14 - Javier Mascherano
- Thread starter nebeer
- Start date
CatalinR10
Senior Member
Mascherano has told Rafa Benitez that if he leaves Barcelona it will be to join him at Napoli. It could happen next summer. [il mattino]
PaCmAn
New member
Sounds bullcrap to me?
DonAK
President of FC Barcelona
abual3bed1
New member
That would be an interesting move for Mascherano.
CatalinR10
Senior Member
Sumlit
San Claudio Bravo
Well that game was tailor-made for Mascherano. He was essentially playing like a midfielder. When you facing a poor team like Levante who barely get a sniff of the ball, Masche can limit himself to playing high and just intercept and cut balls which is precisely what he is good at.
However when he gets to face a high quality team with constant pressure on the defense that forces Mascherano to play a true CB role, then you see the problems.
However when he gets to face a high quality team with constant pressure on the defense that forces Mascherano to play a true CB role, then you see the problems.
L
Learo
Guest
No CB is without flaws though. Our defense has always started with the attackers putting relentless pressure on the opposition. We won the CL with Oleguer as CB in 2006 and a makeshift defense with aging Sylvinho, Yaya Toure and whatnot in 2009.
If we face constant pressure on our defense, then no CB will be good enough, because then our defensive structure has failed miserably.
Sumlit
San Claudio Bravo
Except Masche is not a CB. Therein lies the problem. When he is forced to play like a true CB, he gets in a lot of trouble. He is always leaving his feet, which should be the last resort for a CB, yet it is constantly the first choice for him.
But you do have a point about the relentless high pressure. If it continues at a high clip, it might be just enough to mask Mascherano's deficiencies just enough, and allow him to continue playing the type of sweeper role he did vs Levante.
Then again, we'll see vs stronger teams.
L
Learo
Guest
This idea that Masche is not a CB is getting boring. Its like saying Messi is not a forward and should go back to the right wing. Mascherano is a CB for us and always has been for years now. He has repeatedly stated he is most comfortable as a CB for us, not as a midfielder, and he did wonderful when the pressure was high (which is what we should aim for, and where he is better than almost anyone). All CBs have weaknesses, Masche's is his lack of height, not his inability to be a "true CB" (which doesnt exist on the market as no team play like we do).
Last edited:
F
Flavia
Guest
Masch lacks the awareness and positioning of a true cb. He plays better there for Barça because he is not a dm like busi, but a destroyer. He tries to compensate by giving his all, and games like yesterday's fits him. But that experiment should end. An actual cb would do better, as Puyol does, for example. The comparison with Messi makes no sense, btw. Apples and oranges. Messi plays very well at rw, he is just much better on the center, as he gets more involved.
Mascherano will never think as as CB, always as a defensive midfielder. And because he lacks the understanding of the situation the only thing he knows to do is just go for it. I can't believe someone says that height is his only problem when he lacks positiong which is actually one of the most important aspects of a CB. He has costed us goals like against Real in Camp Nou the second one 2011-2012, against Chelsea in Stamford bridge, against Chelsea again in the goal of Ramires, against Real in the Bernabeu for the super cup 2012-2013. In all these goals he was caught off position. He almost costed us another goal in a lucky situation with Milan, because of his lack of positioning and awareness he couldn't simply clean an easy situation and left his line with the result of failing. He can look good against weak La Liga sides but not against big clubs, its incomparable.
Last edited:
Home of Barca Fans
