Liverpool FC Forum

[Rush Job]

And I agree that Mascherano is overrated.

Lad your talkin cr3p, he is one of the best midfielders in Europe, end of! 

Mate he said that at the start of the season and if anything he`s been proved right.

[kazza]

Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano has not asked for a contract extension at Anfield.

Manager Rafa Benitez is keen to tie the Argentina captain, who will be a key player in Sunday's clash with Manchester United, to a new deal.

But speculation remains that Mascherano could be set to join Barcelona next summer after holding talks with the Spaniards this year.

It has been reported that conjecture of a possible move to Camp Nou to join friend and international colleague Lionel Messi was a ruse to earn more money at Liverpool.

Untrue
But Mascherano insists this is not the case, saying in the News of the World: "This is not true.

"I have never asked for a new contract. I already have a contract with Liverpool. I don't play for the money.

"I play for me and to win things. Obviously I will not play for free but why should I?"

[Toffeehater]

NOTW , why am i not surprised , bunch of stirrers , purslow has denied any claim that masch wants to leave.

[bunglemark2]

Rumours out there that Rafa may choose to sell Masch in the January window and hope he can use the funds to buy both a backup striker and a midfielder...
Now....the question you have to ask is why did it have to come to where we are now to recognise the ridiculous overdependence we have on Torres ?
As for a replacement for Masch, I'd love to see that bloke from Standard Liege (Defour ?) come in. I remember he ran the game a couple of years ago against us....class player. Better still, apparently a letter from Rubbernose to him, promising to keep tabs on him until he's fit again, was leaked to the press - wouldn't it be the mutt's nuts to nip in ahead of the skanks and sign him up ?

[Owzat]

Was that him saying it, or being quoted? Maybe the side needs a revamp, sell Mascherano for a sizeable sum and get a more all-round midfielder in. I'm wondering how much De Rossi would cost and would have cost, he's only one year older than Aquilani but with 1.5 times as many Serie A appearances for Roma in the same timespan as Aquilani (De Rossi 166-101 Aquilani between 04/05 and 08/09 and 26-15 on goals scored)

Its was a quote like mate but its not like the cap doesnt fit the way he has been playing and his general demeanor,plus we all know his nose was put out of jount when he was told he was staying.
The thing is are we going to see his best form (and we need it) ifs he continues to "go though the motions" untill he gets his move to a "big club".
If its true he`s a shocking pro and we would be better off without, but right now he`s desperately needed.
Ive been saying for a while the form of JM has had as much to do with our bad form than the sale of Alonso.
The way things are turning out we would have been better of selling.
Wether we would of got the money is a different matter.

Probably true of Mascherano and Agger, sell while the price is at a premium and before (in the case of Agger) they get injured or form dips.

I've always felt Mascherano is over-rated, maybe great at doing one thing but that isn't enough. How many times has he had a shot and wasted possession?!? At best he wins the ball and plays some simple passes, but for £18.6m I'd want a bit more than that. I think Skrtel got a similar cult status before people starting seeing through that and accept he's actually not all that. The same is happening with Rafa.

I personally would sell Mascherano, we need to strengthen the team and squad, but £36.1m worth of our players is made up of a RB and DM and I'd freely admit Johnson offers a lot more than Mascherano and for a tiny bit less fee. The worrying thing is we have a squad that cost around £150m, of which £77.1m was spent on four players - Torres, Mascherano, Johnson and Aquilani. Gerrard and Carra cost nothing, and most of the rest worth their places cost around £5m-£6m each.

The way Rafa spends money these days I'd be surprised if we got two worthwhile players for £20m

[7_Kewell]

Mach has been acting like a spoilt kid ever since we turned down the bid from Barca. Quite frankly it's not on and the fact he acts like a c0ck on the field only shows how immature he is.

Get rid in Jan and try and get 30 million for him.

[account deleted by request]

I think Masch was poor for most of last season after an excellent first 18months with us. It does make me wonder just why players seem to lose form with us for such a long time. Alonso, Kuyt and Sissoko are other examples. Yes, injury and changes of style and personel could explain part of it, but I still find it strange that players of undoubted ability seem to lose form for such long periods. Especially as in the case of Alonso and Masch were they had already shown just how good they were.

