Liverpool FC Forum

[redtrader74]

Well if Gerrard could just be convinced that right midfield is a good place for him more often, we can get the all three on the pitch at once, which for me is the ideal scenario. As Alonso and Mascherano (and Lucas for that matter) are a little more disciplined positionally it means no holes in the middle of the pitch, we get the controlling midfielder, the destroyer and ofcourse the allround ability of Gerrard, all IMO who are close to, or are, World Class in their respective roles, and getting all three on the pitch is vital for the remainder of the CL, especially while we are playing ties.

[SupitsJonF]

I would really hate to see Alonso go, such a talented player.  Hopefully we can manage to get all 3 on the pitch, Alonso on another rival team could be a regret later on.

[inglis5]

From LFC.tv

Javier Mascherano is hoping he will finally be able to put pen to paper on a permanent Anfield deal within the next few days. 
The Argentine international insists it's now just a matter of time before the formalities of the contract are finalised and he can sign a lengthy contract with the Reds.
 
"We are really close," he said. "Maybe this week or next week we will be able to say everything's finished. We can't say it just yet but hopefully in a few days everything will be okay.
 
"There are no problems with the fee or with the contract, it's just getting the papers finished.
 
"I have always said I want to stay here and so it hasn't been a difficult time for me. I have wanted it to be finished because I have my family behind me and I want to know what my future is going to be. I am calm and relaxed because I know that everything is almost over.
 
"I am very happy that in the next week I will be able to say I have signed for Liverpool. It will be the best moment of my career to be able to say I will be playing my football with Liverpool."
 
Mascherano's immediate focus now is helping the Reds pick up another three league points when they travel to take on Bolton this weekend.
 
And despite the high profile clash with Inter Milan just a couple of weeks away, he insists it's easy enough to stay concentrate on the important league games which lie ahead.
 
"We have to finish in the top four because we want to be playing in the Champions League next season," he added.
 
"We have to win the games we have coming up before we go to Milan and so it's not difficult to stay focused at all.
 
"We had a good win against Middlesbrough on Saturday and now we have to go and try to win at Bolton. We beat them easily at Anfield earlier in the season but we know it's going to be harder this weekend because they're a difficult side to play on their own pitch."
 
One player looking for a return to first team duty this weekend will be Xabi Alonso after his goalscoring display for the reserves against Manchester United in midweek.
 
Despite being out of the side at present, Mascherano is in no doubt that Alonso's quality will be needed over the coming vital weeks.
 
"Xabi is one of the best midfielders in the world," he said. "He has quality and class and he knows that if he keeps training well then his chance will come again - maybe on Sunday.
 
"For me he is an example to everybody. He is a player who has won the Champions League with Liverpool, a player with great experience and yet on Tuesday night he had no problems in playing for the reserves."

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I'll be very, very pleased once this deal is completed. Future Liverpool captain, without doubt.

[maguskwt]

I absolutely love having both Masch and Xabi in our squad (who doesn't )... the thing that's going for Masch at the moment is that he's so fresh and energetic and in recent games he's the one that's leading by example ala Gerrard with his surging runs forward... he needs to be careful with his over enthusiasm though... I often see him mouthing off to the refs ... the thing that surprises me is that the 2 argentinians that came to West Ham, him and tevez both have extremely good work ethics on top of their obvious talents... what a scrub team west ham had been for not making use of both of them... well masch mainly..

[Boocity]

I absolutely love having both Masch and Xabi in our squad (who doesn't )... the thing that's going for Masch at the moment is that he's so fresh and energetic and in recent games he's the one that's leading by example ala Gerrard with his surging runs forward... he needs to be careful with his over enthusiasm though... I often see him mouthing off to the refs ... the thing that surprises me is that the 2 argentinians that came to West Ham, him and tevez both have extremely good work ethics on top of their obvious talents... what a scrub team west ham had been for not making use of both of them... well masch mainly..

Thats down to poor management from Pardew and Curbishley. And to think some people on here wanted Curbs at Anfield  

[ivor_the_injun]

BBC are flashing a quote from Mascha across their sports pages as breaking news.

Apparently he's "really close" to being signed up permanently.

[ivor_the_injun]

Bit more...

END IN SIGHT TO MASCHERANO SAGA
By Andy Hampson, PA Sport
Midfielder Javier Mascherano claims he is now "really close" to finalising a permanent deal with Liverpool.
The Argentina international, who is owned by the Media Sports Investments consortium, has been on loan at Anfield for the past year.
Manager Rafael Benitez has long been keen to secure the influential player - who is expected to cost the club around £18million - on a permanent basis.
A deal can be concluded outside of a transfer window because Mascherano does not belong to another club.
The 23-year-old told the Reds' official website, http://www.liverpoolfc.tv: "We are really close. Maybe this week or next week we will be able to say everything's finished.
"We can't say it just yet but hopefully in a few days everything will be okay.
"There are no problems with the fee or with the contract, it's just getting the papers finished."
Mascherano came to Liverpool after an ill-fated stint at West Ham and played a key role in the club's run to the Champions League final last season.
He has maintained a strong presence in the team this season and is keen to remain at Anfield despite past stories linking him with a move elsewhere if a permanent deal failed to materialise.
The financial uncertainty that has surrounded Liverpool's American owners this season is thought to have delayed the resolution of the matter.
Mascherano added: "I have always said I want to stay here and so it hasn't been a difficult time for me.
"I have wanted it to be finished because I have my family behind me and I want to know what my future is going to be. I am calm and relaxed because I know that everything is almost over.
"I am very happy that in the next week I will be able to say I have signed for Liverpool.
"It will be the best moment of my career to be able to say I will be playing my football with Liverpool."

