Author Topic: Mascherano. How important is he really? (Read 106639 times)

The Manhattan Project · « **Reply #200 on:** February 1, 2010, 04:57:32 PM »

Quote

Mascherano. How important is he really?

He's like a damn pitbull. If given proper support he can terrify the opposition into making mistakes.

fowlermagic · « **Reply #201 on:** February 1, 2010, 05:38:57 PM »

Mascherano is the potential glue to a team that could have several attacking type players around him. Any manager would dream to have him in their side as he allows you to select a couple of defenders that can spring forward in attack knowing mascherano can cover nearly every blade of grass in the back field. At the same time his central midfielder partner should have a license to go forward on a whim, likewise with the wide men as I have no doubt mascherano rarely requires assistance to make the center of the park secure as the lad is the best in the business.

Who cares if he does not get forward as much as you want him to? He has the ability to do so but surely we should be surrounding him with pacey flair players who can set themselves up in the opposing half more often than not as Masch has their back.

Thing is we don’t. Thing is we have another central midfielder, one if not two wide men 4o plus yards from the oppositions box too often. The inability of us to build a creative attack with the glue that Mascherano can give them (excluding 3 months of last season) is worrying. Fans want two somewhat attacking CMs in there who do their job at a decent level but hardly world class when surely a defensive cornerstone who is world class surely would gell better with a world class attacking CM and two creative wide men that attack more often than they track back.

Anyway hope the lad stays here but I fear he sees a system elsewhere that better suits his long term goals.

rewood · « **Reply #202 on:** February 1, 2010, 06:35:16 PM »

Quote from: fowlermagic on February 1, 2010, 05:38:57 PM

Mascherano is the potential glue to a team that could have several attacking type players around him. Any manager would dream to have him in their side as he allows you to select a couple of defenders that can spring forward in attack knowing mascherano can cover nearly every blade of grass in the back field. At the same time his central midfielder partner should have a license to go forward on a whim, likewise with the wide men as I have no doubt mascherano rarely requires assistance to make the center of the park secure as the lad is the best in the business.

Who cares if he does not get forward as much as you want him to? He has the ability to do so but surely we should be surrounding him with pacey flair players who can set themselves up in the opposing half more often than not as Masch has their back.

Thing is we don’t. Thing is we have another central midfielder, one if not two wide men 4o plus yards from the oppositions box too often. The inability of us to build a creative attack with the glue that Mascherano can give them (excluding 3 months of last season) is worrying. Fans want two somewhat attacking CMs in there who do their job at a decent level but hardly world class when surely a defensive cornerstone who is world class surely would gell better with a world class attacking CM and two creative wide men that attack more often than they track back.

Anyway hope the lad stays here but I fear he sees a system elsewhere that better suits his long term goals.

Spot on post.

milankakabaros · « **Reply #203 on:** February 2, 2010, 05:09:59 AM »

His game against Bolton was totally boss, probably one of his best games in a red shirt. Would have given him a 10/10 had it not been for the challenge that brought him a yellow card.

Here is a match video I compiled on his game V Bolton

http://www.footylounge.com/films//milankakabaros/javier-mascherano-v-bolton-30012010-video_aee612e6e.html

nocturnalvin · « **Reply #204 on:** February 2, 2010, 05:49:59 AM »

If his performance against Bolton is anything to go by, a sign of what he is really beginning to produce, then he should be one of the first names on the team sheet.

He was absolutely devastating defensively AND set up quite a few attacks, one which has the skipper clapping which is as rare as it is.

There have been few remarkable comments regarding his passing ability, which is unobservant to say the least. He is no Alonso by any measure, but he does find his team mates proper. I am quite a fan of Lucas, but i would have Masch ahead against any opposition. His energy, and the confidence he brings to his team mates who knows he would have them covered, thus more attacking liberation, cannot be understated.

Must admit though, i am not convinced he and Lucas should start a game together, unless we have proper wingers, but thats another discussion altogether.

Baz1LFC · « **Reply #205 on:** February 2, 2010, 09:38:02 AM »

I think he lacks goals i dont agree with all this holding midfielder bollocks CM's should be able to do both. I think when we have both Masch and Lucas in the same team there is no creativity and we struggle to break teams down.

Although granted his performance on saturday was superb his passing has improved alot on last season if he could average 10 goals a season from CM its a good return.

carling · « **Reply #206 on:** February 2, 2010, 09:43:06 AM »

Quote from: milankakabaros on February 2, 2010, 05:09:59 AM

His game against Bolton was totally boss, probably one of his best games in a red shirt. Would have given him a 10/10 had it not been for the challenge that brought him a yellow card.

