How do you rate Mascherano as a CB & as a DM?

The true captain of the squad! Messi is captain in name only really.

Liverpool legend

Would take him back in a heartbeat.

What a guy.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:The true captain of the squad! Messi is captain in name only really.

Couldn't agree more, Masch stepped up while Messi loitered around.

I've never been a fan of him, but it was a fantastic display today.

Did he get the official MOTM? Or was it Romero for the penaldos?

Natalie Portman wrote:Unreal how Pep and Barca ruined his prime years by converting him into a CB.

The guy is a soldier. An absolute maniac. What a player he is when he plays in that midfield role. I am not fan of destroying DMs, but Mascherano is one of the very few elite ones left in that position and delivered in the biggest game of his career, despite not having played much in this position for almost 4 years.

The true captain of Argentina.

“Rarely have I seen somebody handle a squad like he did. He reinvented me, playing me in a position I’d never considered playing in. He’s more than just a special coach, he’s different and unforgettable. I’m fully aware that I would never have played for Barça if it hadn’t been for Guardiola.” -- Mascherano

Mascherano went on to discuss Guardiola’s passion for coaching and feels that that passion is infectious.

“I’ve had very influential mangers, but Pep is something different. He infects you with the way he experiences football. ”

Masche Pep

Fußball wrote:Did he get the official MOTM? Or was it Romero for the penaldos?

He was by far Argentinas best but IMO MOTM was Ronnie Vlaar, an absolute beast all tournament and a dream to play alongside Masche @ barca. For me anyways

You want Vlaar at Barca?

Kick wrote:You want Vlaar at Barca?

We need a good CB and I'll admit I've barely seen him at club level but he seems solid, experienced and probably not as costly. Why not?

He is very average, he has done well this WC but there is a reason he only plays for Villa.

Listen, no matter what it'd be better than the Chygrynskiy disaster of 2009! And he's at least shown he's capable of upping his game. It comes down to a matter of "who else?" though. Of still-possible targets this season I've heard Martins-indi get thrown around as another decent, realistic possibility. Idk, either would be welcome I think.

Oh how I miss you.

Red Alert wrote:Oh how I miss you.

?

I hope to god that Barca buys Indi.   

BarrileteCosmico wrote:The true captain of the squad! Messi is captain in name only really.

That's true. He was the one leading the talks in the huddle before and in the middle of extra-time.

barca 2011 wrote:

Red Alert wrote:Oh how I miss you.

?

El Jefecito was my favourite player at Liverpool before he moved to Barcelona.

@barcastuff wrote:The initial plan of Barcelona coach Luis Enrique is that Mascherano will again play in midfield this season - no longer as centre back. [as]

So will he bench Busquets or be his backup. Possible Double Pivot, I know thats heresy in Catalonia.

hmm.. double pivot would be incredibly odd, and hard to fit everyone iniesta + messi + suarez + neymar
in the forward line would be all awkward, Neymar having to play out of position and Iniesta on the left wing...

if we sell Song this summer then we are playing with one DM, if we keep him then it's safe to say a double pivot is in enrique's plan.

That would mean Rakitic is on the bench?

I wanna see a 3 man midfield of Masch, Rakitic &Iniesta... Can that work? Supplying balls to a front 3 of Messi, Suarez & Neymar?
Or is that too top heavy? I never know with Barca...

--------Neymar-----Suarez
---------------Messi
-------Iniesta---------Rakitic
---------------Buscuit

would probably be the most reliable with mascherano as a substitute for when sergio is out of form or injured.

Way too attack-minded

I don't see why Mascherano in midfield means a double pivot, you need some muscle in midfield if you have Neymar/Suarez in wide positions and Dani Alves bombing forward, as far as I know he's not untouchable and can be benched if it means better defensive performance from the team.

Double pivot doesn't mean it has to be in straight lines. Busquets could play slightly advanced.

-------------------------------Suarez-----------------
----Nerman-------------------------------------------
------------------------------Messi------------------
-----------Iniesta--------------------------------Alves
------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------Busquets-------------
------------------------------------------------------
--------------------Mascherano-----------------------
-----Mathieu------------------------------Bartra------
-----------------------Pique---------------------------

A lot of talk recently from Zubizarreta after the Mathieu signing that 3-4-3 is a tactical option. Possibly the main reason why a CB/LB hybrid like Mathieu was chased so hard to begin with (his alternative was apparently Blind who has a similar profile).

I think Barca need to seriously consider dropping Messi into a deeper, creative role and pass goal scoring responsibilities onto Neymar/Suarez... With all due respect, Messi's body can't handle the advance role anymore. His physical decline ruined his acceleration and now he can't make the runs he used to.
Disagree? I wanna see him pull a Riquelme off...

Not putting Busquets in the starting 11?

Just stop and sort yourself out lol