Mascherano

[BG]

If it really came to the crunch (which it might given our financial situation) I'd sell any of our midfielders except Stevie to keep him.

 

I really really dread losing him.

[RafaShanks]

If it really came to the crunch (which it might given our financial situation) I'd sell any of our midfielders except Stevie to keep him.

 

I really really dread losing him.

 

Javier Mascherano proves his value to Rafael Benitez

 

Liverpool 4 Portsmouth 1

 

Oliver Kay at Anfield

 

They appear to have more pressing concerns at a time when their ownership of the club has already reached crisis point, but if Liverpool’s American owners were to cast an eye over the performance on Saturday, they might just start to understand why Rafael BenÍtez wants them to put their growing financial worries to the back of their minds and stump up £17 million to sign Javier Mascherano to a long-term contract.

 

Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr will not do so, of course – not yet and possibly not ever, given the uncertainty that has raised serious doubts about their troubled regime as the clock ticks down towards a February deadline to refinance the £220 million that they borrowed to fund their initial takeover. Transfer activity is no longer the top priority at Anfield – and nor, for this reason alone, is the future of a manager for whom the American tycoons have little or no time – but even as he struggles to come to terms with the instability of his own position, BenÍtez cannot tolerate the idea of allowing Mascherano to slip through the club’s hands.

 

Fernando Torres may have stolen the limelight with two late goals, his ninth and tenth in his first 11 appearances at Anfield, but not even he could quite eclipse Mascherano. With Steven Gerrard unusually subdued alongside him, the Argentina player was relentless, terrorising the Portsmouth midfield throughout and having a hand in each of Liverpool’s four goals. In a typically understated way, it was a masterclass from the man known in his homeland as Jefecito, or little chief.

 

The performance made a mockery of his inability to get a game for West Ham United a year ago, but who at Liverpool can say where he will be in another 12 months, with the club’s unusual lease arrangement with his “owners” due to expire in the summer? Barcelona are lurking with intent, hoping to exploit the continuing uncertainty at Anfield. BenÍtez said on Saturday evening: “It’s always better to get it done as soon as possible, but we just have to wait.” And wait and wait, it seems, while the owners try to get their finances in order.

 

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle3090341.ece

 

If we sell Momo and Carson, won't this cover the £17m?

[BG]

If we sell Momo and Carson, won't this cover the £17m?

 

I woud hope so. Stevie, Masch, Alonso and Lucas is a pretty awesome mix.

 

Having said that given the glaring holes in other places in the squad (someone to play off Torres, a really outstanding winger, a competent left back, another centre back) I might consider a large bid for Xabi anyway. If it was Xabi vs a top-class partner for Torres, I'd say that's a tough call. And I say that as a big fan of Alonso.

[meepins]

Sell Alonso. Yeah that makes sense

[Nebraska Red]

it would make sense IF it was the only way to raise money to keep Mascherano and/or pick up a class forward to play alongside Torres.

 

for me, i reckon we sell Carson, Momo & Crouch.

 

then we have a whip round to make up the balance.

[baza]

I think none of this makes sense and is all ludicrous. How can we be facing a situation as stupid as this. We have one of the worlds best footballers wanting to stay, Rafa wanting him to stay, the team wanting him to stay, me and you wanting him to stay...and we get told that we dont have the money to pay for him. What a lot of twaddle. Who are these G+H guys that have come and managed to buy this club. I'm utterly flabbergasted at how it all happened, how it all turned out.

 

If G+H (or Gillett alone) have any thoughts of staying here they better start getting their act together. Allowing Monster to slip through the net would be outrageous and totally unacceptable. The whole point of the take-over was to take the club forward. If i was in G+Hs position i would quite simply loan 'the club' some of my own money (if i had enough i'd just give it really) and they can have it back when finances improve. These men are not paupers. They just dont have the love for this beautiful club of ours.

 

Make Monster Red. There should not even be talk of selling Stevie, Xabi, Lucas, and even Momo.

[kick316]

I think none of this makes sense and is all ludicrous. How can we be facing a situation as stupid as this. We have one of the worlds best footballers wanting to stay, Rafa wanting him to stay, the team wanting him to stay, me and you wanting him to stay...and we get told that we dont have the money to pay for him. What a lot of twaddle. Who are these G+H guys that have come and managed to buy this club. I'm utterly flabbergasted at how it all happened, how it all turned out.

 

If G+H (or Gillett alone) have any thoughts of staying here they better start getting their act together. Allowing Monster to slip through the net would be outrageous and totally unacceptable. The whole point of the take-over was to take the club forward. If i was in G+Hs position i would quite simply loan 'the club' some of my own money (if i had enough i'd just give it really) and they can have it back when finances improve. These men are not paupers. They just dont have the love for this beautiful club of ours.

