Javier Mascherano (FC Barcelona)

He didnt have much to do last night, that team hardly had a sniff of the ball. However, he did show some great passing though.

Sorry can't agree with that Venom.

He didn't allow them to have a sniff of the ball.

The guy oozes class.  He should be our number one January signing.  17M is bl**dy cheap.

Sorry can't agree with that Venom.

He didn't allow them to have a sniff of the ball.

The guy oozes class.  He should be our number one January signing.  17M is bl**dy cheap.

Agree, Oldred, every time they got the ball, Masch was there taking it straight back off them....he was like a terrier, at them all night. He'd take it off them and then get us going forward again. Guy is class, what were West ham thinking

Rafa............sign Masch!!!

17m?

I think thtas abit steap tbh, he is class but thats around 7m more that Xabi who I think is Class aswell.

I hope we do sign him but maybe not at that price!

17m?

I think thtas abit steap tbh, he is class but thats around 7m more that Xabi who I think is Class aswell.

I hope we do sign him but maybe not at that price!

The general consensus is that's the price agreed to make his transfer permanent mate. The way I look at whether a fee is worth it is can we buy someone else who can do just as good a job for less? In this case I don't think we can, so if £17m is what it takes I'd pay it.

yeah I sippose so, If WHU bought him for 12-15m its not really a big increase bearing in mind how much his improved since he's been with us, but on the other hand at 17m he surly should then be a first choice as its a hell of a alot for a squad player but i'm pretty sure he's not gonna be??

who'd be a manager eh?

17m?

I think thtas abit steap tbh, he is class but thats around 7m more that Xabi who I think is Class aswell.

I hope we do sign him but maybe not at that price!

I think 17m is a fair price considering that we have 18 months to make our mind.   If we were to purchase instantly then yes 10-12 would have been more reasonable.

A young lad - top European clubs sniffiing around - does the job for us and would be a 'proven' signing. 

Worth every penny.

If Hargreaves and Carrick are worth £18m each then Mascherano would be a bargain at £17m. This player has technique, great footwork aswell... I'm well impressed!

Sign Him Up!!!

get him signed the young argy is class and will only get better.

I'm not sure how it works but could we sign him now as we have him on loan or do we have to wait for the transfer window?

Either way there is only one thing we should do - sign him as soon as possible!!

If he signs I'm definitely getting an Argentina shirt.

Rafa will buy him. He's made Javier no1 defensive midfielder now, there is no way he will let go of Javier.

What Benitez wants is a future midfield partnership of Javier Mascherano & Lucas Leiva

Sissoko will be sold, I'm 100% on that!

Thing is Mascherano is a much better player than Alonso is. Mascherano can run with and without the ball and for a defensive midfielder that is rare. Mascherano's passing is as crisp as Alonso's, plus he goes for more forward passes rather than across the field passes like Alonso does.. and finally Mascherano is a much better tackler than Alonso is!

Then why was Alonso was the difference against Arsenal? sigh...

Rafa will buy him. He's made Javier no1 defensive midfielder now, there is no way he will let go of Javier.

What Benitez wants is a future midfield partnership of Javier Mascherano & Lucas Leiva

Sissoko will be sold, I'm 100% on that!

Thing is Mascherano is a much better player than Alonso is. Mascherano can run with and without the ball and for a defensive midfielder that is rare. Mascherano's passing is as crisp as Alonso's, plus he goes for more forward passes rather than across the field passes like Alonso does.. and finally Mascherano is a much better tackler than Alonso is!

I think in Benitez's eyes he doesnt see players as better than each other, but rather what they bring to the team regarding their strengths and weaknesses. I also disagree with you about Masch's passing game being better than Alonso's. Masch can execute a pass perfectly and notice all runs being made but he cant control the flow of the game nearly as well as Alonso. Patience is a virtue when attacking, not all balls have to go straight to your attackers (Arsenal, mancs and chelski often pure together about more than 10 passes before a goal opportunity is made). Alonso can cleverly orchestrate an attack from the back up to 2 or three passes in advance.

We cannot dispute the invaluable contribution he's made since pulling on the red jersey. He is tenacious and makes his presence felt in the mid and his distribution is light years ahead of Mo's. We have him and we must keep him around!

