Topic: Javier Mascherano

[Solomon Grundy]

In the same category as somebody laughing and joking during the hillsborough memorial service? Give your head a wobble lad.

He shouldn't have done what he did, but it's worth noting his missus had already moved out of England months before because she hated living here, the club was fucked and Barca are the peak for most South American players to reach.

Leaving for Barca doesn't make you a mercenary. If he's a mercenary then so are all of our current players

Also will never forget him beating the Mancs in the final and dedicating the win to us...

Give it a rest.

Akin to Diouf and Itandje? Fucking hell, someone people don't half hold a high opinions of us.

He was a fucking machine when he was here. As a lifelong Liverpool supporter, I'd have struggled to stay here. He deserved a whole lot better than Hodgson, and the bollocks that followed.

Spot on lads. I've long forgiven Masch for refusing to play against City when the owl was here. There was lots going on at the club behind the scences at the time that most of us will never know about. I don't blame him for leaving, but I am gutted he is no longer a Liverpool player. Absolutely loved the mad little Argie bastard when he was here. The fight and the passion he had to win the ball back for us was immense. Not seen that, to that extent before or since he left. He was an animal and a damn good player as well. Wish we could have him back. Could do with him here now, but alas it's not to be...

As one poster put it the other day : He's got to be the most intimidating hobbit in the world of football

[rowan_d]

Hadn't we already told him that we'd let him leave that summer, and he'd only stuck around that long because we couldn't afford to lose him and Alonso in the same window a year earlier?


Massive shame that his performances in the knockout rounds of World Cup 2014 will be forgotten by most. You won't see man better, more crucial runs of performances from a pure DM

[Coolie High]

In the same category as somebody laughing and joking during the hillsborough memorial service? Give your head a wobble lad.

He shouldn't have done what he did, but it's worth noting his missus had already moved out of England months before because she hated living here, the club was fucked and Barca are the peak for most South American players to reach.

Leaving for Barca doesn't make you a mercenary. If he's a mercenary then so are all of our current players

Also will never forget him beating the Mancs in the final and dedicating the win to us...

Why is he dedicating wins to us, we're Liverpool not Spurs, were 5 times Cl winners ourselves I thought it came off a bit pr stunt ish.

[brownie 09]

Why is he dedicating wins to us, we're Liverpool not Spurs, were 5 times Cl winners ourselves I thought it came off a bit pr stunt ish.

yeah his agent turned round and went 'oo listen masch lad, erm we need to sort out your reputation its really affecting you  go and dedicate that win to liverpool and it should help smootb things over.'

[Oddball]

I don't get the Mascherano love-in amongst some Rawkites. I will always remember him as someone who refused to play for Liverpool. I don't care that Hodgson was the manager when he did it. No player should ever be forgiven for refusing to wear the shirt. He's also a mercenary who couldn't wait to fuck off as soon as Barca came in for him. That situation will always color my opinion of the lad. For me he is consigned to the same category of ex-Liverpool players as the likes of Grobbelaar, Diouf and Itandje.

^
What a fucking melt.

[007.lankyguy]

It's weird how players who left during the Hodgson era seem to be absolved of all blame because things were tough at the time, but the ones who stayed and didn't bail out get very little, if any, credit or praise for staying.

Most of that squad didn't have offers from Barcelona.

[Chakan]

Most of that squad didn't have offers from Barcelona.

Not to mention Rafa had to convince him to stay for 1 more season and then at the end of it he finds out we weren't going to let him go like we had promised him. Yeah i'd be pissed off as well.

[andspecks]

Most of that squad didn't have offers from Barcelona.

One of them had an offer from Madrid.

[BeautifulGame91]

BREAKING: Javier Mascherano has been sentenced to one year in prison for tax evasion. [El Mundo] https://t.co/3lA7BTTcRe

[JerseyKloppite]

I don't get the Mascherano love-in amongst some Rawkites. I will always remember him as someone who refused to play for Liverpool. I don't care that Hodgson was the manager when he did it. No player should ever be forgiven for refusing to wear the shirt. He's also a mercenary who couldn't wait to fuck off as soon as Barca came in for him. That situation will always color my opinion of the lad. For me he is consigned to the same category of ex-Liverpool players as the likes of Grobbelaar, Diouf and Itandje.

