Comments on: If they’re foolish enough to leave – let them

By: Imran

Imran — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:48:58 +0000

Roger,i didn’t say that Owen or Macca didn’t win anything with us rather that their career’s went downhill after they walked out forcing us to sell them on the cheap!.Let Mascherano leave if he
wants but we should insist that Henry makes the opposite journey!.The brilliant Frenchman has never hidden his admiration for Liverpool so would probably welcome the move to Anfield,i’d be more then happy with this deal.

Barca can become our feeder club!!!

By: Torres9

Torres9 — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:30:56 +0000

Yes but Masc plays alongside one of the greatest passers in Europe Alonso week in week out. So i think he can fit in with barca. All you needs to do is provide cover for the defenders and win the ball and give to Xavi, iniesta and Messi. You do not have to be a wonderful passer to do that. So are you telling me that he is worse than Yaya. Yaya doesn’t have a fantastic passing range, but he doesn’t need to, and neither will Masc. What masc is world class at doing is crunching tackles, disrupting the oppositions play and allowing the other Midfielders to play. Masc is the best MF enforcer in the world and it’s teams like Barca that need these players the most. Also, he isn’t that bad going forward. remember when he played RB and was fantastic. A player like Masc means that Xavi and Iniesta can be even more creative. Plus the way they keep the ball, he probably won’t have much to do anyway.

By: ethioliverpool

ethioliverpool — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:25:15 +0000

ow guys something we have to understand here is that there is no dm in the world that replace masch I don’t think he wanna leave us but if he did I would never forgive the board and the player(in less than 50).But if he wanna leave they must have someone in mind to replace him 4me only yaya is the choice.So what will be good 4 us and 4 him is to be here with us and be the historical player.Rafa please don’t make the same mistake like gerard h. don’t let too important players go no matter what.

By: Karim

Karim — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:16:22 +0000

Sorry dont mean to sensationalise like our good friends the tabloids.

By: Karim

Karim — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:15:34 +0000

Brilliant article, and i think its spot on! If we were to get £30million for Alonso and £35million for Mascherano, i think we be stupid to turn that kind of money down. There are plenty of players out there who are looking for a chance at a big club, plus its massive profits made on these players. Sure Alonso is tempted by Real Madrid, what spanish player isnt? But Mascherano to Barcelona? Is he good enough to get into a team which has Toure, Xavi and Iniesta as its fulcrum and then Messi, Henry and Eto, as well as young Bojan.
Be interesting to see what develops with these guys, but as far as i can see, we are going to get top dollar for both players, add that to the £8million for Arbeloa and £8million for Dossena, and perhaps even £15million for Babel and Rafa all of a sudden has a warchest to go and buy Silva and Villa!

By: kopite

kopite — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:11:02 +0000

One thing that I know, is that Rafa will never, ever sell Mascherano, or any player from his “spine”
I mean by that Reina, Carra (as if he had the balls to sell him), Skrtel/Agger, Masch and Xabi, Gerrard (same), Kuyt and Torres.

We’ve been spending the last 2 seasons making of the Gerrard/Torres partnership the greatest in the world (offloading Gerrard forward) and using a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Masch and Xabi have settled in as DMs, and that will not change.

Swapping Masch for Villa is more than an exciting deal, but that’ll never happen, at least not under Rafa.

We still have to get someone like Silva, Young (someone at the left) and we’ll have, for sure, a title winning side.

By: bobby b

bobby b — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:56:50 +0000

Listen boys, none of us want the masch to go,of course we don,t.However, we,ve all heard the news this morning,about masch not being happy with the amount of dosh he,s getting in comparison to his team mates.This is again another story or reason why he wants to go.All politics,things none of us supporters are supposed to understand, another story for us to believe or ignore.Whatever is the true story,at the end of the day,if the masch wants to go,then so be it.Rafa then has to weigh up what to do,with the money we get for him.After watching the way we played since that boro defeat last season,i would be quite happy with the squad we already have+we now have johnson.I reckon we,ve got the best manager in europe and we all know that he,ll get it right with or without the masch.Also with a bit of experience under his belt and i think this season, nurture him gradually into the first team, Jay spearing will be a more than able replacement for the masch.He has a great engine,can get stuck in,loves having a shot, does for the reserves what the masch does for the first team.

By: CALVIN

CALVIN — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:19:08 +0000

That was a brillant analysis of the whole Carca and Madrid trying to conquer football situation. Also tabloids are getting on my nerves with their stupid rumours, I read The Times the other day and they stated that Torres was off to Chelsea, and Xabi and Javier to Spain, like come on would Torres actually go to them. I love masch but if Liverpool do receive a bid of Rafa’s valuation then let him go,we can really strengthen our squad with that kind of money!! Thank god the whole Johnson thing is sorted but masch claims he wants treble his wages as Johnson will be getting 80,000 to 100,000 a week while masch is only getting 30,000. I feel masch is right there to want more!!

By: Kev

Kev — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:15:16 +0000

Lawrie McMenamy used to say there were two types of footballers. ‘Road Sweepers’ and ‘Violinists’. You need both to create a football team but ultimately the road sweepers are the players that get by on hard work and industry not technical ability. Masch is a road sweeper. With all due respect to Masch, he is world class at what he does, but he is not a world class ‘Footballer’ and therefore he can be adequately replaced for a fraction of the fee he may command. I agree with the above assessment of him not being the next Jan molby becuase he isn’t. Personally I don’t think he has the tecnical ability or goalscoring ability that Ronnie Whelan had.

