Liverpool FC Forum

by **66-1112520797** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 7:48 am

I havent downloaded the game yet, but some fella told me the result this morning which left me fuming all day.
So I decicded to log on and have a look, and its the same old same old everyones f.ucked off.

So having not seen the game but and just our line-up can somebody please tell me honestly why Zenden would get the nod over Englands best midfielder in CM?
Now Zenden might of had a decent game I dont know yet, he did have a good game against the Brum in midfield granted. But he is knocking on a bit and Gerrard was rested midweek, so why not throw a more energetic powerful midfilelder in the 'engine room,' surely Steven Gerrard should of played that role especially against a side like Arsenal.There is no real reason in my mind why Gerrard should not of played there, so is Rafa flexing his power in authority in keeping Gerrard out wide? Is he showing Gerrard who's boss, type of thing. He comes accross as a very stubborn bloke good or bad, but I cannot understand for the life of me why he insists Gerrard should be stuck out wide and a journeyman of Zenden's status fills Momo's void. Its baffling to say the least.

I probably would of swallowed the result better if our strongest players were played in their strongest positions. But it seems to me Rafa does not want to appear like, letting players get their own way, hence Gerrard moving into the middle. It has also appeared to me after that result Rafa will cut off his nose to spite his face, good or bad, what must Gerrard be thinking ?

by **account deleted by request** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 7:53 am

Bamaga man wrote:I havent downloaded the game yet, but some fella told me the result this morning which left me fuming all day.
So I decicded to log on and have a look, and its the same old same old everyones f.ucked off.

So having not seen the game but and just our line-up can somebody please tell me honestly why Zenden would get the nod over Englands best midfielder in CM?
Now Zenden might of had a decent game I dont know yet, but surely Steven Gerrard should of played that role especially against a side like Arsenal.
There is no real reason in my mind why Gerrard should not of played there, so is Rafa flexing his power in authority in keeping Gerrard out wide? Is he showing Gerrard who's boss, type of thing. He comes accross as a very stubborn bloke good or bad, but I cannot understand for the life of me why he insists Gerrard should be stuck out wide and a journeyman of Zenden's status fills Momo's void. Its baffling to say the least.

I probably would of swallowed the result better if our strongest players were played in their strongest positions. But it seems to me Rafa does not want to appear like, letting players get their own way, hence Gerrard moving into the middle. It has also appeared to me after that result Rafa will cut off his nose to spite his face, good or bad, what must Gerrard be thinking ?

Maybe you should look at it as a choice between Zenden and Pennant rather than where Gerrard plays.

by **66-1112520797** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 7:59 am

s@int wrote:
Bamaga man wrote:I havent downloaded the game yet, but some fella told me the result this morning which left me fuming all day.
So I decicded to log on and have a look, and its the same old same old everyones f.ucked off.

So having not seen the game but and just our line-up can somebody please tell me honestly why Zenden would get the nod over Englands best midfielder in CM?
Now Zenden might of had a decent game I dont know yet, but surely Steven Gerrard should of played that role especially against a side like Arsenal.
There is no real reason in my mind why Gerrard should not of played there, so is Rafa flexing his power in authority in keeping Gerrard out wide? Is he showing Gerrard who's boss, type of thing. He comes accross as a very stubborn bloke good or bad, but I cannot understand for the life of me why he insists Gerrard should be stuck out wide and a journeyman of Zenden's status fills Momo's void. Its baffling to say the least.

I probably would of swallowed the result better if our strongest players were played in their strongest positions. But it seems to me Rafa does not want to appear like, letting players get their own way, hence Gerrard moving into the middle. It has also appeared to me after that result Rafa will cut off his nose to spite his face, good or bad, what must Gerrard be thinking ?

Maybe you should look at it as a choice between Zenden and Pennant rather than where Gerrard plays.

