Liverpool FC Forum

[parchpea]

Either way, in that hole or taking the ball off defenders Gerrard will need to change his game and the club his role. Saying that if we do get some real runners in over the summer, legs around him it will help him no question, take the load off. The days when he was the all conquering hero covering the whole park look to have slipped this year thats a cert so time for a re think. Would help if we had the squad to pick and choose his games but at the moment he still has to play even when hes not bang on.

[Zidane]

He's not a good CM, he has all the talent in the world to be a world class CM but he doesn't have the mentality the position needs.  If someone could really get him to settle down and play within the tactics the manager wants he could still get another 4-5 years being a top player.. at the rate he's going though he'll be lucky to get 2.  He needs to reinvent himself to still have his footballing talents shine but I don't know if we will see it happen.

[Thommo's perm]

Why cant players spend time in the reserves to get their fitness up like they used to? This rushing them back isnt always the best thing

[metalhead]

Well he is a CM, always been, used to be. I remember in Houllier's final season in charge he single handed took us to a CL spot with some magnificent performances in the CM role. Maybe it depends on the system, in the system we are using I would like to see him more forward.

[Kenny Kan]

Agreed with Metalhead. He's always IMHO had the typical attributes of a box to box midfielder. His best partnership in midfield was alongside Didi Hamman and they were a good combo. People have always pointed the finger at the lack of discipline in his game to be played there, when he played alongside a 'proper' sitter in Hamman the issue never was mentioned or scrutinised as much. Since then we've had a few managers who instead of really building a side around him (Capello and Ericksson too), he's been the victim of his own ability and slotted in here or there (and done well mind) but he's never established a position like many footballers do. And because of this, the debate continues on as to where he best should be played, had we stuck with him and kept as a CM and brought in another 'sitter' to play alongside him, then I don't think this debate would have continued on. Now the lads older and hasn't got the legs to be that box2box midfielder anymore, he may well become the 'sitter' himself over the next couple of years, who knows.

[stmichael]

It may sound ridiculous but you need to compare Gerrard in CM to somebody like Wilshere for example. I'm not for one minute saying Wilshere is a better player but for one so young his game appreciation and decision making is second to none. Gerrard in that position, his first thought will be "how can I do the most damage with one pass?". He'll then more often than not force the issue and give possession away. This mindset is more acceptable when you are higher up the pitch as you have much tighter perameters in terms of success or failure. You are allowed to make mistakes as it doesn't affect the side as much. If he's in the centre he's far too gun ho and it absolves him of responsibilities as he doesn't think about the shape of the side.

[PabloMedina28]

It may sound ridiculous but you need to compare Gerrard in CM to somebody like Wilshere for example. I'm not for one minute saying Wilshere is a better player but for one so young his game appreciation and decision making is second to none. Gerrard in that position, his first thought will be "how can I do the most damage with one pass?". He'll then more often than not force the issue and give possession away. This mindset is more acceptable when you are higher up the pitch as you have much tighter perameters in terms of success or failure. You are allowed to make mistakes as it doesn't affect the side as much. If he's in the centre he's far too gun ho and it absolves him of responsibilities as he doesn't think about the shape of the side.

[metalhead]

Despite he is our top scorer this season and our best player  he is our new scapegoat

[jacdaniel]

Despite he is our top scorer this season and our best player  he is our new scapegoat

Unfortunately he gets judged by the insanely high standards he has set for himself.

While still a very good player, he is not playing anywhere near his old levels.

[metalhead]

but that doesn't mean that we should sell him right? 

despite some good performances this season from him he has been inconsistent, why? is it because the team in the past 2 years have been playing well below their standard? is it because inconsistency is coming from niggling injuries and suspensions that is hampering his sharpness (remember England friendly game).

Lets sell Gerrard and play Suso instead he is so much better or buy Hamsik or Defour or who ever they are some FM manager players deemed to be quality players but no one have bought them yet from the Seria A league and Belgian League respectively

[burjennio]

I dont think hes been our best player this season MH. I honestly dont know who Id give that accolade to tbh. I think Lucas has been the most consistent but hes not the kind of player that wins matches. Even Pepe Reina has been uncharacteristically off colour this term.

To come back to St Michaels point I think Stevie got by for so long on pure athleticsm. His strength, acceleration and drive were just so phenomenal that he really did win matches for us on his own time and time again. As hes gotten a little older those attributes have lessened with age (like on footy manager! ) as those of us who have passed that 30 mark will testify to so you have to start relying on your intelligence on the pitch rather than being able to leave people standing with sheer pace and power. Personally I think that Stevie is at that stage now but is having trouble reinventing himself as a more reserved type of player, I still think he could be great as a supporting forward like he was in the last few seasons, but I also think he has the passing range and vision to play the role Xabi Alonso did in the deep lying playmaker / quaterback role if he can be disciplined enough to hold his position and let others, such as Merieles supply the energy going forward. Didi Hamman adapted his game more defensively when Gerrard burst onto the scene with great success and Im sure Stevie could do the same to let others take over the attacking mantle.

[jacdaniel]

but that doesn't mean that we should sell him right? 

despite some good performances this season from him he has been inconsistent, why? is it because the team in the past 2 years have been playing well below their standard? is it because inconsistency is coming from niggling injuries and suspensions that is hampering his sharpness (remember England friendly game).

Lets sell Gerrard and play Suso instead he is so much better or buy Hamsik or Defour or who ever they are some FM manager players deemed to be quality players but no one have bought them yet from the Seria A league and Belgian League respectively

Definitly a No to selling him! 

Sticking with the England team has obviously not helped him at all as well as the niggling injuries you mentioned.   
I think his form has also gone downhill due to his unhappiness at our decline over the last 18 months or so.

He is a still a great player but we can't rely on him as much these days.  (And we shouldn't have had to so much over the years).

[metalhead]

I dont think hes been our best player this season MH. I honestly dont know who Id give that accolade to tbh. I think Lucas has been the most consistent but hes not the kind of player that wins matches. Even Pepe Reina has been uncharacteristically off colour this term.

To come back to St Michaels point I think Stevie got by for so long on pure athleticsm. His strength, acceleration and drive were just so phenomenal that he really did win matches for us on his own time and time again. As hes gotten a little older those attributes have lessened with age (like on footy manager! ) as those of us who have passed that 30 mark will testify to so you have to start relying on your intelligence on the pitch rather than being able to leave people standing with sheer pace and power. Personally I think that Stevie is at that stage now but is having trouble reinventing himself as a more reserved type of player, I still think he could be great as a supporting forward like he was in the last few seasons, but I also think he has the passing range and vision to play the role Xabi Alonso did in the deep lying playmaker / quaterback role if he can be disciplined enough to hold his position and let others, such as Merieles supply the energy going forward. Didi Hamman adapted his game more defensively when Gerrard burst onto the scene with great success and Im sure Stevie could do the same to let others take over the attacking mantle.

I'm not saying he is our best player this season, I'm just saying he is our best player in general

and I agree with your post

[crazyhorse]

Stevie has been our talisman for a lot of years. He has had indifferent seasons before and bounced back. He has also had a world cup last summer and injuries this year.
At the moment it is stupid to start saying he is a spent force.

[PabloMedina28]

Despite he is our top scorer this season and our best player  he is our new scapegoat

You said that no one else