Mascherano

[Leo No.8]

First tackle today, went flying in and won one he didn't have any right to. I thought it set the tone for everyone, I love it when your midfielders set their stall out early in the game like that, it gives everyone a lift and contributed to our fast start which resulted in an early goal.

 

He didn't give Arsenal a minute today, putting in well timed but tough tackles to stop Arsenal playing again and again - he was as much of a pain in the backside to the Arsenal midfield as Momo would have been but passed the ball better to boot.

 

I really wanted us to get him, and I'm delighted he's looking like he'll be a fantastic asset to the club. He's clearly got a brilliant attitude and I think will fit in extremely well here. Fans always love a player who works hard and gets stuck in, and with his quality on the ball as well I think he'll become a real crowd favourite.

 

I think he's actually perfect for the English game, which you can't always say about South American footballers.

Edited March 31, 2007 by Leo No.8

[Falconhoof]

He's fantastic. He's everything you want from a defensive midfielder. Gets about the pitch more than I was expecting.

 

great game from him today, we didn't miss Momo's tackling one little bit.

[Chili Palmer]

First tackle today, went flying in and won one he didn't have any right to. I thought it set the tone for everyone, I love it when your midfielders set their stall out early in the game like that, it gives everyone a lift and contributed to our fast start which resulted in an early goal.

 

He didn't give Arsenal a minute today, putting in well timed but tough tackles to stop Arsenal playing again and again - he was as much of a pain in the backside to the Arsenal midfield as Momo would have been but passed the ball better to boot.

 

I really wanted us to get him, and I'm delighted he's looking like he'll be a fantastic asset to the club. He's clearly got a brilliant attitude and I think will fit in extremely well here. Fans always love a player who works hard and gets stuck in, and with his quality on the ball as well I think he'll become a real crowd favourite.

 

I think he's actually perfect for the English game, which you can't always say about South American footballers.

 

He looks like he is regaining his match fitness, he already looks alot quicker than when he made his debut. Impressed with his passing aswell.

[mercury]

isn't the rumour price at 10-12m? that is not a bad price, really not bad at all!

[KD07]

Check out his passing too for that fourth goal. Outside of the boot to Pennant, so perfectly poised with enough backspin that when it dropped, it just sat for the latter to whip in and boy did the latter oblige, only for the whole move to be outdone by Zizou on stilts.

[Earl Hafler]

Yawn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[JimmyF]

Fecking top class. How strong is that lad for such a little fella

[kop205]

Bit of a bizarre analogy possibly and apologies to those who don't get it, but in a weird kind of way his performance today reminded me of a really top class back row forward in rugby, somebody like Richard Hill in his prime - quick to the breakdown so that even when they retained possession, he made sure that it was 'slow ball' and that others were then back in numbers to prevent any danger.

 

'Tigerish' is indeed the right word. Looks a really good addition.

[intense enigma]

Wonder if Mascherano's performance will have an effect on Momo like how Didi went up another level after Biscan signed.

Edited March 31, 2007 by intense enigma

[abc]

F*cking TIGER!!!

 

If he continues to display this grit and tenacity at a high level next season, as consistently as Momo did last season ( andin particular Barca away this one), we might have the perfect solution to Momo's lack of quality on the ball.

[CarraLegend]

He was quality, he's a little warrior and he's brilliant on the ball. Think we've got ourselves a bargain.

[Kite]

Alonso and Mascherano were a perfect pairing in midfield today - both were cleaning up anything that came by them and distributing (mostly) well. I can't imagine a better pair for the team now going forward.

[D.Boon]

He gives Raf real possibilities in the middle of the park for sure.

 

Momo's not so boss now

[Guest Portly]

We can save Momo for the Derby matches every year. Give him instructions to kick hell out of those g0bsh!tes and not worry about getting sent off.

[Guest Finnan3]

Quality

[chrisbonnie]

all we need now is for alonso to be called bangers

 

then we`ll have a midfield pairing of Bangers ans Masch

 

oh f*** me im good

[Gunga Din]

how the f*** was he not playing for West Ham??? Sissoko will have a job getting his place back in that side now

[Maldini]

politics

[RaoulD]

I think most West Ham fans were wondering why he was not being played. He is now showing the form that he showed in the World Cup and looks perfect alongside Alonso. I think Momo is a different type of midfielder who plays further up the field and hassles the opposition's deep lying midfielder(s). He was not need today since Arsenal do not usually deploy a defensive midfielder as such.

[Guz]

The biggest difference between the two is that Mascherano allows Alonso to be creative and play further up the field, which is where he's best I think. Momo's tackling isn't subtle enough to do that so Alonso pulls the string from deep whereas today he was allowed to get forward, and as a result our wingers received the ball further up the pitch more often as well.

 

To complement Gerrard and Alonso we now have two destroyers who play in completely different styles and are suited to different situations. Sits perfectly in the tactical flexibility rafa has brought to the squad. If Mascherano lives up to his potential he could be a fantastic signing.

[RafaShanks]

He just gives us quality options for the middle. He's far technically superior to Momo (which is his biggest weakness). He could play alongside Stevie or Xabi in the middle.

 

I'm glad he went to the Hammers and had a s**** time. I don't think we would feck all chance of signing him otherwise.

[KD07]

Uncanny.

 

[Guest RedIsMyColour]

I was made up when we signed him initially, he is top class player.

 

Suprised no one else was in for him.

[Guest Sabre]

The lad made Fabregas a bit part player and that's no mean feat

[Owen1978]

all we need now is for alonso to be called bangers

 

then we`ll have a midfield pairing of Bangers ans Masch

 

oh f*** me im good

 

Made me laugh!