Comments on: Rafa Unwittingly Reveals a Painless Way to Remove Him from His Job

By: Magnakai Haaskivi

Magnakai Haaskivi — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:20:22 +0000

I don’t see Masch as having enough depth as a player to play for Barcelona, frankly. He’s limited when it comes to field vision (it’s why we relied on Alonso; Masch ain’t exactly creative) and would replace someone who’s probably more mobile and better at keeping the ball than himself. He fits into Liverpool’s system, but I don’t see him in Barcelona’s.

That said, he’d be fantastic at Real Madrid, who have the money and player surplus to make a cash+player bid for him.

By: Wedel

Wedel — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:26:36 +0000

No fan of Rafa (altho it seems to be beneficial to the non-Pool nation to have him remain in his post), but I was actually thinking it was great for him to give public show of support to Torres.

It doesn’t seem that he complements his star all that frequently. I vaguely recall Torres having a good game (a typical effort) and when asked by the press, instead of agreeing, Rafa said there are still many things he needs to work on or something to that effect.

By: whizalen

whizalen — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:20:27 +0000

@JT — oh, I do not disagree at all. Personally though, I don’t see that good player + good cash offer materializing in January from Barca. I was looking at this from Barca’s standpoint, not LFC’s.

By: James T

James T — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:11:42 +0000

Whiz: As great as the tiny Argie is, we’d be fools for turning down a good player + good cash offer.

By: whizalen

whizalen — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:31:52 +0000

I don’t buy the Mascherano to Barca story at all. Perhaps at one time, but as mentioned Yaya and Busquets offer much greater flexibility in midfield than Mascherano. Worringly I think for LFC fans is that Mascherano had his head turned by the Barca talk and cannot get it together again. Looking at the way the Catalan media hound Cesc, it was likely quotes made to stir talk and Mascherano wasn’t/isn’t adult enough to look past tabloid rumours.

And they’re not getting rid of Bojan either. Isn’t he the heir apparent to Henry after he leaves this summer?

By: The Fan's Attic

The Fan's Attic — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:17:39 +0000

oh wait, the Torres rumor isn’t to barcelona is it, now. stupid.

By: The Fan's Attic

The Fan's Attic — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:16:47 +0000

1. How would a lineup of Ibrahimovic, Messi and Torres work?

2. LFC could be the sisterhood of the traveling pants, since they play like pants.

By: Georger

Georger — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:10:59 +0000

I bet Busquets’s favorite album is Lumpy Gravy.

By: James T

James T — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:09:32 +0000

Then we could call ourselves the Yaya Sisterhood!

But yeah, any move for Masch in which Barca are willing to part with Yaya/Bojan/Busquets and a f**kload of cash is a no-brainer. No man is worth that much.

By: Georger

Georger — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:57:43 +0000

Keith I meant just selling him w/o Rafa’s permission, not selling him to Villa. They have already turned down a seventy million pound bid for him, and that was before they locked up a bunch of new sponsorship deals. Even if they miss the knockouts and god help us finish outside of fourth, they’re not going to be in hock for seventy million all of a sudden. Torres has the potential to be the best player to ever play for this team, and I really don’t think they’re stupid enough to do that. They would (and should) sell Gerrard before Torres if it ever came to that, which there is no evidence it might come to that.

Phil that rumor has already been refuted by both clubs, and Barca officials have already said they can’t afford to make moves like that. They spent a ridiculous amount of money, for them, this summer.

But if Mascherano does go, it’s because he’s a petulent little bitch who isn’t happy with his wages when he hasn’t done dick this year to justify an increase. Sorry your agent is an idiot, deal with it. There is a great article on FSC about how that move would make no sense for Barca, because either it means they lose Yaya, or only have Mascherano as a squad player, and either way will cost them Busquets. If they offered us Yaya or Bojan plus 20 million pounds, you make that move. Yaya is a year older and offers more, he’s a better passer and can play in defense if need be, something Mascherano could never do because of his size.