Momo was Boss

[Howard_lfc]

..but now he's getting loads of stick.

Prior to his loss of form there were games when you simply couldn't drop him. His workrate and energy levels were tremendous.

So now what do we do with him? Simply give up on him because we (potentially) have Masher or do we help him through his bad spell ( a la Pennant ) and give him the platform to show us once again what he can do?
I believe he deserves his chance to stake another claim.

I thought he worked his bollox off last night; covered every blade of grass, and gave a fully comitted performance. Granted he lost the ball a few times - but so did Lucas (but he's a flavour of the month at the moment so we don't rip into him). So long as he WANTS to stay and fight for his place then I think we should get behind him and give him the encouragement to become the player we all thought he was gonna be.

Momo was Boss. And he can be again.

[kopash]

If we don't need cash I would be happy to loan him for a bit.

But I have no idea if we need cash or not.

Much rather cash in on Riise or Crouch in Jan given their contracts are running out.

[Marky]

I don't think he played that well Howard tbh, he gave the ball away several times, his touch let him down alot as well, he's struggling for form and he's fighting for his future.
I thought he played quite well in the first half though, certainly the opening half hour.
He did work his bollocks off mind which you have to take note of, especially as he's apparently unhappy at club, didn't look like it last night.
Overall i fear for him in terms of his future at Liverpool, i think he could be out the door come January.

[Red_Al_77]

If we need to sell Momo to keep Masher then so be it. Momo really is a luxury, and a clumsy one at that. He used to be extremely destructive but he now has the first touch of Carlton Palmer and it's very sad.

[Pablo]

In fairness it would be harsh to rip into Lucas, the lad has only just arrived.

As for Momo, I know where you are coming from. If rumours are true that we cant afford Mascherano they I would keep hold of Momo and try to build his confidence up again.

On last thing though, I think reports of his public moaning arent going to do him any good at all, if true his attitude will need to change quickly.

[The Glove]

If we need to sell Momo to keep Masher then so be it. Momo really is a luxury, and a clumsy one at that. He used to be extremely destructive but he now has the first touch of Carlton Palmer and it's very sad.

I concur.

Although last night was his best game for a while he still wasnt great. If he is gonna go then go sooner rather than later so the ****e doesnt out weigh the good.

[Nicey]

..but now he's getting loads of stick.

Prior to his loss of form there were games when you simply couldn't drop him. His workrate and energy levels were tremendous.

So now what do we do with him? Simply give up on him because we (potentially) have Masher or do we help him through his bad spell ( a la Pennant ) and give him the platform to show us once again what he can do?
I believe he deserves his chance to stake another claim.

I thought he worked his bollox off last night; covered every blade of grass, and gave a fully comitted performance. Granted he lost the ball a few times - but so did Lucas (but he's a flavour of the month at the moment so we don't rip into him). So long as he WANTS to stay and fight for his place then I think we should get behind him and give him the encouragement to become the player we all thought he was gonna be.

Momo was Boss. And he can be again.

Like your style fella and I hear you I am prepared to hang in there with him, but he is going through quite the bad patch, my worry is something has changed since his last spat of injuries and he is starting to make match losing mistakes.. at present he is the one senior player I would lose less sleep for a good price .. does not mean I dont rate him but he needs to pull his finger out and he is in no position to make demands .. Still Boss though

[bigfooty]

Momo is fine when all he has to do is tackle, break up play and make a short pass to someone. Those tough away matches when a battling 0-0 is a great result, of which there are about 3 or 4 a season.

Asking him to do anymore leads to farcical moments like last night when he ran into the box on a Babel pass only to stand on the ball and fall over. If we could get 10M for him that would be exceptional business.

[homer1]

In fairness it would be harsh to rip into Lucas, the lad has only just arrived.

As for Momo, I know where you are coming from. If rumours are true that we cant afford Mascherano they I would keep hold of Momo and try to build his confidence up again.
On last thing though, I think reports of his public moaning arent going to do him any good at all, if true his attitude will need to change quickly.

