Liverpool FC Forum

Penguins wrote:I agree Ace to most of what you said.

I'm afraid of a few scenarios.

1.We decide against paying 18m for Masch(or whatever his price is) and that would be a big big mistake since masch is some classes better than Momo and has already shown what he capable of.

2. Just so Momo won't be dissapointed Rafa will play him over masch in games where Momo has no need
(like Blackburn, Portsmouth at home) costing us points.
I will be very dissapointed in Rafa if he does.

For me Momo is good for 5-10 start a season at most and should always be on the bench in a regular league game.
When you play to win and attack Momo should not be on the field. Well, unless we are already winning.
We always go on about how vital scoring from midfield is and even before the season starts we know who will score 0 goals and get 0 assists. Just no acceptable for any midfielder, no matter where you play.
Rafa himself has said that Alonso and masch are holding midfielders and that Momo likes going forward.
That kind of statement brings more quastions than answers.
Momo offers 0 when going forward!
A top side playing possesion football cannot carry a player that can't pass or read play no matter what other attributes he's got.
For me this is Momo's last chance to show that he can pass, keep it simple, and not go on wasteful offensive missions.
If he goes on like last season ended, not liking the added competition, I'd wish he left.

aCe' wrote:people keep goin on about us having enough funds to buy all the players we need... i dont think we have that much... we need 3 or 4 quality players and to me... we should be selling our less imprtant players to raise funds to try and sign as many quality players who would command a first team spot.

8-10 mill for sissoko this season would have been vital because i think it would have made the difference between us signing a decent player (left winger - malouda, simao) and a top quality one (mancini, vicente) ... just my opinion and i know many dont agree..

LFC2007 wrote:

aCe' wrote:people keep goin on about us having enough funds to buy all the players we need... i dont think we have that much... we need 3 or 4 quality players and to me... we should be selling our less imprtant players to raise funds to try and sign as many quality players who would command a first team spot.

8-10 mill for sissoko this season would have been vital because i think it would have made the difference between us signing a decent player (left winger - malouda, simao) and a top quality one (mancini, vicente) ... just my opinion and i know many dont agree..

What is there that you fail to see? Rafa has made it PATENTLY obvious that Sissoko is an important player for us. The number of times he has re-iterated his position on Sissoko is innumerable, yet there are still people who pose the question: "We could have got 8-10m for him to help our spending plans".

What do you know about our spending plans? Do you not think Rafa knows exactly what we can and cannot afford? Don't you think Rafa knows how many players we need to bring in and which players we should keep? Who's to say Sissoko's price will go down? - I'd contend the exact opposite. Look at how many Midfielders all the top clubs have, no other league in Europe play as many games and in as short a time as we do in England. The assumption that Alonso, Gerrard and Mascherano will be fit and able to play every game is a fallacy, there will be games where different tactics are required aswell.


Then there is Lucas, he's 20 and completely inexperienced in England - he's a prospect - a youngster. After a tough Copa Libertadores and now an injury, I can hardly see him starting ahead of Sissoko from day one.

Mascherano is not even a permanent signing and has not had a consistent run in the Premiership as yet, he will be coming off the back of the Copa America - Sissoko's legs will be needed - read Rafa's comments on him.


"I think it's very good news – for myself, for the team and for the supporters. It's good that we will be able to see the energy of Momo all around the pitch for a few more years. It's a major positive for us."



"I think he enjoyed a really good first season but last year he suffered some injuries. We have a lot of confidence in him though and I'm sure we'll see the real Momo again now that he's free from injury. He's a player with a lot of energy. For his fellow midfielders and the rest of the team he's really important."

Penguins wrote:2. Just so Momo won't be dissapointed Rafa will play him over masch in games where Momo has no need
(like Blackburn, Portsmouth at home) costing us points.
I will be very dissapointed in Rafa if he does.

This "point" here illustrates that you chat complete and utter bollox.  Rafa's not going to play him as a charity case and, if you'll recall, Momo played a lot of games for us before Mascherano arrived without costing us points...including a certain 2-legged CL tie against the reigning champions.  There's fair criticism and then there's utterly blinkered rubbish.  Sort yourself out.

Penguins wrote:Sigh.
I'm sorry, but my points are very valid.

And if there is one place where Rafa can improve it his view on how to win games.
By that I mean how to make your team go for it and overload in the attacking 3rd and put preassure on the opponents.
Playing 2 CM who offer very little offensive threat will not work in the league. Unless Rafa changes that getting more than 70 goals will never happen.

When it comes to central midfielders it is very clear how they rank for everyone.

Gerrard is our NO 1. cm. yes, a central midfielder and no winger!
For me Masch played more than enough games to show that he is absolute class and we lost 1 game when he started.
And he was still our best player that game also.
Easily our most complete defensive mid.
Alonso has wonderful skill and his passing and vision is second to none. Great option to have when opponents differ.
2nd/3rd choice depending on the situation.

Alonso and Masch, even though both are great players don't offer that much going forward which makes it even more important that the other central midfielders do.

Gerrard does score his share of goals and the new player Lucas sure seems to fit that description also. A midfielder that goes box to box and has nice skills and a nice shot.

That makes 4 central midfielders with nice balance.

Then there is Momo who, even though good, is clear 4th choice. Benitez has himself said he is no holding mid and that he likes going forward. But his offensive skills is abysmal.
He has 0 flair, creativity, vision, shooting = anything that you need to be effective going forward.

Sure Momo played quite alot in the 1st half of the season, but how well did it actually go???
Terrible, that's how well. He offers nothing at all vs 90%
of the teams at home where everything is about breaking down defenses. Only thing Momo does in those games is breaking down our own plays.

And once again the barca tie. Always manages to find those few games where he does serve a purpose.
Barca is not a team you face every week. It is a highly skilled team with great passing and creativity that surpassed our own. Problem is that we play that kind of team maybe 5-10 a season and not more.
I am talking about the normal games vs normal league opposition.

Man city, portsmouth, Middleb., Sunderland etc are the kind of teams that will be standing on the other side of the pitch most of the season and vs those teams Momo serves no purpose at all.
And IF Rafa fail to see that and play Momo vs those teams, I'd find that to be a very big mistake.