[quote author=SaintGeorge67 link=topic=36710.msg971073#msg971073 date=1256488979]
[quote author=Wizardry link=topic=36710.msg971057#msg971057 date=1256488619]
[quote author=Molbystwin link=topic=36710.msg971032#msg971032 date=1256488052]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=36710.msg970909#msg970909 date=1256486261]
Best player on the pitch.
The end.
[/quote]
Hold on a minute....
apart from the terrible shot into row Z and the 5 fouls in dangerous positions he gave away in the second half he played well, that was probably his best ever game for us and he wasn't shit by any stretch but mash was the boss in midfield, kuyt ran his fucking legs off and Yossi was excellent.
You must be high on adrenaline Ryan.
[/quote]
Not specifically at you but lets figure out where the "Masch was MOM" theory has come from. He was utterly anonymous for the first 25 minutes other than a foul and losing possession. When the mancs started to come into the game more he became more of a presence and he was excellent for 20 minutes and again for 20 minutes in the 2nd half when they were having a good period.
The comparison is Lucas was very good in that first 25, constantly keeping us moving, getting forward and finding players in space. When the mancs got themselves into the game he continued to be heavily invovled but now on the defensive side. By no stretch is he as good a DM as Mascherano but he was a big influence on the game in attack and defence which is something Mascher wasn't and, largely speaking, is incapable of.
I don't think anyone got close to Yossi but on the next rung down it was Lucas and Carra with maybe Mascher at their level or just below.
As Brendan says this doesn't make him a good player it just means he's capable of being a good player. But today he was good.... very good and didn't drift out of the game for long periods.
[/quote]
Masher was excellent for "20 minutes in the 2nd half when they were having a good period."
Erm, isn't that the point?
[/quote]
You may have to clarify the "point", George. Or maybe I should.
My point is that while Mascher was very good for periods today it was only when they were dominating. Lucas was very good through the match; he was very good defensively (not at Maschers level but still very good) and very good when we had the ball while Mascher disappeared into anonimity during these periods.
Both played their part in a tremendously satisfying win but Mascher wasn't some match dominating presence; he did well in the periods where he was capable while Lucas was able to do well through the entire match.
