Mascherano -Waste Of Space

[dennis tooth]

He's had a couple of serious problems with injury recently, but he's a brilliant footballer. Possibly Chelsea's best player.

 

Lets see, is he even in the top 3?

Drogba has to be in there.

Lampard who has scored 20 a season for 20 seasons running,

CFC capt Terry, alright I'll leave that one, but many cfc fans will say so.

Cech, maybe lost it a bit.

Cavalho, their best defender for me.

 

Other players better:

Cole, certainly a better 'footballer'. I could say that for Ashley or Joe

Anelka

Boswinga

Ballack, only in the German league and world cups though

 

 

Essien is not even on the radar for me when it comes to Chelseas best player.

[piscinin]

When you say 'limited' do you mean, he doesn't wiggle his leg before he passes it or doesn't score from all angles?

 

I take it you do. Yes, good point,, why did we even sign that limited cretin Carragher. We surely should have signed Messi abnd put him anywhere in the back 4 as he would be better as is less limited.

 

And Essien is half the player Didi was, at best.

 

You been on the Absinthe again?

[Monster Masch]

Essien completes the Chelsea team.

 

What a fucking player.

[dennis tooth]

The one thing Benitez cannot be accused of is having balanced teams. I'll give you that. Do remember that Chelsea game. Part of the problem was our defenders hoofing the ball over our midfielders heads. But I do take your point, against some teams we need a physical presence. The issue is, is a one dimensional player worth 30 million? If it were a young Viera or Keane (Roy) or Souness then definitely. I'd be happier getting 30 for Mascherano and spending 15 mill on Rodwell (though they'd never sell to us) and 15 on a forward.

 

He is a young Keane, he's been an automatic selection in the Argentina team's midfeild (Probably the hardest to get into) since he was 17/18 and I've followed him since, some morons think he is just some jarg ex West Ham player and compare him to Essien?

 

Why, pray tell if he is so easy to replace do all the top teams in the world want him and why they would put him straight into their first 11, be that Barca, Real or Man United, they would all have him which makes a nonsense of this thread. Gerrard would be easier to replace than Mascherano even though they have both been shite this season.

[dennis tooth]

You been on the Absinthe again?

 

Feel like I have yes, when I use your logic regards limited footballers.

[shaunstrudwick]

Best player in his position in the world yada yada yada....

 

I`ve never been particularly enamored with him, he has his qualities but many limitations as well. Plus he needs to learn to keep his mouth shut.

 

as does every footballer

 

at least he is aware of his limitations - unlike some other players in our team - or even the manager for that matter

 

totally agree re: keeping his mouth shut - the same applies to Torres

[piscinin]

Feel like I have yes, when I use your logic regards limited footballers.

 

You're right he's not limited. He's as good on the ball as he is off it.

 

Now be off and invent some other fantastical contexts into which you can plug sensible statements in order to misrepresent them so you don't have to face the fact that maybe your first love isn't perfect.

[SCOUSE TAPAS]

He is a young Keane, he's been an automatic selection in the Argentina team's midfeild (Probably the hardest to get into) since he was 17/18 and I've followed him since, some morons think he is just some jarg ex West Ham player and compare him to Essien?

 

Why, pray tell if he is so easy to replace do all the top teams in the world want him and why they would put him straight into their first 11, be that Barca, Real or Man United, they would all have him which makes a nonsense

The teams you mention yes would all have him and he would be excellant at any of them.

He is excellant for us to.The problem being the teams you mention have the players around him to do the ball carrying or to play a killer pass.

No one doubts his ability to break up play,he just needs players around him to do everything else,which we dont have.

To compare him to Keane is so far of the mark.

[The Chef]

Essien completes the Chelsea team.

 

What a fucking player.

 

They're doing shite this year without him, yeah:whistle:

 

Only advantage Essien has over The Chief is his shooting ability however the passion shown when wearing the red puts him over Essien IMO

Essien's not much of a tackler either

[jackofdk]

One thing that has started to really irritate me with Mascherano is those stupid fucking sliding tackles from behind where he gets a touch of the ball but wrecks into the opponent as well. Referees almost always give the freekick and more often than not also a yellow card and then he complains about it. He should wise up to that.

 

I believe he showed a similar lack of thinking when bringing down Valencia last sunday, as he could've easily have gotten a red for that and lost us the game right there.

[PaulMcC]

He's fucking brilliant and has been our best outfield plaer this season.

 

If some of our other top players played as well as him we'd be nowhere as bad as we are.

[Monster Masch]

They're doing shite this year without him, yeah:whistle:

 

Only advantage Essien has over The Chief is his shooting ability however the passion shown when wearing the red puts him over Essien IMO

Essien's not much of a tackler either

 

Well I don't think they would be out of the the CL if they had Essien, he is vital to them in Europe. As proven last year. And they have not won anything yet.

 

I never said he was better than Mascherano. Their both Boss in their own ways of holding the midfield.

 

Oh and Essien is not much of a tackler? Clueless, mate.

