Mascherano replacement?

[StevieH]

I wonder if that new and improved contract is still on offer to the chief or have the club withdrawn it!

 

Mascherano is unfortunately in the driving seat. We cannot allow a £25-30m asset to run down another year of his contract. Rafa Benitez at Inter and Barcelona will be aware of this.

[Trucker Paddy]

Mascherano is unfortunately in the driving seat. We cannot allow a £25-30m asset to run down another year of his contract. Rafa Benitez at Inter and Barcelona will be aware of this.

 

Steve we just tell him theres a price, if they want him that much they pay it, £40m were mad if we ask for a penny less, there gona get big money for Maicon, they got £70m for Ibrahimivic, they want the best defensive midfielder in the world there gona pay for him, if Barca want him you say you just got £28m for a substitute, now pay up

[TheHitman]

Mascherano is unfortunately in the driving seat. We cannot allow a £25-30m asset to run down another year of his contract. Rafa Benitez at Inter and Barcelona will be aware of this.

 

I agree I just wondered if the club were in a financial position if they could even offer players 100k a week for the next four years now. Especially as we have a new manager who may have other priorities on squad building.

 

The alternative is they sell the player at a fair price and allow the new manager less distractions.

[Code]

I dont want us to replace him "like for like", I want us to bring in a player who contributes more to the team overall as i dont think we have good enough attacking players in the team to afford a "luxery" player as Mascherano who is very good at what he does, but unfortunatley what he does is very specific and my thinking is that a more complete player will be more of an assett to the team even if he might not be on mascherano`s level as a defensive midfielder.

[ODZ]

We should seriously look at Cattermole. Great engine, aggressive, underrated passer, young, english, great potential, wouldn't command crazy money. Ticks all the boxes for me.

[coops_lfc]

I dont want us to replace him "like for like", I want us to bring in a player who contributes more to the team overall as i dont think we have good enough attacking players in the team to afford a "luxery" player as Mascherano who is very good at what he does, but unfortunatley what he does is very specific and my thinking is that a more complete player will be more of an assett to the team even if he might not be on mascherano`s level as a defensive midfielder.

 

unfortunatly even though we may have the money for such a player (with Mascherano cash) we cant offer champions league football so we would be quite limited to the quality we can bring in.

 

I think this summer will be more about quantity than quality. We had quality with Rafa but injuries to key players meant we were lacking on the bench. i can see a lot of 30 somthing year olds joining us. a lot of them will be stop gaps while we wait for new owners.

[Trucker Paddy]

I dont want us to replace him "like for like", I want us to bring in a player who contributes more to the team overall as i dont think we have good enough attacking players in the team to afford a "luxery" player as Mascherano who is very good at what he does, but unfortunatley what he does is very specific and my thinking is that a more complete player will be more of an assett to the team even if he might not be on mascherano`s level as a defensive midfielder.

 

Have to say I agree with this, I'd rather a Hamann or Alonso type player, somebody that can mix it and play a bit.

[Original202]

I dont want us to replace him "like for like", I want us to bring in a player who contributes more to the team overall as i dont think we have good enough attacking players in the team to afford a "luxery" player as Mascherano who is very good at what he does, but unfortunatley what he does is very specific and my thinking is that a more complete player will be more of an assett to the team even if he might not be on mascherano`s level as a defensive midfielder.

 

Spot on.

 

We need a ball player, not another ball winner.

 

If we're at home to Stoke or Wolves and they have no desire to get out of their own half, then a player like Mascherano is a waste, despite being good at what he does. The word luxury sums him up given what we need and our budget.

[Ted]

What about Lassana Diarra? He didn't figure at all for Chelsea under Jose, and he was gradually pushed out last year for Van Der Vaart.

 

He'd be a very, very good replacement.

[StevieH]

What about Lassana Diarra? He didn't figure at all for Chelsea under Jose, and he was gradually pushed out last year for Van Der Vaart.

 

He'd be a very, very good replacement.

 

Great shout. I thought he was excellent at Portsmouth. How much would he cost?

