by JC_81 » Thu Sep 17, 2009 12:56 pm
We simply couldn't sell both Mascherano and Alonso in the same transfer window, bottom line. Alonso was definitely going and he was the one we'd get the bigger fee for in a summer where we needed to raise some cash. I reckon Mascherano will leave next summer, it must be difficult enough for the lad with the family situation and I'm sure Benitez and him have come to some sort of agreement about him staying on for one season and then letting him go if a good offer comes in. People can change their minds of course and if Mascherano has a good season and we win trophies he might end up staying, you never know.
Mascherano's criticism is OTT this season. Yes he's been below form, but the games he's played have been alongside Lucas. I'm sorry but Lucas isn't good enough and never will be. I hear things about Lucas being asked to do things he can't do when playing alongside Mascherano. For me it's the other way around. Lucas was bought as a box-to-box midfielder - that's what he was in Brazil anyway. We have found out he can do fu.ck all apart from occasionally break up play and give away fouls. It is Mascherano who has to take more responsibility in distributing the ball and driving forward when they play together, and that's clearly not his game. Lucas has had a few games alongside Gerrard now which has made him look half decent again, fu.ck sake I'd probably look half decent playing alongside Gerrard in that team, you've got the best attacking midfielder in the world there.
On top of losing his CM partner in the summer, his young family buggering off because they can't hack England, Rafa telling him he can't leave and being stuck with fu.cking Lucas, he also has the ridiculous situation with the national team. Maradonna is clueless, the team is losing and Mascherano as captain is shouldering some of the responsibility for that. I think he's allowed a dip in form for all that.
Wait until the big games come around. Despite having lost 2 league games we still haven't played any big teams yet and that's when Mascherano will come into his own, he always does. He also always starts the season fairly slowly, so I'm not overly concerned yet.
So, do I think we should have sold him in the summer? No way. Will he be back to his best soon? I think so. Will he be off next summer? Probably.
Another telling development in why I think he'll be off next summer is his contract situation. Apparently he's on 30k per week. A sh.it load of money, but not for an International footballer these days. That makes him one of the lowest paid in the 1st team squad. In a summer where nearly all of our players have signed contract extensions, Mascherano hasn't been offered one. That says to me that Benitez knows he's not here for the long haul, what's the point in paying him double that if he's going to leave next summer anyway?
Even looks a bit like em as well mate 
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