This must be a wind-up

[Sprouty]

http://www.manutdtalk.com/forums/news-room/8183-mascherano-better-than-hargreaves.html#post70609

Former Liverpool captain Ronnie Whelan believes Javier Mascherano is much
better than Owen Hargreaves.

Not that I would retoo much into what this guy says.

As Liverpool captain he managed to win ZERO Premier League titles so he was
obviously not that good himself.

Whelan said on Liverpoolfc.tv:

"It's taken a while for his first goal to come but it's no surprise really because for
me he's playing his best football right now. He's getting around the pitch,
breaking things up and then setting things in motion.

"He's an all-round player. Obviously he's not the biggest so he's not great in the
air, but if you want a midfielder to get you the ball quickly and set things rolling,
then he's perfect. He does his job very well.

"Eric Cantona used to talk about Didier Deschamps being the water carrier and
how good teams need one. Mascherano is just that for Liverpool. I used to do a
lot of that kind of work in midfield: the clearing up and starting things rolling
again. I gave the ball to the likes of Barnes and Beardsley like Mascherano
gives it to Gerrard and Torres.


"Hargreaves does the job for Manchester United. He cost about the same but
hasn't set the world alight. I think Mascherano was a better buy. He does more,
for me."

More proof that the most Man Utd fans don't realise football existed before the onset of the Prem.

[bobbyfallon]

ronnie whealan was an immense player for us.

total disrespect there, cantona would love to have a collection of medals similar to whealan's

but what would you expect from an ass but a kick

[MindGuerrillas]

Technically it's true. As Captain he didn't win the league. Although as far as I can remember he was only captain for a few years in the early nineties.

[Joe Le Toff]

I played against Ronnie when he had virtually retired, think he was around 38.
He played sweeper and was absolutely ****ing immense, what a player even then, no-one could get near him.

Manc no-nothing ****s.

[Imy]

Technically it's true. As Captain he didn't win the league. Although as far as I can remember he was only captain for a few years in the early nineties.

Ronnie Whelan is a legend, he is spot on about Mascherano and believe it or not was a Manc fan as a kid.

[SNFT]

Think he won 6 league titles........

[blacky]

My favourite liverpool player as a kid. Idolised him in both the red and green jerseys. He was such a sweet passer of the ball could dictate the pace of play in the middle of the park so easily. If I was to compare him to a modern day player I think our own Xabi Alonso has a lot of the same traits.

[Parm]

hmm wonder if they know he was nicknamed legend for all the trophies he won...

[MindGuerrillas]

Ronnie Whelan is a legend, he is spot on about Mascherano and believe it or not was a Manc fan as a kid.

Yes thank you I know. I didn't say otherwise did I? I just stated that the bit about not winning the league as captain was accurate.

[Joe King]

My favourite liverpool player as a kid. Idolised him in both the red and green jerseys. He was such a sweet passer of the ball could dictate the pace of play in the middle of the park so easily. If I was to compare him to a modern day player I think our own Xabi Alonso has a lot of the same traits.

Wouldn't you say Xabi is like Jan Molby more than Whelan?

I can see Lucas being the next Whelan. A player who keeps the game ticking and finding little passes here and there.

[Imy]

Yes thank you I know. I didn't say otherwise did I? I just stated that the bit about not winning the league as captain was accurate.

God Knows why i quoted you, i wasn't really answering your post, just talking in general

[MindGuerrillas]

God Knows why i quoted you, i wasn't really answering your post, just talking in general

[tsb]

It's just the Mancs way of bashing our 18 titles - i.e. they are all under the old First Division and not PL. Just demonstrating their class.

[shanks69]

Technically it's true. As Captain he didn't win the league. Although as far as I can remember he was only captain for a few years in the early nineties.

whelan was only ever a stand in captain when hansen got injured in the 88/89 season and when jocky returned from injury he kept the armband for the rest of that season lifting the fa cup.his last full season was the 90 season when we last won the league,after that he was more of a bit part player with his last trophy winning season being 92 fa cup winning side when captian mark wright lifted the cup.

[Mr Tourette]

i always thought Whelen was a class player. But why would we expect man utd fans to be complementary about one of our ex players stating that our current players are better than theirs? If the shoe was on the other foot. Its a non argument.

On the subject of Mascherano v Hargreaves - I personally would take mascerano every time, he is the best breaker up of play ive seen - ever - i think, tenacious, determined and talented - he must instill a ridiculous amount of confidence in the team around him.

I can however see how united fans could argue that hargreaves was the better player based on his all-round play, he poses slightly more goal threat, especially with his set pieces, is possibly quicker and is arguably just as composed.

Its hard not to feel that he was over priced though - and that mascerano was worth every penny. I think off the record most united fans would take our man as well.