Interesting poll...mmm... (Xabi vs Masch)

[Sarsippius]

Against the rest of the big 4 and from the group stages on in the champions leage mash is indespensable, he really proves his worth generally in these games. Remember manure at Anfield this year?But apart from these games is he a luxury we can do without? Don't get me wrong after torres he is my favourite player and I would hate to see him ago. After all what other holding midfield players of his ilk are available? But with our new found attacking freedom this year from March on can we sacrifice him with alonso also being a holding player.

Alonso would be a much greater loss over the course of the season. His influence and vision once he is on form is breathtaking. Why the **** would either player want to leave now? The fact that all our top players are entering their prime and we are on the brink of something special makes all this speculation very irritating.

[DannyMan2006]

Before people voted they should have remembered how well Lucas did when played with each one. He did well when paired with Mascher and poor when paired with Alonso.

Alonso is a fantastic player but could be replaced. He is not the best in the world in what he does, in fact the role he provides could be marginalized to bring something else to the table.

Mascher on the other hand is younger and is the best in the world at his role. He could not be replaced and allows others to play their game with freedom.

Let me go further. I think with Masch in the team if we lost Xabi we could drop Stevie into CM. He would providse more goals for that position and whilst we would lose out in some areas I think we would make big gains in others. Add a top player with the Alonso fee and we have a player to play off Torres.

So in a nut shell I choose to sell Xabi, because I don't think we could come to any solution that would cover what he does for us.

[DannyMan2006]

Against the rest of the big 4 and from the group stages on in the champions leage mash is indespensable, he really proves his worth generally in these games. Remember manure at Anfield this year?But apart from these games is he a luxury we can do without? Don't get me wrong after torres he is my favourite player and I would hate to see him ago. After all what other holding midfield players of his ilk are available? But with our new found attacking freedom this year from March on can we sacrifice him with alonso also being a holding player.

Alonso would be a much greater loss over the course of the season. His influence and vision once he is on form is breathtaking. Why the **** would either player want to leave now? The fact that all our top players are entering their prime and we are on the brink of something special makes all this speculation very irritating.

Other way round mate. Against the silky passing top teams we need Xabi to keep the ball. Against other sides if we lose it we will quickly get it back anyway. I'm not sure but I doubt Alonso provided many assists, he spreads play well but you don't always need such a slow build up in the prem.

A player like Masch let's you go hell for leather against the lowly sides as he covers for any breaks made by the opposition, of which is their only usual chance of scoring.

[EwarWoo]

I'm not sure but I doubt Alonso provided many assists,

My favorite of his moves is the killer pass to Stevie which splits the defence in half and leaves him plenty of room to make a run, queue ball into Torres, goal.

No assist, no goal, **** stats, big impact.

Goals / assists only tells half the tale.

Why'd you think he get's fouled so much? Players see him with the ball and get desperate to cut off the move before it starts.

[the rev leeroy brown]

if it came to it, then you would be mad to choose xabi to leave ahead of masher. although masher is one of the best at what he does there are many other players who are not that far off his standards. xabi on the other hand is pure quality. the finest passer of the ball in the game today. a quick eye and progressivley quicker feet too. we would be a hell of a lot weaker to lose him over mash. but again, i would fight tooth and nail to keep them both.

[Guest]

None will be sold.

[cadmium]

Neither, but if we had to it'd be Masch, for £50m

[dww]

Whichever we sold would mean a rebalancing of the side in central midfield in all likelihood. Not enthusiastic about the idea of losing either and as is usual the decision would depend more of the set of players we would be able to bring in not just to replace them but also elsewhere. For example if we bring in Johnson then the importance of a mobile, tough tackling defensive CM like Mascherano increases.

I'm oddly increasingly hopeful they will both stay.

[Tee]

Whichever we sold would mean a rebalancing of the side in central midfield in all likelihood. Not enthusiastic about the idea of loosing either and as is usual the decision would depend more of the set of players we would be able to bring in not just to replace them but also elsewhere. For example if we bring in Johnson then the importance of a mobile, tough tackling defensive CM like Mascherano increases.

I'm oddly increasingly hopeful they will both stay.

Off topic dww but I have noticed you always spell 'lose' wrong - for someone so obviously intelligent you should know better. You write 'loosing' when you should write 'losing' and 'loose' when it should be 'lose'.

Please take this constructive criticism in the spirit it is meant.

[Craig_H]

Aside from press speculation, has either player or Rafa actually made any noises to suggest a parting of the waves?

[dww]

Off topic dww but I have noticed you always spell 'lose' wrong - for someone so obviously intelligent you should know better. You write 'loosing' when you should write 'losing' and 'loose' when it should be 'lose'.

Please take this constructive criticism in the spirit it is meant.

I make loads more typos I just usually catch them when re-reading - for some reason double oo's seem to miss the process.

[EwarWoo]

for some reason double oo's seem to miss the process.

Bond as always been good at sneaking past security check's.

[red g]

Aside from press speculation, has either player or Rafa actually made any noises to suggest a parting of the waves?

maybe thats why we signed this jesus kid .........

[Mostar]

Yes, interesting, if i had a beard i'd stroke it right about now...

Everyone going for Mascher as far a i can see, if we are to play a different style of play without him once sold then fair enough, but if we are to have a player instead of Mascher, one that carries out the duties Mascher used to, and he is maybe the best in the world at what he does, well then it depends.

I thought, maybe it would be easier to find a player with the talents and attributes Xabi has instead, just a thought, players like Masch are few and far between i think, ones that good anyway, and although finding a replacement for Xabi wouldn't be easy, it may just be easier than finding one for Masch.

Obviously if the plan is to never play with a Mascher type player when deciding who you'd sell it doesn't matter.

Hope they both stay, and this is a horrible thing to have to decide, could be Rafa is the one that will have to do it for real one day.....far far away from now.

I hope we don't part ways with either of these 2 top players but to me not only he is one of the most intelligent player who understands tactics and strategy of the game of football inside out, Masher is the best tackler I have seen in last couple years.

Also given Masch's age, if I would have to pick, Alonso would be my choice for the departure.

[carheex]

No competition - I'd sell Alonso. To win the league you need consistency, and Mascherano is as consistent as you can get. Alonso on the other hand, whilst he has just had a very good season, previously come off the back of 2 very poor seasons. God only knows which Alonso will turn up for the new campaign!?