Repeating myself ad nauseum: Gerrard's Happiness

[brendan]

I've been worrying about this for ages, and it's getting worse by the day. Now "after discussion with Benitez" McClaren has decided that Gerrard could be the man to replace Derek on the right of midfield.

And I can bet that, regardless of any platitudes coming out of the Gerrard camp, that he's well fcuked off about it.

First the captaincy goes to that slitty-eyed cockney halfwit Terry ("hurr hurr, we might get some of the new lads up to do a song for us, hurr hurr". YOU CNUT!) and now the two most important managers in his career seem to have decided for him that his most treasured position - where he LOVES to play more than any other - isn't actually where he should play.

So, like with Liverpool, Gerrard sees that his all-round brilliance as a footballer has decreed that he must watch on while lesser players get his treasured CM role.

How many times has he said he prefers playing in the middle as opposed to the right?
How often does he need to repeat himself that he isn't a "support striker"?

And what happens? Both of the above. For club and country.

And I'll bet that McClaren wouldn't have dared put him out there if he hadn't played so many games there for Liverpool.

Let's take a long, objective look at this:

Our best player, and captain, is not playing in his favourite position for club OR country, and the latter is ENTIRELY due to the former.

He is now entering his peak years as a footballer. Do you really think he'll let it carry on before he starts to make more grumbling noises?

I don't.

I'm worried.

[Shaggy]

I realise he said he didn't like playing as a support striker but has Gerrard ever said he doesn't like playing on the right?

He scored 20 odd goals from that position (more often than not) last season and, unless I was mistaken, he seemed happier on the pitch than he had done for a long time.

Not worried personally, although I would be if it was confirmed that Stevie doesn't like playing there.

[Bob]

What do you want me to say?

Gerrard will be at LFC for life, i'm sure of that!

[brendan]

I realise he said he didn't like playing as a support striker but has Gerrard ever said he doesn't like playing on the right?

He scored 20 odd goals from that position (more often than not) last season and, unless I was mistaken, he seemed happier on the pitch than he had done for a long time.

Not worried personally, although I would be if it was confirmed that Stevie doesn't like playing there.

It doesn't take a genius to take his oft-repeated "I prefer to play in the middle" quotes to mean that he prefers to play in the middle.

[tsb]

Versatility can sadly become a curse. The fact that it is Gerrard who is asked to fill the role speaks of his abundance of talent - and Lampards lack thereof.

[Rich]

Good point - however, how do we accommodate Gerrard in a central two?

Or do we look into ways of playing three centrally?

It's a very tough question to answer in my opinion.

[carrsim]

play in the middle for someone else

captain liverpool to number 19 on the right wing and be hailed as the greatest player ever to play for the club

no brainer

[bazza76]

I've been worrying about this for ages, and it's getting worse by the day. Now "after discussion with Benitez" McClaren has decided that Gerrard could be the man to replace Derek on the right of midfield.

And I can bet that, regardless of any platitudes coming out of the Gerrard camp, that he's well fcuked off about it.

First the captaincy goes to that slitty-eyed cockney halfwit Terry ("hurr hurr, we might get some of the new lads up to do a song for us, hurr hurr". YOU CNUT!) and now the two most important managers in his career seem to have decided for him that his most treasured position - where he LOVES to play more than any other - isn't actually where he should play.

So, like with Liverpool, Gerrard sees that his all-round brilliance as a footballer has decreed that he must watch on while lesser players get his treasured CM role.

How many times has he said he prefers playing in the middle as opposed to the right?
How often does he need to repeat himself that he isn't a "support striker"?

And what happens? Both of the above. For club and country.

And I'll bet that McClaren wouldn't have dared put him out there if he hadn't played so many games there for Liverpool.

Let's take a long, objective look at this:

Our best player, and captain, is not playing in his favourite position for club OR country, and the latter is ENTIRELY due to the former.

He is now entering his peak years as a footballer. Do you really think he'll let it carry on before he starts to make more grumbling noises?

I don't.

I'm worried.

