14 - Javier Mascherano

[Egert]

He is like Busquets for Argentina. When he is having a good game at defense then the team is doing good. Against Slovenia he was having a good game.

 

[beautifulgame]

This has been touched on already, but why is it "Ridiculous" that a player who graduated La Masia be favored? In my opinion being captain should require you to have come up through La Masia. I doubt Mascherano would throw all his red-card hissy fits if he had developed in Barcelona's academy.

Besides, if Xavi isn't captain, and Iniesta after, that's seriously spitting in their faces. Especially considering Mascherano won't be starting most games next season anyways.

Weak

 

[CatalinR10]

Mascherano: "I am happy to have renewed at Barça. I will play there the next four years, and then I will retire at River Plate." [sport]

 

[CatalinR10]

97 % pass success against bosnia .

xavi who ?

 

[BarcaGirl]

Only Pirlo (108) and De Rossi (106) have made more passes than Mascherano (102, completed 99) in the World Cup so far [via @barca19stats]

 

[raskolnikov]

I never get how this is impressive, it is easy to reach a high percentage if all your passes are short sideway/back passes with no risk.

 

[BarcaGirl]

Sorry, but aren't Xavi/Buquets doing the same, yet they are getting praised. But when it's someone like Mascherano ...nope, nothing special.

 

[Flavia]

He completed 9 of 9 long balls too. This is impressive.

 

[LeeRomeno]

i have to say i love watching Mascherano playing as DM compared to CB. He has much more in his arsenal and really is wasted as a CB. Last night he showed that. He loves to move the ball around and make some bursts forward, he was almost never allowed to do with Barca, also his is still bound to make mistakes while being more aggressive, as DM they dont cost that much, i really hope he and Busquets can be rotated next season so that neither would be completely dead and tired at the end of it.

 

[Galning]

He had a typical Mascherano brainfart though in the first half When he slipped in midfield.

 

[Alarcón]

Sorry, but aren't Xavi/Buquets doing the same, yet they are getting praised. But when it's someone like Mascherano ...nope, nothing special.

Busquets definitely doesn't

 

[FCB_M3]

“@barcastuff: Mascherano: "Always good to start with a win, but we'll try to improve. We know we can do a lot better, like all other teams, except #NED."”

 

[FC B]

Glad he stayed and I hope now he'll be rotating with Busi as a DM and only be used as a CB when there is no other decent option left.

 

[Empty]

We should honestly have an alternative plan with Busi - Mascherano double pivot. It's a worthwhile experiment at the very least.

 

[King Leo]

The best news I heard so far this summer is Mascherano's renewal. You have no idea how good he is in midfield if we just let him play there. Top that he can play CB if we ever get into injuries troubles and we usually do around February.