Well my choice would of been to play Pennant out wide, IMO there is less of a risk in playing Pennant out wide than Zenden in the middle.

by **account deleted by request** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 8:04 am

Zenden played well against Birmingham, Pennant didnt. Maybe that made Rafa's mind up? I certainly dont think it was anything else.

by **112-1077774096** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 8:09 am

im with you on this bamanga man, why play players out of position when there is no need to

by **red37** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 8:12 am

the loss of Sissoko and Garcia were critical to our fortunes in this fixture: i dont blame Rafa at all. Gerrard is as usefully flexible to shine in both positions. Zenden was coming off the back of an improved display and Alonso as the fulcrum provides the supply to the attack. Sissoko and his energy were sadly missed. Garcia and his oportunism equally so.

but the real culprits were gonzalez who looked as though he's still suffering some effects from last weeks prang maybe (im being fair to him there-infact his confidence is shot to pieces in truth) Zenden eventually justified your point in making this thread in the first place and who remains an enigma. and Pennant, who reluctantly trudged onto the pitch in order to proceed to almost get himself sent from it virtually straight away. was of course never at the races, even accounting for the fact he (again) had the chance to show his ex-boss what he'd missed all this time....basically Gerrard appeard to have the worlds biggest 'cob' on- again. so in reality there werent that many avenues open to Rafa other than the one he went with. his plan wasnt at fault. only the application of it.

by **66-1112520797** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 8:13 am

bamanga man

Cheers Peepee

by **112-1077774096** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 8:19 am

Bamaga man wrote:
bamanga man

Cheers Peepee

no problem bogey man

by **66-1112520797** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 8:25 am

so in reality there werent that many avenues open to Rafa other than the one he went with. his plan wasnt at fault. only the application of it.

Pennant-Alonso-Gerrard-Riise
Pennant-Alonso-Gerrard-Gonzalez
Pennant-Alonso-Gerrard-Zenden

In my opinion with his lack of avenue's Rafa should of had Pennant as a starter, then his only dilema would of been the left. Obviously he didnt have that bad a dilema in picking Zenden in the middle and Gonzo out wide, but having those two in a quartet of four against a side like Arsenal is to weak IMO.
I think Pennant although isnt on top form himself would still offer more than Gonzo on the other flank, which asks another question ........... How does Gonzo make the starting line-up and Pennant does not? Pennant would of been adequate, Alonso and Gerrard in the middle and personally I would of liked to of seen Riise on the other side with Warnock behind him (if he wasnt injured).

by **account deleted by request** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 8:38 am

Pennant never even tried against Birmingham he was a fking disgrace, maybe that had something to do with Rafa's reluctance to start him ? We have no ready made replacement for Gerrard on the right other than Garcia (inj) or Pennant. If it makes you feel any better Bamaga Gerrard played in the middle for most of the second half but it made no difference

by **66-1112520797** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 8:40 am

s@int wrote:Pennant never even tried against Birmingham he was a fking disgrace, maybe that had something to do with Rafa's reluctance to start him ? We have no ready made replacement for Gerrard on the right other than Garcia (inj) or Pennant.

But who's our only real replacemant for Momo in the middle ?

And also when Carra wasnt playing well earlier on in the season and Reina too they werent dropped. I've gone off topic slightly with that but I would of stuck with Pennant even if it was for that game and played Gerrard back where he can do damage. I think Rafa doesnt like the idea of bowing down to players and media alike when its concerning Gerrard playing in the middle.

by **account deleted by request** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 8:44 am

In theory we have two Zenden and Gerrard, in practise we have 1.5 because Zenden although he didnt play that bad is just not up to the job.(but at least he tried)

by **red37** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 8:53 am

Bamaga man wrote:But who's our only real replacemant for Momo in the middle ?

he left at the end of last season. other than that Gerrard at the moment while Momo is out.

by **67-1161385641** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 8:58 am

Play me there, I'd do a cracking job, I can see it now, me running down the middle, dancing past Rio Ferdinand and scoring a beautiful curler into the top corner, the crowd start going mental and I go mental too and then we chant "Rafa get your dirk out" and I get replaced by Kuyt.

Zenden is a decent player, but that's it decent, he's not someone who can come into a team and make a massive impact. He'll do you a decent job, but he won't be an outstanding player. Pennant the jury is still out, I rate this lad a lot, but he hasn't shown much as of yet, but I'd much rather see Pennant on the right and Gerrard in the middle. It gives us more dynamics and more of a cutting edge.

by **66-1112520797** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 9:13 am

I think Rafa doesnt like the idea of bowing down to players and media alike when its concerning Gerrard playing in the middle.

Maybe just this once he should take a leaf out of Sven Goran Erickssons book

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