Mascherano and Gerrard

[Joe King]

Mascherano was exceptional today. I thought along with Benayoun, he was inspirational to our attacks.

[dww]

I would rather see Gerrard released into an attacking midfield position, he plays too deep too often when alongside Mascher. For me an Alonso/Mascher axis would be the ideal platform to allow the attacking quartet more freedom to attack.

[Joe King]

I would rather see Gerrard released into an attacking midfield position, he plays too deep too often when alongside Mascher. For me an Alonso/Mascher axis would be the ideal platform to allow the attacking quartet more freedom to attack.

He started to do that more in the second half. I thought in the first, we were very tentative and it was very edgy with both teams not giving an inch away to each other. I think he felt he needed to have the ball deeper in order to pick out his team-mates who were making some sort of movement. If Gerrard was getting into that organised defence of Man City, he would be giving the responsibility of passing to Macherano who isn't the best passer in the team.

In the second, whether it was under instructions or his head telling him, he started to play ahead of the ball when Man City started to expand themselves a lot more. I feel at times, Gerrard wants to be at the heart of all of the attacks which can mean he can be more a hindrance than help.

[AFII]

and you base that on 5 games?

No, I base that on the five games he has played for us plus some games for the Brazil U20 team and Gremio.

[Red_Al_77]

No, I base that on the five games he has played for us plus some games for the Brazil U20 team and Gremio.

Where did you pick up Gremio?

[Dan]

Where did you pick up Gremio?

This answer should be good

[AFII]

Rafa should stop using Kuyt/Voronin/Crouch as our second striker when they clearly are not good enough.

Kewell, Gerrard, Benayoun, Babel are better options in that position.

----------Masch-------Lucas---------
-----Babel-------Gerrard------Kewell---

That's our best attacking formation IMO.

[kurtangle01]

Mascher and Stevie linked well today and there does seem to be a good balance betwen them.

I'd love Mascher to be signed permanently because he is superb.He ran the midfield today and played some good passes. He's also not scared to get forward at the right times.

[AFII]

This answer should be good

Streams and Torrents.

[Dan]

Streams and Torrents.

Right

[AFII]

Right

Left.

[Red_Al_77]

Streams and Torrents.

So on the basis of 30 odd games that he has started in his career and of which only 5 started in the PL you think he is a better passer than Alonso who is generally regarded as one of the best passers in Europe?

Can you now see why people get narked at some of your posts AF? Even to the layman they lack credulity.

[Dan]

Gob****e

I dont believe you actually stream Gremio matches scouting the next big thing, just my opinion

[Howard_lfc]

The present and future of our midfield.

Sorry Xabi.

ooooo controversial.

I agree. The way they patroled the halfway line today was immaculate.

One thing I noticed about SG today: a couple of times he tried to link up with Kuyt, played the ball up to him and then burst past him for the return, only for Dirk to f*** it up. You could visibly see SG's frustration.

[Red_Al_77]

Gob****e

I dont believe you actually stream Gremio matches scouting the next big thing, just my opinion

I'd be amazed if there are any streams of Gremio on the net. Torrents I can live with.