14 - Javier Mascherano

[hellsangel1]

I never ever liked the idea of having him at CB and it was ridiculous how some would respond here (partcularly Xaviniesta) as if you were a traitor if you questioned Masch's credentials as an elite CB. It's all right in a few cases or in emergency situations but I doubt he'd be the third-choice CB in any of the elite sides, he did well largely because of the players that he played along side with in defense and the style of Barca's play with 70% possession and quite frankly the decline in quality of La Liga in recent seasons, he and Barca would get more exposed if they played in a more physical league like the EPL who are more adept at aerial attacks. I guess we had to play Masch some where after paying the large fee for him and when he couldn't cut it in our midfield, we decided to stick him in our defense but you need more physical guys in there who are good in the air. It's one thing having short, skillful guys who are among the best in history at that position and another thing to try a short player out of his position in the centre of defense. I've said it before and i'll say it again, Barca not attending to their defensive issues particularly at CB is going to prove very costly. We've just been fortunate with some of the results in La Liga but most of all because of the fact that Real don't really seem to give much of a damn about the league this season. If they were really serious about winning La Liga, a lot of people here would be shitting their pants right now.

When your best and quite frankly only quality CB is a 34 year old (soon to be 35 in April) and understandably injury-prone than you've got some serious problems. The amount of arrogance at Barca when it comes to defensive issues (sticking midgets in the back 4) is really nauseating.

 

[Pepe Silvia]

Masch is an exceptional backup CB but we NEED Puyol and Pique back.

 

[hellsangel1]

He is just not a CB. That is just not his natural position.

He can get away with that at Barca but he wouldn't get away with that in any other side.

 

[Pepe Silvia]

Well I tend to agree. I also think Abidal did a better job at converting in at CB, but it has to be said that Mascherano saved us just as many embarrassing moments as he has cost us some points. So as a backup he was worthy and he demonstrated how versatile he could be, and in our stretch when EVERYONE was injured not too long ago, he was superb. I think we need our natural CB pair back in order to do anything this year. We just look too damn shaky lately. It even seems to affect how we perform up front with our full back players unable to commit on attack without fear of counters. Abidal was just so massive at LB. One thing is for sure, we need Pique and Puyol back to their best.. and fast.

 

[hellsangel1]

I think Masch did good considering it's not his natural position but it was never going to last. A lot of his good perfromances also had to do with favourable circumstances as well, he was usually playing alongside much better players in defense and also the quality of opposition had to be considered but now with lesser players around him, he is being exposed particularly against more quality attackers or those that are good in the air.

Abidal is just a much more natural defender and not to mention a more physical prescence that is good in the air as well. You need physicality when you play at the CB position and also the ability to win challenges in the air.

 

[jtmx12]

I love Mascherano, he always gives it all. He's clearly not the best CB, mainly because that's not his position. He's surely a great backup as a CB, but he lacks qualities that others CB have. I hope he gets to play as a defensive midfielder more often once we recover Pique & Puyol and Tito uses Bartra as well.

 

[Vapor]

Well I tend to agree. I also think Abidal did a better job at converting in at CB, but it has to be said that Mascherano saved us just as many embarrassing moments as he has cost us some points. So as a backup he was worthy and he demonstrated how versatile he could be, and in our stretch when EVERYONE was injured not too long ago, he was superb. I think we need our natural CB pair back in order to do anything this year. We just look too damn shaky lately. It even seems to affect how we perform up front with our full back players unable to commit on attack without fear of counters. Abidal was just so massive at LB. One thing is for sure, we need Pique and Puyol back to their best.. and fast.

Yes exactly. While there are certainly better CB options... let's not forget how clutch he was last year when so much of the team was injured. Mascherano was a straight beast, regardless of who we were facing. I will say that this year he has been off form, compared to the excellent season he had last season. I think we should give him a little more credit for how good he was last year.

That said, I'll always feel better with Pique and Puyol and even Abidal at CB than him. But I'll always have mad respect for Mascherano.

 

[Meitux]

another bad perfomance by Masche,Tito should give Bartra more time to play with Pique and rest this man he has been terrible lately.But generally the problem remains the same,he is not a CB

 

[Plip]

Are Piqué and Bartrà compatible, though?

 

[estranged]

His biggest problems is his impatience and thus vulnerability to being drawn out of position. Too often he deserts his defensive line in order to try and tackle neutralise the threat but on most occasions ends up giving away a dangerous free kick due to a half assed foul, or even worse gets beaten comprehensively (like last night) leaving a massive hole in the defense. He keeps making that mistake so much, poor judgement, bad positioning, whatever you call it he must start learning from his mistakes.

Are Piqué and Bartrà compatible, though?

The sooner Tito tries it, the sooner we find out.

 

[xaviniesta]

Are Piqué and Bartrà compatible, though?

too similar i guess. thats wh i find puyol-pique the greatest parnership. puyol-masch and pique-bartra on the other hand not so much. but we'll see, bartra still young hope he gets his chance.

 

[sabby]

No offense, but how come Puyi/Pique get injured so much where as mascherano never get injured ? I wish it was the reverse Of course I wish well for Mascherano just that its not fair a replacement converted defender starts every match while the main CB pair haven't played half of the games he played in total.

 

[Plip]

too similar i guess. thats wh i find puyol-pique the greatest parnership. puyol-masch and pique-bartra on the other hand not so much. but we'll see, bartra still young hope he gets his chance.

Yeah, I think so too.

Bartrà and Piqué are both sweepers with a knack of getting forward quite a bit with the ball. Having two sweepers on at the same time is not necessarily a good idea, especially when you need one to complement the other.

Every sweeper needs a fast and agile defender to partner them. Having positional sense and reading the game well just adds to that. That's why it will be extremely difficult to replace Puyol when the time comes (God forbid).

 

[xaviniesta]

Yeah, I think so too.

Bartrà and Piqué are both sweepers with a knack of getting forward quite a bit with the ball. Having two sweepers on at the same time is not necessarily a good idea, especially when you need one to complement the other.

Every sweeper needs a fast and agile defender to partner them. Having positional sense and reading the game well just adds to that. That's why it will be extremely difficult to replace Puyol when the time comes (God forbid).

that would in the next decade, puyi said he want to go until 40 at least.


agree with everything you said. just makes me wonder what would bartra-masch parnership would be like? i think they havent played 90 mins together yet or have they? the thing is that in this year there have been like about 10 different CB pairs only. the kind of position that takes a lot of time to get along and practising. i mean they all are great brining the ball up but some of the fundamental things are still missing like how to cover, go into tackles* ,play the offside trap, get the defensive line higher etc..


*you cans see that actually the midfielders (masch and song) go into challenges like they have done all their life, they think they have somebody covering them behind, but its not always the case. i thin masch has paid a lot of price about that lately when he didnt have puyol/pique behind him, covering.

 

[Meitux]

does sweeper position even exist anymore?hahaha