How do you solve a problem like Mascherano?

[Insignificance]

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=40642.msg1122507#msg1122507 date=1276833016]
I largely agree.

We need someone around the £13M mark who's decent and up and coming. We need someone who is able to start moves, can play alongside anyone and is less specialised. A young Barry or Carrick are the English examples I can give, but I'm sure there's better ones.

I've warmed a lot to Javier this season and he won't be easy to replace, but I'm not scared about doing so, certainly not like I was when we sold Xabi.
[/quote]

So we focus on their price more than if they fit in with us?

 

[Buddha]

[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=40642.msg1122635#msg1122635 date=1276854240]
[quote author=Buddha link=topic=40642.msg1122623#msg1122623 date=1276853192]
I thought of De Jong too this morning. He's had an excellent first season for Citeh with scope for improvement.

I can't see them letting him go though. I'd imagine they plan to play Toure and De Jong together at the base of a 4-2-3-1 with four attack-minded players in front of them. I hope I'm wrong.
[/quote]

If that was true, we should sign Barry.

[/quote]

I forgot about him! I can't see any of the City players (bar those completely frozen out) taking a 50% pay cut to come to Anfield.

 

[ILD]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=40642.msg1122633#msg1122633 date=1276854208]
[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=40642.msg1122571#msg1122571 date=1276850010]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=40642.msg1122557#msg1122557 date=1276848601]
providing we get a 'competent' tackler and someone who can actually pass the ball then we'll actually be better off when mash fucks off
[/quote]

Yawn.

Like fuck we will. With Masher gone EVERYBODY else, including the fullbacks, is going to have to do more defending. That's how good the little fella is at it. No merely "competent" tackler will avoid that.
[/quote]

we've been shipping goals hand over fist so let's not make out mash has been outstanding covering the defensive positions.
[/quote]

Neil our defence has been all over the place with players being deployed in various positions. Agger, Skrtel and Johnson all faced long periods out and Insua was left to fill the void at left back all on his own. Only Chelsea and United conceeded fewer goals than us. I hardly think Masher is to blame for our shaky start to the season. He was probabaly our best outfield player last season and one will we surely miss.

All Alonso did was pass, many will say all Masher did was tackle. We don't want to get into a habit of selling our best midfield players.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=ILD link=topic=40642.msg1122662#msg1122662 date=1276857590]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=40642.msg1122633#msg1122633 date=1276854208]
[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=40642.msg1122571#msg1122571 date=1276850010]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=40642.msg1122557#msg1122557 date=1276848601]
providing we get a 'competent' tackler and someone who can actually pass the ball then we'll actually be better off when mash fucks off
[/quote]

Yawn.

Like fuck we will. With Masher gone EVERYBODY else, including the fullbacks, is going to have to do more defending. That's how good the little fella is at it. No merely "competent" tackler will avoid that.
[/quote]

we've been shipping goals hand over fist so let's not make out mash has been outstanding covering the defensive positions.
[/quote]

Neil our defence has been all over the place with players being deployed in various positions. Agger, Skrtel and Johnson all faced long periods out and Insua was left to fill the void at left back all on his own. Only Chelsea and United conceeded fewer goals than us. I hardly think Masher is to blame for our shaky start to the season. He was probabaly our best outfield player last season and one will we surely miss.

All Alonso did was pass, many will say all Masher did was tackle. We don't want to get into a habit of selling our best midfield players.
[/quote]

look, don't get me wrong, I think mash is a very good holding midfielder but I wont lie, I want someone to cover the defense and also have the ability to pick out a pass, this is also very important when our center backs aren't that great on the ball.

 

[SummerOnions]

Interestingly, against SK, Mascher seemed higher up the pitch.

 

[Squiggles]

[quote author=Insignificance link=topic=40642.msg1122644#msg1122644 date=1276855640]
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=40642.msg1122507#msg1122507 date=1276833016]
I largely agree.

