Liverpool FC Forum

[ConnO'var]

Cheers Bob.

Case in point..... Gerrard back in the middle transformed the team's performance today. Granted, it was against Sunderland but still a massive step forward as compared to how we were playing earlier in the season. It's only one game but hope springs eternal....

We have the players to make a fist of it in any competition..... All we have to do is to put the right pieces in the right places and hence allow the players to play to their strengths.

Of course, that is easier said than done!

Made up we won.... Either Nando or Stevie was the clear man of the match for me.

C'mon Stevie lad....... we need you in in this kind of form for each and every game from now to the end of the season..... 4th is not going to be easy..... we've dug our own hole for far too long this season.... but If we carry on in this vein, we might still just make it.

[Kerry07]

lock this idiotic thread

[Bad Bob]

lock this idiotic thread

We could lock every thread except the Lucas thread and you'd probably not notice. 

[The Good Yank]

Sort of odd that Stevie had a mare in his third game in a week last week and today had a good game, and had some energy.  People need to lay off him, he's still fighting the injury and when he gets a bit of rest he's fine.

[LittleHobo]

what did i say in the very opening post?

move him to centre mid

plus he was today against a very poor sunderland side.......hardley the measure of a world class player

like i said i love gerrard, he still is very good, just not one of the best in the world any more

[Zidane]

When he plays with that attitude and determination he can be that effective in any part of the pitch.  Long as Lucas and Masch aren't BOTH in midfield.  I don't necessarily believe that we can just put him in midfield and like magic we'll be good again though, he played there not long ago and we got bossed in the midfield.  I forget when sorry but it couldn't have been more than a month ago I believe.

[bigmick]

Conn's post is on the money. Had Gerrard played there all season and we not persisted with the Lucas/Masherano axis, things would have been much different.  I would have thought that regardless of any loyalty anybody has towards anybody, surely this much is absolutely beyond dispute? Maybe Owzat could produce some stats of how we've gone in league games this season when Gerrard has played in central midfield. My guess is it would be title winning form, and I certainly think we would have challenged had we made that move (although given Torres's injuries I suspect we wouldn't have won it).

[crazyhorse]

Conn's post is on the money. Had Gerrard played there all season and we not persisted with the Lucas/Masherano axis, things would have been much different.  I would have thought that regardless of any loyalty anybody has towards anybody, surely this much is absolutely beyond dispute? Maybe Owzat could produce some stats of how we've gone in league games this season when Gerrard has played in central midfield. My guess is it would be title winning form, and I certainly think we would have challenged had we made that move (although given Torres's injuries I suspect we wouldn't have won it).

Too true.. and if you actually ask Stevie what he thinks his best position is, he will say in the middle of the park flying into tackles and trying to control the game.

Its where he belongs and always has. Using him to plug the holes up front is a waste of his talents. Keep him there!!!!!

[bigmick]

To be honest mate Gerrard is top notch wherever you play him, and up front with Torres he has been brilliant. That said, with Alonso gone and given we signed Aquilani as a replacement, we haven't got anybody else who can play in central midfield with Masherano effectiely. Gerrard should have played there when fit this season. It was obvious before the season started, during the season, and its obvious now.

[fivecups]

Conn's post is on the money. Had Gerrard played there all season and we not persisted with the Lucas/Masherano axis, things would have been much different.  I would have thought that regardless of any loyalty anybody has towards anybody, surely this much is absolutely beyond dispute? Maybe Owzat could produce some stats of how we've gone in league games this season when Gerrard has played in central midfield. My guess is it would be title winning form, and I certainly think we would have challenged had we made that move (although given Torres's injuries I suspect we wouldn't have won it).

Too true.. and if you actually ask Stevie what he thinks his best position is, he will say in the middle of the park flying into tackles and trying to control the game.

Its where he belongs and always has. Using him to plug the holes up front is a waste of his talents. Keep him there!!!!!

No, Gerrard has said on several occasions that his favorite position is as an attacking midfielder.

Whilst I agree with the above posts, it wasn't quite as clear cut as has been made out.

Gerrard and Torres last season were one of the best partnerships in world football so it's understandable it wasn't broken up lightly. Yes, the loss of Alonso affected their supply but the hope was that Aquilani would be fit in October to connect the play; there were also matches last season were Gerrard and Torres were scintillating and Alonso wasn't playing.

