Liverpool FC Forum

[bigmick]

The thought has crossed my mind a couple of times over the last few weeks, and I'm undecided myself. I love the Mash, I think he's a brilliant player but based on what we're seeing off him at the moment, I think it's a reasonable question. Here's why I think that:

Had we have sold him in the Summer, we would have got an absolute premium price for him, similar to the way we did for Alonso. I don't know if we'd have got more or less for the Mash, but we would certainly have got well over 20 million quid, and in the market just gone we could have bought some good players for that. There is also the danger that if he continues to underperform, we won't get the same fee this Summer coming.

So how bad has he been so far and will he improve? Well he's been poor IMHO. the fact some people are comparing him to Lucas and saying the Brazillian is currently playing better (I even think he is myself to be honest) probably says it all. His mind and heart don't look in it to me, and while I don't for a second doubt his ability, I wonder if we can re-ignite his feel for the club.

If we can, then it was it was right 100% to keep him, and it's very early days as far as the season goes. If we can't, we probably should have sold I think. I'll bet there's been a couple of occasions recently when the thought has crossed the managers mind anyway. I wonder if we weren't selling Alonso whether we would have shipped him out.

Anyway, it'll be interesting to see how it pans out. For my part I'm undecided as of now.

[DrPepe]

good post - needs a bit of debate, this one

it's tempting to think that way , given his form/attitoood

getting rid of our 2 most experienced cms in one summer would have been extremely risky, so was a definite no no for me

I've always thoguht mascher is a dependable, but limited player - so is expendable to a certain degree. I reckon If barca still want him next summer he'll hold his value(-ish), just cos of who they are

[GYBS]

Masher had a dip on form last season and came through it and turned into a extremly important player once again - he will do so again this season - his importance and form will return as soon as a chelsea or a man utd turn up .

[bigmick]

Masher had a dip on form last season and came through it and turned into a extremly important player once again - he will do so again this season - his importance and form will return as soon as a chelsea or a man utd turn up .

As I say mate, if Mash gets back to his best he's an absolute top player (is it OK to say he's head and shoulders a better player than Lucas without derailing the thread ) and if he's anywhere near his peak, he walks into our team. As such, the decision  not to sell is vindicated. If he isn't and continues to play like he has, it may look like we've made a ricket.

I should say before there's a stampede of people waving tickets saying it's their fecking turn now, I'm not criticising the manager for not selling him. Once at the end of last season it became clear Alonso was going, Rafa seemingly moved heaven and earth to keep Mash and you can hardly blame him. The only potential rider on that would be while we were well within our rights both morally and legally to insist he stayed, he must presumeably have also have looked into the managers eyes and assured him he'd put a proper shift in. Alonso did in his last season, Mash hasn't clocked on yet for his.

[HacksawJimDuggin]

Nonsenical to even consider selling Mascha. Mascha is one of the best at what he does as a defensive midfielder and is a massive part of our team this season. We are 4-5 games in, Mascha has travelled half way round the world of late with the Argies so I expect it will be a few weeks until we see the best of him. In the meantime we'll need to make do with Lucas in CM

[bigmick]

I agree it's "nonsensical" to consider selling Mash Jim, not least because the transfer window isn't open. That's one of the reasons why I aren't considering selling him.

[DrPepe]

The only potential rider on that would be while we were well within our rights both morally and legally to insist he stayed, [must presumeably have also have looked into the managers eyes and assured him he'd put a proper shift in.[/b] Alonso did in his last season, Mash hasn't clocked on yet for his.

is weird to say so (as i have no hard and fast "evidence") , but i would never have trusted mascher to be as professional as Alonso was last season- - possibly because he was brown-nosing the boss within weeks of arriving...

hope i'm wrong, of course

[NANNY RED]

I think it would have been suicide for us to sell Javier, Loosing Xabi was a blow in inself but to loose them both, Unthinkable, I can see were your coming from with hes not on the ball but have a look through the team you could pick 3-4 players who havent shown up yet, Javier is one of them his form has not only dipped for us but Argentina an all, I love the lad to bits an in my mind he will be ok , we will see the little fella biting again soon, so no worries from me,

sELLING HIM AN ALL WOULD OF JUST PAID SOME MORE OFF THERE LOAN,

[fivecups]

Bit early in the season for a public flogging Mick! 

[bigmick]

I think it would have been suicide for us to sell Javier, Loosing Xabi was a blow in inself but to loose them both, Unthinkable, I can see were your coming from with hes not on the ball but have a look through the team you could pick 3-4 players who havent shown up yet, Javier is one of them his form has not only dipped for us but Argentina an all, I love the lad to bits an in my mind he will be ok , we will see the little fella biting again soon, so no worries from me,

sELLING HIM AN ALL WOULD OF JUST PAID SOME MORE OFF THERE LOAN,

Well there is that Nan, would the manager have seen the proceeds of the sale if it had happened. I just think that if he isn't going to put a shift in (and I accept that it's very early yet, and I also love the footballer he's a fecking brilliant player IMHO) we could have used the cash.

For example, if you'd picked up 30 million quid for him, you could have started the season with the same team we are playing now but thrown David Villa into the mix with Nico Krakjaar as your fourth midfielder.

I'm not saying I would have done it myself and hindsight is a wonderful thing, but if he doesn't produce then its a fair question.

[bigmick]

Bit early in the season for a public flogging Mick! 

Even looks a bit like em as well mate 

[tubby]

Had we sold him and put that money to other use (all of it) that would have been a different matter. But as we have seen with the Xabi sale we are not able to spend all of what we bring in so it's a little tricky to assume that I  think. I think if Lucas continues to go from strength to strength this season and assuming Aquilani does well then that could see Masch spending more time on the bench which means come summer he could push for a move again. Personally then id sell him. Im still upset at the way he acted trying to engineer a move. He probably isn't playing well because he didn't even want to be here. A bit harsh on my part granted but thats my take.

[NANNY RED]

Bit early in the season for a public flogging Mick! 

  SPIT OF

[LFC2007]

For my part I'm undecided as of now.

[bigmick]

For my part I'm undecided as of now.

What's funny about that. You've got to put stuff like that in otherwise you get people coming on and saying "so you're saying we should sell Masherano" and all that mallarkey.

I'm not saying we should sell him, I'm not even saying I would have sold him myself in the Summer. What I am saying though, is that given what we know now and with the benefit of hindsight, it's a possibility that it might have been an idea.

Like I say though, I'm undecided myself