Rafa puts Gerrard in his place

[Shaggy]

Oh dear. This is a done-to-death topic but it's going to run and run...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=445727&in_page_id=1779&ct=5

Steven Gerrard returned from his match-winning heroics for England in midweek to be warned he faces further frustration over his role in Liverpool’s midfield.

After making the most of a welcome opportunity in the middle against Andorra and scoring twice in a 3-0 win, Gerrard met manager Rafa Benitez to outline his misgivings over being used on the right for his club.

It cut little ice, though, as the single-minded Liverpool manager made it clear that team considerations would always outweigh personal preferences.

There are suggestions Liverpool could face another summer of uncertainty over their skipper’s future if Benitez persists in denying him one of the two central positions currently shared between Xabi Alonso, Momo Sissoko and Javier Mascherano.

Former Anfield favourite Jamie Redknapp echoed the fears of many Liverpool followers in Sportsmail on Friday, but Benitez was quick to reassert his authority over a topic that continues to cause division, locally and nationally.

"I do not need to respond to Jamie’s comments," said Benitez. "I just need to remain focused on my team and players and how to win games.

"I can respect the views of people watching the game, but I am not a supporter. I am the manager and, as such, I have a responsibility to use players in the position I consider best for the team.

"It is up to me to analyse the team and the opposition and decide what is the best formation for achieving the balance we need. Last season was Stevie’s best so far.

"He scored 23 goals from the right of midfield. Maybe after he has scored 23 from a central position, we can continue to talk about this.

"I have spoken with him about the midweek game and the situation overall. We discussed England and his role in the team. We knew this debate was going to start again.

"It really isn’t my problem. My problem is working out what is best for the team. If it is best that he is on the right, then fine. That is what will happen.

"You ask me if it is important to keep a player happy, but it is more important to make sure the team are winning.

"Stevie is clever. He knows my idea and what is best overall. We have talked about this many times and it has never been a problem. He tells me he is happy to play wherever he is needed.

"I saw how well he played against Andorra and I was pleased for him. He was always looking to receive the ball and keep moves flowing and he showed he can win games for his country as well as his club.

"But he can play just as well on the right and he knows that, as captain, he has a responsibility. I know what makes Stevie happy and that is playing and winning and I will try to make sure that happens as often as possible for him."

With a Champions League trip to PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday, Gerrard faces an anxious wait to discover whether he will be playing at all, let alone in his favoured position, against Arsenal in Saturday’s lunchtime game at Anfield.

"He is feeling a bit of tightness in his leg muscles and is naturally tired after his exertions for England," said Benitez.

"A lot of players have been away on international duty and now face two big games for us in the space of four days. I will have to assess things carefully.

"Stevie is fit enough to play but I have to take into account how much of a risk it would be with the Champions League game following so soon."

Liverpool suffered two heavy home cup defeats to Arsenal in January and are now locked with them in a battle for third place in the league table.

[DannyMan2006]

I want him in the centre, but can see why Rafa plays him on the right. With any luck we will get a quality RW in the summer leaving Stevie G to battle it out for a central position and Pennant and the new guy battling it out for a RW position.

[Oberon]

"I do not need to respond to Jamie’s comments," said Benitez. "I just need to remain focused on my team and players and how to win games.

"He scored 23 goals from the right of midfield. Maybe after he has scored 23 from a central position, we can continue to talk about this.

"You ask me if it is important to keep a player happy, but it is more important to make sure the team are winning.

"Stevie is clever. He knows my idea and what is best overall. We have talked about this many times and it has never been a problem. He tells me he is happy to play wherever he is needed.

I've tried to use the selected quotes to show why I believe what I type.

As far as I'm concerned (and I know it doesn't matter) it's a non-issue.
If Steven Gerrard wants to win the prem with Liverpool he'll play where he's told.

Strikes me a few half wit pundits need their column inches to justify thieir continued easylife.

[Fiddy]

Redknapp is really starting to piss me off.

Get some new ties, get a less whiny voice, stop trying to make waves, and preferably get off the tv altogether

[Lee]

You know I've always stayed on the fence with the whole Stevie G middle vs right mid debate, but after reading, watching and looking into it more, I would say, yes, play him in a more central role.

Whether it's in a 442 midfield, or a 451 or 433 formation etc, he's so much more productive in the middle. But how lucky are we, to have such a midfield in Alonso, Mascherano & Gerrard, who are all CMs by trade. I'd still go for Alonso - Gerrard in the centre, but to have a midfield of all three - even if Gerrard plays on the right - I won't complain too much

[Red_Polo]

Gerrard is better in the middle and given the chance we have to get a quality RM player this summer I don't see why we should be doing anything other than building around having our best player in his best position. All the most memorable Gerrard moments have come from him being in a central position, that is quite clearly where he does the damage.

It pisses me off how some people on here confuse the issue of whether he should be played in CM with whether he should have a right to dictate that himself. Nobody is arguing he should be allowed to tell Rafa where to play him, just that he should be played in the long term SG should be in the centre.

I wouldn't even argue that having Gerrard out wide hasn't been best for the team at times given our poor alternatives in that position, but as I said before, given the chance to change the squad up by making quality additions I'd want to get Stevie back in the middle where he produces his moments of magic most regularly. Put him back in the middle and suddenly we'll get more people finding themselves in the box with only the keeper to beat, that's what Gerrard does when he's in the middle, makes those kind of chances for himself and for others.