We need someone around the £13M mark who's decent and up and coming. We need someone who is able to start moves, can play alongside anyone and is less specialised. A young Barry or Carrick are the English examples I can give, but I'm sure there's better ones.

I've warmed a lot to Javier this season and he won't be easy to replace, but I'm not scared about doing so, certainly not like I was when we sold Xabi.
[/quote]


So we focus on their price more than if they fit in with us?
[/quote]

No, we set ourselves a budget.

So we don't end up spending £20M on a player who cannot play for us.

Take your pick on who I mean.

 

[Squiggles]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=40642.msg1122633#msg1122633 date=1276854208]
[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=40642.msg1122571#msg1122571 date=1276850010]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=40642.msg1122557#msg1122557 date=1276848601]
providing we get a 'competent' tackler and someone who can actually pass the ball then we'll actually be better off when mash fucks off
[/quote]

Yawn.

Like fuck we will. With Masher gone EVERYBODY else, including the fullbacks, is going to have to do more defending. That's how good the little fella is at it. No merely "competent" tackler will avoid that.
[/quote]

we've been shipping goals hand over fist so let's not make out mash has been outstanding covering the defensive positions.
[/quote]

He's had a brilliant season, Spidey.

He's playing with fucking useless Insua, the very offensive Johnson, and invisible Lucas alongside him. He's not fucking Superman.

You're the one who pushes for offensive fullbacks all the time and wrote a long 'I told you so' post all about it. Now you think only a 'competent' tackler will be required to replace Masher and insist Masher hasn't been all that great all at.

What a load of shit.

 

[Vlads Quiff]

[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=40642.msg1122605#msg1122605 date=1276851934]
[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=40642.msg1122594#msg1122594 date=1276851431]
[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=40642.msg1122581#msg1122581 date=1276850886]
If you're playing Carra + one other at CB, you need some pace and movement in CM. An Alonso type on his own would not be enough against good teams.

If City do get Yaya, btw, we should bid for De Jong - he's not brilliant, but he's a good, tough-tackling defensive midfielder, and he probably wouldn't cost a fortune.

[/quote]

I agree, but is this not a bit of a trap that people fall into, would it not be better to get the right centre back pairing rather than have a midfielder taking more responsibility for defending.
It's like this business of having to play Heskey as he fits in with Wayne, if Wayne is playing shit Heskey is a waste of space so both forward positions are wasted

regards
[/quote]

Do you think that Carra will untouchable for our next manager mate?
[/quote]

Nope, I don't think had Rafa stayed he would have been next season either. It will certainly be more on merit than anything else , and that's the way it should be.
I can't see a Liverpool dressing room without Carra in some position though

regards

 

[grjt]

[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=40642.msg1122920#msg1122920 date=1276873903]
[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=40642.msg1122605#msg1122605 date=1276851934]
[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=40642.msg1122594#msg1122594 date=1276851431]
[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=40642.msg1122581#msg1122581 date=1276850886]
If you're playing Carra + one other at CB, you need some pace and movement in CM. An Alonso type on his own would not be enough against good teams.

If City do get Yaya, btw, we should bid for De Jong - he's not brilliant, but he's a good, tough-tackling defensive midfielder, and he probably wouldn't cost a fortune.

[/quote]

I agree, but is this not a bit of a trap that people fall into, would it not be better to get the right centre back pairing rather than have a midfielder taking more responsibility for defending.
It's like this business of having to play Heskey as he fits in with Wayne, if Wayne is playing shit Heskey is a waste of space so both forward positions are wasted

regards
[/quote]

Do you think that Carra will untouchable for our next manager mate?
[/quote]

Nope, I don't think had Rafa stayed he would have been next season either. It will certainly be more on merit than anything else , and that's the way it should be.
I can't see a Liverpool dressing room without Carra in some position though

regards
[/quote]

Im not sure Vlad.... much as I LOVE him, he's been pretty open about wanting to play regular first team football for at least 2-3 more years, and I suspect next season may be the one where he finds out he's not necessaril one of the first names on the teamsheet

 

[ILD]

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=40642.msg1122696#msg1122696 date=1276862077]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=40642.msg1122633#msg1122633 date=1276854208]
[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=40642.msg1122571#msg1122571 date=1276850010]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=40642.msg1122557#msg1122557 date=1276848601]
providing we get a 'competent' tackler and someone who can actually pass the ball then we'll actually be better off when mash fucks off
[/quote]

Yawn.

