Gerrard in 'Ronaldinho' role?

[Maestro]

Manager sees Gerrard fulfilling 'Ronaldinho' role
Sep 20 2006

By Nick Smith Daily Post Staff

RAFAEL BENITEZ reckons Steven Gerrard can have a Ronaldinho-style influence on his team from the left hand side of midfield.

The Liverpool captain appeared in that position in Sunday's defeat to Chelsea and the manager has hinted that it could become Gerrard regular role.

Benitez is happy with the understanding that Mohamed Sissoko and Xabi Alonso have struck up in central midfield, and with the attacking impetus summer signing Jermaine Pennant gives the team on the right.

Although Benitez has not revealed his midfield formation for tonight's Premiership visit of Newcastle United, he is adamant that Gerrard functions at his best from wide positions on either flank.

Benitez said: "How many years has Steven been playing here at Liverpool? Eight, nine? Which season was his best? Last season - 23 goals playing on the right side.

"Who's the best player in the world? Ronaldinho. He can be a second striker or play behind the front two. But where does he play? On the left.

"He has the freedom to go inside and Steven had that last season, so you need to use the potential of the player.

"Steven is the captain, a very good player and has the quality and talent to play in every position and play well.

"If you say to me he's not a winger, I agree with you, but he is not playing as a winger.

"The key is to put the player on one side and to give him a role. If I said to him go to the byline and cross with the left foot then that is a big mistake.

"I say run inside and go towards the goal and on Sunday we had three good chances from the left side.

"I knew people would talk about Steven Gerrard on the left but I knew he would create a lot of chances."


Benitez has not ruled out Gerrard playing a role in the middle but admits that because Liverpool are creating chances with Sissoko and Alonso in the centre, he will find it difficult to upset the balance.

He added: "Last season we had Momo and Xabi in the middle, Gerrard on the right side with Riise or Kewell or Luis Garcia on the left side.

"Now we have Pennant, who is a very skilful and offensive player, and we have enough offensive power.

"If people say we are not attacking I would agree about Xabi and Momo, but we are creating a lot of chances, and controlling the midfield and we have a very good partnership.

"We now have Pennant, a winger we were looking for, who can cross it, and two midfielders who have an understanding between them that is good, so the balance is good.

"So where can you put Steve? Left or in the middle as a second striker.

"But look at England, they have played three games under Steve McClaren and where is Gerrard playing? On the right side. Why? Because he needs to find the balance and when Steven gets freedom on the right side they have that balance. And the team is winning.

"Sometimes you need to say that is your position, play here and you could be as good as you are in the middle."

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An interesting article - seems to me that Gonzalez is out of the first team picture at present.

[BobTheCharmer]

Its basically as we all predicted before the season started, 3 doesn't really go into 2. Gerrard can play anywhere but he's at his best or used to be when played in the middle. But I fear all this changing around for club & country has left him bemused & confused.

He should have been our new Souness/McMahon but instead he's been converted into something else. What I'm not sure. A man without a defined position. Box to box was his game. Now he's a cross between a Lampard & a Alonso type.

[Rich]

Its basically as we all predicted before the season started, 3 doesn't really go into 2. Gerrard can play anywhere but he's at his best or used to be when played in the middle. But I fear all this changing around for club & country has left him bemused & confused.

He should have been our new Souness/McMahon but instead he's been converted into something else. What I'm not sure. A man without a defined position. Box to box was his game. Now he's a cross between a Lampard & a Alonso type.

What happened to the old bean stuff??

[BobTheCharmer]

What happened to the old bean stuff??

sorry, I have a sore throat old boy.

[Bob]

Gerrard cannot play on the left. Right or middle for me.

[kurtangle01]

I think it's a compliment to him that Rafa feels he's so good that he can play anywhere in the team and his refernces to Zidane and Ronaldinho are definitely flattering for Stevie.

[bazza76]

Gerrard cannot play on the left. Right or middle for me.

Why not though.
As Rafa says, he doesnt expect Gerrard to go to the wide positions and start crossing in with his left foot. Gerrard is right footed as we all know, he will be allowed come in and shoot when he sees fit, and we all know what his distance shooting is like. He will be alloed to roam aswell.

[Rich]

Agreed Bob. Gerrard optimum position (when Alonso and Sissoko are firing) is on the right.

He can also perform the attacking central midfield role better than anyone.

So, it's Right or middle for me too.

[bazza76]

Agreed Bob. Gerrard optimum position (when Alonso and Sissoko are firing) is on the right.

He can also perform the attacking central midfield role better than anyone.

So, it's Right or middle for me too.

Why cant he do that on the left aswell?

[Red_Polo]

Put him in the middle middle middle ****ing middle for ****s sake PLEASE!

[Rich]

I'd have him on the right personally....

