerrard (yes he can do this) and Sissoko (who cant).

Sissoko is a shadow of the player he was first season, since the eye injury his passing has degraded, it wasnt his strongpoint initially but it was better than it is currently.

Against Newcastle we had Sissoko, Lucas & Gerrard in the midfield, both Lucas and Gerrard effect your forward play so really that masks Momo's deficiencies. when Mascherano is there it highlights them

Mascherano is fine provided in 4-4-2 if hes got one of Gerrard, Alonso or Lucas alongside him, he will be ok in a 4-3-3 with two of those players in it, but the moment you add Sissoko into that its an accident waiting to happen and affects the general play of your whole side

[AFII]

I like Mascherano but hes a pure holding player, he sits wins possession then gives the ball simply, he cant knock 40 or 50 yard killer passes thats not his game. Thats not to say hes a poor player on the contrary hes exceptional at what he does

So alongside him you need footballers who can effect the game. Saturday we had Gerrard (yes he can do this) and Sissoko (who cant).

Sissoko is a shadow of the player he was first season, since the eye injury his passing has degraded, it wasnt his strongpoint initially but it was better than it is currently.

Against Newcastle we had Sissoko, Lucas & Gerrard in the midfield, both Lucas and Gerrard effect your forward play so really that masks Momo's deficiencies. when Mascherano is there it highlights them

Mascherano is fine provided in 4-4-2 if hes got one of Gerrard, Alonso or Lucas alongside him, he will be ok in a 4-3-3 with two of those players in it, but the moment you add Sissoko into that its an accident waiting to happen and affects the general play of your whole side

Mascherano can knock 40-50 yard killer passes. He does that for Argentina. It's all down to the position he plays in. He plays as a central midfielder with Cambiasso for them and not as a holding midfielder.

[Lecter]

I've never said I rated Riise. I've stuck up for him and said he's not as bad as most on here make out. He's a versatile player who can be useful to us - as he has been in the past.

Riise is versatile I'll give you that

Hes equally bad at fullback and leftmidfield

Its well documented I have never rated Riise but his fall from grace in many supporters eyes is for two reasons imo. The wonder goals that masked his overall piss poor performances have dried up and more crucially our system and style of play has evolved, we are becoming a team that is trying to play possession football (although after Saturday I'll admit it might not look the case). Riise isnt comfortable in possession hence his need to consistantly to hammer it 40 yards forwards in the hope that it goes to one of our players

Riise is now not only a liability defensively but also going forward

I'd actually sell him in January and wouldnt be too worried if the new owners said we couldnt buy a replacement, I think hes that detrimental to us nowadays we might be better off playing with 10 men

[Lecter]

Mascherano can knock 40-50 yard killer passes. He does that for Argentina. It's all down to the position he plays in. He plays as a central midfielder with Cambiasso for them and not as a holding midfielder.

Sorry AF

Occasionally maybe but not on a consistant enough basis, hes not going to consistantly conduct or orchestrate our passing or tempo. Alonso is 10 times the footballer Mascherano is in terms of forward play

Mascherano is a top top holding player might even be the best in the world but hes not a playmaker by ANY stretch of the imagination

[AFII]

Sorry AF

Occasionally maybe but not on a consistant enough basis, hes not going to consistantly conduct or orchestrate our passing or tempo. Alonso is 10 times the footballer Mascherano is in terms of forward play

Mascherano is a top top holding player might even be the best in the world but hes not a playmaker by ANY stretch of the imagination

I only pointed out that he can play in that position and not only as a holding midfielder.

Alonso, Gerrard and Lucas are better central midfielders than him.

[Lecter]

I only pointed out that he can play in that position and not only as a holding midfielder.

Alonso, Gerrard and Lucas are better central midfielders than him.

Anyone can play in any position doesnt mean they are good enough

I dont see passing as one of Mascheranos assets

[red g]

I do watch him and he doesn't do it for me. I know what you're trying to say but IMO if that's the case then that makes Stevie and Xabi stellar players - coz they're far more complete than Masher who for me is hustle and bustle. An argentinian Robbie Savage if you will!!! Lol. You get my drift though.

thats a ridiculous statement. they play in the same position and the similarities end there. Its like saying torres is the spanish defoe as they are both quick and skilfull.