[maguskwt]

LONDON (Reuters) - Javier Mascherano will quit English football if he fails to agree a permanent move to Liverpool, the Argentina midfielder said on Sunday.

"I only want to play for Liverpool," Mascherano told newspapers. "I hope the situation will be sorted in the next month.

"If I cannot play for Liverpool I will not play for another club in England. Not even Chelsea, Arsenal or Manchester United."

Mascherano signed an 18-month loan deal with the Anfield club when he left Premier League rivals West Ham United in January.



Time to get him signed up Rafa

i don't think it depends on rafa does it?

[metalhead]

great news

[JBG]

LONDON (Reuters) - Javier Mascherano will quit English football if he fails to agree a permanent move to Liverpool, the Argentina midfielder said on Sunday.

"I only want to play for Liverpool," Mascherano told newspapers. "I hope the situation will be sorted in the next month.

"If I cannot play for Liverpool I will not play for another club in England. Not even Chelsea, Arsenal or Manchester United."

Mascherano signed an 18-month loan deal with the Anfield club when he left Premier League rivals West Ham United in January.



Time to get him signed up Rafa

i don't think it depends on rafa does it?

Look at the date of Saint's post. We know a hell of a lot more now than we knew back then.

[Sabre]

Well if Gerrard could just be convinced that right midfield is a good place for him more often, we can get the all three on the pitch at once, which for me is the ideal scenario. As Alonso and Mascherano (and Lucas for that matter) are a little more disciplined positionally it means no holes in the middle of the pitch, we get the controlling midfielder, the destroyer and ofcourse the allround ability of Gerrard, all IMO who are close to, or are, World Class in their respective roles, and getting all three on the pitch is vital for the remainder of the CL, especially while we are playing ties.

Spot on.

I'd like to see Liverpool reaching CL finals and competing for the premiership, and for that you need deep quality squads. You only had to see Inter's bench or you only have to see that Deco or Messi can be on the Barcelona bench anyday to realise that no serious top club would think of facing several competitions without a deep quality squad.

So  getting rid of Alonso in summer if there are not severe economic reasons to do so, is beyond my comprehension.

Since future prediction is fashionable in newkit these days, I'll say mine: We'll never be again a winner club without a deep quality squad.

Having a deep quality squad allows you to compete, gives you more variants in case you want to be a bit open minded and put Gerrard in the right for certain games, gives you proper answers in case of injuries (imagine what if we lose Torres or Mascherano 3 months), and that's only for starters.

[Kharhaz]

There is quality on the benches of many top clubs Liverpool are at an advantage in that there quality players are below 30.

[Kharhaz]

Age wise that is not temperature !

[bigmick]

Well if Gerrard could just be convinced that right midfield is a good place for him more often, we can get the all three on the pitch at once, which for me is the ideal scenario. As Alonso and Mascherano (and Lucas for that matter) are a little more disciplined positionally it means no holes in the middle of the pitch, we get the controlling midfielder, the destroyer and ofcourse the allround ability of Gerrard, all IMO who are close to, or are, World Class in their respective roles, and getting all three on the pitch is vital for the remainder of the CL, especially while we are playing ties.

Spot on.

I'd like to see Liverpool reaching CL finals and competing for the premiership, and for that you need deep quality squads. You only had to see Inter's bench or you only have to see that Deco or Messi can be on the Barcelona bench anyday to realise that no serious top club would think of facing several competitions without a deep quality squad.

So  getting rid of Alonso in summer if there are not severe economic reasons to do so, is beyond my comprehension.

Since future prediction is fashionable in newkit these days, I'll say mine: We'll never be again a winner club without a deep quality squad.

Having a deep quality squad allows you to compete, gives you more variants in case you want to be a bit open minded and put Gerrard in the right for certain games, gives you proper answers in case of injuries (imagine what if we lose Torres or Mascherano 3 months), and that's only for starters.

I wouldn't argue too much with this. Every top team needs a good squad so they can cope with injuries and loss of form. Whether the squad needs to be deep enough to cover for "possibilities" and "options" however is another thing entirely. Whether we need to continually try and build two teams rather than the one good one just so we can make five or six changes every match is once more a different question.

[username]

mascha interview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Es5faMzypPk