Like fuck we will. With Masher gone EVERYBODY else, including the fullbacks, is going to have to do more defending. That's how good the little fella is at it. No merely "competent" tackler will avoid that.
[/quote]

we've been shipping goals hand over fist so let's not make out mash has been outstanding covering the defensive positions.
[/quote]

He's had a brilliant season, Spidey.

He's playing with fucking useless Insua, the very offensive Johnson, and invisible Lucas alongside him. He's not fucking Superman.

You're the one who pushes for offensive fullbacks all the time and wrote a long 'I told you so' post all about it. Now you think only a 'competent' tackler will be required to replace Masher and insist Masher hasn't been all that great all at.

What a load of shit.
[/quote]

I said something similiar above. If Neil doesn't rate him that's fair enough but to dismiss his role and ability is ridiculous. "We'll be better off" is a daft notion. As I said earlier we will have lost Alonso and Masher is successive seasons. Alonso proved impossible to replace but i'm not saying this will be the case for Masher. It is an easier role to fill but I don't think we'll find anyone better.

 

[Vlads Quiff]

It is indeed a load of shit.
He won the player of the season table last season and if my memory serves me right the season before that.
A great player, but if he wants to go fuck him. The thing that would really hurt me is if he went to a non Spanish speaking country after all that shite about his Mrs

regards

 

[Judge Jules]

I wouldn't be as hard on him as that, Vlad. He can't help how his missus (blast her) feels about life in Liverpool, which was always the real problem, and he's continued to do his best for us right the way through.

 

[The Slugmonster]

[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=40642.msg1123024#msg1123024 date=1276880987]
It is indeed a load of shit.
He won the player of the season table last season and if my memory serves me right the season before that.
A great player, but if he wants to go fuck him. The thing that would really hurt me is if he went to a non Spanish speaking country after all that shite about his Mrs

regards


[/quote]

I agree, it would be a bit hard to take! But Inter would represent about the only club he could possibly get away with it considering all their south american players!

 

[SaintGeorge67]

Hasn't he got an Italian passport or did I make that up?

 

[keniget]

[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=40642.msg1123035#msg1123035 date=1276882891]
I wouldn't be as hard on him as that, Vlad. He can't help how his missus (blast her) feels about life in Liverpool, which was always the real problem, and he's continued to do his best for us right the way through.
[/quote]

I agree with that to a point, but he's not been much of a gentleman since the season ended with all the media talk of a move away. That is what kinda grates for me.

As for how we intend to replace him, we also have to factor in how Aquilani fits into the picture. I don't think we're in a position to keep a 20M player on the bench nor can we sign someone like Banega to play alongside him and Stevie because the midfield would just be too lightweight and too offensive.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

How do you solve the problem? Sell the cunt and replace him. Some of you lads really do overcomplicate things.

 

[RolandG]

Mascherano is going to be almost impossible to replace? How do you replace the world's premier defensive midfielder?

It does however provide us with an opportunity to change our system. Dpending on who the new manager is, we may end up with a genius that turns us around. I'm looking forward to the new season. Something has to give!

 

[SummerOnions]

[quote author=Sheik Yerbouti link=topic=40642.msg1123051#msg1123051 date=1276884320]
How do you solve the problem? Sell the cunt and replace him. Some of you lads really do overcomplicate things.
[/quote]

Im sure thats a piece of fucking piss that is, lets see us try that now.