Mascherano Signed!!!!

[Exiled_red]

same sort of **** went on last year when we signed him, the deal wasnt rubber stamped till well after the window shut. Think with all the technicalities of MSi/third party ownership behind Mascher, it'll take some time to sort out and make sure nothing illegal/dodgy is going on.

Surely all that was sorted out when he was (eventually) registered to play for us in the first place

[Tee]

I think Mascher may just be keeping his options open until the summer - if Rafa leaves in the summer so will Mascher.

[dww]

But he seems to have been far further forward at times recently than I remember him being when he first joined. He's been ahead of whoever else is in central midfield a lot - you only have to look at the number of times he's had a shot (which has usually wafted a long way wide). In fact, I've found it frustrating him being so far up the pitch while Alonso or, even more irritating, Gerrard has been holding back and covering for him.

For me though it seems that Gerrard has seemed to seek out the deeper role this season. It pisses me off and I hope it is not Rafas intention because if it is we are in trouble.

When it is Mascher and Alonso I think it is fine for them to alternate and in fact beneficial as without drive from deep positions teams tend to become too static and predictable. As this is neithers natural game if either sees an opportunity to go forward they should. My problem is that they seem forced to do it too often due to poor movement ahead of them.

[MattB]

I think Mascher may just be keeping his options open until the summer - if Rafa leaves in the summer so will Mascher.

Nah - reckon it's done. They just don't want to put out all their 'good news' in one go. Controlling the news like this is a pretty standard approach to chipping away at dissenting voices. Much more effective than one big announcement covering lots of bits and pieces

[Iceman]

BBC Radio Merseyside reported tonight that the deal has been agreed between us and MSI, the deal is expected to be completed in the next few weeks.

This deal is not covered by the transfer window because the loan agreement gave us an option to buy for 18.6 million ANYTIME within the loan period.

The 18.6 million includes the 1.6 mill we have already paid for his 18 month loan

[Steve101]

what i don't understand is the idea of a midfielder who's only duties are defensive. i get the idea of a defensive midfielder - after all did seemed to do a great job but he did actually get forward and he did actually use the ball constructively in midfield - but in principle i'm against the extremly negative way that rafa uses him as opposed to the way he plays for argentina.

It's important to get past this thing of 'defensive midfielders just defend' . It's a label, thats all. Granted Maschers goal threat is minimal at the moment(!!!), but he allows others to play. It's a team game, he's a cog in the wheel, simple. You dont become a fixture in the Argentina side without being bit good!!!!