14 - Javier Mascherano

[FC B]

I'd say he has done well in a game or two rather then been good. Aside from making his usual blunders, his injury(?) makes him practically useless against counters. He losses possession and can't sprint. Heck, he's 190cm and can't head the ball if his life depended on it.
Just compare what Rakitic does defensively compared to dm Busquets.
If we're keeping him for a "build-up" mind as well play Xavi there as he's a master at it. Have him in old Pirlo role.

+1

 

[SeloBarca]

I think it was more a reflex from Masch running straight at him. Both made big misstakes, but Masch was equally at fault, he just should have covered for Iniesta, not run straight into the situation.

 

[Devils]

He should be wearing the armband.

Enough of this seniority bullshit, you give it to the player who has the best leadership skills in the team. That's Masch, no one else even comes close.

He carried Barca's ass today and prevented a Real from scoring 5 or 6 goals.

 

[Chainsaw]

I've seen it enough... Iniesta should never passed the ball like he did. He gave it to Isco on a plate. The ball was going over the line, a throw-in wouldn't had become a goal.

+1. Barca should have learned long ago that you cannot solve everything by a short pass. Neither Iniesta nor Mascherano were in a position there to play the 101 Barca style when Isco was pressing from behind in that speed with no player in the back to cover the possible screw up. But Iniesta once again had to go with the worst and yet the most familiar decision. This time no one could stop the disaster.

 

[El_e8]

He should be wearing the armband.

+100000000x

 

[evilhita666]

+1. Barca should have learned long ago that you cannot solve everything by a short pass. Neither Iniesta nor Mascherano were in a position there to play the 101 Barca style when Isco was pressing from behind in that speed with no player in the back to cover the possible screw up. But Iniesta once again had to go with the worst and yet the most familiar decision. This time no one could stop the disaster.

You know, probably the player with the greatest Barca spirit, the great Carles Puyol, didn't hesitate once when the ball had to be kicked into the upper deck stands... And when he did, no one said a single word, so I don't get why an accomplished player like Iniesta can't just knock it out of bounds instead of making the most elemental mistake a player can do...

 

[Barcaman]

He should be wearing the armband.

Enough of this seniority bullshit, you give it to the player who has the best leadership skills in the team. That's Masch, no one else even comes close.

He carried Barca's ass today and prevented a Real from scoring 5 or 6 goals.

Absolutely.
I was hoping Lucho would appoint him, knowing him as a fitness buff.

It's absolutely appalling that 30 y.o. Argentinian is Barca's hungriest player.

 

[Cule4life]

He should be wearing the armband. .

To infinity and beyond

 

[khaled_a_d]

He should be wearing the armband.

Enough of this seniority bullshit, you give it to the player who has the best leadership skills in the team. That's Masch, no one else even comes close.

He carried Barca's ass today and prevented a Real from scoring 5 or 6 goals.

the armband is a formality IMO ,people put too much in it ,leaders on the pitch are leaders with or without the armband ,Puyol was a true leader even w/o the armband .Mascherano was always the leader in Argentina and it didn't matter that Messi had it
Barca historically uses open voting from the players to get the band ,that is how Puyol got it,and how Xavi got it

 

[DonAK]

the armband is a formality IMO ,people put too much in it ,leaders on the pitch are leaders with or without the armband ,Puyol was a true leader even w/o the armband .Mascherano was always the leader in Argentina and it didn't matter that Messi had it
Barca historically uses open voting from the players to get the band ,that is how Puyol got it,and how Xavi got it

This. Too much into this captaincy thing. It never stopped Masch from being a leader in the Argentina NT without the armband and won't stop him now either, with or without the armband.

 

[Deco 20]

He's the man responsible for the third goal we conceded (he had no business going there as Iniesta had it covered) but he was still one of our better players of the day. Without him we could've conceded a couple more.

 

[Deco 20]

I've seen it enough... Iniesta should never passed the ball like he did. He gave it to Isco on a plate. The ball was going over the line, a throw-in wouldn't had become a goal.

If Mascherano would've stayed in his correct position it would've meant keeping possession of the ball. But alas, he decided to rush at the attacker for no reason whatsoever.

 

[Flavia]

If Mascherano would've stayed in his correct position it would've meant keeping possession of the ball. But alas, he decided to rush at the attacker for no reason whatsoever.

Iniesta pass was short. Isco would've got to it anyway. And Masch was already running, and in that point of the game, losing 2-1, best to be safe than to try something fancy.

 

[SeloBarca]

Masch have a tendancy to bullrush at times. This was one of those times.

If Masch woula stayed back a bit, Iniesta coulda just passed the ball to him.

 

[Adrian]

the armband is a formality IMO ,people put too much in it ,leaders on the pitch are leaders with or without the armband ,Puyol was a true leader even w/o the armband .Mascherano was always the leader in Argentina and it didn't matter that Messi had it
Barca historically uses open voting from the players to get the band ,that is how Puyol got it,and how Xavi got it

I agree, if a player needs an armband to feel as if they can lead the team then they shouldn't have it anyway.