Here is a match video I compiled on his game V Bolton

http://www.footylounge.com/films//milankakabaros/javier-mascherano-v-bolton-30012010-video_aee612e6e.html

Great stuff mate.

Even better than I remember him being.

abhred · « **Reply #207 on:** February 2, 2010, 09:44:26 AM »

Don't try to play him too advanced, and don't restrict his game, by giving him responsibility to bring the ball forward. He's at his best, when he's just in front of the defense, while all the other players bomb forward.

beardsley4ever · « **Reply #208 on:** February 2, 2010, 09:50:35 AM »

Quote from: abhred on February 2, 2010, 09:44:26 AM

Don't try to play him too advanced, and don't restrict his game, by giving him responsibility to bring the ball forward. He's at his best, when he's just in front of the defense, while all the other players bomb forward.

Not convinced that's true, to be honest. If he plays just in front of the defense, then who distributes the ball after he's won it? None of our back 4 can distribute the ball quickly into attack (unless Agger is playing), so the rest of the front 4/5 need to play back to receive the ball (or just watch it sail over the head). The 4231 system works best when the deep lying midfielder is someone like Alonso/Pirlo who can distribute it quickly after it's been won by someone like Masch. So all in all, I would have Masch as a roaming tackler, who then has quick outlets in each direction to begin the attack with a good pass.

thom · « **Reply #209 on:** February 2, 2010, 09:58:11 AM »

He is very important to our team but he would be even more if we'd have a creative player playing in front of him.

kkhaku · « **Reply #210 on:** February 2, 2010, 10:21:50 AM »

I find Masch has his better matches for us when we are the team that presses more than the opposition. When all our players are pressing you get that effect where every opposition player seems to be surrounded by 3 red shirts as soon as he gets the ball. Masch shines in this role as everyone is on his wavelength - as soon as we win the ball back there's a surge of movement in front of him from both wingers and both central attackers - as well as his midfield partner. He has options to choose from, and he's given time on the ball because the opposition is trying to mark who he's passing to rather than strip him off the ball. This is why I think he's better suited to playing with Aquilani, with Lucas coming on against tired legs. The movement around him is more dynamic with Aquilani, and he's not restricted to a short passing game. He can pass it long, and even run with the ball.

When we're pressed high however and are trying to get a passing game going around a team who isn't giving us any space in our own half, he seems to be off his game. Looks for passes that aren't there, lunges into tackles to win back the ball, and just seems like he's rushing everything. It's very tough to adjust to as a central midfielder when half your balls are 50/50's and the other half you have just enough time for either a 5 yard pass or a hoof up field. For me, this is where his game needs some improvement, and also IMO as a side note, where Rafa's tactics need some improvement.

jackfrancis · « **Reply #211 on:** February 2, 2010, 11:13:14 AM »

Against top 6 in the PL away, he should be on the field every time. Against attack aspiring teams away, he can be used. At home against the bottom half of the table? Should be rested. CL? Every game. Masch really shines when the other team has the ability to stay on the ball and falls into a pattern of movement, he will find it and create huge turns in momentum by winning the ball against the run of play. When the other team is scrapping and just trying to stay in the game he really looks less than great to be honest. He isn't a bad 1 touch passer but his vision for the short pass is limited, he tends to pass back or side to side, and doesn't create a lot of one-two movement.

That said, he really is the best in the business when it comes to breaking up a good teams momentum. He is simply uncanny in his ability to track the movement of the midfield, timing his tackles with a kind of predatory instinct you just can't teach. I don't think we should sell him, he's worth a small fortune and he's only 25.

Bob Loblaw · « **Reply #212 on:** February 2, 2010, 01:41:57 PM »

Thought he was great the other day.

Quote from: jackfrancis on February 2, 2010, 11:13:14 AM

Against top 6 in the PL away, he should be on the field every time. Against attack aspiring teams away, he can be used. At home against the bottom half of the table? Should be rested. CL? Every game.

Really don't buy this at all to be honest. The balance struck between himself and Aquilani and Bolton is exactly the type of balance you want in a two man mid-field imo. Masche sitting, mopping up around him and Aquilani given license to roam forward. Okay Aquilani was fairly poor, but the idea was right imo.

The problem at times is when it's Lucas and Masche, with both kind of doing the same job of protecting the back four and not doing a whole lot going forward.

beardsley4ever · « **Reply #213 on:** February 2, 2010, 01:49:08 PM »

Quote from: jackfrancis on February 2, 2010, 11:13:14 AM

Against top 6 in the PL away, he should be on the field every time. Against attack aspiring teams away, he can be used. At home against the bottom half of the table? Should be rested.

