14 - Javier Mascherano

[House of Flies]

That thing we can't be sure about J... We've thought the same about Busi half an year ago, but then he improved a lot in the mean time. Also Masch is not entirely new to being a defender, he's previously played a Rb, though not ceter half

rb is a totally different ball game than cb. you cant afford to be rash in your challenges in la liga especially when you are playing for barcelona.

he cant go in the back 3... he would always be in the bank just in front of our central defenders which would make us really really vulnerable against counter attacking teams.

he cant help that as he was born short. but mascherano as a solitary DM would hurt us.

He didn't HAVE to do it. He has said himself recently that he needs time to get use to the pace and playing styles of the opposition. To be fair he hasn't had the playing time and coming on as a sub to play against a fast paced Atletico attack isn't going to do him any favours.

its a DM position. he doesnt have to be in sync with the team to be the destroyer. DM typically operates on a different mindset than the rest of the team since they are not supposed to carry the ball.

its not like CB/playmaker/winger/striker where those banks are set in stone with the team mentality.

DM operates on the opposition.

 

[Beast]

The new Caceres?
I still hope we see the "bit yer legs" Masch-Biscuits double pivot at some point. Maybe against Madrid if things go wrong, see how many players we can take out.

i want to collect my royalties

 

[Fourteen]

its a DM position. he doesnt have to be in sync with the team to be the destroyer. DM typically operates on a different mindset than the rest of the team since they are not supposed to carry the ball.

its not like CB/playmaker/winger/striker where those banks are set in stone with the team mentality.

DM operates on the opposition.

Yet you've forgotten one very significant fact - He plays for FC Barcelona.

You remember, the team that has the ball almost 70% of the ball in every fixture, of course he has to be in sync with his team-mates. And naturally he'll need to find his place in our team without making himself open to mistakes like he has already shown. Give him time, in both senses and he'll get use to life as a Barca and Liga player.

 

[Aryagorn]

He didn't HAVE to do it. He has said himself recently that he needs time to get use to the pace and playing styles of the opposition. To be fair he hasn't had the playing time and coming on as a sub to play against a fast paced Atletico attack isn't going to do him any favours.

This

But it doesn't change the fact that he's ridiculously careless in tackling and the problem with it is it comes out spectacular only when it is absolutely precise and otherwise you can do nothing but hate the player!!

 

[diegomessi]

Did you ever think maybe he was pissed off bc he just witnessed His friend messi get killed, So he kicked someone right away..

 

[Barcafan 2304]

Did you ever think maybe he was pissed off bc he just witnessed His friend messi get killed, So he kicked someone right away..

Yip, got the feeling at the time it was born out of anger

 

[La Furia]

i want to collect my royalties

It's not true anyway, Mascherano will never be the offensive force that Martín is.

 

[Barcaman]

Garbage time. Nothing to say really. Yellow car might have been due to what Benj said.

 

[desoe]

I think the fucking bastard was lucky that he got sent off.

I have nothing else to say.

 

[G.J]

My God. I'd love to know what was the right thing to do given our players positioning and the fact that it was the 93rd minute!

 

[Barcafan 2304]

Think with Messi out, Mascherano will be given a starting berth. Not as a replacement for Messi, but i think to shore up things and provide extra cover for the back.

 

[silky_soccer]

Think with Messi out, Mascherano will be given a starting berth. Not as a replacement for Messi, but i think to shore up things and provide extra cover for the back.

yeah i was thinking that, double pivot might be the ticket...

 

[El Mesías]

I like the way he just came in and did a hard tackle on someone, implying "this is for messi bitches"

 

[dalitis8]

To start tomorrow night...

 

[Pepe Silvia]

That's all he needs is a start to get him going on the right foot. I think we'll see a composed Javi making good decisions.