Liverpool FC Forum

[KOPMATT]

I have to say that IMO after seeing our new boy Javier in 3 games so far the Guy is absolute Quality! I suppose similar in his style to Momo but doesn't give the ball away half as much, I really think we got a result buying him and how many would've said that after what little was seen of him at West Ham?
Nice one yet again Rafa, Result!

[Stu.Murph]

Definately has something about him.

Defiantely.

As for your comparrison with Momo... Where on earth do you get that from? Had you said Xabi you might have had a point... But Momo? He's a different class of player to Sissoko aswell.

[Bad Bob]

He's a great addition to the squad, no question about it.  So many caps for his country at his tender age tells its own story.  Now, could someone please clarify his situation with us?  Is he on loan or have we signed him outright?

[KOPMATT]

Well I see Momo and Javier as similar players in that they're holding midfielders(I know Alonso s supposed to be too) but I see them making more ground over the pitch, and feel that IMO Momo gives the ball away very lazily on times when he could do so much more with it. I know it sounds like I'm having a pop at Momo but I'm making IMO a personal observation. Sorry!

[KOPMATT]

I'm not too sure about that one? I though we had him on loan and an option to buy after 18 months???

[Stu.Murph]

Well I see Momo and Javier as similar players in that they're holding midfielders(I know Alonso s supposed to be too) but I see them making more ground over the pitch, and feel that IMO Momo gives the ball away very lazily on times when he could do so much more with it. I know it sounds like I'm having a pop at Momo but I'm making IMO a personal observation. Sorry!

Momo Sissoko is certainly not, never will be and never has been a holding midfielder.

A ball winner yes, but never a holding midfielder by any stretch of anyones imagination.

Bob, not got a clue what his situation is at all. Can't help ya.

[MilitiaRusher]

Momo Sissoko is obviously a holding midfielder. What else can he be if he is a ball winner?

[Espionage]

A holding midfielder will sit back and pick his moments to go forward, act as a 5th defender.  Momo is a box-to-box player that just runs and and runs.  Holding midfielders (e.g Hamann, Alonso, Makelelee) will sit just in front of the back 4, only go forward once the ball is well within the final third, and provide cover when the fullbacks run around the outside.  Momo does not do anything like this. 

What Momo brings defensively far out-weighs what he brings offensively, so he can loosely referred to as a defensive midfielder.  But people often interchange defensive and holding and this is where a lot of the confusion comes in. 

If you analyse where he spends most of his time, you would expect that he is an attacking midfielder.

[Espionage]

Sorry back on topic:

Mascherano looks great at the moment.  He has made an immediate impact.  I cant wait to see how Rafa will deal with this as we all know that he loves the Alonso/Momo partnership in the middle.  I really cant see Momo being a regular with this guy around.  The clip below is pure gold....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WN0BY2sxGA

[LFC #1]

Momo Sissoko is obviously a holding midfielder. What else can he be if he is a ball winner?

You clearly don't understand what a holding player is. Xabi is a holding player, Makelele is a holding player. Sissoko is not. A holding player is capable of controlling the game from a defensive midfield position, Momo is hardly capable of that.

[MilitiaRusher]

Momo Sissoko is obviously a holding midfielder. What else can he be if he is a ball winner?

You clearly don't understand what a holding player is. Xabi is a holding player, Makelele is a holding player. Sissoko is not. A holding player is capable of controlling the game from a defensive midfield position, Momo is hardly capable of that.

By a holding midfielder, I mean a pure defensively minded player.. does not matter whether he is capable of controlling the game from his position, he is nevertheless a ball winner OF that position, thus making him a holding midfielder.

[Espionage]

Momo Sissoko is obviously a holding midfielder. What else can he be if he is a ball winner?

You clearly don't understand what a holding player is. Xabi is a holding player, Makelele is a holding player. Sissoko is not. A holding player is capable of controlling the game from a defensive midfield position, Momo is hardly capable of that.

By a holding midfielder, I mean a pure defensively minded player.. does not matter whether he is capable of controlling the game from his position, he is nevertheless a ball winner OF that position, thus making him a holding midfielder.

It seems like you both agree what Momo's position is, you just use different names.  No lets quit arguing about this and get back onto discussion about Mascherano.

[ste123lfc]

What I can't understand is why West ham hardly ever played him. There must of been some serious behind the scenes bust ups between players and management. The guy is pure class and at the tender age of 22 he can only get better. Rafa, in my opinion has made one of his best signings.

[Igor Zidane]

Momo is going to struggle to get a regular place now. I said after his first game for Liverpool that mascherano will be the man in the middle from now on. I've got absolutley nothing against momo ,his wortk rate is second to none and his abillity to break up the oppo's play is also great.

It's just that Mascherano is a better player and will offer us so much more , it's that simple , nothing personal momo lad.

[Espionage]

What I can't understand is why West ham hardly ever played him. There must of been some serious behind the scenes bust ups between players and management. The guy is pure class and at the tender age of 22 he can only get better. Rafa, in my opinion has made one of his best signings.

There were clauses based on the number of appearances that he made.  By not playing him they got away with paying almost nothing.  Or something like that.