[kurtangle01]

I saw Rafa's press conference and not once did he state that Stevie had been to see him about playing in the middle. All he said was that as Stevie had scored whilst playing in the middle the debate would return. This article is yet another mountain being made out of a mole hill.

[Dhav]

Redknapp is really starting to piss me off.

Get some new ties, get a less whiny voice, stop trying to make waves, and preferably get off the tv altogether

[Shaggy]

I saw Rafa's press conference and not once did he state that Stevie had been to see him about playing in the middle. All he said was that as Stevie had scored whilst playing in the middle the debate would return. This article is yet another mountain being made out of a mole hill.

I agree, it sounds totally like they've just made up some little fantasy about Gerrard knocking Rafa's door down to complain about being played on the right.

BUT...Rafa's quotes do seem very pointed and quite terse. Stuff like "it really isn't my problem". Sounds like he's ****ing fed up of it all.

[Dhav]

I personally do not object to Stevie playing on the right occasionally. Last season he was so effective from there because he was given pretty much a free role and he seemed to flourish - if he was hugging the touchline and just trying to get crosses in and covering the full back then he really would be wasted. Remember Houllier played him on the right as well, although perhaps not as much as Rafa does - it's always been clear that he is very capable there. It's not a bad option to have.

[kurtangle01]

I agree, it sounds totally like they've just made up some little fantasy about Gerrard knocking Rafa's door down to complain about being played on the right.

BUT...Rafa's quotes do seem very pointed and quite terse. Stuff like "it really isn't my problem". Sounds like he's ****ing fed up of it all.

Rafa's right though it isn't his problem. His problem is to make sure that the team wins and if that means that Stevie plays on the right them so be it. He's still the best right midfielder at the club and until we find a top quality right winger then I'd expect Stevie to stay there.

[glynner]

Gerrard is better in the middle and given the chance we have to get a quality RM player this summer I don't see why we should be doing anything other than building around having our best player in his best position. All the most memorable Gerrard moments have come from him being in a central position, that is quite clearly where he does the damage.

It pisses me off how some people on here confuse the issue of whether he should be played in CM with whether he should have a right to dictate that himself. Nobody is arguing he should be allowed to tell Rafa where to play him, just that he should be played in the long term SG should be in the centre.

I wouldn't even argue that having Gerrard out wide hasn't been best for the team at times given our poor alternatives in that position, but as I said before, given the chance to change the squad up by making quality additions I'd want to get Stevie back in the middle where he produces his moments of magic most regularly. Put him back in the middle and suddenly we'll get more people finding themselves in the box with only the keeper to beat, that's what Gerrard does when he's in the middle, makes those kind of chances for himself and for others.

I agree with what you're saying, but the conundrum (which has been made tricker with the Masher acquisition) is:

who should play there with him ?

Unless you play 4-5-1, in which case:

who should play the lone role up front ?

[FoxForceFive]

The thing is, regardless of a great right winger coming in, Stevie has flourished in that role. Had we a goal poacher, we'd see the results, he makes so much space, on the right for crosses from RB, & from deep passes inside whilst they worry about his movement.

As horrible as it sounds, the fact Stevie's so good means he take players away from their real duties, & leave huge gaps to exploit.

[Red_Polo]

I agree with what you're saying, but the conundrum (which has been made tricker with the Masher acquisition) is:

who should play there with him ?

Unless you play 4-5-1, in which case:

who should play the lone role up front ?

I think if Carrick and Scholes can be a balanced pairing then so can Alonso and Gerrard. It has irked me to see SG and Xabi play together a few times this season where they have played as a very flat two with each seemingly taking turns to push on, I'd much rather see Xabi always sit deep and when anyone is to push on it should be Stevie. IMO that's a real recipe for success.

4-5-1: Just as Stevie is quality out wide he is behind the front man, but I prefer him to play deeper than that driving forward from the centre circle, getting our attackers making runs forward and opposition defenders running back towards their own goal, something that is difficult to defend against and something we've lacked sorely in.

So many games we have been left trying to make the breakthrough against two lines of four and our attack is so lethargic that all we have to aim at is people with backs to goal. We need to have our players making positive runs earlier and forcing defenders to turn. Gerrard back in the middle and a quality wide player or better still two would give us that.

[Ron_Mexico]

i can see rafa's logic in playing him wide right

playing him on the right gives the team more balance

if pennant or anyone else had established themselves on the right this wouldnt be an issue

personally i hate seeing our best player hugging the touchline, waiting for service from a CM pairing that have been piss poor in distribution the entire season (alonso and momo). we are useless in the final third from the center of the park, neither one of those players have the instincts or ability that gerrard does in the final third. gerrard scored alot of goals from RM last season becasue the service he got was much better.

essientally gerrard can only make an impact by using his crossing ability, but again this is not effective because bellamy, kuyt, and crouch are woeful at finishing crosses.

it is easier to shut gerrard out of the game, simply put two men on him and he has to give up the ball, he has nowhere to go. in the center it is more difficult to mark him out of the game

the bottom line for me is how limited momo and xabi are in the final third, they offer no threat whatsoever

it pisses me off because rafa is sacrificing our best player to maintain balance, at the cost of creativity and goals