导出博客文章BARCELONA, Spain -- Javier Mascheranos weight in the Barcelona team is measured
by much more than his goals -- or lack of.The clubs fans are more than happy to
overlook the fact he has never scored in nearly 300 appearances, because few
players are as important to the Spanish champion.Having already proved his
flexibility over the years, the 32-year-old Mascherano is now learning another
position.Mascherano is defying his age and increasing his worth in a team whose
intricate passing style is incredibly demanding on players.The Argentina
international has become coach Luis Enriques fix-it man.Already able to play
either in midfield or as a central defender, Mascherano has now passed the test
as Barcelonas right back.He has filled in expertly for the injured Sergi
Roberto, both as the right-sided defender in a back line of three, or in the
four-man defense Luis Enrique used to thwart Manchester City on Wednesday in the
Champions League.Enrique said on Friday that Mascherano may play on the flank
for Saturdays visit to Valencia in the Spanish league.The option of Mascherano
is open, said Enrique, who rarely reveals his lineups before the match. He
played a good match against City and he is one of the possibilities that I have
for this and other matches.Wherever he plays at Valencias Mestalla Stadium,
Mascherano will be tasked to hold down a back line that will be without the
injured Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba.Against City, he nullified winger Manuel
Nolito Agudo and also set up Barcelonas opening goal.Stealing possession in
Citys half he sprang a quick attack that resulted in Lionel Messis first of
three goals in a humbling 4-0 loss for former Barcelona coach Pep
Guardiola.Mascheranos value is his versatility and willingness to sacrifice in a
team full of incredibly talented individuals -- such as like Messi, Neymar, Luis
Suarez and Andres Iniesta.It was Guardiola who gave Mascherano the first
opportunity to reinvent himself at Barcelona when he was struggling to find a
starting role.Having arrived from Liverpool in 2010, he found Sergio Busquets
well entrenched in his own position of holding midfielder.It was a simple
choice: adapt or fail. So when a spate of injuries left Barcelona without a
central defender, he seized his chance.Mascherano compensates for a height
disadvantage with intelligent play, such as when he anchored the side that beat
Manchester United 3-1 in the 2011 Champions League final.I never thought I would
be here this long, he said. I know what I can do, but I also know the demands
that Barca places on you. In any other team I would have liked to play in
midfield, but changing positions was worth it to keep playing here.Mascherano
plays in midfield for Argentina and is a key player for the side that reached
the final of the 2014 World Cup, losing to Germany.His latest positional change
for Barcelona goes against a customary trend.The usual evolution of aging
defenders is changing from a wide position to slot inside, compensating for
dwindling speed.Barcas coach saw the potential for Mascherano to do this when
Roberto injured a leg muscle earlier this month. He looked past Robertos natural
replacement, Aleix Vidal, and asked Mascherano to take on the role.Luis Enrique
liked the result, so even with Roberto cleared to play against City, he left
Mascherano in his place.Mascheranos industry more than makes up for the fact he
has not scored in 290 appearances -- a Barcelona club record for an outfield
player.I am not obsessed over it, he said. A goal wouldnt change my
life.Mascheranos contributions, which have helped win 17 titles, are fully
appreciated and he signed a new contract on Monday until 2019.My time here at
Barcelona has been magical, he said. Year after year the team has kept its
hunger.
Stephen
Strasburg Jersey . Kyle Denbrook, a soccer player from Saint Marys
University, took the CIS male athlete of the week honour. Stanley, a fourth-year
business administration student from Charlottetown, scored both goals in a 2-0
win over Dalhousie on Friday and tallied again in a 1-0 win over Saint Marys on
Sunday.
Joe
Blanton Jersey . -- Canadian Andrew Wiggins got the ball on the wing, made
a nifty spin move and then let go with a soft floater from about 10 feet that
swished through the net in Allen Fieldhouse.
http://www.officialnationalsgearshop.com/Nationals-Mark-Reynolds-Kids-Jersey/
. Detroit and Boston are deadlocked, 1-1, and Tigers manager Jim Leyland could
be forgiven if he was caught rationalizing instead of dissecting how his club
could blow a 5-1 lead late in Game 2.
Sean
Doolittle Jersey . It is a cliché dragged out by fans and pundits
regularly when discussions take place around which teams are better than others.
Adam
Eaton Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Jack Watts has continued his
transformation from AFL whipping boy to cult hero by helping Melbourne edge Gold
Coast by two points.Both sides were guilty of cringe-worthy turnovers and simple
set-shot misses despite perfect conditions at a sun-soaked MCG on
Sunday.Nonetheless, it culminated in an after-the-siren finish as the Demons
prevailed 9.12 (66) to 9.10 (64).Watts booted his third goal with a tick over
two minutes remaining in the match.He then stepped up at the other end of the
ground, marking in the goal square to seemingly deny Gold Coast victory.But
Watts passed to teammate Bernie Vince, who picked out Suns spearhead Tom Lynch
before the siren sounded.Lynch, kicking from beyond the 50m arc and tucked up on
the boundary line, was unable to make the distance.It was great reward for
(Watts) to kick the winning goal, Demons coach Paul Roos said.It was indicative
of his game today. He was the standout player for us, certainly.We used him in a
lot of different roles ... his game was exceptional and the difference between
us winning and losing.Its great to see him with a smile on his face ... I love
Jack. Hes one of the best people Ive met in footy and to see him get the reward
is really exciting.Melbourne gave up a three-goal head start before Watts
steadied, kicking his sides first goal in the 24th minute off the
match.ddddddddddddThe Demons busted the low-scoring affair open in the second
term with three goals in three-and-a-half minutes, including two to Aaron
Vandenberg.The third quarter was unremarkable with the exception of a bruising
collision between James Harmes and Kade Kolodjashnij.The Suns hit the front in
the final term after booting three consecutive goals, including a showstopper
from Jarrad Grant, but the Demons rallied.Its a big win today. I wouldnt
underestimate the importance for us as a club and them as a group of players,
Roos said.Sometimes those wins are as important, if not more important, than a
10-goal win or a win against a team youre not expected to beat.It was Melbournes
eighth win for the season.A further victory in the final four rounds will make
it the clubs best year since 2006, when they most recently reached the
finals.Suns coach Rodney Eade praised his sides effort, especially that of
Lynch.It was a difficult kick. It was a pretty good shot, actually, Eade said.He
did pretty well. It was a long shot and a tough angle I didnt expect him to kick
it, but he gave it a good shake.Theyre disappointed, but I think we are getting
a lot of belief among the group. ' ' '
Find in Directory
Find in Events
Find in Marketplace