Gerrard back in the middle?

[StevieG08]

He is a class above the fat one.

So who makes way if Steve is playing in the middle?

Surely your not suggesting he play as a holding mid?

No not suggesting he plays as a holding mid, mate. Just saying that he can play a disciplined role despite what people say about him.

Can see Rafa rotating all our midfielders as he does with the rest of the team, what our best combo is i have no idea!

I think there's every chance we will see SG moved about again in the future as he can play a number of positions well.

[kurtangle01]

My worry is that had we had someone like Tevez or even Diego ( I know he´s not been linked ) in our team, would Gerrard have been on the bench?

Not a chance.

[bazza76]

I think SG showed tonight that he can be disciplined when taking on a central role.

how badly did they miss his surging runs and attacking play though.
Luckily at Liverpool we have specialist defensive midfielders that England could only dream of having.

[DannyMan2006]

My worry is that had we had someone like Tevez or even Diego ( I know he´s not been linked ) in our team, would Gerrard have been on the bench?

There's no doubt they would be better options than SG in the withdrawn striker role, but SG is the best CM in the world I would suggest that either Xabi or Mascher would have been dropped.

The reason Gerrard had been playing on the right was due to Rafas obsession with goals from midfield and due to an embarrasment of riches in centre midfield.

He had Xabi, Momo and Gerrard. 3 into 2 don't go. He put Gerrard on the right and he scored a shed load of goals, so it was a no brainer. He bought Pennant so Gerrard could go back in the middle, but initially JP was poor. This meant Gerrard back out on the right.

This summer Rafa has already stated that his number one targets are wingers, not forwards, so expect Gerrard to be back in the centre.

Rafa has never mentioned that Gerrard isn't good enough for the centre, just the fact that due to the teams short comings attack wise he needed stevie elsewhere. Hopefully that will change.

[tomasjj]

double post

[tomasjj]

4321

SG as one of the attacking mids.
Sorted.

We have also played our best football using that formation.

[Fiddy]

4231

Stevie as one of the attacking midfielders.
Sorted.

or 3-5-2....

[Sebastian Rooks]

My question is though: could we be a stronger team in some cases with Gerrard on the bench?

Finnan.Carra.Agger.Riise
Simao.Xabi.Masher.Silva
..........Tevez
.................Kuyt

in stead of

Finnan.Carra.Agger.Riise
Simao.Xabi.Masher.Silva
..........Gerrard
.................Kuyt

I hope we have those players to choose from!

[einar]

I hope we have those players to choose from!

I know, I´m being optimistic.

[Zapater]

I don't like Gerrard in the advanced role, imo he just doesn't create enough and it's not better than having another striker. For me he has to either play on the right or in the centre in a regulation CM position. The thing is the only way we can afford to play him in the centre is if Mascherano is playing. None of our other midfielders are solid enough defensivly to allow him to roam around as he pleases.

So, say Sissoko goes, that still leaves Lucas and Alonso in the team; so that's 3 players fighting over one position provided that Mascherano plays. On the right wing there will be the new right winger and presumably Pennant. That'd leave Gerrard competing with 2 other players for a spot in either of those positions. Even though I don't agree with it, if we don't sign a player like Tevez I think we'll see a lot of Gerrard in that advanced role this season. Something I'm not exactly looking forward to.

Anyway, if we sell Momo that means that Gerrard has much more of a shot of starting in the centre, although what will scare me is if Mascherano gets injured or something. That'd force Alonso to play with Lucas (providing Sissoko is gone) and we could be in a spot of bother in a situation like that.

btw, I haven't seen enough of Lucas but I'm assuming that he can't protect the back four and afford defensive protection to play next to play Gerrard like say Hamann or Mascherano can. Although I may be wrong but I picked him as more of a Baraja type midfielder, i.e a more defensive version of Gerrard.

[einar]

I think Steve and Xabi can work well 90% of the time. And Steve and Masher of course.

What I am wondering is the 10%

If Rafa still feels that we are stronger defensively with Xabi and Masher then we need more of a goal threat then we got from Steve in the final. ( and a few other times )
None of the two midfielder made a run into the box in that game. So why play Steve there at all?
Could we possibly see Steve on the bench in a game such as that final, provided we have a player like Tevez to play in that hole.

[Zapater]

I doubt it but it wouldn't be a bad idea imo. Especially getting him on as an impact player, it'd never happen though.

[redblood]

My question is though: could we be a stronger team in some cases with Gerrard on the bench?

Finnan.Carra.Agger.Riise
Simao.Xabi.Masher.Silva
..........Tevez
.................Kuyt

in stead of

Finnan.Carra.Agger.Riise
Simao.Xabi.Masher.Silva
..........Gerrard
.................Kuyt

Xabi and Masher are to defensive as a pairing and that is why Gerrard will play centrally once we have the quality on the wings and up front.
It's no coincidence that our best spell in the league this year came when Xabi and Stevie played centrally.
Rafa will occasionally play 3 CM as he did in the CL final but with better players on the wings(Pennant played well in the Final) and Stevie driving forward.

[redblood]

I don't like Gerrard in the advanced role, imo he just doesn't create enough and it's not better than having another striker. For me he has to either play on the right or in the centre in a regulation CM position. The thing is the only way we can afford to play him in the centre is if Mascherano is playing. None of our other midfielders are solid enough defensivly to allow him to roam around as he pleases.

So, say Sissoko goes, that still leaves Lucas and Alonso in the team; so that's 3 players fighting over one position provided that Mascherano plays. On the right wing there will be the new right winger and presumably Pennant. That'd leave Gerrard competing with 2 other players for a spot in either of those positions. Even though I don't agree with it, if we don't sign a player like Tevez I think we'll see a lot of Gerrard in that advanced role this season. Something I'm not exactly looking forward to.

Anyway, if we sell Momo that means that Gerrard has much more of a shot of starting in the centre, although what will scare me is if Mascherano gets injured or something. That'd force Alonso to play with Lucas (providing Sissoko is gone) and we could be in a spot of bother in a situation like that.

btw, I haven't seen enough of Lucas but I'm assuming that he can't protect the back four and afford defensive protection to play next to play Gerrard like say Hamann or Mascherano can. Although I may be wrong but I picked him as more of a Baraja type midfielder, i.e a more defensive version of Gerrard.

I disagree mate Alonso is one of the best defensive MF there is, it is a misconception that he's not good in that role in fact he's probably to good which is what stops him from getting forward.
Alonso and Masher will rotate in the MF alongside Gerrard there will be times when all 3 will play as I've said.
Check the stats on the games where Xabi and Stevie played centrally and I think you will find we won a lot of them.

[DannyMan2006]

I think Steve and Xabi can work well 90% of the time. And Steve and Masher of course.

What I am wondering is the 10%

If Rafa still feels that we are stronger defensively with Xabi and Masher then we need more of a goal threat then we got from Steve in the final. ( and a few other times )
None of the two midfielder made a run into the box in that game. So why play Steve there at all?
Could we possibly see Steve on the bench in a game such as that final, provided we have a player like Tevez to play in that hole.

No. See post above for explanation. Am I seeing this right in that you want to drop our captain who is in many peoples eyes the best Central Midfielder in the world?