[Ted]

Dunno, mate. Think it'd depend on who Real bring in. There are rumours they're in for Khedira (gutted) but other than that I've no clue.

 

 

 

 

Oh, and they're in for Gerrard. :whistle:

[PaulMcC]

Diarra isn't better with the ball than Mascherano.

 

Against shit teams Mascherano isn't wasted cos he wins the ball back so quickly, and we're on the attack again.

[Ted]

I don't think either of them are anything approaching special on the ball.

 

I think wasted might be the wrong term for Mascherano against weaker oppo. Unrequired? Possibly. Most teams do look to sit and hit on the break, but most of those breaks would probably come with long balls up to a lone frontman. If the ball is bypassing him anyway, there's no real erquirement for him to be there. Especially as he offers little in an attracking or creative sense.

[Original202]

I'd also add that if we had better ball players in the first place and didn't concede possession so easily, we'd have less need to win it back.

 

That's not a criticism of Mascherano alone though, too often last season we couldn't string 4 or 5 passes together.

[PaulMcC]

When we're playing a crap team just let him break up play high up the pitch. When he wins it we're in a dangerous position.

 

This happened against Derby when we won 6-0 , off the top of my head.

[RazorBack]

Real payed around 20M for Lass Diara didn't they?

[Ted]

When we're playing a crap team just let him break up play high up the pitch. When he wins it we're in a dangerous position.

 

This happened against Derby when we won 6-0 , off the top of my head.

 

Good point. Man Utd 08/09 at home for two.

 

Real payed around 20M for Lass Diara didn't they?

 

Yeah they did, but he was gradually pushed out the side in the second half of last season.

 

I'd like to add, I don't think he's better than Mascherano but he's a very good player who'd be more than adequate as a replacement.

[Gary Mac Legend]

Banega, Martinez or Flamini. I think one of these three would be ideal for our midfield, all our comfortable on the ball, strong in the tackle and can pick a pass. Would be available for significantly less than we sell Masch on for, allowing Roy the money to sign a striker. I want £30 million for Masch, we'll more likely end up getting 20-25.

[Guest simon]

Id like Muntari in the deal tbh. Him and 20 mill i think would be fair.

[RazorBack]

Flamini would want 100k per week, that was one of the reasons he left Arsenal.

[Ted]

Javi Martinez. The player we should have got last season instead of Aquilani.

[Gary Mac Legend]

Javi Martinez. The player we should have got last season instead of Aquilani.

 

 

There was probably a whole host of players we should have got instead of Aquilani. I still can't understand the logic that convinced Rafa to buy him.

[AmerScouse]

masch isn't wasted in any team, its just a matter of system.

 

as one holding player in a 4-2-3-1 for games against mid table teams or better teams.

 

as one of two holding players in a 4-2-3-1 against the best of the best

 

and as one holding player in a 3-1-2-3-2 (3-5-2) against the weaker teams. much like the argies play.

 

there's a role for him in any situation as long as the manager readjusts the overall system to allow us to attack more, defend more etc.

 

if he wanted to stay he'd be the first name on my teamsheet every week. if he wants to go i think you replace him either like for like, or if we feel lucas can do that job, then spend it wisely on whatever position in the team you feel needs proper strengthening.

 

ideally you replace him like for like in the 10-15 million range and use the profits elsewhere

[4Q2 Wann Kerr]

a replacement for mascherano will be difficult to find,

 

can't think where we could get a chicken without a head, who berates offiicials for 90mins gives free kick after free kick away, does his best to get sent off in 70% of games,doesnt create anything, cant pass a ball more than 10 yards, can't score and has a questionable attitude.

 

LFC rescued this mercenary cunt from wham reserves and now he thinks he's better than what he is

 

fuck off you argie cunt and take your whinging tart with you

[Trucker Paddy]

There was probably a whole host of players we should have got instead of Aquilani. I still can't understand the logic that convinced Rafa to buy him.

 

Same logic that seen him fuck up every big signing since Torres