Hodgson - No Masher offers and I will play him in Euro if needs be

[mark1975]

"His performance didn't surprise me," said Hodgson. "He is a top quality player - one of the best at his job in the world and he showed that once again today.

"It's only speculation from the mass media, if I am brutally honest. We've had no offer for Javier Mascherano.

"He is playing at Liverpool and how many clubs could he move to better or on the same level? As yet, we have not received any offers from anyone.

"There are two weeks to go (in the transfer window) and you never know. Some of these clubs, for reasons best known to themselves, like to come in with offers on August 28 or 29.

"The fact is, we want to keep him here and will keep him here unless an offer comes along which is correct. By that I mean, is in keeping with his value and one we think would be wrong for us to turn down because we have said if that offer comes in we will accept it.

"But at the moment it's not there - it's not even on the horizon."

Mascherano did pick up an injury against Arsenal, but Hodgson says the 26-year-old will play in the Europa League tie against Trabzonspor on Thursday if he is fit.

Hodgson added: "Of course I would play him on Thursday.

"He picked up an injury today, unfortunately. I hope it's not too serious, but he's got a slight tightness in his muscle, which is why he had to come off. We hope it's not a pull, but it will have to be assessed tomorrow. But why wouldn't I play him?

"He is a Liverpool player and I hope he will continue to be a Liverpool player. For me, he will always be available for selection until the day comes when he's no longer here."

 

[Mystic]

If Masher stays, well we'll be looking tasty for this season. Please let him stay.

 

[TheBunnyman]

We cannot possibly accept an offer on deadline day. It would be a disaster, as we wouldn't have time to use the money to buy a LB and striker.

 

[Wilko7]

Roy's intention to play him in Europe if fit will no doubt put Rafa's rather large arse in gear.

 

[Vlads Quiff]

I like our stance on this and hope we continue to play hard-ball.


regards

 

[localny]

[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=41461.msg1155609#msg1155609 date=1281967072]
I like our stance on this and hope we continue to play hard-ball.


regards
[/quote]

agreed. nice to be in the driving seat for once.

 

[TheBunnyman]

[quote author=localny link=topic=41461.msg1155611#msg1155611 date=1281967173]
[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=41461.msg1155609#msg1155609 date=1281967072]
I like our stance on this and hope we continue to play hard-ball.


regards
[/quote]

agreed. nice to be in the driving seat for once.
[/quote]

How are we in the driving-seat? As it stands, if Inter offer us £20m on deadline day, we'll sell them Mascherano. We will then face a ridiculous race against time to sign the players we've identified to spend that money on. Which, going by previous years, will probably end in failure.

 

[WhyAlwaysMe?]

Hurray!

 

[Judge Jules]

What's the rush? We're in the driving seat because we don't have to sell a player the other lot want, so we can sit tight and wait for them to put their money up, then decide whether or not we accept what they're offering (I'm far from certain we'll let Masher go for £20 mill). If the deal goes through then yes, it would be nice to fetch in any new signings we want before the window closes, but if we don't I'm happy enough with what we have till January.

 

[localny]

[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=41461.msg1155639#msg1155639 date=1281969050]
[quote author=localny link=topic=41461.msg1155611#msg1155611 date=1281967173]
[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=41461.msg1155609#msg1155609 date=1281967072]
I like our stance on this and hope we continue to play hard-ball.


regards
[/quote]

agreed. nice to be in the driving seat for once.
[/quote]

How are we in the driving-seat? As it stands, if Inter offer us £20m on deadline day, we'll sell them Mascherano. We will then face a ridiculous race against time to sign the players we've identified to spend that money on. Which, going by previous years, will probably end in failure.

[/quote]

Because we've already purchased cover for that position...

 

[Mistadobalina]

Sounds like Roy is trying to force some action. He won't play in Europe they will say he is still injured. I think this comment is designed to speed up a bid.