 

Make Monster Red. There should not even be talk of selling Stevie, Xabi, Lucas, and even Momo.

 

I completely agree with you.

 

If we end up letting him go due to a lack of funds what does that say about us? What then would be the point of the takeover? Would this have happened to the Mancs, Arsenal, Chelsea, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Barcelona, or any of the other big clubs? Are we not at the same level as these other teams (on or off the pitch)? More or less over the past few years we've had the same level of success on the pitch as these other teams but off the pitch we as a club are light years behind.

Edited December 24, 2007 by kick316

[fyds]

Patience chaps. It's not like he doesn't want to stay or we need the money even in this window.

[Rich Gobey]

 

We cant afford to let Jefecito go.

[alias75]

we have the players we can sell to get the money for Masch i think Rafa knows how important he is for the way he wants to play he allows our attacking players to attack without having to worry about defending, the thing i like about him the most is he plays every game with the same intensity and the same will to win. When others looked flat on Saturday he was the one setting the tempo and breaking up Portsmouth's play. The first 2 goals we score were a result of Mascherano winning the ball. And the 3rd was from his pass which nearly but Babel in.

 

He is a world class player and we need as many of his quality as possible.

[sutty]

He was a bit good on Saturday

 

Head and shoulders above I thought

[The walters step over]

I completely agree with you.

 

If we end up letting him go due to a lack of funds what does that say about us? What then would be the point of the takeover? Would this have happened to the Mancs, Arsenal, Chelsea, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Barcelona, or any of the other big clubs? Are we not at the same level as these other teams (on or off the pitch)? More or less over the past few years we've had the same level of success on the pitch as these other teams but off the pitch we as a club are light years behind.

 

This may be a silly question, but can anyone explain how G+H paid for the club? It seems as though it's the equivalent of a 100% mortgage - Is that correct or am I completely mis understanding the situation?

[BG]

Sell Alonso. Yeah that makes sense

 

Read the post. Clearly that is not my desired outcome. I merely commenting that if push came to shove I'd rather have Masch than Alonso.

 

I also think that no side in Europe (other than maybe Barca) have a midfielder as good as Xabi who is not basically first choice - and I'm not sure Xabi will be the way Mascherano is playing. If Xabi isn't first choice most of the time I would consider a large offer for him if it meant we could get a really good right winger or partner for Torres.

[LeeRadford]

I've heard that the £17m fee also includes his wages for the contract? Is this true, or just completely made up?

[Kite]

I also think that no side in Europe (other than maybe Barca) have a midfielder as good as Xabi who is not basically first choice - and I'm not sure Xabi will be the way Mascherano is playing. If Xabi isn't first choice most of the time I would consider a large offer for him if it meant we could get a really good right winger or partner for Torres.

Not sure where you get that from, Xabi has always been Rafa's first choice midfielder when fully fit.

[BG]

Not sure where you get that from, Xabi has always been Rafa's first choice midfielder when fully fit.

 

Just my opinion.

 

Anyway I recall Xabi not starting in the home leg of the Champions League semi-final last year when basically fit.

 

IMO, and clearly this is debatable, I'd keep Mascherano over Xabi if I had to make that choice.

 

Also I'd say Gerrard has always been his first choice midfielder - rightly too.

[Florist Cinema Pond Goal]

IMO, and clearly this is debatable, I'd keep Mascherano over Xabi if I had to make that choice.

 

I'd have Xabi, possibly because he turned me a bit gay before Torres sealed the deal, possibly because he is my bestest player ever ever ever. Xabi picking the passes for another team, bringing the opposite full back into play creating space, sliding the ball between centre back/full back for the winger, is something I would absolutely loathe to see.

 

Other than that, I can understand why you'd want a specialist holding player. Both are top echelon players, players we need in our squad to truly compete.

[Guest RedIsMyColour]

Is Xabi in contention for Derby?

[Guest Kaizer]

Is Xabi in contention for Derby?

 

He will start that one.

[Guest RedIsMyColour]

Hopefully. It'll be nice to have him back.

[RP]

He will start that one.

 

 

 

You just don't learn, do you?

[Guest Kaizer]

You just don't learn, do you?

 

Learn what?

 

Do you disagree about the opinion he will start?

[RP]

I saw no opinion.

 

Just your statement of fact, yet again.

[Guest Kaizer]

I saw no opinion.

 

Just your statement of fact, yet again.

 

Most of what I write is my opinion, if people dont understand that they have obvious problems when it comes to logical thinking.

 

Just like this stuff about being patronizing, only people that let themselves be exactly that will feel someone is patronizing.

 

I have never felt patronized in my whole life.

[The Hitman]

Masch is f*cking brilliant.