Savage is not fit to lace JM's boots now if you said an argentinian Makelele fair enough as i do believe his impact at liverpool can match upto makele's impact at real madrid

[Skillz]

I only pointed out that he can play in that position and not only as a holding midfielder.

Alonso, Gerrard and Lucas are better central midfielders than him.

We have a smorgasbord of central midfielders. Masher and Xabi are holding midfielders. Mashers is strictly HM but Xabi has much forward ability and he hasn't played there since 04/05 when Hamman played behind him. If Masher plays behind Xabi, Gerrard right, Kewell left, I for one expect theat team to win. If not Stevie comes in cental and Kuyt comes in. Babel and Benayoun will be off the bench IMO.

Lucas is class and Momo is not that bad. Clubs will buy him due to his physical attributes and if he gets a lot of games he could improve. I actually thought Momo had a decent game on Saturday.

[Howard_lfc]

What are you expecting from Mascherano, what role do you think he should be doing?

I expect him to hold, which he patently didn't do the other day. He was awol for goals 2 and 3. He's a ball winner - pure and simple. And there's my main gripe - I think paying £17m is far too expensive.

thats a ridiculous statement. they play in the same position and the similarities end there. Its like saying torres is the spanish defoe as they are both quick and skilfull.

Savage is not fit to lace JM's boots now if you said an argentinian Makelele fair enough as i do believe his impact at liverpool can match upto makele's impact at real madrid

It was a joke ok? That's why I put 'Lol' after the statement. Now calm down.

[Skillz]

I expect him to hold, which he patently didn't do the other day. He was awol for goals 2 and 3. He's a ball winner - pure and simple. And there's my main gripe - I think paying £17m is far too expensive.



It was a joke ok? That's why I put 'Lol' after the statement. Now calm down.

I understand what you are saying here but disagree simply for the fact Masher is a monster when surrounded by class. We will play/rotate/combine

------Masher--Alonso-------
----------Gerrard----------

any which way you can for the rest of the year.

[Alpha]

Anyone can play in any position doesnt mean they are good enough

I dont see passing as one of Mascheranos assets

Mascher's passing is definately one of his assets.

Obviously he doesn't have the range of Alonso or even Gerrard but not many do.

So far in his Liverpool career, he has played as an anchor but for River Plate and Argentina, his role has, at times, been more expansive. I don't know about Corinthians because I didn't see him play any games for them.

He isn't just a holding midfielder.

[kopash]

No Im sure its him who is the sole Riise flame carrier and yet he cant see what Mascherano does. I may be wrong.

you are right. And I'm with you Monster all the way

Think the going rate for holding midfielders (Hargreaves, Carrick etc.). Mascherano is a bargain and the lad is only 22 FFS!!

[Howard_lfc]

you are right. And I'm with you Monster all the way

Think the going rate for holding midfielders (Hargreaves, Carrick etc.). Mascherano is a bargain and the lad is only 22 FFS!!

I'm not the sole Riise flame carrier on here. There others who also stated that he's a useful squad member and has been of good service to us since 2001. Maybe I've carried that arguement on too long now as people are now tarring me with that particular brush.

So £17m is the going rate for a holding midfielder? I seem to remember the laughter on here when Carrick went to ManU for that ridiculous amount. All of a sudden it's become the going rate!
I'll believe Masher is a monster when I see monster performances. This season he's been average. Nothing more.

[paulcooper4]

I'm not the sole Riise flame carrier on here. There others who also stated that he's a useful squad member and has been of good service to us since 2001. Maybe I've carried that arguement on too long now as people are now tarring me with that particular brush.

So £17m is the going rate for a holding midfielder? I seem to remember the laughter on here when Carrick went to ManU for that ridiculous amount. All of a sudden it's become the going rate!
I'll believe Masher is a monster when I see monster performances. This season he's been average. Nothing more.

I think hes a good squad player les mate, youre not alone!

Wether people rate him or not, I still believe the service he has given us down the years warrants better treatment from our fans. Some of the abuse he gets is disgraceful