I desperately hope we keep Mascherano but if we don't, it won't make Momo any better - to be brutal Momo hasn't justified a place in the team for some time and if the Chief goes that will not make him good enough all of a sudden and we will need to get someone in anyway IMO.

As per the title of this thread, Momo WAS boss - he was as good a destructive midfielder as there was around but he's the only CM that I have ever come across that you cannot define as an attacking, defensive or all-rounder. I think with the emergence of Lucas, Momo is now firmly 5th choice CM and I hate to say it but I fear seeing his name on the 1st team sheet nearly as much as Riise's these days

I think for the club's & his own sake, a parting of the ways and a fresh start would be the best scenario. He would always be welcomed back as he never gave less than 100% and put in some massive performances but to move to the next level we need better

[dww]

..but now he's getting loads of stick.

Prior to his loss of form there were games when you simply couldn't drop him. His workrate and energy levels were tremendous.

So now what do we do with him? Simply give up on him because we (potentially) have Masher or do we help him through his bad spell ( a la Pennant ) and give him the platform to show us once again what he can do?
I believe he deserves his chance to stake another claim.

I thought he worked his bollox off last night; covered every blade of grass, and gave a fully comitted performance. Granted he lost the ball a few times - but so did Lucas (but he's a flavour of the month at the moment so we don't rip into him). So long as he WANTS to stay and fight for his place then I think we should get behind him and give him the encouragement to become the player we all thought he was gonna be.

Momo was Boss. And he can be again.

I think you are right that Momo can be Boss again. However for it to happen he needs a run of 5-6 games in the middle and doing so means that we displace players who give us more attacking options and are currently in better form.

For me the problem is that for a good long while now he has always looked rushed when he gets the ball. He did this when he started but for a while he seemed to have mastered the Keep It Simple Stupid methodology common to a number of primarily destructive midfielders and as a result became a much better player. However like Crouch after half way through last season he regressed and tends to give the ball away too much again.

My suspicion is that both those players can't replicate the best that we have seen consistently and we should certainly consider selling them while their stock is high.

If Rafa believes that the best of Momo might reappear and has a plan to make that happen then keeping him is fine, if he is just hoping that it may happen he needs to let him go IMO.

[thesilverfoxlfc]

Since his eye injury he hasnt been the same.

Does it still affect him?

[dww]

Since his eye injury he hasnt been the same.

Does it still affect him?

I actually though he improved immediately after he came back oddly enough. He seemed to be more careful with his passing.

[Roboklopp]

Sell him if we can get a decent price. Even if we cannot afford Monsters, we should be looking at a more progressive CM.

As an aside, it's nice to see Didi doin well again.

[DannyMan2006]

Since his eye injury he hasnt been the same.

Does it still affect him?

Agreed, though I don't think it's down to complications with that injury. Momo did well until we went down to ten, then he seemed to give up. I was never a big fan of Momo, even when he was at his peak. He was great at winning the ball, but would then go and give it away just as quickly.

I still struggle to see why everyone around was singing his name from the rooftops after the the Barca game. The boy simply can not pass on a concistant basis. It's the basics he can't do. Those who compared him to Viera were having a laugh. Not only could Viera break up play, but he could also pass and control the ball.

I really want Momo to do well, as he does seem to put the effort in, but he has not improved, so I say get rid. And to get a profit would be great. All he seems to do is complain at the moment anyhow.

[thesilverfoxlfc]

I actually though he improved immediately after he came back oddly enough. He seemed to be more careful with his passing.

I think his game has changed he seems to play higher up the pitch when infact he should just sit infront and break up the play which he's one of the best at doing. Unfortunately Xabi seems to just sit inront of the back four now and not move much. No more 40 yard pin point passes like he would do serveral times a couple of years ago, just short one twos and lets other go an attack. Not the way he should be used IMO

I cant tell you how many times this year Momo has been in an attacking position and his lack of passing quality has cost us a chance a goal.

I's like to see Xabi play more attacking i.e pull the strings while Momo or Mash sit in front of the back four.