Rafa must play Stevie in the centre.

[stevie_gerrard_8]

Rafa plays Gerrard on the right so we can get the most out of his attacking game. When Rafa first came, he mentioned that Stevie should make better use of his energy. This should be in an attacking sense.

The problem last year was that there was no left side to balance the lack of width Gerrard caused, unlike the year before where we had a fit Harry Kewell.

[Armchairkopite]

We won 2-0 Tomas we where never a goal down.

[Kaip]

deleted

[reddragon]

So he can bang in abar 20 odd goals again


Let momo, mascher, xabi and lucas battle it out with each other to see who ****s everyone elses centre mids to bits

me, you and Rafa together mate

It's certainly a good option - we are full of top centre mids, and only Pennant on the right. Last two seasons Stevie was the obvious choice on the right but Pennant has got a bit better so he may be given more of a chance. BUT, it would harsh to leave out one of Mascher,Xabi or an on form Momo and put in a dodgy Pennant.

[tomasjj]

We won 2-0 Tomas we where never a goal down.

Ah, the league game, sorry.
If I remember correctly, Chelsea were really understrength that day, and we played Riise at left mid, probably to help shore up the midfield.

Doesn't matter much to me really, I just think SG is a bit of a gamble in the middle against big teams because of his will to be involved all over the pitch. However, I WANT him to be able to use his offensive skills without being hampered by too much defensive duties, hence a more unshackled free position on the right.
Against weaker teams, I have no problem with him playing in the middle of a 442 though. I'd like to see him more as one of the attacking midfielders in a 4231 though, with Momo/Mascher/Xabi mopping up.

What pisses me right off a bit is when SG starts moaning about having to play on the right. He should play where he is told or **** off. He is paid 120 000 pounds a week for that work.


EDIT: now I just found out, Ferreira played CB in that game..with Geremi on the right.

[Armchairkopite]

So you want to play 2 defensive midfielders, well we wont win the league if we haven't got a player who can score from the centre of midfield imo.

The other side of the coin is we dont have a strong RW so against the stronger teams Rafa uses Stevie out there to keep us tight, I agree Stevie shouldn't moan about where he is played, he is our captain and should give 100% no matter what.

[Deadlogic]

...just that it's where he is best used and where Rafa should play him.

Says who?

You?

I'm well aware that some people do subscribe to the "Gerrard is best in the centre" fanclub, but obviously Rafa doesn't (neither do I, for what it's worth) always see it like that - otherwise he'd play Gerrard there more than he does.

Our opinion on this subject, is irrelevant (though I'm not suggesting people shouldn't discuss).

Rafa picks the best TEAM, has had great success in picking said team; and is in a far better position than you and I to be the judge of that. He watches him train twice a day, every day of the week (I'm sure you're aware). You and I watch him for 90 minutes in a match.

To suggest this is "where Gerrard is best, and Rafa should play him" is frankly disrespectful (I feel) to the man who brought home number 5, along with all the other trophies he's won in his time here (and everywhere else), and quite arrogant.

Here's the breakdown.

Club.
Manager.
Players.

In that order.

If any player doesn't like it, he's quite welcome to **** right off.

Thanks.

[Morph]

Says who?

You?

I'm well aware that some people do subscribe to the "Gerrard is best in the centre" fanclub, but obviously Rafa doesn't (neither do I, for what it's worth) always see it like that - otherwise he'd play Gerrard there more than he does.

Our opinion on this subject, is irrelevant (though I'm not suggesting people shouldn't discuss).

Rafa picks the best TEAM, has had great success in picking said team; and is in a far better position than you and I to be the judge of that. He watches him train twice a day, every day of the week (I'm sure you're aware). You and I watch him for 90 minutes in a match.

To suggest this is "where Gerrard is best, and Rafa should play him" is frankly disrespectful (I feel) to the man who brought home number 5, along with all the other trophies he's won in his time here (and everywhere else), and quite arrogant.

Here's the breakdown.

Club.
Manager.
Players.

In that order.

If any player doesn't like it, he's quite welcome to **** right off.

Thanks.

Don't really agree with logic you've used behind it, but I too think Gerrard is best used on the right. All we have to do is look at season 05/06 look were Stevie mostly played, look at his goal tally and look at our points tally in the league. He arguably had his best season ever for us picked up player of the year awards etc. Fast forward to this season and we've seen him deployed a fair bit more in the middle and I don't think it's helped us a great deal.

What is going to decide the matter is if we get a quality right sided player in, Rafa has already said he is looking for wingers so it does seem like he's looking to bring a righty in and with Pennant there as well, it does seem like Stevie won't be called upon as much to play there. So it'll be interesting to see how Rafa fits everyone in, Stevie might be played more in the hole, but then can't influence the game as much, and also would we need to sacrifice a striker to play that system.

[paulcooper4]

Says who?

You?

I'm well aware that some people do subscribe to the "Gerrard is best in the centre" fanclub, but obviously Rafa doesn't (neither do I, for what it's worth) always see it like that - otherwise he'd play Gerrard there more than he does.

Our opinion on this subject, is irrelevant (though I'm not suggesting people shouldn't discuss).

Rafa picks the best TEAM, has had great success in picking said team; and is in a far better position than you and I to be the judge of that. He watches him train twice a day, every day of the week (I'm sure you're aware). You and I watch him for 90 minutes in a match.

To suggest this is "where Gerrard is best, and Rafa should play him" is frankly disrespectful (I feel) to the man who brought home number 5, along with all the other trophies he's won in his time here (and everywhere else), and quite arrogant.

Here's the breakdown.

Club.
Manager.
Players.

In that order.

If any player doesn't like it, he's quite welcome to **** right off.

Thanks.

100% spot on fella

[dww]

Says who?

You?

I'm well aware that some people do subscribe to the "Gerrard is best in the centre" fanclub, but obviously Rafa doesn't (neither do I, for what it's worth) always see it like that - otherwise he'd play Gerrard there more than he does.

Our opinion on this subject, is irrelevant (though I'm not suggesting people shouldn't discuss).

Rafa picks the best TEAM, has had great success in picking said team; and is in a far better position than you and I to be the judge of that. He watches him train twice a day, every day of the week (I'm sure you're aware). You and I watch him for 90 minutes in a match.

To suggest this is "where Gerrard is best, and Rafa should play him" is frankly disrespectful (I feel) to the man who brought home number 5, along with all the other trophies he's won in his time here (and everywhere else), and quite arrogant.

Here's the breakdown.

Club.
Manager.
Players.

In that order.

If any player doesn't like it, he's quite welcome to **** right off.

Thanks.

The thing is I completely agree with you about the way players should play in the position that the manager chooses in the style that they dictate. The problem last season was that unlike the season before when Gerrard was given a free role from the right he instinctively went all the way left and in a lot of games this both cramped our offensive play and allowed teams free reign to attack down the right. This is a real problem IMO and results in the balance of the what is the best for the team argument changing.

This is why in my opinion in the second half of the season Rafa moved Stevie inside more often than he has for a while. To be fair to Stevie he appears to have become more disciplined in the deep lying role. It has come at the cost of his attacking play.

I don't think there was any disrespect intended by Polo. I think he was offering an opinion, which last season I think was beginning to agree with the changes in team selection seen from Rafa.

I think that Gerrard will benefit enormously from having Torres in the team. His pace and intelligent movement should make a lot more room for Gerrard to operate in midfield. He may also allow him to play the same long balls into the box he used to for Owen.

I think both Gerrard and Alonso would benefit from one or two wingers who also break past the forwards into the box. Intelligent movement in wide areas will allow them a lot more freedom to spray the ball about which they love to do.