Topic: Javier Mascherano

[Hank Scorpio]

Other players have their own threads and I think this guy deserves his own one.

He has been superb so far this season and even picked up a (sliding) assist on the weekend.  For me he deserves a place in the centre of our midfield.  He should be a regular starter, more so than Alonso and Sissoko.

Tenacious, strong, persistant, intelligent, brave and oh, he is not a bad footballer too.

Bum lick away!

[NatD]

Always said it that he would be my preferred centre-partnership player with Gerrard.

Just seeing him nip all over the pitch is awesome!

My only concern is in 18 months () time, what we will have to do to ensure we sign him up?  In all honesty, I am guessing one of Javier / Momo / Alonso will be gone within 2 years.  And personally, Javier is the last one I would like to see the back of!

He is scoring goals as well for Argetina at the moment, so surely only a matter of time before he breaks his duck with us!

[Hank Scorpio]

He is so vicious, he should have one of those Hannibal masks on.

[Sat1]

Does his loan period come to an end at the end of this season?

The mans a monster, love the way he gets around the pitch.

[Sweet Silver Song]

I think he's easily ahead of Alonso and Momo in the pecking order. But I'm going to say something here that might be controversial. I really think he was was signed not because Rafa needed him, but to stop any of our rivals getting him. Our centre midfiled was easily the strongest squad department before he was signed, so it did not make as much sense that it needed strengthening ahead of other positions. But Rafa is a wily character, and he could see the downfall of Masch signing for the Mancs or Chelsea. And you can't argue he would have probably been more useful and played more games for both those teams than us,

[Sarge]

Really hope we are finalising a permanent moveposition for this fella. World Class and i do not use that term to often.

[myrlas]

Really hope we are finalising a permanent moveposition for this fella. World Class and i do not use that term to often.

Totally agree!

In his position I can't think of any better at the moment. Makelele in his prime springs to mind

[andrew1978]

top drawer signing. lets hope he ends up here permantly

[Sat1]

I think he's easily ahead of Alonso and Momo in the pecking order. But I'm going to say something here that might be controversial. I really think he was was signed not because Rafa needed him, but to stop any of our rivals getting him.Our centre midfiled was easily the strongest squad department before he was signed, so it did not make as much sense that it needed strengthening ahead of other positions. But Rafa is a wily character, and he could see the downfall of Masch signing for the Mancs or Chelsea. And you can't argue he would have probably been more useful and played more games for both those teams than us,

No chance. Rafa had followed Masch's career and only got him because of what he offers.

[PaislyShankley]

Mascherano am got fantastic tackle.

[willss]

why could he not get a game at West Ham?

[andrew1978]

who cares its because he couldnt we got him. if he had played for hammers like he does for us now he would now be at Chelsea or Man Utd

[nidgemo]

why could he not get a game at West Ham?

Because West Ham were idiots.

[Sweet Silver Song]

No chance. Rafa had followed Masch's career and only got him because of what he offers.

If that's the case, why isn't he playing him more often?

[PaislyShankley]

I don't for a minute believe Rafa's in the business of buying players to stop others getting them.

[KopJemma83]

Does his loan period come to an end at the end of this season?

I heard that it was an 18 month loan which ends the end of this season but that we have agreed a fee of around 10 million if we took the option to buy him at the end of that time.

A bargain if you ask me, i love him, he is a monster!

[BHB]

And he's got a boss song

[xabi rules]

Masch and Alonso
Masch and Gerrard
Masch and Sissoko
Alonso and Sissoko
Alonso and Gerrard
Gerrard and Sissoko

You pays your money and you takes your pick

[ghost77uk]

why could he not get a game at West Ham?

I heard rumours via WHU season ticket holders that if he played more then a certain number of games (7 I think) for the Hammers then they had to stump up a large some £££ for him in a perm' transfer...
Certainly the only thing that makes sense to me...Why else would Reo-Coker & Mullins get in ahead of him?

[PaislyShankley]

I heard rumours via WHU season ticket holders that if he played more then a certain number of games (7 I think) for the Hammers then they had to stump up a large some £££ for him in a perm' transfer...
Certainly the only thing that makes sense to me...Why else would Reo-Coker & Mullins get in ahead of him?

You would think the initial deals for he and Tevez would've been the same.

[Sweet Silver Song]

I don't for a minute believe Rafa's in the business of buying players to stop others getting them.

Rubbish. Every single signing a manager makes is to stop someone else buying them first.

[Redcap]

If that's the case, why isn't he playing him more often?

Because it's horses for courses for Rafa, like always.

