Liverpool FC Forum

[LFC2007]

Sissoko will play alot less games this coming season. it's so very obvious he has fallen down the pecking order.
I'm not sure he's aware of the fact that he will, like you said, be played in the cups and sit on the bench alot.

Honestly, what are you on about son.

Mascherano's played twelve games for us, he's not played consistently in the premier league over a period of games, and he's not even a permanent signing. Sissoko has shown how good he is and you clearly don't rate him, Leiva is a youngster and will be coming here off the back of a strenuous Copa libertadores and U20 world cup. I don't envisage him playing many more game sthan Sissoko whatsoever. There is NO evidence whatsoever that our spending plans would be enhanced if we sold Sissoko anyway, and the £10m figure banded about is unconfirmed. If Alonso played the way he did at the end of last season I'd also like to see him move on - your standard of judgement, players have dips FFS!

Fallen down the pecking order? Is he not allowed a dip in form like everybody else? Just like Alonso? Get real, he's been re-signed for a reason, because he's bloody good at his job for a young player. Rafa wouldn't give him a new contract just to placate him, why do you think Rafa has been raving about him ever since he joined?

I can't wait until next season begins, all this rubbish that gets written about how we would be able to sign another top player if we sold Sissoko etc.... don't you think Rafa has thought these things through thoroughly? He's a football man through and through, he doesn't do things by popular demand, he does things his way.

[Graeme Noble]

But the fact of the matter is, i've seen both Mascherano and Sissoko play on numerous occasions and Mascherano is definitely the choice over Sissoko, and you don't play both.

Take the Champions League final for example, which one played in that game? Answer = Mascherano.

However if Mascherano isn't at Liverpool for long, then this new deal with Sissoko becomes good news.

[inglis5]

OK, if the problem that some people have with this deal is that we could have got £10 / 12 million for him then maybe, reading between the lines, we aren't desperately in need of the cash?

Think about it, every single story relating to the American owners stinginess (is that a word?) has come from disreputable sources. Maybe we are loaded after all? Look at what has ACTUALLY happened - new stadium design submitted to the council, all top players signed to lucrative contracts, continuation of our buying of good young talent.

If you had loads of money for transfers would you tell everybody about it? 

I know it's frustrating but really... in Rafa we must trust! Be patient... I think we are all going to be very, very happy come the beginning of the season.

On a side note - Rafa's goatee is F*cking brilliant. I hope he keeps it.

[The Bench]

Good signing. Good job. Forward thinking.
This could mean that mascherano signing on a permanant deal might not be set in stone as people seem too think.

[JoeTerp]

This could mean that mascherano signing on a permanant deal might not be set in stone as people seem too think.

And that would be terrible news.  And Bad Bob, a dislocated shoulder once it happens after you become an adult, the risk is very high of popping it out again. Especially considering the way Momo plays, throwing his body all over the place, destroying people in the air.  Although getting kicked in the eye and almost loosing your vision is a fluke thing, considering how he plays, he is going to get hurt in ways that nobody else would. And he can't EFFing pass nor score, the defense has no reason to cover him EVER, when we have the ball its like we are playing with 10 men, granted its like we have 11 and a half on the defensive side SO WHAT? Mascherano, ALonso, and Gerrard can all put in a tackle and are good to very good defensively and all offer loads more in attack.  IF we can get over 9 million its a steal. We have much bigger problems at other positions. Michael Owen vs. Momo.  For the team that we have right now, I will take Owen everytime as far as someone who will help us win the most games this season.
And it isnt like Momo's youth is that much of an advantage. ALonso is not that much older, and Gerrard has about 4 maybe 5 more top form years in him.

[account deleted by request]

This could mean that mascherano signing on a permanant deal might not be set in stone as people seem too think.

And that would be terrible news.  And Bad Bob, a dislocated shoulder once it happens after you become an adult, the risk is very high of popping it out again. Especially considering the way Momo plays, throwing his body all over the place, destroying people in the air.  Although getting kicked in the eye and almost loosing your vision is a fluke thing, considering how he plays, he is going to get hurt in ways that nobody else would. And he can't EFFing pass nor score, the defense has no reason to cover him EVER, when we have the ball its like we are playing with 10 men, granted its like we have 11 and a half on the defensive side SO WHAT? Mascherano, ALonso, and Gerrard can all put in a tackle and are good to very good defensively and all offer loads more in attack.  IF we can get over 9 million its a steal. We have much bigger problems at other positions. Michael Owen vs. Momo.  For the team that we have right now, I will take Owen everytime as far as someone who will help us win the most games this season.
And it isnt like Momo's youth is that much of an advantage. ALonso is not that much older, and Gerrard has about 4 maybe 5 more top form years in him.