I think in Benitez's eyes he doesnt see players as better than each other, but rather what they bring to the team regarding their strengths and weaknesses. I also disagree with you about Masch's passing game being better than Alonso's. Masch can execute a pass perfectly and notice all runs being made but he cant control the flow of the game nearly as well as Alonso. Patience is a virtue when attacking, not all balls have to go straight to your attackers (Arsenal, mancs and chelski often pure together about more than 10 passes before a goal opportunity is made). Alonso can cleverly orchestrate an attack from the back up to 2 or three passes in advance.

Good post mate.

I don't think we can say that Rafa sees Masch & Lucas as his future partnership, I'm sure in a few years time Rafa will still be rotating as he always has. Mascherano is definitely the best option out there though as far as holding midfielders go and therefore must be signed.

it's so important that we signed him permanently before barce come looking in June , masch at £17 million is defiantly worth it

From todays Echo:

Liverpool eager to secure Javier Mascherano


RAFA BENITEZ today told of his desire to keep Javier Mascherano at Anfield.

The Argentinian midfield general is currently halfway through an 18 month loan deal but the Liverpool manager is keen to see the deal made permanent.

Mascherano has established himself as a key member of Benitez's squad thanks to a string of magnificent performances and the Reds boss does not want to see him go elsewhere.

Although Barcelona are keen to sign the 23-year-old Liverpool are well placed to conclude a permanent transfer with Mascherano having informed Media Sports Investment - the company which holds his economic rights - that he wants to remain at Anfield and does not even wish to consider going elsewhere.

The ball is now well and truly in Liverpool's court and the club now has to agree a fee with MSI and a contract with the player himself for a permanent deal to be secured.

Benitez said: "Mascherano wants to stay, he is very happy here.

"He is a key player for us and I have been talking with him and he is really pleased to be at Liverpool.

"His family are settled here and his wife is learning English and he is very comfortable here.

"Javier also knows that the supporters like him and I think if everything is okay he will stay with us.

"We are happy with him so it would be good for everyone if he stayed at Liverpool."

Representatives of Barcelona have informed MSI that the Spanish giants want to take Mascherano to the Nou Camp when his loan deal with Liverpool expires at the end of this season but, under the terms of the loan, Liverpool can make the deal permanent by buying him outright for a fee in the region of £17 million before June 30 next year.

Meanwhile, Benitez is weighing up whether or not to call up the fit again Fernando Torres for the visit of Fulham to Anfield tomorrow.

The Reds boss was impressed with the way Andriy Voronin and Peter Crouch linked up in the 8-0 demolition of Besiktas in midweek and also has Dirk Kuyt itching for a recall after the Dutch striker was left on the bench for the Champions League clash with the Turks.

Though delighted to have such competition for places in attack Benitez faces some tough decisions when it comes to picking a team for the match with Lawrie Sanchez'sside.

He said: "I hope Torres will be okay. He has trained this week and everything seems fine."

LINK

Hopefully we can get this tied up soon then, I'm sure Rafa's not stupid enough to talk about keeping him unless he was planning to.

From todays Echo:

Liverpool eager to secure Javier Mascherano



Although Barcelona are keen to sign the 23-year-old Liverpool are well placed to conclude a permanent transfer with Mascherano having informed Media Sports Investment - the company which holds his economic rights - that he wants to remain at Anfield and does not even wish to consider going elsewhere.

This is the most encouraging thing for me, not only is he a class act he also wants to play for us.

Enough said.

Glad to read that article. If the ball is in our court to keep him then we should be doing it as soon as possible. No messing about on this one Slick Rick!!!

Mascherano wants to stay  - Reuters

Javier Mascherano will quit English football if he fails to agree a permanent move to Liverpool, the Argentina midfielder said.

"I only want to play for Liverpool," Mascherano told British newspapers. "I hope the situation will be sorted in the next month."

"If I cannot play for Liverpool I will not play for another club in England. Not even Chelsea, Arsenal or Manchester United."

Mascherano signed an 18-month loan deal with the Anfield club when he left Premier League rivals West Ham United in January.

He hasn't been playing too well atm but he has good awarness and he is smart with the ball at his feet. As the post before says he's dedicatted and he can only get better. I think we've all lost faith in Sissoko, Masch is far better we need and want him!

He hasn't been playing too well atm

I wouldn't say that mate, he had a bad game against Besiktas away but apart from that he's been in good form. He has been played in a couple of games though where there was no real need for a holding midfielder, so he wouldn't have looked the greatest in those games, but he still didn't do anything wrong.