A few myths..

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

Mascharano Can't pass... Well he's far and away the most successful passer in the league at the moment

Mascherano is a limited player who just breaks up play.. REALLY?!?! well he's nowhere to be seen in the tackles won table

Lucas is rafa's bum boy that's why he plays... Maybe its because he is performing to a much higher standard than last season.

Pass Completion.

1 Javier Mascherano Liverpool 472
2 Michael Essien Chelsea 401
3 Barry Ferguson Birmingham City 377
4 Jamie Carragher Liverpool 364
5 Lucas Leiva Liverpool 361
6 John Terry Chelsea 353
7 Darren Fletcher Manchester United 344
8 Michael Brown Portsmouth 343
9 Scott Parker West Ham United 342
10 James Collins Aston Villa 336

Most tackles won stat from this season.

1 Hendry Thomas Wigan Athletic 39
2 Lucas Leiva Liverpool 27
3 Michael Brown Portsmouth 25
4 Ashley Cole Chelsea 24
5 Sylvain Distin Everton 23
6 Darren Fletcher Manchester United 22
7 Nadir Belhadj Portsmouth 22
8 Stilian Petrov Aston Villa 21
9 Gareth Barry Manchester City 21
10 Lorik Cana Sunderland 21

[Tee]

I hate stats.

[Shaggy]

Lies, damn lies & statistics!

Most of Masher's balls (and indeed Lucas) are simple, short-ish passes. Same with Carra...most of his are 10 yard sideways balls to a full-back or to Skrtel.

Or of course an almighty hoof

[Tee]

Lies, damn lies & statistics!

Most of Masher's balls (and indeed Lucas) are simple, short-ish passes. Same with Carra...most of his are 10 yard sideways balls to a full-back or to Skrtel.

Or of course an almighty hoof

Why Carra why?!!!

...or the run forward, stop, check back and all the way back to Pepe.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

Lies, damn lies & statistics!

Most of Masher's balls (and indeed Lucas) are simple, short-ish passes. Same with Carra...most of his are 10 yard sideways balls to a full-back or to Skrtel.

Or of course an almighty hoof

Still Mascher had developed his game to not just breaking up the play, and I've seen him switch play plenty of times this season so there not all short passes.

[red g]

all that stat tells me is that, those who are limited in creative ability and like to pass sidewards and simple are the best passers of the ball

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

all that stat tells me is that, those who are limited in creative ability and like to pass sidewards and simple are the best passers of the ball

Clearly not but we don't all like to be miserable

[red g]

Clearly not but we don't all like to be miserable

any list with brown, parker, ferguson, terry and collins in relation to passing ability is a list you would rather not be in imo!!

[lfcchris]

The only way to judge it properly imo is to look at pass completion alongside assists. There the passes that mean something and are usually under pressure. Not just passing to each other to waste time or back and forth accross our own area waiting for a run from someone.

[dww]

I think that the problem here is one of what one means when you say Mascherano 'can't pass'. In general people mean that he can't pass creatively or far. I think in some aspects it is clearly true that he is not Alonso in that regard. That said he is good at switching the ball when given time and quick one twos and direct balls into feet when a chance is given. His real problem is that if he can't see an option quickly he is often hesitant when being closed down high up the pitch (see the first goal against Chelsea). He needs to learn to not have a nose bleed in the opposition half and have more faith in himself and those around him (Alonso was clearly good for him in that regard).

What I've just fed feeds in to what I think is worth saying (briefly) about Lucas. For all his good points individually, and I really like him as a player, he clearly has not inspired the faith that the likes of Alonso did in his fellow players and he doesn't have the personality to demand the ball enough. The way we play is about combinations and the combinations are not quite gelling where Lucas is concerned. The Chelsea game was probably as good as we have seen since Newcastle last season from Mascherano/Lucas as a pairing.

While I agree that Carraghers statistic does mostly tell that he shifts the ball short it does somewhat give the lie to the normal suggestion that he just gives the ball back to the opposition with aimless punts. I know he does tend to launch it if under pressure but it's not always a bad option and if generally it is combined with short passes to other players then it is fine.

[Gingawaria]

The only way to judge it properly imo is to look at pass completion alongside assists. There the passes that mean something and are usually under pressure. Not just passing to each other to waste time or back and forth accross our own area waiting for a run from someone.

Yeah, I'm sure there was a stat last year which showed Alonso's completion rate for passes over 35 yards was 100%, that's absolutely phenomenal if true and will be playing a massive part in how we've started this season.

[RedReet]

Yeah, I'm sure there was a stat last year which showed Alonso's completion rate for passes over 35 yards was 100%, that's absolutely phenomenal if true and will be playing a massive part in how we've started this season.

For one game maybe, not a whole season.

[lackyboy]

Anyone know how to use those chalk boards on one of the broadsheets website? I must admit, I have noticed Mascher trying to switch play a lot more this season than previous - would be interested to see if that rings true.

[RedReet]

Anyone know how to use those chalk boards on one of the broadsheets website? I must admit, I have noticed Mascher trying to switch play a lot more this season than previous - would be interested to see if that rings true.

Just click the link and it's simple.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

Just click the link and it's simple.

according to that Lucas misplaced 1 pass v Chelsea and it was an offside!