You make some good points mate, top striker v Sissoko, I would take the top striker everytime. However no-one knows if we need to sell Sissoko to get the striker we need(obviously Rafa doesnt think so). He is one of the few midfield players we have that doesnt get a nosebleed when he passes the half way line, he wins possession in dangerous areas, and seems the one midfielder we have that plays well with Alonso.(Maybe Alonso's dip in form was partly down to Momo not playing?)

If selling Sissoko was necessary to buy a player we need, I would be the first to say ok, but I am absolutely delighted he's staying.

[The Specialist]

This is a smart move by Rafa.

Sissoko was originally on a 4 year contract when he signed, no? After this upcoming season he would only have one year left..

IMO, Rafa is betting on this Lucas kid settling in quickly. And if he does, Sissoko will be sold next summer (still being able to pull in a decent sum) . If not, we still have Sissoko left as an option at center midfield...

I don't see how this is anything bad, personally.

[LFC2007]

Take the Champions League final for example, which one played in that game? Answer = Mascherano.

You base your judgement on one game? Sissoko had a dip, Mascherano hit top form - it happens, not only that but tactically Rafa obviously saw Mascherano and Alonso as the better combination in that game.
Stu is just waiting to pounce, I can feel it!
"Censored" 

[matrix]

very happy for sissoko...

great news for momo,  i really thought he was going to juventus...

i just get the feeling this is a massive season for sissoko...

to me momo is a soldier sheer fuc.king heart...

sissoko never shy's  out of a tackle,   all teams need player's  like this,  [wild blood] 

when we played manure last season,  ferguson said sissoko should  have been sent off twice 

delighted the kid is staying...   

[whylongball?]

good news for him and LFC
bad news for Rafa....i really dont know how he's going to pick the CMs now nice problem though!

[lio]

Glad, real glad that Momo was given and had signed the next 4yrs with us.
And with this added strength into our already crowded mid-fielders pool, I just can’t help but suspecting that Rafa maybe playing one upfront striker for most of the matches this coming season.
But whatever, as long as Momo stays fit I am sure he will be featured in most of the lineups. He’s young and let’s not forget that he’s also a willing learner and always wanting to improve as what Rafa once mentioned about him. 

[DAV]

This may have been mentioned already, but with all the central midfielders we have, is it possible that Rafa is going to play the Chelsea formation which was so successful for them a year or to ago. With 1 up front and 5 in midfield. Gerrard playing the Lampard position mascherano playing the makele role and Alonso with Lucas and sissoko as back up.

[Graeme Noble]

Take the Champions League final for example, which one played in that game? Answer = Mascherano.

You base your judgement on one game? Sissoko had a dip, Mascherano hit top form - it happens, not only that but tactically Rafa obviously saw Mascherano and Alonso as the better combination in that game.
Stu is just waiting to pounce, I can feel it!
"Censored" 

In the 2 big games, semi final 2nd leg and final of champions league, Mascherano, the superior player, got the nod over Sissoko.

[LFC2007]

Take the Champions League final for example, which one played in that game? Answer = Mascherano.

You base your judgement on one game? Sissoko had a dip, Mascherano hit top form - it happens, not only that but tactically Rafa obviously saw Mascherano and Alonso as the better combination in that game.
Stu is just waiting to pounce, I can feel it!
"Censored" 

In the 2 big games, semi final 2nd leg and final of champions league, Mascherano, the superior player, got the nod over Sissoko.

So? Sissoko had a dip in form and obviously suited those games tactically. Two games do not define a player's career.

[Emerald Red]

This may have been mentioned already, but with all the central midfielders we have, is it possible that Rafa is going to play the Chelsea formation which was so successful for them a year or to ago. With 1 up front and 5 in midfield. Gerrard playing the Lampard position mascherano playing the makele role and Alonso with Lucas and sissoko as back up.

I seriously hope not. Even though it does seem to work and grinds out results, it murders the game from a spectating point of view. Chelsea's style of play last season, and previous, was often like watching paint dry. Horrible to watch. Too many times did they get lucky and scrape a 1-0 against teams. We might not have that luck.