Think that's ridiculous to be honest. No-one really knows what happened with Masch and that match, and plenty of players are dropped because they're "not in the right frame of mind" for a game. He gave his all in every single game he played for the club and played with a passion and conviction that many of our current players would do well to learn from. So he wanted to leave when the club was on a serious decline? Frustrating of course but entirely understandable at the stage of his career, and his decision can't be seen to be a foolish one when you look at his achievements since he left.

Equating him with the appalling Diouf who spat at a supporter and Itandje who showed disrespect to the 96 beggars belief. Great player who we were lucky to have for a few seasons. Shame it ended how it did of course but welcome to modern football.

[Chakan]

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/35371872

Javier Mascherano: Barcelona player in court to avoid prison term

Barcelona and Argentina defender Javier Mascherano has appeared in court aiming to avoid going to prison over a 1.5m euros (£1.1m) tax fraud.

Mascherano, 31, previously admitted two counts of fraud after failing to declare earnings in 2011 and 2012.

A judge will now rule if Mascherano can pay an increased fine to avoid jail, according to reports in Spain.

He is alleged to have attempted to conceal earnings from his image rights by using companies he owns abroad.

A court filing released last year confirmed the player had repaid 1.75m euros - the full amount plus interest.

Following the latest hearing at a court in Catalonia, the former Liverpool and West Ham player tweeted a statement, saying:  "I'm a sporting professional, I don't have a great understanding of taxes and law.

"To deal with what are for me technical and complicated matters, I have to rely on other people.

"Throughout all my career I have been an honest person, responsible and respectful of my team-mates and the clubs that I have played for and the countries I have lived in. "

[bigbonedrawky]

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/35371872

What happens to the accountants who advised him and carried out the tax evasion on his behalf.
Are they equally at fault ?

[007.lankyguy]

Someone got to his Wikipedia page pretty quickly

[Chalky Boots]

that is great. We should get him back. With Sakho fixing up houses and Masch fitting the kitchens, we could open a DIY store and make some extra transfer cash on the side.

Otherwise, yes, Barca player in tax dodging shock

Heard Phil Thommo needs some partners for his Pine DIY store.

[farawayred]

BREAKING: Javier Mascherano has been sentenced to one year in prison for tax evasion. [El Mundo] https://t.co/3lA7BTTcRe

Lock him up at Melwood and only let him out once a weekend at Anfield for 2 hours.

[Solomon Grundy]

I fucking love Mascherano.

[Daniel Cabbaggio]

if only hed played at dm all his career, and at LFC! one of the best of all time at what he did, Brilliant player

[BarryCrocker]

He'll never serve a day in prison. He'll pay a fine thanks to his very expensive lawyers. Jail him and they'd have to also send Messi if and when he's found guilty of tax avoidance.

[Solomon Grundy]

if only hed played at dm all his career, and at LFC! one of the best of all time at what he did, Brilliant player

It's a shame he doesn't play DM for Barca. He's an absolute monster in that position. Such a waste of talent. I don't he cares much though.

[007.lankyguy]

It's a shame he doesn't play DM for Barca. He's an absolute monster in that position. Such a waste of talent. I don't he cares much though.

I doubt they care that much either when they have Busquets there haha

[Solomon Grundy]

I doubt they care that much either when they have Busquets there haha

I agree. Which I said it's a waste of a talent he has for playing DM really. Shame we weren't big enough or successful enough to keep him. Thinking on it, even that probably wouldn't of kept him here in the end though I suppose.

[jonnyr]

Player is so fucking boss it hurts. God I miss him. Him, and Xabi, and El Pistolero. Ah dang...

[Chip Evans]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/feb/19/javier-mascherano-barcelona-nicklas-bendtner-changed-career?CMP=share_btn_tw#comment-68986832

This makes me very sad - I find myself missing him as much as Luis these days.  Love him, even for one more season. You can't train his mentality into people unfortunately.

[coct3au]

This makes me very sad - I find myself missing him as much as Luis these days.  Love him, even for one more season. You can't train his mentality into people unfortunately.

Yeah, worth a read, that one. Shows the impact of "off the field" stuff and the importance of having a manager that players can buy into.

[gazzalfc]

[oojason]

Should be on a banner, that.

Miss that little loon so much - mentality, kwailty, and possibilities

[lindylou100]

Is he angling for a move back? a final pay day and to escape the spanish tax authorities? cos I would really be up for that.

