14 - Javier Mascherano

[Flavia]

Oh Balanta the latest flavour of the month amongst most of whom have barely ever seen him play.

His reading of the game is brilliant and by far the best defensively of any of the CB's. Just look at the Atletico Madrid games at the start of this season he was sweeping up every time behind three loose cannons.

Masch still lacks some traits for a wc cb, as height. I'd like to see him playing double pivot with busi, just to see if it'd work, with 2 tall and good cbs behind them.

 

[JamDav1982]

I have a question for you. If we were to buy a centerback, then who would you suggest?

Not sure really as I think Bartra, Masch and Pique all prefer to be the one that steps into midfield and wins the ball early or take ball out from back.

Ideally would prefer more of a pure defender/leader first type but dont see man available. Everyone on the go seems to be the same type of CB the club already has.

What I have seen of Balanta is another one of those type CBs.

 

[JamDav1982]

Masch still lacks some traits for a wc cb, as height. I'd like to see him playing double pivot with busi, just to see if it'd work, with 2 tall and good cbs behind them.

He does lack height but is better than the other CBs in many areas.

He was missed hugely in some of the biggest games last season.

Real, Bayern, Milan and PSG all countered with ease against Barca without Masch there and some of those games were thrashings of which there has rarely been in last 4/5 years.

 

[KingMessi]

Not sure really as I think Bartra, Masch and Pique all prefer to be the one that steps into midfield and wins the ball early or take ball out from back.

Ideally would prefer more of a pure defender/leader first type but dont see man available. Everyone on the go seems to be the same type of CB the club already has.

What I have seen of Balanta is another one of those type CBs.

I agree. It's just that the "pure defender" archetype doesn't seem to be available these days. Must be a cyclical thing.

 

[Pepe Silvia]

Let's get rid of our best defender because he makes the occasional mistake. What he lacks in height he makes up for in grit, tenacity, footballing intelligence, tackling, clearances, and aggression (something we lack on defense without him, Puyol, or Song in). I think he is indispensable for this team at the moment.

 

[Icarium]

We should only sell masch when we buy a top quality CB not a young one too.

 

[Flavia]

Weakest link on the defense today. Pique was much better. Masch made a lost of bad passes, some were dangerous.

 

[evilhita666]

Weakest link on the defense today. Pique was much better. Masch made a lost of bad passes, some were dangerous.

Pretty much this... I'm content with his performance, though...

 

[karthik]

The chance that fell for Khedira is clearly why we need a natural CB instead of Masche. He went on a rampant press when the ball was released.

 

[abual3bed1]

He wasn't that bad tonight. But Pique being in boss mode shadowed Masche's efforts.

 

[Galning]

As I said in Puyol's thread, Puyol should play ahead of him.

 

[abual3bed1]

He should, but now Puyol can be eased in after 7 months. If our defense can keep up with tonight's display, and with Puyol and Bartra both are ready, we might actually have a shot in CL. Although too soon to say so.

 

[Stric]

Oh, I thought it was INSULTING to say he's not a CB. This forum.

We can't gamble with Mascherano's performances. Against good teams he's more often bad than he is good.

 

[Galning]

Just to be clear, when some people say that it doesn't equal "this forum".

 

[Trickykid]

Of course he's a CB. Pep knew that, Tito knew that and Tata knows that. This season, up untill his injury, he's been in awesome form. Tonight? Not so much, sadly.