[B9]

I think he's easily ahead of Alonso and Momo in the pecking order. But I'm going to say something here that might be controversial. I really think he was was signed not because Rafa needed him, but to stop any of our rivals getting him. Our centre midfiled was easily the strongest squad department before he was signed, so it did not make as much sense that it needed strengthening ahead of other positions. But Rafa is a wily character, and he could see the downfall of Masch signing for the Mancs or Chelsea. And you can't argue he would have probably been more useful and played more games for both those teams than us,

Don't think that holds up - Mascherano was on the verge of signing for Juventus before Rafa went in.

[PaislyShankley]

*Mulls over whether this fella really is a condescending prick*

Well yes, as a by product, like if I buy a loaf of bread it stops someone else buying it.

[¡Basta Ya!]

Because it's horses for courses for Rafa, like always.

I still don't see why people can't grasp this. All this pecking order stuff is nonsense. We have far too many people to have a set pecking order.

That's not to say the better players won't get picked more often, they will  because they are more often the right person for the game. If Crouch is needed and Torres can't make an impact (unlikely, because he offers the same and more) then Crouch will play. It's the same with Mascherano and Alonso.

Anyway, mascherano is awesome.

[b_joseph]

Masch, just like Finnan, doesnt need his own thread.

They both go about their business in a calm, consistent and understated manner. Perfect at what they do, while being stand up guys along the way.

Definitely one of Rafa's good moments and one of West Ham's '' no wonder you guys are crap'' moments.

[Sweet Silver Song]

Because it's horses for courses for Rafa, like always.

Disagree. For me Masch and Gerrard is or best centre midfeild pairing at the moment. They should have played against Chelsea, and I reckon we would have won if they had. I can't see why he's being used against teams likes Derby and Tolouse instead.

[¡Basta Ya!]

Disagree. For me Masch and Gerrard is or best centre midfeild pairing at the moment.

Well, for Rafa... etc etc so on and so forth.

[b_joseph]

Disagree. For me Masch and Gerrard is or best centre midfeild pairing at the moment. They should have played against Chelsea, and I reckon we would have won if they had. I can't see why he's being used against teams likes Derby and Tolouse instead.

Gerrard and Masch are the ''life is on the line'' partnership. The problem is that those games are very few and far between.

I was actually encouraged by Rafa's central pairing against Chelsea. It showed that he really wanted to add a creative flair to the game.

[PaislyShankley]

Disagree. For me Masch and Gerrard is or best centre midfeild pairing at the moment. They should have played against Chelsea, and I reckon we would have won if they had. I can't see why he's being used against teams likes Derby and Tolouse instead.

Based on what? The fact that we would've been stronger defensively and wouldn't've conceded that sloppy goal? Oh wait........

[Life]

For me, first on the team sheet, Gerrard.
Second, Torres.
Third, Mascherano.

[Red Zeppelin]

Shorely if he doesnt belong to a club, he is a free agent??     After the west ham/Tevez bollox, no player can belong to an agent, so we'l probably end up payin a few mill to his agent, and probably thrwing in a little dropsie to Javier to keep him sweet......

i also reckon that the likes of Milan etc will be sniffing round come next July!! 

[¡Basta Ya!]

For me, first on the team sheet, Gerrard.
Second, Torres.
Third, Mascherano.

Carra? Pepe?

[Mr Mojo Risin']

and one of the simplist songs, but one of th best for ages.

[G Richards]

I think Mascherano is being eased in becasue he was away playing for Argentina over the summer, so he is getting a bit more rest.

If we have a permanent deal nailed down and we exercise that in the summer, then for my money, one of Alonso or Sissoko will be off. I feel the best midfield pairing is Mascherano and Gerrard, as that really does have everything. The other options we have are very good too, but this one is the best partnership.

I half wonder if Alonso might go back to Spain next summer, since he really is too imperious to not be a main man, and then Sissoko and Leiva will be the understudies to Mascherano and Gerrard. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to keep them all, but I don't think it will be possible beyond this season. 

[Life]

Carra? Pepe?

honestly, no.

I think with him in the team, we can be more relaxed about who is behind him.

[Drunknmunky]

Our no1 priority next summer MUST be signing Masch on a long term contract, if he is not our player already.

[Sweet Silver Song]

Based on what? The fact that we would've been stronger defensively and wouldn't've conceded that sloppy goal? Oh wait........

Based on the Masch gives us more defensively solidity than Xabi does, allowing Gerrard more freedom and license to influence the game further up the field, like he did to set Torres up. 

[¡Basta Ya!]

honestly, no.

I think with him in the team, we can be more relaxed about who is behind him.

It just depends who we are playing, in reality.

Our no1 priority next summer MUST be signing Masch on a long term contract, if he is not our player already.

Couldn't agree more. Was just thinking about that yesterday.

[Acaustiq]

Because West Ham were idiots.

hayden makelele mullins*

Are there any hard facts about Mascherano regarding ownership/actual price agreed or any of that jive ?