Im not worried, I know he will always be likely to play his better stuff for LFC. Im sure Rafa told Maclaren more about Gerrard than was mentioned too, doubt he advised him that stevie is just a right midfielder. He gets alot of freedom at Liverpool, which I would have guessed Rafa advised Mclaren on for England.
Can see the likes of Pennant, SWP and yer man from Spurs getting some games on the right anyway.
Rafa has told Stevie, he wants to help him be the best allround midfield player in the world, and he has improved Gerrard game since he came here, gerrard is aware of Rafa's influence and the pair have talked about his role in the team, changing positions etc. They have admitted as much.
It would be too un Rafa like for him not to explain everything. Stevie wont ever go anywhere while Rafa is in charge, mark my words.

[Shaggy]

It doesn't take a genius to take his oft-repeated "I prefer to play in the middle" quotes to mean that he prefers to play in the middle.

I don't recall him saying that since his rather successful campaign last season. He's not daft, and after a season like that I'm fairly sure he'd be open minded to the idea of playing on the right.

[Dhav]

By playing on the right he has a free role though doesn't he? I mean he's not restricted to going up and down the flanks, he comes inside as well, gets forward etc

i'm sure he likes having that kind of freedom. I think that's why we saw the best of him last season.

[red g]

I've been worrying about this for ages, and it's getting worse by the day. Now "after discussion with Benitez" McClaren has decided that Gerrard could be the man to replace Derek on the right of midfield.

And I can bet that, regardless of any platitudes coming out of the Gerrard camp, that he's well fcuked off about it.

First the captaincy goes to that slitty-eyed cockney halfwit Terry ("hurr hurr, we might get some of the new lads up to do a song for us, hurr hurr". YOU CNUT!) and now the two most important managers in his career seem to have decided for him that his most treasured position - where he LOVES to play more than any other - isn't actually where he should play.

So, like with Liverpool, Gerrard sees that his all-round brilliance as a footballer has decreed that he must watch on while lesser players get his treasured CM role.

How many times has he said he prefers playing in the middle as opposed to the right?
How often does he need to repeat himself that he isn't a "support striker"?

And what happens? Both of the above. For club and country.

And I'll bet that McClaren wouldn't have dared put him out there if he hadn't played so many games there for Liverpool.

Let's take a long, objective look at this:

Our best player, and captain, is not playing in his favourite position for club OR country, and the latter is ENTIRELY due to the former.

He is now entering his peak years as a footballer. Do you really think he'll let it carry on before he starts to make more grumbling noises?

I don't.

I'm worried.

think his anger will be more directed at fat fwank thats whose got his position. What does stevie do? say i am not playing on the right.

[Bob]

By playing on the right he has a free role though doesn't he? I mean he's not restricted to going up and down the flanks, he comes inside as well, gets forward etc

i'm sure he likes having that kind of freedom. I think that's why we saw the best of him last season.

Correct, Gerrard is better utilised without discipline. frees him up to bomb forward - i think he's better offensively.

It doesn't hurt the team so much as he covers a helluva lot of ground (backtracks) anyway!

[archimede]

Been a tremendously gifted natural player can "harm" a player.

Steve Nicol whilst not a spectacular as Stevie G was the definitive utility player for me. RB, LB across the middle of the park - he may even filled in a cente back. However he will never be remebered quite as misty eyed as Phil Neal at RB (who he was bought to replace), Alan Kennedy at left back etc. although he was as good a player. He never made one his own. You dont think "Steve nichol the left back".

It has also harmed players such as John O' Shea. great natural ability - but has stalled becasue he has never made a position his own.

My own feeling is that Stevie ihas suffered (if you could say that) on a greater scale by his versitility.

My own feeling on him getting pissed off and moving is the same as it was the previous two summers que sera que sera.

Ian callaghan never got pissed off out on the right or in the centre. He was just bllody glad to play for Liverpool (never mind captain them to Euro success). Gerrard is the fulcrom of Liverpools current team. He can achive even greater things. If he doesent like how it happens he can link up with Chelsea, Real Madrid etc and wonder how it all went wrong like Michael.

[brendan]

Hahahaha

A post about Steven Gerrard that has John O'Shea in it.

I would bet my hat that you are Irish.

[Hamstrung]

Problem is, it doesn't really matter where he plays, he's that good.

Only place he seems less than effective is when played as a support striker. If we're going to play 3 in midfield that needs working on.