[Maestro]

Here's another interesting article (this time from Bascombe) - Gerrard seems to genuinely not care where he plays:

Gerrard: Criticism of boss makes me sick - and why I'll play anywhere Sep 20 2006
By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

ANYONE expecting sirens, screams of panic or declarations of a state of emergency must be sorely disappointed when they arrive at Anfield.

There remains an air of calm in the red half of the city, yet if you venture a few miles either side of Liverpool's boundaries there are legions prepared to work themselves into a peculiar frenzy on the club's behalf.

Steven Gerrard isn't sure whether to be bemused or insulted by the latest over reactions.

Since flying flak has been the prelude to two major trophy victories in two seasons, the skipper sounds almost sympathetic to those who have failed to learn the lessons of the Benitez era.

"Anyone who questions the tactics of Rafa Benitez must be crazy," says Gerrard, utterly unimpressed by the misguided souls claiming to be speaking on his behalf when they question what role he's playing.

"Rafa's already achieved so much in two years and all the players and supporters have total belief in him.

"I get sick of it when, if there's a bad result, everyone is talking about where I've played.

"Under Rafa I've been used to playing in different positions, and there's no point people going on about it every chance they get.

"I'm the first to admit I was as surprised as anyone when I was picked to play on the left on Sunday.

"I had to check the team sheet, but there were tactical reasons for that which nearly paid off.

"If I'd have taken my chance, as Ishould have done, it would have been because I was on the left against a defender who was having such a tough time he was subbed.

"If we'd have equalised then, people would have been saying it was a master-stroke by the manager to play me against Boulahrouz. These are the fine lines we're dealing with in football.

"I know under Rafa I'll continue to play in different positions, but that's because he thinks I'm a good player who can do a number of jobs.

"There will be times when I'm back in the middle and everyone knows that's where I prefer to be be, but the most important thing for me is always to see the team win, wherever I am."

Since the end of last season, there have been eerie echoes of 2002.

Back then, Liverpool ended the campaign on a high, were seen as the most likely title challengers, and invested heavily on the players they hoped would seal the deal. It went horribly wrong as the final step towards an elusive 19th title tripped them up again.

The similarities in circumstances cannot be ignored, but Gerrard is adamant there is a major difference between then and now.

"The players we've brought in this summer are all top class," he says. "Maybe there have been times in the past we've made signings who couldn't hack it at a club the size of Liverpool. I can tell you now that's definitely not the case this time. Players like Kuyt, Bellamy, Pennant, Aurelio, Agger and Gonzalez are quality players.

"I've seen enough of them in just a couple of months to see that.

"Nowadays if a manager spends big money on a player, people expect immediate goals or man-of-the-match performances. It doesn't always work like that. You need to settle and adjust.

"Liverpool tactics and systems aren't the same as what these players are used to at other clubs.

"The main thing is have they got the quality and will they improve us? We've seen enough alreadyto see the answeris yes. That's whywe knowwe're going to be a better team this season. We 've just got to be a bit more patient."

What's needed most is a win. A victory to create momentum, justify the continued self-belief and keep the doubters at bay for at least another month, or preferably eight months.

"Confidence comes from winning games, but we haven't lost our belief in the dressing room," says Gerrard. "Of course we want to win and put on a good performance tonight, but it would be wrong to say we're desperate to get three points.

"It's not a desperate situation. We'regoing into this just like any other home game, knowing the pressure is on us to play well and win the game, as it always is.

"If that happens, things will already start to look better, but the last thing we want is everyone getting anxious already. It's far too early for that, and I think a lot of it stems from things which have been said and written making out we're already playing 'must-win' games. We're not.

"We're playing very important games, but there's no need to start panicking.

"As a captain, I actuallyfind it easier to do what's expected of me after a defeat because you know the lads are hurt and want to react in the right way. You don't really need to say much to them, because everyone is determined to put it right.

"Sometimes it's harder to get through to players when things are going well, because the focus can go a bit more if you think everything is going well."

[Bob]

Why not though.
As Rafa says, he doesnt expect Gerrard to go to the wide positions and start crossing in with his left foot. Gerrard is right footed as we all know, he will be allowed come in and shoot when he sees fit, and we all know what his distance shooting is like. He will be alloed to roam aswell.

No i'm not buying that! We have one of the best Right/CMs in the world, and we have our manager saying we should play him on the left. NO! NO! NO!

When on the right, he centers the ball well - recent assist in the Euro qualifiers for England springs to mind. On the left he'll not be able to do this effectively.

**** it, your trying to tell me Jermaine ****ing Pennant is keeping Gerrard on the left. NO! NO! NO! I like our players to be professional at the club, but if these quotes are accurate i hope Gerrard banged on Rafa's door asking him if he is calving a giraffe!

I'm all for Gerrard playing without restriction in fact i advocate it! But for the love of god from the Right and not the Left! NO! NO! NO!

[Maestro]

So you're against it then Bob?

[Bob]

Yes! Yes! Yes!