Mascherano

[LeTallecWiz]

Reports in Spain link to either Napoli or us, with him being 'keen' to end his career at Anfield.

Though I still think he's a very good player, I don't know how he helps us ...

We have Gerrard & Lucas as DMs. I don't see 15 million euros (quoted fee) as a steep fee, but it seems like a pointless signing unless Lucas's goodbye Tweet was to do with him moving on ... Who knows.

[article=http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/javier-mascherano-wants-to-end-career-at-liverpool-as-napoli-slip-in-their-pursuit-of-the-barcelona-star-sport/]Catalan daily Sport have today reported on the potential future of Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano.

Mascherano, 29, has been cited as one of the Blaugrana squad tipped to leave Camp Nou this summer as Barcelona set to revamp their side.

Amid all the chatter about the Argentine’s future, one angle promulgated in Sport is that Napoli are chasing the former West Ham man.

The excellent guys at Sport Witness also make the following comments about Sport’s suggestion that Juventus are also chasing the midfielder:

Catalan newspaper Sport have been confused by transfer frenzy already, and the window hasn’t even opened yet. On Tuesday they headline a piece in their newspaper ‘Juve y Nápoles se fijan en Mascherano’ – claiming that there’s a fight between the two Italian clubs to sign Javier Mascherano.

Yet Juventus aren’t mentioned once in the article, the sub-editor meant Liverpool.

Getting to the meat of the transfer scoop, whilst Napoli would like to reunite Rafa Benitez with Mascherano, the player is said to be hostile to a move to Naples, favouring a return to LIverpool instead.

According to Sport, Mascherano has made it known that he would like to end his career back at Anfied.

Mascherano is said to be available for 15 million euros, whilst the player has a contract at Barca until June 2016 with a buyout clause of 100 million euros.[/article]

 

[doctor_mac]

Fuck him. I loved him, and I think in his pomp BR might have used his pressing energy, akin to Hendo. But at 29, I don't think he'll have that pace and energy anymore, and his skill on the ball isn't good enough to play the deep lying role. He also left us in the fucking shit.

 

[Judge Jules]

Disagree with the pair of you.

Do due diligence on him by all means but, if that doesn't turn up actual evidence of any supposed lack of energy and pace, sign sign sign. Yes, we have Gerrard and Lucas as DM but neither player's defending is adequate. Family problems forced his departure, he was still MOTM in his last game for us just days before he left, and comments of his since (such as dedicating a Barca win over the Scum to us) show how he really felt about LFC.

 

[Athens]

I'm not sure about this one. Part of me thinks he can do the job, the other part thinks he's getting on a bit. Even if he is 5 years younger than me.

 

[Best Believe It]

Why hasn't he played as an alternative to Busquets at Barca, does anyone know? Is it because they've had a lack of centre backs, so he's been shoehorned in there? Is it because Busquets is never injured/unfit/rotated? Is it because Mascher is unsuited to the role in Barca's system?

 

[Judge Jules]

Ruairi: fair comment, hence the bit about due diligence, but (a) I wouldn't assume he's not up to it without looking closely into that and (b) I very definitely wouldn't object to signing him if he does still have what it takes.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Why hasn't he played as an alternative to Busquets at Barca, does anyone know? Is it because they've had a lack of centre backs, so he's been shoehorned in there? Is it because Busquets is never injured/unfit/rotated? Is it because Mascher is unsuited to the role in Barca's system?

They have no CBs bar Puyol (injured all the time this year, and now retired), Puyol and Batra (injured on and off, and Tata preferred Mascherano)

 

[Judge Jules]

Why hasn't he played as an alternative to Busquets at Barca, does anyone know? Is it because they've had a lack of centre backs, so he's been shoehorned in there? Is it because Busquets is never injured/unfit/rotated? Is it because Mascher is unsuited to the role in Barca's system?

TBH it's not been at all clear to me why Busquets has kept that role in their team. One would need to know the answer to that in order to be able to explain the situation with Mascherano IMO.

 

[Athens]

Ruairi: fair comment, hence the bit about due diligence, but (a) I wouldn't assume he's not up to it without looking closely into that and (b) I very definitely wouldn't object to signing him if he does still have what it takes.

I suppose if he plays the game smart, his age doesn't have a huge importance. Didi Hamann played well, while enjoying a smoke. I reckon Mascherano is possibly a wee bit more health conscious.

Edit: Obviously, he didn't smoke during a match...

 

[keniget]

The reason Busquets is preferred to Maschareno is because he's a much better footballer and Barca will go with someone who can pass the ball in that position every single time.

 

[gkmacca]

unless Lucas's goodbye Tweet was to do with him moving on ... Who knows.

Lucas Leiva ‏@LucasLeiva87 23h
O tchau foi referente a temporada que terminou nada mais . The goodbye that I said it is about the season that finished nothing else.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Lucas Leiva ‏@LucasLeiva87 23h
O tchau foi referente a temporada que terminou nada mais . The goodbye that I said it is about the season that finished nothing else.

And so it begins!

 

[hmmmmm1]

Didnt masher refuse to play for us against city and now some would welcome him back with open arms....

 

[mom]

Sign him.

And as for the circumstances under which he left, look at how Luis behaved last year with regards to attempting to engineer a way out. Soon gets forgotten if the performances on the pitch are good. Which I think they will be with Mash.
We badly need to sort or defence out. He can help massively towards that. He knows the club, knows the league and has champions league experience.

 

[StevieM]

Is his missus going to like living in Liverpool this time round?

 

[Best Believe It]

The reason Busquets is preferred to Maschareno is because he's a much better footballer and Barca will go with someone who can pass the ball in that position every single time.

