Mascherano is...

[dww]

Mascherano is an exceptional player in a particular role. The question is really whether having that role in your team is a good idea. Obviously it depends on those around him and at the minute I feel we have too few play makers in the team too often - although this is partially at least down to injury problems.

[Rich]

Barca have been playing Busquets in the Mascherano role - and he's ****e in comparison.

[G]

Mascherano should play every game,he's top drawer at what he does.

Lucas should not be playing any games if our lineup comes down to one of those 2 sitting on the bench.

Aquilani and Masher all day for me.

[EwarWoo]

Aquilani and Masher all day for me.

If rafa ever decides to play aquilani :/

[Guest]

Mascherano should play every game,he's top drawer at what he does.

Lucas should not be playing any games if our lineup comes down to one of those 2 sitting on the bench.

Aquilani and Masher all day for me.

If rafa ever decides to play aquilani :/

Not seen enough of him to say he should be played above Lucas. As soon as he gets match time and we see more of him should we judge him. It's a bit unfair on Lucas as he's being dismissed for any other player.

We clearly need a 'forward thinking' type of player who takes risks with this passing to play with Mascherano. Rafa knows this, he wouldn't have bought him if he didn't, FFS.

[red g]

Not seen enough of him to say he should be played above Lucas. As soon as he gets match time and we see more of him should we judge him. It's a bit unfair on Lucas as he's being dismissed for any other player.

We clearly need a 'forward thinking' type of player who takes risks with this passing to play with Mascherano. Rafa knows this, he wouldn't have bought him if he didn't, FFS.

whats unfair?

Lucas isnt as good as Masher so he should be dropped!!!

[Guest]

whats unfair?

Lucas isnt as good as Masher so he should be dropped!!!

For whom? An 'unfit' Aquilani? And I don't think our form is to do with Lucas being 'not good enough'. Some people think that Aquilani is going to be our saviour. I think you might all be so wrong ....

Our defence needed sorting and Rafa seems to have done it. Mascherano coming back to his best has also helped.

[EwarWoo]

For whom? An 'unfit' Aquilani?

How will he ever get fit if he never plays? Or did wer just spunk 18m so we could say we had a top class player on the bench and use it as yet another convenient excuse?

And I don't think our form is to do with Lucas being 'not good enough'.

Not attacking enough is the issue. He's just not as good as Mascher and we need to sacrifice one of 'em to gain attacking options.

Some people think that Aquilani is going to be our saviour. I think you might all be so wrong ....

So you think rafa bought a turkey? And you're saying we're judging early?

[Guest]

How will he ever get fit if he never plays? Or did wer just spunk 18m so we could say we had a top class player on the bench and use it as yet another convenient excuse?


Not attacking enough is the issue. He's just not as good as Mascher and we need to sacrifice one of 'em to gain attacking options.


So you think rafa bought a turkey? And you're saying we're judging early?

He'll play him but only when he thinks the moment is right. I don't think Lucas is going to make a full time career with us anyway, not with the bashing he gets whenever he sets foot on a football pitch.

I understand Rafa's logic, it's about settling our defence first, and Lucas and Mascher provide that at the moment, especially after the truly awful run of results we've been through. You can't throw in Aquilani when we're trying to protect results and it's not his game. Not difficult to understand eh?

As the team gets more wins under its belt and confidence builds up, we'll see more of Aquilani.

[EwarWoo]

Personally I don't see it that way.

We've lost our fluidity and as a result of that we've lost confidence and seen a run of bad results.

With some good attacking football and the return of a good team dynamic we'd see better returns than playing boring defensive football again.

[Guest]

Personally I don't see it that way.

We've lost our fluidity and as a result of that we've lost confidence and seen a run of bad results.

With some good attacking football and the return of a good team dynamic we'd see better returns than playing boring defensive football again.

Fans are always more sentimental. Put you in the hot seat we'll see if you come out with the same reasoning.

But I understand what you mean. That's what we all want in the end, a great team scoring a lot of goals and playing great football. I don't think Rafa's at fault because we have evolved into such a team last season.

Something went wrong in pre-season I think. Too many players off form, the Alonso / Mascherano debacle and injuries helped. We're not as bad as some of you think IMO.

[EwarWoo]

The difference is Alonso. He was the keystone in our team. I said at the time, sell him and we won't win the league. I hoped to be wrong but even I didn't expect it to be quite this bad.

Take the keystone away and we managed to find other pieces to fit in there, but as injuries appeared they became more and more tenuous, but they were never then great anyway.

Aquilani is supposedly the replacement for Alonso which is why my hopes are pinned on him.

And yes, I'll admit, it's only hope no solid facts, but it's frustrating it's not even being tried.

[Vermilion]

The difference is Alonso. He was the keystone in our team. I said at the time, sell him and we won't win the league. I hoped to be wrong but even I didn't expect it to be quite this bad.

Take the keystone away and we managed to find other pieces to fit in there, but as injuries appeared they became more and more tenuous, but they were never then great anyway.

Aquilani is supposedly the replacement for Alonso which is why my hopes are pinned on him.

And yes, I'll admit, it's only hope no solid facts, but it's frustrating it's not even being tried.

The way this season has gone, even if Alonso hadn't left he would most likely have been injured, it's just been one of those seasons imo, we would have coped well enough without him had we not been crippled by our injury list, which i'm certain he would have been added to had he stayed being such an important player for us, sods law, nothing is going right this season.

I'm just comforting myself by imagining us winning next season (yes it's difficult, but we're the same team more or less that has consistently improved under this manager), after a proper **** season to endure sometimes it happens like that, although i do worry that by next season the David Villa's, Silva's and Agueros etc will have joined our rivals.

[Spionkop69]

I don't see it with Masch, yes he breaks play up brilliantly but he offers nothing else. His passing is dreadful, his vision/creativity non-existent and his offensive play terrible. He also gives away petty fouls in dangerous areas forcing unnecessary pressure on the defence.

I just don't see enough from him to warrant this label of "great".

Not sure why people immediately bring Lucas into this. This is nothing to do with Lucas.

I also think Arbeloa is better than GJ and offers a far more complete package.

Riera was a bloody disgrace today, Insua is simply average at best and I've had enough of Rafa and his tactical "compacsht" bull****.

Where is this "he can't pass" rubbish coming from? He was spraying it about like Alonso against City, Everton and in other games. His game is all about energy and tempo. He's not just a destroyer. His actions can push the opposition back and by hassling and harrying it causes mistakes, which we can capitalise on. Slide rule passing in behind the CB's is not the only form of creativity.

As for Arbeloa v Johnson, I think you're wrong there too. Both get sucked in too much but Arbeloa had a discipline problem and didn't offer as much going forward. I don't like Johnson's price but he will end up being remembered for far longer than Arbeloa.

[G]

The difference is Alonso. He was the keystone in our team. I said at the time, sell him and we won't win the league. I hoped to be wrong but even I didn't expect it to be quite this bad.

Take the keystone away and we managed to find other pieces to fit in there, but as injuries appeared they became more and more tenuous, but they were never then great anyway.

Aquilani is supposedly the replacement for Alonso which is why my hopes are pinned on him.

And yes, I'll admit, it's only hope no solid facts, but it's frustrating it's not even being tried.

I think the mental effect of Alonso's loss is a bigger factor than his worth to the team which has been missed mainly due to his replacement being injured

We were flying,United had lost 2 great players,Chelsea stood still and we looked like improving on last seasons squad,then we sold Alonso and that confidence went,Gerrard himself said he was gutted,add to that the Alonso funds went the way of shergar and we could only add an unproven,injured player in his place.