Javier Mascherano or Xabi Alonso - Who would be the worst loss?

Age is a big factor in this debate, Alonso is 28 and £32 Million for him is a brilliant offer. (Of course id rather him stay).  Mascherano is about 25 and in my opinion the best defensive midfeilder in the world, which makes him tougher for him to be replaced.
Looking not just as this season but at the future 4 or 5 seasons aswell, the sensible sale would be Alonso, out of the two of them.

Hmm never thought of it like that. Alonso is getting on a bit but he has 3 years left on his contract so i think Madrid should just offer the full 35m Benitez wants.

I went for Mash, best player in the world at what he does... Can't really argue with that one either, so I think no mater who else plays his role, they won't be as good as him

I would take 32m for Alonso

I would as well but their only offering 26m.

Xabi for me.  Offers much more of a goal-threat, whether through that defence-splitting pass or a sublime drive from outside the box.  Mascherano is criticial in the Champions League and against the Big Four in the League, but Alonso, for me, is worth more and would thus be a greater loss.

We can still perform without Xabi Alonso, just hope we can do it for a long period.We got some good results without him last season including the ultimate one at o.t. NO player is bigger than the team!

Xabi for me as said before his range of passing and the way he can read the game, he would be harder  to replace although we could adapt if we were to lose either, the fact that real m and barcelona have have imo tapped up both is testament to how they rate our players and how much they fear coming up against us in the champs league, having said all that though i'd hate to lose either.

            ynwa    irwt

Xabi without a doubt. Masch is a top player but like people have said before Xabi offers a lot more in attack.

Xabi - if I'm honest...

Losing mash would force Rafa to pull Gerrard Back - thus leaving Lucas with more defending, and i don't think he is up to the task at the moment. Too many sloppy freekicks given away - some at important times. I digress... Losing xabi would be monumental - but he is not irreplaceable. There are brilliant distributers of the ball out there, and ones who can run at defenders (see all the threads that suggest his possible replacement). Yes he is good, but him leaving would not break up the attack duo of Torres and Gerrard - losing Mash could.

But I would hate to lose either.