Masher: 'It's the players, not Rafa'

[Ryan]

Blame Liverpool's players, not Rafael Benítez says Javier Mascherano

• 'People will criticise Rafa, but we are a top side'
• 'It's easier to criticise one manager than 20 players'

Press Association guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 19 January 2010 16.43 GMT Article history


Javier Mascherano has said it is unfair that Liverpool's manager, Rafael Benítez, is shouldering the burden of criticism when the players are not performing.

After the FA Cup replay defeat by Reading and with the club seventh in the Premier League – 14 points behind the leaders, Chelsea – the pressure on Benítez is mounting.

But Mascherano came to his defence. "It's easier for them to criticise one manager than 20 players," said the Argentina captain. "When the team is not playing well, the press criticises the manager and not the players, but we don't have to pay too much attention.

"You have to realise that when we are playing like this, people will criticise Rafa, but we are a top side. We need to think about football and try not to worry too much.

"We have to work, continue training hard and show all our things on the pitch. The mentality among all of us is really good and we want to take Liverpool to the place it deserves to be."

 

[SummerOnions]

Do your talking on the pitch.

 

[keniget]

[quote author=SummerOnions link=topic=38529.msg1038373#msg1038373 date=1263947089]
Do your talking on the pitch.
[/quote]

Ha! Indeed.

He's got a point, most certainly, but I'm hardly going to blame the likes of N'Gog for failing to perform consistently week in, week out to the standards of a top 4 side.

 

[SaintGeorge67]

Masher has been excellent for most of this season

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Mascher is saying all the right things in the media ... I hope this means he's warming up to staying here past this season.

 

[jexykrodic]

Yes Masch, we know. Only mongs think it's solely the Managers responsibility.

There's quite a few out there though, including on forums. Shame really.

How's about convincing your team mates though, to sharpen up a bit eh?

 

[manwithnoname]

It's not solely the manager's responsibility, nobody thinks that. Also to blame is the squad the manager has assembled over 6 years

 

[Biggus Dickus]

[quote author=SaintGeorge67 link=topic=38529.msg1038475#msg1038475 date=1263969301]
Masher has been excellent for most of this season
[/quote][tt][/tt]

Pigs arse he has.

 

[Mystic]

He talks like a capitan Mascher(i know he is one), he's a good candidate if he's here when Gerrard retires.

 

[Judge Jules]

[quote author=Biggus Dickus link=topic=38529.msg1038631#msg1038631 date=1263989419]
[quote author=SaintGeorge67 link=topic=38529.msg1038475#msg1038475 date=1263969301]
Masher has been excellent for most of this season
[/quote][tt][/tt]

Pigs arse he has.
[/quote]

TBF even on his off days - of which there haven't been many - he's put in 100%. If all the rest could say as much, our league position would probably be healthier than it is.

 

[RedStar]

[quote author=SaintGeorge67 link=topic=38529.msg1038475#msg1038475 date=1263969301]
Masher has been excellent for most of this season
[/quote]

Since the Utd game Id agree, up to that point he was doing a decent impression of a man who wanted to play for barcelona

 

[Biggus Dickus]

[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=38529.msg1038656#msg1038656 date=1263993544]
[quote author=Biggus Dickus link=topic=38529.msg1038631#msg1038631 date=1263989419]
[quote author=SaintGeorge67 link=topic=38529.msg1038475#msg1038475 date=1263969301]
Masher has been excellent for most of this season
[/quote][tt][/tt]

Pigs arse he has.
[/quote]

TBF even on his off days - of which there haven't been many - he's put in 100%. If all the rest could say as much, our league position would probably be healthier than it is.
[/quote]

Dirk puts in 100% every game too, does he get the same respect?


Masher has had a short spell of good formand a lot of crap either side.

 

[Squiggles]

Masher started the season in crap form and it last quite a while, but he got better around November time and he's been one on our most consistent players since.

It's good to see him start sounding like the international captain he is.

 

[peekay]

[quote author=Mystic link=topic=38529.msg1038632#msg1038632 date=1263989552]
He talks like a capitan Mascher(i know he is one), he's a good candidate if he's here when Gerrard retires.
[/quote]

Only one candidate for captain for me after Stevie G retires ( assuming Carra also retires by then)

 

[Squiggles]

We'll be giving it to Torres in some desperate attempt to keep him at the club.

Reina will be an excellent vice captain and deserves the responsibility. (I'm not a fan of GK captains)

 

[gareth_thomas]

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=38529.msg1038685#msg1038685 date=1263995676]
We'll be giving it to Torres in some desperate attempt to keep him at the club.

Reina will be an excellent vice captain and deserves the responsibility. (I'm not a fan of GK captains)
[/quote]

Im not sure if Torres would even want it..

its an extra responsibility that im sure Torres would be eager to avoid.