 

[Vlads Quiff]

[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=41461.msg1155639#msg1155639 date=1281969050]
[quote author=localny link=topic=41461.msg1155611#msg1155611 date=1281967173]
[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=41461.msg1155609#msg1155609 date=1281967072]
I like our stance on this and hope we continue to play hard-ball.


regards
[/quote]

agreed. nice to be in the driving seat for once.
[/quote]

How are we in the driving-seat? As it stands, if Inter offer us £20m on deadline day, we'll sell them Mascherano. We will then face a ridiculous race against time to sign the players we've identified to spend that money on. Which, going by previous years, will probably end in failure.

[/quote]

If they make an offer and its too late in the day to do anything we will keep him.
The club said they know how he works and said they would not let Rafa play games and think he could make an offer late in the window and expect us to panic and take it.
I think we should be saying unless offers are on the table by Friday, the day after he has played in Europe it's not going to happen.
That said I do have some concerns about his contract being inside two years.

regards

 

[TheBunnyman]

[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=41461.msg1155649#msg1155649 date=1281969575]
What's the rush? We're in the driving seat because we don't have to sell a player the other lot want, so we can sit tight and wait for them to put their money up, then decide whether or not we accept what they're offering (I'm far from certain we'll let Masher go for £20 mill). If the deal goes through then yes, it would be nice to fetch in any new signings we want before the window closes, but if we don't I'm happy enough with what we have till January.
[/quote]

You're happy with our current squad minus Mascher till January? Well I'm not. If we haven't got time to spend the money we receive for him, I don't think we should sell him at all. It leaves us in a shit position.

 

[Mistadobalina]

[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=41461.msg1155672#msg1155672 date=1281972214]
[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=41461.msg1155649#msg1155649 date=1281969575]
What's the rush? We're in the driving seat because we don't have to sell a player the other lot want, so we can sit tight and wait for them to put their money up, then decide whether or not we accept what they're offering (I'm far from certain we'll let Masher go for £20 mill). If the deal goes through then yes, it would be nice to fetch in any new signings we want before the window closes, but if we don't I'm happy enough with what we have till January.
[/quote]

You're happy with our current squad minus Mascher till January? Well I'm not. If we haven't got time to spend the money we receive for him, I don't think we should sell him at all. It leaves us in a shit position.
[/quote]
That's probably exactly what Hodgson is thinking too.

 

[Frogfish]

I would be happy to keep Masher and run down his contract for the next two seasons. He could help us get back into the CL (and maybe win a cup) this season and with new owners and some new faces amybe even win the title the next ... that is worth a lot more than 20M.

 

[singlerider]

[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=41461.msg1155639#msg1155639 date=1281969050]
[quote author=localny link=topic=41461.msg1155611#msg1155611 date=1281967173]
[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=41461.msg1155609#msg1155609 date=1281967072]
I like our stance on this and hope we continue to play hard-ball.


regards
[/quote]

agreed. nice to be in the driving seat for once.
[/quote]

How are we in the driving-seat? As it stands, if Inter offer us £20m on deadline day, we'll sell them Mascherano. We will then face a ridiculous race against time to sign the players we've identified to spend that money on. Which, going by previous years, will probably end in failure.

[/quote]

I don't know if we will, and even then - the whole play him in Europe thing will ensure that they won't be making that sort of bid that late on, because they'll want him for CL action, surely?

 

[StevieM]

[quote author=singlerider link=topic=41461.msg1155702#msg1155702 date=1281974377]
[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=41461.msg1155639#msg1155639 date=1281969050]
[quote author=localny link=topic=41461.msg1155611#msg1155611 date=1281967173]
[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=41461.msg1155609#msg1155609 date=1281967072]
I like our stance on this and hope we continue to play hard-ball.


regards
[/quote]

agreed. nice to be in the driving seat for once.
[/quote]

How are we in the driving-seat? As it stands, if Inter offer us £20m on deadline day, we'll sell them Mascherano. We will then face a ridiculous race against time to sign the players we've identified to spend that money on. Which, going by previous years, will probably end in failure.

