14 - Javier Mascherano

[linetty]

I recommend you watch some Mascherano at DM footage from when he played there during Pep's era. If he plays like that again the forum will eat him alive.

This.

 

[AURELIUS]

I recommend you watch some Mascherano at DM footage from when he played there during Pep's era. If he plays like that again the forum will eat him alive.

Yawn.

 

[Galning]

Yawn.

I am a big Mascherano fan but he failed as a defensive midfielder when he played there for Barça, there's a reason why he never played there again and Song was bought. Great reply by the way, it really adds a lot to the discussion.

 

[Jadentheman]

Maybe Masch like every other player here does better when playing more direct.

 

[DinhoR10]

Maybe Masch like every other player here does better when playing more direct.

Every player but our 3 best (Iniesta, Messi, Busquets).

 

[Jadentheman]

It doesn't matter whether direct or stationary Messi will be good regardless.

 

[Tomchin]

Contract-extension until 2018, was this known already? http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/futbol/p.../mascherano-signara-la-renovacio-el-26-dagost

Knew the club were going to renew Masche, but didn't know for so long. The guy's already 30, so he'll be 34 in 2018. Somewhat strange decision.

 

[Busi-Messi Barca]

Wasn't Busi suffering from an injury most of last year hence the reason for his form being poor?

Masch was rarely a starter under Pep so its not like he was given a fair go at making the position his own. Obviously he couldn't play ahead of Xavi, Iniesta, Busi so there was no room for him in the team. I do remember watching him and cringing hoping he would do well but he looked out of place when he played.

I would love to see him play similarly to the role he did for Argentina at the WC because he was immense for them. Whether Barca could accommodate him there is another question.

 

[Truthist]

I am a big Mascherano fan but he failed as a defensive midfielder when he played there for Barça, there's a reason why he never played there again and Song was bought. Great reply by the way, it really adds a lot to the discussion.

How often did he play there? He had a great game against Arsenal in the champions league as a holding midfielder and from what I can remember (I could be wrong) he hardly played there since.

From what I could understand, him and Busquets were being trialled as centre backs and basically he was a far safer option than Busquets and ended up staying.

It didn't appear to me it had anything to do with him being poor as a midfielder which he isn't anyway.

 

[Trickykid]

Maybe Masch like every other player here does better when playing more direct.

Eh?

 

[Alarcón]

Maybe Masch like every other player here does better when playing more direct.

yeah, except almost everyone

 

[PhilS]

The extension is good news. Masch at DM for the Albiceleste was one of the best I saw for any team last year.

Busquets was not good last spring and summer. Barca was so bad last spring several starters must be changed.

 

[Flavia]

Mascherano press conference in 10 comments

www.fcbarcelona.cat
08/20/2014 14:20

The Argentinian has described the positive mood as the team prepares for a new season

“We have to fight for every trophy" he promised

Javier Mascherano gave a press conference after this morning’s training session, in which he discussed various issues from his life as an Argentina and Barça player, and his personal and collective expectations for the season ahead. Here we pick out ten of his more interesting statements:

1. “You always feel reinvigorated when a new season starts. The club has made a huge effort and we’ve brought in several new players that’ll make us stronger”.
2. “In a job like this you have good times and bad, like the World Cup Final. I’ll never get that defeat out of my head but life goes on and you have to face new challenges and goals. If you are at a big club like this, you can’t dwell on the past”.
3. “The FIFA sanction is too delicate a matter for me to pass comment. But personally I will say that the club works hard for the kids at La Masia and cares for them well”.
4. “It is comforting to hear the manager speak well of you. I have to respond to that belief in training to make sure Luis Enrique doesn’t change his mind”.
5. “At the end of the last season, I told the club that if they didn’t think I was good enough to be here, then I’d have no problem leaving. But the club feels that there is still a lot I can offer to this team”.
6. “It is our duty to fight in all competitions and get as far as we can”.
7. “Messi seems fine to me. He’s looking forward to this season as much as any other. People were being unfair when they criticised him. It’s a shame that they criticise the person who wins and award and not the people that award it”.
8. “Martino was an honest manager who knows the football world well. I hope the Argentina national team continues doing well, but obviously with his personal touches”.
9. “Luis Suárez looks fine to me. I’ve always liked him as a player, especially because of the way he lives football. I identify with him because of the way we both play this sport”.
   [*=left]“There are a lot of players in the B team with a grand future ahead of them. Now it’s up to them – they need to be patient and stay strong”.

Full press conference:

 

[Ghost]

Mascherano: "Last season, it was not Tata Martino's fault, it was everybody's fault."


Finally.

 

[CatalinR10]