[Guest LFD]

Mascherano is the best player at breaking up play in the world in my opinion. His timing and technique at tackling is superb and unrivaled.

 

Essien is a better all round footballer, however Mascherano for me is the best holding player in the world.

[betterman]

He's fucking brilliant and has been our best outfield plaer this season.

 

If some of our other top players played as well as him we'd be nowhere as bad as we are.

 

One of the most over rated players we have. In fact he is a useless footballer.

[shaunstrudwick]

Essien is not even on the radar for me when it comes to Chelseas best player.

 

mentalist

 

for someone who is not one of Chelsea's best players they sure are missing him right now!

 

also Essien should not be compared to Masch but to Lucas in our system

 

can you honestly not see why Mourinho wanted to pair Lampard, Gerrard and Essien at Chelsea?

 

that would've been an awesome midfield cos i think they still had Mackalele at the time

 

Chelsea's problem right now is that with Essien out injured they need a Gerrard and a Masch instead of Obi Wand and Ballache

Edited March 23, 2010 by shaunstrudwick

[Ezekiel 25:17]

He's pulled up trees on several occassions for us this season, second only to Reina for player of the season, I dread tho think what the team would be playing like at the moment without him in it, if it's actually possible to get worse that is.

[shaunstrudwick]

One of the most over rated players we have. In fact he is a useless footballer.

 

madness

[The Party Boy]

People used to spout the same stuff about Xabi, playing down his importance but sure everyone would have him back in a heartbeat now. Would be the same if Masch left.

[dennis tooth]

He is a young Keane, he's been an automatic selection in the Argentina team's midfeild (Probably the hardest to get into) since he was 17/18 and I've followed him since, some morons think he is just some jarg ex West Ham player and compare him to Essien?

 

Why, pray tell if he is so easy to replace do all the top teams in the world want him and why they would put him straight into their first 11, be that Barca, Real or Man United, they would all have him which makes a nonsense

The teams you mention yes would all have him and he would be excellant at any of them.

He is excellant for us to.The problem being the teams you mention have the players around him to do the ball carrying or to play a killer pass.

No one doubts his ability to break up play,he just needs players around him to do everything else,which we dont have.

To compare him to Keane is so far of the mark.

 

I don't see Essien getting through half the tackles Mascherano does in a match even on a good day. I agree better players around him etc but that's not his fault that Riera is a shit.

[AussieRed]

Mascherano is the best player at breaking up play in the world in my opinion. His timing and technique at tackling is superb and unrivaled.

 

Essien is a better all round footballer, however Mascherano for me is the best holding player in the world.

 

Can't agree. If your only criteria is breaking up play, then that must go to Sissoko who is a mad man. Also, average fans think that players diving into tackles are more effective. As I've said before (particularly regarding Carra) lunging tackles are a sign of someone being out of position or too slow to make a controlled challenge. Masch is not in the same league as Essien. You are delusional if you think otherwise.

[Guest PurpleNose]

Mascherano is the best player at breaking up play in the world in my opinion. His timing and technique at tackling is superb and unrivaled.

 

Essien is a better all round footballer, however Mascherano for me is the best holding player in the world.

 

Absolutely.

 

Essien is a box to box midfielder really, and a fucking brilliant one.

[zigackly]

I don't understand why there is any attempt to compare Mascherano and Essien; they are completely different players. Mascherano is a specialist defensive midfielder, and in that role he is unparalleled. You can argue about whether it's a waste of space for us to have one or not, and there's some merit in that argument, but to criticise him because you don't understand his role just smacks of a lack of understanding.

[betterman]

I don't understand why there is any attempt to compare Mascherano and Essien; they are completely different players. Mascherano is a specialist defensive midfielder, and in that role he is unparalleled. You can argue about whether it's a waste of space for us to have one or not, and there's some merit in that argument, but to criticise him because you don't understand his role just smacks of a lack of understanding.

 

Your english is very good Mascher!

[AussieRed]

I don't understand why there is any attempt to compare Mascherano and Essien; they are completely different players. Mascherano is a specialist defensive midfielder, and in that role he is unparalleled. You can argue about whether it's a waste of space for us to have one or not, and there's some merit in that argument, but to criticise him because you don't understand his role just smacks of a lack of understanding.

 

They play exactly the same position with the same responsibilities. In a fully fit Chelsea team Essien plays the holding role with Ballack box to box and Lampard in the Gerrard role.

 

Essien does more than Mascherano because he can. Don't confuse his limitations as a footballer as some sort of positional restriction. It's like saying a one legged man specialises in hopping.

[silverlining]

They play exactly the same position with the same responsibilities. In a fully fit Chelsea team Essien plays the holding role with Ballack box to box and Lampard in the Gerrard role.

 

Essien does more than Mascherano because he can. Don't confuse his limitations as a footballer as some sort of positional restriction. It's like saying a one legged man specialises in hopping.

 

So you'd describe Claude Makelele as a "limited footballer"?

 

Wow. The way you're quacking on, you'd think that the role of defensive midfielder is so easy that every "limited footballer" should have a crack at it.

 

Sounds like a piece of piss.