Javier Mascherano

[mybes]

Mash is improving in the recent games. It's too early to warn Busqui but I see him going to take an important role in our squad

[IndoCulé]

Pep did the right thing?

[IndoCulé]

Mascherano: Lack of money the reason I left

Former Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano claims that he quit the club because of a lack of investment in players by then-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

Mascherano moved to Barcelona in an £18 million transfer this summer, having forced through his transfer by refusing to play for Liverpool anymore. His relationship with then-boss Rafa Benitez, the Anfield fans and the co-owners was called into question, but the Argentine has now revealed that it was a lack of money that eventually persuaded him to leave the club.

''While Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United were spending big money, Liverpool couldn't because they had no money,'' he told the Sun. ''The situation is clear to me. When you want to fight for big things, titles, you must have a big team to win. "But, at Liverpool, that wasn't the case. That was the main reason we didn't qualify for the Champions League and all players want to test themselves at that level."

Mascherano admitted that it was not an easy decision to make, but thinks that now the ownership situation has been sorted out, the club are in a much better position.

"It is not easy to leave a team when you have been there almost four years,'' he added. "The Liverpool people and fans treated me very well. I cannot say anything against them and they will always be in my heart. But, though it was difficult, I knew my time there was over. Finished. I needed to go.

"I try to watch all of Liverpool's games on TV. They have had a tough start but I'm sure they'll get much better. There have been a lot of problems with the owners and this has affected things on the pitch. Now this has been sorted out, I think things will get better for the team."

Article taken from: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... nd&cc=4716

[Vlaio]

How has this guy been doing? Haven't been able to catch too many games this season.

[matfcb]

He started only in 5 games, 6 times he came off the bench.

1 start- vs Hercules. Awful game, yellow card, could be red carded before HT, subbed after 45 minutes.
2 start- vs Rubin. Good game, no fouls, confident with the ball, nice slide tackles. Subbed after 65 minutes, cause Pep wants to win this game and sub in Leo.
3 start- vs Mallorca. Good game, Masch was in the Team of the Jornada of Goal.com. Very nice slide tackles, good passes, two shots on the target, Man of the Match for me.
4 start- vs Copenhagen. Again very good game. 80/84 successful pases, passes received- 68 successful passes, 11 successful interceptions/tackles. Played all game, Pep praise him after the game, MoM in El Mundo Deportivo poll
5 start- vs Ceuta. He was the boss in the midfield, helped a lot young defenders Bartra and Fontas. One great pass ala Xavi to Bojan, which he should scored, but Bojan failed. MoM in EMD poll, Pep praised him a lot.

I think he is good, he is improving fast after bad start, he should start more games, but Pep loves Busquets and Keita, so I doubt it will happen

[Vlaio]

He started only in 5 games, 6 times he came off the bench.

1 start- vs Hercules. Awful game, yellow card, could be red carded before HT, subbed after 45 minutes.
2 start- vs Rubin. Good game, no fouls, confident with the ball, nice slide tackles. Subbed after 65 minutes, cause Pep wants to win this game and sub in Leo.
3 start- vs Mallorca. Good game, Masch was in the Team of the Jornada of Goal.com. Very nice slide tackles, good passes, two shots on the target, Man of the Match for me.
4 start- vs Copenhagen. Again very good game. 80/84 successful pases, passes received- 68 successful passes, 11 successful interceptions/tackles. Played all game, Pep praise him after the game, MoM in El Mundo Deportivo poll
5 start- vs Ceuta. He was the boss in the midfield, helped a lot young defenders Bartra and Fontas. One great pass ala Xavi to Bojan, which he should scored, but Bojan failed. MoM in EMD poll, Pep praised him a lot.

I think he is good, he is improving fast after bad start, he should start more games, but Pep loves Busquets and Keita, so I doubt it will happen

Thanks for the briefing man! He's definitely an excellent player but as always, when it comes to Pep, Busquets is always out there in the starting eleven. I have to admit, Busquets is good and getting better but I still don't like that guy. So what I hear, Masch should deserve more starts. Well, the season is long and he'll get his chance. I hope anyway. This is exactly the kind of guy we need at those tough away games in the UCL when we need to keep a clean sheet.

[matfcb]

http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/ ... 14169.html

I am very happy that he adapted to our system so quickly. I will start him in El Clasico.

[Silvztoon]

He wont start El Clasico, can tell you that for a fact. Only injuries will get him into the starting 11.

[IndoCulé]

How did Mascherano performed last night? Up to standard?

[IndoCulé]

Is he getting better or what?

[pabz]

Mascherano was really good. That interception on Bendtner was just wow.

[thomasbeff]

When i saw it first i thought Bendtner just made a balls of it. After watching the replay i couldn't believe how well Mashcerano did. Perfectly timed and clean as a whistle. Awesome.

[bobo]

Anyone who tackles with a possibilty of getting himself injured is a hero for me. His signing is making more and more sense now.

[IndoCulé]

Anyone who tackles with a possibilty of getting himself injured is a hero for me. His signing is making more and more sense now.

+1

[matfcb]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTAEoO0p ... r_embedded

Great tackle at dying minutes. Good game by him, after average games against Bilbao and Gijon, he was good against Valencia, great against Zaragoza and beast against Arsenal. His passing is improving, he will never reach Busquets level of passing, but he is better at defending and slide tackles than Busi. Good to have him in the squad.