Liverpool FC Forum

[stmichael]

The problem with the midfield is the balance at the end of the day. Gerrard and Lucas are good players but lack mobility and can get played around quite easily. When being asked to sit so deep they don't have the mobility or pace to push up the field quicker. They've both been very good individually in a defensive sense when we've been dropping deep, but they are a huge part of the reason we sit deep and invite pressure onto us for 50 odd mins a game.

It shows now in Gerrard's game when he rarely gets rested or taken off. Any time he plays 3-4 days after an international game or cup game, his level drops quite significantly.

[Stu the Red]

The problem with the midfield is the balance at the end of the day. Gerrard and Lucas are good players but lack mobility and can get played around quite easily. When being asked to sit so deep they don't have the mobility or pace to push up the field quicker. They've both been very good individually in a defensive sense when we've been dropping deep, but they are a huge part of the reason we sit deep and invite pressure onto us for 50 odd mins a game.

It shows now in Gerrard's game when he rarely gets rested or taken off. Any time he plays 3-4 days after an international game or cup game, his level drops quite significantly.

Would you say that Carrick and Cleverly are more mobile than Gerrard and Lucas?

[Benny The Noon]

I would say Cleverly is and Carrick is as mobile as what Xabi was.

[Stu the Red]

I would say Cleverly is and Carrick is as mobile as what Xabi was.

And I'd say you're talking out your backside. Cleverly is average physically at best. Carrick is definately not as mobile as Gerrard still is even at 33.

and what about when they had Scholes and Carrick in central midfield and won the league?

Were they mobile then?

For christ sake everyones making it sound as if Steven hasn't got legs. Just because he's no longer lightening over ten yards and can't bomb round the pitch doing f*cking roy of the rovers super hero like performances getting on the end of his own through balls any more you lot are writing the lad off.

He's still fairly mobile, alot more so than ALOT of midfielders in that league. Like I said earlier, just because because he's miles past his best, which we must not forget was out of this world, doesn't make him a bad player. Infact, I'm struggling to think of a centre midfielder I'd rather have than him who plays in this league still.

[Benny The Noon]

You didnt ask about Cleverly physically - you asked if he was mobile and he is , i also didnt state that Carrick is as mobile as Gerrard.

The thing is one of Gerrards best assets was the "bombing" forward and the bursts into the box - he has lost a lot of that BUT he is still our best midfielder. We do need to look for replacements very soon though

[Stu the Red]

You didnt ask about Cleverly physically - you asked if he was mobile and he is , i also didnt state that Carrick is as mobile as Gerrard.

The thing is one of Gerrards best assets was the "bombing" forward and the bursts into the box - he has lost a lot of that BUT he is still our best midfielder. We do need to look for replacements very soon though

That was far from one of his best assests. Thats just how Benitez chose to use him because he didn't understand Gerrard's game well enough and the style he wanted to play didn't suit the best player the clubs ever had. So that player had to adapt, which he did, easily. Because he's that f*cking good.

Gerrard's best attributes have, and always will be his aggression, determination, shooting from a distance and his one on one tackling. He was physically alround a monster, now not so, but to say that Carrick and Cleverly are more mobile now is complete boll0cks. Anyway, the point was, because you obviously missed it, that if United can win the league with players ALOT less mobile than Gerrard and even Lucas to an extent then that proves beyond any doubt that is not the reason for the poor second half showings.

What it also proves is that if you have enough quality around the team, you can mask players weaknesses. Gerrard's are exposed greatly, due to the Sh*t around him. Much like Sami's were when he played next to Traore. As I said, anyone who thinks Gerrard is part of the problem is a deluded tool.

You're one of those anyway though GYBS!

[Benny The Noon]

When did i say Gerrard was part of any problem ?

One manager got the best out of Gerrard - Rafa - the years he played under Rafa was the years he was one of the best in the world - because Rafa utlized to get the best out of him. To say Rafa didnt understand Gerrards game is laughable beyond belief - he understood his game and any other players game more than you could ever. .

Again i never said that Carrick was more mobile - but Cleverly is a more mobile player - that doesnt make him better than Gerrard - he just covers the ground quicker because he has youth on his side.

The reason for our second half poor showings is because we lose control of the game , the team sits deeper and deeper and conceeds possession to the opposition.Both Lucas and Gerrard dont have the same "stamina" they did before their injuries and they could be suffering during the second half and fresh legs are possibly needed in the middle of the park. Either way the players in the middle of the park - Lucas/Gerrard/Henderson etc have no control of the game.

[Hustler 2]

Gerrards short + long range passing, vision + scoring, is still pretty good.
The thing is , his game has changed and he not very often bombs forward into the box. He plays more like Lucas every game.
Just that he might need a wheelchair to go box to box for 90 mins.
Ha ha ha

[Hustler 2]

StuYesThatStu

Thats just how Benitez chose to use him because he didn't understand Gerrard's game well enough
!

That is majorly wrong. And you call me a know nothing tool

Rafa always new Gerrards game, and his teams always revolved around Stevie G. FACT !!

"Spew the red" is one of the biggest clueless muppets this forum has ever seen.

He dont rate Hendo or Johnson, but he rates Dean Ashton.

Dont pay any attention to "spew" ,Just laugh at the fool.

[Stu the Red]

When did i say Gerrard was part of any problem ?

One manager got the best out of Gerrard - Rafa - the years he played under Rafa was the years he was one of the best in the world - because Rafa utlized to get the best out of him. To say Rafa didnt understand Gerrards game is laughable beyond belief - he understood his game and any other players game more than you could ever. .

Again i never said that Carrick was more mobile - but Cleverly is a more mobile player - that doesnt make him better than Gerrard - he just covers the ground quicker because he has youth on his side.

The reason for our second half poor showings is because we lose control of the game , the team sits deeper and deeper and conceeds possession to the opposition.Both Lucas and Gerrard dont have the same "stamina" they did before their injuries and they could be suffering during the second half and fresh legs are possibly needed in the middle of the park. Either way the players in the middle of the park - Lucas/Gerrard/Henderson etc have no control of the game.

[Hustler 2]

Worrying thing for me is, we look very weak as a unit, not just midfield, there is no cohesion.