Liverpool FC Forum

[Benny The Noon]

Gerrard is on the downward spiral and the game is taking its toll on him - he isn't 25 anymore and he shouldn't/can't play at 100% for 90 mins every single match for both club and country. He could prolong his career by retiring from Inty football but he won't

Can't blame him for that Benny, England captain and world cup in Brazil next year.

I think he'll announce International retirement after that and unless Rodgers (or whoever our manager may be at that time) can find or accommodate him in a role where he can still shine I'd expect him to leave the stage in 2015.

Personally I don't see any reason why Gerrard couldn't perform the old Xabi Alonso role. Temperament aside I don't think Alonso had anything that Stevie doesn't still have, apart from maybe the legs, not that Alonso was ever the quickest around the park.

Can understand his want to captain England in a World Cup but I'm selfish towards my club and I wish Gerrard would feck off England and ensure he was 100% for Liverpool

I don't think Gerrard has that consistency and range of passing that Xabi did - Xabi also seemed to know when to play the right ball , knew when to play it short or release it long - don't think Gerrard has that tactical awareness. He can hit really great long balls but more often than not he doesn't find the target.

[woof woof !]

I don't think Gerrard has that consistency and range of passing that Xabi did - Xabi also seemed to know when to play the right ball , knew when to play it short or release it long - don't think Gerrard has that tactical awareness. He can hit really great long balls but more often than not he doesn't find the target.

As good as he was I'm thinking the passing of time perhaps in the mind of some in here has inflated some of Xabi's abilities without remembering his shortcomings.

(before you ask, often looked like even Hyppia could beat him in a sprint and Xabi was more often than not shy in the tackle )

[Benny The Noon]

Oh Xabi wasn't the quickest - no doubt about that but he made up for that by his superb positional sense and awareness.

I think Gerrard can play a holding role but I think at the moment he is trying to be the player he used to be and struggling physically. He does need to adapt his game a little

[RedAnt]

Yeah, Alonso couldn't be described as a battler and usually faded if things got heated or he had no space. He's pretty good at finding space though. Gerrard maybe not so much. Gerrard could still do the job though, especially once he adapted. Adaption is of course how a player makes up for his weaknesses.

[woof woof !]

I think Gerrard can play a holding role but I think at the moment he is trying to be the player he used to be and struggling physically. He does need to adapt his game a little

I don't think he'd need any time to adapt to that role, he's not thick. Imo he (and the rest of the team) would just need some firm discussion and clear instruction from the manager.

[Benny The Noon]

That raises the next question Woof - does the manager see the problem and will he think along the same lines as adapting the players position to try and get more out of Gerrard ?

[Stu the Red]

I don't think Gerrard has that consistency and range of passing that Xabi did - Xabi also seemed to know when to play the right ball , knew when to play it short or release it long - don't think Gerrard has that tactical awareness. He can hit really great long balls but more often than not he doesn't find the target.

As good as he was I'm thinking the passing of time perhaps in the mind of some in here has inflated some of Xabi's abilities without remembering his shortcomings.

(before you ask, often looked like even Hyppia could beat him in a sprint and Xabi was more often than not shy in the tackle )

He wasn't shy in the tackle woof, not in a million years. He was hard as nails and Carragher and Gerrard will both tell you they've had set two's with him for the way he tackles in training.

[Stu the Red]

Yeah, Alonso couldn't be described as a battler and usually faded if things got heated or he had no space. He's pretty good at finding space though. Gerrard maybe not so much. Gerrard could still do the job though, especially once he adapted. Adaption is of course how a player makes up for his weaknesses.

Thats a shocking statement about Xabi

[Benny The Noon]

Yeah, Alonso couldn't be described as a battler and usually faded if things got heated or he had no space. He's pretty good at finding space though. Gerrard maybe not so much. Gerrard could still do the job though, especially once he adapted. Adaption is of course how a player makes up for his weaknesses.

Not sure it's fair to say he faded when it got a bit rough - seemed to me to get stuck in plenty. Especially in his later years at the club. He suffered a bit during the middle stage of his career after his ankle injury and his performances dropped a level - hence why I believe the manager was looking to move him on. But he then played at his highest level during his last season

[woof woof !]

That raises the next question Woof - does the manager see the problem and will he think along the same lines as adapting the players position to try and get more out of Gerrard ?

I'm sure given Gerrards' legendary status (albeit waning ability) Rodgers perhaps doesn't yet feel confident enough to consign Stevie G to a "back up" role, and lets face it, as much as we may lament Gerrards apparent decline he's far from finished. Maybe that in itself may move Rodgers to tinker with positions and roles.

[Benny The Noon]

Oh I didn't mean moving him to a back up role - more adapting his role to get more out of him as he plays. And also will need to be subbed at times as well ?

[RedAnt]

It's not like I said Xabi's soft! But he's hardly in the same league as Mascha or Gerrard. Alonso is a deep playmaker, not a ball winner.

[Stu the Red]

It's not like I said Xabi's soft! But he's hardly in the same league as Mascha or Gerrard. Alonso is a deep playmaker, not a ball winner.

He was both, thats what made him such a great player. Far better player than Mascherano could ever dream of being.

[Benny The Noon]

It's not like I said Xabi's soft! But he's hardly in the same league as Mascha or Gerrard. Alonso is a deep playmaker, not a ball winner.

He wasn't a masher but he still held his own and can't remember he going missing much etc

Both him and masher worked as a partnership - they both had their strong points and weak points but together formed the best midfield partnership in Europe IMO

[bunglemark2]

Both are the wrong side of 30 - how could Alonso possibly be even a short term option?
It's youth, energy, a willingness to do battle, a ball winner, a tackler, a passer with vision etc. that we need.
Neither fit that mould.
Time to splash the cash and sign a quality midfielder or two.   
Oh, and a striker too