I hope we get the bald ref in all our CL games as well - other teams thread

Yup.

 

Maybe Essien is a better all round player, but I don't necessarily class him as a defensive midfielder, more of a box to box. I don't think he has the patience or the positional ability to be one of the best defensive midfielders in the world. He's like Mahamadou for us, except a million times better .

 

Mascherano would be the closest to a Makelele type DM.

Essien is, for me, a Box to Box player.

 

It depends on what you're looking for. If you're looking for a very good central mid who can be very helpful in both defense or offense, you're best bet is Essien. If your looking for a defensive specialist, and literally the best defensive mid in the world, you want Javier Mascherano.

It's fitting that a poster with the name Ricardo Kaka has voted for Mascherano, given that Mascherano did such a great job shutting down Kaka defensively in the 2007 final between Liverpool and Milan. It was only when Benitez made the (wrong, IMO) decision to bring Mascherano off later in the game, that Kaka was given to freedom to "deliver the hammer blow" (as Ray Hudson would say) to Liverpool.

As for either Essien or Mascherano, I would give my proverbial left nut to have them in a white shirt with a crown on it.

 

It's a tossup between Essien and Toure. Essien is a great all around player with tremendous athleticism and is at his best when he is not strictly restricted to defensive duties. Toure on the other hand, has a refined all around game like Essien as well, which he demonstrated during his time at Monaco and that golazo against athletic in the copa del rey. Even though he is restricted to a more defensive role at Barca, his technique and all around ability has been clearly visible this past season, not to mention he is a great destroyer as well. So yeah, there pretty even imo. Essien might have a bit more athleticism, but Toure has better technique and is also a bigger physical presence in the midfield.

Whatever, I am happy with Lass.

Mascherano is just a pure destroyer, and a great one at that. However his overall play is not as refined to be in the same class like Essien and Toure.

 

Essien can do almost everything that Mascherano can, but not the other way around. You can ask Essien to play defence all game (same way you can ask hom to play right back) and he would do almost as well as Mascherano. Now, you ask Mascherano to shoot, head, and run into the box, not so much. Whoever runs Chelsea recognizes that, and he gives Essien more responsibilities. Whoever runs Liverpool recognizes that, and uses other players to mask Mascherano's weaknesses.

To me, frankly, it's a no brainer. Which is no disrespect to Mascherano, he's a great defensive midfielder.

 

Completely agree with everything you said. I don't think I implied anything contrary to that in my previous post. Essien is very strong defensively, I just think Mascherano is the strongest. Now, that's not to say that if Essien spent the next 2 or 3 seasons focusing on being a completely defensive midfielder in the mold of Mascherano, that he wouldn't be better defensively, but he hasn't yet, so no pont in speculating.

As for versatility, overall superiority as a footballer in general, that distinction certainly goes to Essien. I don't think I implied anything disagreeing with that sentiment.

EDIT: I just re-read my post and see where the ambiguity may lie. Let it be known that I think that Essien is clearly the superior midfielder/footballer, but as far as solely defensive duties in midfielding go, I think Mascherano has been at the pinnacle of that art for a couple seasons now.

 

This basically explains EVERYTHING. No one could have been that bad and i watch La Liga so i know a bit about bad referees.

 

Aston Villa Lose Martin 'Lionheart' Laursen

http://goal.com/en/news/1717/editor...gle-to-the-bitter-end-aston-villa-lose-martin

One of the most underrated players in the world IMO, truly a real shame.

 

Photoshop, lol.

 

I must spread rep points before I can give it to you.

I thought he died!!!!

 

LOL, sorry about that !

 

But Mascherano is much better then him. One of my favourite players

 

looks good on him

+1

 

Only size for him.

 

Well at least with this group of players Wenger still believes they can make it to the CL Finals, despite the obstacles

 

did ya see the handshake exchange between ronaldo and cesc? cesc gave him a wink and smile that could ONLY translate to "see you in madrid in a month"

 

Talk about a bad way to win in front of your home crowd.. Theater of dreams my ass

 

Maybe they had a bet, Cesc lost and now he's got to pick up the tab for the prostitutes tonight. The wink is coz there are no real losers in a bet like this

Could you imagine if they both ended up here though?

 

Barca dreams with getting Vidic I guess they could not renew the contract of the bald ref. Such a terrible lost since he was a big part of the team.

 

Cesc has been a very dim light on a very bad Arsenal team this season , he missed even more games then Kaka did, but Cesc would be a good signing

Cesc would be very expensive as well. It's obvious who has the upperhand : Kaka > Cesc.