My preference would be for a new manager this summer, if we have a top quality replacement and it's financially viable however with entrenched views it is impossible for him to do anything right. If Lucas had played yesterday he would have got hammered, when he didn't he gets hammered anyway. No win.

[MASTER]

Conn's post is on the money. Had Gerrard played there all season and we not persisted with the Lucas/Masherano axis, things would have been much different.  I would have thought that regardless of any loyalty anybody has towards anybody, surely this much is absolutely beyond dispute? Maybe Owzat could produce some stats of how we've gone in league games this season when Gerrard has played in central midfield. My guess is it would be title winning form, and I certainly think we would have challenged had we made that move (although given Torres's injuries I suspect we wouldn't have won it).

Too true.. and if you actually ask Stevie what he thinks his best position is, he will say in the middle of the park flying into tackles and trying to control the game.

Its where he belongs and always has. Using him to plug the holes up front is a waste of his talents. Keep him there!!!!!

No, Gerrard has said on several occasions that his favorite position is as an attacking midfielder.

Whilst I agree with the above posts, it wasn't quite as clear cut as has been made out.

Gerrard and Torres last season were one of the best partnerships in world football so it's understandable it wasn't broken up lightly. Yes, the loss of Alonso affected their supply but the hope was that Aquilani would be fit in October to connect the play; there were also matches last season were Gerrard and Torres were scintillating and Alonso wasn't playing.

My preference would be for a new manager this summer, if we have a top quality replacement and it's financially viable however with entrenched views it is impossible for him to do anything right. If Lucas had played yesterday he would have got hammered, when he didn't he gets hammered anyway. No win.

Lucas Leiva must be the ONLY player ever to get mentioned as a reason for a "World-Class" player suddenly losing effectiveness....It is crazy.
If people on here, actually studied football the Wenger way, not look at goals, goals, goals. They would see the stats, like Steven Gerrard pass completetion in Premier League matches over a season has never been above 82%.
Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, and David Beckham frequently scored 92, 93, 94% season in, season out. I remember one season, where Roy Keane averaged over a full PL season 96% pass completion. But, hey lets just put Steven Gerrard and that damn hollywood pass in midfield against Benfica (sarcasm). On a sidenote Xabi averaged around 86% per season(hence why Wenger considered him unsuitable for the gunners).

[lakes10]

Oh Dear

Rafa firm on Gerrard role


Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has warned Steven Gerrard not to get too comfortable in his favoured central midfield role.

Gerrard reverted back to the middle of the park against Sunderland last weekend and responded with an improved personal display in the 3-0 win.

For a long time critics have been calling on Benitez to deploy Gerrard in what they feel is his best position but the Reds boss insists the team come first.

"I said after the game in the press conference he has been playing on the right, or left," said Benitez.

System
"I remember discussions with England about Gerrard and Frank Lampard not being able to play in the middle but they can.

"He can play everywhere because he knows what to do in every position.

"He was keen to do the best for the team and the best for the team the other day was for him to play in this role with Javier Mascherano.

"For me it is not the player and the system but altogether.

"In the last year with the same system we were quite offensive and this year we have scored a lot of goals, especially at Anfield, with the same system.

"It has been Lucas-Mascherano, Lucas-Aquilani, Lucas-Gerrard, Mascherano-Aquilani - we can mix and match. It gives us more options."


Talks
Benitez also confirmed the club are still waiting for winger Albert Riera to finalise a proposed loan move to Spartak Moscow after reports emerged that the deal had stalled because of a failure to agree personal terms.

"He is still talking. He is talking with Spartak," added Benitez.

"He is training sometimes but now we have to wait and now we have games in the week we have to keep the players who are normally involved."

Meanwhile, young defender Martin Kelly is awaiting a doctor's decision to learn whether he will require a knee operation.

The youngster tore the meniscus in training at the weekend and is likely to be out for the rest of the season.

[bigmick]

"It has been Lucas-Mascherano, Lucas-Aquilani, Lucas-Gerrard, Mascherano-Aquilani - we can mix and match. It gives us more options. "

Options and possibilities.

[Emerald Red]

You sure that's not a fella in your sig, Lakes?

[lakes10]

You sure that's not a fella in your sig, Lakes?

lol i hope not mate...............but in new zeland you can never tell untill you turn the lights on.
its a game they have over there, it, turn the lights on, what was it, Women, man or sheep.