Liverpool FC Forum

by **Boxscarf** » Sat Aug 18, 2012 7:13 pm

Is anyone surprised at Steven Gerrard's decline? The man is 32 years old, has played less matches in the last five years than Robin Van Persie, he's coming to the end of his playing days. Those supporters who think Gerrard will be around for another six or seven years in the same vain as Paul Scholes are deluding themselves. We will need to search for his replacement and we will need to start phasing him out of the squad, sooner rather than later.

by **The Good Yank** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 8:13 pm

Time to move Stevie up the pitch I think. Given the chance he is our best finisher. Stevie has shown over the past few games that he is not up to it when it comes to a midfield role in our current setup. Gives the ball away too easily and in our system we obviously have seen that we can't afford to be doing that as much as he has been. Too much running on his aged legs. I think, without a true striker in the team it would be the best option to play Stevie up front. In the middle. With Sterling and Suarez as the other parts of the front three.

For me this is the only option for us unless somehow we end up with a miracle free agent signing to solve the problem up front.

by **The Hustler** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 9:35 pm

Most worryingly, is like today, he is starting to "disappear" in games. That's is the sign of a "shot" player.
His touch/ passing is waining a bit too these days. His passes are frequently not reaching their destination.

No one can turn back the clock, unfortunately.

He's too old to run box to box, and I would drop Borini, and play Stevie off Suarez up front.

by **metalhead** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 10:58 pm

He's been awful so far.

by **The Good Yank** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 6:21 am

metalhead » Sun Sep 02, 2012 4:58 pm wrote:He's been awful so far.

Thinking on it a bit. Gerrard Skrtel and Pepe have been our worst players. FML Throw in Lucas' injury . Our spine is killing us.

by **Reg** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 6:30 am

I don't disagree with you mate as he's not going to risk a 50/50 challenge or anything that might trigger his groin injury again so better to move him out of the combatative midfield and into limbo - I mean, higher up. If he can't get sufficiently fit and fast then we're staring at another Sami Hyppia situation, play him this season to bed the new manager and players in then its hasta la vista baby, go home and count your millions.

by **LFC1990** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 7:37 am

The problem Gerrard faces now is having to please the fans. He has been probably one of our best ever players and he is getting to an age where he cant keep up with the younger guys etc

Pirlo who is older than Gerrard is still deemed one of the best midfielders around simply because he focuses on one job he has his square of midfield and dictates the play from their just like paul scholes does.

Lampard is more of an attacive midfielder and you will hardly ever see him helping out the defence.

This is where Gerrards problem lies the role he has had previously where he was a box to box man has stuck with him. He doesnt want to let it go he still wants to be the driving force of Liverpool football club.

I think we would be much more impressed with Gerrards performances if we had him in a defensive midfield role or a second striker role.

by **ethanr** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 7:53 am

I think we've been a bit harsh on our captain. Sure, he was shocking against Arsenal, but he was really good against city and hearts. He may be a bit less consistent, but that happens with age. Like most, I feel he should be moved up the pitch as well, it really is where he can do the most damage, and I thought we were finally going to be able to do that when we signed Sahin. Then Lucas' injury killed that for us.

At the position we sit in, it's hard to move him up the pitch because we don't have a strong enough third option. Shelvey played relatively well when he came on today, but he is a bit inconsistent, and he's a lot better in the offensive half as well. Rogers has got some tough decisions to make in the coming weeks. The international break could be a blessing for us, but I guess we won't know until we come back against sunderland.

by **JC_81** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 12:40 pm

It's hard not to be concerned about Gerrard's performances. While still a class act on his day, his consistency and overall influence on the team is on the wane.

All the concern was about how Carroll's style of play clashed with Rodgers' philosophy. What about Gerrard? He's fond of a long ball, always has been. It's clear to me his direct style doesn't fit with the direction we're trying to go in. Rodgers probably wouldn't mind if he was still influencing games but he's not and the signs were there last season too. He's lost a yard now and looks very stiff in the hips when compared with his all action best a few years back.

Am i saying he's finished or that we should drop him or move him on? No. But we need to find the best role for him in this system. I'm not sure where that is, but we need a presence up front and I've no doubt he could do that. I'd be very tempted to play him as the central forward with sterling and either Downing/Borini on the other side. Suarez I'd use as the attacking central mid. I'm not saying it's the answer but I'd be very tempted to try it.

by **Boocity** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 2:03 pm

I think more than anything is his passing is badly letting him down at the moment.

by **heimdall** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 2:14 pm

he can't play in midfield and also he should be relieved of the captaincy becuase its plain to see that he just can't motivate himself let alone the team. I'd give the captaincy to Agger.
He could however work in the striker position, we have enough quality in midfield to compensate for his loss and at the moment I really like the look of Shelvey, he's still learning but he's getting better all the time.

by **Thommo's perm** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 2:23 pm

heimdall » Mon Sep 03, 2012 1:14 pm wrote:he can't play in midfield and also he should be relieved of the captaincy becuase its plain to see that he just can't motivate himself let alone the team. I'd give the captaincy to Agger.
He could however work in the striker position, we have enough quality in midfield to compensate for his loss and at the moment I really like the look of Shelvey, he's still learning but he's getting better all the time.

He will be captain until HE chooses to give the armband up

by **ycsatbjywtbiastkamb** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 2:40 pm

Thommo's perm » Mon Sep 03, 2012 1:23 pm wrote:
heimdall » Mon Sep 03, 2012 1:14 pm wrote:he can't play in midfield and also he should be relieved of the captaincy becuase its plain to see that he just can't motivate himself let alone the team. I'd give the captaincy to Agger.
He could however work in the striker position, we have enough quality in midfield to compensate for his loss and at the moment I really like the look of Shelvey, he's still learning but he's getting better all the time.

He will be captain until HE chooses to give the armband up

unfortunately thats probably true, in the past we had legends like tommy smith and phil thompson who`s noses were put out of joint by shankly and paisley who gave the armband to other players (emlyn hughes and graeme souness) because they felt that was the best thing for the team.
no one was bigger than shankly and paisley, they called the shots.

by **Thommo's perm** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 2:48 pm

ycsatbjywtbiastkamb » Mon Sep 03, 2012 1:40 pm wrote:
Thommo's perm » Mon Sep 03, 2012 1:23 pm wrote:
heimdall » Mon Sep 03, 2012 1:14 pm wrote:he can't play in midfield and also he should be relieved of the captaincy becuase its plain to see that he just can't motivate himself let alone the team. I'd give the captaincy to Agger.
He could however work in the striker position, we have enough quality in midfield to compensate for his loss and at the moment I really like the look of Shelvey, he's still learning but he's getting better all the time.

He will be captain until HE chooses to give the armband up

unfortunately thats probably true, in the past we had legends like tommy smith and phil thompson who`s noses were put out of joint by shankly and paisley who gave the armband to other players (emlyn hughes and graeme souness) because they felt that was the best thing for the team.
no one was bigger than shankly and paisley, they called the shots.

Is that a joke?
:glare:

by **heimdall** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 3:03 pm

Thommo's perm » Mon Sep 03, 2012 1:23 pm wrote:
heimdall » Mon Sep 03, 2012 1:14 pm wrote:he can't play in midfield and also he should be relieved of the captaincy becuase its plain to see that he just can't motivate himself let alone the team. I'd give the captaincy to Agger.
He could however work in the striker position, we have enough quality in midfield to compensate for his loss and at the moment I really like the look of Shelvey, he's still learning but he's getting better all the time.

He will be captain until HE chooses to give the armband up

What an idiotic statement from you, are you saying that Stevie is bigger than the team, does he run the show or the manager?

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