Liverpool FC Forum

[babu]

But look at the girth of Mascherano's Calves next time - they are unbelievably well built.

Purple Aki?   



Alonso though for the poll, at his best he is pure class and offers a greater range of passing than Mascha can. Alonso can control a game from the midfield with his passing and awareness, he can switch play in an instant and play the killer ball. Mascha is probably the better tackler of the two, and also has incredible game intelligence but overall Alonso offers more in terms of passing, heading and shooting. He just needs to do a little more to get forward IMO, he has a great shot and needs to get into shooting positions more - as he did against Chelsea.

Hey LFC2007,

how did you edit that without the "edited by" thingy, or am i too drunk?

[Scottbot]

It's a difficult one and i'de agree with the horses for courses approach put forward by several posters. There's no doubt in mind that Stevie plays further forward and takes a few more gambles (in terms of one-twos, dribbling with the ball and forward runs) when Mascherano plays alongside him. Mash is a more mobile player than Xabi who tends to hunt the ball down as apposed to being in the right place at the right time which is more Xabi's forte. I think it's probably this mobility that gives Gerrard the confidence to get further upfield. Also, while everyone is having a pop at Xabi's distribution it's worth noting that Mascherano is hardly a pass master, he's solid but he's no Jan Molby. I do feel that Gerrard plays more defensively when Xabi is in the side, they both play a simlar game, sitting quite deep, get the ball, give it, spraying diagonal balls to the wings. It's never quite clicked but they looked good on Sunday so maybe it's just a matter of time.

Must admit i was hoping for a Gerrard-Masch partnership on Sunday particulalry after their performance in the Champ League Semi-final and i would still prefer to see them play together in games against Chelsea, Arsenal and the mancs. In games against the others it shouldn't really matter which combo Rafa uses because there is more than enough quality + expect to see Leiva at some stage this season.

I figure we have got about £75 million were of talent at the centre-mid position!

[LFC1982]

I don't care we've got 2 very different defensive minded players who both bring lots to the team and compliment Gerrard well, I rate Alonso loads and his passing game is great at times and Masch, he gets round the pitch and throws himself into tackles and very rarely if ever comes away without getting something on the ball, we're blessed in midfield

[LFC2007]

But look at the girth of Mascherano's Calves next time - they are unbelievably well built.

Purple Aki?   



Alonso though for the poll, at his best he is pure class and offers a greater range of passing than Mascha can. Alonso can control a game from the midfield with his passing and awareness, he can switch play in an instant and play the killer ball. Mascha is probably the better tackler of the two, and also has incredible game intelligence but overall Alonso offers more in terms of passing, heading and shooting. He just needs to do a little more to get forward IMO, he has a great shot and needs to get into shooting positions more - as he did against Chelsea.

Hey LFC2007,

how did you edit that without the "edited by" thingy, or am i too drunk?

Feck knows mate!

[red37]

Must have been Dark powers   

[66-1112520797]

Must have been Dark powers   

[murphy0151]

Ive had my concearns about Alonso this season so far.  Hes been well below the normal high standards he set him self.  Hope to god it dosnt last long.  Ive got a feeling that Rafa will play either Mascherano or Momo on saturday against Sunderland.   To play along side Gerrard, dont worry peeps Gerrard will be fit.

[crillylfc]

xabi 4 all d home games bar the other big 3...mascha away from home!!

[Lando_Griffin]

The best option is to play both at the same time, as they compliment one another, as well as Gerrard. (Who I would see playing at the tip of a central triangle.)

But...

If I have to pick one, there's no prizes for guessing it's Xabi all day long. The lad has so much more to his game, and a fair bit more quality than Mascher.

I must re-iterate from the earlier thread on this subject that I think Mascher is a f*cking  awesome player, though. I just prefer Xabi's style and what he brings to the team.

[red37]

For me Alonso is a player for finding the space in which to conduct his job. Which he normally does extremely efficiently. He's a great one for finding those two or three yards of unmarked territory in which to advance/control the ball and release an attack. Something that largely goes unnoticed, yet at the same time is vital to the teams fortunes.

Mascherano is different in that, he nullifies/wipes up the opposing possession. Breaking up momentum and offering a real tenacity infront of the back line which greatly enhances our defensive capabilities. The two are completely different beasts in terms of the role they provide. Interesting comparisons are learned when you consider their relative roles within the respective International sides they play in.

For Spain, Alonso can be viewed as the Metronome - the heartbeat of the side controlling play from a deep position.

For Argentina, Mascherano provides the solid base for Cambiasso/Riquelme to spearhead the attack.

Add in Gerrard to those two along with effective options from the flanks and that triumvirate looks capable of being a world-beating trio.

So why do they not play together regularly?  Maybe they will in future at some point..Off the beaten track and along one that has been traversed many a time but, in my view (and in the right setting) this formation would cause any side problems:

             Reina

Finnan Carragher Agger Arbeloa

    Alonso          Mascherano
             Gerrard
Kuyt                      Babel
             Torres

[MightyLFC]

            Reina

Finnan Carragher Agger Arbeloa

    Alonso          Mascherano
             Gerrard
Kuyt                      Babel
             Torres

Thats is a very good team

[crazyhorse]

Neither, they are both ssshite....



Only joking

[Pineapple Nutty]

DEFENTIALLY alonso.

top skills

[roberto green]

Interesting comment above about Alonso and the strength in his legs. While watching Argentina in the recent copa, i noticed Mascherano came in for some stick from a few 'hefty' tackles by the opposition...the lad gets up and gets on with it more often than not (Likewise Alonso). But look at the girth of Mascherano's Calves next time - they are unbelievably well built.

gay 

what just the type of person to watch a football game to look at the boys run around in thier shorts lol

[roberto green]

macha everytime for me he complaments gerrard 100%