Mascherano To Miss Liege Tie

[Mike]

I like Plessis, but the thing that annoyed me was that he never got the ball, controlled it and turned around to play the ball forward.

He ALWAYS seemed to pass the ball back to the defence and it got so frustrating, he would have no one around him but would be reluctant to look up.

[El Jefecito]

Saw it with my own eyes. He froze that day

Hooey. Selective perception happens all the time. People remember those things which conform to their preconcieved notions. Just review any matchday thread and look at the differing perspectives offered on Kuyt.

[JPK]

Difference was in inverted commas for a reason. It was sarcasm, but a valid and irrefutable point.

"difference" = Riise in last years CL semi in front of the Kop not Xabi in a game we won.

[El Jefecito]

I like Plessis, but the thing that annoyed me was that he never got the ball, controlled it and turned around to play the ball forward.

He ALWAYS seemed to pass the ball back to the defence and it got so frustrating, he would have no one around him but would be reluctant to look up.

He does do that a lot in first team games and like I said in my post, I'm only pushing for him because I think he can retain the ball better than Xabi can, under pressure.

I will come to his defense though and say that he does have more to his game. In the reserves, he was often seen performing the playmaker role a la Xabi. There were no end of raking balls up the flanks to the wide player and his accuracy was actually pretty good. There was not so much incisive through balls for the forwards to run onto, that usually came from Spearing. But he DOES have more to his passing game than he has shown in the first team.

I'm not sure if he's been told to use the other CM as the outlet or whether he is over-awed, either way even keeping it simple IMO he's less of a liability than the alternatives on offer. LIke I said I'm in damage limitation mode.

[El Jefecito]

"difference" = Riise in last years CL semi in front of the Kop not Xabi in a game we won.

Black and White vs. Shades of Gray!

[JPK]

Hooey. Selective perception happens all the time. People remember those things which conform to their preconcieved notions. Just review any matchday thread and look at the differing perspectives offered on Kuyt.

You sound like Fredo

[El Jefecito]

You sound like Fredo

I resemble that opinion

Oh, wait.....

BTW You are a Skando right? Does the above translate?

[JPK]

I resemble that opinion

Oh, wait.....

BTW You are a Skando right? Does the above translate?

Irish

[El Jefecito]

Irish

Commiserations

Still look on the bright side, you could be a scottish cockney ****ed off to the US of A

[rage]

He does do that a lot in first team games and like I said in my post, I'm only pushing for him because I think he can retain the ball better than Xabi can, under pressure.

I will come to his defense though and say that he does have more to his game. In the reserves, he was often seen performing the playmaker role a la Xabi. There were no end of raking balls up the flanks to the wide player and his accuracy was actually pretty good. There was not so much incisive through balls for the forwards to run onto, that usually came from Spearing. But he DOES have more to his passing game than he has shown in the first team.

I'm not sure if he's been told to use the other CM as the outlet or whether he is over-awed, either way even keeping it simple IMO he's less of a liability than the alternatives on offer. LIke I said I'm in damage limitation mode.

i'm sure xabi would have a 100% pass completion rate if all he did was pass the ball sideways and backwards like plessis did. not getting at the lad el jef but he's nowhere near ready and also is not the player we pass to to get the attacks going

[BrooklynRed]

We were lucky to beat Boro, lucky not to lose 2-0 to Liege. Mascherano's presence allows SG and FT to play attacking football and grab goals. Yes, we are fortunate they scored in the past two matches and yes, they are both outstanding, but without Mascherano controlling the midfield from in front of the back four, we look half the team. Sorry but its true. So many people give all the credit to goal scorers and fair play, but Mascherano is the team's engine; When he is back, you will see a huge difference in our performance. That is why he is our most important player; He enables everyone else to be great.

[JPK]

Commiserations

Still look on the bright side, you could be a scottish cockney ****ed off to the US of A

I feel for you

[El Jefecito]

i'm sure xabi would have a 100% pass completion rate if all he did was pass the ball sideways and backwards like plessis did. not getting at the lad el jef but he's nowhere near ready and also is not the player we pass to to get the attacks going

And to be fair I wasn't trying to say he was. Just that with Xabi it seems that if you go up to him and say BOO, he'll give you the ball. Plessis doesn't do that. Like I say I'm in damage limitiation mode and I think ball retention from CM is more important than playmaking as I trust SG, Torres, Keane, Babel, Kuyt et al to have enough to win the game.

[El Jefecito]

We were lucky to beat Boro, lucky not to lose 2-0 to Liege. Mascherano's presence allows SG and FT to play attacking football and grab goals. Yes, we are fortunate they scored in the past two matches and yes, they are both outstanding, but without Mascherano controlling the midfield from in front of the back four, we look half the team. Sorry but its true. So many people give all the credit to goal scorers and fair play, but Mascherano is the team's engine; When he is back, you will see a huge difference in our performance. That is why he is our most important player; He enables everyone else to be great.

Thanks for bigging me up fella The cheque is in the post

[the rev leeroy brown]

dont know. so far this season xabi seems up for a battle. he's been putting in some hefty challenges and trying to stand his ground more.