I agree, but I guess my question was more to do with why they signed Mascherano; did they see him as someone who could play there when Busquets wasn't available, someone who could play at centre back, someone who could play the DM role against teams that Busquets might struggle against?

 

[superchimp]

good squad player

 

[Glen C]

Ruairi: fair comment, hence the bit about due diligence, but (a) I wouldn't assume he's not up to it without looking closely into that and (b) I very definitely wouldn't object to signing him if he does still have what it takes.

I'd rather Gustavo at wolfsburg over mascherano personally. I think he would be a quality acquisition. Offer them lucas plus cash...hopefully they'd be stupid enough to take the deal.

 

[keniget]

I agree, but I guess my question was more to do with why they signed Mascherano; did they see him as someone who could play there when Busquets wasn't available, someone who could play at centre back, someone who could play the DM role against teams that Busquets might struggle against?

Apart from being good friends with Messi? I'm not sure to be honest.

I guess it was to replace Yaya Toure as a squad option.

 

[redhorizon2]

Reports in Spain link to either Napoli or us, with him being 'keen' to end his career at Anfield.

Though I still think he's a very good player, I don't know how he helps us ...

We have Gerrard & Lucas as DMs. I don't see 15 million euros (quoted fee) as a steep fee, but it seems like a pointless signing unless Lucas's goodbye Tweet was to do with him moving on ... Who knows.

[article=http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/javier-mascherano-wants-to-end-career-at-liverpool-as-napoli-slip-in-their-pursuit-of-the-barcelona-star-sport/]Catalan daily Sport have today reported on the potential future of Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano.

Mascherano, 29, has been cited as one of the Blaugrana squad tipped to leave Camp Nou this summer as Barcelona set to revamp their side.

Amid all the chatter about the Argentine’s future, one angle promulgated in Sport is that Napoli are chasing the former West Ham man.

The excellent guys at Sport Witness also make the following comments about Sport’s suggestion that Juventus are also chasing the midfielder:

Catalan newspaper Sport have been confused by transfer frenzy already, and the window hasn’t even opened yet. On Tuesday they headline a piece in their newspaper ‘Juve y Nápoles se fijan en Mascherano’ – claiming that there’s a fight between the two Italian clubs to sign Javier Mascherano.

Yet Juventus aren’t mentioned once in the article, the sub-editor meant Liverpool.

Getting to the meat of the transfer scoop, whilst Napoli would like to reunite Rafa Benitez with Mascherano, the player is said to be hostile to a move to Naples, favouring a return to LIverpool instead.

According to Sport, Mascherano has made it known that he would like to end his career back at Anfied.

Mascherano is said to be available for 15 million euros, whilst the player has a contract at Barca until June 2016 with a buyout clause of 100 million euros.[/article]

He gives us quality and depth and I'm for it. We missed him

 

[The Slugmonster]

He's better defensively than Gerrard, covers ground faster than Lucas and would be a massive addition to a squad leaking goals. Plus the defensive and passing duties he has added to his locker at Barca are perfect to the way we play and to covering the way we get caught at the back. I think it would be a no brainer.

 

[redhorizon2]

Easily good for 3 seasons.

 

[RolandG]

Mascherano turned Napoli down. He wants a Premiership return with Liverpool. Twat that he is, I'll take him back. He was immense for us.

 

[Oncy]

Hed be fantastic against yer Chelsea, Citehs etc away from home. Fantastic in Europe. Hes a winner with strong mentality. He knows how to play football, can play at CB.
Id love this to happen.

1 concern is it would cost a lot and hes 29. So its not the kind of transfer i think we will get involved in.
Every rumoured link to players over 27 or 28 doesnt happen because its not the philosophy we see as prudent.
So much as it would be a fillip for the next couple of season and especially our return to Europe it wont happen.

 

[Brizzle]

Will he lack of passing ability be a hinderance to us though? And he'd only be able to play when Gerrard doesn't as they wouldn't both be able to start in the same line up unless we attempted to park a bus against an opponent.

 

[tombrown]

Lucas Leiva ‏@LucasLeiva87 23h
O tchau foi referente a temporada que terminou nada mais . The goodbye that I said it is about the season that finished nothing else.

Lucas refused to pose for a photo with my lad on Sunday, as did Skrtel. Both Sturridge and Moses did, and so did John Bishop. We didn't see Agger, but I am sure he would have obliged

So we should bin Lucas & Skrtel, put Sturridge on a 10 year contract, sign Moses and employ Bish to replace that sports psychologist fella. And my boy can do a job at left back too ...

 

[Mors]

Even though he's a cunt, most footballers are cunts. I'd have him back in a blink if he was cheap. Don't think he's a rodgers sort of player though, he can tackle for a start.

 

[Athens]

Lucas refused to pose for a photo with my lad on Sunday, as did Skrtel. Both Sturridge and Moses did, and so did John Bishop. We didn't see Agger, but I am sure he would have obliged

So we should bin Lucas & Skrtel, put Sturridge on a 10 year contract, sign Moses and employ Bish to replace that sports psychologist fella. And my boy can do a job at left back too ...

I thought Lucas was all into posing with the fans?

 

[Silver Sean]

I think we all need to shake off this underdog bullshit when it comes to buying players. We need and will get half a dozen better players than we have as we are a top prospect to join once again and we have money to spend. We will be challenging on four fronts next season and I for one am looking forward to having a bigger, better squad filled with proven quality AND up and coming stars.
If he wants to come sign him.

 

[Rosco]

I don't see how he really fits in for us. We've seen the benefits (again) of having a Dm with a greater passing range so even if he's still good enough, he's not going to add that much to us.