Best of the TLW era - you decide: Midfield

[tlw content]

The 100th and final issue of ‘The Liverpool Way’ is fast approaching and we’re looking to get your input on a series of articles featuring ‘the best of’ the TLW era, which spans from August 1999 when the first issue was printed, to now as we prepare to declare once reaching a century.

 

Over the coming weeks we’ll ask for your votes on various subjects, such as best goal, best game (may have to include a ‘that didn’t take place in Istanbul’ disclaimer on that one), best signing, worst signing and all the usual stuff.

 

Firstly though we’re picking the best team of the last 16 years. The goalkeeper and back four are all settled so now it’s onto the midfield. This is where it got a little tricky. We’ve had genuine superstar quality in centre midfield and up front, but the standard of wide player hasn’t been great so with that in mind, it’s going to be 4-3-3.

 

Obviously Steven Gerrard makes the team so the question is which two play alongside him. The field has been narrowed down to four - Xabi Alonso, Didi Hamann, Gary McCallister and Javier Mascherano.

 

Make your choice now and feel free to explain your reasons in the comments section.

 

 

 

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[Dr Nowt]

Xabi and El Jefe for me.

 

It was the best midfield in the world, after all.

[Section_31]

Xabi and El Jefe for me.

 

It was the best midfield in the world, after all.

 

Yep. 

[Bjornebye]

Alonso and Mascherano. 4 great players, only 2 world class.

[dave u]

That's how I voted too. Wasn't even close for me.

[Kurt]

You have to make place for Sissoko on the bench so we can dust off that song!

[Grinch]

Hamann was a better player than Masherano, both top class all the same.

 

Xabi and Hamann. 

[Rotpeter]

I thought the center back pairing was easy...

[redinblack62]

Alonso & Mascherano, but I found it hard leaving Hamann out. I think people didnt realise just how great he was till he wasnt there.

[KevieG]

Alonso, Mascherano. 

 

Hamman loses out to Mascherano, who has just reiterated since his move to Barca and with his performances in the last world cup what a brilliant player he is.

[Bjornebye]

Mascerano was better than Hamman.

[John101]

Alonso and Didi. Didi's importance to us is captured both in istanbul and also leverkusen away in 02. I think Masch is the better player, however, in their importance to the team and also achievements here, Didi for me. 

[Jairzinho]

Mascerano was better than Hamman.

 

Agreed, and alongside Alonso you get many of the qualities that Hamann had.

[an tha]

Alosno and Masch

[Wicket]

Alonso & Mascherano.

[John101]

Do you cunts all work for the transfer committee? 

[Dicko]

Alonso and Mascherano definitely.

[Trumo]

Toss up between Hamann and Mascherano. The team was more successful with Hamann in the side but Mascherano has shown himself to be genuinely world class and very versatile with it. He can play in a midfield two or in a 3-man midfield, and has shown himself to be more than competent as a centre back.

 

On the subject of Hamann, one thing we've severely lacked in recent years is the ability to win cheap pressure-relieving free kicks in midfield to kill the opposition's tempo and get ourselves a steady footing in matches. It's just one reason out of many why our defence has been so porous and makes our centre backs look worse than they are in reality. Hamann was brilliant in those pressure situations but our current lot are diligent yet lacking in game intelligence.

[Tony Moanero]

Alonso and Hamann.

 

I'd be tempted to go 4-4-2 and pick Gerrard, Hamann, Alonso and McAllister. Hamann purely because I liked him more than Mascherano.

[mni]

Alonso and Mascherano

 

 

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[Juan Galonso]

Alonso and Didi for me. Mascherano was class but Didi always reliable in those tough European away games in the early noughties. He was a classy player clever passer and great reader of the game.

[Gym Beglin]

Xabi and Hamann.

 

Can't ignore the German bezerker.

[Original202]

Hard to leave out Hamann but Alonso and Mascherano were/are in the world class bracket

[Red House]

Gerrard, Alonso and Mascherano was the absolutely perfect midfield both in terms of ability and balance. Pity Rafa didn't have as good an eye for wingers or when he did missed out on them (Alves, Simao). We would have walked the league had we had a proper winger.

[kalasoma]

El Jefe plus one.