[Dazzer]

Masch this season is a beast. Now reason for me why him and Lucus are on one hand working and on other hand not working is.Both are great ball winners and both are great at holding the ball up but both lack that little extra when opening up a defence with a little ball over top or a little one 2 to free the wide area up.So for me its like for like in there atm.We miss that Alonso type player who can find that killer ball.But also its worth pointing out Alonso did something else that Lucus and Masch still haven't managed to do much this season , score ! I think that with Gerrard this season we have missed those long range goals we used to get 1 in every other game.Teams atm seem to think with no Gerrard and no Alonso there is no threat from that area so are much more happy to sit deep.Lets hope Aquaman can bang a few in from range and make defences worry agian.

[haps]

Have to be honest, I'd take £30 - £35m for Masch, if that's the kind of money we're talking.  He's quality alright but he doesn't offer us much in the way of forward momentum. In other words, how many times do you see him deliver a killer ball leading to a goal.  Or for that matter, score.  A midfielder who can stand in the way of attacking opponents, i.e. tackle AND spray it around a bit, possibly score 8-10 a season??  Is that really THAT had to find?  Really?  If we got Carlton Cole (mmm, not sure bout that one) and a £20 million rated midfielder in January, don't you think that could begin to reshape the team a bit better?  Ah, it's 2 in the morning and I can't sleep so I'm sure I'm talking guff.  This post is like a drunk text.

[bigmick]

I'd take 30-35 million quid for him as well provided we are allowed to spend it on the team and provided we spend it wisely. You could have got Darren Bent for 10, Gareth Barry for 12 and Mathew Upson for 12 which would put our squad on a completely different footing IMHO.

That said, unless Argentina win the World Cup I don't think we'll get 35 mill' for Mash. Given the fact (or at least it appears to be a fact anyway) that he wants away, I think we'll get 20-25 mill for him.

[Dazzer]

I'd take 30-35 million quid for him as well provided we are allowed to spend it on the team and provided we spend it wisely. You could have got Darren Bent for 10, Gareth Barry for 12 and Mathew Upson for 12 which would put our squad on a completely different footing IMHO.

That said, unless Argentina win the World Cup I don't think we'll get 35 mill' for Mash. Given the fact (or at least it appears to be a fact anyway) that he wants away, I think we'll get 20-25 mill for him.

Are you sure about that mick 12 mil for barry ? does he even wanna leave ? and bent for 10 ? I think those figures are a little off.

[bigmick]

I'd take 30-35 million quid for him as well provided we are allowed to spend it on the team and provided we spend it wisely. You could have got Darren Bent for 10, Gareth Barry for 12 and Mathew Upson for 12 which would put our squad on a completely different footing IMHO.

That said, unless Argentina win the World Cup I don't think we'll get 35 mill' for Mash. Given the fact (or at least it appears to be a fact anyway) that he wants away, I think we'll get 20-25 mill for him.

Are you sure about that mick 12 mil for barry ? does he even wanna leave ? and bent for 10 ? I think those figures are a little off.

No mate I'm saying you COULD have signed those players for those figures in the Summer. Those are the figures they were transferred for.

[killerp]

I'd take 30-35 million quid for him as well provided we are allowed to spend it on the team and provided we spend it wisely. You could have got Darren Bent for 10, Gareth Barry for 12 and Mathew Upson for 12 which would put our squad on a completely different footing IMHO.

That said, unless Argentina win the World Cup I don't think we'll get 35 mill' for Mash. Given the fact (or at least it appears to be a fact anyway) that he wants away, I think we'll get 20-25 mill for him.

You are right, Barca are not Real Madrid in the transfer market, they don't go out and splash cash if its not necessary. So a figure of around 25mil is somewhat realistic for Barca.

Of course don't get me wrong, I wouldn't mind selling Masch for 40mil if we could!

[bunglemark2]

Ferrara urges Juventus shell out for Liverpool's Mascherano
13.11.09 | tribalfootball.com
READ MORE NEWS ON: Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Liverpool, Serie A, Ciro Ferrara
Juventus coach Ciro Ferrara is chasing a deal for Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano.

Corriere dello Sport says Ferrara has concerns about his central midfield options and is urging his board to shell out for Argentina captain Mascherano.

By signing Mascherano, Ferrara believes Juventus will pose a much bigger threat to Serie A leaders Inter Milan in the second-half of this season.

The Reds midfielder is also wanted by Barcelona and rated in the £32 million class.

[Owzat]

£32 for Mascherano, kerrching as the cash register opens and the wonga goes in. If Mascherano goes for £32m then how does that compare with Alonso at £30m?!?

Let's go out, find a better than competent DM and spend, spend, spend. Perhaps Rafa needs to spend any money gained in January on bargains and bolstering the squad, not throw £20m at single players hoping to get it right