[/quote]

I don't know if we will, and even then - the whole play him in Europe thing will ensure that they won't be making that sort of bid that late on, because they'll want him for CL action, surely?
[/quote]

Not only that - his value will diminish with every transfer window and he's unlikely to sign a new contract.

Do Inter actually need Masher?

 

[Hansern]

Branca and Moratti have apperantly tried to talk Benitez out of buying Mascher, and Rafa has reacted very angrily to this. Can't remember were I read it, but I think Mascher has a better chance of joining Barca.

If he stays our first eleven looks very good.

 

[Rosco]

[quote author=Hansern link=topic=41461.msg1155727#msg1155727 date=1281978752]
Branca and Moratti have apperantly tried to talk Benitez out of buying Mascher, and Rafa has reacted very angrily to this. Can't remember were I read it, but I think Mascher has a better chance of joining Barca.

If he stays our first eleven looks very good.
[/quote]

What happened to Rafa just being the coach ?

 

[Delinquent]

[quote author=singlerider link=topic=41461.msg1155702#msg1155702 date=1281974377]
[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=41461.msg1155639#msg1155639 date=1281969050]
[quote author=localny link=topic=41461.msg1155611#msg1155611 date=1281967173]
[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=41461.msg1155609#msg1155609 date=1281967072]
I like our stance on this and hope we continue to play hard-ball.


regards
[/quote]

agreed. nice to be in the driving seat for once.
[/quote]

How are we in the driving-seat? As it stands, if Inter offer us £20m on deadline day, we'll sell them Mascherano. We will then face a ridiculous race against time to sign the players we've identified to spend that money on. Which, going by previous years, will probably end in failure.

[/quote]

I don't know if we will, and even then - the whole play him in Europe thing will ensure that they won't be making that sort of bid that late on, because they'll want him for CL action, surely?
[/quote]

I think Hodgson may have subtly been setting a deadline for potential suitors with that comment. If they don't get their bids in before Thursday, they may well miss out.

 

[rebel23]

[quote author=Wilko link=topic=41461.msg1155591#msg1155591 date=1281964797]
Roy's intention to play him in Europe if fit will no doubt put Rafa's rather large arse in gear.
[/quote]

Benitez doesn't do the transfers at inter so there's nothing for him to get his arse in gear over.

Sorry to disappoint you

 

[Rosco]

[quote author=rebel23 link=topic=41461.msg1155747#msg1155747 date=1281981970]
[quote author=Wilko link=topic=41461.msg1155591#msg1155591 date=1281964797]
Roy's intention to play him in Europe if fit will no doubt put Rafa's rather large arse in gear.
[/quote]

Benitez doesn't do the transfers at inter so there's nothing for him to get his arse in gear over.

Sorry to disappoint you


[/quote]

................

LFC or Rafa ?

 

[Wilko7]

[quote author=rebel23 link=topic=41461.msg1155747#msg1155747 date=1281981970]
[quote author=Wilko link=topic=41461.msg1155591#msg1155591 date=1281964797]
Roy's intention to play him in Europe if fit will no doubt put Rafa's rather large arse in gear.
[/quote]

Benitez doesn't do the transfers at inter so there's nothing for him to get his arse in gear over.

Sorry to disappoint you


[/quote]

What's there to be disappointed about?

 

[gareth_thomas]

Id prefer we paid Macher's wife 4million to sort out her shit -- buy some friends - move some family members over here on 'work visas' - sponsor them to work at Anfield - greenkeepers? .. some nice shoes and some male escorts...

If we sell him for cheap we are simply throwing money away - As someone else mentioned - the money we could make from getting back into the Champions League would far excel what his transfer fee will ever be... We may be desperate for money right now and its why we look to have a rather weak stance..Some could argue that Mascherano could leave on a free in 2 years -- however in two years time im sure we will have new owners and more money..

If the highest amount we are being offered is 15 million then i say we keep him- hope he and his family start settling and if not hopefully 15 million over 2 years looks like peanuts for our new owners..