By: Maher

Maher — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 06:00:21 +0000

Iam against having this harsh war on mascherano, lets wait and see what will happen. For me, even for 40mil dnt sell him. We will never have a better player in his position. Thats really harsh on mascherano….

By: Supastrika

Supastrika — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 05:53:06 +0000

Whilst i dont want to see either Mascherano or Alonso go, i do agree completely with your article. I also agree with you that Masch is not one of the greatest players to play for us and i dont exactly agree with this theory that he is the best holding midfielder in the premier league ….Essien !! . Perhaps a closer examination of his National Teams recent performances would interest people like Nozzer.

I think he plays well in a system that suits him, and he may not find that elsewhere, but then its not about that is it. Its about the cash ! Just ask Barry or Tevez. You can save people from the gutter and turn them into superstars, but for sure they will never remember!

Im tiring of all this ……..Let him go if the cash is right .

By: philip

philip — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:14:06 +0000

I am totally agree what you said, look MU & Arsenal…look how they earned the money from the transfer market. That is how they are getting stronger & stronger not only financially but the all team spirit is high above the sky. That is what Liverpool FC needed. Forget about the american, Liverpool should learn out to do their business profitly. Let the player go with the right amount the money….please

By: roger cofie

roger cofie — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:13:22 +0000

Errm, Stevie Macca won 2 champions leagues so your statement ain’t quite accurate!!!

By: Anfield Online

Anfield Online — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:34:58 +0000

When I referred to us allowing players to sulk off I meant we wouldn’t let players throw a strop, ala Anelka did at Arsenal.

By: Anfield Online

Anfield Online — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:33:33 +0000

1. I didn’t slate Masch. I said he wasn’t one of the greatest players to have ever played for us.

Did I say Alonso was ‘likely to move’? No I didn’t.

2. Bradford he would play for. Barcelona – sorry the way they controlled the ball in the European Cup final would not have happened with Masch in the side. He’s a great tackler but he is no Molby when it comes to passing.

3. The whole ‘missus’ thing is blown out of proportion and is just an excuse. If she is so unhappy maybe she should go back to Argentina and get a job?

By: Braveheart

Braveheart — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:36:35 +0000

Nah – Masch is worth more than Villa. I believe Villa would have a hard time keeping fit in the PL. He’s a little fragile.

By: Braveheart

Braveheart — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:31:12 +0000

Who could replace him? Agger.

A player with great defensive credentials, who loves to push forward. Passing skills approaching Stevie and Alonso. A great shot – from centre back he’s scored more goals than Masch.

Give Agger a half season at dm, and he’d make people forget Makelele (and Masch).

By: Nozzers

Nozzers — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:10:34 +0000

How can you slate sensationalist headlines in one paragraph and then slate Masch in the next?!?! Pot? Kettle? Black?

1. Masch hasnt said a word because he doesnt need to. If a player had to come out every single time they’re linked with a move and deny it, they’d never do anything else. Xabi has done it several times this summer, in conjunction with Rafa, and he’s still ‘likely to move’. Torres signed a new contract literally weeks ago, comes out all the time saying how he loves it here, its his new home, he wants to become a legend and win titles. And yet he’s still linked with, above all other teams, United!!! Go figure that one out.

2. Benchwarmer?!?! Behave. If he left he’d be an integral part of whatever team he joined, be it Bradford or Barcelona. He’s Argentina captain for a reason, he’s awesome.

3. If he was to leave, as far as I’m aware, it wouldnt be for money or because he wasnt happy in Liverpool, but because his missus is pregnant and not happy in Liverpool. Thats what sets alarm bells ringing in my head. But that being the reason, if he was to leave, I wouldnt begrudge him that.

I dont think he will leave and I think Maradona, being a Liverpool friend, will give him the right advice. But put yourself in Maschs position and you might leave as well. Not because you dont love Liverpool, but if you’re family isnt happy and to solve that you have the opportunity to move to the best side in Europe and play alongside the best player in the world and a close personal friend, you might just take it as well. So absolutely fuck off slating Masch.

By: woolie

woolie — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:25:33 +0000

As our midfield clearly is well balanced at the moment, with masch and alonso, i really would dislike any of them leaving. But still, i really do think it’s something rafa can cope with if masch were to go. At least if we got around 30 mill+ i would say it would be possible to get a descent replacement for much less than that, wich would give us the ability to bolster our transfer budget in our hunt for more quality on the left wing. I’m sure the master of structuring a defensive, rafa benitez, would find some guy that can run as hell and make the tackles and teach him how to sweap the floor in front of our back four. Maybe he can find a guy that even has better abilities when it comes to passing the ball too. And hitting something else but birds when he shoots from just outside the box? masch does what he is set to do very well. but to me he is not some sort of footballing God. some people tend to make him out as THE player in his position,seemingly lightyears above the competition. that is just not my belief. look at a player like essien. he could do masch’s job at LFC easily, and he would bring a lot more to his game as well. a lot more.. still i would like to see him stay, as he does the job and will continue to do so if he stays. but if he goes we can cope with that too, i think. 30 mill in, maybe spend 15-18 mill on some quality guy from spain to take his place. then put 10 mill extra in the silva/lavezzi/tevez pot and hopefully sort that out. + 2-5 mill extra to maybe land a player like micah richards instead of distin for our defense. could be ok in my opinion. at least it doesn’t have to be a disaster if he leaves…

By: Raj

Raj — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:13:04 +0000

Masch is saying nothing , Barca is saying nothing , most of our players are internationals after they joined us , Rafa can cope , I think he has learned , so if Masch wishes to go , he should be allowed to go, he should go , but someone must really pay