I think that the key to this is the fullbacks, not Mascherano. If we play with a flat back 4, then I agree with you - having Mascherano in there as well can be a waste. But if we play with Johnson and Insua, then Mascherano's presence allows them to get forward. In essence you end up defending with a triangle of Mascherano and the two centre-halves, with Masch chasing into the corners to cover for the fullbacks if necessary. In that sense, he can actually make us more attacking as a unit.

Degs · « **Reply #214 on:** February 2, 2010, 01:50:49 PM »

Quote from: Bob Loblaw on February 2, 2010, 01:41:57 PM

Thought he was great the other day.
Really don't buy this at all to be honest. The balance struck between himself and Aquilani and Bolton is exactly the type of balance you want in a two man mid-field imo. Masche sitting, mopping up around him and Aquilani given license to roam forward. Okay Aquilani was fairly poor, but the idea was right imo.

The problem at times is when it's Lucas and Masche, with both kind of doing the same job of protecting the back four and not doing a whole lot going forward.

This is exactly right

Rotation · « **Reply #215 on:** February 6, 2010, 02:49:33 PM »

What a fucking bulldog

Gigantic Lamb · « **Reply #216 on:** February 6, 2010, 02:51:09 PM »

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh...................

conman · « **Reply #217 on:** February 6, 2010, 02:51:46 PM »

he was out there looking for his bitches!!
and he houded the fuck outa them!!

nayia2002 · « **Reply #218 on:** February 6, 2010, 02:51:56 PM »

oh oh oh oh oh.................

Immense!!

Scruba · « **Reply #219 on:** February 6, 2010, 02:53:02 PM »

fucking immense today

MidwestWool · « **Reply #220 on:** February 6, 2010, 02:53:34 PM »

LOVE HIM! JUST FUCKING LOVE HIM!

Agger · « **Reply #221 on:** February 6, 2010, 02:53:37 PM »

Fantastic today!! LOVE HIIIIM

Una cerveza, por favor · « **Reply #222 on:** February 6, 2010, 02:53:43 PM »

WHAT A GAME TODAY! BEST RIGHT BACK IN THE LEAGUE. TOO BAD HIS HEART IS SET ON A MOVE TO BARCA

MJL · « **Reply #223 on:** February 6, 2010, 02:54:05 PM »

Simply awesome today

phoenix wright · « **Reply #224 on:** February 6, 2010, 02:54:21 PM »

Enjoyable till the end.

Tweekage · « **Reply #225 on:** February 6, 2010, 02:54:55 PM »

fills in really nicely at right back

BazC · « **Reply #226 on:** February 6, 2010, 02:55:25 PM »

Apparently he aint that important though.

JackWard33 · « **Reply #227 on:** February 6, 2010, 02:55:25 PM »

boy is made of granite - immense

billypilgrimnz · « **Reply #228 on:** February 6, 2010, 02:55:27 PM »

Makes a good right back, actually. Well, in games like these!

Keens · « **Reply #229 on:** February 6, 2010, 02:55:43 PM »

Any people ask if this team needs him!

Brissie Red · « **Reply #230 on:** February 6, 2010, 02:56:14 PM »

The passion from him is immense. We need to keep hold of him for years to come!
Tell Barca to f off.

El Denzel Pepito · « **Reply #231 on:** February 6, 2010, 02:56:15 PM »

Have my babies, right now! YOU FUCKING LEGEND.

Ski · « **Reply #232 on:** February 6, 2010, 02:56:39 PM »

absolutely immense!

loved him gee'ing up the fans too.

they wanted to play 'dogs of war'. Mascher said 'bring it on baby!'

jckliew · « **Reply #233 on:** February 6, 2010, 02:56:42 PM »

Monsta!

RyanBabel19 · « **Reply #234 on:** February 6, 2010, 02:57:06 PM »

Gotta love him, plays with such great passion.

cj · « **Reply #235 on:** February 6, 2010, 02:57:14 PM »

A major part of our spine, that's for sure.

mulane · « **Reply #236 on:** February 6, 2010, 02:57:29 PM »

Class! Love him! hope that he doesnt leave!

MidwestWool · « **Reply #237 on:** February 6, 2010, 03:04:59 PM »

"FUCK OFF, I'M TALKING TO HIM.."

buzzing · « **Reply #238 on:** February 6, 2010, 03:06:40 PM »

Quote from: Silent...Violet... on February 6, 2010, 03:04:59 PM

"FUCK OFF, I'M TALKING TO HIM.."

Loved that bit

markiv · « **Reply #239 on:** February 6, 2010, 03:09:33 PM »

He was fucking awesome!!! MOTM along with Dirk