[jillcwhomever]

A good interview that, I do miss Masch even now.

[B0151?]

He's my tip to be the most successful manager out of current players today. Meant to be really into the tactical side of the game.

I know that doesn't always translate, but he's a leader and seems rather driven too. Certainly someone who has made the absolute most of their ability.

[andspecks]

Emphasizing there how important Carra and Gerrard were to their teammates and to the club. Contrary to what RAWK thinks about them.

[rscanderlech]

He's my tip to be the most successful manager out of current players today. Meant to be really into the tactical side of the game.

I know that doesn't always translate, but he's a leader and seems rather driven too. Certainly someone who has made the absolute most of their ability.

Yes, Xabi Alonso too, but Mascherano seems more driven. Rafa had great taste in midfielders in those days.

[jooneyisdagod]

He's my tip to be the most successful manager out of current players today. Meant to be really into the tactical side of the game.

I know that doesn't always translate, but he's a leader and seems rather driven too. Certainly someone who has made the absolute most of their ability.

When the WC final went into ET, I remember the Argentinian team standing around with the captain Messi and the manager all there and it was Masch that was barking the orders and telling who had to do what and basically giving the speech that the captain should have been giving. Messi stood by him listening almost like a school boy. Messi might wear the armband, but there was no doubting who the real leader was there.

[Fiasco]

He's my tip to be the most successful manager out of current players today. Meant to be really into the tactical side of the game.

I know that doesn't always translate, but he's a leader and seems rather driven too. Certainly someone who has made the absolute most of their ability.

Imagine being a slacker under Masch. Fuck that.

He's been wonderful for Barcelona in a different way than he was for us. I always felt that he genuinely loved it here but the lure of Barcelona was too much (and the fact his wife hated living in England). When he dedicated Barca's CL win to us fans without being prompted that was when I truly realized what a properly good guy he is.

Come back anytime you crazy fucker!

[TheShanklyGates]

When the WC final went into ET, I remember the Argentinian team standing around with the captain Messi and the manager all there and it was Masch that was barking the orders and telling who had to do what and basically giving the speech that the captain should have been giving. Messi stood by him listening almost like a school boy. Messi might wear the armband, but there was no doubting who the real leader was there.

Maradona knew what he was talking about when he said his Argentina team was Mascherano and 10 others.

[zabadoh]

That means El Jefecito has what it means to be an on field general, not necessarily a manager.

Maybe if he teamed up with Xabi as a future management/coaching duo, Masch could be the firey motivator, and Xabi could be the cool but aloof intellectual tactician.

[Reds Flag]

Great interview from Masch, made me feel all emotional...

I wonder how long he's got left on his contract at Barca? If I were Jurgen, after reading that interview I'd be on the phone to Masch hinting that no-one's managed to tie down the position of our deepest-lying midfielder just yet...

[jooneyisdagod]

That means El Jefecito has what it means to be an on field general, not necessarily a manager.

Maybe if he teamed up with Xabi as a future management/coaching duo, Masch could be the firey motivator, and Xabi could be the cool but aloof intellectual tactician.

That's caricaturistic of Masch to be described as the one that barks, but little else. By all accounts, including those of his colleagues at Barca, he is someone with an acute sense of tactics and a real understanding of the finer points of football. He might not have the appear as aloof as intellectuals often do, but he certainly is not an idiot and again as people have mentioned many times over his career, he is a player with a very fine understanding of the tactics of the game.   

[SteveZissou]

However Mash has now said he'd be open to join another EPL team. Makes me feel sick even though in the same interview has some good things to say about Klopp, while criticising American ownership. It could mean that if Klopp doesn't go for him, then he can go elsewhere in England. Fair enough really

[Solomon Grundy]

Love Mascherano. He was my favourite player in the Rafa era. I'd have him back in an instant.

[Solomon Grundy]

What a guy. 

“Liverpool were one of the best teams I played for [but] the club had problems. I never met the owners. Liverpool’s a club to enjoy, to be there, to live. It’s not worth owning Liverpool 20,000km away; it belongs to the people and you don’t get that if you’re never there. It’s a pity. I always felt the club was trying to take a step forward but couldn’t. Now with Klopp they’re trying. He’s a manager for Liverpool – very much of the people. Nowhere has anybody treated me so well. I was sad that I had to go the way I did.”