andy_g wrote:how about we consider the fact that mascherano's decision not play was in fact another instance of his professionalism? weird, i know, but maybe its true. we saw for all of last season (when we knew he really wanted to be somewhere else) he played some of the best football of his liverpool career, and we also saw the same player in the first game of this season against arsenal. all these performances came with him knowing that if he had the chance he would be somewhere else. so then before the man city game it finally comes to him that the move he's wanted for over a year is finally going to happen, his wife will finally be happy, he'll be with his mates messi and co, etc etc etc - its a huge relief and enormously exciting. it's only reasonable to expect that he would be more than a little distracted. sure he could have played, but if under the circumstances he would find it impossible to keep his mind on the game then it's best he doesn't, and i think he realised that. its not as if playing would have jeopardised the move or anything.
its sad that so many fans are now calling one of our most consistent and committed players of the last 3 seasons all the names under the sun when we knew that sooner or later he would be gone anyway.
Good shout