Xabi Or Masher?...You decide.

[Shanks65]

Mascher for me.

BUT losing either of them is a massive backwards step for a club trying to play catch up

[KK07]

I'd hate to lose either but Mascherano for me at the minute.

[ForeverRed]

At the moment, Mascherano, but this would be a really tough decision.

[glynner]

Masher for me. He partners Gerrard more effectively, peforms consistently well, is young and can clearly be part of the spine of our side for almost the next decade.

[Fierce]

Voted for Masher, but think it would be criminal to lose either

[carheex]

I rate Mascher exttremely highly, but if I had to choose one or the other I'd keep Xabi, purely from an attacking sense more than anything else. Although he can't match Mascher in terms of tackling, winning the ball, the space he covers, breaking the opposition's play etc he is much more of a goal threat, good from the dead ball, much more accurate passer, better range of passing, can dictate the tempo and can be an outlet for our defence. Considering his all round play and what he offers the team etc, I think he can potentially have a greater influence on a match than Mascher. Obviously though, we need to keep both.

Hmmm. "much" more of a goal threat? slightly more perhaps but still poor. And as for Xabi's free kicks - possibly the poorest in any top flight league in europe. Personally, I think we "lost xabi" about 18 months ago. His poor performances now far outweigh his good ones and I'd be more than happy to sell him for anything over 8m.

[AFII]

I love Xabi - hence the username, obviously - but as things stand I'd keep Mascherano. I think he suits us better.

Xabi is a wonderful footballer but I feel he's gone backwards in the last couple of years. We're not getting the best out of him and you can see him getting frustrated. I don't know why this is - is Benitez stifling him? Has he been worked out by other teams?

Dunno. I love him though...a Rolls Royce of a footballer at his best, but it's not working out at present and IF I HAD TO, it'd be Xabi I'd be sacrificing.

Although of course I want us to keep both.

[AFII]

We only have Masch who can do the work he do, both Gerrard and Lucas can do the same work as Xabi.

[redlancer]

I love Xabi - hence the username, obviously - but as things stand I'd keep Mascherano. I think he suits us better.

Xabi is a wonderful footballer but I feel he's gone backwards in the last couple of years. We're not getting the best out of him and you can see him getting frustrated. I don't know why this is - is Benitez stifling him? Has he been worked out by other teams?

Dunno. I love him though...a Rolls Royce of a footballer at his best, but it's not working out at present and IF I HAD TO, it'd be Xabi I'd be sacrificing.

Although of course I want us to keep both.

he played a more forward role when he 1st came as we had Didi.

ergo for me i think Masher and Alonso is the way forward as both have the disipline to defend - Alonso is a great utlet for the defence and can provide thoose passes higher up the pitch.
Alonso Masher and Lucas all seem to be players who can play in each other roles

yesterday i though some of his passing was back to his best.

Key to yesterday was Torres didn't have the support he required.

[Dhav]

Hmmm. "much" more of a goal threat? slightly more perhaps but still poor. And as for Xabi's free kicks - possibly the poorest in any top flight league in europe. Personally, I think we "lost xabi" about 18 months ago. His poor performances now far outweigh his good ones and I'd be more than happy to sell him for anything over 8m.

We've had massive barneys over Xabi before and I won't tread on the same ground again, but what I will just say is that Xabi is more of a goal threat in his own half of the pitch than Mscher is in the opposition's box! And I strongly disagree that his free kicks are the poorest of any top flight in Europe. From a dead ball I don't think he's any worse than Gerrard to be honest with you.

What I will agree with is that he has not been himself for a good few months, and the loss of form is worrying. But Xabi in hist first season here was IMO one of the best midfielders in Europe and I see no reason why he cannot recapture that form if used correctly.

As for selling him for £8m+, well that would be a transfer deal of disastrous Houllier/Clouseau-esque proportions.

[Skillz]

I couldn't pick but seeing the results i wish i said Xabi.

then again Masher has played well recently so he is flavour of the month I suppose.

[DannyMan2006]

The only reason I can see as to why Mascher hasn't signed is that the board wont sanction a move in case a new manager is brought in.

Fair enough I guess as we wouldn't want another Cisse situation.

I think that i Rafa is sacked neither will be here next summer. If Rafa stays, then both will be here.

[carheex]

We've had massive barneys over Xabi before and I won't tread on the same ground again, but what I will just say is that Xabi is more of a goal threat in his own half of the pitch than Mscher is in the opposition's box! And I strongly disagree that his free kicks are the poorest of any top flight in Europe. From a dead ball I don't think he's any worse than Gerrard to be honest with you.

What I will agree with is that he has not been himself for a good few months, and the loss of form is worrying. But Xabi in hist first season here was IMO one of the best midfielders in Europe and I see no reason why he cannot recapture that form if used correctly.

As for selling him for £8m+, well that would be a transfer deal of disastrous Houllier/Clouseau-esque proportions.

Gerrard has scored a few from free kicks and also has power in his arsenal. Xabi has scored one that i can think of - 95% of his "efforts" end up scuffed into the knees of the defensive wall. I agree with you that Xabi was top class in his first season but so were dudek and sissoko and riise and oyvind leonhardsen. probably.

[CAD]

How much do people here think we could we get for Alonso in January?

[carheex]

The only reason I can see as to why Mascher hasn't signed is that the board wont sanction a move in case a new manager is brought in.

Fair enough I guess as we wouldn't want another Cisse situation.

I think that i Rafa is sacked neither will be here next summer. If Rafa stays, then both will be here.

They haven't stumped up the cash because they don't need to yet. Why tie up money in a player that is already contracted to us for the time being and who wants to stay here anyway when the loan expires? Surely it's much more sensible to spend it on players we need who AREN'T already at the club otherwise we aren't improving.