stu_the_red wrote:stmichael wrote:stu_the_red wrote:For me Xabi is a holding midfielder. His alround game is oustanding.
Stu, Alonso can definitely function as the holding midfielder. Gerrard can then be free to maraud more than he does currently. Infact this option could work because it would probably result in some swashbuckling performances and see us really leather some of the lesser teams. However I still think that Xabi's ability to dictate the game is restricted somewhat by being asked to perform the holding role.
Alonso dictates the game from a deep position. In the same way Vieira does, Xavi does and Josep Guardiola did. Thats his best position, sitting infront of the defence, anchoring the midfield, holding his position, however you want to put it. His defensive ability in my opinion isn't far off what Hamann's was at all. He's a better alround player now than Hamann ever was.
However the reason i think it won't work is because of what you've said. Gerrard will do the attacking and Xabi will do the defending. Thats too one-demensional. Both need to do both. Gerrard is probably the best tackler at the club. He has the ability to go from box to box winning tackles and driving the team on. People talk about his creative quaities, for me, they're good but not what i'd describe as class. His ability to spot a clever pass isn't what Danny Murphy's was or Xabi's is, the execution of his passes isn't as good, however he has the drive, pace and power to force things upon opponents. He should use that power to basically do what Carragher does around Sami, sweep up and get involved everywhere else.
He is a box to box midfielder, he's not an attacking midfielder as some people like to claim. If you take away Gerrard's tackling, aggression and determination you lose half of the player just as you do if you fix him to a holding position. He doesn't have the intelligence to hold and dictate, nor does he have the the skill and technical ability to be the main creative player.
He does have the ability to force a game though through sheer persistance, drive and heart. Gerrard is VERY good at most things, the only attributes i'd say he's class at are shooting, tackling, aggression, determination, leadership, stamina and alround power and pace.
At the minute though, when he's out wide, we have balance, when he's not, we don't.
I agree with most of what you said there Stu, but it does raise the question of whether Gerrard has a long term future in the central midfield? High tempo box to box central midfielders playing in a 4-4-2 or as part of a central midfield PARING seem to be going out of fashion at the top level.
Would it be wise for Gerrard to become a permanent right sided midfield player? It seems that maybe this position would get the best out of Gerrard undoubted abilities.
I’m not totally sure how the next few years will pan out for Gerrard, I have no doubt that he is a quality player, and will continue to be successful for us, but I’m not sure in which role this will be.
